Product Test – Charlotte Tilbury
A Little Bit of Magic Airbrush Flawless Finish £34 Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder features ingredients to prevent excess shine and brighten complexions. This shade in 1 Fair is ideal if you have very fair to fair skin, perfect for fair redheads and blondes! What makes Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder magic: • Enjoy effortlessly flawless skin in a silk touch like you’ve never experienced before! • Soft focus micro powders from nano-particles blur away lines and imperfections, sitting like a soft micro-fine cashmere veil on top of your skin • Rose wax and almond oil hydrates your skin throughout the day and smooths flawlessly over your skin • Nourishing actives soothe and restore skin, with light-reflecting ingredients diffusing and reflecting light for a luminous complexion and even finish all day Magic Foundation £29.50 Five years in the making, this is a new generation of anti-ageing, full coverage foundation that morphs to your face in a weightless texture, for a perfect second skin that lasts all day. Proven to instantly cover & treat in the long term: • Acne, Acne Scarring • Redness, Rosacea, Discolouration & Melasma • Mature Skin: Deep Wrinkles, Age Spots & Thread Veins • Tired, Dull Skin Problem skin transforms into Perfect Skin before your very eyes. The hyper-intelligent formula dispenses evenly over your skin and does not sit in imperfections. Magic Away £24 This is the magic wand of makeup for perfect-looking skin! Magic Away Concealer in 1 Fair is an incredible full coverage liquid concealer in an ivory shade for very fair skin with cool undertones. For five years, Charlotte Tilbury has been working on this holy grail of concealers that reduces the appearance of dark circles, blemishes and imperfections, for fresher-looking second skin instantly! Magic Foundation This is a great product. It makes your skin look flawless and lasts all day VP Magic Away Liquid Concealer An amazing product! The applicator sponge with its pointed tip give precision application around the eyes. It hides dark circles and blemishes and even covers fine lines. It lasts all day and doesn’t smudge or crease. CB Airbrush Flawless Finish I found this a very fine powder so the finish it gave was lovely and seamless. It lasted all day which was great giving a matt finish. I chose a shade too light thinking of winter colouring, so will go with ‘medium’ next time for my skin tone. JP 00
Celebrity Interview – Graham Gouldman
He’s the only constant member of 10cc, acclaimed as one of the most inventive and influential bands in the history of popular music. But Graham Gouldman isn’t just a singer and bass player: before he was 21 he’d written million sellers for the Yardbirds, the Hollies and Herman’s Hermits; he’s had success performing with other acts; and he’s a slick producer as well. This year Graham has done two tours with Ringo Starr’s band as well as taking 10cc around the country. Next year looks just as busy for the 72-year-old who will be performing in foreign climes including Russia and Japan. On their current tour 10cc will be playing an already sold-out gig at Buxton Opera House, a venue where they have performed several times before. Graham remembers the last time, a couple of years ago, very well. “Our PA broke down, so we did some numbers acoustically. It went down really well and it made for a special night. We did offer a refund on the tickets but hardly anyone took that up because they enjoyed the fact that we made the most of the situation and tried to give the audience what they wanted.”Twelve months ago Graham was back in Buxton, this time at the Pavilion Arts Centre. He performed his acoustic show Heart Full of Songs which he will be taking to Germany and Holland in 2019. “It’s an aside to 10cc really,” says Graham who comes across as intelligent, thoughtful and even-tempered.“We play smaller audiences but it’s something I really enjoy because I get to do songs that I wouldn’t be doing in a 10cc show, songs I wrote in the ‘60s, songs I wrote with Andrew Gold, film music and solo stuff as well.” Graham teamed up with the late American singer Andrew Gold from 1984 to 1990. As the group Wax their song Bridge To Your Heart reached number 12 in the UK singles chart. For some people, though, Graham will always be known as a quarter of 10cc. He says the current band is “as near as you’re going to get to hearing the perfect 10cc”. Why? “You’ve got one original member who sang some of the songs, all the 10cc records were co-produced by me, and two of the members (guitarist Rick Fenn and drummer Paul Burgess) have been with the band from the very early days on record and on the road.” Graham Gouldman was born on 10 May 1946 near Salford in Lancashire. He began playing in bands when he was a teenager and one of them, the Mockingbirds, signed a recording contract. But the Columbia label rejected Graham’s first single, For Your Love – which became a major hit for the Yardbirds. Graham also wrote Bus Stop for the Hollies, No Milk Today for Herman’s Hermits and Pamela, Pamela for Wayne Fontana. In 1969 Graham and his friend, former Mindbender Eric Stewart, became financial partners in a recording venture, Strawberry Studios, at Stockport. Two other friends, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, joined them as session musicians. Three years later pop mogul Jonathan King signed the quartet and gave them the name 10cc. Since then they’ve sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. Three of their songs reached number one in the charts, I’m Not In Love, Dreadlock Holiday and Rubber Bullets. I’m Not In Love has been played more than five million times on American radio stations. No wonder Graham says that’s the one song the band can’t afford to leave out of their set wherever they perform. “It’s a special song, there’s no doubt about it. I’ve done different versions of it – I do it in the acoustic show so it’s a more stripped-down arrangement. The song has a certain something about it that’s almost mystical. