Author Archives: Catherine Balavage

Stay Up with Hugo Best Book Review

Posted on by

staying up with Hugo Best, Erin Somers, book review, book reviews

Some books are entertainment and some are a hard read. Stay Up with Hugo Best is a bit of both. It can be an uncomfortable,  read, but it is an important one. I feel like this is a real book which picks up on so much nuance. It is a rich tapestry of the complexities of the gender war.The relationship between men and women is complex, and the relationship between powerful men and younger women is complex and ripe for abuse.

Metoo has created a new world but it is not necessarily a better one. Abuse and inappropriate behaviour still happens. People make bad choices all of the time.Sometimes the people making the bad choices are woman. 

Stay Up with Hugo Best is a brave book and Erin Somers has taken her own path in writing it. It is a brilliant exploration of the entertainment industry and the powerful men within it. This book will resonate with many. A great read. 

The novel is an exploration of the power and influence in the entertainment industry in the #MeToo age and a meditation on desire, both realized and unrealized. Through these themes Somers has created in Stay Up with Hugo Best a wonderfully witty, wise and deliciously melancholy narrative.

Stay Up with Hugo Best charts the long weekend a late night talk show host and a young staffer spend together after the show’s cancellation. The weekend is tense, and uncomfortable and the characters so magnificently honest, as the two sardonic souls find themselves connecting.

When Somers finished a creative writing program in her late 20s, she did not know how to proceed. She was uselessly spinning her wheels. This seemed to her something a lot of her peers were going through too—the structures by which one builds a life seemed to have crumbled. ‘I thought this was an interesting time of life to explore, and an interesting predicament: how to succeed as a young woman in a creative field still dominated unfortunately by men. What compromises would I be willing to make if given the opportunity.’ From these initial reflections came her inspiration to write Stay Up with Hugo Best.

Stay Up With Hugo Best is available here.

 

Coronavirus SARS-COV-2 Health Advice From GPDQ’s Dr Gero Baiarda

Posted on by

NHS GP Dr Gero Baiarda is one of the hundreds of GPs currently on-call at GPDQ – the UK’s leading GP-on-demand service. Dr Baiarda has myth-busted 10 common beliefs associated with the SARS-COV-2:

The virus is a living organism that we can kill. It is not alive. It is a protein chain of RNA within a protective layer of fat. Since the virus is a protein super molecule rather than a living organism, you cannot kill it. It will, however, decay spontaneously given enough time. The time it takes to break down depends on the environmental temperature, humidity and type of material upon which it settles.

People are most contagious before they even know they have the virus. This is untrue. Infected cells are invaded and destroyed by the virus, allowing millions of new viruses to burst forth and be shed on surfaces or passed to other people. Spread is most effective, therefore, in coughed droplets. Patients who are asymptomatic can, however, pass on the virus as soon as they are infected.

SARS-COV-2 is a hardy virus. It isn’t. SARS-COV-2 is surprisingly fragile. The only protection it has is a thin outer layer of lipid or fat. That is why any soap or detergent (both of which break down fat) will destroy it – even washing up liquid works well. By dissolving the external lipid layer of the virus, the virus is rendered completely inert and unable to penetrate human cells. Hence why washing hands often with soap and water is so important.

If delivery drivers wear gloves, they won’t spread it. This is wrong. Every item that a gloved hand touches can then be contaminated. According to a recent study from the New England Journal of Medicine, the virus can live up to eight hours on cardboard. To stay safe, the best advice is not to touch the parcel until ideally the following day.

The virus can’t be passed on by food. It can be transferred easily. If someone who has the virus on their hands touches food, it is very likely to become contaminated for many hours. To denature and inactivate the virus, food should either be washed or cooked at 65 degrees celsius at least for 4 minutes or more.

Alcohol-based sanitizer with a 60 percent alcohol concentration is as effective as washing your hands in soap and water. Wrong. Squirting a little bit of alcohol gel on your palms and rubbing them together is not effective. You need to cover the entire surface of both hands including fingers and thumbs, but this should be done only after the hands are free of any residues – such as after sneezing. The small nozzle on bottles of sanitizer are part of the problem, as people assume a small amount is ample.

Drinking alcohol will prevent people getting the virus. This is not true. The only alcohol that will help to prevent the spread of the SARS-COV-2 is that in hand sanitizer. This is only for external use, and even then, it is only effective if it has a concentration of 60 percent or above, if you use enough, and in the right way.

