Tag Archives: 2017

Cadbury Christmas 2017

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 It is not Christmas without chocolate and these treats from Cadbury are perfect for getting into the festive spirit.

Cadbury unwraps moments of festive joy as the most magical time of the year gets closer and closer. And this season, Santa’s sack is full to the brim with joyful and delicious treats. To delight chocolate lovers all over the country, the range includes the much-loved favourites alongside new and exciting products, sure to put a smile on everyone’s face and spread joy far and wide this Christmas. So what are you waiting for? With a plethora of fun and novel chocolate delights, the countdown to Christmas has never been more fun.

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the Cadbury Dairy Milk Advent Calendar, the best way to count down to the most magical day of the year. If you can’t get enough of the delicious Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, this advent calendar will keep the festive excitement growing this holiday season. Complete with a tantalising assortment of milk chocolates, and milk chocolates with vanilla flavour fillings, everyone will want a piece. 200g RRP £4.99/ 90g RRP £2.19

For a jolly way to treat family and friends during the festive season, Cadbury Dairy Milk Jolly Santas are perfect as they come in packs containing five pocket sized Santas, each presented in fun wrapping. Santa has had a makeover and there are now seven cheerful looks to be discovered. Kids will surely love them! RRP £2.99

Make your tree even sweeter with Cadbury Dairy Milk Tree Decorations. There are different designs and shapes for everyone in the family to leave their sparkly mark on this year’s decorations. Available in 84g (RRP £2.13)packs.

The Cadbury Dairy Milk Santa Gift Box – filled with delicious chunks of Cadbury Dairy Milk – is the perfect stocking filler. To spread the excitement and magic this Christmas, why not treat a loved one to this cheeky chappy and tuck into the delicious delights from Santa’s sack. RRP £2.99.

We also loved the Cadbury Snow Bites:

We have reviewed all of this chocolate for you and can highly recommend it. Merry Christmas.

 

Dulwich Literary Festival 2017 programme announced

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Ali Smith, Alan Hollinghurst, Sam Leith, Henry Blofeld, Mihaela Noroc and many others to appear on the main weekend, 10-12 November. Additional events to take place throughout November, including a spooky All Saints Day special with Andrew Michael Hurley, a pop-up at West Norwood Feast and an evening in conversation with Robert Peston.

 

Dulwich Literary Festival returns this November with a striking line-up of speakers, including celebrated writer Alan Hollinghurst, Man Booker shortlisted Ali Smith, ITV Political Editor Robert Peston, renowned sports journalist Henry Blofeld, The Spectator’s Literary Editor Sam Leith and photographer and social media sensationMihaela Noroc. Presented by award-winning independent bookshop Dulwich Books, events will be hosted at various local venues including Dulwich College, Dulwich Picture Gallery and the bookshop itself. The 2017 programme includes something for everyone, with talks for children, walks for adults, ‘how-to’ workshops and thought-provoking discussions covering everything from sport and literature, to faith and global affairs.

 

Commenting on the festival programme, Susie Nicklin, owner of Dulwich Books said: “We are delighted once again to bring together some of today’s most celebrated authors, leading thinkers and local writers in Dulwich, to celebrate the best that words have to offer. In times of uncertainty we need to join together in celebrating the things that matter in our communities, whether feasting, worship, education or culture, and books and writers are the perfect way to link them. From Man Booker Prize-winning writers to a creative writing competition for all the young writers of Southwark, there are opportunities for all to participate and engage.”

 

Stand out events taking place across the main weekend include a unique evening with Ali Smith, who will celebrate the work of author and illustrator Tove Jansson at Dulwich Picture Gallery, a free exhibition of photos by Mihaela Noroc, who became a social media sensation with her images of women taken around the world, and a talk with Alan Hollinghurst, who will discuss his much anticipated new novel, The Sparsholt Affair, with the BBC’s Razia Iqbal.

 

Inspiring debate at the festival will be Political Editor Robert Peston, who will draw insights from his career in journalism to address the problems of our time and how we might put them right. Catherine Nixey will discuss the controversial findings of her new book The Darkening Age, which suggests early Christianity might be more violent, ruthless and intolerant than first thought. And, as new protest movements rock the political mainstream, Alexei Sayle, Courttia Newland and Francesca Rhydderch willlook back at dissidents who made history, discussing their contributions to a new anthology of stories re-imagining key moments of British protest.

