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Plus, an interview with Bath-based green energy supplier, Pure Planet, and five great Spanish reds |
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A specially curated guide to help you enjoy the next 48 hours (or more) in Bath
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WELCOME BACK | LIVE THEATRE
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World première of T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets |
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Globally renowned actor Ralph Fiennes will direct and star in the world première stage adaptation of T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets as Theatre Royal Bath re-opens this summer.
Announced this week as Britain marks a year since regional theatres were forced to close, the production will welcome audiences back to live theatre when it re-opens the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 25 May to Saturday 5 June before launching Royal & Derngate’s Made in Northampton season from 8 to 12 June in a co-production between both venues. The production will then tour to Oxford and Cambridge, with further regional tour dates to be announced.
Compelling, moving and symphonic, Four Quartets was the culminating achievement of T.S. Elliot's career as a poet, offering four interwoven meditations on the nature of time, faith, and the quest for spiritual enlightenment. It contains some of the most exquisite and unforgettable reflections upon surviving periods of national crisis.
Ralph Fiennes will be joined by a remarkable creative team including Hildegard Bechtler (Designer) who won an Olivier Award for After the Dance at the National Theatre and received nominations for Top Hat and Oresteia; Tim Lutkin (Lighting), winner of an Olivier Award for Chimerica and Christopher Shutt (Sound), winner of a Tony Award for War Horse. The Assistant Director is Eva Sampson and the Movement Director is Fin Walker.
General booking for Four Quartets at the Theatre Royal Bath opens on Friday 26 March. To book tickets contact the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or book online at theatreroyal.org.uk
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BATH BUSINESS | PURE PLANET
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Renewable energy: green for less than brown |
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“It’s not about selling something, it’s about being something,” says Steven Day, co-founder of Pure Planet (pictured far left), the Bath-based green energy company with high ideals and a forward perspective, who offer a zero mark-up on the energy they supply. Emma Clegg asks Steven about the company’s unique approach and uber green culture.
Enjoy an eight minute read here
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WEEKEND WINE | SPANISH PANACHE
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Rioja Reserva – Vinedos Sierra Cantabria Intense Cherry and toasted notes on the nose with subtle aromas of tobacco and cedar. Ripe fruit on the palate combines with light floral scents. Dense, sweet and polished on the palate, this is a beautifully balanced wine with very fine tannins. £20.50
Selección Especial – Abadia Retuerta Produced from a selection of the best grapes from Abadia Retuerta's vineyards, this deep coloured, complex red combines the richness of Tempranillo, the elegance of Cabernet Sauvignon and the strength of Syrah. The nose is fresh and vibrant, full of ripe black and red fruits combined with lingering notes of balsamic, liquorice and sweet oak wood. The full-bodied, creamy palate is structured by smooth tannins, juicy ripe fruits and a hint of cedar. £28
Rioja Edicion Limitada – Ramón Bilbao – Rioja Intense ruby red with black cherry glints and a deep hue. High fruit intensity on the nose, with a perfect balance of dark fruit and oak on the palate. The spicy nuances play a key role, with black pepper, cloves and cumin. Fresh wood aromas with notes of cocoa, dry tobacco leaves and mint and a smooth, fruity mouth-feel with a long finish. Pleasant, polished tannins and refreshing acidity. £13.75
Organic Tempranillo – Bodegas Verum – Embrujo A wonderfully expressive red, serving up a palate of black fruit - blackcurrants, blackberries – elevated by a fragrant sprinkling of spice. £7.75
Baluarte Roble – J. Chivite Family Estates An absolute cracker, fantastic value for money and a truly great red wine. Fermentation and maceration occur at controlled temperatures in stainless steel tanks where the three grapes (predominantly Tempranillo) are co-fermented. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is racked into American oak barrels where it is aged for 4 months. This is a wine with a satisfying mouth-feel, black fruits character, good acidity gives backbones and structure, and a lingering tasty finish. £7.95
For more great wines from Spanish producers click here to visit: The Great Wine Co
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WORLD SLEEP DAY | CATCH SOME ZZZ'S
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Wind down for some good night's sleep |
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Without a doubt this year's World Sleep Day has a different meaning. "Coronasomnia" has had a huge impact on many of our lives and disruptions to daily routines – including changes to sleep patterns and bedtime schedules.
