Be water safe as you swim

Karen Neville

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The Royal Life Saving Society has invaluable advice to help you enjoy the water safely this summer

With temperatures set to soar again this week there’s always the temptation to jump in the water and cool down but make sure you do so safely, especially if you’re taking the plunge at an open water site.

Sadly, a very high proportion of accidental drownings take place at lakes, rivers, canals, reservoirs and quarries where the lure of cool water on a hot day can be too much to resist.

The Royal Life Saving Society say: “The benefits of swimming and dipping in open water are well documented. Not only does being in or on open water allow new adventure it also has documented benefits for both physical and mental wellbeing. All of these hazards can be controlled through proper organisation and planning.”

Risks to consider in open water include: the shock of cold water which can make swimming difficult and increase the difficulty of getting you if you should get into trouble; lack of safety equipment; the hight of the fall or jump; depth of the water – this can change and be unpredictable; underwater objects which may not be visible; obstacles or other people in the water; uneven beds or banks; strong currents that can sweep you away rapidly; water pollution.

Sadly, a very high proportion of accidental drownings take place at lakes, rivers, canals, reservoirs and quarries where the lure of cool water on a hot day can be too much to resist.

Drowning is preventable, yet over 400 lives are lost to drowning across the UK and Ireland, every year. If you see someone in trouble, the RLSS advises:

Step 1. Keep alert
Don’t expect a casualty to be shouting for help. They may be struggling to breathe, and drowning looks very different to how it is portrayed in the movies.

If you’re not sure, shout: ‘Do you need help?’ If they say yes or don’t answer at all, it’s time to act.

Step 2. Resist temptation
Don’t be tempted to go in. The water might be cold, which will limit your ability to swim. And whatever has caused the casualty to need help is likely to happen to you too. Stay well back from the edge.

Step 3. Call 999 or 112
Call the emergency services before you do anything else, so help will be on its way.

Or ask someone else to call while you try to help the casualty. If you’re alone without a phone, find someone who can call for help.

Step 4. Shout and signal
From the shore you have a better view of the area than the casualty. Shout and encourage them to reach a life ring in the water, a jetty, or a shallower area of water. Remind them to kick their legs.

5. Find a rescue aid
If there is a life ring, throw bag (filled with rope), or other public rescue aid equipment nearby, quickly read any instructions then throw it to the casualty.

If there is no public rescue aid equipment, throw anything that will float.
Step 6. Safe rescue

Before you pull the casualty in, get down on one knee or lie down so you don’t fall in.

Remember, even if your rescue attempts fail, emergency services are on their way. Keep sight of the casualty to help the emergency services locate them quicker.

Find out more

Visit the Royal Life Saving Society (rlss.org.uk) for more tips and invaluable advice. 

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Why waste water?

Round & About

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Berkshire-based Plastic Free Home’s Dave Lamont looks at ways we can be more water-friendly in the wake of news of impending shortages

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.”

Make no mistake, the water shortages faced in the UK this summer should not be dismissed as “just another hosepipe ban.” You only have to look around Europe to read headlines such as ‘Water shortage cripples nuclear reactors in France’, ‘Dutch government declares water shortage due to drought’ and ‘Water scarcity: EU countries forced to restrict drinking water access’ to know that something isn’t right.

The problem isn’t a new one though. For some time the Environment Agency has cautioned that the UK faces a significant water shortage by 2050, by which point the country’s population is expected to have risen from 67 million to 75 million people.

Back in 2019, the Agency’s Chief Executive, Sir James David Bevan, warned that the country faces the “jaws of death – the point at which we will not have enough water to supply our needs”.

“We need water wastage to be as socially unacceptable as blowing smoke in the face of a baby or throwing your plastic bags into the sea,” he said.

‘But the Earth is 70 per cent water,’ we hear you cry. Yes, but only three per cent of the world’s water is fresh water, and around 65 per cent of that is stored in frozen glaciers.

The Environment Agency has suggested that in the UK the average person’s daily water usage could be reduced from 140 litres of water to 100 litres through more efficient use in homes and gardens.

Progress has been made by water companies but much more needs to be done to tackle wastage. Across England and Wales, nearly 3 billion litres (660 million gallons) of water is lost to leaks every single day – enough to fill almost 1,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

In our opinion, when it comes to water we also need to look at how homes are built and function. Just as big changes are planned when it comes to how we heat and power our homes. It cannot be right that in the 21St century we flush our toilets with clean drinking water that in some parts of our planet people would walk miles to drink. Up to a third of the water we use in our homes comes from flushing.

