Now that Halloween has come and gone I can officially say that word… CHRISTMAS. Every christmas I try to support as many small businesses as I possibly can, one of which is the Carslake Tea Company. Yes I do treat myself to their tea but they also make brilliant gifts for the tea lover in your family.
I first discovered Carslake Tea at the Eat: Food Fest in Burnham on Sea. I am a huge fan of loose leaf tea , and they have so many flavours available all of which are delicious and never disappoint. Recently I purchased Elderflower Lemon ,Christmas Mulled Fruit, and Turkish Apple, as well as a adorable platypus infuser. Each flavour is refreshing and warm and comforting , perfect for these cold rainy days.
They even have a tea advent calendar which is a delicious and healthier alternative to chocolate ones , each day you will be treated to a different flavour of loose leaf tea , these calanders are perfect for tea fans such as myself or those who want to try loose leaf tea but don’t know what flavours they will enjoy.
I reached out to Phil and asked him more about Carslake Tea , and here’s what he had to say:
‘Carslake Tea Company is a family business, run by myself and my partner and our son. Established in 2014, we decided to set up the business because whilst working on another project I realised that tea drinkers were being neglected. There were many Artisan Coffee producers, but very little choice for tea lovers.
Initially starting with around 20 blends, we now have almost 100.
We cater for traditional tea drinkers, but also are passionate about being different, having unusual and quirky blends and offering choice to niche drinkers (Decaffeinated and Caffeine free being one such sector).’
(Carslake Tea Loose Leaf Advent Calendar: available in Blue or Red)
This exciting loose leaf tea advent calendar comes complete with 24 jars of tea FOR TWO. Share a brew with a loved one or treat yourself to luxury loose leaf teas throughout December. LIMITED NUMBER AVAILABLE @ £39.95 including postage Delivery starting and continuing throughout November.
There are also ‘must have’ Silicon Tea Infusers – which are ideal stocking fillers or Secret Santa gifts. Available in cute Platypus and Squirrel designs. Fill the Squirrel tea infuser’s big busy tail with a loose tea of your choice and put it in a cup of hot water. Hook the little Squirrel over your favourite mug, twisting his tail down into the hot water and the tea infuses through the tail.
The duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed Platypus is a unique and rare animal inhabiting eastern Australia. Inspired by what might be the strangest creature on earth, the Platypus is a fun take on the tea infuser that’s as friendly to use as it is to look at.They are cute and fun it is great to see them peeping curiously from your cup or mug, enjoying their tea hot-tub.
There are many more details of fabulous tea products on the Carslake Tea Company website including four majestic Christmas tea blends. Do have a look, it won’t be a waste of time.
I have a fascination with beauty products. Maybe it’s panic as the years rush by a little too swiftly, or maybe it’s because, as a doctor, I’m aware how efficiently skin can absorb anything we slap on it – be it beauty creams, medicines – or harmful chemicals. Sadly, some ‘beauty’ products aren’t always as pure and innocent as we may assume.
Mindful of this, I was super excited to discover Avīela. I love their story and I simply adore their products, and as ever, I’m keen to share (their story – not their products, those are all mine).
Avīela products are, unusually, based on raw (unrefined) Shea Butter. The company founder, Patricia Monney first discovered this whilst visiting her home country, Ghana, where a doctor recommended massaging her young daughter’s weak ankle with raw Shea Butter. It worked so well that Patricia researched this traditional treatment and ultimately created Avīela (pronounced A-vee-el-ah, meaning something ‘Good’ or ‘Beautiful’ in the Dagara people’s language).
For those who don’t know, Shea Butter is an incredible natural oil, extracted from the seeds of the Shea tree. It’s been used forever as a remedy in East and West tropical Africa, where the Shea tree grows and is believed to have anti-inflammatory and healing properties.
Although many skin products boast Shea Butter as an ingredient, usually it’s been refined using excess heat and artificial chemicals, which probably destroy some of the natural properties.
