My hols in the Cotswolds - duncanjcraig.co.uk€¦ · Derren Brown, 45, began his television career...
1
TRAVEL 26 There’s something about Italy that resonates with me. Rome, Venice, Florence, the lakes — the Italians just seem to do everything beautifully. The other day, I went to Tuscany, into the countryside, and it was stunning. Later in the year, I’m going to Asia for the first time, and it’ll be great, but I just don’t have that yearning, that hankering, in the same way I do for a weekend in Tuscany. Maybe it’s just being a middle-aged gay man — some tremendous cliché that I’ve fallen into. I’ve not been back to Jersey since I filmed my Russian Roulette show there. We went because the gun laws allowed us to do what we wanted to do. We were staying in a family’s farmhouse, which was just lovely. I have these strange, intense memories of my time there. That was early in my career, one of the first things I did that was quite high-profile, and there was loads of press and controversy when I got back. Growing up in south London in the 1970s, we didn’t go on holiday that much. Down to Brighton, maybe Littlehampton. And we camped a bit, which was quite a 1970s thing. I don’t know where. I remember grass and I remember a brook. You can Google it. Theme parks were a big part of my childhood. I visited Thorpe Park when it first opened. I remember the pirate ship and the wraparound cinema — I’m sure there was a lot more, but that’s what I recall. Now, of course, it’s huge. I just find theme parks phenomenally exciting. I’ve done pretty much all the big ones in America and I love them. The first time I got recognised abroad, I was crossing Brooklyn Bridge, in New Eamonn McCormack/Getty The illusionist shops for stuffed animals in New York, adores a theme park and shares a love of Florence with Hannibal Lecter Derren Brown Someone in a bar fist-bumped me for looking just like Derren Brown. I told them I get that all the time York, and a Polish cab driver said he’d seen me on YouTube. These days, it happens more often. Recently, I had a conversation with someone in a bar in Newcastle, and at the end, he said, “I’ve got to tell you, you’re the spitting image of Derren Brown.” Then he fist-bumped me. I said, “Yeah, I get that all the time.” I’m doing a Broadway show next year. It will be wonderful to live out in New York for a bit, as I haven’t been over there for a while. The city’s just electric and the food is phenomenal. I like Americans — the friendliness, the positivity. Are they more suggestible to what I do? Not necessarily. What makes a difference isn’t nationality so much as your relationship to someone. Think about how suggestible you are with your doctor, versus, say, a politician. I’m into taxidermy. Probably my favourite spot in New York is a taxidermy store called Evolution, on Broadway. But I don’t have to travel to source items now. I have dealers who just call me, and it’s all very ethical. I was walking through London the other day and I got a call from a guy called Dave, who said, “I’ve just passed you, and I’ve got a kiwi in the back” — which didn’t sound comfortable. He pulled up in his van and showed me a kiwi, which I didn’t want. The place I’m most at ease has to be Florence. Somewhere in the back of my mind is that scene in the film Hannibal — not a great role model, admittedly — where Lecter is sitting out on Piazza della Signoria, having a glass of wine. That’s my image of retirement. When I picture myself there, I always mentally wipe the glass with my handkerchief as I leave, as he does, to remove traces of DNA. Derren Brown, 45, began his television career in 2000, with his Mind Control specials. Since then, he has become synonymous with the art of psychological manipulation thanks to stage and TV shows such as The Great Art Robbery, Russian Roulette and Svengali. Derren Brown’s Ghost Train, an immersive virtual-reality ride, opened last week at Thorpe Park, in Surrey (entry from £27.99; thorpepark. com). Derren lives in London with his partner, Marc My hols Interview by Duncan Craig WHERE WAS I? Summer treasure hunt. We must solve and photograph clues, “saving” letters for later. The trail starts seemingly in the middle of nowhere, where we are handed a picture of an anti-slavery campaigner, born in 1759. We must now drive south to the small town (save its second and third letters, we are told) where he was schooled, and photograph its canal, opened in 1818. We must also snap its gardens (save letter three), famed for their water lilies. Job done, we open the second clue. “Southwest to a second town (save letter three), possible birthplace, in 1068, of a king. Photograph the abbey’s 14th-century window (two