Monthly Archives: November 2020

Christmas Gift Guide: Wavey Ice introduce their Boozy Winter Hamper

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Who remembers ice pops…? Those icy sticks of goodness after school on a summers day was literally THE ONE.  Hands up if you’ve ever tried a boozy ice pop? YES, they really do exist thanks to Wavey Ice, the original creators of alcoholic ice pops in the UK. 

Wavey Ice known for their cocktail inspired ice pops have been making fresh treats est. summer of 2014. Distributing at various festivals and Notting Hill Carnival, they are now making sure we don’t have to miss out on all of the vibes this year by bringing a selection of icy cocktail gifts and hampers that you can buy for your loved ones this Christmas. Don’t worry about feeling chilly, these treats are designed to warm you up whilst paying homage to the old school London scene. 

So, what’s on offer? Well through the website you can purchase a host of goodies from various Ice Pop flavours, branded merch and of course the hamper. 

The hamper contains;

(RRP: £55) inc delivery

*10 Limited edition Kola & Spiced Rum ice pops.

*One ‘Dutty Wine’ Mulled Wine and White Rum pouch

*One bottle of ‘Kold Sauce’ hot sauce

*One pair of Wavey Ice socks

*Set of fun Christmas stickers to add to your festive decorations.

To get the full experience we recommend gathering your crew, (at a social distance), grab a Wavey Ice Pop, pull up your rave socks and turn Ms Dynamiteeeheee all the way up. Never has a Christmas hamper bought me so much nostalgia and joy and we guarantee anyone who loves UKG, Grime, Rap and just having a good time with your people in general, this will bring a smile to their face. 

The Wavey Ice hamper is curated with heart and soul and it shows. Since this Summer, Wavey Ice has raised over £1500 for the NHS by donating £1 from every purchase made to them. This Winter will be no exception with £1 from every purchase donated to Crisis charity until Dec 20. So support Independent businesses this Winter. Support Wavey Ice. 

…pssst there’s a sale on right now…

www.waveyice.co.uk

SAS Band of Brothers by Damien Lewis Reviewed by Annie Clarke

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SAS Band of Brothers by Damien Lewis was, for me, unputdownable, and not just because I have my own small charity which helps veterans.

This is a story which should be told, and boy, is it told well, and rivals any thriller  on the shelves today. But what makes it riveting is that it is true, painfully so.

In June 1944 twelve SAS parachuted into occupied France, led by Captain Patrick Garstin MC, who bore wounds from previous  battles. It was a  small elite band, which included Thomas ‘Ginger’ Jones and Serge ‘Frenchy’ Vaculik, who destroyed enemy targets. However, they were captured, imprisoned and tortured. Hitler ordered their execution and only Jones and Vaculik escaped. You can imagine the hue and cry, the hunting…

Later in 1945 the Nazis hunters became the hunted,  and those in pursuit of these who committed such war crimes were the SAS including  ‘Ginger’ Jones and Serge Vaculik until… Ah, but no more, because this is a tale that needs to be read properly from beginning to end.

Damien Lewis’s exploration of this whole incident tears at the heart strings exposing what I consider injustices, quite apart from the executions. These were brave men, who acted on their country’s behalf  and, for me, Damien Lewis has not only told a story of bravery in the face of barbarity, but he has also exposed what amount to post war deceits.

Read it, give it to others. In this time of the pursuit of our esteemed military for historic so called  ‘crimes’ let us read through a different lens, the valour, the sacrifice, the commitment to the protection of our country and their comrades, and be proud of, and grateful to, them ALL, including those serving today.

SAS Band of Brothers by Damien Lewis pub by Quercus Books Hardback @ £20.

Margaret Graham is a bestselling author, who writes under the names Annie Clarke and Milly Adams Her latest by Annie Clarke is the Girls on the Home Front series.

