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Sam Holden

Sunshine yellow: 12 ways to brighten your home with summer’s favourite hue

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The sunniest of shades is back, says Sam Wylie-Harris.

If the recent spring weather has put you in a sunny mood, why not mirror those feel-good vibes at home with some sunshine-yellow decor?

The brighter days may even have reignited an urge to tackle some long overdue DIY projects, or perhaps breathe life into your space with a fresh lick of paint.

If you’d rather take the easy option however, there are plenty of sunbeam-hued homewares in the shops, energised and raring to go.

Let the happiest hue give your home a new lease of life with these top finds…

1. John Lewis ANYDAY ‘Hello Sunshine’ Cushion, £12, John Lewis

A sunny scatter cushion emblazoned with a cheery message will set the scene for an all over glow. Bound to bring a smile.

2. Capri, Yellow – Roman Blind, from £51.31, 247 Blinds

Window dressing with timeless appeal, wildflowers against a yellow background works like a dream with soft greys and neutrals. Style with a fruit bowl of bananas, lemons or yellow peaches to add vibrancy to your scheme.

3. Wilko Embossed Glass Tumbler, Yellow, £3, Wilko stores

These fetching tumblers will make that smoothie or fruit punch taste extra-special, without being spendy. Ideal for garden parties and al-fresco lunches once it really warms up.

4. Daisy Bee Wipe Clean Table Cloth, from £28-£32, Next

From summer soirées to brekky or brunch, this sweet print looks and feels as fresh as a daisy.

5. Sass and Belle Yellow Round Bamboo Tray, £19.95, The Northern Line

When it’s time to proffer those Aperol Spritzes, this serving dish signals sundowners.

6. Victory Colours Sunstar No 42, Matt Emulsion, £44.95 for 2.5L, Victory Colours

A joyous celebration of colour, this bright yellow paint works for both contemporary and classic schemes. Create a feature wall full of warmth.

7. The Candy Neck Arm Wall Light in Yellow, £224, Made to Last

This industrial style retro-looking wall light makes a bright statement, before you’ve even flicked the switch.

8. Neve Linen Sofa Bed – Mustard, £199.99 (other items from a selection), The Range

A Scandi-style sofa bed in mustard will spice up a small space – and look equally good in a sun room. Think afternoon doze, sunny siesta style.

9. Plant Pouches Gift Box, from £28-£38, Cera Cotton

We love these wax coated fabric plant pouches – ideal for showing off your succulents. Available in three sizes, they can also be used for storing simple household items.

10. John Lewis + Matthew Williamson Wave Bath Towel, Mustard, £22.95, John Lewis

Looking to give your bathroom a fun beach vibe? This wavy print is a prize pick.

11. Salsa Garden Chair, Set of 2, Two Tone Yellow, £189, John Lewis

These funky rattan chairs will work a treat indoors or out. The pop of colour makes for an easy update for patio spaces and balconies.

12. Golden Somer Wood Paint, from £20 for 750ml, Thorndown

It may take some work, but imagine the satisfaction of bringing a tired piece of furniture back to life. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, this buttercup yellow will liven up a lawn or living room.

We made the coronation quiche – this is what we thought

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Lisa Salmon made the King and Queen Consort’s coronation quiche recipe containing spinach and broad beans – and even her teenagers ate (most of) it.

At first glance, the King and Queen Consort’s personally-chosen ‘coronation quiche’ recipe looks fairly cheap and easy to make.

Featuring spinach, broad beans, cheese and fresh tarragon in a no-faff recipe (you put everything in a pre-baked pastry case and stick it in the oven), what could possibly be the problem?

Fresh tarragon, it turns out. It may be easy to get your hands on when you’re royal, but I went to three supermarkets and even tried one online, and just could not find any.

The recipe has been shared on the royal family social media channels in celebration of Coronation Big Lunches, which aim to bring communities together to celebrate over the coronation weekend (May 6-8).

Great British Bake Off judge and Big Lunch ambassador Prue Leith was one of the first to try it, at a special Big Lunch at Westminster Abbey, and described it as “absolutely delicious”.

Leith added: “There was no soggy bottom, the custard was not overcooked and dry, and the balance of tarragon was perfect – a really good quiche.”

The royal family’s website says the dish is “a deep quiche with a crisp, light pastry case and delicate flavours of spinach, broad beans and fresh tarragon”. It does not, of course, mention the fact finding fresh tarragon is about as easy as wearing the Crown Jewels on a night out at Wetherspoons.

I resorted to using dried tarragon (£1.09 at Morrison’s), with the internet suggesting using one teaspoon of the dried variety for every one tablespoon of the fresh stuff, as dried tarragon is much stronger tasting.

The other ingredients were easy to find, and pretty affordable. A packet of frozen broad beans is about £1.50 (and you only need a handful for the recipe), you can buy a small pack of spinach for 99p, double cream costs about £1.35, and the other ingredients – like milk, eggs, cheese and butter – you might have in your fridge already.