The Environment Agency has suggested that in the UK the average person’s daily water usage could be reduced from 140 litres of water to 100 litres through more efficient use in homes and gardens.

So, how can we all save water? Here are our ten tips…

💧 Swap baths for short showers. An average bath will use around twice as much water as a five minute shower.

💧 Use water butts in the garden, water at night or early in the morning and a good mulch to retain moisture. Even the smallest water butts will fill 20 watering cans and rainwater is better for your plants.

💧 Use watering cans, not a garden hose, and avoid watering lawns. Lawns will generally recover so don’t waste water on them. A garden hose or sprinkler system will use around 15 litres per minute meaning in just 20 minutes you could have filled your bath four times.

💧 Turn the taps off when brushing your teeth, shaving, washing up etc. A running tap wastes over 6 litres per minute.

💧 Only run your dishwasher and washing machine when full and use an eco-setting. It can actually be more efficient than washing them by hand.

💧 If you have a dual (two button) flush, check which button uses the least water and stick with it. This can use half the amount of water every time you flush the toilet.

💧 Install efficient or water saving taps, shower heads etc. Your water supplier will often provide discounted options.

💧 Save cooled water from cooking to water plants. Particularly if you’ve been boiling the likes of pasta and potatoes – plants love starchy water.

💧 Avoid excessive car washing. Wash your car less often and use a bucket and a sponge instead of a hose or jet wash.

💧 Deal with or report any leaks. Around a third of our water is lost to leaks, ranging from dripping taps to burst water mains.

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Bear Grylls Kids Survival Guide

Liz Nicholls

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Jump to…

1. Try foraging for food
2. Get to know the skies
3. Learn how to read and create maps
4. Tell the time from the sun

5. Make the ultimate den
6. Go incognito!
7. Learn the essential knots
8. Finally, test your knowledge with wild camping

Bear Grylls’ Survival Academy has created The Go Wild guide – developed with snack brand Nature Valley – with eight free ways to keep active kids satisfied this summer in their own home or the local park.

1. Try foraging for food

Fall in love with nature by foraging for herbs in your own garden, terrace, or kitchen, or look outside to try and find some wild plants growing! To get set up for foraging, you’ll need a basket and some gloves before heading out to your local park, field, wood, or nature reserve.

Any of these could be growing nearby:

• Purslane – also known as hogweed, purslane is a leafy green plant which can be used as an herb and salad vegetable. Will be in season mid-summer!

• Raspberries – wild raspberries can grow in hedgerows from mid-August and may be smaller than shop bought but are just as tasty!

• Blackberries – similar to raspberries but darker purpley-black in colour, these will also be ripe and ready for picking from midsummer

• Wild Garlic – although this may not be growing in the summer, it’s a good one to know as will be ready to pick and in season next Spring!

2. Get to know the skies

(Great for small children) – the clouds are full of all sorts of hidden animals; you just need to look carefully for them! To try your hand at zookeeper, pick a nice spot in the garden or the local park with a picnic and try spotting as many animal-shaped clouds as you can. Essential to take a notebook and pen or pencil so that you can draw them too.

If you’re waiting to learn a bit more about the clouds, they can also be used to try and predict the weather!

Simply look to the skies to identify these five formations:

• Cumulus: Detached clumps of cloud composed of water droplets that form low and indicate fair weather. Have flat bases and heaped tops and look a dazzling white in the sunshine.

• Altocumulus: Appears as rolls of cloud, or layered patches in the mid-level region. Commonly found between warm and cold fronts, so can precede bad weather.

• Cirrus: Detached, wispy clouds, formed of ice crystals. Wavy appearance is caused by wind movement. Can indicate a change in the weather. Also known as mares’ tails.

• Cirrocumulus: High patches of cloudlets made up of ice crystals that never cast self-shadows. Usually seen after rain, indicating improving weather.

• Cumulonimbus: Known as thunderclouds, these have low dark bases and extend many miles up into the atmosphere. Produce brief, heavy downpours, and sometimes lead to hail and lightning.

And you can also do this at night! Test your navigation skills by looking to the skies!

In the northern hemisphere, look for a distinctive winter constellation – Orion. He is easy to spot as there are 3 prominent stars more or less equal distance apart in a line and that is Orion’s belt. Under his belt there is 3 start that represent his sword. When the stars of Orion’s sword are vertical in the night sky, and you are facing him, you are facing South.

In the southern hemisphere, scan the skies for one of the brightest constellations – the Southern Cross (or ‘Crux’). This video illustrates how easy it is to find South…

3. Learn how to read and create maps

Prevent yourself from ever getting lost by mastering the art of Cartography and learning how to draw and make maps. This may help you map out your local nature spot or create a fun game where you can hide messages in the park for friends to find later on.