In contrast, Avīela ethically source the highest quality Shea Butter directly from the fields of Northern Ghana, supporting local women through a Women’s Cooperative. Because the Shea Butter is left in its raw state, it’s not only free from artificial colours, fragrances and preservatives but also has a light, whipped texture, and melts smoothly and easily into the skin. Trust me you can see and feel the difference.
Do visit their website because their products are a ‘Who’s who’ of pure luxury and at a very fair price too. I particularly love their Intense Moisture Pack, which contains the traditional African Shea Black Soap (quite different from a regular soap bar), made from 100% raw Shea Butter, Cocoa Pod Ash, and Coconut and Neem Oils – it’s suitable for all skin types and you can also use it as a makeup remover. But there’s more – you also get a large (180ml) pot of Shea Body Butter and a Shea Hand Butter too. At just £48 for the set it’s a fabulous deal.
With Christmas racing towards us even faster than my wrinkles, you may want to check out their stocking fillers:
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.
Pitching to Penguin after being signed to small publishers and being self-published.
Beginnings: I had not planned to be an author. I grew up believing that books were written by others, not me, for us to enjoy. Three or four events in my life, like special occasions, led me to “think” I was a writer. I was raised in a rich environment of stories, via my mum, my aunts, my grandparents, my dad, my teachers. I enjoyed hearing them so much that I also began telling them. I had a little burst of success as a 16-year-old in a national short story writing competition with the New Straits Times. I felt that indescribable buzz when I saw my byline among 30 highly-commended entries.
The hotel rooms: As a university student and an adult, I wrote nothing. I only started when I started travelling for work in hospitality and resort design. I was in hotel rooms and airports a lot. I learned that I really valued and enjoyed observation and being alone, which of course, are the prerequisites of the writing life. I was surprised to be flooded with ideas which had nothing to do with work. I began writing again because as you know, you don’t need any fancy tools or equipment. In those days, I printed and posted my stories from airports, or the nearest post office to the hotel. This period led me to believe I had again some chance of success because I was getting accepted by the Sunday magazines. One story was bought and broadcast by the BBC World Service. I had meetings with agents in Soho back in London, which led to nothing but an inkling that my writing was getting attention, any attention. I took writing more seriously when I invested in an MA in Writing at Middlesex University. As you know it’s not free, so I was taking a big chance but I was working and it paid for the fees. I was astonished to discover that I won the Middlesex University Literary Prize in an international competition, a cash award large enough to cover a third of my fees. The judge was Penelope FitzGerald and about my story, she said she had never read anything like it in her life.
The agent: I was snapped up by an agent immediately following the prize, a decision that was poor. I had no other offers. After 5 years, she did not get me a deal despite my writing not one but two novels for her to market. I did not write a word for 10 years. My writing stayed on my hard drive. It was deliberate. I had two children whom I wanted to give 120% of my attention. After 10 years and they were in primary school, I started submitting the novel again, and following 87 rejections I won a prize in Hong Kong, also a large cash prize. This novel, my debut, Cry of the Flying Rhino, was the turning point for me, because I now was an author. My entire family flew out to Hong Kong for the award ceremony and the publication. It was a small publisher, like my second novel’s, Heart of Glass.
The pandemic: Following the two novels with small publishers which were given zero marketing and publicity and unsurprisingly, hardly earned any royalties, I started to wonder if indeed they had even been published. I wrote another, Overboard. I got 50 rejections and I decided to start an imprint to publish it as I consider it to be my best book yet. I think my limit for rejections is now 30. I do think there is a limit otherwise you will be querying until you die. I don’t think I have the time or the patience to withstand 87 rejections like I did with the first, and 55 with the second. There’s no point and nobody cares. It’s an art form. It’s not a pizza which is edible and sort of OK even when bad. During the 2-3 years of the pandemic. I ate, sleep, wrote, published. Repeat. It was like a bumper sticker.
