Monthly Archives: August 2017

Why Your Child Should Have a Double Bed

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So the time has come. We have to buy our little one a bed. An exciting but emotional time for any parent. But what bed to buy? There are a lot of beautiful childrens double beds and buying one for your child may seem like an extravagance, or a waste of space. Children are small so do they really need one? Well I sleep on a king size bed and I think if you have the space it is a great idea. Here is why…

Space

I mean this in two ways. One: your child with have plenty of it and will probably sleep better. They can turn without falling over. My son has spent a lot of time in our king size bed, I don’t think a single would cut it. The other thing is: sleepovers! Yes the double bed may take up more space initially, but it means your child can share the bed with one of his friends or a cousin. No more having to buy futons or sleeping bags. Never mind storing these things. It is much better than getting them to snuggle down in the wardrobe.

Long-Lasting

Sometimes I feel like nothing grows faster than children. You blink and then they are half your size. Blink again and then they are taller than you. Yes, children grow at an alarming rate. It is better to head off growth spurts, and save all of that time researching and buying, when the piece of furniture will probably just be too small quickly and need replaced. Buying a double bed for your child means it will last, and it will save you money too. Win win. They can sleep in it until they are teenagers, and, hopefully, until it is time to move out. Cry.

All Grown-Up

Another good reason to get a child a double bed is because it will make them feel like a grown up. Yes, it is a luxury, but one that will pay off in spades. It is always a good idea to make a child feel like a mini adult. Another good idea is to get them involved with choosing the bed. Children love to feel involved and it is a grown-up purchase. Another possible benefit is that it might make them excited about going to bed in their brand new bed that they picked themselves.  Possibly a long shot, but we can live in hope.

 

Spoil Yourself – Enjoy the Pleasure of Essential Oils by Dr Kathleen Thompson

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Last month I wrote about Puressential essential oils – some of which are sold for therapeutic uses, to treat insomnia, head lice infestations and joint pains.

 

This month I was sent a lovely travel pack of Aromatherapy minis by Scentered which I am keen to share with you (well, not literally  – they’re mine, all mine, but I will share the experience with you until you get your own – which I would recommend.)

Essential oils are extracted from aromatic plants and it is believed that just smelling them can have positive effects on us, including changing our mood.  There have been a number of scientific studies, including EEG (brainwave) and imaging studies, which support this theory. So if you are feeling down, stressed, in need of inspiration or focus, why not give aromatherapy products a try? They may help and certainly smell amazing.

Scentered’s main products, which are 100% pure, are solid sticks of balm – a blend of moringa and shea butters to ensure a non-greasy finish, as well as long-lasting fragrance delivery. These are infused with different combinations of essential oils, in a handy twist-up container, which you can rub on pressure points such as the temples, neck and wrist.

Essential oils are often used to help sleep problems – the scourge of modern living. Scentered Sleep Essentials Set combines a balm stick, infused with Palmarosa, Lavender and Ylang ylang, with a silk eye-mask. Candles, scented with these and other relaxing plant oils are also available.

The first thing which hit me, when I opened the mini travel pack, was the amazing smell, which is quite addictive. The set, which is light and compact, contains five different balm sticks – each claiming to enhance your mood in different ways:

‘Be Happy’ for when you need a little cheering-up

‘De-stress’ – the clue’s in the title

‘Focus’ – to help concentration

‘Escape’ – for inspiration (I’m wearing it as I write this)

‘Sleep well’ – again, it speaks for itself

Scentered recommend you use these balms with breathing and mindfulness techniques for maximum benefit.

