I must say it’s always uplifting and inspiring to hear of those special people who grasp opportunities from even the most difficult situations.

Take 31 year old Pippa Kent for example – having had a double lung transplant, she needed to shield throughout the first Covid lockdown. So after thirteen weeks of house arrest, having become bored of the incessant circulating toilet paper jokes, TikTok and staring at her four walls (maybe this says more about me than Pippa), she started designing and making beautiful table Napkins. At first they were intended for personal use, just for her and her husband and to help her de-stress, but when friends and family saw them, they begged her to make some for them too. So one thing led to another and now she’s selling them as a business. Well done Pippa.

The Napkins are beautiful. Lovely soft 100% cotton, hand tie-dyed in beautiful colours and designs ranging from delicate pastels to striking deeper shades.

They come beautifully wrapped and with a note from Pippa herself. Prices start at just £12 for two Napkins, up to £35 for a set of eight.

The Napkins became so popular that Pippa has expanded her range to Tea Towels – which I just love – in fact I had to open mine up to show its full glory in the picture below. Like the Napkins they are cotton, but thicker for absorbency and at £8 make a really unusual and attractive Christmas gift.

And guess what? There’s more. Now you can also buy table runners and tote bags. How about a Tote and matching Tea Towel for £15?

I have the feeling this is just the start for this great company, based in Battersea, so watch out for more products.

Pippa’s designs and colours are lovely, but if you wanted something specific she offers a bespoke service too.

You can see more of her lovely designs on her Facebook page and Instagram, and you can buy them on Etsy.

Why not check out her special Christmas range for your gift list?

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.

According to NHS.co.uk Dyslexia is defined as : a common learning difficulty that can cause problems with reading, writing and spelling.It’s a specific learning difficulty, which means it causes problems with certain abilities used for learning, such as reading and writing.

Unlike a learning disability, intelligence isn’t affected.It’s estimated up to 1 in every 10 people in the UK has some degree of dyslexia which is a lifelong problem that can present challenges on a daily basis. Support is available, however,  to improve reading and writing skills and help those with the problem to thrive at school and work.

According to NHS.co.uk.  Dyspraxia, also known as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), is defined as:   a common disorder that affects movement and coordination.

Dyspraxia does not affect your intelligence. It can, however, affect your coordination skills – such as tasks requiring balance, playing sports or learning to drive a car. Dyspraxia can also affect your fine motor skills, such as writing or using small objects

Growing up I always thought that my dear dear mum was a clumsy and forgetful person, and I remember that when I was at school studying for my GCSE’s she would often ask me to check her spelling.  I just thought she wasn’t confident that  her spelling was correct, after all we all have those words we find difficult to spell,  mine is “Receive”. Thank God for spell check and autocorrect.  But what do you do when not one but two different people ask if you are Dyslexic ?

 Following her diagnosis earlier this year I asked my beautiful mother what it was like finally finding out in her 50s she is not only Dyslexic but has Dyspraxia. 

Mum works as a Clinical Pharmacy Technician, helping to  support GP surgeries and nursing homes with their medicine management. When dealing with drugs on a regular basis it is absolutely vital that the correct medicine and amount is dispensed, and of course, there is no room for error. So how does someone with Dyslexia ensure that she doesn’t make any mistakes? What prompted her to get tested? How does she feel about her diagnosis? What help is available to fellow dyslexics? I asked Mum all of this and more.

What prompted you to get tested for Dyslexia?

‘4 years ago my then line manager asked if I was Dyslexic and they even offered to pay for the test to find out. This test would have set the NHS back roughly £500 and I did not want them wasting that money as I had always assumed I was just thick. However, at this point,  I took it upon myself to go to night school to improve my language as I was only using simple words in my work,  and my punctuation was very poor. Then at the beginning of 2020 someone else asked me again if I was Dyslexic. I then went online and discovered that I did in fact show signs of Dyslexia and I found a woman who offers private assessments. I  wanted to find out one way or the other and at least this time it was coming out my pocket and not the NHS’s.

What was the testing process like?

