insideKENT Magazine Issue 83 - February 2019 | Page 12

WELCOME Phew, we made it – the dreary month of January is over! What with Blue Monday, Divorce Day and Quitters’ Day, topped off with freezing temperatures and not enough daylight hours, all of us at insideKENT are happy to have the first month of the year behind us. Now that 8 0% of New Year’s resolutions have already been forgotten (don’t feel bad, I’m right there with ya), let’s make the most of the rest of the year, starting with the Marmite of annual holidays: Valentine’s Day. Love it or hate it, you can’t avoid it, especially in this love-filled issue of insideKENT. We love it – can you tell? From our favourite chocolate treats (p71), to top gifts (p8 9), to tips on how to reignite the spark in a long-term relationship (p80), there’s plenty of Cupid-inspired features. Getting hitched? Check out our extended wedding feature starting on page 30 for some of Kent’s best venues, 2019 wedding trends and bold fashion for your big day. Although there are plenty of ‘love’ly things in this issue, we’re also thinking outside the traditional box of Valentine’s Day; love isn’t just for couples. Love comes in all forms, and one of the best ways to show it is by performing random acts of kindness. Love and kindness make the world go ‘round, so get involved and check out page 120 for some simple ideas to bring love, joy and happiness into someone’s life. I don’t know about you, but when February rolls around, I’m on a mission to escape the cold and find myself searching on every travel website I can find, daydreaming about my next holiday. If you’re feeling the same way and are looking for a unique (and truly fabulous) spot of sunshine, take a look at part two of our three-part California Dreamin’ series on page 114 – this time covering Los Angeles. Although I may feel like escaping to LA before spring rolls around, I really can’t complain when Kent is where I call home. As always, the Kent calendar is full of fantastic events (p17) and with miles of coastline, beautiful countryside and culture-rich towns, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. Donna Creative & Editorial Director www.insidekentmagazine.co.uk Creative & Editorial Director Donna Martin Sales & Publishing Director Adam Ready Features & Online Editor Lisamarie Lamb Fashion Editor Molly Neznanski Gil Senior Designer Dave Leo Yogore Graphic Designer Laurence Whymark Senior Account Manager Greg Bettles Account Manager Jerry Barrett Operations Manager Samantha Ready Contributors Camilla Duggan / Sarah Greene / Rick Schofield Photography Ap-Art Photography Cover Salomons Estate © Penny Young insideKENT Magazine is published by Sideways Media Ltd, The Panorama, Park Street, Ashford, Kent TN24 8DF www.sidewaysmedia.co.uk For general enquiries, please contact [email protected] or 01233 226240 For all advertising enquiries, please contact Adam Ready on 01233 226519 or email [email protected] © Copyright 2019. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Neither the publisher nor any other person associated with the production and publication of this magazine make any guarantees, warranties or claims as to the accuracy, currency or truthfulness of any of the contents of this magazine. No part of this magazine may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form without the publisher’s written consent. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited editorial, images or photographs published. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and the publisher takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. Publisher is not responsible for any variation in image colour due to printing processes. 12