This is the perfect Christmas gift for the chef in your family, and as it is already presented in an elegant gift box there’s no need for extra wrapping.
The new Black Sheep Truffle tool 2-in-1 Slicer and Grater has two functions, one on each side of the tool, each used independently of the other: The thickness of the razor-sharp stainless-steel Straight Slicer Blade can be changed by simply turning a screw to achieve uniform slices of truffles, radishes, mushrooms or strawberries to the desired thickness.
The Microplane signature ultra-sharp photo-etched teeth of the Fine Blade Grater cuts truffle, chocolate, ginger, nutmeg and Parmesan with speed, precision and ease to ensure precious ingredients do not stick or block, but instead slide effortlessly along the cutting surface.
The BLACK SHEEP truffle tool with matt black stainless-steel handle, frame and blade, is an eye-catching, elegant showstopper for those style conscious cooks (full disclosure it matches my cooker and microwave perfectly). It has a robust stainless-steel handle, frame and blade, coated with a scratch-resistant matt black PVD. It has a pleasing weight to it and fits comfortably in the hand aided by the smooth velvety finish. (cooks will know what I mean when I say that it just feels right)
The thickness of the razor-sharp stainless-steel Straight Slicer Blade can be changed by simply turning a screw to achieve uniform slices of truffles, radishes, mushrooms or strawberries to the desired thickness. For many of us truffles are a rare and occasional treat, but this tool is not just for truffles. The Fine Blade Grater works equally as well with chocolate, ginger, nutmeg, Parmesan or any hard cheese. To release the exquisite aroma and nutty taste, just grate or slice truffle into slowly stirred scrambled eggs, risotto, pasta or mashed potato and decorate festive dishes with beautiful thin shavings for an exceptional look and flavour.
I add truffle and parmesan to my Christmas roast potatoes and this tool will be indispensable. While dishwasher safe, the long-lasting BLACK SHEEP series can be cleaned quickly by simply rinsing under warm water to keep the blades in perfect condition, which is a distinct, advantage when you are reaching for kitchen utensils on a hectic Christmas morning. Available from Borough Kitchen Back Sheep Truffle tool 2-in-1 Slicer and Grater (RRP £64.95)
I truly believe that a great head of hair can take years off anyone. Sadly I do not possess a great head of hair. In fact my crowning glory seems to be morphing into a swan song as it shadows my aging process only too well.
So I grabbed the chance to road test OSMO®’s Blinding® Shine set. OSMO® have been researching and developing innovative cleansing, conditioning, styling and colour hair products in their own in-house laboratories for over twenty years. Every ingredient in each OSMO® product is carefully considered to guarantee hold or ensure there is flexibility, bounce or shine and the Blinding® Shine range all contain extracts of Moringa Oil and Silk Protein.
This is all music to my ears so I’m off to transform my hair right now.
OK I’m back. And delighted. Blinding® Shine shampoo had a noticeable creamy consistency which gave me an immediate confidence that it was no ordinary shampoo. After towel-drying my hair I applied the Blinding® Shine conditioner, then after towel-drying again I massaged in Blinding® Shine serum. Even as I combed my hair through I could feel the difference – smooth as silk and soft. I styled it with a rotating heated brush and wow – it really shines and feels strong and full of body. And dare I say it? I believe I look ten years younger.
At £23.50 RRP for a gift set of Blinding® Shine shampoo and conditioner (a generous 400ml each) plus Blinding® Shine serum (50ml) this is a steal. Check them out on the OSMO® website.
By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
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.
The London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Edward Gardner Photo by Mark Allan
Given the acoustics of the Royal Festival Hall, I was anticipating my enjoyment of ‘Patricia Kopatchinskaja plays Shostakovich’, but I could never have guessed, just how phenomenal it was going to be.
The London Philharmonic Orchestra, ably conducted by Edward Gardener, were more than up to the challenge of accompanying such a talent, and indeed performed Britten’s Sinfonia de Requiem at the beginning of the concert and Sibelius’ Symphony No 5, after the interval, both to great acclaim.
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, in a flowing white dress with an embroidered pale blue bodice,wild haired and bare footed is undoubtedly a formidable talent, impossible to take your eyes off.
