The Gypsy Bride by Katie Hutton, pub. Zaffre in pb, eBook and audio

This is a cross-cultural love story written with warmth and drama. Ellen is the granddaughter of  Methodist preacher and intends to marry Charlie, from her own village. But Charlie is killed in the 1st World War.

Fortunately Ellen meets Sam Loveridge, from a local Gypsy community. Such a heady moment, such excitement, which becomes passion and true love.

But how does this ‘sit’ in a Methodist community? Ah well, read and see.

The Devil you Know by Emma Kavanagh, pub by Orion in pb, eBook and audio.

A different kettle of fish altogether as good girl Rosa Fisher, who is halfway through her PhD, is in her house, alone, when she hears an intruder on the stairs. Arghh. Who hasn’t thought they have heard someone: the heart stops, fear freezes you, but then there is no-one there.

But what if it IS someone? Who is he? What does he want? Well, he’s after someone else that opens a window on Rosa’s life.  Now, she goes back in time, to her origins, and her ‘goodness’.

Full of pace, twists and written with grit. Clever, and great characters.

The Path to the Sea by Liz Fenwick, pub HQ. pb, eBook and audio.

Such an evocative title, and great jacket but set on the Cornish coast, how could it not be.

Boskenna, the imposing house on the Cornish cliffs which means something different to each of the Trewin women. Joan found it a paradise back in the 60s when she and her husband could be away from their normal world, but did they escape into happiness?

Diana is Joan’s daughter,  looking for the happiness of her childhood, symbolised by Boskenna, but was it really happy?

Then there’s Lottie, in disarray, heading for Boskenna escaping her life, in an echo of her parents, but how will the return end?

There they are, all three together. Time for the lid to be lifted on the past. Will their relationship survive?

Warm, evocative, you can taste the salt on your lips, feel the breeze in your hair as Liz Fenwick weaves her magic.

Annie Clarke is the author the Home Front Girls series.

We have two dogs who really don’t care about lock down, or lock up, or lock sideways…  As long as they get their walk. So up at 5.30 and out. It has awakened us to the lanes down which we walk, alone, with two dogs. We have time and the isolation to stop and stare.

Here in North Yorkshire we have had strong winds and rain, so today was the wheat field still upright? It was, and the distant poppies still in place, under a sky which loomed low, but with the usual clarity here, on the east.

As June becomes July, the wild flowers mingle with the grasses, which have been left to grow as more and more verges are given over to nature, and the bees. Of course, the campions are out in full strength.

Field scabious made it this year which was a huge pleasure, in amongst the grasses.

On we walked. And there, was the fixture, a den. Who didn’t create a den when ‘we were young’.  To make daisy chains, to read, talk as we grew older until we had no need… We had discovered there was a world outside ours

. 

Nearby the lavatera was growing well, and beyond the hedge, an oat field full of poppies.

And the dogs?

The grown up? Ready for lunch at 9.00 and bed at 6.00. Chance would be a fine thing.

I hadn’t heard of kinetic sand before, but now I’m addicted. It really is a lot of fun, and in case this is new to you too, let me explain.

Like many of the best toys, So Sand DIY is deceptively simple. It has all the fun of normal sand but without the downside, like spilling all over the carpet, ended up in eyes and mouth, you know the sort of thing.

So Sand DIY looks and feels like slightly wet sand, but it moulds into shapes like clay. You can colour it, add glittery decorations, and using the provided moulds, or even just stuff that you have in your kitchen, like jars and bowls, you can make fun, brightly-coloured shapes.

It’s great to fire up your child’s imagination – make a birthday cake like Mummy does, or a colourful patterned ball. Using the provided cutters you can slice the cake into multi-coloured sections, and once you’ve finished you can use the sand again of course.

But it’s fun for adults too. There’s a growing craze for sensory experiences and ASMR (Autonomic Sensory Meridian Response) – the new buzz acronym – a feeling of euphoria and relaxation triggered by different sensory stimuli.

How many of us have sat on a beach, scooping up handfuls of wet sand and moulding and squeezing it with our fingers as we allow it to fall, bit by bit back to earth, whilst noticing the sound of the waves, the hot sun on our face, the salty smell and the cool breeze blowing our hair? Well you may not have realised, but recreating that feeling, by playing with the So Sand DIY, together with listening to the soft crunchy sound as you cut though it, is all creating ASMR. There are even YouTube videos using this to help the viewer feel calm and relaxed, and apparently it’s good for insomnia too.

