Linda Down is head of boat sales at PW Marine and has spent most of her adult life getting people out onto the water safely, and in a boat they are comfortable with. She talked us through everything you need to know about buying and maintaining the best boat for you. 

BUDGET 

One of the most common mistakes first-time buyers make is not understanding all the costs and facts before they “dive in”. 

If you are looking for a brand-new boat, the lowest starting price, she said, is in the region of $45,000. 

That could get you a 13-foot Boston Whaler. “That’s the smallest in our line-up, turnkey,” she added. 

Turnkey means the boat is registered, inspected, clean, fuelled-up, has anti-fouling paint on the bottom, the warranties are in effect, and all the safety gear is on board. Literally, all you need to do is turn the key. 

In addition to Boston Whalers, PW Marine also sells Pursuit Boats, Tiara Yachts, Valhalla Boatworks Boats, Sea Rays and Viking Yachts, all of which come in a variety of sizes, the largest being the Vikings, which range from 38 up to 90 feet. 

If the cost of a brand-new boat is out of reach, you can try the second-hand market. PW Marine can help there too, as long as it’s a boat they know. “We tend to only represent the boats that we service so we know the history of them,” said Ms Down. 

While the cost of a pre-owned boat depends on a huge number of factors, particularly age and condition, she estimated that $45,000 could probably get you a 20-foot boat while a second hand 13-foot Boston Whaler could potentially be scooped up for about $20,000. 

If you are buying a pre-owned boat directly from the seller, and aren’t familiar with boats yourself, she recommended getting advice from someone who is, “to avoid the headache of buying something that isn’t what it appears to be.” 

ONGOING COSTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

When budgeting for boat ownership, you also need to account for the ongoing maintenance, storage, servicing, registration, insurance and other costs that keep your boat afloat. 

Registration: When your boat arrives in Bermuda, or if you buy a second-hand boat, you must register it in your name with the Department of Marine and Ports Services. Registration must be renewed each year, between April 1 and May 31. The fees are determined by the boat’s length. 

SERVICING: 

Boats have to come out of the water annually to be serviced. At PW Marine, continued Ms Down, “we power wash and repaint the bottom, we do the engine service, we put wax on the sides of the boat. Any customer issues, or things that need to be addressed are done at that time.” 

INSURANCE: 

Unlike cars, by law, boats don’t have to be insured, but Ms Down highly recommended it, especially if your boat is new. If you keep your boat in a marina, however, she said, “they always have a liability clause so you have to have liability insurance to a certain value in case you damage someone else’s boat.” 

Storage: Part of the equation of buying a boat is finding somewhere to keep it. PW Marine has their own marina but, at the time of writing, it was full, with a waiting list. If you are buying a boat from them, Ms Down will reach out to others in the industry to help owners find a good spot: 

“To make your boating experience fun, you really want to have easy access to it. It needs to be convenient. If you’ve got to jump on a dinghy and row out three miles to get on your boat, it’s not going to be as convenient.” 

HURRICANE PLAN: 

Every owner needs a plan for their boat when a hurricane comes. “All marinas will have a mandatory evacuation so you do need somewhere to put the boat,” warned Ms Down. If your boat is moored in protected waters and tied down correctly, that might be OK, as long as another boat doesn’t slam into it. PW Marine offers a hurricane haulage and storage service for their clients. 

THE FUN STUFF 

Once your budget has been determined, the fun can begin. What size and type of boat are you going to get? 

Ms Down’s first question is what the customer’s expectations of boating are and after that she discusses the layout and configuration based on what they want to use it for. “There’s centre consoles, dual consoles, there’s boats with cabins, there’s boats that are set for mostly cruising and recreational. For most of them, you can add on fishing features,” she said. For boats with manageable wakes, a tow bar for water sports is also a fun option. 

If you want to go outside the reef, Ms Down recommended a minimum boat size of 20 feet. Some buyers have also chosen to add seakeepers, which, she explained, “stabilise the boat so it takes that rocky motion away.” This is useful when fishing offshore or if you suffer from motion sickness. 

Last but not least, every boat needs a name. This can be simple or fun. Maybe you could ‘Seas the Day’ or ‘Sea Ya Later’. The odd ‘Usain Boat’ has also been spotted. If you spent more than you planned, maybe ‘Bankrupt Sea’? 

SAFETY 

Back to being serious, Bermuda is open water and the weather can turn quickly. Ms Down recommended that anyone new to boating here should take a local boat handling course. These are offered at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. 

The post Buying your first boat appeared first on RG Magazines.

Jeremy Johnson is principal of Horizons Architecture and is an experienced architectural designer. He shares his knowledge and experience about everything you need to know and prepare for before embarking on any residential building project. 

Before you build or renovate a home, who should you speak with first? 

If you require a loan, it will be the bank. They will want to talk about your assets, liabilities, debts, age, job security, total income and the asset you want to build or renovate. They will also discuss how you plan to deal with the financing. Ultimately this meeting should culminate in you understanding what they are willing to loan you, and under what conditions. 

Then, you need to engage a team, which will include an architect or designer, and an experienced contractor. It may also include an appraiser, a structural engineer, a surveyor and, for more complex building projects, a project manager. 

What is the procedure for obtaining planning permission to build or renovate a residential property? 

By law, all building and renovation projects require approval from the Department of Planning (Planning). 

The process varies depending on the size, location, zoning, use and condition of the site. Other factors could also include the proposed location and extent of the development, as well as neighbouring conditions like existing densities, encroachments, public roads or protected zones. 