Today, most maps are printed on computers, but you can try making one the traditional way, by grabbing a compass and some paper and pens and getting outside. Start by carefully mapping and naming landmarks you see such as ponds, interesting or weird looking trees, and places where certain animals live. You can make a general map with physical landmarks or try out a thematic map with a specific theme to suit your friends.

4. Tell the time from the sun

Make a DIY sundial and compass to see where you are and the time!

Equipment:

• A long stick to use as the central shadow marker
• Some rocks to mark North, East, South, and West
• A watch, as a timer!
• Sunshine!

Instructions:

1. Place your stick in the ground and mark the end of the shadow with one rock

2. Wait 30 minutes and then mark the end of the shadow with the second rock

3. The first rock will be your West point, and the second East. Now mark North and South

4. There you go – you have a compass!

5. Make the ultimate den

A simple and fun thing to do in your back garden, on a picnic, when camping – or even in your bedroom – here’s a simple guide from the den making masters at BGSA on how to make the best den

Equipment:

• A sheet
• Two trees or structures at home that are safe to attach the sheet to
• Some rope
• Decorations of your choice

Instructions:

1. Select a suitable area between any two trees or points for your den

2. If outside, check for any loose branches then run the rope between the trees

3. Drape the sheet over the rope, and then weigh down each corner with a rock, log, or something heavy to hold it

4. Inside your structure, add blankets, leaves, or anything else to make the den cosy and fun inside!

6. Go incognito!

Try and make yourself invisible by learning the five s’s of effective camouflage.

When we’re in the wilderness and our survival relies on us remaining hidden and hard to find, there are five key aspects you need to ensure you’re addressing as you make your way to safety. Helpfully, they all begin with the letter S!

1. SHAPE

Find ways to break up your shape with foliage from your immediate surroundings so that the outline of a human figure is no longer obvious.

2. SHINE

Look carefully at your clothes and equipment to conceal any shine. This could be anything from your watch to the lace ringlets on your boots – use mud to cover everything you can (including your face and exposed skin) but don’t go overboard with the mud either as this in itself could also draw attention.

3. SMELL

Your smell will often betray you long before you’re seen or heard. To minimise exposure, eat all your food raw – if you can! – as the smell of cooked food (and your fire) will carry.

4. SHADOW

Where possible, do as much of your movement at night, where your shadow or silhouette will not expose you.

5. SOUND

All your movements should be slow and purposeful so as not to attract any unwanted attention. If you are moving with someone else, use hand signals instead of your voice to communicate

As long as you are mindful of the above five elements, you’re well on your way to making it to safety and having an incredible story to tell on the other side!

7. Learn the essential knots

Knot tying is an essential part of outdoor adventures, whether you’re building camp, tying your laces, or flying a kite!

Practise these three knots at home until you can master them:

A person holding a bow and arrow Description automatically generated

• Overhand Knot – this is the easiest one of all and is what our hands would automatically do if we were handed a piece of rope or string and told to put a knot in it. A key thing to know about this one, if you tie it around something, it can be undone easily. So, this one is primarily used as a ‘stopper knot’ – useful for stopping the end of a rope slipping through a hold or to stop the ends of a rope fraying.

• Bowline Knot – a BGSA favourite and used by adventurers worldwide, the bowline is made by a loop at the end of a rope which won’t slip or tighten.Also known as the ‘king of knots’, the Bowline is perfect for constructing a hammock at home, making dens, or setting up rope swings.

• Clove Hitch – this one’s a quick and memorable knot that can be used to attach a rope to a pole or a carabiner. Fun fact about the clove hitch, it’s one of the most commonly used knots by the Scouts!

8. Finally, test your knowledge with wild camping

Now that you’ve mastered these survival skills and a summer of challenges, finish off the holidays with a wild camping trip! Even if it’s just outside in your garden, it’s time to put what you’ve learnt into practice and get some experience as a true adventurer.

More info...

To further encourage get people out more, this year will see the return of Nature Valley’s partnership with the Gone Wild Festival with Bear Grylls in Powderham Castle, Devon from 25th to 28th August 2022. Gone Wild Festival with Bear Grylls is an action-packed family friendly festival for adults and children aged 6-18-years.

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Cheers! Best wines for summer

Round & About

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Columnist Giles Luckett recommends some sensational summer sippers available locally.

Hello.

