I was truly honored and delighted to have won the trip to California and once it had sunk in and I had stopped bursting into tears I had already decided that I was going as soon as possible and was going to make it the holiday of a lifetime.

I look my partner of 8 years Steve and booked as soon as I could for October 2011. Having some family also in California that I hadn’t seen in 11 years just a 90 minute drive from Sonoma meant I was going be able to factor them into the trip too.

One of the best parts of the 2 weeks we had was going to visit the Peter Michael Winery. Even having worked for the company for 4 years I just had no idea how amazing the place was. Vast steep mountain slopes of perfectly straight vines stretched for miles around the gated entrance. Seeing the Vineyard poppy on everything was brilliant and really was a reminder of how closely linked we were despite the geography. The Michael’s kindly consented for Steve and I to stay in the Cabin, a building with bridge access over a stream to the entrance, hot tub and what can only be described as luxury accommodation.

During our stay we had the chance to have a tour of the winery and tasting of the wine. Cote de mere is a large platform on the top of the mountain fully equipped for 5* entertaining used for fund raising for the Peter Michael foundation every year. The view is staggering stretching across the whole of Knights Valley and each of the different wines can be seen. Tasting Sir Peters wines was a once in a lifetime chance. It was a fantastic experience and meeting the other guests brought it home to us how much of a wonderful and rare opportunity it was sitting around that table, drinking those wines and in that location.

The local sights were an excuse for a little more tourist behavior and we took the opportunity to go to the local petrified wood, eat in Calistoga and visit the Geyser. The staff at Sugarloaf Ranch could not have been any more hospitable and I would do anything to go back again for longer.

Following the trip to the Ranch we spent a couple more days with family in San Jose and even had the chance to visit a ranch where Steve fitted right in with the lads drinking bud and shooting very scary looking Guns for the afternoon. We hired a car and drove to visit San Francisco then down the coastal road route 101 with a final stop in at Universal Studios to celebrate Steve’s 30th.

All in all a truly amazing two week trip that could not have been made possible without the Employee of the Year status. I cannot thank the company or the Michaels enough and will continue trying to win to have the excuse to go back!

Beth Willis
Senior Events Co-ordinator
Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa

Friday 2nd March – Mencap Charity Raceday at Newbury Racecourse

Saturday 3rd March – Greatwood Charity and Equestrian Raceday at Newbury Racecourse
Some of the season’s best jump racing. This racing day recognises the rehabilitation charity. Find out more

Sunday 4th March – Wedding Fair at Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa
With over 25 wedding experts including florists, cake makers, wedding stationery designers and photographers, find out all you need to know to plan your perfect wedding. Find out more

Saturday 17th March – Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Newbury
Evening of traditional Irish entertainment at St. George’s Church Hall. Find out more

Sunday 18th March – Mother’s Day Lunch at Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa
Treat your Mum this year to a delicious 3 course Sunday lunch. As a gift, each Mum will receive a £10 voucher to spend on spa treatments Find out more

Friday 23rd March – Betfair Grassroots Raceday at Newbury Racecourse
A great day at the races. Another Friday jump meeting at Newbury. Find out more

Saturday 24th March – Jump Season Finale at Newbury Racecourse
A great day out to celebrate the end of the jump season. Find out more

Monday 26th March – International Antiques & Collectors Fair at Newbury Racecourse
The perfect introduction to antiques fairs for people new to the industry. Find out more

Thursday 29th March – Newbury back in fashion at The Corn Exchange
Parkway shopping centre will host two amazing Fashion Shows this March. An un-missable opportunity to see the new looks for spring and summer. Find out more

In golfing terms, don’t try and smash your driver 300 yards down the fairway; inevitably your ball will land in the woods or pond. Try and feel that you are going to take a smooth swing and only make the ball go 150 yards. It will go further as the length and loft of the club will do the work for you.

What we feel and what we do are generally two different outcomes. If you swing the club with ease, your timing and positioning will be better, improving your strike and distince. If you try and swing the club like a caveman, your timing, balance and rhythm will be affected and the shot will go wrong.  The key thing to remember is; we swing a club, we never hit the ball. That little white spherical trouble maker just gets in the way, so be smooth, get your timing correct and enjoy your golf.

I hope some of these tips are helpful and look forward to seeing you on the course soon!

If you have any questions, pop into the Pro Shop or call us on 01635 522 666.