I recommend retaining your architect to develop a scheme. They will use this to engage Planning on an initial consultancy to determine viability and the ideal process it should go through to gain the necessary approvals. 

Once the application process has been determined, drawings will be developed in accordance with Planning’s recommendation. Submission happens via the architect. Planning vet the application and then send out the invoice for payment. Once paid, signage is issued notifying of the intent to develop. These bright red signs must be posted on the site for 14 days. Two pictures of these signs must be issued to Planning to show their location and context. 

A comprehensive set of drawings will prevent a multitude of potential issues. Correspondence and drawing revisions go to and fro between the architect and the planner until both are satisfied with the result. The drawings are stamped off and the client has the green light to commence the works on site. 

What are some common planning issues that arise when an owner is building or renovating? 

The three most common planning issues I come across are, firstly, the client needs to create and register a CSS (Customer Self Service) account with Planning. This can be done at https://planning.gov.bm/index.php/ customer-self-service/. 

Secondly, finding the owner of neighbouring properties when a Neighbour’s Acknowledgement Form is required can sometimes prove difficult. Thirdly, if price increases occur over the approval period, this can make commencement of the works challenging. 

Are there any additional planning requirements to consider when renovating or building to accommodate vacation rentals? 

This is a bit of a grey area. What I do know is that if the lodgings become the primary use of the property, the owner must apply for a ‘change of use’. If the tourist accommodations are not the principle use of the property, the house will remain as residential use. 

What obligations does a property owner have towards their neighbours? 

Where works take place within the setback to a common boundary line, there is an obligation to get the neighbour affected to sign a Neighbour’s Acknowledgement form. 

The neighbour has the right to view the drawings before they sign and they have the right to abstain from signing. Signing does not constitute agreement. If a signature cannot be obtained, the applicant must send a registered letter to the neighbour. The registered receipt, and the proof of collection from the post office, must be submitted to Planning to show that adequate effort was made to acquire the signature. 

When budgeting, how much ‘extra’ do you advise owners to set aside for unforeseen building issues? 

The bank requires that 20 percent be added to the requested amount for the protection of the project. This is a good gauge because it means that in their experience, this is a safe number to understand how much over budget a project can go. 

In addition to making timely repayments, what other obligations must owners fulfil when borrowing money from a bank in order to build or renovate? 

The bank requires a project manager to qualify payments during construction. This does not have to be someone who is intimately acquainted with all of your finishes. They just need to be able to state to the bank that the payment request from the contractor or client is reasonable and is going toward the construction of the project. 

What are some common mistakes people make when embarking on a building or renovation project? 

The one that hits home for me the most is when people choose the cheapest design service they can find. Although I understand why they do this, it may not save money in the longer term. This is because good design matters. If a building or renovation project does not function well, or does not speak to you personally, you are stuck with it. 

What other advice would you give to residential property owners before embarking on a residential building project? 

Don’t skimp on quality. Use a good designer, employ the best contractor you can, and buy good quality products, because Bermuda is a brutal environment. Building and renovation will always cost more than you expect, but it will cost a lot more in the long run if you cut corners. 

It’s also important to listen to advice from the experts and those who have built or renovated before. I still listen to advice because there is always something to learn. 

For the full list of residential building requirements and regulations, visit planning.gov.bm. 

The post The Do’s and Don’ts of Home Building and Renovations appeared first on RG Magazines.

Thanks to materials and technology such as PVC, aluminium and impact-rated glass, large, unshuttered windows can now frame ocean views, and floor-to-ceiling bifold doors allow for large openings which accommodate the popular indoor outdoor living style. 

Architect Jonathan Castro, who owns E Se Studios, has been at the forefront of many of the more modern designs being incorporated into Bermuda’s homes. He explained what new styles and technology are available, what will survive both time and hurricanes, and why it’s more important to budget for windows and doors, than a kitchen. 

“The reason buildings last as long as they do is because there is a lot of importance made to the envelope of the building,” he explained. “The envelope is not just your roof and walls, but also your windows and doors. Making sure that you have spent the most money on those items makes your house last that much longer.” 

Energy performance is also a big factor to consider: “A lot of concerns are over solar heat gain in the summer time,” he continued. “Your windows, coupled with roof, are the bigger performance pieces you need to consider, especially with new builds.” 

High quality windows and doors come at a cost however. “Those who have built before know the importance of getting your windows and doors right. With homeowners who are looking to rip out the old wooden doors and windows, put the money there first, even if you have to put the kitchen on hold for a year.” 

WINDOW OPTIONS 

Building homes that were protected from the wind, often meant foregoing a view and living in a darker space. That is no longer the case. Views, and an abundance of natural light, now take priority when designing a new building or renovation, and new technology such as impact-rated glass means that the ‘view frame’ can be as large as you want, or have the budget for. If the “sticker shock” puts you off however, Mr Castro pointed out that with hurricane grade glass, you can save money elsewhere. 

“A lot of systems can be very expensive, but, it gets you everything you need. You’re going to find a better performance in the long run. Not only that, if you’ve done a hurricane window, you don’t need to get shutters.” 

The type of glass isn’t the only decision you need to make. Most windows in Bermuda are made from wood, PVC or metal, such as aluminium, and there are pros and cons with each. 

PVC requires the least maintenance but there are few colour options to choose from. Metal-based window systems often have slimmer sight lines and profiles, but require slightly more maintenance than PVC. 

Requiring the most maintenance, but with the most flexibility as well as warmth and texture, is wood. If you opt for cedar windows and doors, he said they “will last hundreds of years.” Wood can also be painted, and repainted. Some woods, such as accoya, can also be left to patina. In the case of accoya, this means it will silver. 