So if you're in need of some relaxation Lush has got you covered with some dreamy, restorative bath bombs.
This week, we're loving the Sleeping Giant Bombshell (pictured above).
£14.95; uk.lush.com
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The Club at Combe Grove is registering new members |
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Nestled in 64 acres of mature woodland and thriving grassland, the Combe Grove Estate is the perfect place to spend time in support of your health and wellbeing. Just a stone’s throw from Bath and with breathtaking views across the Limpley Stoke valley below, the setting befits the wider ambition of Combe Grove to be a centre of wellness.
Find out more about becoming a member here: combegrove.com
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GET COOKING | SPRING INTO PASTA
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Recipe by Melissa Blease |
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Pasta with asparagus, mint pesto and sundried tomatoes |
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Spring has well and truly sprung, and our tastebuds are ripe for revitalisation after winter's comfort food slump.
This super-easy recipe puts asparagus – undoubtedly one of our most vibrant new season superstars – in the spotlight, complemented by the uplifting thrill of fresh mint. The sundried tomatoes bring umami complexity to the party, while the beaten egg added just before serving elevates the texture of the pasta to luxurious, silky-smooth heights, resulting in a supremely elegant dish topped with a satisfying crunch of Italian ham.
You can use any kind of dried pasta in this recipe, but a tangle of tagliatelle carries and holds the rest of the ingredients particularly well. Most Italian charcuterie crisps up nicely in a hot pan, but remember: the intrinsic saltiness of the cured ham probably negates the need for any additional salt, so season with care. Mint, meanwhile, plays an intrinsic role so don't hold back – the 'generous handful' stated here is very generous indeed.
Ingredients (serves 2) 250g dried tagliatelle 250g asparagus spears Approx. 50g sundried tomatoes from a jar, chopped 4–6 slices Serrano ham, pancetta or prosciutto 100ml extra virgin olive oil Generous handful of fresh mint leaves Approx. 50g Parmesan, finely grated 1 large egg, beaten
Method
1. Chop the asparagus spears into bite-sized pieces, keeping the tips whole.
2. Cook the tagliatelle according to packet instructions, adding the chopped asparagus for the last 3–4 minutes of the cooking time. Meanwhile, grill or fry the Serrano ham, pancetta or prosciutto until crisp (keeping a close eye on proceedings, as the fat can over-char quite quickly) and put to one side.
3. Put the mint leaves into a food processor or blender with the olive oil, around 30g of the finely grated Parmesan cheese and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Blend to a smooth purée to create the 'pesto.'
4. Drain the pasta and asparagus (reserving a splash of the cooking water) and return to the hot pan. Add the mint pesto, sundried tomatoes and reserved cooking water and mix well to combine. With the pan off the heat, add the beaten egg in one swift move and mix thoroughly – the egg will set in the residual heat, dressing the pasta in a creamy cloak as it cooks.
5. Divide the pasta between two warm plates or bowls and top with shards of crumbled Italian ham, the remaining Parmesan cheese, more chopped fresh mint and a dusting of freshly ground black pepper.
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THE PERFECT TREAT | BRAND NEW COLLECTION
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Meet The Ombles: M&S's new chocolate range |
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M&S has launched its brand-new chocolate brand, The Ombles, its first new face in almost 30 years! With Percy turning the big 3-0 next year and Colin hitting the milestone in 2020, these loveable new characters are great fun for all the family.
In-stores from today are two MUST HAVE treats including The Ombles (£6, 190g) and a two-pack of 'totes adorbs' Mini Ombles (£5, 95g). Made using an exclusive luxury Belgian milk chocolate recipe, they are complete chocolate goggly eyes and are rolled in a flaky milk chocolate.