As the initial applause died down, Kopatchinskaja played Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No 1, to a rapt audience. So talented, so young, the music, haunting, plaintive carried us away, her body contorting, to coax some of the more elusive sounds from her violin.
In the course of the four movements, Patricia demonstrated the sheer virtuosity of the violin, her body writhing, as if possessed by the music, and from time to time her bare foot stamping the beat.
Hair flying about, deep in concentration, as she was caught up in the music. At times frenzied and exciting, she played at an impossible breakneck pace like some mischievous fairy casting her spell over the packed audience.Then gentle, soothing, cooling the blood, after what had gone before.
Patrica Kopatchinskaja 2023 Photos: Marco Borggreve
The solo piece can be described in no way other than ‘mesmerising,’ and it was fascinating to see how the orchestra held its collective breath at the spectacle before them, in much the same way as we the audience. At the conclusion of the piece there was much cheering and applause, and quite rightly we rose to our feet. This was one of those rare moments where one is aware that we are in the presence of genius.
I urge you to get a ticket for the rest of this programme, and if you have the opportunity to see Patricia Kopatchinskaja play, do whatever it takes to get a ticket.
Patricia Kopatchinskaja plays Shostakovich is about to go on tour and will have its Carnegie Hall debut later this month.
Leading menopause brand, Issviva and nutrition experts, PhenomX Health have collaborated to empower women from peri to post-menopause to take control when it comes to some the most common menopause symptoms – sleep and stress. Many women report sleep disruption and increased stress levels to the extent that they struggle to live their best lives, stepping back from career aspirations, and finding relationships more difficult.
By combining cutting-edge science with a holistic approach, Issviva and PhenomX have co-created a 90-day SLEEP + STRESS RESET programme that delivers the tools, personalised insights and support to transform your sleep. Designed by a team of leading scientists, functional medicine dietitians and medical experts from PhenomX, The SLEEP + STRESS RESET programme has been spearheaded by Dr Colleen Fogarty Draper, PhD, RD Nutrition Scientist and Dr Jennifer
Lovejoy, PhD Translational and Behavioural Sciences, specialist in personalised nutrition, behavioural sciences and lifestyle wellness.
The SLEEP + STRESS RESET programme is made up of three phases:
Understand, Evolve and Thrive.
Phase one: Understand
Transformation begins with understanding where you’re starting from. In the first two weeks of your journey, the programme enables a dive deep and see what’s going on – biologically and emotionally. A clever combination of state-of-the-art saliva testing and a guided self-evaluation shows you – and the programme facilitator – how you’re doing at the beginning of the programme so you can benchmark your start point.
State-of-the art cortisol testing analyses your stress hormones.
Guided self-assessment questionnaire for sleep and stress helps you understand your starting point.
Personalised insights: The SLEEP + STRESS RESET programme contains a series of saliva tests, which you take at various points during the programme to measure your cortisol levels. Cortisol is a key stress hormone and if elevated, can indicate chronic stress. Cortisol levels follow a daily pattern and saliva testing helps assess whether cortisol patterns are disrupted and if so, when. This provides personal insights which allow you to determine exactly when you need to prioritise stress management.
Phase 2: Evolve
The next phase is ‘active transformation’. For 90 days, you’ll learn more about lifestyle and nutrition changes that can help with sleep and stress and try them for yourself. You’ll also receive a premium daily supplement to support sleep.
For 90 days, you will take a specialised nutritional supplement, Issviva ZZZZ’s, which have been designed to enhance relaxation and promote restful sleep. Issviva ZZZZ’s, contain Vitamins B5, B6, ashwagandha and chamomile extracts.
More than that, you’ll also track symptoms, learn more about yourself and your habits, and benefit from personalised insights, education, support and empowering tools tailored for improved sleep and stress management.
It’s a guided process, devised by medical and functional nutrition experts and includes:
– Issviva ZZZZ’s supplements – to help you relax and drift off into a restful sleep.
– Expert nutrition and lifestyle advice based on your phenotype.
– Tutorials and webinars to guide you with meditation and stress reduction.
– Tracking app to help you understand how the changes you make affect your symptoms.
– Monthly care packages with treats and motivation to keep you on track.