In this modern world of constant stimulation of 24 hour emails and social media, a little time out with yourself and some beautiful and powerful natural perfumes can do you more good than you may realise. Treat yourself.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co,uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

 

 

Justice League Film To Bring Different Caped Crusader Says Ben Affleck

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Source: TNT America Latina via Facebook

While many people quite liked the dark, out-for-blood Batman that squared off against Superman in the Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice film, Batman actor Ben Affleck has said the superhero won’t quite be the same in the new Justice League film. This comes a month after Affleck had to deny media rumors regarding his departure from the series. The Chasing Amy star told the press that not only would he be staying on as Bats, but he would be changing his demeanor to fit with the mood of the upcoming Justice League film.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said “BvS departed a little bit from the traditional Batman. He started out with all this rage directed at Superman…” However, it seems Batman is turning over a new leaf with the Justice League as he struggles to assemble a team of heroes and make them a cohesive unit. Affleck then goes on to say fans should expect to see a Batman more familiar for people who read the comics – one that’s a bit more heroic and less focused on revenge.

Source: Weiss Auctions via Facebook

But as any fan of the comics knows, that could suggest quite a lot. Are we talking about the Batman that spouts off righteous one-liners before he finishes a fight, or is this the softer spoken Bats that disappears having the last word? Often times, Batman can act many different ways. He is, after all, so cherished because he’s complex in ways that many superheroes are not *cough* Superman *cough*, so what’s the formula Affleck is looking to use? It’s clear that Batman was emotional and a bit more rough with his foes when compared to Christoper Nolan’s take on the hero, but dialling back the drama a bit seems to be a route Affleck is looking to explore.

If we look at some of the Justice League source material, Batman is around for the formation of the group but starts out as an “on-call” member. Elsewhere, such as in the Justice League slot machine, Superman is portrayed as the central figure in the video game art. Oddschecker even has sign-up bonuses available for multiple sites housing the game so it’s a title viewed and played by many. Despite not being seen as the head honcho, Bruce puts his life on the line all the time. While some might argue that Superman is the face of the Justice League, Batman often commands the group in the heat of the moment or when a clever plan must be devised. However, it looks like Batman is going to need to do it all with Superman, at the very least, incapacitated at the end of Batman vs. Superman. In the more recent New 52 comics that relaunched the DC universe, Batman seems to be more or less the leader of the group. In this, we might expect to see some of Affleck’s claims come to fruition as the senior superhero has to pull together a team of younger recruits such as Cyborg and the Flash.

Affleck goes on to say this very position of power mixed with the task of team leader is where much of the film’s excitement will come from. “He’s put in this position of having to reach out, find other people, convincing them to do something. The actor goes on to say the movie will be more about multilateralism and the focus of the movie is on the formation of the team and whether or not they have what it takes to work together.

Source: Taran Adarsh via Facebook

A promo picture and website for the Justice League film put that thought on full display as it shows members of the group standing front to back with Batman in the center. Words read “Unite The League,” and the picture fails to show the Son of Krypton, Superman. So, perhaps in the Kryptonian’s absence, Batman will step up and lead with a cool head. It would certainly seem so if we’re to take Affleck at his word but it’s all conjecture until the movie finally comes out November 17, 2017.

What do you think Affleck is bringing to the table and what would you like to see? Let us know in the comments below!

 

 

The Business of Books: Jane Cable talks to Choclit author and Romaniac Laura E James

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THE BUSINESS OF BOOKS: Connect, engage – and write!

Jane Cable talks to Choclit author and Romaniac Laura E James

1: How much of your working life does the business of books take up?

I like to start the day by clearing my emails and writing my guest posts, updating the accounts, attending to social media – connecting with readers and writers, sharing book-related news, creating adverts – before settling into working on the manuscript, be that research, writing or editing. Quite often time will run away from me, so I’m attempting to stick to a plan of sorting out on what I loosely term admin, until 11:00, leaving the rest of the day for writing, which is anything from one to seven hours. It’s not an exact answer to the question because my working day depends on my health. I have autoimmune conditions, which can dictate my hours.

2: What’s your business model to earn a living from writing?

It’s only recently I’ve converted my way of thinking to writing as a business, so I’m learning and in the process of developing the business model. I write character and issue driven relationship novels, I engage on social media, run workshops and present talks to groups interested in writing and/or my books, take part in interviews, and network when possible. In its simplest form: keep writing, keep engaging, and keep building my readership.