Dieter Strohbach PGA Professional
Donnington Valley Golf Club

Demeter

This drink provides a refreshing, yet graceful long drink. Made of strawberries, blackberries, fresh lime juice and lemons, these are all muddled together and then shaken. Once strained, the berry mixture is topped with orange juice and decorated with a swirl of lime and a strawberry, which gives a tangy, yet fruity taste!

Apollo

Named after the son of Zeus, our Apollo cocktail is a blend of cranberry juice, elderflower cordial and fresh orange juice. Simply mix all the ingredients, add to crushed ice and decorate with lemon and orange slices. This drink provides a light, fresh taste – perfect for a pre-dinner drink!

Try making these deliciously fruity non-alcoholic cocktails at home and let us know what you think. Alternatively, pop down to the Bacchus Bar and we will prepare one for you before dining in our award-winning WinePress restaurant.

Amit Rai
Food and Beverage Manager
Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa

Ingredients:

Soya Milk 200 ml
Cardamom 6 pcs
Coconut milk 300 ml
Egg yolk  7 pcs
Sweetener  11 tblsp
Gelatine 3 ½
Chopped mango 150 grams
Chopped ripe banana – 1/2 pcs
Mint leaf  – garnish

Method:

1. Warm the soya milk, roasted cardamom and coconut milk together

2. Then add the egg yolk and 10tblsp of the sweetener into the warm milk

3. Keep cooking at a low temperature until it coats the spoon.

4. Dissolve the gelatine in the warm egg yolk, coconut mixture and strain the mixture.

5. Immediately place the warm pannacotta mixture under an ice bath. Continuously mix the mixture until it starts to set.

6. Pour the pannacotta mixture in your favourite mould. Store it in the fridge for 30 minutes.

7. Mix the chopped bananas and mangoes with the rest of the sweetener, rest for 20 minutes.

8. Asemble the pannacotta on a plate and add the banana & mango salsa, use mint to garnish.

Have a go at this dessert and let me know your thoughts.

See you soon at Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa!

Abraham
Head Pastry Chef
Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa

For 4 portions:

Ingredients for the Pork:

200ml Orange juice
1 tsp English mustard
2 cloves
3 tsp honey
1tsp orange marmalade
1 bunch bay leaves
1 glove garlic
A pinch of ginger
2 pinches of whole black pepper
1tbsp chopped purple sage
½  of a star anise
1 medium carrot
1 large onion
50 grams celery
50 grams leeks
400ml white wine
Salt & pepper to taste

Method:

Preheat the oven to 130c. Put the pork belly in a large oven tray adding all the above ingredients, top with the orange juice and white wine. Braise in the oven between 6 to 8 hours. Once cooked put the meat on a clean tray and press it tight to extract any extra juices. Ideally try to store the meat in the fridge overnight. The next day slice the pork into thick slices about 200g each, reheat the oven to 180c and place the pork in for 25 minutes.

Ingredients for spiced red cabbage:

400grams red cabbage – shredded
50ml red currant jelly
½ tsp mixed spice
1tbsp sugar
1tbsp red wine vinegar
50ml red wine

Method:

Place a pan on a low heat, add the shredded red cabbage & add all the given ingredients together cook slowly for 45 minutes. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

Ingredients for caramelised apple:

2 Peeled, cut & cored red apples
2tbsp castor sugar
1tbsp butter

Method:

Place a pan on the stove. Add the sugar & keep stirring until it caramelises. Then add the butter and sliced apple, cook for 4mins until the apple is coated in the caramel.

Ingredients for whole grain mustard mash:

800grams Regular potatoes – peeled and cut
2 tbsp of whole grain mustard
Butter
Salt & pepper

Method:

Place a pan on the heat and fill with water. Once the water is boiling add the potatoes. Cook until the potatoes become soft, drain and then mash them adding salt, pepper and a bit of butter. Mix the whole grain mustard with mash potatoes.

Ingredients for the Jus:

250 grams Veal bones
150 grams Chicken bones
300 grams Pork trotter
1 Onion
2 Carrots
50 grams leeks
30 grams celery
1 tbsp sugar
100 ml red wine
1 litre Water
Salt & pepper

Method:

Roast the bones and place it in to a slow cooker with onion, leeks, carrots, celery & water. Cook it slowly on a low heat for 4 hours. Then strain the stock into a separate pan. Add red wine, then reduce the stock to half. Season it with salt & pepper.