Summer is a brilliant season for wine lovers. There’s nothing quite like being able to sit in the sun and sip some time away in the company of a diverting glass or two. Over the last 30 years, I’ve written dozens of best of the summer wines columns, most of them under strict deadlines.  Not because of pressure from my editor, but because spells of good weather have often lasted about as long as a bottle of Graham Beck Rosé (Majestic £11.99) lasts in my house. The current two-person record being 14 minutes and 18 seconds.

That certainly isn’t a problem this year. And with the forecast for our part of the country giving better odds on cloudy with a chance of meatballs than rain, here are some summer sipping wine recommendations that should bring a smile to even parched lips.

First up, a fizz. I’ve always been passionate about sparkling wines, and the last few years have proved a golden age. When I joined the wine trade, Harrods’ wine department reflected the mood of the times by listing a wide range of Champagnes but virtually no sparkling wines.

This was great for tastings – the evening we spent tasting every Champagne in the shop was one of the best tastings I’ve ever attended – but woeful for the wallet. Good (drinkable) sparkling wine was rarer than a hen’s dentures, but how things have changed…

South Africa, Australia, California, France (who knew?), and Italy all offer great tasting; great value fizzes these days. For this column, though, I’m going to recommend a homegrown wine, the Denbies Whitedowns (Waitrose £18.99). This is everything you could wish for in a sparkling wine. From the fresh, floral, white berry nose to the refined, zesty palate with its flavours of pears, citrus, and peach stones, it’s complex as it is and refreshing.

There's nothing quite like being able to sit in the sun and sip some time away in the company of a diverting glass or two.

Next up, the first of two whites. CUNE is one of the great names of Rioja. Wines such as Vina Real and Imperial are the stuff of wine trade legend, and even their entry-level Crianza (Sainsbury’s £7.50. No, seriously £7.50, I couldn’t believe it either) is brilliant. Their whites can be just as compelling, and the Cune White Rioja is deep joy Barrel fermented; this traditionally styled white Rioja offers masses of peach, red apple, and honeydew melon fruit, with overtones of spicy vanilla. Versatile enough to partner with white meats, fish, or creamy cheeses, it’s also lovely on its own.

My second white couldn’t be more different. It’s the Wine Society’s Vihno Verde (£6. ) Portugal’s wines have been a trade secret for years, though attention has focused on the reds. I’ve had quite a few of their whites of late, and if you’re looking for value and excellence, look no further. The Society’s Vihno Verde is a wonderfully pure, clean, fresh-tasting wine that is light, delicate, and has a touch of spritz to it Fruit-driven; it has a pear and almond flavour to it that finishes with a twist of lemon. The perfect summer evening sipper or elegant aperitif.

If you’re looking for a serious rosé for summer sipping, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Domaine des Echardieres (£9.50). This is made by Vineyard Productions, which is headed up by Liam Stevenson, the youngest ever Master of Wine and someone who holds world records for rowing across the Atlantic. Hero worship is due, especially when you try his wines. The dedication to the cause of creating great wines with a ‘taste of place’ shines through this delicious Loire Valley wine. Made from Cabernet Franc, Gamay, and Malbec, it offers an intriguing blend of blackberries and green peppers from the Cabernet, cherries from the Gamay, and a richness and a hint of ripe plums from the Malbec. This is an outstanding choice in a cluttered and often disappointing rosé market, where presentation counts for more than contents.

And so to the reds. My first choice is a perennial summer favourite of mine, the Zuccardi Los Olivos Malbec (£11.50 Oxford Wine Company). I’m a massive fan of Argentinean Malbec, and Zuccardi is one of the finest producers of it. Inky purple, the sumptuous nose is a combination of stewed black fruits, offset by notes of raspberries and rose petals. In the mouth, it’s generous, full, multi-layered, and offers everything from blackcurrants and chocolate to red berries and charcoal. This is an absolute must for barbecued red meats.

And finally, another wine from Liam, the Petite Immortelle (£11.95 Vin Cognito). This hails from the South of France’s Roussillon region and is a traditional blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Carignan. Earlier this year, I tried this with its big brother, the Immortelle (£20.95 Dawe Wines), and I knew that both would make my top ten wines of the year. The Petite Immortelle is approachable now (its big brother is a beast that needs time to show its full beauty) and offers up masses of sweetly toned black fruits, plum skins, smoke, herbs, and a long minerally finish. This is another outstanding wine from a winemaking team that is doing some fantastic things.

Until next time...

Well, that’s me, for now at least. Given a following wind and an available glass, I’ll be back soon with a few words on affordable fizz.

