Absolutely Buckinghamshire January 2022

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

Buckinghamshire JANUARY 2022

HEALTH &BEAUTY

PLU S

SPECIAL

Advice, trends and what to wear to make a positive start to 2022

BETH CULLENKERRIDGE

Life of the sculptor, from The Hand and Flowers to Dubai • JANUARY 2022

REALISING A DREAM

The Milton Keynes actress set to stun on stage •

THE NEXT BIG THING

How the Marlow Studio Project is inspiring future filmmakers

Time to

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ABSOLUTELY

Contents JANUARY 2022

38

110 C U LT U R E 10 ABSOLUTELY LOVES

FA S H I O N & B E A U T Y 36 NEW LOOK

16 BETH CULLEN-KERRIDGE

38 THE SHOOT

20 NATALIE KASSANGA

49 HEALTHCARE SPECIAL

Get to know the Bucks-based actress

20 pages to set you up for 2022

FOOD & DRINK 24 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

HOME & INTERIORS 70 INTERIORS NOTES

26 COWORTH PARK

72 BENJI LEWIS

28 RECIPES

110 THE HARI

Why we are feeling yellow mellow

In the studio with the Marlow sculptor

Food news from the industry

Why awards success is well deserved

Rustle up Indian classics at home

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How the trench coat has been updated

Add colour with the latest from Zilch

A B S O L U T E LYB U C K I N G H A M S H I R E .C O. U K The online guide to inspirational local living.

The latest from around the industry

Going rustic vogue with the Berks designer

Why the London hotel is a design masterclass

O N T H E C OV E R The AW21 Zilch collection, available at Kings Road Fashions in Buckinghamshire (kingsroadfashions.co.uk)

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EDITOR MARK KEBBLE ART DIRECTOR PAWEL KUBA SENIOR DESIGNERS MIKE ROBERTS SAMANTHA SCOTT JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER KAI NICHOLLS MAGAZINE MANAGER ABIGAIL GARDNER MEDIA CONSULTANTS STELLA ADAMS ANABELA KOLECI, LOUISE PEARSON

Exhibits thoughtful, well-executed design and luxury

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For editorial enquiries please email: mark@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 07977 195732 or email: abi@zest-media.com

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Editor’s

LETTER ABSOLUTELY’S January issue highlights

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1

uring my two decades of working in publishing, I have lost count how often the term 'new year, new you' has been splashed across the many January issues I have worked on. This year it's different: 2022 is the year when it's all about the current you.

Don't you think we have all been through enough since early 2020 to now have to struggle during a grey, drizzly month and have to give up the things we love? Or give up that vital extra hour's sleep to schlep to the gym at an ungodly time? And decluttering?

I rather like my uneven, wobbly stack of magazines stuffed into the corner of my 'home office'.

Inside this issue we do indeed present top tips from those in the know about how to make you look and feel better, but we are certainly not bashing you over the head about it. Have a read, consider what may work for you – but above all else, make sure you are happy doing it.

And if you need a little inspiration that doesn't involve sweating over a piece of gym equipment you have no idea how to use, can I recommend spending time in the world of Beth Cullen-Kerridge.

She's a ball and already, even in January, I can see her interview being my highlight of 2022.

5

B eth CullenKerridge

Having a blast with the Marlow sculptor

4 Beauty Buys

The best products for a minimal look

Mark Kebble

Veganuary

Order the best in vegan food to your home

2

Benji Lewis

The Berks designer on the appeal of rustic vogue

MARK KEBBLE EDITOR

3

Travel

The best places to take in the Northern Lights

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Wish LIST 10 things we Absolutely love COMPILED BY

PENDLE HARTE

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Y E L LOW FEVER ALEKSANDRAVIKTOR is a contemporary brand with a traditional approach that tells the story of the origin of fashion. Focused on one iconic product – the coat – which is reinvented in each collection, inspired by different parts of the world, the launch collection is all about ikat weaving from Uzbekistan.

Pictured is the Marta coat. aleksandraviktor.com

CITRUS POP Jonathan Adler's joyful yellow Grapefruit diffuser smells like pink grapefruit, white grapefruit rind, green vine accords, pink freesia and passion fruit all in one. £62 jonathanadler.com

AC I D H O U S E Casting a glare free and comfortable light, the portable Bellhop Table Lamp has been innovatively designed by Barber & Osgerby for Flos. £190 conranshop.co.uk

SUN BURST In this new ski collection inspired by 90s raver fashion, Khrisjoy's Puff Khris vest is designed with a tie-dye finish, goose down feather padding and tassel details. £1,140 koibird.com

EDITOR’S PICK

D I P DY E Turtle Bags are committed to raising awareness about the hazards of plastic bags for sea life, particularly for turtles. These organic cotton string bags are strong and stylish as an alternative. £7 turtle-bags.com

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ABSOLUTELY • LOVES

GOLD RUSH If you are planning on getting away to warmer climes in the new year, Odette will give you that golden glow. Dream Zenith Bikini, £125 odettelingerie.co.uk

Y E L LOW MO O N Quinton Chadwick's vintage style tweed stripe beret in teal, aqua, yellow and jade has a flecked pom pom; the colours are taken from the exotic Madagascan Moon moth. quintonchadwick.com

Y E L LOW L I N E A handmade cement pot will make any plant look stylish in the run up to spring – we love this neon yellow zigzag design. bigpotlittlepot.co.uk

HERE COMES THE SUN A bunch of sunshine yellow Phalaris is stunning on its own in a statement vase or paired with other dried stems and grasses.

This colourful dried grass is the perfect way to add an elegant pop of colour to any room. £18 thehappyblossoms.com

CUT THE M U S TA R D We love a lace collar, especially when it's teamed with an ochre cardigan. Monsoon has got this combo just right, £55 monsoon.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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C U LT U R E

T H E A RT O F S U CC ES S CLARENDON FINE ART

From cutting edge experimental art to original landscapes, Clarendon Fine Art offers an exclusive and inspiring experience in modern and contemporary art collecting.

They have exciting plans for 2022 at their Marlow and Beaconsfield galleries, including one of their most recent signings Mr Brainwash. clarendonfineart.com

BALLOON GIRL BY MR BRAINWASH

Agenda 14 • Beth Cullen-Kerridge 16 • Natalie Kassanga 20 A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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The Agenda

STEFAN FAFINSKI

JA N UA RY ' S H OT T E ST H A P P E N I N G S

EV E N T

Eythrope’s Spectacular Snowdrops

MARK COCKSEDGE

13-14, 20-21 January WA D D E S D O N M A N O R See the parkland at Eythrope with a blanket of snowdrops. After visiting the private gardens, enjoy afternoon tea at the Manor Restaurant as well as the chance to see the swathes of snowdrops and the Winter Light displays in Waddesdon’s gardens. waddesdon.org.uk

EV E N T

London Art Fair 19- 23 JA NUA RY, BUS I NE S S D E S I GN CEN TRE , ISLIN GTON

The London Art Fair is well worth a trip into town, highlighting a selection of the best galleries from the UK and beyond. The event will offer both seasoned and aspiring collectors a diverse presentation of modern and contemporary art, alongside curated displays, and an inspiring programme of talks, panel discussions and artists insights. londonartfair.co.uk

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O P E N IN G

The Lodge From 4 January N E W B U R Y R AC E C O U R S E The 36-bedroom hotel, The Lodge, is re-opening its doors on Tuesday 4 January 2022, following its extended closure in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. First opened in 2015, The Lodge sits right at the heart of the racecourse estate and offers a unique stay which echoes the charm and heritage of Newbury Racecourse. newburyracecourse.co.uk

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CULTURE • TALKING TOPICS

T H E AT R E

Blood Brothers 14-29 January T H E AT R E R OYA L W I N D S O R Willy Russell’s legendary musical tells the captivating and moving tale of twins separated at birth, who grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences. Few musicals have been received with such acclaim as the multi-awardwinning Blood Brothers. It has been affectionately christened the ‘Standing Ovation Musical’. theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

ARTISTS TO WATC H

The Other Art Fair's Ryan Stanier top 3 artists to collect

KAY GASEI At The Other Art Fair London in July 2021, Kay Gasei was awarded The Kate Bryan Art Prize. His illustrative paintings explore symbolism, myths and narratives with characters set in timeless spaces as a means of understanding his own intellectual and ontological journey. They are both beautiful and meaningful. @kaygaseiart saatchiart.com/kaygasei

O P E N I N G

FAIRMONT WINDSOR PARK

This Month’s Must See

1 January Elegantly set beside the 4,800 acres of Windsor’s Great Park with its historical monuments and ancient forests, Fairmont Windsor Park is this winter’s most highly anticipated opening. The brand-new countryside hotel is designed to reflect the site’s heritage – where history and iconic elegance merge to create an outstanding destination. The grand opening of the hotel will be on 1 January. fairmont-windsorpark.com

PHOEBE BODDY

PHOEBE BODDY

SPIK E

27 JA NUA RY-5 MARCH, WATERMILL THEATRE

I

t's the booming fifties, and Britain is in the clutches of Goon mania as men, women and children across the country scramble to get their ear to a wireless for another instalment of The Goon Show. While Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers get down to the serious business of becoming overnight celebrities, fellow Goon and chief writer Spike finds himself pushing the boundaries of comedy, and testing the patience of the BBC.

Artist and foodie, Phoebe Boddy (above) explores the sensual experience of eating and uses the process of painting to explore the connections between flavour and colour. Together with chef Jay Sharp, she has also recently founded Palette Dining - a unique feasting experience that explores the sensory connections between Food and Art. @phoebeboddyartist saatchiart.com/phoebeboddy

CHLOE MCCARRICK Chloe McCarrick is best known for her circular cyanotypes and develops innovative ways of reworking photographic images through collage and mixed-media print techniques, and by blending science, darkroom alchemy and art. @chloe_mccarrick_fine_art saatchiart.com/chloemccarrick1 Learn more about The Other Art Fair at @theotherartfair theotherartfair.com

watermill.org.uk/spike

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CULTURE • INTERVIEW

Carving a

NICHE

Marlow sculptor Beth Cullen-Kerridge reflects on learning from Sir Anthony Caro, 90-hour weeks at The Hand and Flowers, and her Dubai masterpiece

By MARK KEBBLE

I

f you are feeling a little down in the dumps, or the long, dark January days are giving you a dose of seasonal affective disorder (the appropriately monikered SAD), then spend some time in the company of Beth Cullen-Kerridge.

She’s a wonderfully enthusiastic person to chat to and, from the journalist’s point of view, refreshingly frank. No forced soundbites here to shape this feature.

And yet shaping things is what CullenKerridge has done for most of her life.

Today she is a globally-renowned sculptor, and she says creativity has always been in her right from childhood growing up in Stoke-on-Trent. “My dad is a painter and ceramicist, and my mum was a hairdresser, so we always had this funky, bohemian lifestyle,” she says, her northern twang still very much in evidence. “There was always something going on and it was always creative. So it was always going to happen, but I fought it for a while. I thought I wanted to earn some money, so went into advertising, but I just kept edging back

to fine art. I did a Foundation course at Staffordshire Polytechnic, as it was known then, and they do a bit of everything – and I just kept leaning towards sculpture.”

Cullen-Kerridge honed her talents at Liverpool’s John Moores University, before attending the Royal College of Art, which I say must have been key to her development. “No, Liverpool was best for me,” she counters, the first showing of the aforementioned frankness. “And that was because it doesn’t have a house style, it was very free and we really talked about sculpture art and why we were there, it was brilliant. At the Royal College of Art, everybody thought they were amazing and actually they weren’t, so I was a bit surprised. It was a gift in a way as there were some lovely tutors and I learnt bronze casting there, met some great people and I loved London. It was amazing, but not how I thought it would be amazing.”

London, though, was important for her development, particularly the eight years she spent working with Sir Anthony Caro.

“I loved Tony,” she gushes, “he was a gent and absolutely hilarious. I remember when he took all the team to Venice, we did a big show there called The Last Judgement. We had been working on it for about three years and he took us all to Venice for a week, where we rented flats – it was like we lived there. It was just an amazing time to be with him and he was a very giving person as far as talking about things, pushing the boundaries of the intellect of it all. I learnt a lot from Tony, such as 50% of your job as an artist is talking to people and telling stories.”

It was in London, also, that she met her future husband, celebrated chef Tom Kerridge. “Tom and I have been married 21 years, so we have probably been together for about 24,” Cullen-Kerridge says. “Sometimes it feels like yesterday, and sometimes it feels like a very long time! We fit, it works. If there was too much pushing and pulling, it would feel like a long chore, but it doesn’t. It’s fun.”

It was in 2005 when the two decamped to A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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CULTURE • INTERVIEW

HARD AT WORK

SHE LOVES LIVING IN MARLOW

Marlow and opened The Hand and Flowers, which became Cullen-Kerridge’s life.

Sculpting was far from her thoughts. “When I was doing 90 hours at The Hand and Flowers with Tom, there were times when I could never see myself going back to it,” she says. “It was in the heart, but I could never find the time. But if there’s one thing I have learnt is to keep going. I had a little room at the back [of The Hand and Flowers] where I could do just a bit [of sculpting], and it was about having the tenacity to stick with it.”

Cullen-Kerridge recounts how numerous accountants came and went, whilst not helping them at all with their running of The Hand and Flowers – but those disasters proved inspirational for her sculpture. “Steve was a part of my Empty Suit series,” she says about one of her most popular works. “I was always disappointed how people weren’t as good as they thought they were at their jobs,

so life inspired the sculpture and I just kept ticking away. I think that’s my biggest lesson, just shut up and keep going.”

As the restaurant flourished, so too did Cullen-Kerridge’s sculpting. She took her Suits collection to several exhibitions, as well as travelling to the Carrara region in Italy in 2010 to study marble carving.

What she learnt led to perhaps the crowning moment of her career to date, the Dhow Sail, which stands proudly outside Dubai Opera. The 16-foot marble sculpture mimics the boat-like shape of the Opera House itself, combining the smooth curved lines and soaring contours of a traditional Emirati Dhow Sail.