Treat yourself to some Ombles here
Above: The Ombles, £6 and The Mini Ombles, £5
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OBJECTS OF DESIRE | ENGAGEMENT RINGS
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A proposal accepted with a solitaire |
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There are so many missed moments from the last twelve months to catch up on and be savoured. The prospect of proposal perhaps that has been waiting and waiting. When the perfect opportunity arises then a classic, bespoke engagement ring, handmade by top jewellers Mallory will make it all that more special. Here are four soliatires that will always sparkle brightly.
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From left: Platinum five stone, four claw-set Emerald cut and baguette cut Diamond Ring. Centre stone weight: 0.80ct, Total Diamond weight: 1.05ct. £8,950
Elizabeth 18ct yellow and white Gold single stone six claw-set round brilliant cut Diamond ring with Chenier shoulders. £3,500
Platinum three stone claw-set round brilliant cut Diamond ring with Chenier shoulders. Centre stone weight: 0.35ct. Total Diamond weight: 0.75ct. £3,050
18ct yellow and white Gold four claw-set round brilliant cut Diamond halo cluster ring with plain shoulders. Total Diamond weight: 0.31ct. Centre stone weight: 0.23ct. £1,350
Mallory have a fine and varied collection of beautiful engagement rings, click here to see so many more.
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ON THE BOX | HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED NEW SERIES
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After a number of delays, the highly anticipated sixth series of Line of Duty, consisting of seven episodes, is set to grace our screens this Sunday.
Picking up two years after the events of that game-changing season-five finale, it's fair to say that things have moved on for AC-12 and our favourite trio of Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), DI Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston).
Watch it on BBC One
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GRAND OPENING | PRE-OPENING DISCOUNT
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Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein |
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Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein, the immersive new visitor attraction opening in Bath this year, announces tickets are now on sale online with a pre-opening discount – offering up to 20% off until 25 April 2021.
All early bookers can enjoy 10% off the standard online price and a further 20% saving on group tickets for parties of five or more.
Plus, guests purchasing the attraction’s bespoke ebooks, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and The Life of Mary Shelly, A Concise Biography, will automatically receive one free ticket worth up to £13.95 now, or £15.50 at the standard online price.
Find out more here: thebathmagazine.co.uk
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LET'S TALK | RICE RESOURCES
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Wallet-friendly and infinitely versatile, rice deserves its long-standing status as Most Popular Store-cupboard Staple. But according to lovefoodhatewaste.com, we Brits toss over 1,700 tonnes of cooked rice into our recycling caddies every year.
If I'm cooking rice for any given recipe, I deliberately make enough to be used in another dish on another day – however, its easy to see why not everybody feels this way about the gregarious grains.
As rice often contains spores of a rather nasty bacteria strand called Bacillus cereus that can survive the cooking process, storing cooked rice correctly before reheating in any recipe is vital... but easy enough to do. Never leave cooked rice hanging around at room temperature; cool it quickly by spreading it on a baking tray or in shallow containers and refrigerate in a sealed tub as soon as it's cool, keeping it in the fridge for no longer than two days. Cooked rice can be frozen, too; just scoop it into freezer bags and keep frozen for up to two months. But take note: pre-cooked rice should always be reheated to the 'steaming hot' point, and never reheated more than once.
Rice: it's the gift that keeps on giving – so stop giving it to the recycling caddy!