Moisturising hands after washing reduces cleanliness. Incorrect. Moisturizing the skin is very important. The virus can lodge itself in damaged skin on your hands cracked by repeated washing, so it’s important to try to avoid this. Keeping fingernails short will reduce the risk of sheltering and passing on the virus too.

Washing hands isn’t as important when self-isolating, as you’re all virus-free. Wrong. If there are any external items (shopping / deliveries / post etc) entering your home, hand washing remains important. Every time you wash your hands you will break the chain of infection. If in doubt, give them a wash! Do this for at least 20 seconds with warm, soapy water and if you have paper towels that you can throw away, this is better than using a communal towel. If using towels, dedicate one to each person in the house, keep them separate, and wash them daily.

Vinegar is good for keeping bathrooms and kitchens free of the virus. Incorrect. Vinegar will not work against SARS-COV-2 and is not advised. The cleaning of bathrooms, kitchens and surfaces is still best carried out with hot water from the tap and a surface detergent as you have always done. If you have a case of SARS-COV-2 in your house and want to disinfect common areas, you can use a dilution of household bleach or hydrogen peroxide – this is a mild antiseptic.

Stay In Work Out: Rachael Attard Helps You Stay Fit and Active At Home

Posted on by

Rachael Attard , PT, workouts Australian PT Rachael Attard has shared a free 7-day cardio workout on her website to help us keep active and beat self-isolation blues.

Following government coronavirus advice, people around the world have been urged to stay home but that doesn’t mean you need to miss out on a workout.

Women’s fitness expert and personal trainer Rachael Attard is giving everyone the opportunity to get moving and take part in her cardio sessions without having to part with money, in a bid to keep the world active while at home and help cure self-isolation blues.

Rachael Attard has launched ‘Quarantine Cardio’, a seven-day cardio workout plan that you can do from your home. You can access the workouts for free via Attard’s website here.

The workouts are appropriate for all fitness levels and abilities, require minimal equipment and most importantly can be done without leaving the house. The videos can be done alone or you can encourage those you’re quarantined with to get involved, so grab your mom/housemate/bff if applicable. The videos range from brief one minute tutorials to full length follow at home workouts.

Get ready to get your heart racing, it’s time to take advantage of the free workouts led by Attard or her Mom (a cardio instructor with over 25 years experience)!

Day 1: At Home Cardio Blast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPc71ec6IHM

This is a great alternative workout to power walking or running. Attard is joined by her mom in this workout so if you’re self-isolating with others why not get them involved too.

This workout is a full length, follow at home workout and will take around thirty minutes.

Day 2: Full Body Workout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-B8IOB7GvE

A full-body resistance workout that won’t leave you feeling exhausted. It’s low impact and suitable for all fitness levels.

This is a one minute workout demo. Attard demonstrates how to properly execute each exercise within the comfort of your own home.

Day 3: Core Workout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVZVYRz8AlU

A super quick ab workout that can be done anywhere. If you have sliding discs, dig them out, if not grab some small towels or paper plates.

This is a one minute workout demo. Attard demonstrates how to properly execute each exercise within the comfort of your own home.

Day 4: Couch Booty Workout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYV5iwmuCPk

It’s time to work on your glutes and legs. To do this workout, stay in your living room as you’ll need to use the couch.

This is a one minute workout demo. Attard demonstrates how to properly execute each exercise within the comfort of your own home.

Day 5: Rest and Replenish

Day 5: Rest and Replenish

As important as it is to move your body, it’s also important to give your body time off to rest and recover.

Pro tip: Make sure you sleep on the right bed. A hybrid mattress that comes with an additional layer to relieve pressure from the most sensitive areas can help your body recover overnight

Day 6: Boxing Workout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb6ik1ivQHo

Attard is once again joined by her mom for a boxing workout that will help tone your core and upper body.

This workout is a full length, follow at home workout and will take around 40 minutes.

Day 7: Full Body Burn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP8Bm0BQ4Ro

To finish off this 7-day plan, Attard has prepared another low to moderate intensity routine that will work your whole body.

This workout is a full length, follow at home workout and take a little over thirty minutes.

 

Coronavirus Is Tough On All of Us But Together We Will Pull Through

Posted on by

Hey, how are you doing? Not great? I do not blame you. These are scary times. Every day is seems unbelievable that our lives have changed so much, and that so many have lost their lives. The NHS workers, delivery drivers, bin men and grocery workers are our new heroes. It is a new world and frivolous things do not mean much in a world like this.