With metal windows, he said there are some “predefined options” for colour, but, once you’ve decided, that’s it: “Right now, everyone’s doing a lot of black, dark grey, bronze windows and doors,” he said, warning that if, in five or ten years’ time, the client doesn’t like it, it’s difficult to change. 

It’s also important to consider how the colour will look over time. Black windows are very trendy right now, but, he warned, the colour will fade. If you are able to do all of your windows in black frames however, this will be less of a concern as the UV will break everything down evenly. 

In terms of the lifespan of each material, much of this will come down to maintenance. 

“Make sure everything is painted and sealed,” advised Mr Castro. “With aluminium, the biggest concern is making sure the finish is there, washing them down is important, just so the salt’s not sitting there, eating away. 

“With wood, you have to make sure that the paints are good. If the seal is broken and water gets in there, it’s going to swell and damage over time.” 

INDOOR OUTDOOR CONNECTION 

A modern design that is replacing the traditional French doors in many new build and renovated homes is bifold doors. These fold back completely to create large openings, allowing for seamless indoor outdoor living. 

Some “sliding systems” as Mr Castro calls them even have “a pocket” where the door goes into what appears to be a wall so you see no doors at all. “Those are great for larger spans,” he explained, where, for example a client wants to connect a terrace to the kitchen. 

This works well where you have an opening of over eight feet but, in most cases, it also requires incorporating a steel beam above the door “to carry the length”. 

THE FRONT DOOR 

Traditionally, front doors are made of wood and can be solid or Dutch. For those who prefer a more modern aesthetic, however, the pivot door is a popular option: 

“Instead of hinges, you’re dealing with a pivot or a rod in the top and bottom of the door to help move it,” he explained. “A pivot door gives you this nice effect, because the door seems to be floating. It doesn’t look like it touches the frame when it’s fully open.” 

Whether you choose traditional wood or a modern pivot, Mr Castro advised having your front door sheltered and with a side light in the form of fixed glass: “The glass can be frosted, etched or opaque, so you can’t see into it, but it gives you this added pool of light at the front door. It’s very welcoming for people,” he said. 

The post Evolution of Windows and Doors appeared first on RG Magazines.

How about walking into a room, sitting down comfortably and saying: “Movie night”. Presto – the blinds come down, the lights dim and the smart TV comes up with a selection of films for you to enjoy. 

Or, you need to turn your smart oven on at 5pm, but you’re not going to be home at 5pm. There’s an app for that. 

Want Christmas tree lights to turn on without you fumbling behind the tree to plug them in? There’s a smart gadget for that too. 

WHAT IS SMART TECH? 

Smart stands for self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology. In the case of smart home technology, this would be any home device or appliance that can communicate and work with other technologies and systems, using the Internet 

The options for smart devices are immense and growing. So, where do you start, especially if you’re not a technology expert? 

Ana Abend is a technology expert, and her company, ANA Solutions, sets up bespoke home technology systems for their clients. If you are just beginning your smart technology journey, she advised: “Start simple and build.” This is because if you take on too much at once, it could be overwhelming. 

“There are quite a few things people use in Bermuda. Firesticks, Apple TV, Roku, Chrome TV, and YouTube TV for entertainment options. Ring, Swann and Arlo for home security cameras. Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice assistants. Smart lighting such as Philips Hue, Sensibo for Air-Conditioning (AC) control, Schlage and August for smart door locks, various brands for smart blinds, Kasa smart plugs and surge protectors that also monitor energy consumption, water sensor devices to send you an alert when your water tank is low. Sonos for streaming music, and even Furbo, which is a pet camera that dispenses treats.” 

INTEGRATING OPTIONS 

“The key is to be able to integrate devices to a smart home hub, and have these assistants run routines such as turning on lights at sunset, starting the sprinklers, adjusting temperature or unlocking the door. Start off with a good framework and then slowly build.” 

In order for smart technology to work well, you need reliable, stable Internet with minimal interference, but there are some unique Bermudian challenges to achieving this. 

“Bermuda has really thick walls,” explained Ms Abend. “Unless it’s a new build and internet points have been provisioned, it can be a challenge because everyone wants WIFI, but WIFI doesn’t travel through our walls, so you end up having to put a wireless device in each room.” 

She therefore suggested having some wired connections: “Mesh WIFI systems such as Eero and TP-Link Deco do quite well in pushing a WIFI signal around a Bermuda house. However, if the home is large, many of these devices are needed in various locations and not always in the most convenient of places,” she warned, “Full unified networks such as Ubiquiti is one of the most popular brands. They blend wired devices with wireless access points and have the ability to mesh together.” 

MIXING LEGACY AND NEW TECHNOLOGY 

As long as you have reliable Internet, you don’t need to make major changes to your home to incorporate smart devices and even Ms Abend enjoys a mix of old and new technology. 

“I like to enhance my experience by working smarter, not harder,” she said. When you are done in a room and you say: ‘Goodnight Alexa’, the lights turn off, blinds close, AC is turned off, nightlight timer is set, all while you walk away to your bedroom.” 

She is also a huge fan of smart plugs: “I actually got my first smart plug to use on my crockpot. I wasn’t able to come home to turn off a six hour recipe so used a smart plug to turn off the pot remotely.” 

Most recently, she has been experimenting with energy monitoring devices, which are installed in electrical panels and show, via an app, which circuits use the most power: “The idea is to identify these circuits, and hopefully reduce consumption by using smart timers or plugs, or changing the way one uses a device.” 