‘I was asked questions about my childhood and about what school was like when I was younger. She also asked if I was clumsy which made me chuckle,  as any member of my family will tell you that I am known for always bumping into things or stumbling. With that said she  explained that she was going to test me for both Dyslexia and Dyspraxia.

With one test there were various shapes that she had made up from a number of squares, I then had to mimic these. I did struggle to make up some shapes. Another test required me to read a passage from a book and then she questioned me about about my understanding of the passage, particularly certain words.

One test which I found very difficult was where she would say a sequence of numbers and letters, for example “1C2D4H7F3K” and I would then have to repeat it back to her but backwards.

In another test she would tap out a rhythm which I would then have to copy, I found this fairly easy.

Finally after an assessment that lasted nearly 3 hours she revealed that I did in fact have Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. Which did come as a bit of a shock to me and I was concerned that others would say that I was not fit to do my job anymore. And then the imposter syndrome set in, how did I get here if I couldn’t read properly?

And whats more I was not just Dyslexic, but  I also had Dyspraxia…  Until  that day I had never heard of Dyspraxia let alone what it was, but once she explained  the condition, my clumsiness started to make sense.

Looking back on everything you have achieved ( a degree and NVQ) despite your undiagnosed Dyslexia, are you proud?

‘I wouldn’t say proud, I am however surprised that I have been able to achieve so much. I had to work extremely hard to achieve my NVQ and degree, graduating from Portsmouth University in 2012 with a foundation degree in Science.I poured my heart and soul into achieving my qualifications. and as I am very slow at reading  I had to keep re-reading things to make sure I understood them properly and if I had been diagnosed earlier and  had the help one can receive now, my life would have been considerably easier. So, not proud, but frustrated that it was harder than it had to be.’ 

Tell us what help is  available now?

‘Work is wonderfully supportive, and I also have an array of practical support: one piece of software converts my speech to text which is a great help and then there is a different piece of software which will read any documents for me, making my working life so much easier. I am also getting a dictaphone so i will be able to record meetings and then my computer will convert it to text for me.

What was school like for you?

‘Junior school was absolutely awful for me, I was called names and always lacked the confidence to ask questions on things that I didn’t understand. I was even held back a year. At the time Dyslexia wasn’t heard of so the teachers just treated me as if I was slow and not very bright. Luckily these days learning difficulties such as dyslexia are usually  understood, and children are diagnosed at a young age.’

What advice would you give to others who are struggling with Dyslexia, or at least think they might have it?

‘I would say: get diagnosed, and then accept all the support offered. Do not be afraid to accept the help that is available to you. Make ‘to do’ lists to help organise your day. I am also a member of a Facebook group called Dyslexia UK which is a great support to me and I find that it is a relief to talk to fellow sufferers.

When Mum told me her diagnosis I was so surprised.

I have always been so proud of her, of everything that she has achieved whilst juggling her career and her family, but on learning that she did all of that whilst being dyslexic just blows me away: ‘Caryn Peeke you are one phenomenal woman and I am very proud to call you my mother.’

Margaret Graham, editor of Frost Magazine says, ‘Yes, indeed, Caryn Peeke is so inspiring, and with a mother like that, no wonder her daughter, our Natalie – West Country Corespondent,  is so remarkable.‘

It might just be me, but the onset of autumn, makes me appreciate all things Scottish and although Caorunn (pronounced Ka roon) was launched in 2009, it is high time that it was better known amongst us gin drinking aficionados, south of the border, of whom, I count myself one.

Produced in the Scottish Highlands, hand crafted in small batches, and quadrupled distilled, it has a uniquely vibrant flavour profile, gained from hand- picked, Coul blush apple, Dandelion, Heather, Bog Myrtle and the aforementioned Rowan berries.

The name Caorunn originates from the Gaelic name for Rowan berry.

This gin is an expert infusion of five locally foraged botanicals, six traditional gin botanicals and natural Scottish water.

Caorunn is clean, crisp, sweet, full bodied and aromatic, no wonder that it is so versatile, (of which more later), with a long, refreshing, slightly drying finish.

