Edition OneWinter

2014/15

2014 Round up

Shine yoga

Dish of the quarter

Kneehigh

A look at the Dalmation

A fly on the wall

Romance at Polpier

ww

w.p

olp

ier.c

o.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY ROSS TALLING

Our wonderful Camellia out in Polpier and Penpol gardens

– an indication of how lovely Cornwall is during the winter.

02 Polpier & Penpol

T here were birthday parties

ranging from 21st raves to

80th celebrations, where up to

four generations gathered. Hen and stag

weekends – no secrets will be disclosed

- and lots of weddings, small and large,

but all imaginative and joyful. One couple

left their reception, swept down the hill

as friends threw confetti and joined the

Mevagissey Feast Week procession in

their finery.

Guests have cooked using produce

and herbs from the gardens or called

in full-time caterers. Many sampled

the great local pubs and restaurants

and enjoyed the unique atmosphere

of Mevagissey’s harbour. Fishing,

shooting and golf trips, visits to

The Lost Garden of Heligan and

Eden Project and, of course, time

at the beach, made for wonderful

holidays.

Dozens of dogs have also enjoyed

being on holiday with their families or

attending their weddings. They love the

freedom to explore the grounds, our doggy

treats and comfy beds, particularly

after experiencing Cornwall’s

coastal walks or a swim in the sea.

Inevitably, the spaniels and labradors also

splash in the ponds, although the gold fish

and tadpoles still thrive.

During quiet times we have been improving

the gardens. New beds have been created

and hundreds of plants added to our

beautiful sanctuary. Lavender is a particular

feature of the garden, so we selected

that evocative fragrance for our new

Cornish Elegance aromatherapy

toiletries and candles. Now our

guests can experience the

sensation of scent-filled summer

days all year round.

We also transformed our website,

filling it with information which we

hope will help our guests plan a

wonderful stay. For the same reason we

have started this new quarterly Cornish

Elegance Newsletter. Read on for great

suggestions on how to make the most

of your time in Cornwall or take the time

to make the tasty Pan Fried Monkfish

Medallions with Red Pepper Coulis. A

delicious start to 2015 and a way to keep

your memories of Cornwall alive.

After the storms, the sun came out and it was an amazing year at Polpier and Penpol. We have been

privileged to welcome guests from all over the world who chose Cornwall for their holiday or special

occasion. We were delighted old friends returned to relax and have fun and new friends were made.

The many

kind words of

appreciation

made us all

proud.

2014 Round up

New friends were made...We have been privileged to welcome guests from all over the world who chose Cornwall for their holiday or special occasion.

PH

OTO

GR

AP

HY

RO

SS

TA

LLIN

G

Winter 2014/15 www.polpier.co.uk

amanda.hines@polpier.co.uk

03 Polpier & Penpol

Look out for lots of Polpier coverage in this month’s issue of Wed magazine, including beautiful bridal and stunning winter shoots.

The utterly fabulous wedding magazine www.wedmagazine.co.uk

Wed Magazine

TM

But how many people actually keep any of the small, let

alone the big resolutions? One lady who did is 30-year-old

Jennifer Austin. Three years ago she gave up her secure

London job in publishing sales to travel the world, train as

a yoga teacher and then establish Shine Yoga in Cornwall.

And this year she is again keeping another new resolution

by holding her first Yoga and Super Food Cookery retreats

at Polpier in January and February.

J ennifer’s dream grew

after discovering

the up-lifting effects

of dynamic daily yoga practice

at the Jivamukti yoga studio

in London. To learn more she

travelled to the birthplace

of yoga-Rishikesh, a holy

city on the banks of the river

Ganges’ in India. Here she

studied Hatha Yoga and did her

teacher training at Rishikesh

Yog Peeth. She continued

teaching and practicing as she

travelled through Sri Lanka, the

Caribbean, Thailand and Nepal.

But when it came creating a

base from which to spread the

message about the benefits of

yoga, there was just one place

to be: Cornwall.

“I love the sea, surfing and

nature, so Cornwall is perfect.