While the recipe does give the option of using shop-bought pastry, I made my own – tweaking the recipe to make it vegetarian. Although the quiche filling is all veggie, the pastry included a mixture of butter and lard, which is most definitely not vegetarian! I used all butter for my pastry instead, which was fine.

Making pastry is easy enough, and I baked my pastry case ‘blind’ for the suggested 15 minutes. I suspect a few minutes longer would have been better though, as while I’m pleased to say the finished quiche didn’t have a soggy bottom, it wasn’t exactly ‘crisp and light’ as described.

The filling couldn’t be easier. Half the cheese, cooked spinach (which I squeezed in kitchen paper to get rid of excess moisture, although the recipe doesn’t suggest this) and broad beans go in the bottom of the pre-baked case, then a mixture of the double cream, milk, eggs, tarragon and seasoning are poured on top, followed by the rest of the cheese (I added a bit more than suggested, simply because we all love cheese!).

After baking for 25 minutes, the quiche looked roughly like the one in the official Palace picture (although perhaps not quite as neat). But, what did it taste like?

Creamy was my overriding impression, and the hint of tarragon was nice, but I wished I’d added a little more. And to be honest, although I like spinach and broad beans, I didn’t really notice them taste-wise – although the quiche looks very green.

Green food is not something eagerly consumed by my teenage sons, so I was expecting them to turn their noses up at this. Surprisingly, they didn’t – and, although they picked out the broad beans, they actually said they liked the rest of the quiche and ate it all. Amazing!

However, although the recipe claims to serve six, there was just about enough for four of us – six portions would be very small.

The final verdict goes to my 19-year-old son, who concisely described the coronation quiche as: “Creamy and cheesy, with a twist.”

How to make the coronation quiche

(Serves 6)

For the pastry:

125g plain flour

Pinch of salt

25g cold butter, diced

25g lard

2tbsp milk

Or 1 x 250g block of ready-made shortcrust pastry

For the filling:

125ml milk

175ml double cream

2 medium eggs

1tbsp chopped fresh tarragon

Salt and pepper

100g grated cheddar cheese,

180g cooked spinach, lightly chopped

60g cooked broad beans or soya beans

Method

1. To make the pastry: Sieve the flour and salt into a bowl; add the fats and rub the mixture together using your fingertips until you get a sandy, breadcrumb-like texture. Add the milk a little at a time and bring the ingredients together into a dough. Cover and allow to rest in the fridge for 30-45 minutes.

2. Lightly flour the work surface and roll out the pastry to a circle a little larger than the top of the tin and approximately 5mm thick.

3. Line the tin with the pastry, taking care not to have any holes or the mixture could leak. Cover and rest for a further 30 minutes in the fridge.

4. Preheat the oven to 190°C.

5. Line a 20cm flan tin with greaseproof paper, add baking beans and bake blind for 15 minutes, before removing the greaseproof paper and baking beans.

6. Reduce the oven temperature to 160°C.

7. Beat together the milk, cream, eggs, herbs and seasoning.

8. Scatter half the grated cheese in the blind-baked base, top with the chopped spinach and beans and herbs, then pour over the liquid mixture.

9. If required gently give the mixture a delicate stir to ensure the filling is evenly dispersed but be careful not to damage the pastry case.

10. Sprinkle over the remaining cheese. Place into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until set and lightly golden.

All the top tipples to toast the King’s coronation

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Claire Spreadbury rounds up special edition beers, wines and spirits to celebrate in style.

The King’s coronation will see many of us throwing street parties, getting together and enjoying the additional bank holiday.

If you’re not sure what to drink, you needn’t worry. There are oodles of royal-themed new releases hitting the shelves in time for the big day.

Here are some of our favourites…

English bubbles

Popping corks of celebratory fizz is most definitely in order to toast the King, and there’s a huge variety to choose from. Starting from the top end, you can’t go wrong with the Ridgeview Royal Coronation Trio, £117, after all – it comes with a royal seal of approval. A brand served at Charles’ first state banquet at Buckingham Palace in November, this coronation gift set contains the Ridgeview Bloomsbury NV (the official wine served for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee), Ridgeview Cavendish NV and Ridgeview Fitzrovia Rosé NV (served to Barack Obama at the Buckingham Palace State Banquet in 2011) plus a limited edition coronation stopper. All completely delicious if you can afford to splash out.

Another bubbling British treat is Hattingley Valley‘s Kings Cuvée 2015, £85 (perfect with canapes) and Kings Cuvée Rosé 2015, £95 (serve with a scrumptious Eton Mess) – both available with a limited edition King’s coronation engraved oak case, £30, to mark the occasion.

Renowned English wine producer Chapel Down has released the Coronation Edition, £65, from their exceptional 2016 vintage, which features special edition packaging. Described by head winemaker Josh Donaghay-Spire as having aromas of ripe apple, fresh red berries and toasted brioche, he says this rich and complex sparkling wine is “perfect” for grand celebrations. Available directly from Chapel Down, this top drop will also be served by the glass at the two Michelin star The Hand And Flowers, and the Oxo Tower Restaurant. All profits from the sale of the wine will be donated to the Royal British Legion.