Caoruun Gin is perfect for a variety of delicious cocktails including one that mixes Caoruun gin with Campari, Kombucha, apple and sugar syrup garnished with a Blackberry

This is a distinctly tasty gin and I strongly suspect that I will be enjoying it far beyond autumn.

As with all good Gins, the garnish is important and not merely decoration to be ignored. It is recommended that Caorunn Gin is served with a good tonic with plenty of ice and a slice of red apple.

I make no apologies for eating the gin-soaked apple slice once the gin has been drunk, I like to think of this as my just dessert.

Caorunn Gin is available from selected Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores, The Whisky Shop and other specialist spirit retailers- RRP £29.00.

‘Commemorative? you ask. Sadly yes.

M C Beaton (1936-2019) was the author of both the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series, as well as numerous Regency romances. Her books have been translated into seventeen languages and have sold more than twenty-one million copies worldwide. She is consistently the most borrowed UK adult author in British libraries, and her Agatha Raisin books have been turned into a TV series on Sky.

She is one of my favourite authors, I laugh, I try and work out ‘who dun it’, I love Aggie, with a passion. And what’s more, I fear Agatha Raisin is rather like me. She seems not to have a filter on her mouth.  She says things  I would indeed think, and probably even say, in a similar situation.

I absolutely adore her, though she can irritate, manipulate, behave rather badly but finally unearth the truth, though scattering her love life in bits around her.  In fact, even as I’m writing this, I am thinking of that other hilarious character DI Frost created by R D Wingfield. Both authors so clever, both who created characters we love, both whom we miss beyond measure.

Stuart MacBride has written a warm and evocative introduction, revealing that Marion was just as fascinating as I suspected, and had lived a full and fascinating life. He shares anecdotes, and laughter. A perfect shoehorn into Quiche of Death, which is presented in a commemorative cover, and which anyone would love for Christmas, something naughty but oh so  nice.

Quiche of Death takes us into the world of a successful PR doyen, Agatha Raisin who is gathering up her togs and retiring to a quiet (you’ll be lucky) Cotswold village – dear old Carsely  – which we have come to know so well over the years. To help herself settle in and become one of the community, this great non-cook decides to enter the village quiche competition, and win. This is Aggie we’re talking about, who can stuff a ready made meal in the microwave but little else, so she cheats. Of course she does. Off she goes to her old haunt, London, and sorts out a deal with a deli.

And it all goes dreadfully wrong, of course… To clear herself of the consequences  she has to find the real baddie. And hence, in this debut Agatha Raisin novel, our unique sleuth is born.

I miss M C Beaton, I longed to receive my review copy, and would even have bought one, in hardback. Unheard of for me. Treat yourself for Christmas. Join those like the St. Petersburg Times. ‘[Agatha] is a glorious cross between Miss Marple, Auntie Mame, and Lucille Ball . . . She’s wonderful’ 

Or the Chicago Sun-Times: ‘Beaton has a winner in the irrepressible, romance-hungry Agatha’

And what about another favourite of mine, Lee Child, that well know thriller writer, and author of the Jack Reacher novels: ‘Full of perfectly pitched interest, intrigue, and charm’

One of my favourites and oh so true Daily Mail: ‘A Beaton novel is like The Archers on speed.’

Catch up on this commemorative copy of Quiche of Death by M C Beaton  28 years after it was first published and which started one of the most popular crime series of a generation. Give yourself a treat in your Christmas stocking, but buy one for everyone else in the family – a copy each, or they’ll pinch yours, and it’s so attractively jacketed, it’s one to keep pristine: howzat?

Quiche of Death by M C Beaton with an introduction by author and her friend, Stuart MacBride, publisher Constable. hardback @ £20

Delicario Christmas Gift Hamper

image courtesy of Alex Scazney

There I was, reading the press release lauding the luxury brand Delicario  but thinking, oh yeah, really? I mean could this ethically sound niche online delicatessen also be professional and efficient? Well, I’m sorry to be picky but so often things fall apart after the order goes in, and then … the… w-a-i-t, the packaging and mishaps, the presentation… Hey ho, the first step was to obtain a sample and only then could I attest to the quality of the product, not to mention the ongoing efficiency.  