It combines everything that is

best in life, including friendly

people,” says Jennifer who

“I love the sea,

surfing and nature,

so Cornwall is

perfect. It combines

everything that is

best in life, including

friendly people...”

first visited the county as a

child on a family holiday and

as an adult came down for

weekends of surfing and

camping. “I wasn’t running

away from a life that I hated

– I was born in London and

I still like London – I was just

driven to share the practice

of yoga and believe Cornwall

is a great environment to do

it in. I want to help people to

do something that makes

them feel really good about

themselves. It helps them

physically to become stronger,

more flexible and energised

and mentally to relax and

de-stress, allowing inner

tranquillity.”

As well as Hatha and

Vinyasa Flow yoga lessons,

Jennifer introduced Stand

Up Paddleboard Yoga, which

can be practiced in the

sea, lakes or even Polpier’s

swimming pool. “Doing yoga

on a paddleboard is a

challenge but it really

strengthens the core muscles

and encourages people to

focus on the moment. It is also

great fun – everyone does

eventually fall in the water!”

Laughs Jennifer.

Shine yogaA New Year means New Year resolutions. Every year we make them, from giving up sugar in our coffee to planning a completely different life.

An interview with Jennifer Austin

Jennifer says“I wasn’t running away from a life that I hated – I was born in London and I still like London – I was just driven to share the practice of yoga

PH

OTO

GR

AP

HY

GO

OG

LE IM

AG

ES

| J

EN

NIF

ER

AU

ST

IN B

LOG

Health & Fitness

Winter 2014/15 www.polpier.co.uk

04 Polpier & Penpol

“Yoga is a wonderful group

experience because everyone can

go at their own pace and level.”

Next came yoga retreats for

those who wanted to take some

time for themselves and either

be introduced to or deepen their

experience of yoga. Jennifer

explains, “Yoga is a wonderful group

experience because everyone can

go at their own pace and level.”

At the yoga retreats, Jennifer was

preparing all the food and found

many guests wanted to know more

about her delicious and healthy

creations. ‘I kept being asked for

the recipes and tips during the

retreats and even getting emails

asking for help with food afterwards,

so I decided to combine Yoga and

Super Food Cookery retreats. The

food is all vegetarian, wholefood,

plant based and dairy free, but

it has to taste good too,’ says

Jennifer who radiates glossy

good health. Then whilst giving a

private lesson on the front lawn

to 18 Hens staying at Polpier and

Penpol last summer, Jennifer

realised she had found the perfect

location to hold her new retreats.

‘Polpier has an amazing kitchen

with an island seating ten

for demonstrations and the

opportunity for everyone to have a

go. Then we can all sit at the huge

dining table and sample what we

have cooked together,’ enthuses

Jennifer. ‘The disco hall is spacious

and comfortable for yoga sessions

– particularly in winter with the

underfloor central heating. Guests

will also enjoy strolling in the lovely

garden, playing tennis or exploring

Mevagissey and The Lost Gardens

of Heligan. People travel from all

over Britain for these retreats and

Cornwall is part of the attraction,

they are having a real break away

from everything.

For those who have already chosen

to have a holiday, wedding or party

at Polpier, Jennifer is happy to

provide private lessons to create

your own mini retreat for all ages

and levels of fitness. She says, ‘I’ve

taught people as old as 90 and as

young as 4. Children are fantastic,

they are so flexible and open to new

experiences. I make up a story and

we do the noises that go with the

poses, whether a cat, cow or pigeon

and they love it. Yoga is a great family

or friends’ experience because it can

be adapted for that group. Everyone

can join in and it is lovely teaching

on Polpier’s lawn – the view of the

sea and the beautiful fresh air is

inspiring.’

Jennifer’s website is www.shineyogauk.com and in future editions of the Cornish

Elegance Newsletter we will be sharing some of her Super Food recipes.