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PREPARE FOUR | RECIPES WITH RICE
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Recipes by Melissa Blease |
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Classic Egg Fried Rice
Serves 4; vegetarian until additional extras
Heat 2-3 tbsp sunflower oil in a wok. Add 1 thumb-sized knob of fresh ginger (peeled and grated), 2 cloves of crushed garlic and a smattering of fresh or dried chilli to taste and stir-fry for 1–2 minutes. Slice a bunch of spring onions separating the white from the green parts, and add the white parts to the pan, continuing to stir-fry for a further 2 minutes. Beat 3 large beaten eggs and pour into the pan. Allow the eggs to settle for around 30 seconds and scramble briefly before adding 600g cooked rice and a generous handful of blanched frozen peas, continuing to stir-fry over a high heat for around 3–5 minutes. Add 50ml rice wine (or dry sherry) and 50ml soy sauce to the pan and cook for a further minute or so before serving topped with the green parts of the spring onions and a drizzle of sesame oil. For Special Fried Rice, add around 100g small cooked prawns, shredded roast chicken or fried tofu (or a mixture of all three) to the pan before adding the eggs, stir-frying as you go.
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Speedy Rice and Cheesy Bean Burritos
Serves 4; vegetarian
In a large pan, heat 1 x 400g can drained black-eye or kidney beans with 1 200g tub of ready made tomato salsa. When heated through, add approx. 200g cooked rice and a splash of boiling water and bring to boiling point before simmering for 5–6 minutes. Meanwhile, heat 4 large tortilla wraps, shred some iceberg lettuce, chop a handful of fresh coriander, grate approx. 100g Cheddar cheese and slice 1 large, peeled avocado. Divide the hot rice and bean mixture between the 4 tortillas. Top with the lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, avocado, coriander and a dollop of soured cream or crème fraiche, roll tightly and serve hot.
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Stuffed Tomatoes
Serves 2; vegetarian
Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas mark 4. Slice the tops off 4 large, ripe tomatoes and scoop the pulp out, setting the pulp to one side. Place each hollowed-out tomato into a muffin tin or slice a bit off the bottom to create a flat surface and place on greaseproof paper on a baking tin. Slice and dice 1 small onion and 1 green or red pepper and sauté in olive oil until soft (around 4–5 minutes). Add 1 crushed garlic clove, the tomato pulp, a squidge of tomato puree and 1 level tsp caster sugar and cook for a further 1–2 minutes before adding a handful of cooked frozen peas and around 175g cooked rice. Stir well to combine and remove from the heat before adding 80–100g grated cheese (strong Cheddar works well here). Fill each hollowed-out tomato with the rice and vegetable mixture, top with a bit of extra cheese and a dusting of paprika and bake for around 12–15 minutes or until the tomatoes have softened nicely and the cheese on top is starting to turn golden. Serve hot.
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Rice Pudding
Serves 4-6; vegetarian
Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas mark 4. In a medium sized pan, mix 500ml whole or semi-skimmed milk with 200g cooked rice and bring to a slow simmer over a medium heat. Cook for around 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Meanwhile, whisk 2 large eggs with 50g caster sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Add the egg mixture to the hot milk and rice, stirring constantly. Allow to cook, still stirring, for around 3 minutes, or until the mixture just comes to boiling point. Remove from the heat, add around 50g sultanas and cinnamon to taste, stir well to combine and pour the mixture into a greased, suitably-sized baking dish. Bake for 20–30 minutes until just set and beginning to brown on top. Allow to cool slightly before serving... with a blob of strawberry jam on top, perhaps?
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RICHARD WYATT TALKS | NEWS FROM THE CITY
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A royal ghost from the past! Is this really Queen Victoria gracing the steps of the Bath gallery that bears her name? While we’re dealing with the problems of the pandemic present it’s good to see some physical movement within the city towards making plans for its post-viral commercial future.
Looks like the Victoria Gallery is putting together a promotional video to raise awareness to the fact it is hoping to reopen in May. That’s the month that should see all our museums and heritage sites welcoming customers again.
Meanwhile, there is more evidence of Bath awakening from its enforced sleep. Work has finally begun on repairing the balustrade alongside Pulteney Bridge, which was hit by a runaway lorry. It’s long been a hotspot for selfies. One of the most popular places for tourists to stop and take photos. The bandstand in Parade Gardens appears to be in the process of getting itself a new floor, the last bit of a renovation that also saw the arrival of the amazing replacement ironwork surrounding it, fashioned by so many talented blacksmiths a while ago.