SISTER SCRIBES’ READING ROUND UP: NOVEMBER

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Kitty

Our Story – Miranda Dickinson

How I loved this book and Otty and Joe. Miranda Dickinson writes with such heart that it spills over into her characters and I fell a little in love with both of them, was desperately willing them to get together and getting a little cross when they were making poor decisions. I love reacting this way, it means the author has completely pulled me into her world. Our Story is a wonderful novel to escape with. Fun, empathetic and engaging, it was delightful reading and an absolutely perfect rom-com.

Christmas Island – Natalie Normann

I have been so excited about this book. I read Summer Island earlier this year and fell in love with Natalie Normann’s writing style and the setting and could not wait to read this second in the series (which can easily be read as a stand-alone). As with the first, this book truly delivers on the cosy or Koselig and as Holly and Tor’s romance builds from their first meeting the reader is taken on a whirlwind tour of Norwegian Christmas food and traditions. I loved so much of the detail of this book and it provided me with the perfect Christmassy escape.

The Single Dad’s Handbook – Lynsey James

This book is the story of Evan – a widower bringing up his small daughter – and how his grief has, understandably, upended his life. He discovers a book of letters written by his wife before she dies to help him deal with the issues she anticipates once she is gone. The letters are poignant and witty, which is a fair summary of the book itself. I read it very quickly, fell utterly in love with Evan’s daughter Violet and thought the way that Lynsey James manages to combine this story of loss with comic moments and the hope that a new romance can bring was very skilfully done.

 

Susanna

The Ferryman’s Daughter by Juliet Greenwood

Wow! What a book. I was utterly caught up in this enthralling family saga set in rural and coastal Cornwall in the early part of the 20th century. In Hester, Juliet Greenwood has created an exceptionally strong and appealing heroine and I loved and admired her as she fought to follow her dream in spite of numerous setbacks that occurred thanks to the conventions and expectations of the day. This is a thoroughly engrossing and satisfying book, packed with drama and emotion and enhanced by a strong sense of time and place, all served up by a gifted writer.

 

Jane

Glynis Peters’ The Forgotten Orphan is about as far away from a traditional orphan story as it’s possible to be. For a start the protagonist, Maisie, is an older teenager, and secondly, she is in the middle of a world at war. That said, it is a story of friends, family and loves lost and found, and it doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of life and death in World War Two.

From a personal point of view I loved the fact the book was set in Southampton, a city I know well. It was well researched and well written, with a host of characters I came to care about. Family saga, wartime tale, love story – this book was all of these and so much more than the sum of its parts.

 

 

 

 

 

Win A Gordon’s Gin Hamper – Just Follow the Links – by Award Winning Author Dr Kathleen Thompson

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Let’s get you into the Christmas spirit with, er … Christmas spirit. Gordon’s gin are giving away 45 festive hampers which each contain things to help your Christmas sparkle at home – rich velvet table runners, baubles and Christmas lights, festive candles, gorgeous coasters and wrapping paper. Of course, there’s also mini bottles of Gordon’s to hang from your tree, assuming they make it that far, AND a full-sized bottle of Gordon’s, plus beautiful glassware – how fabulous.

 

To enter, all you need to do is complete your details on the competition landing page between 12:00 on 23rd November 2020 and 12:00 on 30th November 2020: Instagram: @gordonsginuk ; Facebook: @GordonsGinUK  or : https://competition.gordonsgin.com/

The competition is open to those aged 18 and over nationwide. Terms and conditions apply.

So let’s just contemplate on the gin treats you could be winning in the hamper:

 

Gordon’s London Dry Gin, (70cl, RRP £15.50) – the original London Dry gin it’s triple-distilled with carefully selected botanicals including oodles of juniper.

 

Gordon’s Sicilian Lemon Distilled Gin – 100% natural flavours, it’s perfectly crafted to balance the juniper notes of Gordon’s with the zesty hit of the finest Sicilian lemons.