I am seeing a lot of stuff on social media and in the press about how staying at home is easy so I just want to write this, not for any idiots who are going out and not listening to the Government guidelines, but for the rest of us: none of this is easy. It is okay to not be okay.

What is going on at the moment is horrendous and there is so much we do not know. If you are struggling then do not feel bad. I read a story about a 43-year-old woman who had what she thought was a cold and a fever for two days. Her husband called an ambulance when she collapsed. She died before the paramedics even arrived and her husband was in shock. They had a 13-year-old son.

A lot of people are dying every day and there are mass graves in New York. Pregnant women are having a tough time and some women who wanted to get pregnant say they have lost their last chance. This is all scary and unknown.

So many people have lost jobs and money. Millions of people have gone hungry. People are worried about the roof over their heads and the future. There is so much suffering at the moment. It is impossible to not be affected by this. So we must all go forward together because never before have we been more in this together. This is not easy but we have each other and we can all do whatever we can to put goodness and positivity into the world.

Get in touch with us if you want to talk or share your story. If you want to learn more about the Pandemic, or Pandemics in general, then I recommend Pandemic, the documentary series on Netflix, Pandemic: Covid-19 on NowTv.com and the movie Contagion which is also on Netflix.com.

 

Great Tasting Water On The Go: ZeroWater Portable

Posted on by

I love the ZeroWater filter so I was excited to see they now do a water bottle. The portable bottle has the all-powerful filter that filters out 95% of nasties. It is a good-looking bottle and is great for the environment. Highly recommended.

Research suggests 7.7 billion plastic water bottles are used each year, that’s on average 150 plastic bottles every year per person according to Water UK. Help cut down your own personal plastic footprint by making a small yet active change to the way you keep hydrated by carrying a reusable water bottle at all times, not only reducing your own use of plastic but also saving you money in the long run too.

zerowater, portable, water bottle,

Enjoy pure-tasting water anywhere you go! Offering 0.8L capacity the ZeroWater Portable combines all the top-performing filtration technology of the standard ZeroWater filtration jug but in a stylish, convenient cup complete with textured easy grip lid. So you can enjoy great tasting water out of your tap whether you’re at home, work or the gym, a resounding success for you and the environment.

The ZeroWater Portable uses the iconic patented ZeroWater filtration system, which combines FIVE sophisticated technologies that work together to remove virtually all dissolved solids from your water.  The only pour-through filter pitcher on the market that’s certified by the NSF to reduce lead.

What Does The ZeroWater Remove?

According to government figures 8.5 billion plastic straws are used each year. Which is why reusable straws are a great alternative and the ZeroWater Portable comes with just that, offering durability and a hard wearing design that seamlessly reflects the aesthetic of the portable cup. Another fantastic example of how the ZeroWater Portable is such a great alternative to single use plastic bottles.

How Long Will The Filter Last?

On an average water reading of 200 ppm you get 19 litres of filtered water from each ZeroWater Portable filter but please note it is dependent on the initial quality of your unfiltered tap water and daily consumption as the amount of dissolved solids in tap water varies across the UK. Each of the ZeroWater Portable filters employ a next-generation filter replacement technology. A “Colour Change” window which indicates when you need to replace your filter for added convenience. Once the replacement filter has then been fitted the other can be recycled at most Household Waste & Recycling Centres in the UK.

The ZeroWater Portable is available to buy online for £14.99 from ZeroWater, replacement filters (2 Pack), £14.99 from ZeroWater.

The Dilemma By B. A. Paris Book Review

Posted on by

B. A. Paris

The Dilemma is a book that stays with you. The characters are so rich and the premise of the novel is so breathtaking. I would label The Dilemma is a psychological thriller albeit one in the domestic setting of family. After all, is that not where the most complex things are? I dare you to put this novel down. I raced through it, my heart in my mouth. It is beautiful, sad and vivid. Perfect.

It’s Livia’s 40th birthday and she’s having the party of a lifetime to make up for the wedding she never had. Everyone she loves will be there except her daughter Marnie, who’s studying abroad. But although Livia loves Marnie, she’s secretly glad she won’t be at the party. She needs to tell Adam something about their daughter but she’s waiting until the party is over so they can have this last happy time together.

Adam wants everything to be perfect for Livia so he’s secretly arranged for Marnie to come home and surprise her on her birthday. During the day, he hears some terrible news. He needs to tell Livia, because how can the party go on? But she’s so happy, so excited – and the guests are about to arrive.