 

As well as engaging ideas and debate, the festival will offer a number of sessions and workshops for visitors to celebrate pleasurable pastimes and new skills.  Veteran broadcaster Henry Blofeld will discuss a career in cricket with Nicholas Lezard, former National Trust chairman Simon Jenkins will lead a session on Britain’s best railway stations, Peter Fiennes will offer a guided tour of the remnants of the Great North Wood, and Anjula Devi will hold a tasting and book signing at the festival’s West Norwood Feast pop-up to explore the secrets of Indian cuisine.

 

Helping people to write clearly, correctly and persuasively, The Spectator’s Literary Editor Sam Leith will offer top tips from his latest book Write to the Point, award-winning illustration agency Scriberia will hold an interactive drawing session to encourage people to use images to think and communicate more effectively, and designerSusan Wightman will discuss the art and science of typography.

 

The festival will also cater for families, with two exciting children’s events and a short story competition for schools across Southwark. Picture book author and illustratorKate Pankhurst, a descendant of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, will lead an interactive session on fantastic women who changed the world, including fun role-play and craft activities. Local mums Lucy Reynolds and Jenna Herman will also run a free story-time session at the festival’s West Norwood Feast pop-up, reading from their book Parrots Don’t Live in the City. Expect plenty of squawking.

 

Tickets will go on sale on the festival’s website from this weekend. For tickets and more information, visit: http://dulwichliteraryfestival.co.uk/

 

The Soft(er) Side of Stephen King By Richard Warburton

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Via YouTube.

Many of you will have noticed the posters for the latest adaptation of Stephen King’s It.  Some feature a sinister red balloon being proffered to a small boy while others show the eponymous killer clown’s grotesque face – a malevolent grinning monster.  This sort of thing sends me bolting to the nearest Cineworld while others avert their eyes and try to think nice thoughts.  However, for all you cinephiles who don’t ‘do’ horror, then Stephen King’s cinematic canon does offer pleasures that are not so reliant on scares and gore.

It was probably the success of The Exorcist that gave King his break.  William Friedkin’s occult shocker was the second most popular film of 1974 eventually becoming the ninth highest grossing movie of all time.  Publishing houses took note and signed the likes of Anne Rice and James Herbert.  Over sixty cinematic adaptations of his work have been filmed which have varied wildly in terms of quality and revenues.  Nevertheless, amongst the horror classics like Carrie or The Shining there are several sensitive and thoughtful films that may interest viewers put off by the King brand.

Discussions of this subject usually begin and sometimes end with prison drama The Shawshank Redemption.  No supernatural monsters here, just the human variety in a film that accents perseverance and hope in the face of institutionalised brutality.  Instead, I would consider Stand By Me, a tale of four young boys who set out into the woods to search for the body of a missing child.  The film captures something that Stephen King renders so well in his prose, that is the exhilaration, vulnerability and confusion of what it is to be a kid.  Ironically King masters these themes in It and the latest film does a solid job of conveying childish camaraderie in the face of undiluted evil.

Of course It is not for the squeamish so next I would turn to Hearts in Atlantis which stars Anthony Hopkins as an elderly psychic who becomes the confidante of his landlady’s son.  It’s a curiously old fashioned film that played poorly in cinemas and divided critics.  However, its whimsical charms should win over the less cynical while its supernatural elements never dominate what is really a simple coming-of-age story.

Dolores Claiborne is a sombre and profound psychological mystery starring Jennifer Jason Leigh as the daughter of the eponymous Dolores played by Cathy Bates.  Dolores is the prime suspect in the suspicious death of her frosty employer and her estranged daughter is not convinced of her mother’s innocence either.  The mother / daughter relationship is delicately teased out.  King’s empathetic depictions of women, something rarely appreciated in his writing, are on show here.  And, despite the gothic gloom, Dolores Claiborne tightens its grip over two mesmerising hours.

Horror fans would no doubt be disappointed if they watched these films based on their familiarity of King’s signature output.  They might take some solace from another prison drama, The Green Mile, with its graphic execution scenes but the film spends more of its time examining humanity and dignity than revelling in shock and gore.

There is more diversity to Stephen King than his reputation suggests.  If you are willing to dip your toe into an unfamiliar genre then reading the long and terrific novel of It would be a rewarding starting point.  The film adaptation is the first of two with the second part due to go into production next year.  And, if you are curious as to why horror is such a popular genre then the upcoming book Why Horror Seduces by Mathias Clasen should provide the answers.

 

NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards Call for Entries

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Francesca Russell

NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards call for entries

Applications are now open for the 2017 NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

Now in its fifth year, the Awards celebrate the hard work and inspiring stories of British entrepreneurs, not simply their financial success. There are 11 categories to enter in each host city – Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and London.