What could be more magnificent than celebrating the coronation with a magnum? The 1.5-litre Moët & Chandon Coronation Cuvée 2023 is dressed to impress with a specially-designed souvenir bottle, featuring the official emblem of the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort – available exclusively at Clos19 from May 1.

Royal Warrant holder Camel Valley has been producing award-winning English wines since 1989 and its English Sparkling Blanc de Blancs 2016, exclusive to Fortnum & Mason, contains 100% sparkling chardonnay, £42.50.

At the more affordable end of the spectrum, Aldi has done it again, releasing a Specially Selected English Sparking Rosé, £16.99. With a patriotic label and notes of raspberry and brioche, you really can’t go wrong.

Marks & Spencer‘s Balfour Coronation Cuvée, £23, is a limited edition bottle of balanced English bubbly, with some lively lemony acidity, crisp apple and even a touch of white pepper.

Sainsbury’s has also released an English Sparkling Wine, £22, made from grapes grown in prime vineyard sites across southern England and made using the same method as champagne. Enjoy crisp green apple aromas, toasty brioche notes and delicate citrus flavours.

And finally on the fizz front, if you want everything in one place, Cartwright & Butler‘s Coronation Celebration Hamper, £160, comes with a bottle of Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial, special edition coronation biscuits, tea, chutney, marmalade and coffee, plus fudge, more biscuits and a delicious fruit cake. What more could you need?

Wine

Understandably, it is all about the English sparkles when it comes to coronation wines, but for those who prefer something a little richer, we couldn’t resist mentioning Long Live The King – a cabernet sauvignon with the perfect Aussie ripeness, punchy cassis and an excellent name. £12.99, Laithwaites.

Gin

Who doesn’t love an afternoon G&T on a bank holiday Monday? Adnams have released a limited run of 1,000 Coronation Gins, £50, making this one a bit of a collector’s item. Taking inspiration from the King’s love of the natural world, John McCarthy – Adnams head distiller – picked out botanicals evocative of an afternoon tea in an English herb garden. Simply serve with Indian tonic water, ice, a fresh bay leaf and a sliver of cucumber.

Another top gin distiller, Silent Pool, has created a limited edition Coronation Gin, £45, that’s exclusive to Waitrose. Containing floral layers of lavender and chamomile, notes of citrus and lime leaves, and grounded with the subtle sweetness of local Surrey honey, it’s utterly delicious.

If you’re looking for a bit more bang for your buck, family gin maker Hayman’s has collaborated with up-and-coming artist Rose England to launch the limited edition London-inspired wrap for its bestselling London Dry Gin. £26 and exclusive to Waitrose, the design features iconic London landmarks, such as Big Ben, the black taxi and a red phone box.

For something a little lighter and fruitier, Sainsbury’s has also launched their Taste the Difference Orange Gin Liqueur with a hint of lemon, £8 (was £10) – wonderfully refreshing poured over ice with a dash of sparkling tonic water.

Beer

If you love a beer, you won’t feel left out amid the royal celebrations. Aldi has brought out a whole host of Coronation Craft Beers, £1.79 each. Choose from a Session IPA, Session Pale Ale, British Ale and British Lager, all in glorious limited edition prints.

Sainsbury’s has got in on the action too, with its Taste the Difference Coronation Ale, £2.50. An English ale brewed in the heart of Dorset, it’s made using crystal and chocolate malts for a toasted biscuit taste.

And Marks & Spencer is also releasing a delightful Coronation Ale, £3. Brewed with 100% English Sovereign hops from Herefordshire and pale ale malt grown organically in the UK’s finest barley-growing area of north Norfolk, it slips down like a dream.

5 ways parents can motivate their children to save money

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Empower your kids to be financially savvy with these simple money-making tips. By Vicky Shaw

Enabling children to earn money is one way that parents can help them feel more empowered and independent.

With some support and guidance, the ability to start saving can start at a young age, as kids are helped to test out their money-making skills.

Louise Hill, co-founder of GoHenry, the prepaid debit card and financial education app for young people aged six to 18, says: “Children don’t have to wait until they turn 18 to start earning money.

“With the right know-how, they can equip themselves with the skills to earn some cash outside of school, and develop core financial habits that will benefit them for life.

“Kids have a wonderful sense of creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, which if harnessed at a young age, can have a profound outcome on work and later life.

“Earning money is a powerful exercise that teaches kids financial independence, prepares them for adulthood, and ultimately gives much more satisfaction rather than instant gratification.”

Here are Hill’s simple tips for parents to encourage their kids to set savings goals:

1. Could they earn from a hobby?

Hill says: “By encouraging kids to embrace hobbies such as crafting or art, they can sell their creative work and turn their passion projects into a way to make money on the side.”

2. Benefit from being an animal lover

“If your child is passionate about animals, then there are several ways they can make money,” says Hill. “From helping to clear out a rabbit hutch, to feeding a neighbour’s cat, or making pet treats, looking after furry friends is a great way for kids to make extra pocket money.”

