Monthly Archives: September 2016

The New Mrs Clifton by Elizabeth Buchan

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It’s so nice to be able to breathe out again. Talk about tension.

The New Mrs Clifton had me gripped from the off. I had eagerly anticipated its arrival and was not disappointed. I am still haunted by the characters of Elizabeth Buchan’s previous novel, I Can’t Begin to Tell You and now I can add Gus and Krista Clifton to the cast list that has taken residence in my head.

As the Second World War draws to a close, Intelligence Officer Gus Clifton surprises his sisters at their London home. But an even greater shock is the woman he brings with him, Krista – the German wife whom he has secretly married in Berlin.

Krista is still suffering from her experiences at the hands of the British and their allies as Berlin fell; she is all but broken by the horrors she cannot share. But Gus’s sisters can only see the enemy their brother has brought under their roof. And their friend, Nella, Gus’s beautiful, loyal fiancée, cannot understand what made Gus change his mind about her. Bewildered, they cannot fathom the hold  Krista has over their honourable Gus. How can the three women get her out of their home, their future, their England?

The stifling atmosphere  of the house oozes from every page, the  suffocating tension between the women pervades each chapter.

We learn of the consequences of Krista’s arrival in the first two pages, so the reader is in no doubt as to what the end will be but the who, and the why and the how keep you hooked until the end.

An absolute eye opener to post-war England for anyone who is under the impression that once war was over it was a series of hope and happy endings. I couldn’t help but think  of the war in Syria and the people of Aleppo as I turned the pages, drawing parallels, thinking about the future they face when war is eventually over. Let us hope that is sooner rather than later.

It is a story of deprivation and resolution, and what it takes to survive when the future is bleak. What choices we are left with.

A fabulous read from start to finish.

 

Elizabeth Buchan’s previous novels include the prizewinning Consider the Lily, Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman and I Can’t Begin to Tell You. Her short stories have been broadcast on Radio 4 and published in a range of magazines. Elizabeth is patron of the Guildford Book Festival and of the National Academy of Writing. She has been a judge for the Costa Novel Award and sits on the authors’  committee for the Reading Agency

The New Mrs Clifton is published by Penguin

www.elizabethbuchan.com

www.penguin.co.uk

Should People Who Don’t Have Children Be Allowed To Tell You How To Raise Yours?

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Before I was married and had children I would always say that people who weren’t married should not give advice to people who are married, and that people who don’t have children, shouldn’t give advice to people who have children. Now that I am married and I have a child I can tell you that my belief has only hardened. I know that is controversial. I know some of you might want to slap me right now. I am worried that some of you may even thing I am coming across a bit Andrea Leadsom. But this is not a smug parenting thing. It is not an us versus them: it is simply the fact that parenting looks very different from the outside, and that unless you have been in the trenches, you have no idea what it is actually like.

There are some anomalies: live-in nannies, childcare professionals and the like. But if you don’t have extensive childcare experience, and you don’t have any children of your own, then don’t tell me how to raise my child. You would be surprised how much this happens. There is one specific person who criticises or makes a negative comment about my son, and how my husband and I are raising him, every time we see them. It takes everything I have to not point out to this person that they have never been around a child in their life and should therefore STFU. It is not even that this person has a point. Each criticism is something they have to seek and is nonsense: a comment on how our son is dressed etc.

General unsolicited advice is infuriating at the best of times, but when it is people telling you how to parent it is especially annoying. Being a parent is hard. There is no day off, no breaks, and certainly no sick days. I once worked on a film, a West End play and organised the launch party for Frost all in one month. It was brutal and relentless, but it was still nothing compared to parenting. To go back to my point about parenting looking different from the outside; before I had a child I would hear a baby crying, or be in a restaurant wondering why people were just letting their children run around. Now, there are still some days where I think what are you doing? (because I am human), but the thing is, that parent has probably done everything they can to stop the crying baby. The parents in the restaurant are just so tired they can’t move. You don’t know what lead up to that point or what that person is feeling. They are not doing nothing, they have already done what they can.