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime song.” Did the band feel it was special when they were recording it? “Well, we knew it was good. The production was really very important. It matched the mood of the song, the melody and the words perfectly. So I always credit the production as much as the song.” Graham who was inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 2014 feels that the timeless quality of the songs has been the main reason why 10cc has lasted for more than 45 years. “It’s almost like there are three generations coming to see us: there’s the older generation and some of the 40-somethings are bringing their kids with them. That’s great to see. I think they want their kids to see musicians who can play well without the use of backing tracks or auto-tuners or anything else like that.” Graham treats the music business seriously although he confesses that he’s not working but enjoying himself a lot of the time. He tries to limit tour dates to no more than four in a row so that he doesn’t stretch his voice too much: “Within 10cc we’ve got two singers. I share the singing with someone else so there’s less of a strain. “The other thing to be said is that we don’t lead a rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. As soon as we get back to the hotel it’s straight to bed. There’s no carousing or anything like that. We’re all conscious of looking after ourselves. Like any job you’ve got to keep fit to do it. And being on the road in a band is exactly the same as that. “Being on stage for a couple of hours is like all your workdays concentrated into those two hours. You come off stage and you might feel tired but you feel exhilarated at the same time and it’s a lovely feeling. “If you look after yourself, being on the road doesn’t have to be as unhealthy as it sounds. But you have to discipline yourself and not have the full English breakfast every morning!” Like many musicians and artists I’ve spoken to over the past few years, Graham feels fortunate to be doing a job he absolutely
Restaurant Review – Jeera, Crich
An evening of quality Bangladeshi cuisine. “Whoa, slow down Midge you’re going far too fast, you’ll have to explain that to me again” When people are passionate about what they do, it’s really hard for them not to try to tell you everything all at once. And all in one breath. If I was to put together a restaurant menu with dishes, some traditional, some handed down by eminent chefs and some of my own creations, I think I would be eager to tell you about them as I presented them at the table. Well Midge Mannan at Jeera, on Crich Market Place is of that ilk. He’s so proud of his heritage as understudy, from the age of fifteen, to Mr Rahman who, in my opinion was one of Derbyshire’s best at delivering quality Bangladeshi cuisine. Sadly he passed away about ten years ago but what he taught Midge (nephew of Mr Rahman) still lives on in passion for product, desire to create flavours and the need to please discerning diners. In contrast, the week before we ate at a restaurant whereby the waitress brought our starters, plonked them down with basically a “that’s what you ordered and now you’ve got attitude”. Not good enough. Midge in contrast whisked us through the content of dishes, how they were flavoured some of which not only were traditional dishes but also had a few twists of Spanish and Italian in them. When Midge had established what we liked and didn’t like, he shot off to the kitchen to explain to the chefs what he wanted to present us with. There was a good buzz in the restaurant which, being situated in the centre of Crich, attracts customers from far and wide. Crich Market Place is always busy and very much a travel to place, so if you enjoy something, you will go back for it again and that is the crux of Jeera’s customers and why at the weekend they can serve up to five hundred meals. Personally I prefer midweek eating, as places tend to be a little quieter and you get chance to chat and nail your exact meal, and also have the chance for Midge to explain what he’s prepared for you. It’s not been an easy road though. It takes time to build up a solid team and a good reputation with regular clientele and then hold onto them. I’ve sometimes felt that in the food industry restaurants generally get “one shot” at impressing us. Fail and we are off in search of pastures new. This was Midges chance to impress and boy did he do us proud when for a full three hours we tucked into some delicious food. “You’ll have to write down all we’ve had Midge because I’ll never remember it” I said. I was so busy enjoying it and talking to my dining companions Terry, and Mike. I’m not unaccustomed to this type of cuisine but I was surprised to discover some very tasty new dishes to add to my favourites list. The Lamb Bengal special, lamb cooked with green beans and eggs on top, was so succulent that the dish emptied at a rapid pace. I was worried that the Chicken naga (hot naga chillies cooked buna style) may be a little too spicy for me but no that was spot on and again proved a favourite. I was tipped off about this dish by Paul at Costcutter who said “Ask Midge to do it Desi style” We trusted Midge to just present us with a showcase of their food. So here’s how Midge presented and filled two tables for the four of us. Starters Fish tandoor, Naga wings, Chef’s mixed grill, Mushroom purée, ‘Character’ chickpea purée. Mains Chicken Jalali; a vibrantly colourful dish with yoghurt, mint