Giles

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August recipes: Feast of fun

Round & About

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Ching He Huang & Lizzie Acker are two of the chefs on the sizzling line-up for the Big Feastival in Oxfordshire, 26th-28th August, so they’ve served up these summer tasters…

Lizzie Acker’s fruit tart

Prep: 65 minutes, Cooking: 50 minutes, Serves: Four

Ingredients:
Pastry
• 250g unsalted butter
• 2 eggs
• 350g plain flour
• 250g icing sugar
• Small pinch of salt

Filling
• 3 eggs
• 30g melted browned butter
• 50g ground almonds
• 150g double cream
• 150g light brown sugar
• 1tbsp flour
• 50g sliced almonds
• 1tsp vanilla bean paste
• 200g berries

Method

Pastry:
Beat the butter and sugar until mixed together. Add the beaten eggs and then add the flour and icing sugar mix until it forms a dough.

Squash the pastry into a round disc, shape with cling film and chill for an hour in the fridge.

Filling:
Add 30g of butter to a hard-based pan and place on a hob to melt and brown.

Beat the eggs and then add the sugar, double cream, ground almonds, vanilla paste and flour.

Once the butter has cooled slightly, add to the egg mixture and chill in the fridge. Set the oven to 175°c.

Roll out the pastry on to a lightly floured surface. Transfer to a tin and trim the edges with a knife. Prick the tart base.

Fill the tart with the filling mixture. Sprinkle in the berries and sliced almonds.

Bake for 50 minutes and then serve with cream and a dusting of icing sugar.

Ching’s waikiki bowl

Prep: 15 minutes, Cooking: 18-23 minutes, Serves: Three

Ingredients:
• 8 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 tbsp tamari or low-sodium light soy sauce
• 1 tbsp finely chopped chives
• 200g (7oz) jasmine rice
• 50ml (2fl oz) coconut milk (see tip)
• 1 tbsp toasted coconut flakes
• 1 tsp rapeseed oil
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2.5cm (1in) piece of fresh root ginger, grated
• 200g (7oz) smoked tofu, drained, rinsed in cold water and diced into 1.5cm (¾ in) cubes
• 2 tbsp mirin
• 2 tbsp tamari or low-sodium light soy sauce
• 1 tbsp golden syrup
• kiwi, peeled and sliced into 0.5cm (¼ in) rounds, then each round into 8 wedges
• 1 small pineapple, peeled, cored and diced into 0.5cm (¼ in) cubes
• 1 whole mango, peeled, stoned and diced into 0.5cm (¼ in) cubes
• A handful of roasted salted cashew nuts
• A handful of edamame, blanched from frozen, ready to eat
• 50g (1 ¾ oz) red cabbage, shredded
• Fried crispy salted seaweed, two or three pieces of hand-torn, crispy fried ready-to-eat nori, fried shallots and toasted sesame seeds, to garnish

Method
In a small bowl, combine the cherry tomatoes with the tamari or light soy sauce and chopped chives and set aside.

Place the jasmine rice in a saucepan with the coconut milk and 350ml (12fl oz) water. Bring to the boil over a high heat. Reduce the heat to low to bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 15–20 minutes.

Once cooked, remove the lid and fluff up the rice with a fork. Sprinkle over the toasted coconut flakes and set aside.

Heat a wok over a high heat until smoking, and add the rapeseed oil. Once hot, add the garlic and ginger. Toss for a few seconds, then add the smoked tofu and cook, tossing, for five seconds.

Add the mirin, tamari or light soy sauce and golden syrup and cook for two or three minutes until the sauce is reduced and the tofu is sticky. Set aside.

When you’re ready to serve, divide the rice between three bowls. Working in sections (like slices of a pizza) add the various toppings to the rice: the tamari-chive tomatoes, the teriyaki tofu, the kiwi, the pineapple, the mango, the cashew nuts, the edamame and the red cabbage.

Garnish with crushed crispy fried salted seaweed, nori flakes, fried shallots and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

Ching’s tip — If the coconut milk has separated in the can, stir the milk to bring it back together before using.

Enjoy our recipes? Show us your creations on social media with the tag #RArecipes

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M&S Food collaborate with Tom Kerridge

Karen Neville

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M&S Food has joined forces with Michelin-starred chef, and father, Tom Kerridge on an exciting new partnership, kicking off with a brand new meal planner to help customers serve up delicious, pocket-friendly family meals this summer.

M&S Food has joined forces with Michelin-starred chef, and father, Tom Kerridge on an exciting new partnership, kicking off with a brand new meal planner to help customers serve up delicious, pocket-friendly family meals this summer.

Tom’s meal planner is packed full of products from the M&S Remarksable Value* range and includes a shopping list full of great value, quality ingredients with easy-to-follow recipes that’ll give you five mid-week meals for a family of four, with handy tips for any leftovers.