 

Gordon’s Premium Pink Distilled Gin – the perfect drink for someone who loves a colourful, fruity G&T, it balances the refreshing taste of Gordon’s with the natural sweetness of real raspberries and strawberries, and tang of redcurrant.

 

Gordon’s Sloe Gin – made from the finest hand-picked sloe berries from English and Northern European Mountains, creating a dry, yet fruity taste.

Oh, a word of caution – JLS’s Aston Merrigold does not come with the hamper (I already checked).

 

 

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning 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.

INTRODUCING NORTH NORFOLK JEWELLERY DESIGNER, CLAIRE HOWARD

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I make delicate, simple jewellery in a beautiful corner of North Norfolk. I make the kind of jewellery I like to wear, everyday pieces which are elegant and made from quality materials at affordable prices.

​I come from a very crafty background, I dabbled in a variety of crafts until gifted a course at the London Jewellery School and then jewellery making became a hobby which gave me space to create and wind down from a busy teaching job.  I was frustrated that simple jewellery from the high street was made from low quality silver which made me itch and changed colour so I bought a lot of jewellery from a local maker, Richard, who I commissioned to make me some pieces until he said to me – why don’t we make this necklace together? CHJ started to gather steam and momentum, I moved away from beads and on to soldering, stone setting and texturing through sitting beside Richard, attending courses and practising again and again and again.   I have not looked back!

I’m passionate about wearing timeless but well-made jewellery – uncomplicated pieces which are practical enough to be worn during the day but special enough for night!  To me, it doesn’t matter if we are on a school run, working in a school of small children or out for pizza and prosecco for £12 (my local treat), jewellery should be pretty and well crafted – that’s what matters to me.

From my workbench in North Norfolk, I take inspiration from being outside.  We are so lucky in this county to have beautiful beaches, woodlands and a hill or two (Yes we do!) where I flourish being outside with the dog walking and enjoying some space and time.  Being outside lifts my spirits and enables me to focus on the simple things in life – I put these in my jewellery – accents of little delicate bees and daisies, hearts and droplets of gold.

​Texture is really important in my jewellery too.  I love to be able to clasp a piece of jewellery and run my fingers over the stamped lettering or image and feel the dimples in the hammering, or the beads of the beaded wire.  I love that jingle jangle you get when two pieces of silver clink together.

​As for romance – this quote pretty much sums it up for me… Draw a circle, not a heart around the one you love because a heart can break but a circle goes on forever. (Danny Kaye)   Circles feature a lot in my jewellery, small, hand crafted, perfectly round and often interlinked.

My website is found at www.clairehowardjewellery.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Send a special memento – a Karrie Barron Card – for Christmas this year and every year says Annie Clarke

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Some years ago I received my first Karrie Barron card, a tableau, a little world,  which my wonderful friend Michael sent. He told me he had explained his requirements to Karrie Barron, a tweak here, one there, my name on a card within the tableau, a message inside. It was so amazing that for someone who never stops talking I was silent for quite 10 seconds, because I was so delighted. I have kept the card down the years, under a glass dome. Following Michael’s example I have sent Karrie Barron cards to others, many of whom have done as I have – under a dome with it, and out for view.
So I am really happy to revisit  Karrie Barron  and take a look at their Christmas cards, and the new range of candles, with such wonderful Christmassy scents.  As I said, I now send to others and not just for the 3 D tableau that this small family concern creates, but also the personalization which makes it so precious. And as this strange year draws to an end, and some will not be seeing close friends and family  these cards, so personal in concept,  will close the distance between you.
 
 So let’s look at a few  Karrie Barron Christmas cards,  where the recipient’s names can be written on the  toy sacks, and messages put on the front on banners, or bouquet tags and also printed  inside. In addition Karrie Barron can send them direct to the recipients, if you wish.    But this personalized approach isn’t confined to Christmas cards, it is available on the whole card range all year round. It really is such a  totally special gift, or so I found. The cards are more robust than they might seem, but nonetheless are safely packed in tissue paper and placed in a white box, complete with ribbon, and then another box for posting. I chose the Nativity scene for the children mine are destined for – (just ordered) all personalized.
                                                                      
There are also gifts this year – let’s check out the Karrie Barron candles.
     