So Sand and DIY comes in various great sets. I particularly like the Satisfying Sand Case. The whole kit comes in a really useful valet case, with multiple sections where you can store the sand and cutters after use, and the base of the case converts to a play tray for the sand. It comes with three packets of sand, three different bright colouring powders, three lots of coloured and shaped glittery decorations and four different cutting tools. This kept me occupied for ages but there are other great sets too (see pictures below) such as the Sensory Studio, which looks really intriguing, don’t you think? And the Satisfying Sand Ball Case too.

Sets available from Smyths Toys: RRP ranging from £2.79 to £24.99 – a great treat for six year olds to adult. Give it a try.

By Dr K Thompson, 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.

We look to France or Italy for fine wine, and Mexico for a great tequila, but gin has been a British forte since the 1600s. Distilleries have started using clever blends of botanicals and natural flavourings to create fun and adventurous variations and Boodles® Rhubarb and Strawberry gin is rather good. Not surprisingly perhaps, as Boodles® have been making gin since 1845, and their brand was a favourite of Winston Churchill’s. Interestingly, it isn’t made with citrus, and the unique flavour stems from a blend of botanicals including sage, rosemary and nutmeg. Of course this leaves you the option of adding your own slice of fresh lemon or lime to taste too.

What could be more quintessentially English than strawberries and rhubarb? Think of Wimbledon, Sunday crumble, croquet, afternoon tea and those hot summer days – sometimes more of childhood memories than reality – but instant happiness regardless.

And, as you’re relaxing in the sun, listening to the rhythmic bong of tennis ball on strings, or the clod of hooves on a polo lawn, or just the neighbours’ kids playing in their garden, what better to sip than a good gin, beautifully pink, sweetly perfumed – perhaps with tonic, and a little ice – enough to cool but not to drown.

They say we drink with our eyes first (or was it eat? who cares?) Boodles® Rhubarb and Strawberry gin has a lovely delicate pink hue, as you open the bottle you’re hit by a delicious strawberry aroma , and as you take a sip, strawberry hits you first, followed by a mellow rhubarb and finally the beautiful herbs and spices of the Boodles® gin.

It makes some fun cocktails too – perfect for a summer party. There’s one suggestion below, but the Boodles®website has lots more great recipes.

Priced at £27.95 for 70cl, 37.5% ABV, it is available to purchase online from Masters of Malt

Have fun, enjoy, drink in moderation – I shall be doing exactly that.

By Dr K Thompson, 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.

So, cautiously step by step, we’re emerging from lockdown, with its anxieties, comfort eating and limited exercise. No surprise perhaps that our summer clothes have shrunk in the wardrobe whilst we’ve been chilling in onesies?

So what’s it to be? Crash diet? Artificial sweeteners? Or salad and water until, well until that superhuman willpower melts in the face of the first ice-cream which calls our name?

Doomed? Fear not, hope is here, in the shape of Yaconviva Cacao Nibs – a sweet treat which really can be good for your waistline.

But how? Well, first a little science. I know, but it’s important, trust me.

Recent research shows that the tiny microbes (bacteria/viruses/fungi etc), which call our guts home, are far more influential than we realised. We have ten times as many bacteria in our gut than we have cells in our body. So our bacteria outnumber us by 10:1 – a compelling reason to ensure they’re friendly.

What do these microbes do? Well they help us digest some of our food, they produce chemicals and hormones, which keep our gut healthy, improve our immune system and even our mental health. Importantly the right microbes can help control ‘sugar spikes’ in our blood, hence reducing our risk of Type 2 Diabetes and obesity. There’s also emerging evidence that they benefit various gut diseases and even cancers – and some help cancer treatments such as immunotherapy to work better.

The key word is the ‘right’ microbes, and this is where probiotics and prebiotics come in. Probiotics, such as natural yoghurt, contain ‘good’ microbes, so eating them is a quick way to up numbers. However, once in your gut, they need to survive and multiply, and this is where prebiotics come in. These are foods, such as fructooligosaccharides  (FOS), which provide nutrients for good microbes. FOS are present in some vegetables, such as onions and chicory root, and particularly in yacón – a root vegetable found in the Andes. The great thing about FOS is, they’re naturally sweet, but we don’t absorb them so they don’t make us fat or cause sugar spikes. The best news is they feed and encourage our ‘good’ gut microbes – unlike artificial sweeteners, which actually promote harmful microbes. You can read more about all this here.

A great source of FOS is pure organic yacón syrup available from YaconViva. It can be used as a sweetener in drinks, in baking, in deserts or anywhere else where you need added sweetness. Much better for you than artificial sweeteners.