The Dilemma – how far would you go to give someone you love a last few hours of happiness?

One day that will change a family forever, The Dilemma is the breath-taking, heart-breaking new novel from the million-copy-selling, Sunday Times bestseller, B A Paris

The Dilemma is available here.

Don’t Let Lockdown Stop You Getting Quality Meals

Posted on by

I have had to use my initiative to get food during the COVID-19 pandemic. March saw shelf stripping and even now online food delivery is (for me at least) impossible.

So the people at Love Yourself sent us some food to try. They make gourmet food which is delivered to you daily. They have different diets so you will find the right one for you. We tried the Keto diet.

The food arrives in trays and has the calorie count and nutritional value on it. You can heat things up in the microwave or some things can be eaten cold. So far so easy, but how does it taste?

Amazing. My husband is notoriously hard to please and even he said he had never eaten so well. I have reviewed hundreds of restaurants and this food is restaurant-quality. It is expensive with a starting price of £21 but I would recommend it if you have the money.

The sight of bare shelves in your local supermarkets is something we are all becoming familiar with, we want to avoid these busy shops and overcrowded public transport at all costs. So while your continuing to find your feet with home-work life and new ways to get some exercise into your day it can be a challenge to think of nutritional balanced meals daily. Take the weight off your shoulder and allow your meals to come right to your door with Love Yourself. Dedicated to the health, happiness and well-being of their customers all the hard work is done for you. No cooking is required simply place in the microwave to heat up following the instructions provided then your free to reap the rewards of these delicious yet nutritious meals. To help strengthen those motivation levels and achieve those daily goals rather than giving in to the temptation to sit on the sofa and binge watch a box set.

food delivery, London, food boxes, food, where to get food, meal delivery,

As restrictions mean we are spending much more time at home, with such uncertainty it is so important to maintain the attitude ‘healthy body, healthy mind’ that way you can face the day well-nourished with a sense of positivity and motivation whatever comes our way. LoveYourself provide the most immune boosting meals safely, straight to your door. Calorie-controlled premium diets freshly prepared, using an exciting array of seasonal ingredients containing no processed meats, additives or preservatives. If you’re wondering what is beef jerky and whether it fits into a healthy lifestyle, LoveYourself focuses on meals that offer nourishing, whole food options instead of processed snacks.

Love yourself for delivery Love Yourself , food delivery, ketogenic dietketo diet, love yourself, food delivery,

While day to day live may become monotonous for the creators at Love Yourself it continues to be of paramount importance to keep things exciting in the kitchen, changing diet menus on a weekly basis so you’ll never get bored, which encourages weight loss and an improvement to your overall health.

No time to go to the shops?  Shops run out of stock? Love Yourself has you covered catering to your dietary requirements whether that be vegetarian, gluten free, keto or pescatarian. All food is prepared in a clean, sanitized facility with strict hygiene procedures in place. All food is packaged in sterile, food-grade containers, with an airtight seal to ensure its freshness and uncompromised hygiene until it is opened and enjoyed in your own home.

Looking for recommendations to help boost your immune system, read in full at; https://www.loveyourself.co.uk/blogs/news/immune-boosting-foods-that-ll-help-fight-off-the-coronavirus-and-more

The Love Yourself Meal Box, is available to buy online from £21.00 (daily) at LoveYourself.

Easy cocktails to mix at home

Posted on by
Cotswolds Garden  
cocktails, cocktail recipes, cocktail , alcohol, ideas,
Ingredients: 50ml Cotswolds Dry Gin, 25ml elderflower liqueur, 12.5ml fresh lime juice, 75ml pressed apple juice
Method: Place all ingredients into an ice-filled shaker, shake and strain into an ice-filled Copa glass. Garnish with fresh cucumber and mint
From £34.95 for 70cl (46% ABV). Available from Cotswoldsdistillery.com, Waitrose, Majestic, Oddbins, Laithwaites, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and Fortnum and Mason.
Cotswolds Whisky Sour 
Ingredients: 60ml Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky, 25ml fresh lemon juice, 20ml sugar syrup, 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters, ½ egg white
Method: Dry shake all ingredients, add ice to shaker, shake, fine-strain & serve into a chilled Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a fresh lemon wheel & cherry
From £44.95 for 70cl (46% ABV). Available from cotswoldsdistillery.com, Waitrose, Majestic, The Whisky Exchange, Harrods and Laithwaites.
Kokoro Dragon Ball  
 