Karrie Barron’s range of hand poured, beautiful bee friendly, Soy wax, environment/Vegan Friendly  candles have had 2 new fragrances added for Christmas.  The fabulous thing about these is you can have your personalised message printed on the back of the candle and for Christmas you can also choose a free Christmas card.    Try the Christmas Frankincense and Myrrh Candle for £25.00  – It has a festive fragrance with top notes of citrus peels, eucalyptus, juniper and lavender leading to a spicy heart of cinnamon and clove, rounded by orris with oriental base notes of warm amber, sandalwood, cedarwood, patchouli, musk and vanilla.  In other words, as Arke described their olive oil, from their own olives  (and quite captured my heart): …to exalt the smells and flavours... Well, let me tell you -this candle does just this, it exalts. (Arke and other artisan produce is sold through Delicario.com whose great hampers  I reviewed a week or so ago)
                  
For a limited time the Christmas Candles comes with a free Christmas card, ideal to send with the candle. Choose your favourite from four card designs. This along with the personalized candle message label makes the ideal gift.  There are also collections of cards to buy to make one’s life easier.

                

Karrie Barron Cards was founded in 1994 and is now a family business: ‘Karrie’s concept was to make 3-Dimensional cards depicting miniature worlds,’ Tilly, her daughter tells us. ‘She began designing and making from a back bedroom in our family home in Fulham, London and would take them, once a week, to her stall in the Apple Market, Covent Garden. From a very early age I helped my mother with her work, and over the years I developed the patience, passion and skills to make and design our ‘little worlds’. In 2007, when my mother retired, I took over our small family run business.’

The cards continue to charm and although they now reach a much wider audience worldwide and online, Karrie Barron Cards  still sell from their stall in Covent Garden. In 2014 they opened a shop in Hampstead where cards can be made to order whilst you wait.   In this world of mass production, each creation is made by hand with love and care in their London Studio and I can vouch for the thrill it gives the recipient. No two are ever the same, and they really are a pleasure to both give and receive.      But finally, let’s not forget birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mothers Day, and what about Weddings.

                                                                                            

Do browse the website https://www.karriebarron.com/  for the whole range, but be quick if you are on the hunt for that special Christmas card or gift.

Annie Clarke is the author of Christmas on the Home Front, out now.

She Hot Pepper – Authentic Taste of Trinidad – by Award Winning Author Dr Kathleen Thompson

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In a year where sun-drenched Caribbean beaches was more of a dream than a reality, She Hot Pepper Sauces make that dream just a little more real.

The business was started by Sheliza Thompson (no relation), who wanted to recreate the Trinidadian and Mauritian household in which she grew up. She remembers as a child waiting for relatives to bring fresh supplies home from trips to Trinidad, and the ‘Chubby bottle’ containing homemade Pepper Sauce. Thankfully sourcing ingredients such as authentic West Indian Scotch Bonnet chillis is a little easier these days.

The three sauces – Trini Pepper, Line Pepper and Tamarind – are made in small batches in the Doubles Kitchen, London, so it’s the nearest thing to home-made and I can confirm they taste amazing. The Lime Pepper is stuffed with finely-chopped fresh chillis and lime and each fabulous flavour hits your taste buds separately. If you prefer something milder, the tamarind sauce is simply delicious and slightly sweet.

Only real ingredients are used, with no artificial additives or stabilisers – also no monosodium glutamate or animal products. You should keep the jar in the fridge once it has been opened, where it will last for a long time.