and lemon. Lamb Karachi; sizzling authentic dish with onion and peppers. Zamora Goan special with Bangladeshi peppers; cooked dry and dressed with sliced potato. Lamb Bengal special; lamb cooked with green beans and topped with crispy edged fried eggs. Chicken naga; hot naga chillies cooked bhuna style. Extras Lemon rice, Pilau rice. Garlic and Coriander naan (cooked properly in a tandoor oven). Four of us couldn’t beat it. If you’d have seen how much delicious food was on our table you’d understand why. Here’s a comment from one of our dining friends; “The fish tandoori starter was succulent and beautifully presented. All the starters were complemented by puri bread. Zamora Goan was beautifully spiced without being too hot and the naan was deliciously fresh. Overall the chefs provided an excellent balanced meal. It was interesting to try authentic, regional Bangladeshi foods, as opposed to those adapted to the English palate.” Meet the team. Last but not least here is the team that can make you a great dining evening; Owners: Midge Mannan and Mislo Mannan Head Chef: Abul Kashem (trained by Mr Rahman). Tandoori Chef: Suruk Miah. Our thanks to you all for making us so welcome. Note: You will need to take your own alcohol but then again there is Costcutter next door! 00
Lost Houses of Derbyshire – Langley Hall, Meynell Langley
The history of Langley, just north west of Derby on the road to Ashbourne, is complex to say the least. As a consequence, it is not without its fair share of lost houses, about one of which we have sufficient information to be able to say something about it. The manor of Langley originally consisted of a knight’s fee and, by 1108 had been granted by the Norman grandee Ralph FitzHubert to one Robert de Meynell, whose father was the Domesday tenant of FitzHubert in the NE of the county. Until the senior male line of the de Meynell’s failed in 1227, and the family’s extensive holdings were divided amongst the husbands of his four daughters, the family continued to hold it entire. At that date however, some family holdings survived the division of land, and a half knight’s fee at Langley was bestowed upon the next brother of the grandfather of the four heiresses, who was called William. Another half knight’s fee at Langley – half the original manor – was bestowed upon William’s brother-in-law, Nicholas son of Ralph of Langley, otherwise Nicholas FitzRalph. The division was basically made using the line of the ancient Derby to Ashbourne road as a boundary. Nicholas FitzRalph had everything to the south, including Nether Burrows, Langley Common and Langley Green. He also founded the church of St. Michael on his half, for it does not appear in the Domesday Book and is mostly of that date and later. Hence his portion was distinguished by the name of Kirk Langley or Church Langley, the use of the Norse derived term ‘kirk’ suggesting a substantial Danish-speaking population in the area since the fall of eastern Mercia to the Vikings in 874. A new settlement grew up around this church. Meanwhile, William de Meynell retained everything to the north and east of the road, including the original village, which henceforth became Meynell Langley. It was situated just to the north and east of the present Langley Hall, and was investigated archaeologically in 1980. William de Meynell, seems to have adopted the place as his chief seat and built a house for his son mentions a ‘capital mansion’ there in a charter drawn up a few years later. Probably he founded a chapel to serve the village, too, and this appears to have become absorbed by the house, as happened at Markeaton Hall in the Medieval period. Once the village had become de-populated, it eventually became the hall’s domestic chapel. Further evidence for old Meynell Langley Hall dates from 1555 when it is recorded as having a deer park. William Senior’s map of 1640, shows a house, more or less on a similar site to the present hall, orientated NE-SW and set around most of a large courtyard. Now, the chances are that it had once been twice that size by the early 14th century, for the Meynells had become very important figures, two of them (both called Sir Hugo) serving as stewards to the Ferrers Earls of Derby, all holding important administrative posts and two fighting doughtily in Edward III’s campaigns in France. They even briefly inherited a barony from the de la Wardes of Newhall. They were certainly of equivalent standing to the FitzHerberts of Norbury, a fragment of whose ancient house survives. We know from research carried out in 2010 that originally Norbury Hall was set around two courtyards which was par for the course with important knightly families in our area then. Therefore, the inference must be that the hall at Meynell Langley was similarly laid out. Meanwhile, the FitzNicholas family at Kirk Langley were followed by the Twyfords, and the Twyfords by the Poles, and until the latter family inherited the place, no one amongst these families with their chief seats elsewhere, needed a house at Langley. The Poles however, did build a house, beside the church, the site of which is marked today by some uneven lumps in the field, called Pool Close, the mutated name deriving from that of the family. We have seen that in 1227, the senior line of the de Meynells ended with heiresses, leaving a younger branch with a diminished holding – mainly half of Langley and other places. The same thing happened in 1397. Ralph de Meynell died in 1389 leaving four daughters, who all married. His mother, Joan, held the estate until her death in 1397, when she divided it up, mostly between the daughters’ husbands, but part was bequeathed to her brother-in-law Sir William Meynell, whose posterity moved to Willington and Yeaveley. Meynell Langley went