“It was an amazing amount of fun,” she says on the project, which is quite the statement given the work that had to go into it – just look at photos on her website to see her on scaffolding carving away. “I was always bronze casting and welding, but I had never done something where you take it away, a reductive sculpture. The tools are the same, but it was hard to learn it – physically hard, but I don’t mind that. Working with the Italians was just awesome, they are used to doing it. I had never exported anything that big, so I learnt a lot from its sheer ON HER WORK RAT RACE

THE HAND AND FLOWERS

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THE LATEST SUCCESSFUL FOODIE VENTURE

size. To see that go up was emotional.”

Talking about how she spends her days, I feel rather guilty when I realise I am eating into her sculpting time. Life works around their son Acey, born in 2015, taking to and picking him up from school, but Cullen-Kerridge spends afternoons in her studio underneath their house working on different private commissions. She’s also building up to staging a new show in 2022 too. “I have got a set together I am happy with, so I am in full momentum now and I am halfway through,” she says. “You always want to have your next one halfway through though before you show, because people say ‘that’s great, what are you doing next?’,” she laughs.

You get the feeling that life is good.

Cullen-Kerridge waxes lyrical about Marlow, name-checking Marlow Common and Higginson Park as favourite haunts for the family, as well as another family foodie venture. “We have just opened The Butcher’s Tap & Grill, where you can cook your own steak and Acey is a big fan of steak, so we often slink off there. That has just slotted together, but I always order too much. We are very lucky to be here.”

Which is just how I feel for spending some time in Beth Cullen-Kerridge’s company.

See more of Beth Cullen-Kerridge’s work at bethcullensculpture.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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PHOTO: MATT CROCKETT

Get to know…

NATALIE KASSANGA B U C K I N G H A M S H I R E - B A S E D AC T R E S S

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Q In January you will be starring in Dreamgirls at MK Theatre. What attracted you to being involved?

A Dreamgirls was a huge part of my childhood, and when I first saw the film back in 2006, I remember being extremely inspired. So, when I had the chance to watch the Dreamgirls musical back in 2018, seeing the way it was portrayed, the story, the talent, the sets, costumes, the songs and the way they had been written for the musical, I knew that I would have loved the opportunity to be on that stage. And the fact that I’ve been given the opportunity to play such an iconic role is amazing.

Q What role are you playing and what can we expect to see on stage?

A I am playing the role of Deena Jones, who is the baby of the trio. She’s this huge bundle of energy, she’s full of ambition, she’s full of love and she’s all about family.

What you see on stage is an incredible story of these three young ladies who share the same dream of wanting to become pop stars. And not only is it about the glitz, the glamour, the set, the music, it also comes with a lot of trials and tribulations.

Q You first appeared on stage as a 10-yearold. What do you remember about the early days starring in The Lion King?

A I just remember being so overwhelmed by everything that was happening around me and everything that was going on.

Not only was it my first time being on a West End stage, but actually being part of a production, and a very famous production, with lighting, tech, automation, costumes, makeup and hair. As a young girl, I remember taking it all in, but not

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CULTURE • PROFILE

actually understanding how big the opportunity that I was given was. I just remember having the most incredible time, it was so exciting. Also, it was a predominantly black production, so we were taken care of, and we had people around that looked like us. People like Alexia Khadime, who played older Nala, she was one of the first people who inspired me to want to carry on in this industry.

Q Since then, what for you have been the highlights of your acting career?

A Being cast as Diana Ross in Berry Gordy’s Motown the Musical was probably the biggest highlight of my career so far, just because I never saw that day coming, and I never would have imagined playing such a role. It’s not just a character, it’s a person, it’s an iconic artist that’s still around to this day, who was a part of my childhood. To be given the opportunity to step into her shoes for two hours every single night for about a year was very, very life-changing for me. It taught me a lot about being a lady for the first time, carrying that weight and responsibility of giving people and audiences the experience they deserve when they come to watch the show.

Q Are you looking forward to appearing at the MK Theatre, particularly considering it’s local to you?

A I am super excited to finally be coming back home with this tour and performing at Milton Keynes Theatre. One reason being because that’s where everything started for me. I performed at Milton Keynes Theatre SPA TIME AT WHITTLEBURY HALL IS A MUST

PHOTO: MATT CROCKETT

SHE LOVES WINTER WALKS IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

JOINING THE DREAMGIRLS IS AN HONOUR

for the first time when I was about 11 or 12-years-old with the show Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I remember it being so special for me at the time because I was performing in my hometown theatre that I used to walk past every single day. So, to actually have that full circle moment this time, not only as a leading lady, but to be able to share it with friends, family, and those that have been a part of my upbringing that may have not had the chance to access London and a West End theatre.

Q Have you lived in Bucks all your life?

A I have lived in Milton Keynes pretty much my entire life. I was born in London and moved to Milton Keynes when I was about three-years-old and I’m still based there. London will always hold a special place in my heart, but Milton Keynes definitely is my home, it’s everything that I am. And I love the fact that even though my career is based in London, I can take myself away from the noise, chaos and drama that London comes with, and the lifestyle that London comes with. To take myself back home to Milton Keynes is really grounding, and it keeps me humble.

Q Given the time of year, do you enjoy any bracing winter walks locally?

A I’m the kind of girl that loves a walk. I love to take myself out, get some fresh air and enjoy nature. Because I love winter and my winter attire, I do like going on a winter walk in the cold and looking at the beautiful Christmas lights.

Going somewhere like Winter Wonderland, experiencing the Christmas fairs, is definitely a big part of enjoying this time of year to the fullest.

Q If possible, could you pick out your favourite places in the county?

A So, me and my family have this tradition where every single Sunday, we go to a Toby’s Carvery, and it has been a part of my life for the longest! We’ve made it into a family tradition, it’s something I always love to do. A Sunday roast, you can never beat it.

Every now and again when I want to wind down, there’s a spa quite close to Milton Keynes that I go to quite often called Whittlebury Hall. It’s honestly one of my favourite places because it’s quiet, peaceful and the service there is incredible. And it’s somewhere I go to have a bit of me time, because that’s the thing about this industry, everything can be so overwhelming, there’s a lot happening and you’re around people all the time. So, to have somewhere to go where it’s just me, myself and I is so important.

Q Finally, any new year resolutions?

A For me, it is to just enjoy life to the fullest. With the last year we’ve had with the pandemic, we’ve lost a lot, we’ve experienced a lot, a lot of our lives have been affected. And I feel like in the meantime, we’ve not been able to appreciate what we have in life and to not take things for granted.

So, to have this opportunity to be on this tour, for me it is all about enjoying every single second of it, and to enjoy the show, to allow myself to grow and to really take it as it comes – and to really appreciate everything that comes with it.

Dreamgirls is live at Milton Keynes Theatre from 25 January-5 February, for tickets visit atgtickets.com/shows/ dreamgirls/milton-keynes-theatre A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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FOOD & DRINK

FOR THE SEASONS SEASONALITY

Following Seasonality’s launch in April 2021, the unique food shop on Queen Street in Maidenhead, which sells restaurant-quality ingredients direct to customers, has added another string to its bow by offering a seasonal menu to its customers. Diners can expect dishes such as Crown Prince Pumpkin Velouté, Marlow Blue Cheese; Cornish Mackerel with Gordal Olive Brine & Pickled Shallot; and a Native Suckled Beef Fillet. seasonality.co.uk

Food News 24 • Restaurant Coworth Park 26 • Recipes 28 A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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WHAT TO DRINK

IN THE spirit Gin recommendations for the month

TASTING NOTES

The latest food news and most exciting openings this month

By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

By MR HOBBS

Mr Hobbs 150 Gin 70cl 40% ABV  £34 Mr Hobbs 150 is a classic London Dry Gin with quintessential English heritage, which marks the 150-year anniversary of the family owned, British boating institution; Hobbs of Henley. The award-winner is bursting with nine botanicals, making a serious gin that will leave you wanting more.

Rhubarb & Ginger Gin Liqueur 50cl 21.5% ABV  £25 Blended with the very best British rhubarb to produce a perfectly balanced gin liqueur.

Summer fruits and herbs on the nose with well-rounded ginger notes and plenty of rhubarb on the palate. The perfect addition to any drinks cabinet, this is an exceptional base for seasonal cocktails, sparkling or otherwise.

Mr Hobbs Spiced Plum Gin Liqueur 50cl 19.5% ABV  £25 A delicious warming tipple designed with winter nights in mind. Made with Winslow plums and a blend of traditional Christmas spices including ginger, clove, cinnamon, and star anise. It is quite simply the perfect drink to enjoy this winter and new year.

The Mr Hobbs Gin range of products is brought to you by the family pleasure boating business, Hobbs of Henley, who give you the most enjoyable way to “mess about on the river’’. Today they are very proud to share their cherished family tipples with you and raise a glass to their Henley heritage.

mrhobbsgin.co.uk

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Life's a Beech THE BEECH HOUSE

The Beech House was opened in Amersham because the high street deserved a great pub. The kind that sells fresh food and good beer, including Pilsner straight from the tank, and where you feel like you belong and where you can go any time of the day, for any kind of reason. They’ve got food for everyone; from your fullEnglish fry up to Neapolitan pizza and rib-eye steak – and, yes, plenty of salads too for a superpowered start to 2022. beechhouseamersham.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK • NOTES

VEGAN INDIAN Kick off Veganuary in your own home

GREAT OUTDOORS THE CINNAMON COLLECTION VEGAN MEAL KIT

Room for all T H E G R E AT S H E F F O R D

Chef Vivek Singh of The Cinnamon Collection has designed a delicious plant-based tasting menu, packed full of flavour and spice. Delivered nationwide, it's a generous vegan feast. thecinnamoncollection.com

A privately-owned public house, near Newbury, Berkshire, The Great Shefford originates from 1848, and was acquired by restaurateur Joshua Khan in late 2019.

The Great Shefford comprises a traditional pub area (20 seats, including bar stools), the Racing Lounge (up to 30, noting the pub’s Newbury racing environs), the Dining Room (50 seats), Sam’s Room (for private dining up to eight), and a large, semi-covered outdoor terrace, alongside the Lambourne River, with capacity for up to 100, for both dining and drinking. thegreatshefford.com

BOTTLE & GLASS INN

New for 2022, the Bottle & Glass Inn, set in the countryside at Binfield Heath, just outside Henley-on-Thames, is introducing a series of Open Fire Cookery breaks. Based in the garden of this quaint Grade II-listed restaurantwith-rooms, a tent tipi with log burning stove and outdoor kitchen will act as the field classroom, where guests will be able to use the wood fired oven and use a host of different cooking kit. bottleandglassinn.com

DISHOOM VEGAN S A U S AG E N A A N R O L L Dishoom’s Vegan Sausage Naan Roll features cleverly fermented vegetables mixed with sausage spices. Included in the kit are three naan dough balls, tomato-chili jam and vegan cream cheese, plus Darjeeling tea, chai spices and ginger to brew masala chai. dishoom.com

SUUM OF

ITS PARTS

S U U M K I TC H E N

Taste of the county T H E TA R B AY B OTA N I ST

The Tarbay Botanist award-winning gin distillery is set within the countryside of Windsor. A family-run small batch gin distillery, they currently offer a host of different gins. The Windsor batch, infused with rosemary, lavender and lemon balm; The Fireside, infused with orange cinnamon and spice; The Country Garden, infused with quince, elderflower and lemon and sloe gin infused with lime. thetarbaybotanist.com

JHAKAAS R A J P U TA N A V E G A N This new premium delivery is the brainchild of Dayashankar Sharma, chef behind critically acclaimed fine-dining Indian restaurant Heritage Dulwich in London. The Rajputana Vegan showcases dishes such as Tofu Saag, Lasooni Tadka Dal and Kalkatta Bigan Bhaja. jhakaas.co.uk

“Suum” is a creative name for this restaurant derived from “sum v y”, meaning a cozy gathering around a dining table. Suum offers you a specially selected, elaborate menu, featuring delicious dishes prepared according to original recipes, just like a Vietnamese family cooks for each other. suumkitchen.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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CAVIAR TART, CORNISH CRAB, YUZU, CUCUMBER

ADDING TO THE

COLLECTION Restaurant Coworth Park starts 2022 on the back of more industry recognition – but, says executive chef Adam Smith, it’s all part of the day job

By MARK KEBBLE

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FOOD & DRINK • INTERVIEW

“WE USE OUR CLASSICAL FOUNDATIONS TO CREATE A MENU THAT IS RELEVANT AND EXCITES”

THE CONSERVATORY

P

ositive word of mouth doesn’t get much bigger than a whole host of accolades going above the door of a restaurant.

Recently, it was announced that Restaurant Coworth Park would be the recipient of 4 AA Rosettes, to go with its Michelin star, but speaking to executive chef, Adam Smith, it feels like that’s yesterday’s news and today there are new challenges ahead.

“Our focus has always been our guests,” Smith says, taking time out of his busy schedule pre-Christmas, “and making sure they have a great experience. Every day we put pressure on ourselves to

THE OAK LEAF CHANDELIER WOWS

be better than the day before and this constant drive for improvement spurs us on. I see the recognition and success as a justification for all the team’s hard work – they dedicate a lot of their time to making sure our guests walk away having had a great dining experience, and the accolades go towards making it all worthwhile.”

This year marks a decade since Smith won the sought-after Roux scholarship back in 2012. At the time, he was in his first full-time position in the industry at The Ritz, but the scholarship opened new doors. “As part of my prize I got to train under Yannick Alleno at Dorchester Collection’s Le Meurice in Paris,” he explains. “In 2013 I then took my first executive chef role at The Devonshire Arms, Bolton Abbey, where we managed to achieve 4 AA Rosettes amongst other awards. Then in July 2016, I made the move back down south to join Coworth Park.”