We should at this point bear in mind that this old duck, the editor of Frost Magazine, is on yet another diet, so yes, a soupcon of something artisan wouldn’t breach the dry bread and water regime surely. But then it all went very wrong. 

Postie brought … roll of drums, and  a ting from the triangle …  a Delicario wicker hamper  the next day. Forget the solitary jar of something, here was a cornucopia of goodies from small artisan European producers, all regulated and directed from the head office: Birch Barn  in Kent, Delicario (www.delicario.com )

Diet, what diet? As I unlatched the black wicker straps I found myself wondering if the efficiency would be matched by quality.  Well, see of yourself. Here we have Arke extra virgin olive oil. The olives are picked by hand and milled within 12 hours, in a low temperature to respect and exalt the flavours as the attached label explained. Oh how wonderful to read this about the olive oil. It could not have come from anywhere but a sustainable artisan concern. 

Then, the Sauginon Blanc, Nube ,  De Leza Garcia from Spain, grapes grown in Rioja. Oh my word, serve chilled,  breathe in the scent, taste the dry smoothness. Really, it IS just so smooth.

This we drank with Italian Pate of Artichokes. Dream with me… Subtlety of flavour to die for, and of  course, Italian, I should have known. I have been in love with all things Italian after the ticket man at the Uffizi  (I believe it was), said when I asked for an old person’s entry. ‘Ahhh, but not old, merely experienced.’ I nearly fainted with joy that someone had recognised me for what I am.

The only draw back to our little moment of pate and wine heaven was that Dick and I should have been eating it with Inspector Montalbano on his balcony overlooking the sea,  none of us speaking as we savoured every bite, and added just a spot more Arke extra virgin olive oil on the tomato salad.

Then, of course, for Madam Fatty, just one or two sweet orange/chocolatey treats made by Kucino, Italy. I sat hearing the waves lapping, watching the moon rising…

And in the morning, Mandarin Marmalade on toast, so very British, but actually Italian, tasting of mandarins, and a very finely cut marmalade, almost a puree I’d say. Delicious.

 So, bravo the hamper, with each item sensibly packed, the bottles safely swathed, and even a personalised note that came with it, Dear Margaret, the experienced woman from Yorkshire …  Well, no, not the latter.

Delicario (www.delicario.com) is a niche online delicatessen working with small-scale sustainable producers of authentic regional European delicacies with an ‘international farm to table approach’, launched by a small team of specialists working in the luxury services industry with a passion for food and travel. Steering clear of mass production, the emphasis is on sourcing natural ingredients, harvested and processed with dedication to detail, as you can tell,  by often family-run businesses and sold online as individual items, gift boxes or hampers.

The Delicario website (www.delicario.com) is  consumer friendly which with my IT expertise (nil)  is something I seldom say. It’s easy to navigate through a list of well-presented specialities including charcuterie, truffles and mushrooms, wine and champagne, paté and creams as well as artisan pasta, sauces and baked as well as sweet treats. In the dedicated hamper section, there are suggestions tailored to all occasions such as the ‘Delicario Christmas Temptation Hamper’ with Damien Buffet brut rosé champagne and Vossignoria cheese laced with truffle, Ascolano olives from Piceno and Croccantino dark chocolate from Campania.

The ‘Delicario Dinner for Two Hamper’ includes the finest Bellota Iberian ham, Calabrian Capocollo and Marettimo cheese with sprigs of thyme, accompanied by the ‘haute- couture’ of champagne, followed by pure Wagyu beef rib-eye and a full-bodied Barbera D’Alba. Dessert is of course included as chocolate lovers indulge in Piedmont hazelnut cake smothered in dark chocolate fondant. Each gift box and hamper can also be individually tailored by selecting products from the Delicario range.

Gift vouchers and personalised greeting cards offer a personal touch.