words; save letters three and six).” The window is a joy to behold, but now we must open clue three. “Find the 215-mile long-distance path (letter one), passing through the town. Then head west to a third town (letters three and eight), site of a battle fought in 1645.” We press on. “South-southeast to find a tangle in this canal (letters three and four), itself part of a navigation main line.” Truth to tell, we are uncertain whether we have photographed the canal or the navigation; perhaps they are one and the same. Anyway, who’s to know? So, optimistically onwards to the penultimate clue. “James Bond’s enemy? Power station (letters two and three), six miles northeast.” We find no villains, only the power station, dating from 1974. There we open our final clue. “If you have 13 letters, you should rearrange them to create a gothic stately home (two words) nearby. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find Jacobean, too. It dates from 1614 and is where your trail ends.” Chris Fautley THE QUESTIONS THE PRIZE 1 What is the name of the first town? 2 What is the name of the stately home? LAST WEEK’S PRIZE The answers are Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and Sir Peter Scott. Janice Bennett of Somerset wins a break in Provence, with Hôtel Crillon Le Brave and Voyages-sncf.com. The winner and a guest will stay for two nights, B&B, in a suite at Foxhill Manor, a beautiful grade II listed Arts and Crafts house that was The Sunday Times Hotel of the Year in 2015. Set on the 400-acre Farncombe Estate, it has only eight bedrooms, decorated in a luxurious but understated style, and looks over the Vale of Evesham, straight into the setting sun. There are no rules: guests can eat what they want when they want, and dinner is always preceded by a chat with the chef to discuss the menu. Staff are on hand to arrange activities on the estate, or to whisk guests to the spa at Foxhill Manor’s sister hotel, Dormy House. For more information, or to book, call 01386 852711 or visit foxhillmanor.com. The prize includes one four-course dinner (excluding drinks) and a 60-minute activity on the estate. It must be taken before April 30, 2017, subject to availability and excluding bank holidays, Valentine’s Day, December 24-January 2 and March 14-17. HOW TO ENTER Only one entry per person, at thesundaytimes.co.uk/wherewasi by Wednesday. Normal Times Newspapers rules apply. No correspondence will be entered into. Win a luxury weekend in the Cotswolds WITH FOXHILL MANOR I f there’s one taste that defines the American northeast, it’s maple syrup, a gift from the trees that doesn’t merely sweeten pancakes. Research is beginning to show that it may be a superfood, with potential anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Walk into any American supermarket and you’ll see rows of syrups with folksy labels, but don’t be fooled. Most are made from coloured corn syrup with maple flavouring, and are to the real thing what Dairylea is to camembert. To find the true object of desire, you need to go to Vermont, where 70-odd farms produce about 40% of all the maple syrup consumed in the US. Up here, in the same forests that attract hordes of leaf-peepers each autumn, sugar-makers head out in March to tap the sugar maple. Some do it the old-fashioned way, driving a spout through the bark and allowing the clear sap to drip into a bucket beneath. Others use a complex system of elevated tubes to feed the harvest from hundreds of trees into a single vat. At this stage, the sugar content is a measly 2%, but when the water is boiled out, it is raised to 66% — typically, 40 gallons of sap make one gallon of syrup. This is then filtered and graded. Once upon a time, the lighter-coloured syrups were considered the best and the darker ones the worst, but in an enlightened act, the Vermont Maple Syrup Makers Association decided that no syrup was better than another in terms of colour — just different. So they’re now graded Golden Colour/ Delicate Taste; Amber Colour/Rich Taste; Dark Colour/ Robust Taste; and Very Dark Colour/ Strong Taste. Whichever you choose, make sure the label states that the contents are 100% maple syrup. Which is the best is a question that can start barroom brawls around here, but you might care to try Goodrich’s Maple Farm, in Cabot ($11 a pint; goodrichmaplefarm.com), Bill’s Lakeshore Maples, in Newport ($10 a pint; billslakeshoremaples. com) or the retro-packaged Slopeside Syrup, in Richmond ($13 a pint; slopesidesyrup.com). Chris Haslam OBJECTS OF DESIRE WHAT TO BRING BACK FROM YOUR TRAVELS #40 MAPLE SYRUP
Transcript of My hols in the Cotswolds - duncanjcraig.co.uk€¦ · Derren Brown, 45, began his television career...