But the product I really love is Yaconviva Cacao Nibs – all organic and a really yummy snack. They only contain yacón syrup and cacao nibs, so are vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free, plus they’re packed-full of antioxidants and contain natural caffeine. Give yourself and your gut microbes and taste of heaven every day – I plan to do exactly that.

Available from Amazon UK, and yaconviva.co.uk and good health stores.

RRP £9.99 for a 300g pack.

By Dr K Thompson, 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.

Hugh Dennis, Mel Giedroyc and Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir are among those announced for Keep Our Doors Open concert for St Martin-in-the-Fields Sunday 31st May 2020, 7pm

Since the Covid-19 lockdown began, more than 10 million people have enjoyed the music that continues to be produced from St Martin-in-the-Fields from the safety of their own homes. Now, they are holding a one-off digital concert with performers who know and love the space. These artists are coming together to raise money to keep St Martin-in-the-Fields’ doors open, to support their work with homeless and vulnerable people in London and across the UK, and to help sustain their work with talented young musicians.

Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Revd Dr Sam Wells will begin the evening’s festivities. During the concert, award-winning journalist and BBC broadcaster, Julian Worricker will speak with comedian Hugh Dennis (Outnumbered, BBC; Mock The Week, BBC), Miko Giedroyc (Founder, Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir), Clarence Hunt (Choir Director, Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir) and presenter and personality, Mel Giedroyc (Mel and Sue, ITV; Great British Bake Off, BBC).

He will also speak to St Martin-in-the-Fields’ Choral Conducting Fellow, Gabriella Noble. BBC newsreader and children’s author Zeb Soanes (Gaspard the Fox, Graffeg) will introduce the pieces, including poetry readings from comedian Arthur Smith (The Comedy Club, BBC Radio 4; Are You Being Served, BBC) and a performance from slam poet Harry Baker (Winner, World Slam Poetry Competition, 2012). There will be soaring performances from St Martin’s Voices, their professional choral ensemble, and the Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir. Warren Mailley-Smith, the last person to perform at St Martin-in-the-Fields before lockdown, will share Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue on the piano, and there will be an astonishing performance by soprano Katharine Dain.

The St Martin-in-theFields choral scholars will present En la Macarenita, arranged by Bob Chilcott, and there will also Page | 2 be a performance by The Amanzi Quartet (2018 SMITF Chamber Music Competition Audience Prize Winners). Music has always played a central role in the life of St Martin-in-the-Fields – a building designed almost 300 years ago with choral music in mind. Londoners know it as a venue for high calibre classical music, training young musicians through the Voices and Choral Scholarship programmes.

Last year, over 400 concerts played here, many of them for free. Sunday’s digital concert will shine a light on amazing artists with support from some of the people who love St Martin-in-the-Fields, all so that they can raise precious funds to keep the doors open. Welcoming over a million visitors in recent years to their concerts, events, shop and café has been a vital source of income for this London icon.

To make up this shortfall, St Martin-in-the-Fields launched an emergency appeal: ‘Keep Our Doors Open’. Every donation to the appeal supports the work of St Martin’s during this national crisis with the money split between the Church, St Martin-in-the-Fields charity and The Connection. It will help them provide emergency shelter for rough sleepers in London, equip frontline workers with the tools they need to keep in touch with the most vulnerable and isolated and help to support a new generation of classical musicians. Every gift will ensure that this place of sanctuary and hope for so many will be able to continue its work. For one hundred years, St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square has been known as ‘The Church of the Open Door’; with their doors locked by Government mandate, they’re finding new ways to provide support and provide sanctuary to those who need it most.

Here are details of: Concert

Twitter @smitf_london Instagram @stmartininthefields

Website www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org

Donations here

I told you earlier about Rounton Coffee Roasters’ efforts to help to make sure the NHS in their  locality  (and wider afield) have access to coffee in their staffrooms. Time now to meet the two eager beavers behind this brilliant entrepreneurial and community minded company.

Dave Beattie – aka Beats:

The founder and driving force, David started as an engineer in chemical processing. By the age of 30 he was running an industrial gasses site on Teesside until a sabbatical seemed like a good idea. So off he went – as yer do –  traveling the world on a train.  After rumbling  through Europe, Russia and Mongolia,  he headed south towards Sumatra.

It is at this point  he had his ‘Eureka’ moment. But why?

