Sometimes the old traditions are the best aren’t they? And what’s more traditional than clutching a post-Christmas lunch Baileys whilst puzzling over your elderly uncle’s silent contortions, which apparently depict either a book, film, TV or song – AKA Charades of course. Personally I just love it, particularly after a second or perhaps third large Baileys. But what about the kids? After all Christmas is about the kids too, isn’t it?

Fear not, that marvellous games company, Cheatwell has produced a solution – Kids Charades. Staying true to the original game, the only real difference is that the categories are child-friendly and the category tokens are brightly coloured with easy to read numbers. How great, as it means that the kids can feel part of the fun too, and improve their reading, self-expression and confidence in the process.

Recommended ages are six and above (and that does include adults too). There are a choice of six categories on each card, ranging from very easy mimes such as ‘washing the car’ or ‘hamburger’ to the more challenging ‘The Wizard of Oz” or “Free Kick’ so even the younger children can find something they can mime. The rule book also includes tips on how to help the most junior family members join in, which is useful.  

The game comes with three decks of category cards, a sand timer, dice, tokens to collect for each category and rules. The first team to guess a mime in all six categories wins.

Of course I had to road test this with my seven and four year old grandkids and I can confirm it is a lot of fun. Oh, and the grandkids enjoyed it too. The seven-year old did a great impression of a unicorn (I think you can imagine) and whereas the four year old’s portrayal of eating spaghetti was somewhat abstract, fortunately Grannie was able to make an inspired ‘guess’ due to the fact that she’d helped him to read the clue in the first place, but that didn’t seem to detract from his pleasure.

So I can really recommend this fabulous game, for Christmas day, kid’s parties or any family gathering. Whilst six-year olds could handle it easily with adults present, they’d probably need to be a little older to play it completely amongst themselves. Available from the Cheatwell website for £17 it makes a lovely stocking filler.

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.

Alcohol is a true preservative in so many ways, isn’t it? I’m not just talking about that jar of cherries in brandy which magically appears at Christmas. The history of a nation, its culture, a whole way of life is so often captured within a fine glass bottle. And no, these aren’t the ramblings of someone who’s already had a few drops too many, at least not on this occasion.

Wine of course is the best-known example – the taste and character reflecting the country, the very soil, the workers, their methods and the love with which it has been made and stored.

The different rums of the West Indies tell a whole tale within each bottle, as do the home-made Rakias of Bulgaria and Czechian Slivovitz.

But closer to home we have our own custodians of tradition. What stories of hardship and survival in the Scottish Highlands or the Lowland moors are stored within a bottle of malt whisky? So many differing choices – their individual tastes reflecting the region, the local peat, the casks in which they’re matured, the pure Scottish air and the struggles of the people themselves.

So I was super excited to discover a particularly special blend of malt scotch whisky – The Guard Bridge, created by Eden Mill. Even the names conjure memories of a distant time.

The Eden Mill story started in1655, when Robert Haig of Throsk was summoned before the kirk session for the crime of distilling whisky on the Sabbath, on the banks of the Eden Estuary. By the mid-1800s this same site was home to the Seggie Whisky Distillery until it closed and was replaced by a paper mill. But now Eden Mill are continuing the tradition in this unique location, which is responsible for the gentle, light character of their single malt, Eden Mill St Andrews, described as having accentuating notes of citrus, honey and delicate spices.

Eden Mill have gone one step further however. By blending their own malt with at least ten other single malts from across Scotland, including an 8 year old, they’ve created The Guard Bridge. It combines the sweet, grassy, floral profile of the Lowlands with the robust, barley-sweet and dried fruit notes of Highland whiskies. It’s described as creamy vanilla with barley sugar leading to mellow oaky spice and finishing with sherried fruit and light warm gingerbread. I can only agree with all of this, I found it simply delicious – many layers of flavour and very smooth.

Even the name reflects local tradition, inspired by the 15th century Guard Bridge, said to have been used by both pilgrims and St Andrew’s University students. 

At £45.00 for a 70cl bottle in a beautiful presentation box The Guard Bridge would be a welcome gift for any devotee of malt whisky.

Unusually, Eden Mill also produces some rather good gins, using finest botanicals combined with traditional distillation techniques and modern innovation. I’m particularly impressed by their Passion Gin – a fusion of passion fruit, coconut and orange, which comes as a very attractive gift set with a beautiful hand-made candle for £45.

So I’m planning to have a very merry Christmas. How about you?

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.

Richard Charkin has always been forward thinking. I was lucky enough to witness this first hand at Heinemann which published many of my early novels. Lord they were so forebearing with a new author who was inundated with 4 children, and probably whiffed of fish fingers. Nonetheless, led by Charkin, they all, and my fabulous editor Sue Freestone, taught me all I know. He is also superb company but that goes without saying. Now, as CEO and Founder of Mensch Publishing he breaks exciting ground yet again, as he tells Frost Magazine that all titles will be produced and distributed using PoD technology and decentralised distribution, in partnership with Ingram Content Group.

in partnership with Ingram Content Group from 1st December. Charkin, who is also co-chair of the IPA’s climate committed programme ‘Publishing 2030 Accelerator’, described the decision as driven, most importantly, by the much lower environmental impact, as well as high quality production values and global, constant availability. After working closely with Bloomsbury over the last four years, the move marks an important next step as the business expands.

Richard Charkin, said: “In four years Mensch has grown with a roster of authors and books to be proud of and has developed a number of innovations in the speed and processes of the book industry. I couldn’t be happier with the unstinting and brilliant support from Bloomsbury worldwide without which we could never have achieved our and our authors’ goals. Now we are starting a new chapter in keepingwith the necessity to build a more environmentally sustainable business whilst growing sales. We have been working with IngramSpark in parallel with Bloomsbury and now is the time to take the plunge and
use Ingram’s global comprehensive distribution and production infrastructure for all our titles, past, and future. In addition we shall be using state-of-the-art automated advertising in conjunction with Shimmr enhancing discoverability and sales.”

David Taylor, Senior Vice President at Ingram, said: “We’ve enjoyed a great relationship with Mensch and it’s exciting to be able to help them even further as they grow their publishing programme. Ingram’s growing global network of wholesale distribution points linked to state-of-the-art print-on-demand allows publishers to get books to their readers in ever more effective and innovative ways. Simultaneous global publishing in multiple markets and formats is a powerful tool for publishers to use – and they are increasingly doing so. Mensch are in the vanguard of this trend.”

Mensch has been responsible for numerous successes in recent years, including I Fear for this Boy, a memoir by renowned jewellery designer Theo Fennell, which was named 2022 Book of the Year by Spectator World and reviewed by William Boyd and Stephen Fry; Delia Smith’s You Matter, a call to action for self-awareness and confidence in the 21st century from Britain’s most-trusted food expert; and We Danced on Our Desks by former Sunday Times Magazine writer, Philip Norman, about his experiences at the publication during the height of its popularity in the 60s and 70s.The first book to be published under the partnership will be Good Scammer by Guy Kennaway ( today – 7thDecember), whose backlist with Mensch will be simultaneously released in paperback.

Described as one of the UK’s best new writers, Kennaway’s previous books include Bollinger Wodehouse Everyman Prize for Comic Fiction winner The Accidental Collector, his acclaimed memoir about assisted suicide, Time To Go, and his most recent memoir Foot Notes, co-authored with his relative Hussein Sharif. So on soars Mensch, going from strength to strength – why are we not surprised. Bravo Richard Charkin.