So don’t tell people what there child should be wearing or eating. Don’t tell them to shut their child up. The child has just as much right to be speaking as you do. Don’t be that person rolling your eyes because there is a baby crying on the bus (like I was!), because until you become a parent, you have no idea how hard it is and if you have one of your own you will feel very guilty indeed.

So should people who don’t have children be allowed to tell you how to raise yours? No. I am trying to swear less now I am a mother so I will use an acronym: that person should STFU.

 

 

Screen Time has Escalated by 42%

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Does this bother you? It certainly does me because this is leisure time.

New research reveals our screen-time has increased by a staggering 42 per cent over the past five years, with 6.5 hours of leisure time being spent each day in front of digital screens, excluding work computer usage.

What can be done? Well, if you wear contact lenses, (I don’t) friends say this sounds like a good idea.

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Bausch + Lomb are launching the first innovation in reusable contact lenses in almost a decade to help our eyes embraceand keep up with digital technology – plus a new lens for presbyopia too. This means that there hasn’t been an innovation in reusable lenses since the iPhone was launched – and the evidence shows. Whilst three quarters of us do not know how to spot the signs of digital eye strain (also known as Computer Vision Syndrome) which include dry eyes, blurred vision, tired eyes and headaches, 60-90 per cent of office workers using computer screens suffer from some form of ‘computer vision syndrome’. What’s more, up to 20 per cent of Britons admit they are “addicted” to their digital devices.

These lenses retain moisture for up to 16 hours, providing high levels of surface wettability on the lens, and preventing dehydration. I’m told by friends who wear contact lenses that this is a problem for them. They also supply exceptional levels of oxygen transmission, provide consistent comfort throughout the day with a tapered edge design. All of this reduces digital eye strain throughout the day.

For more details: www.digitaleye-d.co.uk

Young Voices Thread: Kinky boots review by Megan Cannell

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I love musicals. In fact I love them so much that I listen to “Wicked”s sound track every morning on the way to school. When my grandma offered to take us up to London to watch Kinky Boots, I could not refuse. My friend went to see it on Broadway and told me it was amazing and that the songs were so catchy.  At first I was a bit sceptical because of the name but when it started I knew that I was going to enjoy it so much.

 

The story is about Charlie Price, who turns an Northampton shoe factory which is on the brink of closing, into a success by making boots for drag queens who want thigh-high red boots. Hence the name, Kinky Boots.

 

At the same time, we see how Lola, the project’s design consultant who is also a drag queen, makes Charlie and his co-workers overcome their dislike of men in frocks. All ends happily at a Milan shoe fair where the collapsing business is joyously ‘rebooted’.

 

The songs were super duper good and the story line was very interesting and personally, I had my eyes glued to the stage the whole time. I would say that this particular musical is great for lots of people, but I personally would recommend it for ages 10+, just because of some of the language and scenes. The show was really funny and had me and my sister laughing, but some of it was quite emotional. Don’t worry I won’t spoil it. All in all I would really recommend this musical and I have been listening to the songs nonstop after seeing it.

 

 

See it at the Adelphi Theatre, The Strand, London.

 

 

Despite the Falling Snow by Shamim Sarif Review by Frances Colville

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despite the following snow book reviewDespite the Falling Snow by Shamim Sarif was first published in 2010 but has recently been reissued by John Blake to coincide with the release of the film (starring Charles Dance and Rebecca Ferguson) written and directed by Sarif herself.  Two previous books, I Can’t Think Straight and The World Unseen have also been made into films.

 

Set partly during the Cold War in the post-Stalinist Moscow of the 1950s and partly in Boston forty years later, this is a vivid portrayal of love, life and loss.  It’s a very visual book, made to be filmed, and at the same time a gripping read with some interesting twists and turns.  A thriller with a difference, in fact.