Another member of the acclaimed Dorchester Collection, Coworth Park offered Smith a platform to take his cooking to another level. “I saw a real opportunity to create something very special,” he says, “positioning the hotel as a gastronomic destination in its own right. We have made great steps towards this over the last five years.”

It’s an understatement. Visiting the restaurant is quite the experience, with the oak leaf chandelier adding real wow factor to the design. The menu is presented simply, with no airs and graces, and has a real sense of the seasons about it. “I would say our cooking style is modern British, based on the classics,” Smith says. “The most important start to a new menu is selecting the very best ingredients. The seasonality of the ingredients dictate when we change the menus and the dishes we

prepare, and of course we have to give the menu balance and variety. I love to champion local produce as long as it is the best. We often pick ingredients from the Coworth Park grounds to be showcased on the plate that same day. We use our classical foundations to create a menu that is relevant and exciting for our guests.”

Considering tables at the Ascot restaurant are constantly in demand, it appears that these foundations are impressing all and sundry. Smith has brought the venue on leaps and bounds in five years, so considering the success that has followed, how can they surpass all this in 2022? “We hope to continue to develop and evolve as a team,” he considers, “offering our guests the best possible dining experience we can here in the Berkshire countryside. So no change there!”

ADAM SMITH

R E STAU R A N T C OWO R T H PA R K Blacknest Road, Ascot, SL5 7SE 01344 876 600 dorchestercollection.com

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EASY Indian

30 minute suppers from the Mowgli Home Kitchen Wo r d s N I S H A K AT O N A Photography YUKI SUGIARA

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

Chicken, Coconut and Pineapple Curry Serves 4

The combination of both coconut milk and creamed coconut in this curry adds a real gloss and weight to the sauce, giving it a gorgeous, velvety texture. If you can't get creamed coconut just double-up on the tinned. During the last moments of these exotic sunshine curries, I often throw a handful of roasted nuts to boost the salt and the beach-holiday feel. If you’re not a fan of nuts or don’t have any to hand, you can leave these out without any detriment to the dish.

INGREDIENTS •2 thumb-sized pieces fresh root ginger, peeled •5 tbsp vegetable oil onions, finely chopped •2 •2 cloves garlic, crushed skinless, boneless chicken •3 breasts (approx. 600g/1lb 5oz), chopped into 2cm/3⁄4in cubes •2 tbsp garam masala • 1 heaped tsp ground coriander • 1 tsp ground turmeric • 1 ⁄4 tsp chilli powder • 1 00g/31⁄2oz creamed coconut •4 00ml/14fl oz canned coconut milk •2 green chillies, finely sliced • 1 1⁄2 tsp salt • 1 tsp brown sugar • 1 0 chunks canned pineapple, cut into 1–2cm/1⁄2–3⁄4in pieces • 1 00g/31⁄2oz roasted salted cashew nuts • s mall handful fresh coriander/ cilantro, finely chopped, to garnish • 1 red chilli, finely sliced, to garnish • c ooked rice, or flatbreads, to serve

and cashews to the pan and stir to combine, adding a little of the juice from the canned pineapple if the mixture is too dry. Leave to cook, stirring occasionally, for 5–10 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Scatter with chopped coriander/cilantro and sliced red chilli, then serve hot with rice or wraps alongside.

MillionDollar Dahl Serves 4

METHOD 1 Finely mince one of the pieces of ginger and slice the other into fine matchsticks. Set aside.

2 Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the onions, garlic and minced ginger and fry, stirring continuously, for 8 minutes, until golden brown. Add the chicken to the pan and stir to combine with the onions, then add the garam masala, ground coriander, ground turmeric and chilli powder. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, to seal the chicken and coat it in the spices.

3 Add the creamed coconut, coconut milk, ginger matchsticks, sliced chillies, salt, sugar, pineapple

In Eastern Europe it is tradition at New Year to have these whole lentil dishes.

I add a little more spice than my motherin-law’s original recipe calls for, but the extra oomph really works. The green discs of lentil represent little coins and a wish for wealth in the year ahead. This is a wonderful centrepiece to a meal, regardless of your guests needs, as it is both gluten-free and vegan, as well as filling and delicious.

INGREDIENTS •4 tbsp vegetable oil • 1 tsp cumin seeds • 1 onion, roughly chopped • 1 cube frozen crushed garlic

or 3 garlic cloves, crushed • 2 cubes frozen crushed ginger or 2 thumb-sized pieces fresh ginger, peeled and grated • 1 bay leaf • 1 fat green chilli, sliced • 800g /1lb 12oz canned green lentils, drained • 1 tsp ground turmeric • 1 tbsp garam masala • 1 tsp ground cumin • 400g/14oz canned chopped tomatoes • 11⁄2 tsp salt • small handful fresh coriander/ cilantro, roughly chopped

METHOD 1 Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat, then add the cumin seeds and fry for a few seconds, until they are fragrant and have turned a deep golden brown. Add the onion, garlic, ginger, bay leaf and sliced chilli, and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes, until the onions are soft and golden.

2 Add the lentils, ground turmeric, garam masala, ground cumin and chopped tomatoes to the pan and stir to combine.

Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a lively simmer and cook for 20 minutes, adding a splash of water if the mixture gets too dry, until the lentils are tender. Add the salt to the pan to taste, then stir through the chopped fresh coriander/ cilantro.

Serve hot.

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HEART POUNDING WINTER ACTION!

SUPER SATURDAY SATURDAY 12 FEBRUARY

GET GOING BOOK NOW

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

INGREDIENTS

Rice Krispie Bhel Puri Serves 4

Bhel Puri is a common street-food snack in India that is made with fried chickpea/ garbanzo beans threads, puffed rice and roasted peanuts, and dressed with all that is hot and sharp. When my parents first came to the UK, they missed this midmorning snack dreadfully, so invented this version using a well-known breakfast cereal. It’s as ludicrous a secret pleasure as any Indian family could have.

• 100g/31⁄2oz/4 cups crisped rice cereal (such as Rice Krispies) • 3 tbsp mustard oil • 1 handful roasted peanuts • 2 mild green chillies, finely chopped • 1 red onion, finely chopped • 1 small bunch coriander/cilantro, leaves and stalks finely chopped • 1 tsp chaat masala • squeeze of lemon juice

METHOD 1 Place a small frying pan/skillet over a low heat and add the crisped rice cereal. Warm the cereal for 3 minutes, tossing in the pan to prevent it from catching, then transfer to a large bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until everything is well combined.

Serve immediately, while the cereal is still warm and crisp.

Recipes taken from 30 Minute Mowgli by Nisha Katona, published by Nourish Books

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A RURA L OASIS The picturesque parkland. The sense of serenity.

A glamorous getaway. A moment of bliss.

The Spa at Coworth Park.

A S C OT + 44 (0)134 4 8 7 6 6 0 0 D O R C HES T ER C O L L E CT I ON .C OM #DCmoments CoworthPark CoworthParkUK CoworthPark

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FOOD & DRINK • DRINKS

DRINKS CABINET

What to drink in Dry January

By MARK KEBBLE

FOCUS

KEEP CALM M A R I A & C R A I G’ S Founded by a husband and wife duo, this non-alcoholic botanical spirit is infused with CBD to provide a sense of serenity alongside your tipple. Blended with sage, chamomile, juniper and orange blossom, serve Maria & Craig's over ice with tonic and orange peel for a zingy, wellness-boosting mocktail.

£22.99; maria-and-craigs.com

PURE SPIRIT FLUÈRE Created with the same distilling techniques used for gin, mezcal and rum, Fluère uses botanicals, herbs and fruits such as juniper, lime and lavender to create a refreshing and light taste. Mix Fluère Original with tonic for a gin-less G&T.

£20; amazon.co.uk

BOTTLE UP WA R N E R ' S Warner’s were the first English gin distillery to launch a non-alcoholic range with its 0% Botanic Garden Spirits. They’re packed full of 100% natural farm-grown ingredients and crafted to perfection to deliver real flavour, for real moments. The two awardwinning variants, 0% Pink Berry and 0% Juniper Double Dry, are handcrafted with all-natural botanicals and use spring water drawn at the Falls Farm distillery.

warnersdistillery.com

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Dylan's At The King's Arms Why you won't miss out during Dry January

O

ver the years we have seen the Dry January movement take off, with people up and down the country setting themselves new year's resolutions to encourage their own personal self improvement.

Therefore, January has unintentionally forced many people to stay home, avoiding bars and restaurants, not wishing to be encouraged to ruin any personal progress made. Dylan's have had so much support from the community since they were allowed to reopent their doors following the multiple lockdowns, they want to show that same support to those willing to participate in having an alcohol free January this year.

Dylans At The Kings Arms will be taking part for the entirety of January by offering a fantastic selection of alcohol free draught beers, spirits and cocktails, while also hosting an Alcohol Free Tap Takeover event in association with WhichCraft Beer Reviews on Tuesday 18 January.

Following on from the success of December’s Tap Takeover with The Kernel Brewery, they decided to try something slightly different. There are a vast number of incredible breweries out there currently creating some amazing alcohol free beers, so what better way to present these beers than on their 9 Tap Beer Wall? They will be showcasing a range of non alcoholic styles from some of the biggest craft breweries. Lagers, IPA’s, stouts, or sample a selection of non-alcoholic gin and tonics from distilleries such as Warner’s, Sipsmith and Seedlip. Take part too in their giveaway for your chance to win a selection of alcohol free goodies for you to try at any time. dylanskingsarms.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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THE MUST HAVE COAT THIS SEASON

Daniel of Windsor 121-125 Peascod St, Windsor SL4 1DP 01753 801000 www.danielstores.co.uk

Alex Max

Reversible Colour Block Faux Sheepskin Coat Found at Daniel of Windsor: danielstores.co.uk Untitled-1 FP 5 AD_Nov24_V1.indd 1 DANIELS

15/12/2021 15:02 13:35 25/11/2021

FA S H I O N

LA FAMIGLIA LORETTA CAPONI

Loretta Caponi founded her namesake label in Florence in 1967 and today it continues to evolve its signature hand-embroidered clothing and linens. Now headed

by Loretta’s grandson, Guido, the label champions Italian heritage techniques (the catanella stitch is a signature) which are delicately married with modernity in whimsical, feminine pieces. matchesfashion.com

Trend: The Trench Coat 36 • The Shoot 38 A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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STAPLES & STATEMENTS Why a twist on an old classic is the look to start 2022 with

By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

MONSOON Phoebe PU trench coat, £99 monsoon.co.uk

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FASHION • TREND SPORTMAX Bracco trench coat, £1,075 sportmax.com

MARQUES’ALMEIDA Recycled frayed-edge denim trench coat, £495 marquesalmeida.com

ALTUZARRA Hitchcock ombrécheck wool-blend trench coat, £2,245 altuzarra.com

T FENDI FF-logo jacquard gabardine trench coat, £3,300 fendi.com

he trusty trench coat never left our watch, and this year the traditional cut of the military inspired coat is back with twists that make this both the perfect staple piece p iece and statement all in one. Texture, print, cut and colour are going beyond the traditional boundaries of the classic trench coat fit, with the likes of Fendi, Sacai, Marni and Shrimps replacing the old and welcoming a new mould for this season. The reworked trench coat is the perfect staple for every wardrobe this year, and now, the ideal statement piece that needs no introduction.

RIVER ISLAND Classic trench, £90 riverisland.com

SACAI Contrast panel cotton-blend gabardine trench coat, £1,575 matchesfashion.com

EDITOR’S PICK

WEEKDAY The Cassidy trench coat, £80 weekday.com

MARNI

SHRIMPS

Bi-colour belted cottonblend trench coat, £2,190 marni.com

Birch checked wool-tweed trench coat, £650 matchesfashion.com

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In the

GROOVE

Colour and graphics are the name of the game for Zilch’s latest collection, found at Kings Road in Buckinghamshire, to liven up the start of 2022

Z I LC H . N L / K I N G S R OA D FA S H I O N S .C O. U K

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A Transformation you never knew you needed You’ll be amazed at what you attract after you start believing in what you deserve

Face to face and online sessions available

Step into your power!

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Jak & Liza www.jakandliza.com 01494 258808

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The programme includes weekly Gong & Sound Baths for deep rest & regeneration (aka. the BrainSpa).

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FASHION • WATCHES

TIME AROUND

THE WORLD

Why Patek Philippe’s watches are true global icons

I

n our globally networked lives, World Time watches are more important than ever. We have conversations with people all over the world, and share ideas on a worldwide scale, so it's useful to know the time in the places to which we are travelling to or where people live with whom we communicate.

Patek Philippe World Time watches fulfil this function in an exemplary way: they show all 24 world time zones at a glance. The local time is most prominently displayed for the time zone whose assigned city name is just above the small red arrow at 12 o'clock – in the classic manner with the hour and minute hands. In the other 23 zones, the times are directly readable on the 24-hour ring that rotates counter clockwise within the city disk.

The minutes indicated by the minute hand are the same for all time zones.

“Patek Philippe World Time watches show all 24 world time zones at a glance” We owe this ingenious functionality to an invention in the 1930s by Genevan watchmaker Louis Cottier. The mechanism was later refined and patented

by Patek Philippe. When travelling into a different time zone, the pusher in the case at 10 o'clock is pressed as often as needed to align the respective city name with the red arrow at 12 o'clock.

Each time the pusher is pressed, the hour hand will advance by one hour, while the city disk and the 24-hour ring will move by one increment in the counter clockwise direction. During this process, the time-zone mechanism is uncoupled from the movement so that the accurate progression of the minute hand and the amplitude of the balance remain unaffected. Consequently, the time in all 24 zones is always displayed with the precision specified by the directives of the Patek Philippe Seal.

An excellent example is the World Time Ref. 5230, which is available in two versions. Ref. 5230R in rose gold and Ref. 5230G in white gold, showcasing a manually guilloched dial centre with a motif inspired by a historic model in the Patek Philippe Museum’s inventory, the outer section of the dial holds the cities of the world. The case diameter is 38.5mm, fitting perfectly on the wrist.