Yesterday’s yoga brunch leftovers @mynewroots #lifechanging bread & avo,

kale salad with hot mushrooms

Doing what she does best

01 Preheat the oven to 220C/ 425F/ gas mark 7.

02 Place the peppers on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and

season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for about 15-

20 minutes until the skins are blackened.

03 Remove from the oven, put into a bowl and cover with

cling film. When cool enough to handle, peel off the

skins with your fingers. Slice the peppers open, pick

out and discard all of the seeds and place the red

pepper flesh and sugar into a blender.

04 Blend until smooth, season and sweeten to taste.

05 Pour into saucepan, ready to re-heat.

06 Place the breadcrumb mix ingredients into a blender and

blend until fine.

07 Heat the oil in a large frying pan until very hot.

08 Coat the monkfish medallions with the breadcrumb mix and

add to the frying pan, cook for about 2 minutes on each side

until golden brown and firm to touch.

09 Remove and place on kitchen paper.

10 Re-heat the red pepper coulis and spoon

onto warm plates, carefully arrange

the monkfish and finish with chopped

parsley, chives and a wedge of lemon.

11 Serve with roasted new potatoes

(with garlic & olive oil)

or my favorite-chips and

dressed salad.

800 grams Monkfish fillet, skinned

and cut into about ½ inch thick medallions

6 tablespoons olive oil for shallow frying

Chopped parsley, chives & wedge of lemon to garnish

For the breadcrumb mix:

Seasalt & cracked black pepper to season

Zest of one lemon

Sprig of fresh rosemary

2 slices of white bread

For the red pepper coulis

3 red peppers

2 tablespoons olive oil

Seasalt & cracked black pepper to season

Teaspoon of sugar

Dish of the quarter

Pan Fried Monkfish Medallions with Red Pepper Coulis Provided by Cornish Chef Jamie Beetham.

Serves 4

www.beethamfood.co.uk

Food

Winter 2014/15 www.polpier.co.uk

05 Polpier & Penpol

KneehighA touring theatre company

Kneehigh are an internationally acclaimed touring theatre company based in Cornwall. They rehearse in barns in Gorran Haven, close to Polpier on the South coast. As a charity, their work is funded by Arts Council England as well as trusts, foundations, and private donors, including Polpier.

Last summer Kneehigh performed at The Lost Gardens

of Heligan near Mevagissey for a month, in their beautiful,

transportable tent, The Asylum. They return to The Lost

Gardens this summer with a brand new show for families,

'946', based on the Michael Morpurgo book, 'Adolphus Tips'.

neehigh tour

nationally and

internationally.

Currently they are touring

America with Tristan & Yseult,

one of their most loved shows

which critics have called “a

triumph”, “deliriously joyful”

and “breath-taking in every

respect”. This spring also sees

the UK premiere of a new stage

adaptation of Daphne

du Maurier’s Cornish classic

'Rebecca', the book loved by

generations and the subject of

a famous Hitchcock film.

Kneehigh keep their roots in

Cornwall with the Rambles

programme, which connects

with communities through

event and adventure.

Kneehigh run workshops with

targeted groups, develop

artistic practice in Cornwall,

and give tickets to the Asylum

to those in Cornwall who

would not normally be able to

go to the theatre. You can find

more about Kneehigh’s work

on their website.

“a triumph”,

“deliriously joyful”

and “breath-taking

in every respect”.

JUL

APRPhotos and stories from Anna’s Rambles

residency in the Lizard/Helston area, and the UK

tour of Dead Dog in a Suitcase will be on sale.

Images from 946 rehearsals, and your last

chance to book for the Asylum at The Lost

Gardens of Heligan.

Coming up...Tristan & Yseult

�Dead Dog

in a Suitcase

Tristan & Yseult

Arts kneehigh.co.uk

PH

OTO

GR

AP

HY

KN

EE

HIG

H

Winter 2014/15 www.polpier.co.uk

06 Polpier & Penpol

Certainly as charming in life as in

film, they switch from gallant to

goofy and back to gallant again

in the blink of an eye. Dalmatians

absolutely love to be a part of

everything their family does.