This year also sees the introduction of a new category for ‘Family Business Entrepreneur of the Year’, which will be awarded to those leading and excelling within a family business. Creator of the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Francesca Russell, said: “Family businesses are often considered incompatible with entrepreneurship because they are usually tradition-bound and multi- generational. However, for family firms to continually prosper, they need to ensure that they pass on the entrepreneurial mindset and capabilities to create new streams of wealth across future generations.”

Francesca added: “Succession planning is also a big issue in business and, if handled well, can make a massive difference to the future viability of a company. Passing on the business baton to the younger generation is a challenge and we want to celebrate those who have successfully managed that transition.”

This year, the Awards have attracted a number of high profile judges including James Caan CBE, Hayley Parsons, founder of Gocompare.com, Tony Mascolo, co-founder of TONI&GUY, and Jeff Lynn, co-founder of Seedrs.

As well as attracting some of the highest profile business leaders in the UK to its judging panel, the Awards has also expanded its reach across five cities, up from two in 2016, and has secured sponsorship from a number of leading brands. NatWest is the headline sponsor for the Awards and MINI has recently renewed its support for 2017 and is sponsoring the ‘Creative Entrepreneur of the Year’ award.

Francesca continued: “2017 is an exciting year for the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards. As well as increasing the number of regions that we can cover, we have attracted the best of the best in terms of a judging panel and sponsors. We are excited about the next phase and hearing the great entrepreneurial stories out there, waiting to be celebrated.”

In its five-year history, the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards has celebrated some outstanding entrepreneurs who have gone on to become household names. Previous winners include David Buttress, former CEO of Just Eat, Julie Deane, founder of The Cambridge Satchel Company, James Watt, founder of BrewDog, and Alexander Solomou, founder and CEO of TheLADBible Group.

The NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards is open for applications, and you can enter here: www.greatbritishentrepreneurawards.com. The deadline for entries is August 18th, 2017.

 

 

Authentic Peking Duck Pancakes Recipe

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authentic peking duck pancake recipe Pancake Day (28 February 2017) often makes you think of a sweet treat, but why not mix it up this Shrove Tuesday by making savoury pancakes.

Below, the chefs at Royal China reveal their exclusive recipe for the most authentic and delicious Peking Duck Pancakes.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

  1. Duck Breasts

3    Shallots – sliced

3    Spring Onion

1 Clove Garlic

1Tsp Maltose Sugar

2 Tbsp Vinegar

3 Tbsp Oil

Salt to taste

Method:

  1. Fry the shallots, spring onion and garlic in a pan and heavily salt
  2. Marinate the duck breasts with the fried ingredients
  3. Mix the maltose sugar with vinegar and hot water, and pour on the skin
  4. Place the duck into a barbeque cooker until cooked
  5. Baste the skin of the duck with hot oil until it is golden brown and crispy

For the Pancakes:  

Slice the duck breast into slender strips, and place meat in a pancake with sliced spring onion, cucumbers and a dollop of plum sauce.  Wrap and enjoy!

The Royal China Group consists of six of London’s most authentic and prestigious Chinese restaurants, including the luxurious and critically-acclaimed Royal China Club.  Based in prime areas of London, the restaurants are centrally located on Baker Street, as well as in Bayswater, Fulham, Harrow-on-the-Hill and Canary Wharf.

www.royalchinagroup.co.uk

 

 

Frost Valentine’s Day Picks: Taittinger And Chocolate

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We love our readers so we are showing the love by giving you two awesome recommendations that will win the heart of your Valentine.

champagnetaittingerforvelantinesday

Anyone who has ever read Frost will know we love Champagne Taittinger. It is one of the perks of the job reviewing them. Here are the two best ones for Valentine’s Day. Each one is a stunner.

Champagne Taittinger Brut Réserve NV

RRP: £40.05

Stockists:  Tesco.com, Sainsburys.com, Majestic.com, Waitress.com, Morrisons, Asda.com, Oddbins, Wine Rack, www.champagnedirect.co.uk and many other online and Independent retailers

40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier

Simply put Taittinger Brut Réserve defines the Taittinger house style. Dry, light and graceful with small fine bubbles. Fresh citrus fruit and subtle, weightier notes of peach and brioche combine to provide elegance in a glass.

Refreshing and light. It has a perfect fizz that will leave you happy and buzzing all night. Don’t dare celebrate without it.
 