Each of the recipes comes in at under £2 per person – giving customers an M&S-quality meal, created by a Michelin-starred chef, for less than the price of a cup of coffee and all prices of the ingredients in the meal planner will be locked for the whole summer.**

Developed around ‘ALL taste, less waste’ the planner includes recipes such as Chipotle Chicken Thighs with Herby Rice, with tips to turn any leftovers into a burrito bowl for lunch the following day, and Sweet & Spicy Sausage, Carrot & Broccoli Bake, with an amazing hack for turning the leftover broccoli stalk into its very own pesto.

Tom knows a thing or two about how to create delicious family meals on a budget

Following the success of his recent Full Time Meals campaign with footballer Marcus Rashford, Tom knows a thing or two about how to create delicious family meals on a budget. He told M&S Food Magazine: “One of the big things is having a shopping list and an understanding of menu prepping and meal planning, knowing what you’re going to cook over the next five or seven days. Build together the recipes you’re going to cook, and only buy what you need – a little bit of structure works really well.”

As well as being famous for his Michelin-starred ‘pub classics’, Tom is well known for his stances on sustainable farming, supporting British farmers and reducing food waste.

M&S won’t compromise on quality

He said: “I think people are always surprised when they realise prices at M&S are much more competitively priced than they’d expect, especially on most of the things you’d buy on a weekly shop like milk, butter, cheese, bread, pasta and veg. And I think the quality behind those products is still absolutely top notch. The eggs are still free-range, the mince is completely traceable. M&S won’t compromise on quality even with its Remarksable Value ingredients, and that’s something really important to me.”

All taste, less waste

Pick up the shopping list in store and scan the QR code to find the recipes and meal planner online, or find it on the Marks & Spencer website

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Hammer time! Auction shout-out

Round & About

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Do you have a valuable or interesting item in your home whose story you’d love to uncover thanks to some expert help?

A new primetime TV series for a major UK broadcaster will see truly extraordinary items go under the hammer to an audience of eager buyers.

In a specially created auction house, the team will curate a collection of astonishing and unexpected items – from ancient to modern, art to artefact with the weird and wonderful in between. For each lot – or item, they will invite the most passionate buyers to be in the room to bid for these items. Like matchmaking; they’re bringing together the most incredible items with the very best collectors, dealers and fans.

The series will take viewers into the drama and spectacle of the auction process. We’ll hear sellers’ thrilling, heart-warming stories about their items, and find out why they make the buyers’ hearts race as they compete to own them.

Produced by Curve Media, makers of Salvage Hunters, our bespoke auction house will beautifully showcase these objects as they are brought before the bidders and under the hammers of our professional auctioneers.

Do you have an extraordinary items to sell? Or perhaps you’re an expert dealer or enthusiastic collectors who is interested in attending the auctions.

Please email [email protected] with your contact details and photos of your item. Any personal data that you provide to Curve Media shall be processed in accordance with Curve’s programme applicant, contributor and talent privacy notice which is here

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Star Q&A: Lesley Joseph

Liz Nicholls

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Lesley Joseph chats to us about meeting the Pope, Birds Of A Feather, her pal Maureen Lipman and the joy of starring in Sister Act at the Apollo until 28th August

Q. Hello Lesley. Is this show as much fun as it looks? “Oh my God yes! It’s such a feelgood show. The audience have been on their feet going beserk; it’s hard not to get emotional. Everyone on stage is so glad to be there, after the two years we’ve had, and who doesn’t enjoy singing, rapping nuns!? Alan Menken, who has written the songs, is a genius and Sister Act is a story everyone knows, thanks to the film.”

Q. You have so much energy: what’s your secret? “Well my mother died just shy of 104 – she still did yoga and tennis in her nineties – so I hope I’ve got her genes. I walk everywhere. I keep my brain active. And I love what I do – it’s a privilege to be in a show like this.”

Q. Did you expect Birds Of A Feather to be such a hit? “No I didn’t have a clue. It’s a great show and was one of the first, along with The Liver Birds, to celebrate women of a certain age. My father, when we filmed the first one in front of a live audience, asked the writers, ‘do you think this will go anywhere?’, and they said ‘we’ll still be here in ten years’. Well, we kept going 33 years, with a break in the middle, and it’s still well loved, because it was so well written.”

Q. Do people expect you to be Dorien? “In the early days they expected me Dorien-esque, all in leopard print. But we’re so different. I was always very careful to make sure Dorien wasn’t a silly caricature. And I’m nothing like her – if you could see me now in my training clothes, no make-up, hair awry, you’d believe me!”