Keep going: I did online courses on self-publishing, keywords, genres and copywriting to study the market. I cannot stress how important it is for a writer. Without knowing the market and the audience, you can’t pitch. I learned to write through editing other people’s work and through reading hundreds of books in the genres I was interested in. The MA will not teach you these skills. My objective had always been to write the best book that could write. This kept me going in the lockdown years. I published a couple more, short stories, and another novel, White Crane Strikes.
Perfect pitch: A famous author, unfortunately I forget who, said that if you cannot tell your story in 17 words, you don’t know your story. That intro letter, one-page synopsis and first paragraph in your manuscript is everything. I wrote The American Boyfriendin November 2021 which I decided I would query until that magic self-imposed 30 rejections before I would publish it myself. I would trade the complete control and higher royalties in self-publishing for a traditional deal because of the connections. By the time I started querying again post-pandemic, I had already distilled my book to the most grabby Netflix 40-word synopsis. I saw a window of open submissions from Penguin Random House Southeast Asia. I was just about to release my book, because I got to 27 rejections. 9 months after querying, in August 2022, I got the best email ever. It was from Penguin and consisted of 5 words: has this manuscript been acquired?
Worldwide connections: The worldwide connections have been the most astounding and rewarding part of the publishing experience. Having a publicist was already mind-blowing as I had never had one before with self-publishing (that would be me) or with the small publishers I had been with (that would be no one).
The Penguin publicity, marketing and sales team have opened doors from day one: no. 1 Sunday Times authors providing the cover endorsement quotes, media and press outreach including World Literature Today, Nerd Daily, Culturess, Book Riot, The Telegraph and Elle, being no. 4 on the Straits Times bestseller list in its opening week, being on sale at WHSmith at the airport departure lounge, book launch at West End London bookshop and in the USA, in Barnes and Noble physical bookstores throughout USA and at the airports such as in Key West, Miami International and JFK. I have also been invited to the Jaipur Literary Festival (“the greatest literary show on earth”) in February 2024. I have also seen an uptick in the sales of my other books. These opportunities to build audience trust and author visibility would not have been possible without the Penguin label. This experience has changed the way I see publishing as I come from a “nothing happens” school of thought from my previous publications. I am proud that my book now belongs with the orange-spined classics I grew up reading. I am inspired to keep writing. Stories keep us alive. Stories are more than ever what we need in these times.
My parting words and 5 rules of writing: Persevere. Learn to write. Write the best book that you can write. Believe that top quality writing always stands out. Above all, read.
I enjoyed her last two WW2 series about The Ops Room Girls and The Wrens, but I loved the first in this new series about The Girls of Bomber Command.
A poignant subject, Beeby comments in her notes that the RAF Bomber Command had one of the highest casualty rates of any Allied unit during the Second World War and yet the author manages to portray this sensitively in a very enthralling read.
I loved Pearl, who reminded me of myself as she tries to look after her younger sister and strives to find her own place in the world whilst staying true to her aspirations. Greg has to deal daily with the thought that he might not survive the next bombing mission and that colours how he lives his life.
The author’s notes on the research undertaken to inspire and also to make this story authentic were fascinating.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Wild Hope by Donna Ashworth
I cannot speak too highly of this volume of poetry. Comfort in troubled times and wisdom for everyday living.
Having seen a social media video of the author using the volume as an oracle, I now open this book daily at random and the results have never ceased to surprise me. I have my favourite poems of course but each page has the ability to touch my heart and often to produce tears.
I don’t think I have ever read a volume of poetry so often. Wonderful.
The Paris Affair by Victoria Cornwall
I really enjoyed this book and felt as if I was actually Charlotte, the heroine as she negotiated the sadness, excitements and uncertainties of her life and relationship with Pierre.
The Parisian scenes, particularly the characters’ visit to The Sacre Coeur took me right back to a long ago visit to Paris.
Victoria Cornwall is a skilled storyteller who makes you care about her characters and root for them as they tackle dangers and challenges.