 

Taittinger Brut Prestige Rosé NV

RRP: £48.25

Stockists: Asda.com, Waitress com, Wine Rack, Majestic.com, JohnLewis.com, The Soho Wine Company, Amps Fine Wines, Vino Wines, The Oxford Wine Company, Jeroboams, Lea & Sanderman, Fortnum & Mason, www.champagnedirect.co.uk

45% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Meunier

A vibrant rosé with a vivid aroma of red summer fruit, enticing wild strawberry and raspberry dominate the stylish and elegant palate.

I have always been a huge fan of rosé champagne and this one is my favourite. It is fruity and fizzy, exciting and elegant. Basically, it is just happiness in a glass. Could not recommend it more.

 

Both wines are available in gift packs with two glasses.

Below via johnlewis.com 

Champagne Taittinger gift sets

 

Guylian Artisanal Belgian Chocolates

guylainchocolate

Guylian’s Belgian Chocolate is offering a luxury selection of Belgian chocolates this Valentine’s Day. We recommend the bumper-sized 375g Praline Sea Shells which were devoured in seconds. As gorgeous as they are scrumptious.
Guylian’s Belgian Chocolate
What will you be getting your loved one?

Where To Travel On A Budget In 2017

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We’re almost ready to turn the calendar over to a new year, and that means all kinds of suggestions and predictions for 2017 are floating around the internet. People are talking about resolutions, major upcoming events, changes in the world, exciting films on the way, and all kinds of other things. But one of the most enjoyable things to talk about this time of year tends to be travel. The turn of a new year is a great time to plan ahead for a vacation or two, and around this time there are always new (or rather, updated) suggestions regarding where to go.

Here, we want to look at a few destinations in particular that might be ideal for travellers on a budget in 2017.

where-to-travel-on-a-budget-in-2017nambia

Namibia

Even among those who are fascinated by the idea of vacationing in Africa, Namibia doesn’t seem to come up often. Most people tend to focus on places like South Africa, Morocco, or Tanzania. Lonely Planet—one of the better online sources for destination browsing—wrote up a list of 2017 budget destinations and pointed to Namibia’s appeal in a pretty irresistible fashion. Noting the long-term depreciation of the Namibia dollar as a reason that now is a great time to go, the article pointed out desert wildlife spotting, river canyon hiking, and even sand surfing as activities to enjoy. And on top of it all, this is a country filled with rare natural beauty—which of course is the cheapest feature to enjoy on any vacation!

venice

Venice, Italy

If you’re interested in travel, you probably don’t need to be told about the beauty and intrigue of Venice. Viewed by many as one of the most stunning destinations in the world, it’s a bucket list item for a lot of us. However, it also has a reputation as an expensive place to stay. But the aforementioned Lonely Planet post points out that thanks to services like Airbnb it has become far easier to find affordable accommodations in Venice.

hanoi

Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi led the way in a write-up about budget travel destinations compiled by the Irish lottery site Lottoland. While primarily geared toward gaming, the site makes a point of posting about fun things for lucky winners to do with their winnings. As a result, this was a nice little travel article. Regarding Hanoi, the point was that despite immense growth and popular recognition as one of the world’s most fascinating cities, has remained incredibly affordable. A hotel room can cost as little as £20/night, and food costs are practically negligible compared to most popular destinations. For those prices, travellers can enjoy an amazing city steeped in history and cultural intrigue.

lapaz

Bolivia

Bolivia, and specifically the capital city of La Paz, is also mentioned in the Lottoland write-up, on the grounds that it offers the beauty and charm of Latin America at a far more affordable rate than most other destinations in the region. It’s estimated that a whole day of activity in Bolivia can cost as little as £20, which means that outside of actually getting there, this can be an extraordinarily cheap trip. Best of all, visitors can check off one of the truly magical places in the world from their travel lists: the legendary salt flats, or Salar de Uyuni.

portoportugal

Portugal

Forbes compiled its own list of 30 cheap places to travel in 2017, and was remarkably thorough about it. Portugal was included because it tends to be more affordable than the rest of Western Europe. It’s also worth noting that Portugal is sometimes overlooked alongside France and Spain as a stunning destination. Described in the Forbes article as “California Highway 1-meets-Tuscany,” it’s a beautiful place to explore, and one where you’ll find plenty of comfort in food and wine as well!