to Reginald Dethick of Dethick, whose only daughter married Ralph Bassett of Blore, in Staffordshire. It remained with their family until 1602, and the Bassetts it was who must have reined in the size of the house. They also rebuilt the chapel in Henry VIII’s reign, the date being confirmed by a pair of Nuremberg jettons found beneath the floor when it was demolished in 1757. From the Bassetts (who had as well bought Kirk Langley from the last of the Poles in the 1590s, re-uniting the manorial estate) it all passed to Charles I’s most loyal supporter, William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle, who allowed various relations to live in the hall, and who commissioned the 1640 map. By this time the village had vanished entirely – probably through a combination of the catastrophic climate change event of the 1340s, the consequent Black Death and the creation of the park, though by the 1640s the park too was mainly divided up for agricultural purposes. In the end, the Duke was financially ruined by the Civil War, and was keen to sell. The buyer was Isaac Meynell, one of three brothers who made colossal fortunes in the City during and after the Civil War; all three were descendants of Sir William Meynell of Willington, and were clearly keen to see the family return to their ancestral acres, despite the passage of 272 years! It eventually came
Derbyshire Antiques & Collectibles – Thimble Collecting
Thimble is a word used for a small cap to protect the finger for use when sewing, and the name derives from Old English thyma and Old Norse thumall – the same root that gives up ‘thumb’ – and more specifically thymel a fingerstall. The root word really meant ‘swelling’ and words like tumour and thigh are also related. The great thing about collecting thimbles is that they are small and you thus need only a limited amount of space to house your collection, and even if you have quite a lot, you are still not going to have your house or flat totally dominated by them. In the main, too, they are generally highly affordable – unless, that is, you decide to go in for either precious metal examples of antique or even ancient ones, for the use of thimbles goes back into antiquity. A bronze Roman example, a metal detectorist’s find, was offered for sale a few years ago for £25. Indeed, one of the most expensive thimbles ever sold was a silver gilt one bought by an American collector from a UK auction twenty years or so ago for £18,000. It had provenance, having said to have been given by Queen Elizabeth I to one of her court ladies. A very fine French ivory thimble (something that will soon be untradeable) decorated with scrimshaw ducks round the rim recently made £360. Another antique form is the Nuremberg thimble, like the same city’s famous jettons, were made, also in bronze, around 1530, right at the beginning of the modern thimble as we know it. A Nuremberg thimble sold recently for over £250, but more commonly for £30-50, like the one illustrated which has the added bonus of a maker’s mark on the rim – a flower. By the later 18th century our newly fledged porcelain industry was producing thimbles notably Royal Worcester, occasionally with signed painted decoration. It was during the Victorian era that people thimble collecting became popular; practitioners are today called Digitabulists. Purely decorative thimbles, made for collectors or souvenir hunters come in many decorative styles including filigree work, scenes, plant and animal depictions, cherubs, borders, fleur-de-lys, sewing-related themes and, like the antique examples quoted above, come in a variety of different materials. My wife bought a cloissonné enamel one recently, probably Chinese and modelled as a Fo Dog or a tiger (it looks at first glance like an owl, but on closer inspection has fangs) for £1 and absolutely loves it. Working thimbles – these are the sparsely decorated thimbles that were made specifically to be used. Although these might not be as fancy, they carry a lot of value of their own nowadays and are highly collectable. Commemoratives, souvenirs, advertising thimbles and many other varieties can be had for very little money. At fairs, for instance, some dealers have a box of them at a fixed standard price, and sorting through them can produce all sorts of attractive ones. Some modern ones can also be pricey. I recently spotted a silver one assayed in Chester in 1962, in its original presentation box, very desirable to the collector of more decorative types, but at £175 I thought it over-priced; £20-30 would have been our estimate at Bamfords. More affordable were a pair of Edwardian silver thimbles in their original boxes priced more reasonably at £60 each. Both were decorated in good repoussé flower patterns and one had a decorative frieze, too. A box spotted recently at a local fair of silver thimbles was offering each item at £10. A good rummage armed with a loop to check the hallmarks might lead to a few little treasures that might show a slight profit, although the unit price at auction for a single silver thimble would be about £1.50 to £2, but they are always sold in groups unless particularly special. Another stall I came across recently had a splendid selection: a 1970s NASA commemorative, and a pewter example boxed by the same supplier (£4), several porcelain ones, including a single Royal Crown Derby example (£1.50). Regarding the latter, a full set of 15 RCD ones with box shouldn’t set you back more than £50 and the firm issued several sequences of them. Many of those I saw were boxed, and there were others in brass, plastic, bakelite (sought after, and often £5-8) and so on, and all very reasonably priced. I also spotted a good embossed 9 carat gold thimble by Henry Griffiths & Son, on sale at £90, although at auction, £30-40 might be more like it. 00