 

But what I really like about this book is that it is essentially a love story with a spy story background, rather than – as is so often the case – the other way around.  And although the main character, the central character, is a man, we are drawn from the beginning into the lives of the women in the story and much of the story is told through their eyes rather than Alexander’s.  This might sound confusing, but in fact it makes for a clever, well-plotted and well-written novel which works on several different levels.  I think it will make an excellent film and it’s certainly a good read.

 

Despite the Falling Snow by Shamim Sarif pub.   John Blake. £7.99

 

The Late Summer Sun is a Great Excuse for a Cocktail

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However, cocktails are a bit of a fiddle aren’t they? No, no,  not always it seems. Try these recipes which hit the spot and take no time at all. They are ideal for accompanying a September BBQ or, if autumn arrives, ask the gang over and have one, at least, before a roast dinner.

All Star Martini

This refreshing martini has been created by All Star Lanes, Brick Lane, East London, using J.J. Whitley Rhubarb Vodka who have created a range of spirits inspired by the British countryside. The Rhubarb Vodka really is reminiscent of freshly picked rhubarb, is a delicate colour and ideal as a cocktail base. So here we go:

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Ingredients (single serve): 25ml J.J. Whitley Rhubarb Vodka, 25ml J.J. Whitley London Dry Gin, dash of Fee Brothers Plum Bitters, 10ml fresh lemon juice, 5ml vanilla and passion fruit syrup, 10ml pressed apple juice, shot of Prosecco, a dried lemon wheel, dehydrated cornflower petals (or other edible dried flowers)

Method: Put all ingredients, except the prosecco into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a coupette. Garnish with the lemon and petals and serve with a chilled shot of prosecco.

And what about this:

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Botanical Martini

This gin lover’s dream has been created by popular Manchester cocktail bar, Tusk. The Botanical Martini is made using Whitley Neill, a premium gin inspired by Africa and carefully blended with nine botanicals, including the superfruit baobab which has six times more vitamin C than an orange.

Ingredients (single serve): 50ml Whitley Neill Gin, 10ml Noily Prat, dash Peychaud’s Bitters

Method: Stir the ingredients together and pour into a coupette glass- what could be more simple, especially if you have had a few of the others first!

Liverpool Gin G & T
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My parents spent quite a long time in India. In fact I was born there. They swore by a gin and tonic as the sun went over the yard arm, and trust me, this  is a very fine gin. Founded at the Bankhall distillery in Liverpool, Liverpool Gin is premium spirit handcrafted in a copper still. This small batch, aromatic gin recreates flavours of the past with the finest organic botanicals. Believe me,  you can almost see the ships masts in the port, the warehouses filled with spices, juniper, sugar cane. It really is one of the finest gins I have tasted.

Ingredients (single serve): 50ml Liverpool Gin, 100ml Fever Tree Tonic, wheel of orange and spring of mint

Method: Pour the gin and tonic over ice and garnish

Cheers everyone – enjoy.

You can buy J.J. Whitley Rhubarb Vodka from Amazon for £27.24 for 70cl. @JJ_WhitleyUK   facebook.com/JJWhitleyUK

Whitley Neill is available in Sainsbury’s and Tesco as well as Drinksupermarket.com for £23.29, 70cl. @WhitleyNeill  facebook.com/WhitleyNeill

Liverpool Gin is available from The Whisky Exchange for £44.95, 70cl. @LiverpoolGin  facebook.com/liverpoolgin

J.J. Whitley, Whitley Neill and Liverpool Gin are crafted and distributed by Halewood Wines & Spirits. (www.halewood-int.com)

 

 

 

Teresa Mills’ Mosaics Review by Margaret Graham

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At Frost we love to see something just that bit different, and Teresa Mills’s products certainly fit the bill.