What Skin Needs Hydrating Facial Serum + Trends in Green Beauty for 2017

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hydratingfacialserumwhatskinneedsI am a huge fan of green beauty. Anything natural or organic usually gets my approval. I have been using What Skin Needs Hydrating Facial Serum for months now and I really love it. It has hydrating in the title, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Plenty of beauty products don’t back up their promises. This serum however left my skin feeling so hydrated that I rarely used a moisturiser afterwards. It is not too greasy and it really sinks into the skin. It left my skin looking amazing. I cannot sing its praises enough. It is light and non-greasy, always a win. It has jojoba oil which improves skin tone, and it also contains Plantolin which has anti-inflammatory properties. Great for scarring, pigmentation, skin cell renewal, skin balancing and hydrating & nourishing skin. Great stuff.

 

Now here are some Trends in Green Beauty for 2017

Having flawless skin is like effortlessly having great style – It’s always on trend!

One of the easiest ways to achieve flawless skin is to use natural and organic products as many have multiple properties which can clean, clear and protect your skin.

We’ve rounded up the top 5 organic beauty trends to look out for next year:

 

SEAWEED

We all lust after thick and voluminous hair, and just like mermaids, one of the best ingredients for thicker hair and a healthier scalp is from the sea.

Absorbing all the nutrients from the ocean, seaweed has high levels of calcium, and omega 3 and 6. These essential fatty acids are great for stimulating hair follicles, promoting growth and hydrating your scalp and hair.

Just like a green juice for your hair, the marine extracts help hair to rebuild itself and grow stronger.

Including seaweed in your diet is also a great way to keep your thyroid gland healthy, which in turn can effect the health of your hair, Dr Marilyn Glenville, author of Natural Alternatives to Sugar (Amazon, £7.17) explains:

“The Japanese also eat good quantities of seaweed which contain important trace minerals like selenium and iodine for healthy thyroid function. A wealth of immune boosting minerals, vitamins and amino acids can be found in seaweed, so try adding a little to your soups or mix with mashed potato.”

JOJOBA 

There are hundreds of different oils in skincare ingredients but only a few have cult status.

This organic oil is known to be great for balancing oil production in the skin as it almost tricks the skin into believing it already has produced enough oil. Jojoba oil is a non-comedogenic, so it is perfect for all skin types including those with acne or sensitive skin.

Skincare expert at What Skin Needs, Sonja Dymalovski, recommends using a skincare that includes natural oils such as jojoba oil, as they reduce the chance of breakouts.

“Natural oils tend to be much gentler on the skin which is why so many people favour organic skincare. Jojoba oil is easily absorbed into the skin, which is wonderful for people who might have drier skin. I would recommend using a organic serum like What Skin Needs Hydrating Facial Serum (£17.99, http://www.whatskinneeds.co.uk), as it also contains Plantolin which has anti-inflammatory properties.”

PROBIOTICS

Many celebrities use probiotics as an added extra in their beauty regime, Gwyneth Paltrow, Miranda Kerr and Halle Berry has all stressed the impact of a healthy gut in their skincare.

Nutritionist, Cassandra Barns, explains:

“The skin is also closely connected to the gut and supporting gut function can help to reduce skin outbreaks. There are a number of studies linking the use of probiotics to positive outcomes for eczema, acne, rosacea and anti-aging.”

Probiotics can have a calming effect on the skin by balancing the bacteria in your digestive system.

“To support your skin include fermented foods in your diet, such as kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and miso soup. You can also take a supplement, such as Pro-Ven 25 Billion (Boots, £13.95)”

 

POMEGRANATE

We know we love eating them but what about in skincare.

A powerhouse antioxidant, anything with pomegranate listed in their ingredients is sure to have amazing anti aging properties, boost collagen levels, and can help to protect the skin from further damage.

New studies have proven the anti-aging powers of pomegranates, so try and get as much of them in you and on your face as possible.[1]

Shona Wilkinson, from Superfood UK, explains:

“Pomegranates are native to Iran and India, in Ayurveda they are a symbol of fertility and prosperity!  They are packed full of nutrients and contain high levels of vitamin C. Try tossing the pomegranate seeds on a salad for a brilliantly colourful, crunchy, and nutritious addition and add them to your smoothies for a great taste.”

GREEN TEA

Just another reason to go green; not only is green tea packed full of antioxidants and nutrients, great for brain function and a natural boost to your metabolic rate, it also has a wonderful effect on the skin.

The high concentration of catechins gives Green Tea its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-aging effect on the skin. Studies have shown it can also reduce the risk of sunburn![2]

Nutritionist and weight-loss expert, Lily Soutter, explains how green tea can also curb your hunger cravings:

“The catechins found in green tea also help balance blood sugar levels. An added bonus is that green tea can help to lower cholesterol and triglycerides, as the polyphenols can help the body both eliminate cholesterol and stop its absorption. Try having 2 to 3 cups daily, in between meals.”