Restaurant Review – The Hope & Anchor, Wirksworth
Standing proudly on the market place in the centre of Wirksworth is The Hope and Anchor, a grade two listed 17th century stone building. Closed in 2016 but now under new management and with around £100,000 spent on refurbishment, along with a new chef, The Hope and Anchor is now open for business. On their website they proudly proclaim that they are, “A good pub with real pub food”. Our visit, along with two long standing friends one Friday evening in mid July was a great opportunity to put that claim to the test. Occupying a prominent position in Wirksworth it was easy to let your mind slip back to the days in 1306 when the town was granted market status and would be jammed with colourful stalls and people plying their trades many of which are now lost. Over the years, with wealth generated by lead mining and stone quarrying, this market town came to be graced by some of the most lovely, historic, stone buildings. But now to our dining experience. We were welcomed by General Manager Jack, who showed us to our table in the large restaurant area, the rear of which is elevated. The late evening sun poured through the windows as we sat at a rustic table with plenty of space around us, it was so pleasant not to be squeezed in elbow to elbow with other diners. The décor here is contemporary with lovely muted shades, the walls have been partially clad with wood of various colours some featuring the imprint appropriately of an anchor. There are many nice rustic touches whilst the old building still retains many original features, which is quite fitting as it’s Rustic Inns who took over this pub in November 2017 and have worked tirelessly to put together a dining and drinking experience to suit current trends. Our waitress for the evening was Jersey who explained how much she enjoyed the food that the new chef was producing. Three of us ordered starters while one was saving herself for pudding! “It’s worth the wait” said Jersey. My starter was tomato bruschetta which consisted of three slices of rustic bread, tomato, chilli topped with torn mozzarella. A firm favourite of mine, not too overpowering and very clean tasting, a cracking start. Mike devoured his house pate infused with thyme, garlic and mushrooms, it was smooth and spread with ease on to the rustic bread. Generous triangles of salted butter and a homemade chutney accompanied it. Jane chose the battered prawns, dipped and fried in a very light tempura batter and served over a fresh salad, the pot of sweet chilli and lime dipping sauce perfectly added that touch of heat and sweetness. The farmers pie of the day was minced beef and onion which was encased in thin short crust pastry, and I chose the double cooked rustic chips. The pie was lovely and moist and was served with a boat of gravy too which was a bonus, the ‘skin on chips’ were very chunky and the buttered greens not over cooked. Mike’s ale battered cod was served on a wooden board and was huge, even for Mike who has a healthy appetite. Lockwoods mushy peas and sea salted double cooked rustic chips were served with this and a pot of homemade tartare sauce and wedge of lemon completed the dish. His determination to finish was testimony to how enjoyable it was. Julie tried the vegetarian curry which was quite hot and had a good variety of vegetables, her only comment was that she maybe missed a naan bread to go with it. Finally, Jane ordered the homemade lasagne, a slight twist on the usual with smoked bacon and red wine and tomato sauce added to the beef. This made for a very rich dish, but with a beautiful flavour, and the side salad was the freshest I’ve had anywhere. As predicted Mike and I passed on puddings, but Jane and Julie went for and enjoyed a lovely light and fresh raspberry mousse and a baked lemony cheesecake, both homemade and highly recommended. That really sums up the food here: locally sourced wherever possible, the chef has an eye for adding that extra something which lifts this good food just up another level. The presentation too is modern with delicate flower and micro leaf garnishes where appropriate. We had a great evening and there were many more dishes on the varied menu that we would have liked to try, and for those with not so large an appetite there is a ‘Lite bite’ menu available until 6pm. On Sundays there are traditional roasts alongside a reduced weekday menu. But, there’s still plenty there to tempt you at the Hope and Anchor. We all agreed that the Hope and Anchor is “A good pub, with real pub food, and a good collection of real ales. The music is pleasant and not too intruding, and they have a young group of staff that are friendly, relaxed and eager to please. It’s a great place to unwind at the end of the week. 00
The Majestic Oak At A Glance
The legendary Major Oak in Sherwood Forest is reputed to have been the haunt and hiding place of Robin and his Merry Men. The oak’s acorns have been roasted and ground to make acorn coffee and its bark has been used to make a decoction for medicinal purposes. In the New Forest, commoners have the rights of Pannage, this means they are allowed to turn loose their pigs to gorge on the fallen acorns in the Autumn. Trees similar in appearance to the Oak first appear in the fossil records, the Cenozoic era; the age of mammals who filled the gap left by the extinction of the dinosaurs. Man has used the oak for many and varied purposes. It has been used for building homes (the Tudors built oak framed houses and barns) and making barrels and casks. Its bark has been used for tanning leather. Oak galls were crushed and mixed with water and iron solution to produce an indelible ink to write on vellum. Being indelible it was much