3: What do you write and what do you consider to be your major successes?

I write commercial fiction, often centred on family relationships, with issues and moral dilemmas sending my characters down dark paths. There are strong elements of romance, so I will always guide my characters and my readers towards a happy or hopeful ending. I’m a Jodi Picoult fan and reading her books has had a major influence on what and possibly, how I write.

My first major success was being shortlisted for a short story competition run by Choc Lit (publisher), which resulted in my entry achieving the runner-up position. I repeated this with their second short story competition, and went on to have my debut, TRUTH OR DARE?, published with them.

FOLLOW ME FOLLOW YOU, my second book, was my first to go into paperback, large print, and audio, and the moment I received my author copies is one I cherish. In January 2017, the book was chosen by Apple to be the free iBook of the Week, and it hit the number one spot – my first number one. I was on a writing retreat with friends at the time. Celebrations were had.

My latest novel, WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU, spearheaded a new imprint – Dark Choc Lit. I feel privileged to have had that opportunity and love that an imprint is in place for darker, harder hitting novels. This is the first of my novels to be sold through WH Smith, in the Travel shops, which is a dream come true.

The Romaniacs, an online blogging group of eight writers, formed in 2011, has to be one of my favourite successes, but it’s not my success, it’s our success. The support and friendship is phenomenal, as is the output – seven out of eight are published/to be published, and/or with agents. In 2015, we won the inaugural RNA Industry Media Stars Award for our work in promoting the romance writing industry. But the real success is how eight people, who met through the Festival of Romance and the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme, have formed solid friendships for life.

4: Tell me about your latest project.

I’m working on two projects – a mother-daughter relationship story, which has been planned, researched and mapped out on one of my white boards, but is hovering in the background, maturing, and a novel about rebuilding one’s life from the ground floor up, following an emotionally abusive relationship.

Laura E James writes romance without the soft edges.
For further information, go to: www.lauraejames.co.uk or www.theromaniacs.co.uk

 

 

Wines for an Indian summer: by Milly Adams

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KWV is an interesting South African winery, one of the established names which has modernised; part owned by a Black Empowerment business they have a young enthusiastic team and are powering on with the production of some absolutely excellent wines.

So, onto the wine.

 

The Granache Blanc 2016 is dry, fruity, (was there a faint taste of almond?) and just right for al fresco salads, or, quite frankly, on its own, sipping as the sun goes down. Reasonably priced too.

£7.99 Co-op

KWV Walker Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Another begging to be tried. Refreshing, with a slight edge of grapefruit, or so we thought, and a hint of pepper. We tried it with a  fish curry, and it worked well, but could as easily join the KWV Granache Blanc as a drink on its own.

£9.00 Morrisons

KWV The Mentors Petit Verdot 2014

I’ve just reviewed a book discussing the early trade routes, and these included the spice routes. This robust and gorgeous wine has a hint of just those spices, plus a dollop of ripe fruit all of which adds up to an elegant but robust wine.

What to eat with it? Cheese worked well, but so too did a venison dish.  Well, let’s say anything. This is a treat to buy for yourself.

Would it improve if laid down for a year or two. Possibly, if you can resist it.

£14.95, Ocado, Slurp, SH Jones

Antic Disposition’s presentation of Richard III: reviewed by Paul Vates

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Antic Disposition presents William Shakespeare’s Richard II1

at The Temple Church, London

 

“Everyone is close to the action and can delight in the deviousness of the play”

 

 

 

 

The Temple Church echoes with the sounds of footsteps and hushed voices, as it has for centuries. But on this evening, the noises are from an audience bristling with anticipation. A small, raised walkway down the aisle is the performing space. Thrones at one end, a coffin at the other. This is the coffin of the newly-deceased King Henry VI – we are in ‘the winter of our discontent’.

 

The royal court arrives and positions itself around the ailing Edward IV. Richard of Gloucester limps through them and then gloriously allows his sonorous voice to echo loud and clear.