Q. What was it like meeting the Pope? “Yes, for Pilgrimage [on the BBC] we walked from the Swiss Alps to Rome, and had an audience with the Pope, unexpectedly. I said ‘I’m Lesley Joseph, I’m 72, I’m an actress, and I’ve just walked 100 miles and feel rejuvenated’. He burst out laughing and said ‘you don’t look 72’. We hugged and I came out with ‘oh bless you!’ Haha! One of the highlights of my career.”

Q. Do you enjoy watching your pal Maureen Lipman in Coronation Street? “She’s brilliant in everything she does but no, I don’t watch much television. I am staying with her at the moment, up here in Manchester. We go back 50 years, were at drama school together. So we’re these two ancient flatmates together again!”

Q. Do you have a favourite author? “I love Hilary Mantel; I can read her books again and again. I love reading about Thomas Cromwell.”

Q. If you could make one wish for the world, what would it be? “Peace. I just wish people could live in harmony, believe in what they want, without greed, envy or corruption.”

Book your tickets for Sister Act, which also stars Beverley Knight & Jennifer Saunders, at London’s Eventim Apollo at eventimapollo.com

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July recipes: Blooming Great Tea Party

Round & About

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Tea parties have been a real feature of the summer so far after June’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations so carry on with a Blooming Great Tea Party in aid of Marie Curie

Invite your friends, family or colleagues to join you for tea and cake, and don’t forget to price your slice! Find out more about the work of Marie Curie and ideas to help you throw a tea party

Fiona Cairns’ strawberry & elderflower cake

Ingredients:
For the cake:
• 450g unsalted butter, really soft, diced, plus more for the tins
• 450g self-raising flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 8 eggs, lightly beaten
• Finely grated zest of 2 large unwaxed lemons
• 450g golden caster sugar
• 4 tbsp elderflower cordial

For the elderflower cream:
• 1.2kg ripe, even-sized
• strawberries, cleaned, dried and hulled
• 2 tbsp golden caster sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 600ml double cream
• 8 tbsp elderflower cordial

Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 170°C/350°F/gas mark 4. To make the three-tiered cake, take three 20cm round sandwich tins. Butter the tins and line the bases with baking parchment. If you have only two tins, then make the cake mixture and divide it evenly into three batches, baking the third as soon as a tin becomes free.

For this cake, I use an electric mixer and beater attachment, but you can use a food processor, or a bowl, add the butter, eggs, lemon zest and sugar, and beat well, adding the cordial towards the end. Be careful not to over-mix, as you want a light cake.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a skewer emerges clean. (To halve the recipe, bake in two 20cm tins for 20-25 minutes.) Remove from the oven, leaves for a couple of minutes, run a knife around the rim to loosen the cakes from the tins and turn out on to a wire rack. Remove the papers and leave to cool completely. Trim the cakes flat.

For the filling and decoration:
Slice 400g of the strawberries and toss in a bowl with the sugar and vanilla, leave all the flavours to mingle for 30 minutes.

Whip the cream until soft peaks form, adding the cordial slowly just as it begins to thicken. Place one cake on a cake stand and spread with a layer of cream and half the slice strawberries. Repeat with another cake, a layer of cream and the remaining sliced strawberries. Top with the last cake. Spread the remaining cream all over the top and sides.

Take the best-shaped strawberries and cut 10-12 in half. Place the halved strawberries, cut side up in a circle around the edge of the cake, and pile up the rest in the centre. Cut the remaining strawberries into slices – or in half – and press into the cream all around the sides.

Ingredients:
For the cake:
• 200ml soya or almond milk
• 20ml cider vinegar
• 180g self-raising flour
• 20g ground almonds
• 200g caster sugar
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• 80ml vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract

For decoration:
• Raspberry Jam
• Toasted almond flakes
• Glacé or fresh cherries
• Almond icing.

Makes: 12 large cupcakes, about 24 fairy cakes or 48 mini ones

Ms Cupcake’s vegan Bakewell tart cupcakes

Method
Mix the soya milk and vinegar together and leave to sit for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Line your muffin tray with muffin cases.

In a bowl mix by hand the dry ingredients until fully combined. Add to the bowl the soya milk mixture, oil, vanilla and extract. Using a metal spoon quickly mix together until just combined (about 10 seconds). The mixture should still be a bit lumpy, so be careful to not over-mix! Tap the bowl onto the work surface to halt the raising agents from working too quickly (you will see the bubbles pop.)

Using an ice-cream scoop or a spoon, evenly place the batter into the lined muffin tray and tap the filled muffin tray on the work surface to pop the bubbles again.