To assemble:

Reheat all the cooked products. Assemble just like in the picture & enjoy!

Try this recipe at home or come along to Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa and enjoy a meal in the WinePress restaurant.

Kelvin Johnson
Head Chef
Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa

This is such a great exercise to do at home as no equipment is necessary. If a beginner try to do as many as you can, and with practice you will become stronger and able to perform more.

If this routine is performed regularly you will develop strength and mobility in your hip joints and knees. Not only this, but you will gain strength in your pelvic and abdominal areas. This is all key to help you improve your performance at high speed sports.

If you would like more information on exercise tips or to book a personal training appointment, contact Donnington Valley Health Club on 01635 551188.

Fitness Team
Donnington Valley Health Club and Spa

Here are my Top Tops:

• If you use a cleansing wash or even cleansing wipes try and swap to a cleansing milk for the winter months to avoid stripping the skin.

• When possible, throughout the season use a moisturising face mask once or twice a week to top up the moisture levels in your skin.

• Keep your legs scale free and smooth throughout the harsh winter by using a good exfoliator on a weekly basis, and then apply a body moisturiser daily or even a body butter to nourish the driest of skins.

• Get glamorous this winter with this season’s nail colours like taupe, navy and even metallics, very chic on short nails.

• Keep yourself hydrated. Keep up your fluids and look after yourself from the inside.

• Start the day with a hot shower,but before you get out switch to cold water for about fifteen seconds. Then turn up the heat a little, and down again to repeat the process for about two minutes. I hear you say, why would I do a thing like that! This is a simple hydrotherapy technique which revitalizes the skin by stimulating the flow of blood through the body. It is both invigorating and highly beneficial to the skin. So even though you may not really enjoy the process, just think of the all the good it’s doing you!

• Use a facial moisturiser with an SPF as this will provide protection from all the elements.

• Drink a glass of hot water with lemon. This Chinese herbal remedy is a sure-fire method of energizing your body and will de-tox your entire system. This means that your body will be able to clean the blood faster to get rid of toxins responsible for bad skin.

• Simply sleep! Money cannot buy the benefits of a good night’s rest. Your oxygen levels will drop if you don’t get enough sleep, meaning that your cells will not be renewed as quickly. This is when degenerative skin aging sets in. Try to get seven, if not eight or nine hours of rest a night to achieve absolutely painless benefits. It’s ideal!

Alternatively pop down to the Spa for a treatment and a bit of pampering! See our website for all the treatments available: http://www.donningtonvalley.co.uk/spa_signature.asp

Hannah Henley Spa Director Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa

A wonderful display of individual stalls were present with products such as GHD, ESPA, Jessica nails, designer hand bags, jewellery and traditional Christmas gifts. Everything you could have wished for to kick start your Christmas shopping.

All staff were on hand to provide advice on gifts displayed. The Spa was decorated beautifully for the festive season with the large Christmas tree taking centre stage. The ambiance at the Spa was truly magical. Hannah Henley, Spa Director said: “I am so pleased that so many members and friends were able to make it today, it has been very successful. We’ve had really great positive feedback from so many members and non-members who attended, and I’m looking forward to planning the next event.”

For more information on Donnington Valley Health Club & Spa contact our website http://www.donningtonvalley.co.uk/spa_introduction.asp or call on 01635 551188.

1. Make sure you are warm enough, getting cold playing golf will only hinder you from playing your best golf. Wear more thin layers than only a couple of bulky layers. Base layers are great nowadays, they are so thin, but yet so warm. Mittens on between shots will keep your hands warm too.

2. Ensure that your spikes/cleats of your shoes are not worn down to the sole of your shoes. Slipping on frosty ground will cause a nasty fall and put you out of golf for the whole of the winter.

3. Get your grips changed if they are feeling a bit slippery. If grips are worn and cold they can quite easily slide out of your hands and end up in the pond or a tree. Best advice, where lessons are concerned, is that as golfers, we should always practise and have our lessons through the winter. This is great practise time, so that when the spring hits us we are ready to venture onto the green grass and play good golf. There is no point in putting the clubs away in the colder months and only bring them out in the spring again. All the hard work would have been done in vain.

If there are any questions, we, the professional shop team are always here to help. Call in for a chat anytime.

Why not book a private tutor class from only £17!

Regards, Dieter Strohbach. PGA Qualified Professional

Donnington Valley Golf Club 01635 522666