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 

While there is an obvious convenience to mastering smart home devices, there are vulnerabilities. Firstly, if the power goes off and secondly, they could be hacked. Both these risks however, can be mitigated. 

In the case of hacking, you can take various steps such as using unique and complex passwords for each device, ensuring the latest firmware and security patches are applied regularly or automatically, having strong network encryption, disabling unnecessary features such as remote access, and monitoring connected devices for unusual activity. 

Remembering passwords can pose its own challenge and Ms Abend warned never to write these down or store them in a computer document. Instead, she recommended encrypted password apps. She finds the app ‘1Password’ user friendly. 

Some more sophisticated smart devices will have a back-up in case of a power outage, and some security systems have cellular backup or batteries. Smart door locks have a battery and a key in case you leave for vacation and the battery runs out during this time. She also recommended a generator or UPS (uninterruptible power system). 

While smart home devices can offer convenience, enjoyment and security, Ms Abend has found an additional benefit. They help her avoid cockroaches too: “The light switch for my pool lights is in the pump room, which at night is very cockroachy! I installed a smart switch which allows me to turn on the lights from my phone and completely avoids my having to face those creatures,” she laughed. 

For information about ANA solutions, email ana4solutions@ gmail.com. 

The post How to Make Your Home Smart appeared first on RG Magazines.

Local fashion icons Perri Furbert and Lorraine Shailer are not only ahead of the curve when it comes to the latest looks, but they also understand the consequences of putting trend before comfort in July and August.

Ms Furbert is founder and CEO of Gold The Label, and Ms Shailer is director of retail for The Shops at the Hamilton Princess. They gave us their insight into how to dress for Bermuda’s warmest months, and shared what styles and brands will help us look and feel fabulous in the heat.

Lightweight Fabrics

“Weights of fabrics are important, particularly in Bermuda,” said Ms Shailer. “We try to do more breathable fabrics in the summer because it’s so hot and humid here. Linen and cotton are the main ones.”

Her own approach is to “keep it as simple as possible and then add on finishing touches to spruce yourself up.” These finishing touches could include a belt, jewellery or detailed shoe because these are “things that aren’t going to affect you in the heat.”

Ms Furbert agreed: “I go for comfort. The older I get, the more I need less fuss in my clothes. Everything just has to be comfortable, breathable things. I’m leaning more to linens. I’m learning a lot more about fabrics and sustainability and that’s really important to me now.”

Quality therefore, she continued, is becoming more of a priority over quantity: “Sustainability is really important. If you have a more sustainable option, it can last generations, versus fast fashion that is filled with chemicals, not really good for us and is a quick turnover.”

Ms Shailer also pointed out that having “good quality basics” such as t-shirts and sandals will help you look “more polished and put together.” For t-shirts, she recommended American Vintage because, “they are amazing at the cottons that they use in their fabrics and they have really good colour as well.”

A good quality, basic t-shirt she added will also look great with “wonderful maxi skirts in great prints and great colours.” And, in terms of the fit, she recommended more flowy and less restrictive styles.

Accessorize

When outfitting herself for work, Ms Shailer likes a dress because “it’s simple, it’s one piece, I don’t have to think about adding on lots of different pieces.” But, she continued, “make your jewellery interesting, make your belt interesting, make your shoes interesting. Those added details just make you look pulled together.”

Ms Furbert also loves accessories – Gold The Label’s tagline is “for the maximalists” – and she firmly believes that the right ones can transform your look: “I think a straw hat is pretty timeless. Either a boater or a wide brim. That’s definitely an essential. The right bag, which can transition from day to night, is also a good summer must have. I love our mini bucket bags for that.”

When she isn’t wearing a hat, she loves to wear sunglasses, and her own frames, which all have biblical names such as Zion, Exodus and Calvary, come in a variety of styles and colours. She is also planning a new silhouette for this summer.

While she is a “gold” and “dangly earring girl” herself, jewellery, she added, is personal and you should go with what feels best for you. As a general rule however, she advised: “if your outfit is busy, then you need minimal jewellery. If the outfit is more understated, then you can play around more”.

Colours and Prints

In spite of enjoying comfort and simplicity in their day-to-day summer dressing, both Ms Furbert and Ms Shailer still love prints and colours, and there’s lots of vibrant fashion available to choose from:

“I’m brown skinned, so oranges look great on me, yellow looks great on me. I think a shade of green and blue look good on me,” said Ms Furbert, who added: “For lighter skin, reds are great, corals are great, then, depending on the blue, browner skins look better with a pale blue and then lighter skin looks better in brighter blues.”

Ms Shailer’s own personal style is for “pops of colour” mixed with neutrals, but, she added: “We live in a place that has a beautiful back drop and if you want to go all out with colour, head to toe, go for it.”

She also admitted that she loves an “over the top summer dress” as long as it’s in a fabric that works for the summer, and that many European, especially Mediterranean, brands excel at lightweight, colourful summer pieces that come in styles which transition from day to evening, are comfortable in the heat, and stylish on the beach. These include Essential Antwerp, Lolly’s Laundry and Devotion Twins. She also loves African brand, Lemlem.

Fancy Footwear

Sandals and espadrilles reign when it comes to summer footwear. For the daytime, Ms Furbert loves a flat espadrille, but switches to strappy sandal heels for a more elevated evening look.

“If you have sandals, make that the piece you’re showing off for the summer,” added Ms Shailer, “whether it’s bejewelled or an interesting colour, or interesting detail on it.”