 

image courtesy of Scott Rylander

Antic Disposition have toured this production to a variety of UK and French cathedrals and churches, including Leicester Cathedral – hitting the headlines because the real Richard now lies there. The tour concludes here, in London, with a three-week run.

 

The wonderful setting adds a layer of gravitas to a production that, at times, it struggles to deserve. The play, especially before the interval, slips into a plodding rhythm, that smothers some of the actors. After the break, though, the cast come out fighting and regain their lost control. Toby Manley’s Richard, now as King, slips into despotic unpredictability, spreading humour and viciousness in equal amounts. His turmoiled pinnacle comes when he awakes from his nightmare, just before Bosworth, where we witness a Golem-esque bipolar moment as he battles the demons and voices within; in one breath wanting revenge, the next despairing at his own loneliness. Shocking and touching at the same time.

 

 

 

Manley handles all this with confidence. As does Joe Eyre, playing the Duke of Buckingham with a quirky, camp lightness that beautifully contrasts with the darkness of his King.

 

Some of the cast are better than others at using the acoustics to their advantage, but overall, this is a solid version of the play, albeit at times lacking a little bite. Directors Ben Horslen and John Riseboro have a reputation now for quality shows and Richard III is no exception. Some of their choices are inspired (the ghosts of Richard’s victims standing, impassive, throughout), whereas some (like the appearance of Boris Johnson as The Mayor of London) feel a little cheap and unnecessary.

 

At the end, Richmond, after a fast and bruising fight with Richard, holds his injured arm and struggles with his wounded leg, to close the proceedings. Then he limps off to become the awful Henry VII – history repeating itself …

image courtesy of Scott Rylander

 

The whole event – quality Shakespeare-in-a-grand-church – is quite different from the now-customary theatre experience. Everyone is close to the action and can delight in the deviousness of the play. It should not be missed.

 

 

Running Time: 2 hours 20, with an interval.

Production Photographs: Scott Rylander.

 

Box Office: Tickets are available from www.richardiii.co.uk or by calling 0333 666 3366.

 

Twitter:               @anticdispo, #RichardIII

Instagram:          @anticdispo

 

Performances at The Temple Church, London, until September 9th

Tuesday-Saturday at 7.30pm (£30-£40, Under 18s £10 off).

 

 

Diary of a Freelance Working Mother: Park Life

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A term time break. The summer holidays. This used to mean something when I was in school, but since my son is still in toddlerhood it does not hold the same excitement. I am not saying it has no effect on my life: the toddler groups close or become less frequent. When they are open they are busier than ever. It seems like everyone, apart from our family, has taken August off and is having a wonderful time sunning themselves in an exotic location. Cry. But what really changes during term breaks is that I end up going to the park with my little one. Parks that are busier than ever.

Usually my little one and I are too busy to go to the park. His social life is packed with different events and lessons. From Monkey Music to his toddler groups. But toddlers need to learn, get fresh air, and burn off their energy. Fun for toddlers, but not always for the mama. I usually love taking my son on the swing, and watching him do the assault course. There are a lot of parks near where we live in South-West London, and they all have something different to offer. But the real interesting thing is the people that each park attracts. Some are easy-going with friendly toddlers, others are full of aggressive children and mothers who do not care. General piece of advice to them: it is called parenting, not let-them-do-whatever-they-want-ing. I reckon I could write a book just on the politics of park life.

I recently had a lovely conversation with a little girl about Star Wars, had an aggressive 10-year-old call my two-year-old a ‘s**t f**k’ because he wanted to go on the bus, and strike up a conversation with a friendly Irish mother whose sons toy my son kept trying to steal. It went well until she told me that 5-year-olds are harder work than two-year-olds and then I just wanted to start drinking, everyday.