Phase 3: Thrive
After 90 days of transformation, learning and exploration, it’s time to test again and see how far you’ve come. As well as revisiting your initial baseline evaluation, the programme facilitators set you up for continuing long term success with expert advice for making lifestyle changes stick.
Highlights ofThe SLEEP + STRESS RESET programme:
Daily premium supplements to improve sleep quality and quantity.
Personalised insights in stress and sleep.
Educational content on menopause, stress management, sleep optimisation
and nutrition through webinars and blogs.
Practical tools like meditation to reduce stress and enhance sleep quality.
App-based self-monitoring of symptoms and visualisation of patterns.
Access to exclusive app content.
Support via WhatsApp and email
Access to a Facebook community group
The SLEEP + STRESS RESET 90 day programme costs £150.00 and can be purchased
Background: The Issviva brand was created specifically to support women going through the menopause by providing a ‘safe space’ where you can join a like-minded community, access educational blogs and advice from experts and find tailored, scientifically-backed products and solutions, especially formulated to help relieve perimenopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal symptoms. Issviva’s purpose is to create a better modern menopause, enabling every woman to take control and be ready for this new life phase.
Sunscreen is one of the best ways to protect your skin, and daily wear will help to minimise cumulative sun damage and accelerated signs of ageing.
As part of Face the Future’s 366 Days of SPF campaign, survey results found that only 22% of the UK apply SPF daily, and only 8% reapply their SPF in a day.
What is party season make-up/how is it different to everyday wear?
Party makeup tends to be more dramatic and glamorous than your everyday routine. Think shimmery glitters, bold red lips, and smoky eyes in deep browns and rich jewel tones. For skin, party season makeup looks usually feature a fuller coverage foundation and more defined cheekbones with a healthy dose of highlighter. Tis the season to sparkle, after all!
What trends for party season make-up do you think will be in this year?
Red lips are a timeless Christmas staple, so I’m sure they’ll be in high demand this year. They’re festive, flattering, and universally stylish. No matter your skin tone or type, there’s a perfect red lipstick out there for you! When it comes to eye makeup, I expect to see plenty of glittery and metallic eyeshadows this holiday season. For skin, a flawless and glowing complexion will be the perfect base for any makeup look.
What is the best SPF for glowy party season skin? For a ‘lit from within’ glow, opt for moisturising SPF formulas that have added illuminating pigments, like Hello Sunday The Illuminating One Glow Primer SPF50. This gorgeous glow booster gives your skin an ethereal glow that looks beautiful both on its own or under your makeup. If you want a rosy, healthy glow, Sand & Sky Tinted Glow Primer SPF30 is perfect. It’s infused with red seaweed to strengthen your skin’s protective barrier, and a Hyaluronic Complex for optimal hydration.
How can you stop your SPF pilling under your make-up? How long should you wait before doing your skin?
To prevent piling, it’s important to prep your skin properly first to ensure you have a clean base. Start with a thorough cleanse using a gentle cleanser, before following with your favourite moisturiser – water-based formulas are less likely to pill, so opt for these over oil-based formulas. Next, add your water-based SPF on top.
It’s important to allow time between layering your skincare products to ensure proper absorption of the formulas – a few to ten minutes is usually plenty of time. This can also help to prevent pilling as you’re not overloading your skin.
Are there any application techniques / advise for how to apply your products for long-wear?
One of my favourite techniques that you can use to keep your base products in place all day and night is ‘baking’; this is a makeup technique that’s been around for years! In makeup setting terms, baking involves setting your concealer and foundation with a generous amount of translucent powder and allowing it to “bake” (set) on your skin for several minutes before brushing it away with a fluffy brush. This method can help to control oil, reduce shine, and create a smooth, long-lasting base for your makeup. It’s best applied using a dampened beauty blender to gently press the powder into place. If you worry that your powder will look too cakey on your skin, you can spritz it with a makeup setting spray for a flawless finish an extra hold.
For party eyes, make sure to use waterproof formulas when it comes to mascara and eyeliner.
For lips, liquid lipsticks are a great choice! You can also use the baking technique on your lips. Simply apply two layers of your favourite lipstick, blotting in between each layer, then apply your translucent powder over the top and allow it to set for a couple of minutes before gently dusting it away. This technique can feel drying on your lips, so prep them well beforehand to ensure comfort and no signs of flaking.