Founder Marco Rosa and his team are eager to start fulfilling orders including Christmas hampers and gift boxes at Birch Barn in Kent. He remarks, “Having the experience of working with well-known, luxury brands for over 25 years, we have seen a shift by consumers towards conscious shopping for high quality, sustainable and often organically grown goods. The secret of successful cultivation has been passed down through several generations of mostly family-run businesses. Every product has a story to tell!”

“Our mission is to bring the best European artisan flavours to the table of appreciative customers, particularly during a period when travel to new and unexplored places is complicated. This year, Christmas cheer comes in gift boxes and hampers that capture the very best of authentic ingredients to create a ‘dining out experience’ in your own home.”

About Delicario

Based at Birch Barn in Kent, Delicario (www.delicario.com) was established by co-founders Marco Rosa, Alexander Scasny and Andrew Dack as an innovative online ‘international farmers market’, selling individual items, gifts and hampers of artisanal delicacies sourced from hand-picked regional producers all over Europe. Avoiding mass production, Delicario believes in the unique spirit of natural ingredients, harvested and processed with love by small family businesses, always with sustainability in mind. Each product has been thoughtfully selected to inspire celebration and harmony in flavours around the dining table.

One day I will visit and interview the team. It really is my kind of set up, and I know it will be yours. I recommend Delcario with no reservations whatsoever. I’ve had a simply wonderful time, and am about to throw the weighing scales out of the window, Life is truly too short, for ‘experienced’ women like me to be fretting. Besides, I will take an few more turns around the sports village cycle track, on my sit up and beg, stately as a galleon, and care not if I hold everyone up. So there.

I am so delighted, as I have found the perfect Christmas gift for my four children. They will love their hampers.

Annie Clarke is a Random House author. Her latest novel is Christmas on the Home Front.

SAS Band of Brothers is very much about bringing history alive. Making WWII – a decades-old conflict, with so few veterans still with us – resonate and feel real. Bringing Remembrance home. I love the fact that my readers range from teenagers to octogenarians, and so many of the messages I receive start out with: ‘I’m was never one for reading books until I picked up your …’

I open SAS Band of Brothers in a dramatic time and place with a compelling cast of characters: a twelve-man SAS patrol, under command of Captain Patrick Garstin, speeding into Nazi-occupied France in the dark and echoing belly of a Stirling heavy bomber, about to parachute behind the lines. The narrative sticks with these twelve incredibly colourful characters on the rollercoaster ride that then unfolds – of action, courage, tragedy, raw survival and ultimate vengeance.

Likewise, I tend to read gripping history. Don’t be put off by the tome-like expanse of Erik Larsen’s The Splendid and the Vile. Sub-titled ‘A saga of Churchill, family and defiance during the Blitz’ it is just that – conjuring up a cast of characters and a sense of place that is gripping and visceral and makes for compelling reading. Larsen makes such towering figures human: Churchill openly in tears as he walks through London’s blasted streets, endearing him to Londoners …

But historic fiction can be equally rewarding. Robert Harris’s V2 conjurs up the sheer size and fearsome potency of the Nazi’s Vergeltungswaffen – Vengeance Weapons – whose and technological superiority almost tipped the scales in the war. As the massive rockets steam and snort and arrow their way from a freezing Dutch woodland towards London, at supersonic speed, a desperate plot to stop them is launched against all odds …

I’m presently reading an advance copy of Simon Scarrow’s Blackout – which published in March 2021. Set in 1939 in Germany, I’m transfixed by the scenes of Nazi party dignitaries and the Berlin glitterati stomping the snow from their boots, as they gather for a decadent winter ball to celebrate how the Blitzkrieg – the lightning-war – has crushed Poland, with most of Western Europe set to follow.

Pivotal moments in history; utterly authentic characters; a gripping plot. The perfect way to bring history alive.

By Damien Lewis

Damien Lewis is a Sunday Times no 1 bestselling author whose books have been translated into forty languages worldwide.  For twenty years Damien worked as a war and conflict reporter for the world’s major broadcasters, reporting across Africa, South America, the Middle East and Far East winning numerous awards. Several of his books are being made into feature films.