Place in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack in the muffin tray for 10 minutes and then remove cupcakes from the muffin tray and finish cooling them on the wire rack until room temperature.

Decoration:
Once your cupcakes are cooled, spread a big dollop of jam on top of the cupcake and then pipe your almond buttercream on top to hide the jam below. Decorate using toasted almond flakes and top it all off with either a fresh or glace cherry.

Almond icing:
Using an electric mixer (or a handheld mixer), whip together the margarine, vegetable fat and vanilla until creamy (about 1 minute). Add half of the icing sugar and continue mixing (slowly at first and then bringing up to speed). Mix until combined. Add the rest of the icing sugar and mix while dripping in the soya or almond milk until it is a smooth consistency. If the icing is too firm, then add a bit more milk and mix again.

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Star Q&A: Kim Wilde

Liz Nicholls

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Kim Wilde chats to Liz Nicholls about performing at Heritage Live, alongside Boy George, Lulu, Gabrielle & more, including Ardingly on Saturday, 16th July and Englefield House on Saturday, 23rd July.

Q. Hello Kim – where are you chatting from right now? “From home. I’ve got a beautiful garden – it should be after the inordinate time I’ve spent on it! Everything that could be out is out looking amazing. Because of my experience and because of my love of flowers I’ve got lots more flowers to look forward to later in the summer. I don’t have a favourite flower but I have a real soft spot for roses – we called our daughter Rose.”

Q. We’re looking forward to seeing you at Heritage Live. How does it feel to be out on tour again? “Great! I think top of the list of things people really missed over the pandemic was live music; getting together with a crowd of like-minded souls and singing their heart out. Music has a great way of bringing people together in a beautiful way. It does a much better job than most other things in achieving that. I’ve already been doing quite a few gigs and the atmosphere has been noticeably ecstatic. Not just because they’re coming to see me – haha – but we’re all so excited to be back together. These are great days to be a live musician.”

Q. Your dad Marty is on tour right now – do you still enjoy going on stage with him? “Yes! I’ve been hitching a lift in the back of his car, jumping on stage for a few numbers, I just love it! I’ll continue to do that if I’m not working. It’s fantastic being on stage with my dad – his voice is still amazing and his ability to perform is astonishing for his years [83]. I think keeping going, doing what you love keeps you young. He’s no gym bunny, my dad, but he does a lot of golf, a lot of walking, always has done. He doesn’t smoke any more, and he drinks very moderately. I think it’s in the genes.”

Q. Yes – your whole family, including your children, all have musical genes? “It has definitely descended through the generations. Not just in my family but my brother’s family and sister’s family, so it seems to be in the blood.”

Q. Do you have a rider? “I do but I’m very easy to look after before a gig. I don’t really eat much – maybe a few sweeties but I don’t ask anyone to take out different colours for me and I don’t drink alcohol.”

Q. Is it nice to hang out with your old mate Boy George, who is also starring? “It’s great. We’ve done a lot of things together over the years – all kinds of TV and concerts and benefits – we have a real shared history. We recorded a song together which went on my greatest hits album called Shine On. So yeah I can’t wait to see him again. He’s a wonderful person to be around.”

Q. What is it about 1980s music that is so popular – even with younger people now? “It’s very eclectic, you know? Everything was in the 1980s – it wasn’t just sharp haircuts, shoulder pads and synthesisers – there was a lot of prog rock, rock soul, disco, R&B. All kinds of different grooves all happening in parallel. There was something for everybody and it all came under that beautiful umbrella that we call pop.”

Q. What new artists do you like? “I’m listening a lot to Lizzo, really enjoying what she does and how she’s doing it. Thomas Paul, too; I did a bit of work with him over lockdown on his first album Black Country Disco which is awesome! I went to his album launch for Life In Plastic the other night at the Vauxhall Tavern which was fantastic.”

Q. What’s your first memory of music? “I was born in 1960 and the first memories I can trace back are ’67 & ’68 when I was seven and eight. The Beatles – listening to Penny Lane in the back of the car, while my dad was driving us up to Liverpool to see my nan. I remember Cilla Black Anyone Who Had A Heart and Richard Harris MacArthur Park and Gene Pitney 24 Hours from Tulsa. All these beautiful epic songs.”

Q. Thanks Kim we can’t wait to see you. “Thank you! And may I just say that anyone who misses these shows can come to my Pop Won’t Stop Greatest Hits Tour in September when I’ll be up and down the country. There’s a lot of sadness and there are terrible things in the world right now, but there’s a lot of beauty too, so don’t think it’s wrong to focus on that.”

Visit heritagelive.net & kimwilde.com

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