TRAV
EL
2 6 17 . 07 . 2016
There’s something about Italythat resonates with me. Rome,Venice, Florence, the lakes —the Italians just seem to doeverything beautifully. Theother day, I went to Tuscany,into the countryside, and it was
stunning. Later in the year, I’m going toAsia for the first time, and it’ll be great,but I just don’t have that yearning, thathankering, in the same way I do for aweekend in Tuscany. Maybe it’s justbeing a middle-aged gay man — sometremendous cliché that I’ve fallen into.I’ve not been back to Jersey since I
filmed my Russian Roulette show there.We went because the gun laws allowed usto do what we wanted to do. We werestaying in a family’s farmhouse, whichwas just lovely. I have these strange,intense memories of my time there. That
was early in my career, one of the firstthings I did that was quite high-profile,and there was loads of press andcontroversy when I got back.Growing up in south London in the
1970s, we didn’t go on holiday thatmuch. Down to Brighton, maybeLittlehampton. And we camped a bit,which was quite a 1970s thing. I don’tknow where. I remember grass and Iremember a brook. You can Google it.Theme parks were a big part of my
childhood. I visited Thorpe Park when itfirst opened. I remember the pirate shipand the wraparound cinema — I’m surethere was a lot more, but that’s what Irecall. Now, of course, it’s huge. I justfind theme parks phenomenally exciting.I’ve done pretty much all the big onesin America and I love them.The first time I got recognised abroad,
I was crossing Brooklyn Bridge, in New
Eamon
nMc
Corm
ack/
Getty
The illusionist shops for stuffed animals inNew York, adores a theme park and shares
a love of Florence with Hannibal Lecter
Derren Brown
Someone in a bar fist-bumpedme for looking just likeDerren Brown. I told them Iget that all the time
York, and a Polish cab driver said he’dseen me on YouTube. These days, ithappens more often. Recently, I had aconversation with someone in a bar inNewcastle, and at the end, he said, “I’vegot to tell you, you’re the spitting imageof Derren Brown.” Then he fist-bumpedme. I said, “Yeah, I get that all the time.”I’m doing a Broadway show next year.
It will be wonderful to live out in NewYork for a bit, as I haven’t been overthere for a while. The city’s just electricand the food is phenomenal.I like Americans — the friendliness, the
positivity. Are they more suggestible towhat I do? Not necessarily. What makesa difference isn’t nationality so much asyour relationship to someone. Thinkabout how suggestible you are with yourdoctor, versus, say, a politician.I’m into taxidermy. Probably my
favourite spot in New York is a taxidermystore called Evolution, on Broadway.But I don’t have to travel to source itemsnow. I have dealers who just call me,and it’s all very ethical. I was walkingthrough London the other day and I gota call from a guy called Dave, who said,“I’ve just passed you, and I’ve got a kiwiin the back” — which didn’t soundcomfortable. He pulled up in his van andshowed me a kiwi, which I didn’t want.The place I’m most at ease has to be
Florence. Somewhere in the back of mymind is that scene in the film Hannibal —not a great role model, admittedly —where Lecter is sitting out onPiazza della Signoria, having aglass of wine. That’s my imageof retirement. When I picturemyself there, I always mentallywipe the glass with myhandkerchief as I leave, as hedoes, to remove traces of DNA.
Derren Brown, 45,began his televisioncareer in 2000, withhis Mind Controlspecials. Since then,he has becomesynonymous with theart of psychologicalmanipulation thanksto stage and TVshows such as TheGreat Art Robbery,Russian Roulette andSvengali. DerrenBrown’s Ghost Train,an immersivevirtual-reality ride,opened last week atThorpe Park, in Surrey(entry from £27.99;thorpepark. com).Derren lives in Londonwith his partner, Marc
My hols
Interview
byDu
ncan
Craig
W H E R E W A S I ?Summer treasure hunt. We mustsolve and photograph clues, “saving”letters for later. The trail startsseemingly in the middle of nowhere,where we are handed a picture of ananti-slavery campaigner, born in1759. We must now drive south to thesmall town (save its second and thirdletters, we are told) where he wasschooled, and photograph its canal,opened in 1818. We must also snapits gardens (save letter three), famedfor their water lilies.Job done, we open the second clue.