prized for writing legal documents; the Magna Carta and the American Declaration of Independence were signed with such ink. In 1651 an oak tree hid a young Prince Charles, the future King Charles II following the battle of Worcester and in turn gave its name to many pubs. Countries have waged war on the strength of the oak; its timber being used to build Massive Warships like Henry VIII’s Mary Rose. England prided herself in her Navy and oaks were specifically chosen from the forests to provide the correctly shaped timbers needed to produce these big warships. The River Hamble had the necessary shelter and resources to facilitate the building of these ships between the 14th and 19th Centuries. A naval dockyard was then established at Portsmouth where building then took place, repairs being carried out on the Hamble. At Bucklers Hard on the River Beaulieu in the New Forest you can see for yourself the 18th Century ship building village where the ships were constructed for Nelson’s Fleet at Trafalgar. Having considered how we have made use of the oak for our own purposes, we should now focus our attention to what it gives back to the environment it lives in. Over 350 species of insect feed on the oak, and 30 lichens can be found on it. This makes it one of our most important trees. Little wasps lay their eggs on the developing buds and acorns causing a reaction from the tree. This is how oak apples and marble galls form. Inside these growths little wasp grubs munch merrily away safe from predators. One of our native butterflies , the Purple Hairstreak feeds on oak in its larval stage. If you want to see the adult insect though you will need a strong neck and a pair of binoculars. During July the adults fly around the tops of the trees, seldom venturing lower down. They feast on aphid dew secreted on the leaves by these sap suckers. They can occasionally be seen in the evenings coming down to flowers if there is not a lot of dew to be had. One of our biggest and most spectacular butterflies, the Purple Emperor feeds on Sallow, but having hatched tends to fly high up around the oak canopy looking for a mate and sparring with rivals. Fermyn Woods in Northamptonshire is a good place to see this magnificent insect. Another quite impressive insect to make use of the oak is the Oak Bush Cricket which roams around the tree looking for a tasty snack. Many moth larvae feed on oak providing food for the local bird population, as the tree gets older its broken branches provide nesting sites for all manner of birds. Woodpeckers and Nuthatches will hollow out rotten trunks and branches to provide a home for their chicks. Spiders and other insects live in the crevices and behind the peeling bark, in turn also providing a living larder for the birds to feed to their young. Even in death the tree provides for its surroundings, beetles lay their eggs in fissures in the bark and their grubs make short work of the dead wood, recycling it to provide nutrients for the next generation of trees. The Stag Beetle is the largest and most well known of these “recyclers”. Fungi also help to break down the dying trees, returning nutrients to the soil. The majestic oak tree has not only hidden Royalty, vagabonds and thieves, it also hides its own secret little world that we may be privileged to see and experience if we only have a little time and patience. 00
A Weekend Visit to Bergen
With short breaks becoming popular, Brian Spencer takes a two-day trip to Bergen, Norway’s Hansiatic sea-port link with an early version of the E.U. Gateway to the Fjords of Norway’s west coast, Bergen is classed as not only a European City of Culture, but a World Heritage City and UNESCO City of Gastronomy, as well as serving the needs of North Sea oil and gas installations. Despite being a vibrantly busy city, both commercially as well as historically, Bergen offers something for everyone, be it sight-seeing, cruising along the nearby fjords, or enjoying the readily accessible seven hills surrounding this fascinating city. An ‘on/off’ bus service runs round the city, giving an ideal way to get to know the place before actually starting to explore the place in detail. We began our visit by exploring the vibrant quays of a harbour that reaches right into the city centre. Being careful with our kroner because, let’s face it, Norway is expensive, but we found there are ways of keeping expenses in check, so we armed ourselves with Two-Day Bergen Cards that gave us free access or reduced prices to a wide range of places and activities. We bought these at Bergen Information Office down on the old fish market. Nowadays fresh fish is no longer sold from outdoor stalls, but from a modern indoor affair where everything that swims or crawls beneath the waves is on offer. Another cost-saving deal, at least for the over sixties, gives much reduced prices on public transport as well as cable cars and some buses. Simply asking for an ‘honor rabatt’, makes fares quite cheap. No need for an expensive rail card or bus pass, simply saying the magic words has the desired effect; I was once politely told off for not asking for my reduced fare. Following the quayside leads into to the oldest part of Bergen. Known as the Bryggen, the gabled frontage of steeply gabled timber old warehouses were once owned by merchant members of the German Hanseatic League. Wandering darkly into a warren of storage dens and box-like bedrooms, the place must have been hardly the pleasantest place to live and work, for the main trade was in dried cod. Still a popular ‘delicacy’ in some parts of Equatorial Africa, in days gone by dried fish was traded with Baltic countries in exchange for corn and timber. This organisation covered almost the whole of north-eastern Europe, extending even as far as