Its luxurious case is also water resistant to 30 metres, and home to the in-house developed Calibre 240 HU, displaying a

REF. 5230R IN ROSE GOLD

mini off-centre 22k gold rotor through an exhibition case back crafted from sapphire crystal glass. Both versions are worn on a hand-stitched alligator strap with large square scales and a Calatrava fold-over clasp, a classic shiny black strap for the white gold model and a shiny chocolate brown strap for the rose gold model.

The Patek Philippe World Time Ref. 5230R and Ref. 5230G are available to view at Berry’s Jewellers. For more information, or to speak to a Berry’s watch specialist, call 01753 840 930, email customerservice@berryswindsor.co.uk or visit the store at 41 Peascod Street, Windsor, SL4 1EA

REF. 5230G IN WHITE GOLD

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...is for Be Mine LEEDS | YORK | HULL | WINDSOR | NOTTINGHAM | NEWCASTLE berrysjewellers.co.uk

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FASHION • JEWELLERY

Traditional twist Look for an upgrade on the classic signet ring

By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

CAROLINA DE BARROS

CLIO SASKIA

DAINTY LONDON

Areia round signet ring, £15 carolinadebarros.com

Shield ring bearded dragon white gold, £3,695 cliosaskia.co.uk

Selkie ring, £290 daintylondon.com

GALIO

LUCIA HALL JEWELLERY

RACHEL JACKSON

Meira T Evil Eye diamond signet ring, £649 galio.co.uk

The letterbox ring, £195 lucia-hall.com

North star gold pinky signet ring, £60 racheljacksonlondon.com

SIF JAKOBS JEWELLERY

THE VINTAGE RING COMPANY

THE VINTAGE RING COMPANY

Follina Piccolo ring, £119 sifjakobs.com

Felicity antique Victorian gold and diamond horseshoe ring, £1,520; thevintageringco.com

Matilda antique Victorian true lover’s knot gold ring, £1,680 thevintageringco.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY S

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At Private Client by Bupa, feeling good isn’t good enough. Their ambitions for your health and wellbeing go much further. They curate a complete service for the mind, body and being, with premium health insurance plans that are designed to be used. From award-winning medical cover at home and abroad, to proactive wellbeing benefits and direct access to private specialists without a GP referral. Private Client by Bupa also gives you access to a worldwide network of doctors via the Global Virtual Care app, available 24/7 at the touch of a button. They’re here for you today, tomorrow, and for whatever comes next. Discover more at: bupaprivateclient.com

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A DV E R TO R I A L

With Private Client by Bupa feeling good isn’t good enough for us.

Our ambition for your health and wellbeing go much further.

Private Client by Bupa curates exceptional health and wellbeing services, all brought together in one simple package with one single point of contact. From award-winning medical cover at home and abroad, to direct access to any recognised private hospital, medical provider, or clinic within your area of cover, and a 24/7 Global Virtual Care app for video consultations at the touch of a button. With our Ultimate health plan you’ll have a Lifecare Concierge to help you proactively manage your health journey, combined with proactive and preventive benefits such as naturopathy, cryotherapy, and vitamin treatments.

We have curated a complete service for the mind, body, and being.

A holistic healthcare approach designed for lifestyles not just circumstances.

We’re here for you today, tomorrow, and for whatever comes next.

Private Client by Bupa is a premium service providing expertly curated health and wellbeing plans insured by Bupa Global.

Bupa Global is a trading name of Bupa Insurance Limited and Bupa Insurance Services Limited. Bupa Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Bupa Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Global Virtual Care is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority nor the Prudential Regulation Authority.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • NOTES

BEAUTY NOTES

The latest in luxury makeup and skincare

By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

FOCUS

EDITOR’S PICK

FEELING

plumped

Visiting acqua x sea containers in London

ROC

By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

Start your day by deeply hydrating, visibly plumping, and protecting with RoC® Multi Correxion® Hydrate + Plump Moisturizer SPF30. This clinically proven gel-cream formula uses the power of pure Hyaluronic Acid to plump away lines and wrinkles, while providing UVA/B protection. £35.99

S

rocskincare.co.uk

Sleep easy ELEMIS

Wake up to dreamy skin with this luxurious sleeping cream. Ideal for all skin types, the prebiotic overnight sleeping cream leaves dry, thirsty skin feeling silky, soft, radiant and replenished upon waking up. This skinquenching cream works through the night with an indulgent formula infused with Camu Camy, a well-known source of Vitamin C. £40 elemis.com

FEAST FOR THE SENSES OJA R

Match your natural radiance with the enchanting scent of Ojar’s Wadi Bloom Absolute perfume oil.

When applied to your natural pulse points, its floral aroma intensifies, beginning a journey through notes of bergamot, ylang ylang and jasmine that waft around a dry base of patchouli, sandalwood and delectable honey. £130,

NATURE’S SECRETS ituated in the heart of London’s Southbank, you will discover a sanctuary within a sea container. This month I had the pleasure of visiting agua, experiencing one of their most exclusive treatments – ‘The Bust Blossom’, a bespoke bust massage using Hedgerow by agua products, working to release any tension in the spine and shoulder girdle. It is a therapeutic experience focusing solely on the upper torso, inducing a deep trance of relaxation, aiding flexibility, improving posture, breathing, and releasing all the tensions and stresses that we all unconsciously hold in our upper body.

By treating the entire thoracic cavity through gentle manipulation and breathing techniques, this treatment promotes the drainage of tension from the solar plexus and muscles of the chest, balancing breathing rhythm and increasing the overall detoxification of the tissues through improved circulation.

Hedgerow by agua consists of six ingredients: lemon balm, rosemary, St John’s Wort, peppermint, comfrey and marigold, all of which are delivered through the medium of massage, utilising techniques derived from herbalism and aromatherapy. All of the treatments are centred around sustainability and selfsufficiency, aiming to educate and inspire the understanding that we can harness the power of nature to be healthy and to provide that next level care.

This is a chance to experience a walk on the natural side.

SEA CONTAINERS

20 Upper Ground, SE1 9PB 020 3747 1000 seacontainerslondon.com

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Q&A

WEARING IT WELL

Absolutely catches up with Samantha Castell and Kelly Jones, the brains behind G-Mynx, to see how they are encouraging gym goers to feel and look good

By MARK KEBBLE

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • INTERVIEW

BRANDED ACCESSORIES ARE PART OF THE COMPANY'S NATURAL EVOLUTION

Q What inspired the idea to launch G-Mynx?

A Sam: Kelly loves to keep fit and healthy and is an avid gym goer. With this in mind, being a working mum of three children she was always on the lookout on ways to save time, primarily by wearing her gym wear all day, every day. After buying endless leggings and bra tops that were uncomfortable and weren’t fit for her needs, she asked if I’d like to join forces with her to produce a legging and bra top range that was fit for purpose and that everyone could enjoy. Spurred on by her competing in the Miami Pro Bikini Contest in 2018 and making use of my purchasing and supply chain experience, we began to plan what we wanted. I was a working mum beginning my fitness journey and being two different body shapes we thought we’d be an ideal match to make sure we had all bases covered.

Kelly: I wanted to do something for myself and I’ve always loved wearing gym wear, so I thought about producing my own range, and when I met Sam we discussed it and came up with a plan. We came up with the name and logo on a summer’s evening whilst BBQing with drink in hand.

Q Was it difficult to get it off the ground?

A Sam: One word: yes! We knew what we wanted – comfortable gym wear that could be worn all day every day for any occasion.

We wanted the right material, in a style we had designed, high quality at a fair cost for G-MYNX CREATES COMFORTABLE GYMWEAR THAT CAN BE WORN ALL DAY

our customers. We began the search for a manufacturing partner – and then the Covid pandemic hit. Our plans were halted while we managed our day to day jobs, plus bringing up children. Then 2021 came and we started the G-Mynx quest all over again.

Kelly: It took time to get the right partners and was deflating when suppliers promised to provide, but couldn’t walk the walk.

Certain suppliers weren’t keen to work with us in the current climate as we were a start up company. We even met suppliers abroad with the hope of partnering. We finally found a partner who we could work with and haven’t looked back since.

Q What do you think about when creating your sportswear range?

A Sam: Our first thought was to produce items that we would want to wear, hence the high waisted leggings and supportive bras, and these were the first and hardest things to get right. We wanted to ensure we got what we wanted and that sizing was true to size.

This naturally led to our branded accessories of booty bands, shakers and water bottles.

Kelly: The main aim was to produce gym wear that I’d be confident in. Hide the areas I disliked and enhance the ones I did. We wanted to promote the feel good factor.

Q How do you look to promote a positive message about all body shapes?

A Sam: G-Mynx produce flattering styles to drive body positivity for women of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds. We use real people to promote our products. We are all different like Kelly and I, but with the same goal in mind. This is what brings the mynxettes together. G-Mynx want to support, inspire and motivate women on their journey.

Starting anything new can sometimes be a

daunting experience. I started my journey as I wanted to be healthy, this began to change the way I looked. What I wore to the gym made a huge difference to how I felt.

Kelly: We wanted to inspire women to be the best version of themselves and embrace the fact we are all different. It would be a boring world if we were all the same.

Individuality rocks. We should be raising each other up as women. If you see change, compliment them. Those small words may mean the world to them and last a lifetime.

Q What are your plans for 2022?

A Sam: To reach as many people as we can!

We believe in our products. All of our items use high quality durable materials that are built to last and are made with love and respect.

We’re in the process of publishing customer feedback, which has been really positive.

We have new lines to add such as long line tank tops, a cover up t-shirt and the ‘to and fromer’ lounge top. Plus more accessories such as a gym/yoga mat, socks and a bobble hat, and launching additional colours of our signature leggings and bra tops.

See more about G-Mynx on their social media channels @gmynx A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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With a wide range of private medical services, we are here to help you prioritise your health this winter.

Face-to-face* consultations with a private GP Private referrals and prescriptions Vaccinations Blood testing ENT services including ear wax removal COVID-19 testing services *subject to current guidelines

0330 088 2020

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • TREND CHARLOTTE TILBURY Beauty light wand goldgasm, £29 charlottetilbury.com

CHARLOTTE TILBURY Luxury palette of pearls, £42 charlottetilbury.com

GLOSSIER Ultra lip, shade ember, £14 glossier.com

BITE Daycation whipped blush, £24 bitebeauty.com

MORPHE Morphe colour pencil in bite me, £4.50 uk.morphe.com

MINIMAL EFFORT

CHANEL Joues Contraste, shade 71 malice, £37 chanel.com

CHANEL

EDITOR’S PICK

One of the largest trends in luxury makeup this season is all about creating a clean aesthetic

Les Beiges blush stick, £37 chanel.com

CIATE GLOSSIER Cloud paint, shade dawn, £15 glossier.com

MORPHE 9W smoke & shadow artistry palette, £15 uk.morphe.com

Dewy skin, £26 ciatelondon.com

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SCHWINN IC8 INDOOR CYCLE

“Infinite resistance levels and a range of sweat-inducing programmes”

FIT FOR 2022 Optimise your home routines with equipment from Fitness Superstore

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SCHWINN IC8

 Immerse yourself in the world of virtual races and trainer-led studio classes from the comfort of your own home with the Schwinn IC8 Indoor Cycle. Delivering a smooth, quiet cycling experience that’s simply hard to beat, the IC8 is a musthave for those intense cycling sessions.

The IC8 comes complete with 100 micro-adjustable resistance levels and a generous full colour backlit LCD display that tracks your time, distance, calories and more. What’s more, it’s compatible with some of your favourite fitness apps, including Peloton, JRNY™ and Zwift™.

Try the IC8 for yourself at your nearest Fitness Superstore.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • PROMOTION

BOWFLEX TREADMILL 56 SCHWINN AIRDYNE AD8

SCHWINN AD8

 Bring your HIIT workouts home with the Schwinn Airdyne AD8, the ultimate high intensity training tool. Thanks to its spacesaving structure, infinite resistance levels and range of sweat-inducing programmes, you’re able to target all body parts on the AD8 while torching calories fast.

Keep track of your workout stats down to the exact mark with the multi-display LCD console, showing you calories, watts, time, speed and more. Capable of burning up to 80 calories per minute, using the Schwinn AD8 is as much of a mental challenge as it is a physical one – if your goal is to push yourself further than you thought possible, the AD8 is for you.

BOWFLEX KETTLEBELL

 Hit your fitness goals with the Bowflex SelectTech 840 Kettlebell, the perfect strength training addition to any home gym setup. Eliminating the need to buy multiple kettlebells, the 840 contains six weights in its compact design for a home workout tool that’s both convenient and versatile enough to keep up with you as you progress.

With just the turn of a dial, you can easily adjust from 3.5 to 18kg, rapidly switching from one exercise to the next. Simply select your desired weight and lift the kettlebell out of its dock, with its ergonomic handle A HEALTHY START TO LIFE IS KEY AT WILD TRAINING offering a secure grip throughout.

BOWFLEX SELECTTECH 840 KETTLEBELL

BOWFLEX TREADMILL 56

 Complete with a breathtaking 22” HD touchscreen, the Bowflex Treadmill 56 truly stands out from the crowd.

A top-of-the-line cardio offering, the Treadmill 56 provides the coaching, motivation and variety you need to stay immersed in your fitness journey.

Elevate your runs with inclines from -5% to 20%, striding on a deck that’s large enough to accommodate all users and is enhanced with Comfort Tech™ cushioning technology. Compatible with the JRNY™ app, runners can experience voice-coached workouts that automatically adapt as your running improves, explore 50+ scenic locations from around the world, or stream shows from existing Netflix, Amazon and Disney+ accounts.

BOWFLEX MAX TRAINER M8

 Gear up for a fitter you with the award-winning Max Trainer M8 from Bowflex – your answer to maximum calorie burn in less time. Featuring the innovative 14-minute MAX Interval™ workout, this world-renowned machine combines intense intervals with short recovery times to deliver the results you want in under a quarter of an hour.