Over in Sydney Gardens the club hut of the former bowling green has finally been demolished. Goodbye to the old but welcome to the new as these former Georgian pleasure gardens get a multi-million pound makeover to create a green space of today for all to enjoy.
We’re nearing the end of another major project with Bath Abbey testing its new lighting and thermal-water-powered underfloor heating ahead of its re-opening – hopefully early summer. The same point in the calendar should see the city unveiling its new Heritage and Learning Centres alongside the Roman Baths too. All that and the days are getting lighter and longer. Don’t forget the clocks go forward an hour next week-end!
bathnewseum.com
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FIFTY-TWO WEEKS SINCE | LOCKDOWN 1
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... pretty much everything |
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Expect an emotional week ahead. Wednesday 24 March sees the anniversary of the first lockdown in the UK. Boris Johnson’s lockdown announcement on that day is one of those experienced moments – like the news of Princess Diana’s fatal crash in 1997 and the bombing of the Twin Towers in 2001, for those of us who are old enough – where we remember exactly where we were and who we were with. I remember being stunned, unbelieving, and grasping for the normality that appeared to be slipping away, feeling as if we were in a parallel reality to the life course we had been on. For Covid patients and their friends and family, their reality was upside-down and distorted. Many of us worried about the stability of our employment and how we would pay the bills. For some, things stopped, ground to a halt, and all that was left were the quiet roads, the fairytale sunshine and birdsong. For those on the front line the reverse happened.
Then we were Covid gauche. Now we are pros. Social distancing, minimising contact, working from home, Zoom meetings, bubbles, the etiquette of masks and full PPE are all now second nature. The images above show the same scene in Bath, one a year ago and right now. Spot the difference? Pretty much everything. The windows of what was Loch Fyne Restaurant are still boarded up, along with so many other restaurant outlets and shops in our city making it feel like a shadow of its former self, but I now detect a feeling of optimism and regeneration. The vaccine deployment has given us this, and there is also a strong sense that we’ve paid our dues and it’s time now to get back to doing real things, in a real way, with real people. Virtual has been useful, but it’s no way to live long term. The city will come back to life.
I am already grateful to be able to visit my 96-year-old mother in her care home for the first time and hold her hand, even though I have to wear my blue PPE gloves, and that my son who has been studying remotely for months is now back at school with his friends. And I look forward optimistically to those key dates: non-essential shops and indoor leisure facilities on 12 April; museums, cinemas, hotels and indoor hospitality on 17 May and the potential that we might then be able to hug those outside our bubble. Then on 21 June we may be able to welcome the removal of all legal limits on social contact. Back to normal? Things may never feel quite feel the same, but we will adjust and adapt and animate our city once again.
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GO GREEN | FOR GETTING THINGS DELIVERED
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In our latest issue, we asked David Tod from Bath's specialist E-bike shop, Take Charge Bikes, to give us his selection of this year's best buys. On the list was the urban arrow/family cargo...
Whether it’s ferrying the kids to and from school, having a grocery box delivered to your door, or doing the full weekly shop, the Urban Arrow Cargo bike has revolutionised how goods are delivered in many European cities. Faster than vans, the Cargo range can weave through traffic, avoid congestion, CAZ charges, park for free and can use cycle lanes to go anywhere in the city. The high performance 250W Bosch motors and clever gearing means moving even heavy goods is effortless, assisting the driver from standstill and climbing Bath’s hills with ease. No matter what you deliver, there are a number of standard Cargo box options according to you needs as well as specialist customisations to transport and deliver products in perfect condition.
Prices from £4,169; takechargebikes.co.uk
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LOOKING BACK | VIEWS FROM THE PAST
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By Andrew Swift
In the week that Bath’s clean air zone is introduced, it seems timely to look back to an age when there was no need for such measures. Today the London Road is one of the busiest in the city, yet this was the view looking towards the city from the junction with the Gloucester Road around 1910. The only traffic is a tram and a handcart, and walking in the road was not a problem. Admittedly, the state of the pavement on the left, and of the road itself, leaves something to be desired, but, even with these shortcomings, it looks infinitely preferable to the constant stream of traffic along this stretch of the road today.