At the end of day, however, fashion is deeply personal: “Wear what you feel comfortable in and what works for you,” continued Ms Shailer. “For some people that is very vibrant palettes, but for other people it’s more calm. That doesn’t mean anyone’s wrong or right. If you can work it and you can rock it and you feel comfortable, then go for it!”

For more information about Gold The Label, visit goldthelabel.com or follow the brand on Instagram @goldthelabel.

For more information about The Shops at Hamilton Princess, visit hamiltonprincessshops.com or follow them on Instagram @shopsattheprincess.

The post Summer Fashions appeared first on RG Magazines.

Exquisite Ocean-Side Dining

When eating at Pink Beach Club at the Loren, it feels like the ocean is in the room with you. It’s no surprise therefore that their summer menu is seafood heavy and filled with as many locally-sourced accompaniments as possible. “We like to think of ourselves as Mediterranean with coastal, European influences,” said André Roberts, the hotel’s manager and food and beverage director.

Executive Chef, Lawrence Godinho, hails from a farming family in Goa, so seafood, alongside local and seasonal produce is what he lives by. “Our mission is to be local, seasonal and sustainable,” he adds. Meat lovers and vegetarians needn’t panic, however. There are tasty menu items for every palate.

If you want to follow the expert’s recommendation, Chef Godinho’s favourite is the Diver Sea Scallops, served with morels and duck bacon, all sitting on a bed of cauliflower puree. If you have never tasted duck bacon before, I can highly recommend it. The salty, crunchy texture is phenomenal alongside the softer flavours and textures in this dish.

Godinho also enjoys the “Strawberry & Burrata” starter as well as the “Sticky Date Pudding” and “all types of seafood” on the menu. Off the menu, but included as a special when available, is lionfish, which he usually turns into a ceviche, nigiri or sashimi dish.

Other ‘must try’ seafood dishes include the Grilled Rockfish and Pan Seared Snapper. The secret to good snapper is getting the skin really crispy, and Godinho and his team have nailed this. Crunchy on top, soft but meaty underneath, and served in a brightly coloured and Instagram-worthy red pepper coulis. You will most likely want to dive straight in though, instead of wasting time with a pre-meal photograph.

The rockfish is purposefully uncomplicated. Cooked on the grill, it comes with beetroot, radish and tarot chips, all sitting in a delicious basil sauce, that has a very distinctive “zing” to it. Not spicy, just a powerful something that goes excellently with the simple, natural flavours of the fish.

While seafood is the main event, other dishes do get a look in, and Roberts’ favourite is the Cherry Glazed Pork Belly. Served in cubes, the pork is enjoyed with an unusual, but very popular corn sauce along with an apple, rhubarb and carrot slaw and slices of raw daikon, which balances out the fat of the meat beautifully.

While you might be tempted to lick your plate clean, it’s worth leaving room for dessert. These include the chef’s recommendation of Sticky Date Pudding, which comes with rum caramelized pineapple, spiced toffee sauce and vanilla ice-cream, and Roberts’ favourite, which is the Pink Guava Cheesecake served with strawberry, elderflower, lemon cloud, and candied pecans.

There is also the Hazelnut Praline Mousse. This is not just a dessert, it is a work of art. Housed in a hard chocolate casing and served with a cherry coulis, hazelnut crunch, “apricot pate de fruit”, and pistachio ice-cream, it is nothing short of a multi-flavoured, multi-textured, piece of heaven on the tongue. And, just to top it off, it comes with a chocolate ‘crisp’ shaped like seaweed.

Buffet fans can also enjoy the full moon BBQs taking place at the Loren every full moon until October. With its own special, and changeable menus, guests can enjoy multiple BBQ, grill and food stations serving up ribs, chicken, a variety of seafood, and salads, all to the energetic tunes of Working Title.

For more information, visit www.thelorenhotels.com/bermuda

Take-out and dine-in treats

For something more low key, the chefs at Take Five, which includes Buzz, Island Pantry, Devil’s Isle and Village Pantry, are introducing new summer dishes, as well as bringing back a few firm favourites.

The summer highlight at Buzz is their crispy baked sushi roll, which is filled with crunchy vegetables and Sargasso Sea tuna, then topped with their home-made wasabi dressing and red-hot chili mayo. For something sweet to eat afterwards, try the Suriname cherry tartlets from Island Pantry.

If you are craving seafood, the “Shellebration” bucket at Devil’s Isle will hit the spot. This isn’t on the menu, so be sure to check the specials board and if it’s there, you’re in luck. Overflowing with oysters, crab legs and periwinkles, the presentation alone makes it worth the order.

On the subject of seafood – it is summer after all – there is yet more choice at Village Pantry in Flatts. Ocean eats include miso glazed rockfish, black-rope mussels served with a tomato marinara and, when available, lionfish tempura.

For more information, visit takefive.bm

New on the Scene

Opposite Fort St Catherine, next to the 18^th hole of the St Regis, and overlooking Achilles Bay, is Achilles. The latest addition to The Little Venice Group, this “modern tavern” is situated at the former Blackbeard’s Hideaway, and prides itself on its “authentic dishes from the ‘MediterrAsian’ worlds.”

These dishes include Coconut Wahoo, which is served with coconut cream, spicy tamarind dressing, mint, cilantro and Thai basil, as well as Grilled Shrimps, which are tiger shrimps accompanied by salmoriglio, toasted breadcrumbs and a Kalamata olive crumble. Salmoriglio is a southern Italian dressing that goes very well with seafood.