At a fraction of the size of most ellipticals, the M8 is the epitome of form meeting function. Its small footprint means you can get a gym-quality workout, enjoying personalised coaching and trainer-led sessions with JRNY™ app compatibility, from nearly any room in the home.

BOWFLEX MAX TRAINER M8

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • SLEEP

“The patented Contour Pocket System has a unique cushioning ability”

SLEEP SECRETS How to achieve the perfect night’s sleep?

Start with the perfect mattress

By EVE HERBERT

T

he perfect night’s sleep is the holy grail of life.

The quality of our sleep defines our day – and a good night will always lead to happier, more productive and successful waking hours. But how to achieve it? Most important is, of course, the bed itself.

Swedish bed company Carpe Diem Beds was founded 25 year ago by chiropractor Börje Thuleskär, a firm believer in the importance of sleep for body and mind.

He sought out the best mattress on the market, but wasn’t impressed by it and one day fell asleep on a bed of heather by the sea in Sweden – where he realised that nature contoured to his body far more than any bed ever had. This led him to embark on a quest to build the perfect

bed, one that would mimic the feeling of weightlessness he had had on the heather.

This quest took thousands of hours and a partnership with the Spinal Unit at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Sweden. The final result is Carpe Diem Beds' patented Contour Pocket System, which has a unique cushioning ability. It gently yields and supports at the same time, instantly moulding to your body’s contours and changing with your every movement.

You can feel the mattress embrace your hips and shoulders while gently supporting your lumbar and waist. Your spine is relieved of tension, and your muscles can finally relax.

The sensation is unique: almost weightless and quite unlike most standard mattresses.

Just like lying on a bed of heather on the cliffs by the Swedish sea, in fact.

Carpe Diem Beds opened a showroom on Wigmore Street last year, where visitors can experience the company’s ethos first hand. Its innovative approach is visible on their website, where an interactive bed configurator introduces the available options, revealing how each bed can be matched with personal preferences. Each bed is customisable in size, finish and fabrics. Top of the range is Vindö, the most innovative adjustable bed that offers automatic lumbar and neck support, with head and foot rests that can be lowered or raised to suit your needs. It has a variety of massage functions that can be controlled via an app, as well as built in under-bed lighting. Skaftö is Carpe Diem Beds’ most exclusive continental bed and its moveable mid-section can be adjusted, with built-in back support customised by remote control.

There’s no better single route to wellbeing for body and soul than rest and sleep, and that’s why a Carpe Diem bed is a longterm investment in your overall health.

Oliver Bootmann, VP Brand of Carpe Diem Beds, says: “Why compromise when you don’t have to? Beds can and should soothe both the body and the soul.”

CA R P E D I E M B E D S 15 Wigmore Street, W1, 020 3982 3252 carpediembeds.co.uk

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • FITNESS

FITNESS

FIT

TALK

NOTES

FIVE MINUTES WITH...

JOSH AT STUDIUM BODY WORKS

By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

What is Studium Body Works and what do you do there?

Studium Body Works is a luxury, uncrowded and by-appointment only-Personal Training, Rehabilitation & Boxing Studio, in the heart of London’s West End. We are a team of highly qualified health care and fitness professionals, most of whom have competed at the highest level of sport, and we have made the conscious choice to do this job and at a standard of excellence.

Is it the training programs and therapy techniques themselves that hit that standard? Our training programs are evidence based. Adaptable and are integrated with our Myofascial & Combination Therapy, which is highly successful, but that is only part of the experience here. First, we practice the highest standard of customer service as a baseline and then deliver the very best for each individual client and patient.

What sort of clients and patients do you get here? It’s mixed. We have a whole roster of amateur athletes, an explorer (South Pole right now), many post-op rehab, five professional combat athletes, but surprisingly most of our patients and clients lead a stressful work life and need postural strength training and therapy as well as the release of exercising regularly.

What services are on offer here at this fantastic space? We offer personal training, Myofascial Release & Combination Therapy, postural strength training, real boxing and kickboxing training, nutrition services, yoga, Pilates, and massage services. studiumbodyworks.com

B OX I NG CL EVER Take a physical step into learning the art of self-defence

K

ris Pace, COO of Kobox in London, explains the benefits of boxing, offers beginner’s tips, and why it’s especially important for women to enjoy the sport.

THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN LEARNING TO BOX Boxing will help women to feel more confident as it is a reminder that we can indeed become good at a skill that is so heavily dominated by masculinity. We are strong, we are athletic and we are powerful. Boxing requires all

of these elements and knowing that I, and other women, possess these traits is empowering in itself. I think every woman should try boxing at least once.

THE FITNESS BENEFITS Physically, boxing is incredibly demanding. It is a full-body activity that is going to get you burning calories, developing lean muscle and strengthening your joints. You may be great at lifting weights, or running 10km, but if you’ve never boxed before, you’ll soon know about it once you start, feeling the burn in places you didn’t even know you could.

THE MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS Energy, empowerment and endorphins. Every punch is like a mental and physical release.

You have to step outside of your own head, drop all of those life worries and just be in the moment, mental clarity and focus. Combine that with improved hand-eye coordination, cardiovascular fitness, muscle and joint strength and some dancefloor music, you will walk out of KOBOX class feeling strong and powerful.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • PROMOTION

“Choose one new fruit or vegetable every week and add it to your weekly shop” PRIORITISE SLEEP

It’s the first thing we sacrifice in favour of working longer hours or watching more TV. We have been conditioned to view sleep as a waste of time, as opposed to the regenerative, mood boosting, mindenhancing, muscle-repairing wonder that it is (yes, it really does all of these things).

The quality and quantity of your sleep directly dictates the productivity and energy for your day. Honour your body’s need for sleep; it is the single most effective thing you can do to look after yourself.

Tip: If you aren’t getting between 7-9 hours of sleep, start going to bed 15 minutes earlier each week until you reach at least 7 (ideally 8) hours. And switch all screens off an hour before bedtime.

EAT A RAINBOW

B e y o u r o w n N E W Y E A R ’ S R E S O L U T I O N Take a gentle approach with these simple yet effective strategies B y L U C Y PAT E L

A

s we clear the final leftovers from the fridge, our usual next step is to frantically decide on a new year’s resolution, likely centred around losing weight or going to the gym. Where most people fall short with lofty resolutions is in the planning, and many find their 1st January motivation waning by the 31st, leading to feelings of failure. The last thing we all need after the challenges of the last two years is to feel under sudden pressure to lose weight and get fit.

This year, why not try a more gentle approach? Here are three simple strategies to get you moving towards a healthier you, without excessive changes to your routine.

We are all guilty of falling back on the same set of meals, week in week out. But this means we aren’t regularly giving our bodies the diverse range of different nutrients it needs to perform at its best.

Simple swaps can be powerful: a red pepper has 1.5 times the Vitamin C and 11 times the Vitamin A of a green pepper. The key here is to focus on colour; the more colourful your shopping basket, the greater the range of nutrients you’ll be getting.

Tip: Choose one new type of fruit or vegetable every week and add it to your weekly shop.

SOAK UP SOME NATURE

Daily, gentle exercise outdoors is one of the best things you can do for both your mind and body.

You’ll get a boost of serotonin (the “happy” hormone) from being outside, and spending time looking at fractals, repeating patterns such as those found in leaves, flowers and snowflakes, is scientifically proven to reduce stress levels.

Tip: Take regular breaks and aim to spend at least 30 minutes outdoors every day.

LU CY PAT E L Lucy Patel is a Registered Nutritionist and specialises in supporting women regain their health and body confidence after having children.

You can find out more about Lucy by visiting lucypatelnutrition.co.uk

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Whether you’re looking to lose weight or control your Type 2 Diabetes Our 800 calorie a day, low sugar weight loss plans feature recipes created by our Executive Chef to ensure you lose weight quickly and still feel satisfied.

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For help and advice Call 01494 972 384 | email hello@therealfooddiet.co.uk | visit www.therealfooddiet.co.uk

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • PROMOTION

LIVE SMART Nooro is a start-up CBD snacking brand, started with the vision of taking CBD and nootropics mainstream

N

ooro was started in 2019 when the founders, Jacques and JD, began to think blending CBD and certain nootropics could be a game changer. After much rigorous testing, tasting and trialling, they found the sweet spot between focus and calm, crafting a winning combination into snack bars using uplifting ingredients.

To make a Smarter Snack you need clever ingredients. CBD (Cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive compound found in the hemp plant. It has myriad benefits affecting mood and physicality, and benefits both recovery and restful states. From the Greek words 'noo' for ‘mind’ and tropos meaning ‘changing,’ nootropics live up to their name by being memory or brain boosters. Nootropics

are natural plant extracts that have a positive effect on cognitive performance.

Nooro uses Maca and L-Theanine.

While nootropics won’t make you smarter, they can help boost energy levels, increase mental alertness, improve memory, heighten concentration, and encourage wakefulness. Naturally occurring nootropics (like the ones found in the Nooro CBD snack bars) even aid in promoting and improving healthy brain function.

Nootropics have a positive effect on the brain’s performance through a variety of different methods and pathways. They are found to increase the blood flow to the brain, carrying vital nutrients, energy, and oxygen, encouraging better brain function.

Both artificial and all-natural nootropics have been extensively studied to better understand their many advantages.

While the effects of natural nootropics are not seen as quickly as synthetic ones, the benefits of naturally occurring compounds are reported to last farlonger than those which are synthetic.

Nooro CBD snack bars offer a healthy dose of nootropics using only naturally nootropic-rich plants and amino acids.

We’ve only begun to see what CBD, adaptogens and nootropics can do to improve our mood, mind and body. Nooro aims to help ambitious and curious minds perform at their full potential with the world’s best tasting CBD snack bars.

Each bar is packed with 25mg of relaxing CBD, focus-boosting nootropics and smooth, moreish, gluten-free oats.

Nooro comes in 3 flavours: Lemon + Ginger, Banana + Cinnamon & Sour Cherry + Chocolate. All bars are high in fibre and vegan with 100% natural ingredients and no artificial sweeteners.

Use discount code ABNOO20 at checkout for 20% off all products across the site.

Think better, snack smarter!

NOORO Taster pack of three, £9 getnooro.com

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INTERIORS

MERCURY RISING CA ST R A D S

Castrads’ in-house designers created an entirely new, extremely comprehensive range of radiators. The Mercury comes in 14 different sizes, with a customisable length to ensure you get the proper heat output. The Mercury was inspired by traditional column radiators found in Victorian homes across England. The versatility, simplicity, and slim profile of this radiator range make it perfect for just about anywhere in your home. castrads.com

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Interior News 70 • Benji Lewis 72 • The Boathouse 76 A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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INTERIORS N OT E S Ideas, designs and styles for your home

By PENDLE HARTE

COLOUR POP HUB SCH

For the current collection, Hubsch's inspiration was very diverse. The designers dug into former design periods, art, and to their surroundings to find out how people live and use their furniture.

"We experimented with new techniques, made new material combinations and explored our love for colours in new ways," they say. We love these colourful glass candlesticks. hubsch-interior.com

TO P TA B LE ILINKA

A table dressed with beautifully made tablecloths, placemats and napkins that are coordinated with the tableware is an absolute joy. Ilinka works with a variety of colours on 100% linen or linen combined with cotton for easier wash and maintenance. ilinkacollection.com

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INTERIORS • NOTES

TA K E FIVE Candles DIPTYQUE Patchouli candle, £49 diptyqueparis.com

CO O K SHOP

M ATC H P O I N T

MEYER

CASTRADS

Castrads manufactures custom-built, custom-finished radiators as well as controls and fittings. Inspired by the past, but always looking to the future, these products combine classic form and enduring functionality with the most up-to-date technology. castrads.com

As winners of the coveted Red Dot design award, what sets the Meyer Accent Series apart is the design details. A minimalist’s dream, the series is designed by female designers, engineers and researchers to cook the widest variety of foods with the fewest possible pieces into one range. meyer.com

LES SENTEURS Foret Foray candle, £48 lessenteurs.com

MILLER HARRIS Tea candle, £50 millerharris.com

JOHN LEWIS Pixel scented candle, £22 johnlewis.com

CLOUD BURST AXOLIGHT

NEILL STRAIN Fragranced candle, £65 neillstrain.com

Between design and art, the Italian-designed Cloudy oversized pendant lamp dominates the space with its strong installation power and a fluctuating stage presence of great impact. £2,352. lampcommerce.com

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INTERIORS • INTERVIEW

Berkshire-based Benji Lewis on pioneering accessibility in interior design and the new trend that works well in the county

A

By BETHAN ANDREWS

s we sit and chat on a cold and grey winter afternoon, internationally renowned interior designer Benji Lewis’s passion for colours, textures and patterns is a welcome distraction.

From studying design at KLC in the early 90s, before working for a team of architects, carpet manufacturers and a kitchen design company in Knightsbridge, the last few years have seen the popular Berkshire designer’s work pop up all over the globe.

Lewis credits his time working in kitchen design as brilliant for understanding space planning, something he believes is at the heart of mastering any interior design.

“You need to work out the space availability you’ve got and then plot the possessions you want in the space,” he tells me.

Once he’d worked for other companies for a while, Lewis decided to set up on his own.

“You kind of take a leap of faith going out on your own and cross your fingers,” he smiles.

“But it all worked out well and I was very lucky to have a project I did feature heavily in House & Garden. All of a sudden, I had press interest from World of Interiors too in a short time frame. With that springboard of press attention, I was acknowledged as someone who knew what they were doing.”

Lewis is both maximalist in his interior design taste, but also in his ambitions and go-getting attitude. What’s brilliant is the way in which, due to a Covid-19 inspired idea, he chose to open up his incredible practice through the medium of virtual design – making it accessible internationally and to those who might only want one room doing. It also took him from leafy little Berkshire to having his name talked about all over the world. “Zoom that Room is a customised online advisory interior design offering,” he explains.

“It’s opened me up to an international audience with enquiries rolling in from Paris, Los Angeles, Melbourne. It’s huge and a complete career changer for me.”

