A specially curated guide to help you enjoy the next 48 hours in Bristol

THAT'S A WRAP   |   THE FUTURE OF GIFT WRAPPING

While it's one of those traditions that's hard to give up, it is pretty unanimous – wrapping paper is a complete waste... not only is it expensive, and often not reusable, it also causes a collective mountain of packaging and a huge headache for the city's recycling teams. The low-grade paper is often mixed with plastic and glitter and is therefore best burned rather than pulped. That's why, this Christmas, Bristol council like many other local authorities has decided to no longer collect wrapping paper for recycling.

So, if Christmas is as they say 'a little different this year', then maybe it's high time we ring in the changes and look at some alternatives. Enter furoshiki.

Furoshiki is a type of Japanese wrapping cloth traditionally used to transport clothes, gifts, or other goods. In recent years, the tradition has evolved into a popular practice in cultures around the world as an environmentally friendly way to carry bottles, food, and everyday necessities – as well as a modern alternative to gift-wrapping.

As many of us have more time on our hands, wrapping paper is no longer being collected and sustainable alternatives are fortunately becoming more widely available, why not take advantage of this opportunity to put a little spin on the typical presentation of your festive gifts?

Main images: Furoshiki wrapping cloths from £15; Anthropologie

We've compiled a list of alternative wrapping solutions and how to perfect the art of furoshiki – enjoy a three minute read here

OUR TRIBUTE  |  REMEMBERING AN ICON

CHRISTMAS TIME |  GETTING FESTIVE

SUSTAINABLE FASHION  |  FINISTERRE

FOODIE DELIGHTS  |  MINCE PIES MASTERCLASS

Once you've mastered the basic (very simple!) art of the mince pie, it's time to get creative...

EXCLUSIVE FEATURE   |   THE PURPLE POUND

With Christmas shopping season underway, how have those living with disabilities – for whom lockdown has “turned back the clock” according to campaigners – found the purchase process during the pandemic? Journalist, illustrator, speaker and sportswoman Chloe Ball-Hopkins shares how she navigates shopping on ‘Inaccessible Avenue’ in our latest issue.

Enjoy a four minute read here

DECEMBER ISSUE  |  OUT AND ABOUT & LOOKING GOOD

TAKE FOUR  |  COUNTING DOWN TO CHRISTMAS

WEEKEND RECIPE  |  SLOW-COOKED CURRY

Curry doesn't have to be complicated – and this dish proves the point.

This comforting dish of spicy satisfaction can be as hot or mellow as you choose. Because you're letting a decent curry powder do the hard work for you, you can choose to turn the heat up or down accordingly, and while the coriander and cumin further enhances the flavour, the fresh ginger adds warmth without fire – and the fresh red chilli is there if you want it.

During cooking, the butternut squash breaks down into a velvety sauce that binds the dish together, while the chutney elevates this dish to stellar heights, bringing depth and a unique sweet/sour personality to the party – either a fruity, complex aubergine pickle or milder mango chutney work really well. Meanwhile, if you like your curries creamy, the coconut milk does the trick.

This is a classic low'n'slow dish, happy to wait for when you're ready to eat it rather than the other way around. It also benefits from being made 24 hours before you plan to tuck in, which allows the sauce to thicken while the meat relaxes and the spices get to know each other. As with all curries/casseroles, it also freezes well.

Ingredients (serves 6)

1.5kg stewing beef (shin is good), cut into approx. 3cm cubes
750g peeled, diced butternut squash
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
2 onions, roughly sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
5cm knob of ginger, grated
Finely sliced fresh red chilli to taste (optional)
3–5 tsp curry powder (choose your strength)
500g good chutney/Indian pickle
Approx 800ml beef stock
400ml tin coconut milk (optional)
Oil for frying
To serve: plain boiled rice (pref. Basmati); roti

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 150˚C or set the slow cooker to low.
2. Season the beef with the cumin and coriander.
3. Heat the oil in a large ovenproof casserole dish and brown the beef in batches, putting each batch aside as soon as the chunks have caramelised around the edges.
4. Add more oil to the pan if necessary and sauté the onion, butternut squash, garlic, ginger, fresh chilli (if using) and curry powder for 4–5 minutes, until soft and fragrant. Tip the browned beef back into the casserole dish with the chutney, stock and coconut milk (if you're not using coconut milk, add an extra 400ml of water or stock) and stir well.
5. Cover the pot and cook in the oven for around 4 hours (stirring occasionally and adding more water/stock if necessary) or in the slow cooker for up to 8 hours, until the meat is very tender. Serve with rice and roti.

WEEKEND WINES  |  STOCK UP ON CHABLIS

This venerable Chablis, made from old vines by master of the appellation Alain Geoffroy, is classic, dry and fabulously well balanced.

The perfect partner to platters of fruits de mer, white meat and crisp salads. Established in 1850, this family-run estate tends around 45 hectares of vines and is one of our absolute favourites. This unoaked style is made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes and is vinified in stainless steel to accentuate the wine's regional characteristics.