More substantial meals include Roasted Octopus, which comes with smoked potato cream, paprika, chorizo, baby spinach and red chili coulis, and Korean Ribs which are slow roasted pork ribs, accompanied by charred broccolini, kimchi and egg fried rice. If you have a sweet tooth and enjoy out of the ordinary desserts, try the Japanese Cotton Cheesecake, served with berries and a miso caramel sauce.

For more information, visit achilles.bm

The post Sizzling Summer Eats appeared first on RG Magazines.

With solar panels and battery storage, this is possible, said Cameron Smith, co-owner of Greenlight Energy. “It’s perfectly seamless,” he said. “It clicks in, in 100 milliseconds. You don’t even see a light flicker.”

How exactly does this work? And how many batteries do you need?

“Eighty per cent of our clients get two Powerwalls,” he answered, referring to the Tesla Powerwall rechargeable battery system installed by Greenlight Energy. “That is 27 kilowatt hours (kWh) of storage, and 10 kilowatts continuous.”

What does that mean from a practical standpoint? “27 kWhs is enough to run the typical home overnight,” he explained. “As long as you’re not running it on something like 64 degrees Fahrenheit and running it on something more palatable, like 72F or 74F, you’ll get through the night with one or two air-conditioners on. Your fridge will be powered. Your wi-fi router will stay on. You can turn on all your LED lights. You can take a shower.”

Along with the Powerwall is a box called the Tesla Gateway, which is a “smart automatic transfer switch”. As soon as it detects a grid outage, it switches the source of power for your house to the batteries.

Unlike generators, the batteries are completely silent and have no moving parts, reducing the need for maintenance.

In order to generate the power however, you need solar panels. These can be installed anywhere on the property, but are usually fixed to the roof. What are the chances, therefore, of them blowing off during a hurricane? “The bolting method we use is rated for 150 mph winds. We’ve never lost a solar panel in a hurricane,” he answered confidently.

Furthermore, as long as the solar panels and batteries have been correctly installed, they can be included in that property’s insurance policy.

Solar panels and battery storage systems are a big investment, but they are not just for hurricanes. They can also help to reduce your Belco bill all year round.

On their own, solar panels will generate power as long as the sun is shining. However, on a cloudy day, it will generate less power, and when the sun goes down, no power. This is where the battery storage system comes into play.

“When you get solar panels, you can intuit their effectiveness over the course of a typical day,” said Mr Smith. “Around midday, when the sun is highest in the sky, the solar panels are producing the most power, however the sunlight doesn’t correlate perfectly with usage habits.

“Typically, when the solar panels are producing the most power, homeowners are using the least amount of power because they’re not home. The answer to that would be energy storage, which stores any energy that’s being produced [during the day], so it can be used during the higher energy usage times, which is typically in the evenings around 6pm when everybody gets home and the air-conditioner’s turned on, the ovens go on and the kettle’s running.”

The Tesla app allows you to see how much power your panels are generating, and when. You can also manage how you use your stored energy. If, for example, you always want to keep 30 per cent in reserve in case of an unexpected outage, you can use the app to set that up. In that case, the house will switch back to the grid when the battery storage gets down to 30 percent. As soon as the sun comes out again, the battery recharges.

The reserve setting can be changed at any time. When you know a hurricane is coming, you might want to keep your battery fully charged to guarantee full capacity when the grid goes down. Should you need to, you can also charge the battery from the grid.

Steve Thomson, father of Greenlight president Kenneth Thomson, was one of their first customers. He loves the app: “I can change the batteries so, say a hurricane’s coming, [I can] keep my battery stocked up to 100 percent rather than using them overnight. And, I can say ‘oh it’s night time now, we’ve got a hurricane tomorrow morning, let me let Belco charge the batteries’. I can change it so they can charge it.”

Mr Thomson had 38 panels installed on his roof and three batteries in his basement about four years ago and, in addition to being able to “enjoy” hurricanes in comfort, he has seen his Belco bills drop dramatically. He lives in a two-bedroom house on South Shore in Warwick which also has a one-bedroom cottage and a swimming pool.

“I used to pay $1,600 to $1,700 a month in the summer,” he said, adding: “Now, in April, May and June, I’ll pay the facilities fee, I might pay $80 or $100 and in the summer, when I’m using a lot of air-conditioning, maybe my bill is $250 or $300 maximum. It makes a big difference.”

While the Belco savings might be substantial, the up-front cost of having a solar energy system installed is significant, but explained Mr Smith, it will pay for itself in the longer run.

For the solar panels, the cheapest system Greenlight has installed has been $18,000 and the most expensive was $300,000. For a monthly Belco bill of $600, Mr Smith estimated needing a number of panels that would cost between $30,000 – $50,000 depending on the complexity of the installation. While there are many variables involved, he estimated you would earn that back in around six to eight years.

For batteries, the first one costs around $20,000, again depending on factors such as the complexity of installation, but, once installed, additional batteries may not cost quite as much, because the complicated installation work is done.

The solar panels come with a 25-year warranty and the Tesla Powerwall with a ten-year warranty.

The post Power through a hurricane appeared first on RG Magazines.

What size and style will physically work in your kitchen is the first decision.

“Dimension is always the main premise”, answered Mr Gerardo. “A lot of people will know the cubic capacity of their fridge, [but] cubic capacity could look like a lot of different things. It could be 36 inches wide and standard depth. It could be 42 inches wide and counter depth.”

Positioning also matters, such as a wall or countertop restricting one side, for example. Mr Gerardo offers a free measuring service for customers concerned about spacing and dimensions.