As we discuss where interior design A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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JANUARY SALE

Book an appointment for exclusive offers

Hornbuckle Farm, Drift Road Hawthorn Hill, Maidenhead, SL6 3TZ

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www.anthonymullan.com

01628 632 033 info@anthonymullan.com

02/12/2021 9:07 am

“The rustic voguers aren't afraid to inject some glitz and glamour into interior design” trends look to be heading in the new year, Lewis tells me what a hot topic the concept of rustic vogue seems to be.

It’s unsurprising, too, that he finds it an interesting idea given that it seems to work in the interface between fashion and interiors, as well as with that more rustic vibe. With his love for catwalk inspiration and layering of materials, it sounds like an interior match made in heaven.

Or in his home county of Berkshire, as it happens. As we chat, this concept of rustic vogue is one that both Lewis and I agree suits Berkshire down to a T. “In Berkshire, there are some very beautiful properties and people with a lot of disposable income to spend on their interior design. It’s very pertinent for the county, as it’s that

country feel with a glamorous edge – it’s rather more curated than cottage core or shabby chic as a look,” he explains.

“As much as people in Berkshire embrace country life, they still enjoy the glamour and proximity of the city. I think rustic vogue as a term, to my mind, brings the glamour of places such as Claridges into your home with low lighting and sophistication. It’s all doable in the county, but it needs thought and curation.”

I wonder what elements of the trend he believes work so well in places such as Berkshire. “Panelling works well, and the organic, matted textures such as sisal,” he says. “The rustic voguers aren’t afraid to inject some glitz and glamour into interior design. It’s a tailored approach to country decor.” benjilewisdesign.co.uk

NICK HUGGINS

INTERIORS • INTERVIEW

In Vogue Benji Lewis’s tips on achieving rustic vogue

F o c u s o n c u r at i o n

Rustic vogue is not a style that comes easily and achieving the desired aesthetic requires an element of selfcontrol when it comes to the furnishings you include. Try and concentrate on putting together pieces that harmonise in terms of scale, style and shape.

•

E m b r a c e pat t e r n

Using a heavily patterned fabric on a large piece of furniture means that this stands to be the dominant feature in your room. You need to feel confident with your decision making here or else it’s going to be costly to undo it. Florals are great for this aesthetic and work brilliantly layered up on one another.

•

B le n d co nte m po r ary and period Rustic vogue is about taking your best pre-loved vintage pieces and adapting these to create a smart contemporary feel. Think outside the box! If you own an old textile, showcase it in a clear Perspex frame – these not only look fantastic, but it shows imagination and can be a brilliant conversation piece.

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P u s h

t h e

B OAT OUT We go behind closed doors of an awardwinning contemporary house alongside the River Thames in Maidenhead

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INTERIORS • FEATURE

A THE FABULOUS OPEN PLAN KITCHEN

s we start 2022, we don’t want to be rushing head first into a whole load of deadlines, meaning a little quiet time is in order – so a visit to The Boathouse, which occupies an idyllic position alongside the River Thames in Maidenhead, is just what the doctor ordered.

Set at the end of a private road, electric gates open to reveal this remarkable and architecturally designed cedar clad property.

The Boathouse has undergone a meticulous renovation and major extension, which has been completed to the highest specification throughout. This has been executed beautifully, focusing on a paredback aesthetic design, creating a truly stunning home. Completed in 2018, this award-winning renovation was recognised

by The Sunday Times as a finalist in their British Home Awards, The Daily Telegraph Best Renovation 2019, The Times Bricks & Mortar supplement and Grand Designs magazine. High praise, indeed.

Inside, the property offers approximately 4,435sq ft of accommodation arranged over A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Warming your home is our Passion

We provide a full service offer, from the site survey, consultancy, 3D modelling, installation and after sales care. Our experienced team listen to your requirements, provide knowledgeable advice and a complete interior design solution that bring dreams to life.

Our engineers are qualified to supply and fit any solid fuel and electric appliance from traditional free standing stoves to highly contemporary inset and free standing fires, offering a bespoke service to meet your requirements.

We have built our reputation on honesty and integrity, always offering clear advice to ensure you get the right solution for your home and lifestyle.

Whatever your project, call us or visit our showroom

Marlow Stoves 01628 290 142 info@marlowsstoves.co.uk marlowstoves.co.uk

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INTERIORS • FEATURE

two floors, along with a garage space that can double up as a workshop, accessed via a 160m long private driveway.

Highlights on the ground floor include open plan living, with wonderful flowing accommodation from the impressive central atrium, to the dining room, sunken drawing room with polished concrete floors and feature open fireplace. Slim profile sliding doors fully open along the overhanging cantilevered roof. Open corners enable the living area to be seamlessly connected to the decked terrace and garden beyond.

The impressive kitchen is fitted with a comprehensive range of bespoke oak veneered cupboards and drawers, integrated Gaggenau appliances, a concealed pantry cupboard and large central island with marble work surfaces.

The space in here is remarkable. A concealed study/library fitted with bespoke shelving, utility room, gym, cinema room and cloakroom complete this floor.

The oak staircase leads to the first floor galleried landing with extensive glazing, providing a picturesque outlook over the grounds. The spectacular principal bedroom with air-conditioning includes panelled feature walls and discreetly concealed built-in wardrobes. The luxurious en-suite has a soaking tub, perfectly positioned to enjoy views over the garden. This floor has

SPACE IS NOT IN SHORT SUPPLY THROUGHOUT THE HOME

“The centrepiece is the elevated and beautifully designed decked terrace with wonderful views over the Thames” THE PRINCIPAL BEDROOM EN-SUITE HAS A STUNNING SOAKING TUB

four further beautifully presented bedrooms (one en-suite) and a family bathroom.

The landscaped gardens and grounds have been carefully designed. To the front of the property there is an expansive lawn with a variety of mature shrubs and feature trees. The driveway sweeps up to the parking area adjoining the house, defined with slate shingle, which cleverly mirrors the silver of the cedar cladding. Adjacent to the main house is the expansive garaging and storage space.

The rear south westerly facing garden has been thoughtfully planned. The centrepiece is undoubtedly the elevated and beautifully designed decked terrace with wonderful views over the River Thames, outdoor lighting and feature open fireplace. It’s a wonderful space and suntrap, taking advantage of the early evening sun, and is ideal for year round entertaining. Additionally the lower terrace adjoining the house has an outdoor kitchen and a pizza oven.

A gate provides access across the towpath to the mooring with decked jetty. Onward use is subject to an acceptable license from the Environment Agency, but The Boathouse can certainly live up to its name, giving you the opportunity to take to the water.

A relaxing trip on the river? Just what you need after the busy festive period.

The Boathouse is for sale with Savills Windsor, with a guide price of £4,000,000. Find out more by calling 01753 834600 or visiting savills.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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INTERIORS • ADVICE JAMES HARE VOYAGER COLLECTION

FRESH START

Why decluttering your home is the best way to kick off 2022

By SANDRA ROTHWELL

COURTESY OF SANDRA ROTHWELL

A “Simple colour pops using cushions, rugs or lamps can have a dramatic effect” COURTESY OF ANDREW MARTIN

fter the excesses of the Christmas holiday period and the final bauble has been put away, we can turn our attention to starting the new year fresh and organised with a good declutter. You have probably received a plethora of new objets d’art over the holidays and they have to go somewhere, right? Anything that no longer suits your design scheme, you have grown tired of or is simply becoming dated should be moved on to create space and allow new life to breathe into your home.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT Sometimes, after the wreaths, garlands and twinkly lights have been removed, your hallway can look a little drab and unloved.

Repainting in a spring colour, adding wallpaper, a console or set of drawers, plus a mirror and a runner, will draw you in and lift your spirits. A gorgeous pendant light will add a different type of sparkle – there are many gorgeous glass ones available that create interest and lots of light.

YOUR BEDROOM IS YOUR SANCTUARY You spend so much time in here so make sure this is a welcoming space where you actually want to retreat to; maybe a new mattress (or mattress topper) or a padded headboard? Cushions and a luxurious bed throw, plus new sheets and pillowcases, all create the perfect ambience.

TACKLE IMPERFECTIONS Maybe your sitting room doesn’t have enough seating for family and friends visiting; or the sofa is the wrong shape and size now that the family is growing. Or maybe the bathroom or kitchen is looking tired? Now is a great time to start looking at what improvements you need to make in your home over the coming year.

UPDATE YOUR COLOUR SCHEME Get some colour charts and sample pots and think about updating your space. Grey greens, earthy tones, warm neutrals and blues are all trending for the coming season.

If you don’t need to redecorate, then simple colour pops using cushions, rugs or lamps can have a dramatic effect.

Andrew Martin have a huge collection of ready-made cushions in all shades and styles. I love Heathfield Lighting for pendants and table lamps.

MAKE USE OF ALL SPACE We need to make our homes work for us and, with working from home still a big part of our lives, creating work areas remains important. Equally, we need space to recharge and unwind and a cosy reading area is sometimes what’s needed. These little nooks are easy to create from a dead space in the house with a little careful planning. sandrarothwellinteriors.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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INTERIORS • PROMOTION

over the distance to your home. Our 100% fibre-optic Full Fibre broadband (FTTP) offers blistering performance directly into your home, so you can work, surf, exercise, play and more with confidence while you check off all those New Year resolutions without even needing to leave the house.

EXERCISE … FROM THE LIVING ROOM From Peloton bikes to Echelon rowing machines, there’s an increasing number of home gym equipment that offer live and on-demand classes. There’s no need to travel to the gym in the cold when you can stick to your exercise goals without leaving the house.

BE MORE PROACTIVE …

USING YOUR MOBILE

SPEED OF THOUGHT New year, new you… without leaving your house

T

he average UK home currently has around 10 connected devices and reports suggest that this will rise to 50 devices by 2023. The more tech we buy, the more we need Full Fibre Broadband as laptops, smart watches, smart speakers and security systems all fight for bandwidth.

INTRODUCING SWISH FIBRE Go beyond today’s broadband and bring Full Fibre into your home with Swish Fibre’s brand new 10,000Mbps capable network.

Unless you’re one of the lucky 29% of UK households, chances are you have a fibre-to-the-cabinet broadband (FTTC).

This means the final stage of the journey to your home is being made by the traditional copper telephone wire. Think of copper like a leaky bucket, where it quickly loses speed

Managing household needs has become easier than ever with smart appliances.

By linking devices to your mobile or tablet you could make your coffee before getting out of bed or speak to your front door without coming down the stairs.

You could even programme your fridge to create your shopping list so you can focus your attention elsewhere.

SURF AND PLAY… FROM EVERY ROOM After tearing into presents or hitting the sales, you might find yourself with more internet based gadgets than ever before.

This year, don’t let them go to waste due to slow streaming speeds or blackspots.

With Swish Fibre, you can say hello to 4K streaming, hardcore gaming, crystal clear video calls and smart home living, across multiple devices 24/7. We make every millisecond count by delivering an upload speed that matches the eye-watering download speed of your chosen package.

With split-second response rates, Swish always delivers when it matters most.

If Full Fibre is available in your area, you can register your interest for more information on what we can do for you, to find out when your home is ready to be connected or to pre-order your desired service. Why not visit our Hub in Marlow to put the latest technology and gaming equipment to the test and see the results of Full Fibre for yourself. swishfibre.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Touch the quality, see the style, feel the difference There’s feature walls and then there’s HYPERION FEATURE WALLS

The Old Firestation | 67 High Street, Ascot SL5 7HP | 01344 620211

www.hyperiontiles.co.uk

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INTERIORS • PARTNERSHIP

“The latest interior trend for 2022 is luxury feature walls and acoustic wall panelling”

FEATURE WALL Absolutely takes a closer look at Mikodam panels, the latest range to be found at leading independent business, Hyperion Tiles

H

yperion Tiles is a leading independent tile stockist of porcelain tiles, stone flooring and statement tiles. Their showroom in Ascot, Berkshire, showcases their range of inspirational surfaces for professional and private clients. They are very much a design-driven company who are constantly looking to bring in products that encompass current trends alongside their timeless classic collections.

Within their showroom they aim to create a relaxed informal atmosphere where you can freely browse and gain creative advice and insights from their team, who will happily share their knowledge of the product ranges. Their friendly team will be happy to assist you on any size project.

They cater for all budgets and are keen to help you find the perfect fit for your needs.

The latest interior trend for 2022 is luxury feature walls and acoustic wall panelling. Mikodam is the new and most fashionable way of treating your spaces. Mikodam panels, with their enticing forms and material palette, offer abundant inspiration to their users.

The forms Mikodam offers are shaped with acoustic calculations and aesthetic requirements in mind. The use of these products on walls and ceilings will allow even distribution of sound preventing acoustical defects. Despite their complex designs, application of Mikodam panels is fairly easy. For wall applications they are mounted onto a rail system, and they can be applied onto the ceiling in a similar manner or can be suspended.

Currently, Mikodam offers 15 standardized lines, each with a style of its own, as well as two lines with parametric designs. The parametric lines are available for custom production, and adaptable to any interior skin. Mikodam is a supplier to both commercial and residential sectors; some areas the panels can be used are retail, display design, cultural and entertainment spaces, hotels, bars, lobbies, restaurants, and AV spaces such as home theatres and podcast rooms.

Mikodam panels are unique products that have no equivalent in the market. The panels are boxed products that are easily ordered, shipped, and stored. The brand combines its deep-rooted knowledge of traditional design with a forward-looking attitude in modern design. The Mikodam team states that while designing they always consider what increases an interior’s quality, how it could reach its full potential, and how the users can reach complex compositions that come with ease pleasing the aesthetic appetite. Mikodam aims to be part of an intellectual community sharing ideas and a passion for design.

HYPERION TILES 67 High Street, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7HP 01344 620211 hyperiontiles.co.uk

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Winter Sale now on!