Ingredients: 50ml Kokoro Gin, 20ml Lemon Juice, 5ml Kokoro Cherry Blossom Liqueur, 10ml Honey Syrup (3:1), 10ml Aperol, 2 Dashes of Orange Flower Water, Champagne (optional), Orange Peel
Method: Shake all ingredients apart from the Champagne with ice. Double strain and top with Champagne. Garnish with a twist of orange peel
From £29 for 70cl (42% ABV). Available from kokorogin.com, Master of Malt, John Lewis, 31Dover, Amazon and other good retailers. Also in the Kokoro Gin range are their delicious Japanese-inspired liqueurs, including Blueberry & Lemongrass, Yuzu and Ginger and Cherry Blossom.
From £12.50 for 20cl (20% ABV). Available from kokorogin.com and John Lewis
Barentsz Mandarin and Jasmine Martini 
 
cocktails, cocktail recipes, cocktail , alcohol, ideas,

Ingredients: 55ml Barentsz Mandarin and Jasmine Gin, 15ml triple sec (Grand Marnier) , 15ml dry vermouth, dash of orange bitters
Method: Pour ingredients into a shaker half filled with cracked ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
From £38.00 for 70cl (40% ABV). Available from Barentszgin.com and from 31Dover.com in a luxury gift carton.
Lowlander Sobeer Citrus Mocktail
 
cocktails, cocktail recipes, cocktail , alcohol, ideas,

Ingredients: 150ml Lowlander 0.00% Wit Beer, 30ml Seedlip Grove, 10ml Ginger syrup, 10ml Lime juice, Garnish with a juiced orange peel
Method: Fill a highball glass with ice. Stir all ingredients and strain into the glass over ice. Garnish with a swirl of juiced orange peel.
Lowlander 0.00% Wit Beer is available to purchase online:  As a single bottle from LightDrinks.co.uk for £1.99. As a single bottle from 31Dover.com for £2.02. As a case of 12 from Amazon for £36.95
Pinkster Gin & Jam  
 
cocktails, cocktail recipes, cocktail , alcohol, ideas,

@tonephotog 07908236655 shep@tone-photographer

Ingredients: 50ml Pinkster Gin, 15ml lemon juice, 15ml sugar syrup, 1tsp raspberry jam, a handful of blackberries
Method: Shake all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a Rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with fresh blackberries
From £36 for 70cl (37.5% ABV). Available from Marks & Spencer, Fenwick, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and Majestic Wine, Ocado, 31Dover.com, Master of Malt and Pinkster Gin.com.
Union Spirited Maverick 
Ingredients: 50ml Spirited Union Lemon & Leaf, 20ml Passion Fruit Puree, 30ml Fresh Lemon Juice, 15ml Vanilla Syrup, fresh passionfruit
Method: Pour ingredients in a shaker. Shake with ice and strain into pre-chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a passion fruit wheel float.
From £29.95 for 70cl (38% ABV). Available from Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange and Spirited Union.com.
Jaisalmer Golden Fort 
 
cocktails, cocktail recipes, cocktail , alcohol, ideas,

 Ingredients: 50ml Jaisalmer Gin, 15ml fresh lime juice, 10ml Cinnamon Syrup, 50ml Cloudy Apple Juice
Method: Pour ingredients in a shaker. Shake with ice and strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with an apple fan of 3 slices and add grated nutmeg (optional)
From £34.95 for 70cl (43% ABV). Available from The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt and DrinksSupermarket.com. 
The Queen Mary Edition G&T 
cocktails, cocktail recipes, cocktail , alcohol, ideas,

Ingredients: 50ml Gin 1689 – The Queen Mary Edition, fresh raspberries and strawberries
Method:Fill a Copa glass with plenty of ice. Add Gin 1689 – The Queen Mary Edition.
Top with tonic and garnish with raspberries and sliced strawberries.
From £37.95 for 70cl (ABV: 38.5%). Available from Master of Malt and Amathus Drinks
J&B Rare Whisky Gimlet 
cocktails, cocktail recipes, cocktail , alcohol, ideas,

Ingredients: 50ml J&B Rare, 25ml home-made lime cordial* (or bought Lime cordial),fresh lime peel
Method: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the ingredients and shake until the surface of the shaker feels chilled. Strain into a Coupe glass. Garnish with a twist of lime peel
From £22.50 for 70cl (40% ABV). Available from Waitrose, masterofmalt.com, thewhiskyexchange.com, drinksupermarket.com, 31dover.com and Justerini & Brooks.