3. Empower children to profit from their culinary skills

Hill suggests: “For youngsters who love cooking and baking, selling their goods to friends and family is an easy way to earn extra money.”

She adds: “Patient kids who enjoy being outside, growing and selling home-grown produce, such as fruit and herbs, is both a fun and fulfilling way for foodies to earn.”

4. Motivate them to clean up

“According to our research, children are earning up to £29 per month by carrying out tasks such as vacuuming, mopping and unloading the dishwasher,” says Hill.

5. Offer guidance for launching a venture

For older children, channelling their entrepreneurial spirit with jobs such as babysitting, through to selling clothes on online marketplaces, is an empowering way for them to learn how best to manage their money, Hill adds.

How inheritance is playing a part in getting people on the property ladder

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Some people are banking on inheritance to buy a home, or pay off their mortgage, according to Zoopla. By Vicky Shaw.

Coming into some inheritance can make all the difference when it comes to being able to achieve financial milestones, such as getting on the property ladder.

For Kirsty Hamilton, 27, inheritance left by her uncle helped her put down a 50% deposit on a flat.

The operations manager, from Paisley in Scotland, says: “Knowing I had the inheritance meant I didn’t have to worry about saving for my first home. It also allowed me to purchase a property in a nice area.

“We have recently refurbished the bathroom and it’s been nice to do this from a stable position.”

Kirsty also highlights how discussing family inheritance can be worthwhile.

“It is useful to know a ballpark figure of any inheritance you may gain,” she says. “This will help you to manage your life and plan for the future.”

High house prices and jumps in mortgage rates make getting on the property ladder an even tougher feat for some first-time buyers.

Comparing her situation to that of her parents, Kirsty says: “It is 100% harder now than it was for my mum and dad.

“They’ve spoken about how much less they had to make before being able to purchase a property, compared with young people today.”

Recent research from property website Zoopla, among 2,000 people whose parents own a property, found more than two-fifths (43%) are relying on inheritance. Despite this, only three in 10 (30%) people surveyed have asked their parents how much they are likely to inherit.

While some people told researchers they find it too awkward to discuss inheritance, others said they have checked how much their parents’ property is worth.

Zoopla has a calculator on its website, which can provide an indication of what your property inheritance might be worth.

Some of those surveyed said they had fallen out with family over discussions about inheritance, while others are concerned such talks could spark rifts in the future.

Picking the right moment may help, as could seeking financial advice.

Some people are already making plans for the expected inheritance they are yet to receive, the survey revealed.

Nearly six in 10 (58%) expect to be able to move house, upgrade their home, pay off some of their mortgage, or become mortgage-free.

Some people surveyed were renting until they inherit, while others had purchased their home on the basis that an inheritance would one day help them to pay off their mortgage.

Of course, not everyone is fortunate enough to have money passed onto them by older generations, either as wealth transferred after parents have died or while they are still alive.

Recent analysis from think-tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) indicated that the children of university-educated home-owning parents receive around six times more in wealth transfers during their 20s and early 30s than the children of renters.

These wealth transfers between generations often happen when people are buying their first home or getting married, the IFS said.

For those trying to get on the property ladder who do not have the benefit of money being passed down to them to help, Daniel Copley, a consumer expert at Zoopla (zoopla.co.uk), suggests exploring what government schemes are available.

These may vary, depending on where in the UK you live.

He says: “There are several government-backed schemes – some of them not very well known – that can give first-time buyers a helping hand onto the property ladder.”

It may also be worth being open-minded on location and looking for “up-and-coming” places to buy a home.

Copley suggests: “Look for areas that have similar attributes or are adjacent to your preferred area – you might be surprised how much house prices change across relatively short distances.”

Lifetime ISAs can also give people saving for their first home a boost, adding a 25% government bonus onto savings, subject to certain terms and conditions.

People must be at least 18 and under 40 years old to open a Lifetime ISA.

Save money by planting your own summer salad box

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How to grow your own summer salads. By Sam Wylie-Harris.

If the idea of foraging for fresh food fills you with joy, how about going one step further and building a salad with ingredients you’ve grown yourself?

“Growing your own fruit and vegetables is becoming increasingly popular, with more people discovering the many benefits of producing your own food,” says Daniel Carruthers, of Cultivar Greenhouses.

Not only can growing from seed be cost-effective, you’ll hopefully end up with an abundance of fresh food – even when shops are low on stock.

Want to try and grow your own salads? Here’s how to get started…

What to plant

“If I had to name one crop I could always grow, eat, and sell, it would have to be salad crops,” says Jane Scotter, a Herefordshire biodynamic farmer (fernverrow.com), who grows seasonal vegetables, fruit and herbs for some of London’s top restaurants.

“A high-value crop, much sought-after by restaurant customers and individuals alike,” notes Scotter, who has also just launched her first online gardening course with Create Academy.

She says the flavour of the leaves, picked just before eating, is far superior to anything one can buy. “Eaten fresh captures the zest and essence of flavour, and texture of the tender leaves.”