SAS Band Of Brothers continues Damien’s iconic WWII elite forces series: Churchill’s Secret Warriors, The Nazi Hunters, Hunting The Nazi Bomb, SAS Ghost Patrol, SAS Italian Job and SAS Shadow Raiders.

Frost will be reviewing SAS Band of Brothers by Damien Lewis shortly

SAS Band of Brothers  by Damien Lewis  Published by Quercus Books in hardback on 5^th November 2020 @ £20

Looking for a new phone? Why not check out TCL. Not heard of them? Well guess what, they’ve made mobiles for names like BlackBerry for years, and now they’re making their own. TCL 10 android series is their new generation, which are getting great reviews, and at £199.95 to £399.95 SIM-free, worth taking seriously. So let’s look at the TCL 10 5G and the TCL 10L.

TCL 10 5G, as its name suggests, supports 5G – which for those struggling to keep up with technology, means ten times faster data transfer speeds, reduced latency (time for data to travel to and fro) and steadier, faster network and Wi-Fi connections.

Like others in the TCL 10 series, it has a particularly large display (6.53 inch full HD+) with 91% screen to body ratio and NXTVISION, creating fabulous visuals with popping colours and super clear and striking contrasts – great for watching films and playing games, or having that special face-time conversation with grandkids during lockdown.

The camera, or should I say cameras – are particularly impressive – a 64MP high resolution quad main camera, including wide-angle lens, macro camera for super close-ups, and depth camera for professional quality photos with Bokeh (that lovely blurred effect around a portrait photo) and dual LED flash. There’s also a 16MP front facing camera, with improved low-light capabilities for brighter selfies.

Considering also the newest generation wireless connectivity for faster browsing and bufferless streaming; 128GB internal memory (expandable to an additional 256GB using the micro SDXC card slot); a great battery with fast charging capability and OTG reverse charging (so your phone can charge other devices); Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G – good news for gaming enthusiasts; and at just £399.95 SIM-free at Argos or on contract for £19 upfront and £19 for 24 months at Three this is a high-range phone packed with features for not a lot of money.

But if you’re on a tighter budget, how about the TCL 10L at just £199.95 SIM-free from Argos or JD Williams? It has many of the features of the TCL 10 5G – the same large screen; quad camera (albeit 48MP as opposed to 64MP), 16MP front camera and wireless Super Bluetooth audio sharing. It has a 64GB internal memory, expandable to 256GB using a micro SD card, and a Snapdragon 665 processor.

Both phones have MP3 and MP4 players, headphone port, contactless payment facility, and secure fingerprint scanner for safe, speedy unlocking.

Having had a chance to try out the TCL 10L, I found it light and balanced. I love the extras – the included protective phone case, and the cute 3 pin plug, which collapses down for portability. The programmable side-button is a great feature, allowing you, for example, to access the camera immediately (useful if Antonio Banderas walks across your path unexpectedly – it hasn’t happened yet), or whatever other short-cut you choose to programme, such as launching a particular app or tool.

I’m really impressed – well done TCL.

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.

An interesting book arrived on my desk, posing the question: ‘Have you ever wondered why some people manage their emotions more than others?’

Who hasn’t wondered that?

We all have our ups and downs as life takes a swipe at us, and this A – Z has some good ideas on how to learn to notice our emotions and work on them on a daily basis. But not obsessively, not in a navel gazing way.

It suggests preventative measures and emotional fitness.

In this book, experienced coach and trainer Clare Davis discusses 26 easy ways to increase the positive emotions in our lives and improve our emotional fitness, with plenty of practical activities to help us  put the theory into practice. He also says that there are there different types of CBD vapes which can help one with keeping their mental health in its best shape. It put me in mind of the excellent Lightning Process, which is a course  I looked in on – and let’s face it, anything that  gets our emotional fitness in place and working for us, not against us, is invaluable.

Try Emotional Fitness A – Z – it’s helpful.

Kindle or Paperback: https://www.novaassociates.co.uk/mental-health-book