East Anglia. A World Heritage Site, the very first buildings in Bergen were situated around the Bryggen, and soon became the most vibrant part of the city. Being mainly timber built the district was ravaged by fire many times, especially in 1702 when the whole area was reduced to ashes. Rebuilt on the old foundations, the Bryggen is virtually unchanged despite the passing of centuries, but where dried cod was once stored this has now become a popular museum, shopping and restaurant district. A stroll through Bryggen’s dark and narrow alleyways with their overhanging galleries is to step back in time to a bygone era. Continuing along the old wharf, past the mooring of the sailing ship ‘Statsraad Lehmkuhl’ which has visited Britain more than once as part of the Tall Ships Race, you will soon reach the fortress and its sixteenth-century Rozenkrantz Tower that once guarded the entrance to Bergen’s harbour. In 1665 during the Anglo-Dutch War, the Bergen Festning (Bergen Fortress), was inadvertently involved in a skirmish with ships of King Charles II. On 1st August 1665, the British fleet chased a Dutch convoy laden with gold and spices into Bergen Fjord. Thinking they were going to capture the Dutch fleet without any further problems, the English admiral was dismayed to find his fleet being fired at by the Norwegian fortress. Apparently King Frederick III of Denmark (Norway was then part of Denmark), had broken his treaty with Holland and given the English permission to attack the Dutch. Unfortunately his message never reached Bergen in time and so the Norwegians went to the aid of their Dutch allies. It was only after an emergency conference was held between the English admiral and the fort’s commander that the only war between Britain and Norway came to an end. Rather than walk back round the old quayside, a small ferry plies its way to and fro from beneath the castle walls over to the southern quays. Old streets of colourful timber-clad houses lead to one of the finest aquariums in Europe. Every marine situation is there from the underwater harbour-side scene, to a penguin pool where you can watch the underwater sporting antics of these active birds through reinforced glass. Composer Edvard Grieg’s home Troldhaugen stands on a southern headland away from the aquarium. Now a public museum to this great composer, concerts are held there and at Troldsalen in the city centre throughout the summer. The house is at Hop overlooking a beautiful forest glade, the perfect setting for his work. Grieg is probably the most well-known of a trio of composers who did much to put Bergen on the cultural map. Ole Bull and Harald Sæverud although not so well known internationally, became famous in their own way. Continuing round the aquarium headland, a side inlet with a series of sheltered anchorages is where the ferries to Denmark rest before returning south. Nearby is the quayside where Hurtigruten ferries turn every day before journeying back to Kirkenes on the Russian border in the far north. Carrying out a service which has run for well over a hundred years, the Hurtigruten (it means ‘fast route’), acts as a lifeline for the scores of places, large and small, that dot the frequently inaccessible length of Norway’s coast. We stayed at the Clarion Admiral Hotel on the southern side of the main harbour, directly opposite Bryggen and it couldn’t have been handier. Small local ferries plied from a stone’s throw from the hotel door. Had we the time we could
Taste Derbyshire – Rachael’s Secret Tea Room
‘Good afternoon Ms Volley, your mission – should you choose to accept it – is to drive to a secret location in the lush Derbyshire countryside and liaise with an operative bearing an orange teapot. Should you injure yourself in a rush to get up the garden path to eat buttered scones; the organisation cannot be held responsible. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds…’ Permission to eat baked goods in a mysterious location? Now that’s what I call Mission Possible. If there’s one thing I love more than tea and cakes; it’s a good mystery and putting them both together really tickles my fancy. Which is why I don’t want Rachael Hands – owner of Rachael’s secret tearoom – to tell me where she is located. “Can we meet in a car-park and you can blindfold me before you take me to your tea-room?” I ask when Rachael sensibly offers to send the address over on email. She has the patience to humour me; “Er, blindfold you? People may give us funny looks,” she says hesitantly before characteristically looking on the bright side. “But it’d be a good marketing ploy; why not?” The simple fact is there are hundreds of quaint, country tea-rooms in Derbyshire but what gets my juices really flowing is the ‘secret’ part. The exact place where Racheal’s guests will end up slurping their Lapsang Souchong is revealed only on booking. “I take a stall every year at The Roundhouse Christmas Market in Derby and people are always fascinated by the idea of a ‘secret’ tearoom,” she smiles. “But their next question is invariably – where is it?” Not that Rachael is falling for that one; ‘I do get people trying to get me to reveal my secret. The only thing I’ll say is it’s in Belper,” she explains. “I have to say this because guests sometimes imagine they might have to journey into the wilds of Scotland and they don’t want to drive too far. But most people love the idea of keeping the secret and – even if they’ve been – they won’t divulge it, even to their closest friends.” True to form, I will not reveal any clues about the location. The most I will tell you is that the quaint, vintage-inspired tea-room is situated in the home Rachael shares with husband Matt and that this cosy venue adds to the charm. “Like a lot of people, I’d always wanted to