Varieties of salad leaves

There are lots of varieties of salad leaves you can grow. “For spring, I like the hot zing of the mustards, such as mizuna, mibuna, purple frills and golden frills,” says Scotter.

These are all from the brassica family, and are quick to germinate and fast to grow.

“I find rocket to be rather overrated as a salad leaf, except when grown in the spring and autumn, while the days are warmer, but nights are still cool,” she adds.

Scotter says the flavour is much fuller, the leaves more robust and altogether quite different from summer-grown rocket, which she finds thin in both flavour and substance.

Fruits of the vine

“Tomatoes are a firm favourite in most salads and, with shortages in many supermarkets at the moment, it’s a great time to start growing your own,” suggests Carruthers.

With so many varieties to choose from, he suggests popular types such as Brandywine tomatoes, known for their large, beefsteak-shaped fruit and delicious taste, and Tigerella – “an old faithful, which has a beautiful red and orange striped skin”.

Carruthers continues: “Cucumbers are a perfect summer fruit, adding a refreshing crunch to salads. There are almost 100 different varieties, so choosing which ones to grow can be a minefield.”

Picolino and Cucumber Goblin are smaller than more popular varieties, but they provide higher yields throughout the season – ideal for keeping your salads going over the summer, he adds.

How to plant salad seeds

Direct sow the seeds into clean, weed-free soil, says Scotter.

“They’re not hungry feeders, so lots of fertility is not a big issue. If you don’t have a garden, fill a container or wooden box (with holes in the bottom for drainage) with organic compost. Fill the box at least 20cm deep with the fine soil. Pat down firmly and evenly.

“Then make a small trench, about 2cm deep and 4cm wide, using your finger or a round-ended tool, the thickness of a marker pen,” she adds. “Aim to have seeds about 1-2cm apart. Don’t worry about being too exact, but try not over sow, as plants will grow small and not as healthily.”

Cover with soil carefully and pat down firmly. She says to water with a watering can rose at first, otherwise seeds will not be evenly moistened, plus they may float away if water is added in a heavy-handed way.

“If these are started early to mid-March, you should see germination within 10 days. Sow at least four lines. Keep the soil moist but not soggy, and in a sunny spot outside. Your salad leaves should be ready for their first harvest within three weeks,” says Scotter.

“The varieties I’ve mentioned are cut-and-come-again crops – meaning you can cut at least four times from the same plant, before the leaves begin to get tough and lose flavour.”

How much to plant

“As a rough guide, a metre-length strip of mustard leaves will produce about 500g over three weeks. So, if you sowed four different varieties that would be two kilos,” says Scotter.

“I would expect to serve two people about 150g a serving. And when you consider the shop-bought mixes are around £30 kilo, you’re not only eating the best – but at a good price, too.”

First Drive: Volkswagen ID.Buzz√

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The ID. Buzz is probably one of the most exciting EVs of 2022, but what’s it like from behind the wheel? Jack Evans finds out.

What is it?

How do you go about channelling some of the spirit of the iconic Volkswagen bus into a modern-day EV? Well, you create something called the ID.Buzz. It’s a fully electric bus built with some of the character of the classic, though underpinned by some of the latest battery technology.

But aside from its eye-catching looks, what does the ID. Buzz have to offer and how does it separate itself from the rest of the pack in what is becoming a very crowded EV segment? We’ve been finding out.

What’s new?

You might expect the ID.Buzz to be underpinned by a platform sourced from a conventional van, but no. The platform that this retro-infused model is sitting atop is the same that you’ll find underneath other Volkswagen Group EVs like the VW ID.3, Cupra Born and Skoda Enyaq iV. The idea behind this is to make the ID. Buzz more car-like in the way it drives, yet this scalable platform means there’s plenty of space on offer too.

For now, the ID. Buzz is a strict five-seater, too, though it’s expected that a long-wheelbase version with space for seven is on the horizon – so hold out a little longer if you’re after a more people carrier-focused option.

What’s under the bonnet?

Though you can get cars like the ID.3 and Enyaq with a variety of battery and motor options, there’s just one available with the ID.Buzz. Like other Volkswagen Group EVs the Buzz is rear-wheel-drive only for now, with a 201bhp electric motor sending power to the back wheels.

This motor is hooked up to a 77kWh battery which helps to deliver a claimed range of up to 258 miles between charges. Plus, because it can be charged at speeds of up to 170kW, a five to 80 per cent top-up could take as little as half an hour if you’re hooked up to a rapid charger. Plus, the ID.Buzz has been future-proofed through bi-directional charging, which allows it to store energy and then send it back to the grid during times of high demand.

What’s it like to drive?

Sitting in the cabin will prove familiar to anyone who has driven any of Volkswagen’s recent EVs. The switchgear, steering wheel and key touchpoints are all like-for-like, so it’s easy to get accustomed pretty quickly. On the move, the ID.Buzz is quiet and refined, though at slower speeds, its weight does come to the fore, as it tends to get upset by larger potholes or more distinct bumps in the road.