Restrained yet complex, eponymous wine displays hallmark aromas suggestive of apples, citrus fruit and honeyed toast with an accompanying hint of minerality. Crisp and refreshing on the palate, this white offers great balance and depth. £132.00 for a case of six.

harveynichols.com

OBJECT OF INTEREST  |  ICONIC DANISH DESIGN

CHRISTMAS MUSIC  |  SPREADING FESTIVE JOY

BOOK LAUNCH  |  BEHIND THE CURTAINS

Award-winning actor and photographer Bill Ward is set to launch a new book, #TheatresInDanger, to help support the UK's theatres at Christmas time.

Bill Ward, best known for his work on Coronation Street (Charlie Stubbs 2003-2007) and Emmerdale (James Barton 2013-2017), has put together a book of his own theatre photography to support the theatre industry during the pandemic. All proceeds from the sale of the 40-page book, released in time for Christmas, will go direct to the Theatres Trust, the theatrical charity that is doing such vital work in helping theatres all over the UK survive the pandemic.

The book is packed full of photographs that Bill has taken while working in theatres up and down the country over the last 10 years. Although well known for his television work, Bill works extensively in the theatre, and over the last few years has starred in many shows in the West End (Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Viva Forever, Million Dollar Quartet and Spamalot) as well as national tours of The Glee Club, Shakespeare in Love, Legally Blonde, Look Back in Anger, and Not Dead Enough.

Alongside the book, Bill is also selling limited edition prints of over 50 additional theatre photographs, making just under 100 photographs in the project in total. All proceeds from the sale of both the book and the prints will go direct to the Theatres Trust.

Publishing on 16 December; available now to pre-order; billwardphotography.co.uk

Image: The Kissing Wall at Theatre Royal Nottingham – photo taken by Bill Ward

WILDLIFE WATCH  |  WARMER CLIMATES

The beginning of December has brought about the first 'swanfall' after a steady start at WWT Slimbridge.

Overnight on 30 November, 26 majestic Bewick's swans arrived at Slimbridge, after completing the final leg of their autumn migration. Encouraged by the onset of winter conditions to their breeding grounds in Arctic Russia, the Bewick's swans began their journey back in September and have since been enjoying the comforts and plentiful feeding opportunities at wetlands across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Hence the slow start to the Bewick's swan season at Slimbridge.

The 'swanfall' saw the exciting arrival of Slimbridge regular – Maisie, named after Slimbridge's reserve warden Martin McGill's daughter. Maisie arrived this year with her partner Mayfeld and their first two cygnets. At just three months old, these cygnets have completed their first 2,500km migration. Maisie first wintered at Slimbridge in 2014-15 where she was fitted with a GPS collar, therefore for a few years WWT were able to track her movements. Unfortunately during migration Maisie somehow lost the tracking collar. Maisie has been with Mayfeld since the winter of 2016-17 but this is the first time they have brought cygnets to Slimbridge.

Sir Peter Scott, the founder of WWT, dedicated much of his time to watching and studying Bewick's swans. He was the first person to recognise the value of bill pattern identification as a research tool. The WWT conservation team who are based at Slimbridge have been using this technique to identify and record individual Bewick's swans for more than 50 years – one of the largest conservation studies for a single species. Over that time, the comings and goings of individuals and family dynasties has led to over 10,000 swans being recorded – also one of the longest-running studies on a single species in the world.

wwt.org.uk

EXHIBITIONS  |  CLIFTON CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY

ON THE BOOKSHELF  |  FOR YOUNG MINDS

ON THE BOX  |   A CLASSIC NOVEL

A deftly smart adaptation of the American classic from Greta Gerwig, her second solo directorial film after the brilliant Lady Bird. Saoirse Ronan leads a glittering ensemble that includes Meryl Streep, Laura Dern and Emma Watson.

Little Women picked up a whole host of nominations at both the Academy Awards and the BAFTAs and is not one to miss this weekend.

Watch it today on Sky Cinema

INTERIORS  |  THE PANTONE COLOURS OF THE YEAR

Colour experts, Pantone, have announced the Colour of the Year 2021 and this year, it's a double whammy! The bright 'Illuminating' (yellow) is paired with neutral 'Ultimate Grey' for a two-tone combo to suit many schemes and spaces.

Check out Loaf's suggestions on bringing the two new hues into the home...

loaf.com

Shown here: Slim Jim Sofa; £1295

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK  |  NEW ON THE MARKET

Occupying a wonderful location on the edge of Clifton Village this is a beautiful Grade II listed family home overlooks Victoria Square and benefits from elegant well-proportioned rooms, a self-contained apartment and gated off-street parking.

Arranged over four floors and with a wealth of period features throughout, the property consists of: a beautiful entrance hall with the most glamorous stone staircase, there’s a spacious full-width sitting room with a balcony to the front, a separate dining room and well-fitted family kitchen. The main bedroom is again full-width and has a large dressing room, there are 3 further bedrooms and two bath / shower rooms. 

Independent from the main house, the lower ground floor offers a self contained one-bedroom apartment. Outside there’s gated off-street parking and a courtyard garden.

This splendid family property has a guide price of £1,895,000 and is new to the market. Full particulars are only available from Bristol estate agency Rupert Oliver.