“Southwest to a second town (saveletter three), possible birthplace, in1068, of a king. Photograph theabbey’s 14th-century window (twowords; save letters three and six).”The window is a joy to behold, butnow we must open clue three.“Find the 215-mile long-distancepath (letter one), passing throughthe town. Then head west to a third
town (letters three and eight), siteof a battle fought in 1645.”We press on. “South-southeast to
find a tangle in this canal (lettersthree and four), itself part of anavigation main line.” Truth to tell,we are uncertain whether we havephotographed the canal or thenavigation; perhaps they are one andthe same. Anyway, who’s to know?So, optimistically onwards to the
penultimate clue. “James Bond’senemy? Power station (letters twoand three), six miles northeast.”We find no villains, only the powerstation, dating from 1974. There weopen our final clue. “If you have 13letters, you should rearrange themto create a gothic stately home (twowords) nearby. Dig a little deeper andyou’ll find Jacobean, too. It dates from1614 and is where your trail ends.”
Chris Fautley
T H E Q U E S T I O N S
T H E P R I Z E
1 What is the name of the first town?2 What is the name of the stately home?
LAST WEEK’S PRIZEThe answers are Gloucester andSharpness Canal and Sir Peter Scott.Janice Bennett of Somerset wins abreak in Provence, with Hôtel CrillonLe Brave and Voyages-sncf.com.
The winner and a guest will stay fortwo nights, B&B, in a suite at FoxhillManor, a beautiful grade II listed Artsand Crafts house that was The SundayTimes Hotel of the Year in 2015.Set on the 400-acre Farncombe
Estate, it has only eight bedrooms,decorated in a luxurious butunderstated style, and looks over theVale of Evesham, straight into thesetting sun. There are no rules: guestscan eat what they want when theywant, and dinner is always precededby a chat with the chef to discuss themenu. Staff are on hand to arrangeactivities on the estate, or to whiskguests to the spa at Foxhill Manor’ssister hotel, Dormy House. For moreinformation, or to book, call 01386852711 or visit foxhillmanor.com.The prize includes one four-course
dinner (excluding drinks) and a60-minute activity on the estate.It must be taken before April 30,
2017, subject to availability andexcluding bank holidays, Valentine’sDay, December 24-January 2 andMarch 14-17.
HOW TO ENTEROnly one entry per person, atthesundaytimes.co.uk/wherewasiby Wednesday. Normal TimesNewspapers rules apply. Nocorrespondence will be entered into.
Win a luxury weekendin the Cotswolds
WITH FOXHILL MANOR
If there’s one taste that definesthe American northeast, it’s maplesyrup, a gift from the trees thatdoesn’t merely sweeten pancakes.
Research is beginning to show thatit may be a superfood, with potentialanti-inflammatory and anti-cancerproperties. Walk into any Americansupermarket and you’ll see rows ofsyrups with folksy labels, but don’tbe fooled. Most are made fromcoloured corn syrup with mapleflavouring, and are to the real thingwhat Dairylea is to camembert.
To find the true object of desire,you need to go to Vermont, where70-odd farms produce about 40%
of all the maple syrup consumed inthe US. Up here, in the same foreststhat attract hordes of leaf-peeperseach autumn, sugar-makers headout in March to tap the sugar maple.Some do it the old-fashioned way,driving a spout through the bark and
allowing the clear sap to dripinto a bucket beneath. Othersuse a complex system ofelevated tubes to feed theharvest from hundreds oftrees into a single vat. At thisstage, the sugar content is a
measly 2%, but when the water isboiled out, it is raised to 66% —typically, 40 gallons of sap make
one gallon of syrup. This is thenfiltered and graded.Once upon a time, thelighter-coloured syrups wereconsidered the best and thedarker ones the worst, butin an enlightened act, theVermont Maple Syrup MakersAssociation decided thatno syrup was better thananother in terms of colour —just different. So they’re nowgraded Golden Colour/Delicate Taste; Amber
Colour/Rich Taste; Dark Colour/Robust Taste; and Very Dark Colour/Strong Taste. Whichever you choose,make sure the label states that thecontents are 100% maple syrup.
Which is the best is a questionthat can start barroom brawls aroundhere, but you might care to tryGoodrich’s Maple Farm, in Cabot ($11a pint; goodrichmaplefarm.com),Bill’s Lakeshore Maples, in Newport($10 a pint; billslakeshoremaples.com) or the retro-packagedSlopeside Syrup, in Richmond($13 a pint; slopesidesyrup.com).
Chris Haslam
OBJECTS OF DESIREWHAT TO BRING BACK FROM YOUR TRAVELS
# 4 0 M A P L E S Y R U P