However, despite its on-paper 0-60mph time of 10.2 seconds, the Buzz feels a lot sprightlier to drive. The steering is pretty light but accurate, while loads of glass and relatively slim pillars mean that visibility is good in all directions. The raised seating position gives you a good view of the road ahead, too, and does make the whole experience more ‘bus like’.

How does it look?

It’s hard to stop and park in the ID. Buzz without someone coming over to ask questions about it, which goes to show just how eye-catching this electric model is. You could park it next to pretty much any current supercar and there’s a good chance that people will naturally gravitate towards the Buzz, simply because it looks like nothing else on the road today.

The split-colour design is particularly striking, but it’s all tied together in a package which takes some cues from the past, but blends them well with current proportions.

What’s it like inside?

Volkswagen’s MEB electric platform has been used to its fullest in the ID. Buzz, as there’s loads of space inside and plenty of storage options. There’s a completely flat floor, too, which means there’s no penalty for the person sitting in the middle seat in the back. Having said that, given how exciting the exterior is, we might’ve wanted a little more flair in the cabin of the ID.Buzz. It’s far from badly made, but the interior is a little bland compared with the superb outside.

But there’s loads of space on offer, with 1,121 litres of boot room available behind the second row of seats. Fold them down and this increases to 2,205 litres. Remember too, that if outright storage capacity is what you’re after, Volkswagen offers a more van-like ID. Buzz Cargo.

What’s the spec like?

Prices for the ID. Buzz kickstart from £57,115 in entry-level Life trim, which brings 19-inch alloy wheels, 10-colour interior ambient lighting and a full navigation system with a 10-inch screen. As we’ve found in other Volkswagen models, this infotainment screen isn’t the easiest to navigate, but it’s definitely at its best in the Buzz. Other standard features include a reversing camera, heated steering wheel and heated front seats.

You could step up to the £61,915 ‘Style’ to gain 20-inch wheels, a power tailgate and upgraded matrix LED headlights, but in truth, the regular specification is more than well-equipped for most. Since there’s no change in battery size or range in the more expensive specification, there’s not too much reason to opt for it, other than some choice extras.

Verdict

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is here to show that electric cars needn’t be sterile or boring. Sure, the interior could do with jazzing up a touch, but the way this bus combines practicality, a decent range and plenty of standard equipment is impressive.

The only real snag is the lack of a seven-seater option, which is likely to be a put-off for many would-be Buzz drivers. However, if outright people capacity isn’t what you’re after, the Buzz makes for a very exciting and well-executed option.

  • Facts at a glance
  • Model: Volkswagen ID. Buzz
  • Starting price: £57,115
  • Engine: Single electric motor
  • Power: 201bhp
  • Torque: 310Nm
  • 0-60mph: 10.2 seconds
  • Top speed: 90mph (limited)
  • Range: 258 miles

13 stylish ways to get organised at home

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Because January calls for a clear-up, says Sam Wylie-Harris.

Been putting off all those dreary tidying tasks?

When it comes to a fresh start, a good declutter and getting organised can make all the difference – and it certainly helps if you have the right storage solutions to hand.

From baskets with benefits to chic shelving and cute caddies, these fab finds will help you tidy up in style…

1. KitchenCraft Natural Elements Set of 3 Wooden Storage Crates, £38.99 (other items from a selection), Very

Ideal for modern rustic kitchens, who wouldn’t want to get a handle on these numbered wooden storage crates?

2. Set of 3 Dusk Blue Wire Kitchen Storage Baskets, currently £18.71 (were £24.95), Dibor

If you’re short on worktop space, these wire baskets will look brilliant hanging from a kitchen ceiling rack. An added bonus, they’re designed to stack inside each other when not in use.

3. Brabantia Pedal Bin StepUp, £47.50 each, Brabantia

This stylish pedal bin is made from 91% recycled waste – and will do a fine job of storing 40 litres of yours. Available in three colours and slim enough for the tightest of spaces.

4. Wine Rack in Natural Fir Wood, £24.99, Lidl stores

Planning a dream wine tour and visit to a château? Bring the wine experience home with this wonderful 12-bottle wine rack.

5. Long Open Weave Storage Basket, from £18, Bohemia

If your indoor oasis and precious plant life is looking more messy than ornamental, this rectangular basket makes the ideal vessel for a family of ferns.

6. Orthex Smartstore Baskets, from £14 each A Place For Everything

The perfect building block for all your storage needs, these white baskets work well with pared-back designs or vibrant décor. Lightweight, versatile, ample storage for all your accessories and knick-knacks.

7. Hinza Bag Large Green Plastic – Olive, £29, Daisy Park

When you want to channel some retro vibes, this roomy bag looks the part and will hold anything from craft supplies to books and puzzles – or double up for the grocery run and days out.

8. Zuiver Bundy Pegboard, £119, Cuckooland

Mood boards encourage creativity and can be used in practically any room in the house. With customisable storage options, this version comes with three shelves, three pegs and two magnets and can be hung horizontally or vertically.

9. Recycled Stationery Pack, currently £5 (was £10), Dunelm

Tidy desk, tidy mind… With a magazine file, letter tray, accessory tray and pen holder, this smart set can help you strip back any unnecessary clutter.