I have always wondered how I would have coped in times of war and hope that I would step up to the challenge of helping with the war effort just as Charlotte, Pierre and their colleagues did in the book.
A thoroughly enjoyable read that made me reflect on the war experiences of members of my family.
The Lost Heir by Jane Cable
Jane Cable captures the time of the Covid era lockdowns, which caused many people to re-evaluate their lives and make changes, as does the modern day character of Carla in The Lost Heir. As a family historian myself, I enjoyed the research Carla and Mani’s research adventures. I liked the present day story, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to read about Covid times when I started reading the book, and would really like to know more about what happened to these characters after the end of this story.
Franny in the historical story, with her different way of seeing the world and her companion, Harriet, is a very complex character. I loved the secrets and risks surrounding William.
Loved the fact that Carla had inherited her grandmother’s skills for seeing auras and presences. Fascinating to read in the notes to the book about the inspiration for the story and the research done by the author.
The invitation to learn how to make and sample the perfect Gin and Tonic proved irresistible. No surprise there, my wife says.
For me, the first surprise was to learn that Caorunn is Gaelic for Rowan i.e. my own surname, although pedants may well point out, that it actually means Rowan berry. The red star fish logo is based on the base of the Rowan berry, where it attaches, to the stem.
Rowan berries are one of the 11 botanicals used in Caorunn gins, I like to think it is the main botanical, but that may be stretching things, but whether it is or not, it would be churlish not to raise a glass or two to the Rowan.
First stop was learning how to make the perfect gin and tonic, and whilst I feel that I am pretty well practiced, there is always room to learn.
My Copa glass, resplendent with the Rowan berry logo, was filled with ice, over which was poured the gin. Fevertree Tonic water was also added, a little at a time, to my taste. Remember you can always add more tonic, but you can’t reverse the process. Finally, a slice of Pink Lady apple, because the sweetness cuts through the sharp taste of the Coul Blush Apple, one of the other main botanicals. The resulting gin has a clean fresh taste.
Caorunn is based in and well known in Scotland, but now is the time to share this fabulous gin south of the border. Whilst a regular imbiber of the straight Caorunn gin I had no idea that they had also brought out a Raspberry Gin with Perthshire Raspberries and Blood Orange and Chilli the latter is going straight to the top of my Christmas list for Santa.
The Orange and Chilli gin was blended by Claire, to whom I shall be forever grateful, for a gin that will be perfect for Christmas, with that Christmassy Orangey citrus flavour, and the hint of chilli that only comes in at the end.
Claire took me through to the next gin station where I was about to taste something magical:
My first task was to decide on my favourite gin between the orange and the raspberry, an easy choice, although I will definitely buy the raspberry, come the summer.
The man performing the magic filled my Copa glass with ice, before producing, not a rabbit from a hat, but a small plastic spritzer. The spritzer was filled with Caorunn Blood Orange and Chilli together with a sprig of thyme and some shreds of orange peel which once strained would form the spray essence.
This I was informed was to be stored for three days to a week to allow the botanicals to infuse. Like the gin magician he was, he produced one that he had made earlier which he spritzed over the iced tonic water and the rim of the glass, a very impressive cabaret. I tend to rub the orange peel around the rim but this is far more effective in bestowing the flavour immediately to the lips, and how useful for drivers, who would like the experience without the level of alcohol. Of course, if like me you are not driving you can still enjoy the magic, and add the gin, which is my preference.
I feel as though I have rather ignored the Raspberry Gin throughout this review, and my last stop at the mixologist’s proved to me what a mistake that would have been. My final taste of gin was in Raspberry Gin Fizz which was light and lip smackingly tasty, and I could imagine enjoying this on the beach or in the garden on a hot summer’s day. Though to be honest, a number of us were enjoying it in late October.
If you think you would like to try this at home, I did manage to get the recipe for you.