open a tea shop,” Rachael (45), explains when I ask her how the idea came about. “It may always have remained a pipe-dream but for an article in a woman’s magazine back in February 2012. I’d gone to have my hair done and I read this article about a lady called Lynn Hill who, at the time, was doing a secret tea room from her home in Leeds. I thought ‘I can do that’ and went straight home and emailed her.” Rachael was amazed to get a reply almost straight-away; “If I recall, she just told me to ‘go for it’,’ she laughs. “On a more practical level, she told me to start with family and friends just to see if it was something I really wanted to do and refine my ideas and recipes.” By September 2012, Rachael was ready to host her own event. “I do remember Matt asking if I’d be okay with strangers coming into the house. It wasn’t a worry as I love meeting people. I was more anxious about getting everything right,” she recalls. “That’s why the idea of the ‘secret’ tea room appealed. It’s not that I am a fan of mysteries – I just thought it would lower the risk. If I set up a tea room on a high street and it didn’t work, it would be devastating. As it’s a ‘secret’ tea room I could try it for six months without anyone knowing.” Rachael had no reason to be so worried. She started off with a full-time job in local government with the idea of hosting her secret shin-digs once a month. The events were so popular, Rachael cut down to part-time work so she could do them twice a week. In May 2014, she was finally able to leave her job and concentrate on the tea-room full-time. “I think when people first come they are intrigued by the secret location and not getting the address until the last-minute adds to the excitement,” Rachael says when asked about this success. “When they arrive at my door, I can see them almost thinking ‘I didn’t think I’d be coming here’ as it’s our home. But they love it for being so comfortable and cosy. I get a lot of repeat business. One mum and daughter have been around ten times. They’re always being asked about where the tea room is but they never tell as it would ruin the surprise. In fact, in six years – no one has ever revealed the location. They all buy into the fun of it.” The praise for her food is quite incredible for someone who admits that, while she was a keen cook, she hardly did any baking before launching her business. “It might be in the DNA. My parents used to own a bakery in Cromford until they sold it in 2006,” Rachael smiles. “I did help in the bakery and went on some of the delivery rounds and working in the shop but – other than having a few 5am starts – I had nothing to do with the bakery side.” Rachael turned to her favourite bakers, chefs and amateur bloggers to collate recipes and started experimenting to see which ones would work. She still devotes a lot of time to testing and tweaking recipes to delight her guests – making bubble gum flavoured macarons for instance – and adapting according to the seasons. “I love Autumn as it’s a time for using fruits like plums and berries in my recipes and I
Product Test – Boost Your Skin with Evolve Beauty
HYALURONIC EYE COMPLEX With Active Botanical Cells & Hyaluronic Acid 10ml £16 For all skin types Exotic Tuberose flower plant stem cells help to reduce the appearance of eye bags, fines lines and puffiness while firming and brightening the delicate eye area. Hyaluronic acid (known for its ability to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water), helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, making the skin look younger with an improved skin tone, whilst cucumber extract cools and soothes. The metal roller ball applicator helps to correct puffiness and signs of fatigue. ———————————————————- Directions: Roll gently to delicate eye area. Shake well before use. Great as a cooling pick me up throughout the day. (Note: Make sure you “shake to wake” in order to activate the rollerball). RAINFOREST RESCUE BLEMISH SERUM With Willow Bark, Acai & Copaiba 30ml £22 For oily and combination skin This natural yet powerful skin treatment can be used on blemish prone and congested skin at any age as well as oily and combination skin. Our Amazonian blend of Acai and Copaiba is proven to decrease sebum production and reduce the appearance of blemishes and open pores, leaving skin clear, calm and matte. Willow bark, a natural source of salicylic acid, helps to boost cell turnover and exfoliate without irritation, for a smooth and healthy looking complexion. ————————————————— Directions: Apply gently on clean skin morning and evening. DAILY RENEW FACIAL CREAM With Hyaluronic Acid and Argan 60ml £24 For normal to dry skin This moisturiser has intense nourishing, hydrating and effective anti-ageing properties and restores normal to dry skin with a blend of pure organic oils. Argan oil nourishes whilst natural hyaluronic acid soothes and hydrates. Delicately fragranced with soothing hypoallergenic vanilla & coconut natural fragrance. 99.75% NATURAL 32% ORGANIC TRIED & TESTED Rainforest Rescue Blemish Serum. This product is perfect for oily and combination skins. Its really light texture goes on easily and absorbs straight into your skin so you can apply makeup instantly. Its smells divine too. You can use it every day morning and night for more problem skin or just when blemishes appear. CB Hyaluronic Eye Complex This is a really handy product which glides on easily and sinks in really quickly. I can tell after a few weeks that my fine lines are less visible. Great. VP Daily Renew Facial Cream. This has the consistency of a mousse but is really rich. I had to leave it on a few minutes before I put my makeup on, but any dry patches soon disappeared which was lovely. I think this is a great cream for the winter months. JP 00