10. Burnt Orange Cotton Knitted Round Storage Basket – large, £39.99, Homescapes

Available in a rainbow of bright hues, this chunky knitted basket is ideal for keeping lounge and bedroom corners tidy. Looks funky, too.

11. Maya Bear Wall Storage Basket, £45, Ella James

We’ve got a sweet spot for the happy face on this seagrass storage basket. A novelty find for tucking away anything you fancy.

12. Mini Folding Crate in Baby Blue, £5.50, Daisy Park

When you have to box clever, you can’t go wrong with this statement stackable crate, which folds flat and is pleasingly sturdy.

13. Natural History Museum Wall Mounted Organiser, £139, Dunelm

Inspired by museum exhibits and trays of curios, this vintage-look mango wood display cabinet provides a wonderful setting for any collection of salvaged trinkets or objet d’art – or household essentials and stationery. Just lovely.

Joe Wicks on how to make moving your body a non-negotiable

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Prudence Wade chats to the Body Coach about the mental benefits of exercise – why this is more important than ever right now.

Fitness might be Joe Wicks’ job, but even he’s not always ready and raring to work-out.

“I definitely have days where I feel flat and I feel stressed, or I can’t be bothered today,” admits the father-of-three. However, the difference for Wicks, 37, is that moving his body has become a non-negotiable.

“If I don’t wake up and exercise, I hold that tension and that stress in my body,” he explains. “So I always see exercise as like a stress relief valve, like a pressure cooker. So when I move my body, I know I’m going to feel so much better at the end of it.

“It’s habit and discipline, as opposed to being genuinely lit up with motivation every day. I know how much my life improves – my relationships, my friendships, my kids and everyone around me benefit when I’m keeping active.

“It’s non-negotiable. It’s a priority for me.”

If you’re at the start of your fitness journey or out of the swing of things, making exercise a priority can seem like an uphill battle. Here’s how Wicks suggests going about it…

Don’t do too much, too soon

If your New Year’s resolution is to adopt the training plan of a professional athlete, you could be setting yourself up for failure.

“Ultimately, the first and most important thing is you don’t do too much at once,” Wicks advises. “Don’t try and go to the gym five days a week from zero, or put pressure on yourself to build a certain diet, or a low-calorie restrictive diet.

“I know this is so cliché and it’s easier said than done – it’s just doing things you can actually sustain, that isn’t overwhelming, that isn’t stressful, that is enjoyable.”

Remove the friction

Does life constantly seem to be getting in the way of your exercise goals? You might want to rethink how you’re doing things.

“I’m a big fan of home workouts,” says Wicks. “Remove the friction of getting childcare, or getting to the gym and finding that hour where you commute. Imagine if your living room was your gym, and you had a pair of dumbbells and a kettlebell – you can have a great workout in 25 minutes, and actually get it done.

“You’ve got to make your life easy – set yourself up for success,” Wicks adds.

Focus on the mental benefits

Wicks knows exercise is a game-changer for his mental health – and if you start experiencing the same benefits, you might find yourself even more committed to moving your body.

“The Body Coach was originally about HIIT training, about body image and losing weight. Over the years, I’ve really shifted my belief and narrative around it, because I realised that people often start to lose weight – but what keeps them coming back really is the mental health benefits of exercise and how their life improves, their relationships improve.”

And with the cost-of-living crisis making things seem pretty bleak this January, Wicks believes movement is more important than ever.

“Last year, people were thinking about [exercise] a bit – it was optional. This year it’s essential, because life’s overwhelming, life feels really stressful,” he reflects.

“And if you don’t take care of yourself physically and you don’t lift your mood mentally, you’re going to be overwhelmed and things can really get on top of you. So see exercise as an essential part of your happiness and make it a priority.”

Prioritise sleep

Wicks is currently finding this one tricky – his youngest child, Leni, is four months old, and her tired dad says: “She’s doing this sleep regression thing, where she’s awake for like half an hour, every night, all through the night.

“Your eyes are stinging, you wake up really thirsty, you’ve got a headache – it really makes you realise how sleep is everything, it’s the foundation,” he adds. “I’m making not great food choices, I’m not really exercising – so it definitely affects me.”

When Leni isn’t waking him up throughout the night, Wicks calls sleep “the number one priority for me, over anything”. He continues: “Certain things knock you back, and I realised just how important sleep is – if there’s one message I’d like to share with people it’s this year, really prioritise sleep.

“When you’re well slept, everything else can fall into place a lot easier. I really think we’re under slept, we sleep-deprive ourselves. We sit up on our phones, we watch Netflix until 3am – we’re doing it to ourselves. So try to focus on sleep, and eating and exercise will come a lot easier.”

Find your tribe

If you have the time and resources, training with a group of like-minded people might be the extra boost of motivation you need.

“I started as a personal trainer and I used to do boot camps, and I always got much more of a buzz from group fitness,” explains Wicks. “Training with people and as a group, it’s more of an energy and you push a bit harder. You feel like you’re not on your own when you’re struggling and people are cheering you on – it feels nice to be part of a little community.”