How/can you re-apply SPF throughout the day without redoing make-up?
To re-apply your SPF throughout the day without disrupting your makeup, it’s best to look for a spray-on formula. Hello Sunday The Retouch One – Face Mist SPF30 is ultra-fine and invisible, so it’s perfect for topping up your protection throughout the day. Another great product us Ultrasun UV Face & Scalp Mist SPF 50 – it’s transparent and water resistant and gives high broad-spectrum protection from UVA, UVB, Infrared A and Blue Light. It also won’t leave a sticky feeling on your skin, so you’ll feel perfectly comfortable all day.
Which SPFs are best under makeup for matte finish?
Who doesn’t love a good nail? Whether you prefer a marble mani, flirty florals or gorgeous gradients, Mylee have you covered. Set to be THE nail trend for AW24, Watercolour nails are made blooming easy with Mylee’s BRAND NEW Blooming Gel collection.
Simply apply the gel over your chosen colour, paint your design on top, and watch your canvas bloom. Magic at your very fingertips, quite literally.
Marvel with a marble mani that’s no longer impossible to DIY. Create the cult classic trend with this do-it-all kit, including Mylee’s innovative Blooming Gel (that allows gel polish colours to spread magically), moon-white Luna, peony-pink Californian Love, and man-made metal Steel My Heart. Ready, set, marble.
Marvel with a marble mani that’s no longer impossible to DIY. Create the cult classic trend with this do-it-all kit, including Mylee’s innovative Blooming Gel (that allows gel polish colours to spread magically), moon-white Luna, peony-pink Californian Love, and man-made metal Steel My Heart. Ready, set, marble.
This is a wonderful and atmospheric novel which sweeps you away, not letting you go until the very last page. Perfect for fans of historical fiction.
Cornwall, 1934.
Violet Ellis is living in the shadows of her father’s ruined reputation. So, when wealthy widower James Atherton offers her employment, she immediately begins the treacherous journey to his home on the remote Cornish island of Aoife’s Bay – despite the bone-chilling allegations surrounding his late wife Elizabeth’s death.
In James’s company, Violet begins to feel the love that has been missing all her life. But when anonymous letters start to plague the bay’s residents, threatening to expose what really happened to Elizabeth, Violet feels the hostility towards her grow. She has an unsettling sense of being watched in her new home, and as the mysteries of the island draw her in, she starts to fear she might never find a way out …
Sweeping across London, Oxford and the wilds of the West Country, this novel is perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore, Louise Douglas and Lucinda Riley.The Secrets of the Watch House is out now.
The Trip Phoebe Morgan
I’m a huge fan of Phoebe Morgan. She writes these dark and complex book which you can really stick your teeth into. She’s also amazing at writing books that are readable in a way that is very hard to write. If I have four hours and a Phoebe Morgan book, I’m happy. Now the weather has turned The Trip will also transport you back to summer. We all need a bit of that, don’t we?
The perfect holiday. The perfect crime.
Four friends on the holiday of a lifetime. Until a vicious murder shatters their paradise.
Four friends who’d do anything for each other, until now.
Kate Dylan is one of the best YA authors writing today. Her books are marvel on steroids, with a fun, feminist twist. Until We Shatter is an enemies to lovers heist fantasy from the author of Mindwalker. Sheer brilliance and just as good as Mindwalker. Kate Dylan drowns you in the world she has built and sometimes you will wish she left you there. She takes no prisoners. Loved it.
This is not just a book on feminism. It is also a stunning and brave feminist memoir on domestic abuse and single motherhood. Weaving the personal and the political into a must read book. Considering what is happening with women’s rights these days, And Still We March, is an essential read for everyone. Well researched, it educates and leaves you feeling a little more empowered.
Around the world, women’s rights are under attack.
In 2022, the US Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, restricting access to abortion across America. The decision mirrored a global trend towards a devastating unravelling of women’s freedoms; a reversal of hard-won progress, and a battle that continues to be fought on both sides of the Atlantic.