The Dalmatian is probably one of

the most recognised breeds on

the planet, namely for their unique

spots. Many people are attracted

to their dashing good looks, but

Dalmatians are not for everyone.

Whilst they love to be with their

family for any activity that occurs in

the course of a day and can make

wonderful companion dogs, their

high energy level can be simply

exhausting to live with.

Being not only highly active but also

highly intelligent they need training

as well as lots of exercise early in

life to establish rules and promote

good behaviour, or they will decide

it is their job to run things. This

mixed with a constantly high energy

level can spell disaster and see you

having to say good bye to your days

as master of the house.

At the same time Dalmatians are

sensitive and do not respond well to

harsh training methods. You need a

positive approach to training with

Dalmatians also should have the

opportunity to relieve themselves

frequently to keep the urinary system

flushed. With these simple protocols

in place, your Dalmatian should live a

long, healthy life.

Dalmatians will get along with other

pets and children if socialised as a

puppy with all types of animals and

people, they can make a wonderful

active playmate for children.

Dalmatians can also make great

hiking companions and backpacking

dogs, and the sports of fly ball and

Frisbee are excellent activities for

the well-trained Dalmatian.

Whatever you do with your

Dalmatian, whether they are

your best friend or active family

companion you can be sure that with

the right combination of exercise,

discipline, and love they will be a

great addition to your family.

Warning: The animated and live-

action movies "101 Dalmatians,"

caused an extreme rise in

the popularity of the breed.

Unscrupulous people looking

to cash in on the boom bred

Dalmatians indiscriminately,

paying no attention to health or

temperament. Be a cautious and

informed consumer when looking

for your Dalmatian puppy.

lots of rewards for proper behaviour if you want a

well-trained dog. Dalmatians are said to not forget

mistreatment or harsh behaviour.

Another consideration should be the incidence of

deafness in the breed. This condition is prevalent in

Dalmatians. It is inherited as a polygenic trait, and all

Dalmatian bloodlines can pass along deafness to their

offspring. Approximately eight percent of Dalmatians

are born completely deaf, and 22 to 24 percent are

born with hearing in one ear only.

Dalmatians have a urinary system unique in the dog

world, and they have a few special requirements

because of this to prevent medical complications.

Their diet should never be extremely high in protein,

and they must be allowed access to plenty of fresh

water at all times.

DogsP

HO

TOG

RA

PH

Y D

RE

AM

ST

IME

DalmationA look at the

Dalmatians are best known as the star of Disney's 101 Dalmatians. This sleek and athletic dog breed has a history that goes back several hundred years, starting out as coach dog and progressing to serve in many other capacities, including hunter, firehouse dog and even circus performer.

Lifespan: 11 - 13 years

Temperament: Outgoing, Playful, Energetic,

Friendly, Active, Intelligent, Sensitive

Origin: Greece, Croatia

Height: 46 – 64 cm (Adult, Female), 53 – 66 cm (Adult, Male)

Mass: 16 – 24 kg (Adult, Female),17 – 32 kg (Adult, Male)

Doggie fast facts

Dogs are very welcome at Polpier,

one of our regular visitors is Mr Bolli

who is half Dalmation half Labrador.

...be sure that with the right

combination of exercise, discipline,

and love they will be a great

addition to your family.

Winter 2014/15 www.polpier.co.uk

07 Polpier & Penpol

Polpier provides ample storage for shooting equipment, with gun cabinets that can house up to 18 guns and we also welcome dogs. Where could be better to relax and unwind by the fire, enjoying a hearty home cooked meal and sipping on your favourite tipple after a long day of shooting?

Shooting Parties at PolpierA fly on the wall if you like. Some also call this style of

wedding photography, wedding photojournalism. Ross

is also a very accomplished portrait photographer and

thinks it is very important to set aside a short time to take

some beautiful portraits in a picturesque location, whilst

also making sure to capture all the details of your day.

oss takes a fresh,

modern approach

to the financial

side of wedding photography,

“I keep things as simple as

possible, I charge one fee for

the day’s photography, and

that’s it, there are no hidden

costs. You keep 100% of the

photos, they are yours to do

with as you wish. Every single

photo is individually edited and

enhanced, although any effects

are subtle, it is very important to

me that the images stand the

test of time and look as fresh in

forty or more years as they did

when first viewed.”