That’s why Wicks has set up The Body Coach Studios – a pop-up space for a few days in January where Wicks and trainers from his app will teach in-person classes.

“Rather than it being about a ‘before and after’ transformation on Instagram, imagine meeting someone who’s come back from depression, or who’s come back from an injury… and now they’re this really fit, motivating human being. I think that rubs off on people.”

The Body Coach Studios’ is the first ever fitness studio from Joe Wicks’ The Body Coach app. To find out more and book tickets for January 20-22, head to thebodycoach.com/studios

Rahul Mandal: Save money and bake these 5 festive gifts instead

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Bake Off fan favourite Rahul Mandal shares his Christmas baking ideas.

For a lot of people Christmas will be a stretch, so why not take a leaf out of Dr Rahul Mandal’s book and bake gifts for your loved ones?

The first time the 2018 Great British Bake Off winner baked anything was actually in the lead up to Christmas, when he was a student on a tight budget.

“I was at Loughborough Univerity, on a scholarship, so it wasn’t like I had a lot of money to actually give people lots of Christmas presents,” he says.

“I started to make friends in the Garden Society and I wanted to bring some presents – I think that was the first time I baked in that way. It wasn’t baking from scratch – I literally bought some shortcrust pastry from the shop and put some [readymade] mincemeat and cranberries in it to make mince pies. I also made some stained glass cookies to give to people – that’s where it all started.”

Here are Mandal’s ideas for baked festive gifts…

1. A lighter Christmas cake

“If you’re going to a Christmas gathering, rather than buying a cake, make the cake yourself,” says Mandal.

“There is lighter version of a fruit cake recipe in my book [Showstopper Cakes] – a lot of people don’t like the heavy-fruited Christmas cake.” Growing up in India, the only cake his family had was on Christmas day – but it was very different to the boozy, fruit-heavy cake eaten in the UK.

“It was more like a dense sponge cake with a handful of dried mixed fruit dispensed evenly in the crumb. I will be honest, I liked this cake a lot more than the British version.”

For Christmas presents, he says: “You can make your own marzipan and coat the cake with it, then decorate it as you like.”

2. Spiced brownie bars

The best thing to add to a brownie bar to make it Christmassy is “definitely spiced caramel”, says Mandal.

To make ginger caramel, “You basically make the caramel and add a teaspoon or one-and-a-half teaspoons of ground ginger in it. Then if you want to put a pinch of Christmas spices in it as well – that’s absolutely amazing! I think it complements the dark, rich brownie flavour quite well.”

3. Mince pies

“If you’re going to someone’s house for Christmas, instead of buying some mince pies, just make a batch of them yourself – that’s an amazing gift.

“If you want to make your own pastry, it’s a simple shortcrust pastry: three parts flour to two parts butter, and a couple of tablespoons of caster sugar. Rub it together and then put three to four tablespoons of water (depending on how much flour you’re using). Put everything in a food processor until it starts coming together as a clump. Then you chill it, take it out and roll it, and cut it into shapes and line the cupcake tin to make mince pies.

“Or you can just buy the pastry – perfectly fine! [Use] all butter shortcrust pastry and they are amazing. Same with mincemeat, you can just buy readymade mincemeat or you can make your own. Or as a kind of hybrid version, buy readymade mincemeat, but add fruits you like in it. You can maybe put some dried cranberries in, or some brandy-soaked cherries in – which are not usually in mince pies a lot of the time.”

4. Jam

“When I have time, I make jams,” says Mandal, whose book includes recipes for several, including pineapple, ginger and chilli jam.

“You can make jams and you can give them as good presents. If you’re making it home you can pretty much add no preservatives – because jam is a mix of sugar and fruit, so you know what’s in it. That’s a very, very useful [gift].”

5. Christmas tree decorations

“Edible Christmas decorations are great – like stained glass cookies, or any kind of decorated cookies – that you can just hang on your Christmas tree,” says Mandal.

When it comes to the dough, you have options. “Obviously Christmas is gingerbread, so making gingerbread cookies is a big tradition for me. But if you are in doubt you could just use a normal shortbread and instead of normal caster sugar, replace it with muscovado sugar or dark brown sugar.

“Then if you’re making it with, say, 200 grams of flour, put 10 grams of ginger in – so it’s about 1/20, and that will make it gingery enough. And you can put other spices in like a teaspoon of cinnamon, a pinch of cayenne, nutmeg and a pinch of clove will make it very, very Christmassy.

“You can make a little hole in the rolled gingerbread [with a] cookie cutter, and take a bit out of the cookie. Then put some boiled sweets in it and then bake it for seven to eight minutes. By the time the biscuits are baked, your boiled sweets will melt and create the stained glass effect,” he says.

“You don’t even need to decorate those with royal icing if you don’t want to, because they look so pretty as it is – they will be a beautiful decoration for a tree, and they taste delicious.”

Showstopping Cakes by Rahul Mandal is published by Kyle Books, priced £26. Photography by Maja Smend. Available now.

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