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Teresa is the author of four best selling books on mosaic art which I found interesting  even before I laid eyes on the Pixelated Mosaic Kits, because I have had  a fascination with mosaics ever since I saw my first Ancient Roman floor. But wouldn’t Teresa’s kits be a fiddle? Wouldn’t any child end up having a tantrum as they struggled to cut and grout the tiles?

No, actually, that’s the beauty of the kits. The tiles fit the pixelated design exactly without cutting and grouting so absolutely no need to run screaming from the room with grout in your hair, pursued by your child, or grandchild who has been driven to fury by the fiddle of it all.

These tiles are a manageable size, and the quality is excellent. My favourite (because I like them)  is the butterfly. Everything comes in a cotton bag, the base board is wooden, and the tiles are glass, glitter and silver.

Megan Cannell, who edits our Young Voices thread, had a go. She is 15 but you’re never to old to be creative and she found, as did I, that the tiles are not too small, and are easy to fix. The colours are vibrant, and we felt they’d be just right for Mabel, who is eight, or for a young lad we know.
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I do like quality products and I hope that Teresa is on to a winner here, especially with winter and Christmas not too far away. Grannies, who seem to do a fair bit of child care these days, will welcome these kits with open arms. I just feel that anyone, young or old, who produced the finished article would find a sense of satisfaction – a piece of creative craft well done. Let’s face it, it must encourage the creativity that lies within everyone, and that is always a good thing.
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These Pixelated Mosaic Kits are handmade in the UK, and the team at Frost highly recommend them. They are reasonably priced too. The three above are £11 each.

Available in a variety of designs, from insects and animals to shapes and letters, they are an ideal way to delve into the wonderful world of mosaics.  Each kits contains all you need to make your very own mosaic masterpiece.  Handmade in the UK from high quality materials, each kit comes in its own beautiful cotton bag with the design printed on the front.  They are suitable for all ages and are perfect for keeping the kids busy or as a boredom buster.

For more details: www.teresamillsmosaics.com

 

Great Fire of London 350th Anniversary by Margaret Graham

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Frost Magazine is always concerned about the safety of children and felt we must share this with our readers. It’s 350 years since the Great Fire of London broke out, and educating our youngsters about fire safety has certainly come a long way since then. It’s so important that children know what to do in an emergency, outside of the home as well as in.

In honour of their 150th year, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) have teamed up with much-loved toy brand PLAYMOBIL to teach young children about fire safety through play. Free station open days are being held throughout 2016, with limited-edition LFB versions of the PLAYMOBIL fire engine and a catchy sing-a-long fire safety video available to watch and play along at home.

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Does your child know what the Brigade can help with outside of the home? LFB have recruited a specialist crew of firefighters to ensure children know who to call when they are in danger with a fun sing-a-long fire safety video, available here: http://bit.ly/PLAYMOBIL_LondonFireBrigade_Video. Why not settle down to watch it with your little ones and play along with our special quiz?1. What is the second emergency our PLAYMOBIL firefighters are called to?

  1. What do the firefighters use to put out the fire at the outdoor campfire?
  2. What catches fire at the PLAYMOBIL castle?
  3. What is the name of the colourful clown last to be rescued by the Brigade from the road accident?

 

What really happened during the Great Fire of London? Find out how much your budding little heroes really know about what happened during the Great Fire of 1666, with our online quiz here: http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/Flash/great-fire-of-london-quiz.asp

 

Can you spot the fire hazards? It’s important to teach your children how to spot hazards just as well as you do. Get them started with this interactive game: http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/Flash/EscapePlanningGame.asp

great-fire-of-london-350th-anniversary-by-margaret-graham2Play firefighter at home: It could help your children to learn what firefighters do if on their next birthday, granny could give them Limited-edition LFB versions of PLAYMOBIL’s fire toys created for little ones to learn through play at home. 10% of proceeds will be donated to the Brigade’s charities of choice.

 

Toys available to purchase at the LFB open days, online at Kerrison Toys and from PLAYMOBIL customer services.