Following in the footsteps of her mother fifty years before her, Marisa Bate is galvanised to journey across America, meeting the women on the ground, and telling the stories behind the headlines. Examining half a century of feminist struggle in the UK and the US, she also finds herself tracing the roots of her own family, seamlessly interweaving the personal with the political.
Lyrical, poignant, and bursting with defiant hope, And Still We March is an urgent and perceptive dissection of female autonomy, motherhood, and a woman’s right to choose.
Oh how I adored The Commuter. It’s an absolute masterpiece on thriller writing. I inhaled this book, desperate to get back to it as soon as I put it down. It’s got a flawed female character (my favourite kind) and a plot that doesn’t let you go. Dark and addictive with a huge dollop of style.
I used to dread rush hour. Now I live for it…
Rachel wakes from a coma to discover her controlling husband has been killed, and the police suspect her of involvement.
But all Rachel can recall from the last few weeks are tantalising flashes of a fellow commuter. A man whose name she doesn’t know.
A man who has disappeared without a trace.
Now Rachel is a wealthy widow and the vultures are circling, wanting her in prison for murder, or failing that … dead.
Can Rachel discover the truth in time to save herself?
One Hundreds Moments Of Us is fantastic. A wonderful steak of a novel that really fills you up. It has One Day vibes as it follows Ashley and Charlie and their relationship over the decades. This brilliant idea is executed perfectly as we read about one hundred moments of their relationship. With stunning characterisation and nostalgia in abundance for millennials I am going to have to insist you buy a copy now.
They say life is made up of moments.
So is a relationship.
From the moment he sets his eyes on Ashley Oliver at sixth form on the cusp of the new millennium, Charlie falls in love. It isn’t all sunshine and roses though and it takes several years and more than one chance meeting before they begin their relationship.
Will they survive everything the world has to throw at them or will the pressure of life, love, and London be too much for them?
Told through moments big and small, trivial and significant, this is the moving and uplifting story of a relationship – the ups, the downs, and everything in between.
An unforgettable romance, perfect for fans of Sophie Cousens, Jill Mansell and Mike Gayle.
A Merry Little Christmas Cathy Bramley
Who doesn’t love a Christmas book. Cathy Bramley has written a snowy book full of female friendship and the real issues of being a women. I really enjoyed how it captured the real complexity of female friendship and being in a different place from a friend. Ultimately uplifting and heartwarming, it doesn’t shy away from real life. A perfect snowy read.
In the snowy market town of Wetherly, Merry is about to take on her biggest project yet – the arrival of a new baby. She has always dreamed of being a mother, since losing her mum at a young age. Everyone is so excited, so why is Merry feeling terrified? And why is she struggling to open up to business partner and best friend Nell, whose help she needs at their thriving candle shop more than ever?
What Nell desperately wants for Christmas is a baby with husband Olek. But when she uncovers a shocking truth about Olek’s past, dreams of a family are turned upside down. Nell feels she has no-one to turn to, as Merry is wrapped up in her own plans for the new baby.
Tensions run high as Christmas approaches, and Merry and Nell’s friendship reaches breaking point. As long-held secrets finally come to light, can Nell and Merry save the most precious gift of all – their friendship?
I can’t believe that two of the yummiest treat-makers have got together to make pure heaven. But it’s true, I’ve pinched myself hard and I’m definitely not dreaming – Joe&Seph’s have teamed with Tracklements to make Joe & Seph’s Fresh Chilli Jam Gourmet Popcorn and it’s astoundingly good.
Both these British companies hand-make their products in small batches using only 100% natural ingredients, and consequently the flavours and quality of all of their range are second to none. Joe & Seph’s create perfect popcorn by using a (healthier) air-popping technique and extra large “mushroom” kernels. Then they coat these super big popcorns in a smooth caramel made from fresh butter.
Wiltshire-based Tracklements have been making condiments and savoury jellies from traditional recipes for over fifty years and their fresh chilli jam is to die for.
So how inspired to combine Joe & Seph’s sweet crunchy popcorn and buttery caramel with the tangy and delicious fresh Tracklements chilli jam? That final chilli kick really clinches the sweet perfection.
With a RRP of £4.00 for 70g pack (4 servings) this makes a fabulous snack to accompany drinks with friends – although personally I’d recommend you just quietly buy it for yourself – it’s far too good to share.
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.