You can order from the website She Hot Pepper Sauces, and my jars arrived very quickly by Royal Mail and were well-packed. If you live in Enfield you can even request free local delivery, and look out for it at local farmers markets. Just £5.50 per jar, with a deal if you buy two together. And look out for their Festive Bundles which contain lots of other goodies too and make great Christmas presents.

Go on, treat yourself and your family, the sauces are delicious and they actually taste like they’re doing you good too.

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning 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.

My Writing Process Terence Gallagher

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My writing routine:

I spend a lot of time working out in my head what I am going to write before I commit anything to my iPad which is my preferred writing tool. Only one to two hours a day is spent typing. I like to work out phrases and dialogue while I’m out walking my two Irish Setters or riding my bike. I also do a fair amount of research while I’m on the go. I use my iPhone in coffee shops to surf the web as I nail down the details of locales I am using, or to check historical facts. 

A bit about me:

I am Irish. I grew up in Dublin in the sixties. I am a proud graduate of  Trinity College Dublin. After College I went into management consultancy and ended up working in a wide variety of cities and countries worldwide. I am married with three grown children and split my time between Naples Florida, and Howth, a small fishing village north of Dublin. In both cases I live by water. I find it therapeutic to look out on a seascape whether it be the Gulf of Mexico or the Irish sea. My hobbies include, biking, working out, and walking. I am a music lover with a particular affinity for classical and Blues. My home in Howth  stands on an acre and this has made me a reluctant gardener.

What I have written, past and present:

So far I have published two novels, Fujita 4, and Analyst Session. Both of these are available as ebooks and in paperback. I also had Fujita 4 professionally narrated and it is in audiobook format. I found it very exciting to have my characters brought to life and given a voice by a skilled actor. I am currently working on my third novel, A Coup in Makati.

What I am promoting now:

 Analyst Session was just recently published and I am busy with promotional activity. It’s quite a juggling act to stay on top of PR for one book while trying to make progress on the next.

My writing process:

I use Scrivener word processing software to structure the outline of a book before I begin writing in earnest. Scrivener is specifically designed for authors. I create a summary of each chapter. I also use it to store sketches of  all the major characters and to keep research notes. I then methodically work my way through from start to finish of the book. This means that each day I know what I have to work on next and I can keep from being overwhelmed by the magnitude of my task.

What about word count?:

As regards word count I go in aiming to create a work of between sixty and seventy thousand words. If I know how many chapters I have outlined, I roughly know how many words a chapter. This helps  me figure out where the plot is light or I need to do more with characterisation. I run work in progress through Grammarly. This is a decent software package that will catch typos and many grammatical errors. 

How do I create my structure:

It starts with the central character. I have to really know and understand him or her. Its as if they stand alone on an empty stage. I then like to create life situations which test my protagonist’s moral belief system. The milieu in which this plays out will be a place where I have lived or spent significant time in my own life. It’s easier to have the settings for the story be realistic. Other characters whose actions will precipitate the moral conflict then come to life. 

What do I find hard about writing:

The most challenging aspect of writing for me is communicating the interior emotional life of my characters, particularly my female characters. The daily word output slows dramatically when I am wrestling with this. 

What I love:

What I love about writing is conceiving a cast of characters, placing them in my fictional world, and seeing how they react and evolve. They tend to take on a life of their own. It wreaks havoc with the plot-line a lot of the time but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Advice for other writers:

Advice I would have is take advantage of some the great software out there to help with the writing process. I have also used a variety of professionals to help edit and polish my work. I have used Reedsy and Fiverr to hire these and by and large it has worked out well for me. 

Georges Simenon, the author of  the Maigret stories was able to crank out a book in eleven days! It took Flaubert five years to write Madame Bovary. Every writer has their own pace. Writing is a solitary activity. It requires self discipline. All sorts of distractions can get in the way if you let them. It is important to have some sort of routine and schedule when setting out to write something.

Analyst Session is available as an ebook or in paperback from Amazon.