Bespoke your bed in our Winter Sale You can choose from a selection of fabrics, including velvet’s, plush options and wool, finest metal trim finishes, even down to the legs

Stockists of - Dunlopillo -Hypnos - Relyon - Tempur - Vispring

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INTERIORS • PARTNERSHIP

D R E A M S P A C E How to design your bedroom for sleep comfort as well as aesthetics

By EVE HERBERT

S “The look is luxurious but minimalist, and the neutral tones are designed to be mixed and matched”

Swedish bedrooms are world-leading for their fusion of nature and innovation, and for their muted, minimalist aesthetic and clean lines. One brand that embodies this is Carpe Diem Beds, a household name in Sweden, associated with the ultimate in sleep comfort and design credentials. Treating sleep as a luxury and yet also a necessity is one of their core brand values – and therefore crafting a serious space for it is paramount.

Carpe Diem Beds' ethos centres on creating a cohesive bedroom, incorporating a range of considered pieces that complement the bed as centrepiece, with a dedication to optimising the bedroom environment as an oasis of calm (and thereby revolutionising your sleep). While choosing the perfect mattress for you is at the heart of the in-store experience, there’s a strong focus on bedroom design and streamlining, so that the bed you choose can be housed in an environment that’s conducive to optimum sleep health.

For the UK market, Carpe Diem Beds introduced 36 different Designers Guild fabrics for beds and headboards that can be colour matched with carpets, cushions and curtains. Rui Franca of the Wigmore Street showroom explains: “In selecting the fabrics we look at colours that are neutral and subtle.

Bright colours are energising and we need to be relaxed in a bedroom, so no oranges or shiny finishes. It’s all about neutral tones.

Scandinavian design usually keeps tones neutral to create a sense of calm in the mind.”

Fabrics are beiges and greys with some darker tones and maybe some light pinks at the colourful end of the neutral palette. “In store we have access to side tables, carpets and throw cushions. We have a slick metal side

table and lamps too, with finishes in chrome and marble, all in calming soothing tones.”

The look is luxurious but minimalist and the neutral tones are designed to be mixed and matched, alongside lifestyle products such as kimonos, slippers, sleep masks and scented candles.

All this high-tech innovation is fundamentally grounded in a respect for nature and craftsmanship. Using the best and most sustainable raw materials including slow-growth Nordic pine, Talalay latex and organic cotton, expert bed-makers craft each bed by hand in a Swedish manufacturing facility. Each bed is built from start to finish by the same person, who signs the frame at the end as an ultimate marker of quality. Carpe Diem Beds’ innovative approach is visible on their website, where an interactive bed configurator introduces the available options, revealing how each bed can be matched with personal preferences. Each bed is customisable in size, finish and fabric, with a variety of headboard options.

CA R P E D I E M B E D S 15 Wigmore Street, W1 • 020 3982 3252 carpediembeds.co.uk

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INTERIORS • TREND

1 L I G H T W O R K

STYLISH AND ESSENTIAL GADGETS FOR YOUR KITCHEN 1

DRIP DRIP SMEG

The Smeg drip coffee machine allows you to prepare a deliciously aromatic, richly-flavoured coffee with the option of selecting the aroma intensity you prefer. £179.95 smeguk.com

2

HOOKED UP KITCHENAID

3

KitchenAid's iconic Artisan Mixer is an essential bit of kit for any serious kitchen. Use it for whisking egg whites, kneading dough, beating batter and more. kitchenaid.co.uk

3

ON THE FIZZ S O DA S T R E A M

2

Take the pressure off your recycling bin and make your own fizzy water with Sodastream's compact and efficient Spirit machine. It comes in a wide range of colours too. £99 sodastream.co.uk

4

4

H OT S H OT SMEG

5

Smeg's stylish espresso machine, with its 1950s-inspired curves, is as functional as it is chic.

With a bit of practice you'll be preparing high class brews in your own kitchen. £319.95 smeguk.com

5

COOL KET TLE H AY

The Sowden kettle shares the same distinctive family of colour combinations as the rest of George Sowden’s collection, making a statement in any kitchen. £95 hay.dk A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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INTERIORS • TREND EDITOR’S PICK

TAILOR MADE SOFAS Victoria 3 seater sofa, from £1,695 tailormadesofas.co.uk

LIGNE ROSET Ploum sofa, from £3,895 heals.com

CULT FURNITURE Effie Loveseat sofa, £495 cultfurniture.com

SNUG SOFA The Big Chill 3 seater sofa in navy velvet, £1,339 snugsofa.com

OKA Tarma two seater sofa, £2,195 oka.com

LIGNE ROSET Taru sofa, £4,182 chaplins.co.uk

CASTING COUCH

ROSE & GREY

Sofas for extra comfort this season

Penny sofa, £2,095 roseandgrey.co.uk

By P E N D L E H A R T E

LOAF Pudding sofa in thyme green vintage linen, £1,445 loaf.com

SOFA.COM Larsen corner sofa in cobalt, £2,940 sofa.com

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INTERIORS • TREND

HO ME UP G R A D E S FIVE SIMPLE WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR SPACE

1

1

C O LO U R C O D E A N N I E S L OA N

Painting a small area can be an excellent quick fix. Try painting a headboard on a wall above a bed, or take a brush to some tired furniture.

Painting a stencil pattern onto a floor is another effective weekend project – and with Annie Sloan chalk paint there's no need for sanding. anniesloan.com

2

PRESSURE DROP

D OWS I N G A N D R E Y N O L D S

Replacing a tired tap in your kitchen or bathroom is a quick fire way to improve the space. Choose a new colour or finish, or a more contemporary shape from the vast selection at Dowsing and Reynolds. dowsingandreynolds.com

3

L I G H T TO U C H BUSTER AND PUNCH

3 2

Getting the lighting right is a hugely important part of any scheme and installing dimmer switches is a simple task that makes a big difference. Home fashion company Buster and Punch has a selection of super stylish switches to finish your project with a touch of glamour. busterandpunch.com

4

WO R K O U T L I M E L AC E

A new splashback can create a kitchen update without the new kitchen. Try combining tiles and wallpaper for a fully stylish effect – and use colours to contrast with the worktop for dramatic effect. Lime Lace has a great selection. limelace.co.uk

4

5

SORT IT

THE FIND STORE

5

The key to an orderly life is good storage. Every space looks and feels better when everything has its place. Simple solutions such as these hanging storage baskets – numbered for extra precision – can make an enormous difference. thefindstore.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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FROM AGES 2 – 18

“Claires Court have consistently

gone above and beyond, month after month to provide top notch education for our sons.

”

Junior Boys Parent, March 2021

Direct coach routes from Marlow, Marlow Bottom, Bourne End, Cookham www.clairescourt.com RESPONSIBILITY Untitled-7 1

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RESPECT

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LOYALTY

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E D U C AT I O N

GAME CHANGERS W E L L I N GTO N CO L L EG E

The implications of the decisions made at the recent COP26 conference will reverberate for years, possibly centuries, to come. Two remarkable young people from Wellington College were part of that momentous occasion.

Lower sixth form students, Georgiana Nason and Cindy Guo, were selected from over 200 applicants to form part of a team representing the UK Schools Sustainability Network (UKSSN). wellingtoncollege.org.uk/COP26

New Beginnings 96 • Dyslexia 101 A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Question

TIME What every parent should consider as a new year dawns B y S U E L A I D L AW

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EDUCATION • FEATURE

A

t the turn of the year, we are usually thinking about our new year resolutions and fresh starts. Perhaps the dawn of 2022 will be a little different.

Certainly, in education, there is a feeling that things are “getting back to normal”, whatever normal now means. GCSE and A-level exams will resume in the summer months albeit with some mitigations on syllabi; the year should hold the excitement of field trips, residential visits and full resumption of Parents’ Evenings, school fairs and concerts, after their tentative resurrection during the latter part of 2021.

So what are the hopes, dreams and resolutions that you have for your children, family life and education this year? Of course, all parents want their children to be happy and fulfilled, but here are some thoughts to ponder…

SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS ARE BACK

IS IT TIME TO GIVE YOUR GROWING CHILD THE NEXT STEP TO INDEPENDENCE? As parents, it is often difficult to let go, whatever the age of your child. Remember that small steps forward are the way to becoming a responsible confident adult and, at a young age, develop a widening circle of relationships.

It is always good to remember that it is much harder to pull back your child’s independence, so take little steps and build gradually.

IS IT TIME TO GIVE YOUR CHILD MORE RESPONSIBILITY? Parenting today tends to absolve our growing children of a great deal of responsibility. In many ways, this is wonderful, allowing them a full and free childhood. However, gradually teaching and developing small degrees of responsibility help a child to feel respected and grow in confidence. Don’t be afraid of giving them a regular household task to perform or be responsible for feeding the goldfish!

Obviously, responsibilities need to be matched to the age, ability and maturity of each child, but this can develop gradually and sensitively.

IS IT TIME TO SAY NO?

A DEGREE OF NORMALITY IS RETURNING TO CLASSROOMS

Giving children choices is fine and, indeed, often appropriate, but give yourself permission to accept that you are the parent and the adult and, sometimes, your decision or choice is better; you have considered the options and weighed up the alternatives as a mature person who loves their child unconditionally. If you think that it is better for your child, then have the

“This year should hold the excitement of field trips and residential visits” confidence to go with your considered view as parents. It’s not easy, particularly through the teenage years, but I was glad to hear one of my daughters, aged 15 at the time, respond: “I don’t agree with you, but I respect your decision.”

Quite a landmark that’s etched on my brain.

IS IT TIME TO HAVE MORE FUN? Too often as parents, or just as adults, we are focussed on what is best, how we can improve things, worrying about our child’s education and all the other bits that come with having children – and forget, at times, about the fun we have with our children. As they get older, those times become ever more precious. Our daughters are all in their 20s now and the family times that we share are the best moments that anyone could wish for.

Enjoy the journey as well as the destination and here’s to a happy and fulfilling 2022.

L A I D L AW E D U CAT I O N Sue Laidlaw is the founder of Laidlaw Education LLP and Laidlaw Virtual Academy, and she would be delighted to assist you with the educational needs of your child.

020 8487 9517; laidlaweducation.co.uk

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Welcoming girls into Year 7 from 2023

ST GEORGE’S SCHOOL HARPENDEN

A non-denominational Christian day and boarding school

11-18 coeducational boarding at one of the UK's top performing non-selective schools for less than £5,000 per term En suite study bedrooms for every sixth form boarder Total flexibility over full or weekly boarding

Herts AL5 4TD | boarding@stgeorges.herts.sch.uk | 01582 765477

www.stgeorges.herts.sch.uk

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With 40 years’ experience teaching girls, Reading Blue Coat is excited to extend its Co-Ed provision to welcome girls into Year 7 from September 2023.

Open Morning: Saturday 7 May 2022 Register your attendance at rbcs.org.uk

An Independent Day School for Boys and Girls 11-18

17/12/2021 15:53

EDUCATION • NEWS

School of thought The latest events from the people behind the Marlow Studio Project looked to inspire the filmmakers of the future

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arlow school students attended two specially organised panel events at The Jam Theatre Studios, which aimed to inspire the next generation of film industry professionals.

Marlow Studio Project’s founder and CEO Robert Laycock invited writers, producers, and technicians to speak at the two events, to give young people an insight into a career in the British film industry. The events were attended by students of Great Marlow School, The Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School and The Jam Academy.

“The events were so inspiring, and it was stimulating to be able to bring together some of the outstanding leadership in the industry to meet the next generation thinking about careers in the creative industries,” says Laycock. “Giving back through education, mentoring and outreach programmes, working with young people in Marlow and the surrounding county is central to our mission. As the panels explained, anyone considering a job in the industry has a viable and sustainable future career ahead, full of opportunities.”

Samantha Perahia, head of production at the British Film Commission, the government body responsible for bringing a huge volume of international production to the UK, attended one of the events and explains: “The Home Counties, Bucks and Herts have the biggest crew base in the UK. It’s been around a long time and is much more established than anywhere else. Major feature films like

STUDENTS ENJOYED LEARNING ABOUT THE PROJECT

James Bond and Jurassic World are shot in the area – so you must have every aspect to support the film eco-system and the most important part of that is the crew base.”

The Marlow Studio Project announced plans for its third stage of engagement events, which were held in Marlow and Little Marlow from 3-11 December. Organised by independent consultants Soundings, the series of exhibitions gave a further opportunity for the local community to speak to the team behind the plans to bring a state-of-the-art film studio to South Buckinghamshire – the home of British filmmaking for over 60 years.

AN ARTIST’S IMPRESSION OF MARLOW STUDIO

“Working with young people in Marlow and the surrounding county is central to us” “We have a first-class British design team working with us, who are bringing a quality of vision and craftmanship to the project and I am hugely proud of the designs that are emerging, following our public engagement sessions,” adds Laycock. “Our intention has always been to deliver a studio which brings opportunity to Buckinghamshire and hopefully the new exhibition gave people a sense of this. The county has a rich history of film-making already and so delivering a world class hub for talented filmmakers to realise their ambitions is our priority.”

M A R LOW ST U D I O P R OJ E C T To sign up for more information on the studio plans, visit marlow.film

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“Exciting times lie ahead for the brilliant Wellington College” — Tatler

Coeducational | Ages 13 -18 | Boarding & Day in Crowthorne, Berkshire Wellington College nurtures a unifying culture of ambition and aspiration, creating an atmosphere which encourages each pupil to believe that anything is possible Find out more at wellingtoncollege.org.uk

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X X X X / X X•XFOCUS XXX EDUCATION

Reading

RIGHTS

Author Sally Gardner has won multiple awards and sold over two million books – and she also couldn't read until she was 14

By LIBBY NORMAN

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ally Gardner is a Carnegie and Costa-prize winning author with an army of admiring readers. Yet it took her 14 years to finally decipher those mixed and muddled letters on the page and start reading. The first book she read, Wuthering Heights, set her off on a course to a rich creative and writing career.