In 1742, John Wood had written that the London Road was one of the most popular places around Bath ‘for taking the air and exercise’, and its development over the ensuing century preserved and indeed enhanced its semi-rural atmosphere, transforming it into a wide boulevard with elegant terraces and villas set back behind long lawns or screened by trees. To try and recapture something of its lost glory today is all but impossible. All we can do is look at the buildings that have survived and hope that one day a modicum of peace will return.
akemanpress.com
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THE KIOSK | MAGAZINE MOMENTS
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Curated by Daniel McCabe – Magalleria
We’ve probably all forgotten what we look like over the last year, or worried about it – away from ZOOM at least. So as we approach being let out, US men’s lifestyle mag WM Brown has helpfully dropped its ‘Personal Style’ issue which offers inspiration from some unlikely places (the movie Jaws, a quail hunt in Georgia) to more modest pursuits such as home entertaining (cocktail pairings and bar snacks) and how to clean a musty Barbour. With the focus elsewhere on champagne, Gucci loafers and the like it might sound as though WM Brown is strictly for the minted, but it’s actually a lot of fun for any bloke and probably the reason it’s our fastest growing magazine
£17.99; magalleria.co.uk
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OUR MARCH ISSUE | GREAT READING STARTS HERE
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We're back!
Get a copy of our March magazine to stay engaged, stimulated and well-informed. We have a debate on the Clean Air Zone that's coming to Bath (the first city outside London) on 15 March, an enlightening interview with the co-founder of green energy company Pure Planet, an insight into the work of two hoteliers who have taken the boutique hotel to new levels; a detailed colour-of-the-year interiors investigation, a peek into a majestic new book all about 19th-century geologist William Smith's groundbreaking strata maps, and consider how the pandemic has affected our food experience and what might be on the food horizon once we're allowed out again.
Read it online here: thebathmagazine.co.uk
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ON THE BOOKSHELF | MAGIC AND MEANING
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Review by Saskia Hayward, Topping & Co. |
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First Person Singular |
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For many people I have worked alongside in the bookshop, Haruki Murakami was the writer who instilled in them a love of literature, and marked their point of entry into ‘adult’ fiction. I think his books capture a reality imbued with a mysterious depth of meaning and a magical potential – although what that meaning is exactly remains purposefully obscured. They are worlds in which gaps open up, people disappear and reappear, and the connection between simple cause and effect is severed. I think his pull towards magical realism is reminiscent of the books we are drawn to when we are younger, but turned utterly adult – able to contain profundity and strangeness without needing to explain it.
First Person Singular, his latest short story collection, contains many of the tropes that fans of his work will be familiar with (spawning memes of ‘Murakami Bingo’) captured in his calm, detached signature style. His stories can stay with you long after you finish reading, leaving you with an uneasy sense that your own reality has shifted.
£16.99, Penguin Books, publishes 6 April; toppingbooks.co.uk
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Review by Matthew Leigh, Topping & Co. |
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No One is Talking About This |
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No One is Talking About This, just last week nominated for the Women’s Prize 2021, is a peculiar novel with an indefinable plot. Constructed out of vignettes and fragments of thought from the interior of a woman’s personal and online existence, the end result is something often funny, insightful and wholly engaging. It is also one of the most resolutely modern novels I have read, inextricably entwined with the language and culture of the internet.
Echoes of Patricia Lockwood’s memoir Priestdaddy exist here, namely in her ability to combine comic silliness with aching vulnerability and a jarring authenticity. The set-up of this novel, for example, is the main character finding herself internet famous for asking the question ‘can a dog be twins?’ on an online forum. She then travels the world giving lectures, while simultaneously having to navigate a family crisis. Absurd, definitely, but also curiously believable, and a deft evocation of the online/offline split that occurs in many people’s lives now.