Beats found himself working alongside  passionate Sumatran coffee farmers, who shared their frustrations at the limitations in the way their carefully nurtured beans were sold and handled. As he worked with them David realised he was not just happy, but enthused. On his return to North Yorkshire, Rounton Coffee Roasters was born  and four years on David’s focus is to make sure that the transparency, traceability and quality of the coffee, and other products, is at the heart of what they do.

Dave Beattie says: ‘Here at Rounton Coffee Roasters we understand that working with quality focused suppliers is paramount to running a successful business. That’s why we pride ourselves on being able to source and provide only the highest quality speciality coffees that are freshly roasted in small batches, using specialised software that creates consistent flavour profiles every time. We take a highly engaged approach to our wholesale relationships and invest time and expertise to make sure the coffee offerings for each business is only the best.’

But could he do all he wanted to do  on his own? Roll of drums…  Enter stage left :

David Burts. Head of Coffeer, green bean buyer, and whistling fixer of all things at the Coffee Roasters.

Roasty Burts lives to source and roast the finest speciality coffee he can get his hands on,  working tirelessly: analysing, researching and profiling every coffee that comes through Rounton Coffee Roasters door.  David joined Rounton Coffee Roasters in its infancy leaving a job in education to make it his mission to promote ethical and sustainable trading in the coffee producing world. His mantra is ‘’only positive vibes allowed’’ and is ‘that guy’ who is always a little too chirpy on a morning; but they wouldn’t change that… Not even the whistling.

The guys have an amazing range of coffees you can buy from their stores, or they will deliver. Each blend comes with a description, but not just of the flavour but of the source. As an example, let’s take a look at the Daybreak coffee blend notes to see how easy it is to choose which coffee to buy:

The Daybreak Blend.

Coffee lovers will know that Central and South American coffees make up the backbone of any great blend. Their deep chocolate notes punch through, making them a great choice with or without milk.

Up front, Daybreak blend ticks all the boxes: it’s moreish and satisfying, with just the right amount of body. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a pairing of coffees that we have spent countless hours working on, each bringing their own nuances to the table. With Daybreak, we want to show that exclusive, specialty coffees can (and should) be your go-to, even if you’re just looking for ‘a proper cup of coffee’.

50% Peru – Hilda Bermeo Guevara.  Hilda Bermeo Guevara’s farm is situated in the Northern Highlands of the Andes. A combination of washed Caturra, Pache, Bourbon and Catimor, this coffee has sweet pear notes and a full, rich body. Hilda’s coffee is part of a new age of coffee sourcing in Peru, where farmers are able to trade their lots more directly than ever before, with extra traceability.

50% Nicaragua – Las Naranjas. A washed Caturra from Ana and Martha Albir’s 8 hectare farm in North-Western Nicaragua.  A delicious coffee in its own right, with rich toffee and chocolate notes.

But … coffee is not the only product Rounton Roasters source and sell.

Tom Keavney, Training and Marketing: thinks you should also look at: Hot chocolate : Collection Venesuiela Smooth 58%

Venezuela is a light hot chocolate with 58 per cent cocoa, light and sweet with fruity notes. Sourced from the regions Sucre, Sur de Lago and Barlowento, this Venezuelan cocoa used are a mix of the two varieties criollo and trinitario beans. Academy of Chocolate, Bronze Award winner for a delicious flavour that was recognised with a Silver Award by the Academy of Chocolate.

Hey, says Guy Snead, Head Roaster: then there are the teas, lots of ’em.

Loose Leaf Silky Pyramids- Earl Grey tea is an example.

The Harrington Tea Garden is situated in the Dimbula mountains of Sri Lanka and all the tea that grows there is organic. This fine and flavoursome black tea is infused with extracts of bergamot to create a zesty and satisfying cup of Earl Grey tea.  Ingredients: Black Ceylon tea, marigold blossoms*, natural bergamot. *Certified organic.

Here at Chez Graham, we have just ordered our usual decaff coffee plus a sample pack of 3 coffees: Granary Blend, Colombia – Monte Bonito, Ethiopia – Mustefa Abakeno.

Go online, it’s a treat to browse. It’s worth buying online, or at one of their shops located… Well no, I want to tempt you to take a look at the website, and the choices. It’s a great way to spend an hour or two. I will visit  Rounton Coffee Roasters once the lockdown is lifted. Until then, a trawl around the site is quite enough, and our coffee is delivered promptly.

So  if ethical growing is important to you, have a good look at the products this committed team have sourced, and made ready for you. Browse, learn, buy … We did, and do, and are loving every sip. Remember also, that wholesale is available.

Go to the website for More information.

Images courtesy of Rounton Coffee Roasters.