Today, she can still recall the moment words on a page made sense. She describes how she was in a Nissen hut with the other 'maladjusted' girls round her. It was chaos, several girls were visibly distressed and the rain was driving down on the roof, making

noise levels unbearable. "I just didn't want to be there," she says. "I remember looking down and seeing this book, The Complete Works of Emily Bronte. I picked it up and started Wuthering Heights. I started reading it, word by word, with my finger on the words, and suddenly there was total quiet. It was snowing and I was walking with this man trying to find a room for the night. I knew what was happening and I was in the world."

Being in the creative world never stopped from that point on. Gardner had been promised by her mother that if she managed five O levels she could go to art school. Despite all dire predictions from teachers, she did it and studied at Central

Saint Martin's. She graduated with a First, then became a theatre designer in Newcastle.

She had achieved success, but still – in the background – she was different. "If anyone had asked me then to describe what dyslexia was, what it felt like, I'd have said 'it's an old tin can that follows me round'," she says.

She recalls the moment she confessed her problem to a work colleague – he was baffled by paperwork she was sending him – and he told her she simply had to tell people. That was the moment she decided she had to take control – pick up that tin can and own it. Gardner does, it must be said, have an extraordinarily vivid way of describing dyslexia. She is widely A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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EDUCATION • FOCUS

on record as comparing it to a Rubik's Cube, saying: "It takes time to work out how to deal with it, but once you do, it can be the most wonderful gift."

If Newcastle was her picking up the tin can moment, Gardner found her Rubik's Cube – her wonderful gift – the day that her contract for her first novel came back. She had written The Little Nut Tree from the perspective of an illustrator and when the contract arrived it described her as 'author'.

She says: "I just couldn't believe it."

Success built from this, with a critical moment when she was taken under the wing of the "wonderful" editor Judith Elliott. She says that when she told Elliott she had terrible dyslexia the editor shot back: "You're a writer, what does that matter?" It was Elliott who encouraged her writing talent, but the feeling she wasn't a proper writer didn't entirely go away.

When people discovered she was a writer

“It takes time to work out how to deal with dyslexia, but it can be a gift” with dyslexia they would even question how this could be. "I used to be asked: 'So how do you write?'. I'd tell them I wrote on a laptop. They would respond: 'So, you have a ghost writer then?' Only after Maggot Moon did all of it stop and everyone talked instead about my writing." They certainly did talk about the writing. This wasn't Gardner's first major gong, but for Maggot Moon she was awarded both the Carnegie Medal and Costa Prize – and for a book Gardner had started and then stuck in a drawer.

In her new role as Ambassador for the British Dyslexia Association, Gardner intends to be active on a whole range of issues to do with the rights of readers, and the way the 90 per cent treat the other ten per cent. Gardner would like us to stop talking about dyslexia as a disability and start to see what dyslexia can be – how people with dyslexia can be creative, highly visual and solve problems 'left brainers' struggle with.

"What we are great at doing is thinking out

of the box. People with dyslexia navigate the world differently because they are forced to. A brick wall is never a brick wall, it's just: how do I get through that brick wall?"

Her advice to parents of children who are reluctant readers or have dyslexia is to be patient and to get them into listening books. "I've done most of my reading through my ears. I think I still do," she says. Her other advice is not to raise hell over tidying messy bedrooms. Almost Tindim-like, Sally Gardner says she was a child who had a perpetual struggle seeing the chaos around her – however upset her mother got. "Still, if I get things in a real muddle I can't visually see it. I need someone calm to help me organise!" she adds.

Find out more about the work of the British Dyslexia Association at bdadyslexia.org.uk

SA L LY GA R D N E R To see more about Sally Gardner's books, visit sallygardner.co.uk

A MAP OF RUBBISH ISLAND FROM THE TINDIMS

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HOW HOW TO TO PICK PICK YOUR YOUR PERFECT PERFECT NORTHERN NORTHERN LIGHTS LIGHTS HOLIDAY HOLIDAY A mesmerising and spellbinding A mesmerising and that spellbinding celestial light show has fascinated humankind forhas millennia; celestial light show that the Aurora humankind Borealis is Mother fascinated for millennia; Nature’s greatest spectacle the Aurora Borealis is Mother and is one of thosespectacle epic travel Nature’s greatest experiences simply and is one ofthat those epic should travel not be missed. experiences that simply should not be missed.

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HOW TO HUNT THE NORTHERN LIGHTS HOW TO HUNT NORTHERN To maximise yourTHE chances of seeingLIGHTS the Aurora,

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WHERE TO STAY WHERE Why not TO staySTAY somewhere that’s just as

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THE BRIGHTEST WAY TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

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ASK AN EXPERT! ASK AN EXPERT! Expertise and knowledge are key to witnessing

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CONTACT CONTACTTHE THENORTHERN NORTHERN LIGHTS SPECIALISTS LIGHTS SPECIALISTSTODAY TODAY 336 601 0167001670 785 048 THEAURORAZONE.COM THEAURORAZONE.COM

THE BRIGHTEST WAY TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

PRICE COMPARISON GUARANTEE No lead in prices, no hidden costs, much more included TAZ-Advertorial-Final copy.indd 1 Untitled-7 1

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TRAVEL

PLE N TY TO OFFER THE HARI

With more uncertainty about travel at the time of writing, many of us will be looking to UK staycations to take a much-needed holiday post-Christmas. London may be next door to us, but visiting the likes of The Hari shows what it can offer in terms of a getaway. Read more on page 110. thehari.com

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LIGHT

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A look at rooms with a view of the Northern Lights

By EVE HERBERT

360 KOMSIO HUT, APUKKA RESORT

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TRAVEL • NORTHERN LIGHTS ARCTIC BATH HOTEL

PHOTOGRAPHY: JOHAN JANSSON

NORTHERN LIGHTS VILLAGE SAARISELK

T

hough a holiday north of the Arctic Circle offers an array of incredible experiences, chances are that one of your main reasons for visiting is to tick the Northern Lights off your bucket list. The Aurora Zone offers many ways to search for the Northern Lights, from night-time snowmobile safaris and husky sledding, to reindeer sleigh rides and cross-country skiing. However, one of their favourite trends is the innovation of Aurora accommodation, which allow you to gaze up at the inky night sky and watch the Northern Lights shimmering dance from the comfort of your bed or sofa.

From experiencing one unforgettable night in this specialist accommodation to spending each night of your holiday searching the skies as you are tucked up in bed, The Aurora Zone has an array of memorable, creative and luxurious rooms with the ultimate view.

Levi and Saariselkä

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N O RT H E R N L I G H TS V I L L AG E S

ocated in the north east of Finnish Lapland, Saariselkä Northern Lights Village was custom built to offer guests the opportunity to see the Aurora from the comfort of their bed. Here there are 80 Aurora Cabins, each of which has a north-facing, tepeeshaped glass roof (with heated glass ensuring that snowfall won’t obstruct your all-important view) underneath which you can lie back in bed and gaze directly into the night sky. Similarly, around 6km from the centre of Levi and set in its own piece of wilderness, Levi Northern Lights Village offers 40 Aurora Cabins.

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Castle View

Retirement Village • WINDSOR

“I wish I’d made the move years ago” Jill, Property Owner at Castle View

Lounge/Dining Room

Sky Terrace

Typical Bedroom

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Castle View Retirement Village is proudly celebrating 3 years of providing peace of mind, in every sense, for the over 55s in Windsor

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EXCELLENCE IN RETIREMENT

Enjoy a Sunday Roast with your friends and family and see for yourself why Property Owners at Castle View wish they had made the move years ago*

Call our friendly Sales Manager, Ruth, on 01753 378 127 to find out more www.castleviewwindsor.co.uk • info@castleviewwindsor.co.uk *Terms and conditions: Book now for a Sunday roast and tour around our fantastic retirement village every Sunday between 12 and 3pm from Oct 17th to December 19th - £15 /head includes a main course and desert. Complimentary bottle of wine for groups of 4 providing all are over 55. Booking is essential. Our facilities are aimed at visitors and potential residents who are aimed at those who are over 55.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: MARKO JUNTTILA

TRAVEL • NORTHERN LIGHTS

ARCTIC FOX IGLOO

Aurora Domes

AT T O R A S S I E P P I AND TROMSØ

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he Aurora Domes at Torassieppi in Finland are a truly remarkable purpose-built glamping design. Effectively large yurt-like structures, they have been adapted to their Arctic surroundings and provide guests with an ideal view of nature’s greatest light show.

Echoing a traditional igloo design with their circular shape, each has a double bed and small seating area overlooking a transparent wall through which the night sky can be viewed. Each has a wood burning stove that is further complemented by soft lighting, reindeer skins and blankets ensuring a beautifully cosy retreat.

Similar in design (and new for 2020) are the Wilderness Camp Tamok Aurora Domes in Norway, set deep in the Norwegian wilderness and surrounded by mountains and valleys. These domes provide the perfect setting to escape the light pollution of the city and search the dark skies for the Northern Lights.

AURORA DOME AT TORASSIEPPI

AURORA DOME AT TORASSIEPPI

“These domes escape the light pollution of the city”

360 Cabins

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AT A P U K K A

he Aurora 360 Cabins at Apukka are at the forefront of innovative design, showcasing a completely different construction than other destinations. The beautiful design is based on a Komsio (a traditional Sámi cradle) and gives a nod to its natural surroundings with traditional Sámi furnishings.

Featuring two tiers, the boutique cabin offers both privacy and a high vantage point for seeking Aurorafilled skies. The top-floor-bedroom has 360°-degree views via its glass ceiling and windows, and at night you have an ideal view of the sky and any potential Northern Lights displays.

Arctic Bath Hotel

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he perfect option for those looking for an extra special upgrade, the Arctic Bath Hotel in Sweden is a true reflection of the innovative design that the country is so well known for. Part wellness hotel, part architectural wonder, it is designed to float on the stunning Lule River during the summer and freeze in place throughout the winter.

From one of their land cabins amongst the trees, you will have the advantage of a huge glass wall offering views of the sky and idyllic snow-topped scenery. At night, of course, this window offers you the ability to look directly out into the sky, keeping an eye out for Northern Lights displays (you may have to leave your bed to see the sky in full, but you can still keep cosy inside the cabin).

Arctic Fox Igloos

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oing one step further, the stunningly designed Arctic Fox Igloos on the shores of the lake Ranuanjärvi offer panoramic glass walls, giving you an incredible, unobstructed view of both the surrounding wilderness and the Arctic sky. Heated panels prevent the windows from frosting over or being covered with snow and each has a private sauna for some relaxing escapism from the Arctic cold.

T H E AU R O R A ZO N E Start planning your 2022 bucket-list getaway with The Aurora Zone, the original Northern Lights holiday company. Contact a Travel Expert on 01670 785 012 or email them at bookings@theaurorazone.com.

ATOL protected.

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Heavenly

HARI

Five-star boutique hotel The Hari is ideally located for London shopping, shows and sights – and a welcoming base to rediscover the pleasures of a capital weekend

I

By SA N DY CA D I Z- S M I T H

magine an urban oasis set among the sweeping crescents and majestic mansions of London’s Belgravia.

Located in a discreet, understatedly British neighbourhood, overlooking a leafy London square, The Hari stands out as a beacon of modern luxury. This stylish urban retreat is close to many of London’s iconic shops, restaurants and attractions including Harrods, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and the Royal Albert Hall. Yet somehow it also feels like it’s enclosed in its very own bubble of magical tranquility.

A bubble of happiness we found ourselves engulfed in as soon as we stepped into the loft-style lobby.

Everything about The Hari is truly a feast for the senses. The inspiration of renowned designer Tara Bernerd, the

elegant interiors with their sandblasted brick walls, grey oak flooring and mix of contemporary and antique furniture are adorned with extraordinary art installations around every corner.

Starting in the welcoming open loftfeel lobby, there is a beautiful fireplace and a sweeping staircase leading up to a mezzanine-style lounge. There’s also a fabulous library of books which guests can borrow from and are encouraged to donate to, the Hari Bar and plenty of tempting hideaway nooks for lazy London afternoons – this is undoubtedly a place you can get lost in time.

Well, we did. Upstairs the all-weather (there’s a sliding roof) al fresco Garden Terrace is a stylish spot for some Italianinspired food with its all-day menu and there’s an impressive cocktail menu.

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THE ELEGANT BAR

A STUDIO SUITE

“When we are shown to our room, we discover the true meaning of Hari heaven”

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There’s certainly some exceptional food to be eaten here. Downstairs Il Pampero has a traditional Italian menu complemented with an impressive wine list and even more irresistible signature cocktails. And it’s where we also tucked into our delectable breakfast selection snuggled into one of the window alcoves.

When we are shown to our room, we discover the true meaning of Hari heaven. Our Studio King Suite was the epitome of elegance and comfort – so much so we really didn’t want to leave. King size beds with softest of luxury linen and sumptuous bespoke furniture in luxuriant velvets and regal berry shades.

And the bathroom of dreams – created from stunning white Arabescato marble with a huge walk-in rainforest shower, the deepest of baths set in a bay window overlooking the square, the plushest of towels and lovely Noble Isle bath products. When the sun streamed in through that window in the morning, it really did feel like we were

living in some kind of dream. As you’d expect there is also every facility at hand.

The latest technology is on tap including a ginormous 46-inch television with myriad satellite channels, high-speed wifi, docking stations and bedside USB charging ports.

Our stay was made all the more memorable by the superlative service.

General manager Andrew Coney has imbued his staff with an ethos of the highest standard of courtesy and efficiency in every part of the hotel. I’ve never experienced such a warm welcome, so many smiling faces or such well-informed staff. Nothing is too much trouble and we felt like no request would be too big – probably because it really wouldn’t be. That’s what happens when you check into a little slice of heaven.

THE HARI 20 Chesham Place, London SW1X 8HQ thehari.com

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01494 677727

Call us now for a no obligation consultation

Best wishes for the New Year from all at KBS

Affordable, luxury, quality & style...

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Traditional shaker styles designed for modern living

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The perfect gift in this extraordinary year

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