£14.99, Bloomsbury; toppingbooks.co.uk
Both books are available for collection or post via the Topping & Co. website, or at the door.
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THE GADGET | NOHrD EAU-ME BALANCE BOARD
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A bit like a pro-paddle board in your own front room, the Eau-Me Board is a new-generation balance board combining classic balance training with the unpredictable element of moving water. Even the slightest movement generates a reaction against your balance, bringing an extra dimension to core stability training. The innovative design challenges larger muscle groups – that are seldom used – and ensures you have to engage your deep muscles, not just the peripherals as you maintain your balance. Suitable for anyone from elite athlete to complete beginner, the board's versatility can improve the effectiveness of training exercises such as squats, sit-ups, lunges, and push-ups. The super-tough polycarbonate tank is topped with a high quality wood platform in Walnut, Oak or Ash. From £269 for the Ash version.
johnlewis.com
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Creating Spaces Exhibition
From 21 March–31 May
Rufus Pollard of Malmesbury Abbey House invites you to see its selection of sculptures in the gardens. Work includes figurative and abstract sculpture in wood, ceramic, glass, stone and bronze, all complementing the beautiful gardens with its long vistas, intimate corners, and the riverside walk. In addition, the Belvedere, a wood and glass space looking out on to the valley below, will display wall pieces, hanging sculptures and wood carvings.
For opening times see website.
cotswoldsculptorsassociation.com; abbeyhousegardens.co.uk
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INTERIORS | MAKE YOUR HOUSE A HOME
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Lola Swift
Burgundy Sheepskin Seat Pad
These are the best new invention for the chair. They are square and fit perfectly on your dining room chairs, or in groups on a bench or placed on a cosy armchair.
100% sustainably sourced natural New Zealand sheepskin, 37 x 37cm. Colours and sizes may vary slightly because they are all natural pieces.
£27; lolaswift.co.uk
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HOMES & GARDENS | AWARD-WINNING SPECIALISTS
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Bath Carpets and Flooring
Supplying and fitting flooring throughout the south west since 2004. Bath Carpets and Flooring (BCF) offers a wide selection of carpets, all made from a variety of different materials including wool, polypropylene, nylon and sisals. With the combined experience of more than 90 years, the team’s extensive knowledge and expertise puts you at ease as they match your needs with the perfect flooring solution. BCF pride themselves on only giving impartial advice and hassle-free measuring and estimating, so there will never be any sales pressure or confusion. As the city’s largest Karndean flooring specialist, BCF’s luxury vinyl tile showroom will give you the freedom to create impressive floors, where the only limit is imagination. With showrooms over two floors offering an even greater selection of homely carpets, vinyl’s, LVT’s and modern rugs. Commercial flooring from all leading manufacturers is available through Bath Contract Flooring Ltd. So if it’s flooring for your home or your business BCF have got it covered.
4 Kingsmead Street, Bath BA1 2AA Tel: 01225 471888 Web: carpetsandflooringbath.co.uk
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PROPERTY OF THE WEEK | HISTORY AND GLAMOUR
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This is a very attractive top-floor apartment set in one of Bath’s most renowned addresses features two bedrooms, a large drawing room and splendid views over the city.
Number 25 The Circus is on the eastern facing third, with wonderful views across the whole of the city of Bath to the rear from both the drawing room with its three-sash bay window and from the kitchen/breakfast room that has a built-in window seat. The property is approached via an impressive communal reception hall, and has an attractive and unusual circular staircase leading up to the apartment which has a large landing and study area.
In addition it has the benefit of two bedrooms, there are two bathrooms and the relatively high ceilings (for a third floor apartment) with detailed cornicing, give a light and airy feel and with period style features throughout the property feels very much in keeping with its prestigious heritage. £550,000
For further details contact Cobb Farr estate agents or click here to view online
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