I have had many great conversations with other mothers and their children. Not every experience has been great however. Where there is all of life that will not happen. Recently it started to rain just as I took my son to the park, we waited under a tree until it passed. Another mother came to the fence near us and started saying how she had lost her phone to a friend, and had left it on the fence. She gave me the eye and I gave the eye back, irritated. She then went all over the park looking for her phone. A while later she came up to me and asked ‘if I had seen a phone’. I told her, no. The rain passed and I took my son into the park for some fun. I looked over at one point to see the mean mother, who had previously been bitching about me to all of her friends, On Her Phone. No apology. Difficult mothers cannot be entirely avoided. Neither can the competitive ones. One mother kept telling me my son was 3 ‘because he looks 3’ It is hard to argue with that kind of logic.

Negative moments aside I now get why I saw so many mother in parks before I become a mother. Some looked exhausted and spaced out, others were on their phones, and some looked happy as they watched their child play. The park allows parents to socialise while the children burn off energy. On a tough day, it takes some of those hours away when they feel endless. So I might see you at the park, but I will make sure it is a friendly one. Feel free to strike up a conversation.

 

Books, books, books… for the autumn.

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My crime rave of the season: Chris Whitaker’s All The Wicked Girls

It’s hard these days to find a novel that is not derivative, but this is one of those rare beasts.  Chris Whitaker follows Tall Oaks, his ‘missing child’ thriller with All The Wicked Girls. His writing romps along, his timelines and points of view enclose us in the characters and their perceptions in what could so easily be a chaotic whirlwind, but is in fact a vibrant involving narrative. The Plot? In short: Summer Ryan is a model student, but is anyone that perfect? Raine, her sister, is different, troubled and challenging. Summer goes missing and Raine burrows into the investigation. She has an ally but this doesn’t necessarily mean she is safe.

That’s all you’re going to get from me. Read it, not just for the story, but so that you devour the world Whitaker creates. A cracking novel.

All the Wicked Girls by Chris Whitaker: Zaffre Publishing pb £7.99 + eBook

  • We will be publishing Chris’ hilarious A Day in the Life in a couple of weeks.

The Sky is Not the Limit by Amanda Newton

As well as an author with Arrow & contributing editor for Frost, I am also the founder and administrator of the charity Words for the Wounded which helps disabled and unwell veterans so clearly I would find this  autobiography interesting, but is it a ‘must read’ for everyone?

Most certainly.

In the summer of 2015 Amanda Newton crashed her bike whilst triathlon training which left her terribly injured, and unable to walk. Using Facebook posts, Newton kept family and friends up to date with her journey of recovery, one that remarkably included an appreciation of all the positives that life has to offer. Positives that one might reasonably assume were pretty hard to come by, and then hang on to.

In The Sky is Not the Limit, Newton revisits these posts, and compares them to where she is now. So where is this? Though still in a wheelchair Newton continues to live life to the hilt:10 k races, training for Marathons, and did I mention sky-diving. Sometimes we talk of someone being inspirational, well, Amanda really is.

This is a book to read, and savour and which will lift our own lives. Amanda Newton has been shortlisted for a Sports and Recreation Achievement Award by the Spinal Injury Association, and her house has been renovated by DIY SOS.

The Sky is Not the Limit Amanda Newton pb £8.99 + eBook

The Hungry Empire by Lizzie Collingham

OK, most of us have been on holiday, eaten and drunk well, to say the least, but did you think of how Britain’s quest for food shaped the modern world?

I hadn’t until I read Collingham’s exploration of the subject. It could have been heavy, like grandma’s suet pudding but it wasn’t. It was fascinating. I’m not suggesting you rush out and try an iguana curry, but good to read about one who did, and why.

I knew about spice trade routes, but what about the cod of Newfoundland? And what about the dastardly sugar which has such a bad press today? Fortunately Collingham avoids the heavy handed polemics that ruin  so many of these books for me as she takes us on a voyage around twenty meals, opening up the history of our worldwide trade, and how it helped to shape the world.

Give it a go, it’s illuminating, fascinating and whilst we’re on the subject of food; satisfying. Can I have some more, please.

The Hungry Empire by Lizzie Collingham The Bodley Head. Hb. £20 + eBook