40ml Caorunn gin
20 ml Raspberry Cordial
20 ml Lemon Juice
30 ml Soda Water
Method
Build over ice in a highball glass. Stir gently and garnish with a lemon wedge.
A successful architect finds himself at a funeral in his local church. Scanning the aisles and seeing all his family and friends he’s shocked to realise it’s his own – what’s more, he’s supposed to have committed suicide.
The ghostly Adam knows he wouldn’t have harmed himself. So he must have been murdered. But by whom? And actually, frankly, why? What had he done and said?
So what does any good ghost do? Set out to track and then challenge the still-living suspects among his family and work colleagues. There are, not surprisingly, surprises in store. Heavens… Not often the detective is a corpse, but this book is most certainly haunting.
The key question is: is it a page turner? whoo hoo a chorus of ghosts might say…
It most certainly is a page turner, from the first page into which we are drawn as Lucille, the vicar, stumbles halfway up the wooden steps to the pulpit, creak creak. Then, settling herself, looking over her tortoiseshell half-moons: ‘I didn’t know Adam that well,’ she began, ‘but he’s always been a great believer in the church…’
Right on the first point and most definitely wrong on the second, Adam thought.
Boom Boom, there you have it. Adam is listening. How can that be? On we gallop, turning the pages, whoosh whoosh. Did devious Jeff do it? Did the missus? What about dear Lucille and her half-moon spectacles?
I’m saying nowt. Do read this charming amusing mystery. It’s a blast, one which is also thought provoking.
Ghosted by Mark McCrum: pub Bloodhound Books pb @ £9.99 and e-Book
Off we went, mud, lots of it, shoes that leak – off to buy Wellington’s tomorrow – I have had quite enough of waterproof boots that, frankly, are not. A slip slide to the beck, dogs fed up, grown ups, Margaret and Dick, saying nothing. And there, on our return, under the chair near the front door was this little beauty.
I was about to rip it open, then thought, no – Frost Magazine readers need to see this from start to finish, for the wonderful Williams Handbaked Biscuits and Cakes bakery had sent me a box of treats. Why? Well, because I have bought from them before, many times. Well, I should say sent to us, for Dick may share. I did for one fleeting moment wonder if he could share only a little, but then I heard my mother’s words from her cloud on high. ‘Margaret, that is not funny, kind or nice.’
Opened, here it is. Such a huge treat. Who cares if one is already about to breach one’s size in clothes, I – sorry, we – can ration ourselves. Honestly, they are sublime. I – sorry, we – rate them really really highly. Such a fabulous range of goodies, and they are perfect for Christmas presents. I whisper that, as I often send to friends and family and one mustn’t spoil the surprise.
I suppose we could always walk once more around the beck to ease the waistline, but why? One does so deserve a treat. Try them and see. You’ll make a habit of Williams Handbaked Biscuits and Cakes.
Identical twins Clemmy and Helen, named after the beautiful heroines of Greek mythology, live in a dilapidated cottage in the woods, having little contact with the outside world. Abandoned at birth by their father, a painter, the girls are raised by their mother, who they ignore, existing only for each other.
At 14 they break into their father’s studio and discover a self-portrait left by him with a note for ‘his beauties’.
This opens the first crack in their relationship. Helen becomes obsessed with him and is determined to be a painter. Clemmy, rebellious and headstrong, wants nothing to do with him, and dreams of escape from the forest and of becoming an actor. Aged 16 their mother abandons them. Clemmy celebrates their freedom and the fault lines between them widens. Within a year, Clemmy leaves for London and Helen finds herself alone at the cottage, and pregnant by Beautiful Boy…
That’s as far as I take you. Read each page yourselves, you won’t regret it. There is a rhythm to Hogarth’s writing; it flows, it sings and she does not ignore the plot. Interesting and original. I thoroughly enjoyed The Other.
Sandy Hogath was long listed for the 2019 Cinnamon Literature Prize with Because of You I am
The Other by Sandy Hogarth is available in pb and e-Book