“I keep things as

simple as possible,

I charge one fee

for the day’s

photography, and

that’s it, there are

no hidden costs.

You keep 100% of

the photos, they are

yours to do with as

you wish..."

Ross is a very proud member

of the ‘Artistic Guild of the

Wedding Photojournalist

Association’, a prestigious

organisation, “comprised

of outstanding wedding

photographers, who are at

the forefront of the wedding

photography industry when

it comes to enhancing

images. The chief objective

of the AG|WPJA is to provide

members with a platform

where the finest enhanced,

manipulated and/or artistic

wedding photojournalism in

the world is spotlighted and

promoted for the bride and

groom.”

A fly on the wallRoss Talling is a Wedding Photographer in Cornwall. As a reportage wedding photographer or, as some call it, documentary wedding photographer, he seeks to tell the story of your day in engaging, emotive pictures, shot unobtrusively and without intervention.

Ross Talling Photography

Take a look at Ross’ website to see more of his beautiful

work, including wedding shoots from Polpier.

www.rosstalling.co.uk

Rebecca and Richard's Wedding at Polpier

FeaturedP

HO

TOG

RA

PH

Y R

OS

S T

ALL

ING

Winter 2014/15 www.polpier.co.uk

08 Polpier & Penpol

With the festive season now behind us, a fantastic

way is to work off those extra mince pies than by

exploring an iconic Cornish garden such as the Lost

Gardens of Heligan, just a hearty walk from Polpier.

The majority of visitors wait for the temperatures to

rise before visiting, so the garden can feel like it is

your own and is just for you. The Gardens are a great

place to take dogs as they are more than welcome on

leads.

Alternatively, take a trip to the beautiful Eden Project,

dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World by some.

The Eden Project is a dramatic global garden housed

in tropical biomes and is not to be missed. Visit the

wonderful winter ice rink, the bee friendly exhibit or

the rainforest photography exhibition, as well as so

much more. Inside its wonderful domes, you can

experience the tranquillity of exotic rainforests even

if it is freezing outside.

ho could ask for more from

their engagement party,

than to wake up in beautiful

South Cornwall, surrounded by all their

loved ones and partying on into the night

with cocktails, delicious food and fun in the

Polpier disco? For anything and everything

romantic ( and Valentine’s Day is the only

way...) Polpier is the place to be.

PH

OTO

GR

AP

HY

RO

SS

TA

LLIN

G

Polpier is the simply the perfect place for a proposal. What better way to ask for the love of your life’s hand in marriage than from the stunning Polpier terrace atop Mevagissey, overlooking enchanting sea views and green rolling hills?

R mance at Polpier

1

1

2

3

4

5

6

2

3

4

5

Seasonal New Year treat

The glasses hold a Cornish

Elegance Valentines Cocktail

made from:

Three frozen or fresh raspberries

A generous splash of Hedgerow’s

handcrafted Cornish Raspberry

Liqueur

Topped up with Cornwall’s premier

Camel Valley Brut sparkling wine

The ‘I Love You’ pink iced biscuits

are made by Pink Elephant Cake

Company

The double raspberry

marshmallows are made by Cloud

Nine Marshmallows

Roses by Flowers by Fleuri Details of the suppliers can be found

under Special Event suppliers at

www.polpier.co.uk

For more info on either location and ideas

for more to do in Cornwall this winter

visit www.visitcornwall.com

Lost Gardens of Heligan and The Eden Project this

New Year.

Happy New Year

PH

OTO

GR

AP

HY

GU

AR

DIA

N P

ICT

UR

ES

Winter 2014/15 www.polpier.co.uk

6

Until next time...Amanda Hines

amanda.hines@polpier.co.uk

ww

w.p

olp

ier.c

o.uk