How will you use your fridge freezer?

Do you want a freezer draw below, or a freezer section on the side?

“I’ve noticed elderly people or people with back issues want to go with a bottom freezer drawer,” he explained. “That way everything in the fridge is at a high level. They don’t have to bend down as much because most cases, people are going into their fridge section as opposed to their freezer.”

A side freezer can be more organised, but you are limited by the width. If you are a frozen pizza eater and want a side-by-side fridge and freezer, you will need to pay attention to the internal width. In terms of overall capacity, however, they are very similar.

Many fridge freezers come with ice makers and water dispensers and if this is what you want, you need to think about where you want it. In the door, and you have reduced capacity in the fridge section. An ice maker in the freezer section however, reduces capacity there, but frees up the fridge.

Lifespan of appliances

Refrigerators, unfortunately, do have a life span. For traditional, middle end refrigerators such as those made by GE, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Frigidaire or Kenmore, for example, the average lifespan is 8 – 10 years. For higher end brands such as Monogram, Sub-Zero and Hestan, they could range from 17 – 30 years, depending on how they are used.

In terms of serviceability, reliability and value for money, he recommended GE brands, which include Monogram and Profile. Another good brand he discovered recently, is Fisher and Paykel.

To extend the life of their refrigerators, Mr Gerardo recommended owners instal a surge protector to safeguard against power surges and brown outs, as well as changing the water filter every six months, and vacuuming or dusting the compressor.

He also recommended fridges which have air filters, as these can prolong the lifespan of their contents.

Wine Fridges

Are they worth it? “Definitely, especially if you fancy yourself a wine connoisseur,” he said. This is because wine, (even white wine) needs to be stored at a temperature warmer than the average fridge. White wine should be stored at between 45-55℉. The average fridge is 37-40℉.

Good quality wine fridges also have “anti-vibration” technology and soft-close racks. “Wine is supposed to be kept out of any area with vibrations because they can destroy the sediment,” he explained. Some models also feature UV protection and different temperature zones for different wines.

Brands including Sub-Zero, Monogram and Heston are well known for their excellent wine fridges. One that Mr Gerardo believes is good value for money, however is Elica.

The post Keeping it Cool appeared first on RG Magazines.

“People must be prepared at home with enough medication, food and water to see them through the storm and its aftermath,” said Anna Nowak, vice-president, public relations, at the Bermuda Hospitals Board. “People with diabetes will need their medication and food, many others may just need adequate medical supplies.” Everyone, she emphasised, should have an up-to-date first aid kit.

She also warned against taking any risks during a storm: “Be careful on ladders as you prepare ahead of time, be careful if there is broken glass from a blown-in window, and especially, after the storm, keep away from downed power lines.” She also urged caution if using machetes or saws to clear up after a storm.

One risk many Bermuda residents do tend to take is going outside for some fresh air if the eye passes over the island: “The winds can pick up incredibly fast on the other side, so it can be dangerous,” she said.

These warnings are important because, should an emergency occur, an ambulance may not be able to get to you: “If the emergency is outside and requires a response, such as an ambulance, we will review what the weather is at that time,” explained Ms Nowak. “If it is at a particularly bad time for winds, storm surge or rain, we can’t risk the lives of our staff, but, if there is enough of a break in the wind intensity, we may be able to send out an ambulance.

“It is not just the weather they have to contend with, but downed trees and powerlines, which can be very dangerous.”

They will, however, do everything they can and on one occasion, they were able to work with the police to open the Causeway when a life-threatening situation meant a patient needed to get across.

While there is always the risk of a situation that can’t be planned for, BHB tries to prepare for as much as is possible at all their locations, and the hospital is a busy place to be during a hurricane.

In addition to inpatients and long-term care residents, pregnant women who are close to term or may have a high-risk pregnancy are advised to come into the hospital for the duration of the storm. “We’ve had more than 20 pregnant women in before,” said Ms Nowak.

People requiring oxygen, she added, do not need to come in because “they do not need medical care, but just a continuous supply of electricity and oxygen.” If they are unable to get this at home, they can go to the government shelter at CedarBridge Academy, where there is also a nurse.

Once they know a hurricane is going to hit, the BHB’s hurricane response plan moves from monitoring and checking, into action, and their priority is to ensure that they “can continue to care for all our inpatients, our long-term care residents who may be on the MWI or KEMH campus or in a group home, and that inpatient, emergency care and maternity services are continuous,” she explained.

This includes having two shifts of staff at the two main hospital sites for the duration of the storm.

“For major hurricanes we will go into what is called ‘lockdown’,” said Ms Nowak. “The start is when everyone we need to get through the storm are on-site. It is only lifted when it is safe enough for relief staff to get in. We can be in lockdown for over 30 hours in a big storm. Shifts on clinical inpatient units will usually last 12 hours, so the second shift of staff take over while the first shift sleep.”

There will also be staff to cover all clinical and support areas should there be a medical or mental health crisis either within, or outside, the hospital. This includes nurses, doctors, surgeons, anaesthetists, obstetricians, laboratory and imaging services, and pharmacy staff. There is also IT support, dietary staff to cook and deliver patient meals, public relations and administrative staff.

In addition to this, the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre is open throughout the storm to ensure St George’s and St David’s are not cut off from medical care while the causeway is closed.

The “biggest heroes”, however said Ms Nowak, are the support staff, in particular facilities and environmental services who are the “emergency staff” for the building. “During Hurricane Nicole, we had a lot of water ingress, including quite dramatically down an elevator shaft and through the front doors of the general wing lobby. The leaks need to be managed and cleaned up by these teams and the activity can be intense if it’s a bad storm with a lot of rain.”

The biggest patient challenge they have had to deal with in recent times was in October 2014, when they had to evacuate over 100 patients out of the old, now-demolished, continuing care building during the height of Hurricane Gonzalo.

“Off-shift staff came to help as one by one, patients, many of whom were in wheelchairs, were assisted out of the unit,” she said.

Working in the hospital during a hurricane is tough, but Ms Nowak praised the lengths to which everyone goes to support each other.

“Being away from home and family is hard, especially as power goes out and you lose contact with your loved ones,” she said. “It is also very hard work. Staff are sleeping wherever they can find space, and everyone is working long hours to get through. Having said that, we all pull together. There is a feeling of family at these times as we do all we can to keep caring for our community.”

The post How hospital stays open during hurricanes appeared first on RG Magazines.

Tim and Keri McKittrick have owned Tim’s Pools for over 20 years and know everything there is to know about the ideal pool, from maintenance and design, to safety and functionality. They explained what is needed to keep your pool clean, what maintenance costs to expect, and shared their advice on the dos and don’ts of designs.

THE SCIENCE AND BASIC MAINTENANCE

There is no point having a swimming pool unless it is safe enough to swim in. This requires weekly cleaning as well as a “water chemistry” test to make sure the pH is at the correct balance.

“There is a test strip they put in the water,” explained Mr. McKittrick. “The pH needs to be between 7.2 and 7.8 parts per million. Alkalinity needs to be between 80 and 120 parts per million. If it’s on the low or high end of those, the chlorine will not work. It will not kill off the phosphates, it will not kill off the algae, it will not sanitise the water.”

The amount of chemicals needed will depend on the weather and the time of year. Large amounts of rain or extreme heat, for example, can impact the balance. In cases of heavy rainfall, he said it may be necessary to add “an extra scoop of shock”. This is chlorine in granule form, which dissolves quicker and is more concentrated. It’s commonly used post-hurricane, when swimming pools can take on a more swamp-like appearance.

Before chemicals are added, pools need to be thoroughly cleaned. This involves checking the pump, vacuuming the pool, cleaning out the skimmer and pump baskets and brushing the sides, bottom and steps to prevent algae from sticking.

While the costs will vary depending on the weather, size, design, and location of the pool, Mr. McKittrick advised budgeting for around $5,000 per year for basic maintenance, for an average sized swimming pool of 32 x 16 feet. If it is next to vegetation, it may require extra cleaning. If it hasn’t been designed with ease of cleaning in mind, that could add to the costs:

“Architects can make very pretty pools, but you really need to think about it,” said Mrs. McKittrick, who recalled a pool with an “underwater cave feature”. The only way the pool cleaner could clean this area was to actually dive in.”

Another cost to bear in mind is cleaning and maintaining the filters and, (if you have them), the salt cells. To make your pool energy efficient, they recommended installing a variable speed pump.

SALINE POOLS

While a salt water pool still requires some chemicals, the McKittricks recommended them over chlorine pools if you don’t like the smell of chlorine or the affect it may have on your skin. They emphasised however that it’s not chemical free, just less chemicals, and maintenance costs are about the same:

“It’s less chlorine and a different type of chlorine,” said Mr. McKittrick, who explained that you need to buy a “salt generator”, which connects to the plumbing system. The titanium plates in this generator change the chemistry of regular table salt into chlorine, but, he added, “it’s not the same chlorine you have in a commercially produced chlorine tablet. It’s softer and doesn’t make your skin smell when you come out.”

ABOVE-GROUND POOLS

Above-ground pools are a cost-effective option if you don’t have the budget for a permanent swimming pool, or you are renting your property, but the McKittricks warned that these still need to be regularly maintained, and they recommended budgeting at least $4,000 per year for total upkeep, including issues like replacing lost water in the hotter months. Unfortunately, they also don’t tend to last as long, because the pump and filter are both out in the open.

POOL SAFETY

When designing and installing a pool, safety must be a priority, especially if you have young children, and there are strict regulations regarding swimming pool design in the Bermuda Residential Building Code 2014. These include slip resistant surfaces on steps and ladders, handrails, two entries if there is a deep and shallow end and anti-entrapment grates on pool drainage outlets less than 12 inches across.

Every pool must have a permanent barrier, usually a fence, the top of which must be at least 48 inches above finished ground level. There are very specific rules for the different types of fencing such as spacing limits between slats or the mesh size restrictions for chain link fences. For example, the gap at the bottom of the fencing must be no more than 2 inches and fence gates must open outwards, away from the pool. Any house doors with direct access to the pool must be equipped with an alarm.

A diving board is a fun feature to have on your pool, but again, for safety reasons there are strict rules about the depth the pool must be, relative to the height of the diving board.

THE FUN STUFF

While there is much to consider in terms of safety and maintenance, at the end of the day, a swimming pool should be fun to use: “Some people love to have waterfalls and infinity edges,” said Mrs McKittrick who particularly loves pools with “a lounging platform”, especially if it has a place for an umbrella:

“They have a really wide shelf in the shallow end and you can put your lounge chairs on it. In extreme heat, it makes it more of a place to hang out.”

If money was no object, not only would she have a lounging platform, but also “a natural, outdoor, stone pool that fits in with the landscape.” She also loves waterfalls and would make sure she had outside facilities for entertaining friends. “A little bar and a BBQ. It becomes your entertaining

The post Get into the swim of things appeared first on RG Magazines.