Natalie Jayne Peeke with her favourite Jane Austen novel – Emma

There are many historical women around the world who have made their mark on history , Marie Curie, Charlotte Cooper, Florence Nightingale. Here are three women who have inspired me and wish I could thank for what they have done for British women. 

Firstly there is Dorothy Lawrence (October 4, 1896 – October 4, 1964)

Dorothy Lawrence was a journalist who posed as a soldier during World War I – making her the only known English woman on the frontline at that time. 

Having attempted to become a war correspondent, Lawrence decided the only way she was going to write the story she wanted was to go undercover. On her journey she met Tom Dunn, a Lancashire coal miner turned BEF tunnel-digging sapper who worried what might happen to a  woman alone among so many men. He found her an abandoned cottage where she returned to nightly while she was on the frontline. She later handed herself in and was taken back the UK for interrogation.

Next is the well known Emmeline Pankhurst (July 15, 1858 – June, 14, 1928)

Emmeline Pankhurst was a controversial woman at the head of the British Suffragette movement. In 1903 she started the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) where members became known for resorting to extreme tactics such as crimes and hunger strikes, to get their message across: that British women should have the right to vote.

Pankhurst is well known as a pivotal figure in helping women achieve the vote which they did on February 6, 1918.

Last but by no means least is Jane Austen (December 16, 1775 – July 18, 1817)

Probably one of the first modern-era feminists, Jane Austen’s literary work is still celebrated globally today. Best Known for her six major novels – Pride and Prejudice being the most well known, Austen’s plots focus on a woman’s social standing, marriage and financial security.

Austen helped to shape the literary world as we know it, with her work being the foundation and inspiration for many other novels, films and TV shows. 

Each woman portrayed great courage and strength, Dorothy Lawrence did whatever was necessary to get the story that she wanted, she risked her life and was heavily reprimanded for it. Emmeline Pankhurst stood up for what she believed in no matter what the cost, she gave every single woman a voice.

Now Jane Austen, you may ask why she has made the inspirational list, well it is no secret that her novels are classics but why? Austen’s novels highlighted what women endured and she did not shy away from the predicaments that women faced. She was fearless. With women like these I can’t help but think what life would be like now if they hadn’t been so determined.

 In a variation on a nice cuppa tea and a scone or two: Boodles Gin is celebrating the British Tradition of afternoon tea with tips on how to make it brilliant.

For Afternoon Tea Week (August 10^th-16^th) the unflappable Boodles Butler, who is the ultimate expert in all things traditional British etiquette, guides you through the perfect gin tea-pot serves using his favourite spirit.

Boodles Gin itself is a modern take on an English tradition, so whether you¹re lunching out or creating your own version of afternoon tea at home, Mr. Boodles suggests swapping out the usual tea and fizz for some refreshing gin cocktails.

These cocktails are made in tea-pots using the range of Boodles British Gin, including the Rhubarb & Strawberry and Mulberry variants and are an essential component to the perfect high tea.

The ceremony of Afternoon Tea reputably began in the early 1800s and is now enjoyed in restaurants, hotels and dining rooms across the country. It usually consists of finger sandwiches and scones galore and comes with its own set of rules and etiquette.

As well as advising against dunking biscuits into your cup and ensuring you always keep the saucer on the table, Mr. Boodles suggests only using the finest bone-china pots and never putting ice in the pot itself, only ever in the serving cup. Fizz is rather gauche, in his view. He is however split on whether cream or jam is spread first on his scones.

For thirsty gin enthusiasts, the full list of Mr. Boodles¹ personal favourite teapot sharing is as follows:

Rhuby Martinez (a fruity number)

150ml Boodles Rhubarb & Strawberry Gin
60ml sweet vermouth
20ml maraschino liqueur

Combine all of the ingredients in a teapot. Fill a teacup with ice. Stir and strain ingredients into teacup. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Gin & Gomme (a summery, herbal refresher)

150ml Boodles Gin
60ml Pineapple Juice
45ml Mango Purée (blended chopped mango)
60ml Fresh Lemon Juice

Shake all the ingredients thoroughly and pour into teapot. Fill a teacup with ice. Pour into teacup, top with a tiny splash of soda and garnish with a fresh sprig of coriander.

Mulberry Bramble Cocktail (a berry delight)

150ml Boodles Mulberry Gin
90ml Fresh lemon juice
90ml Crème de Mure (Blackberry Liqueur)
Lemon half wheel and blackberries to garnish – the bushes are bursting with the little devils, but leave a few for the jam makers

Combine all of the ingredients in a teapot. Fill a teacup with ice. Stir and strain ingredients into teacup. Garnish with a lemon half wheel and blackberries.

About Boodles Gin:

Boodles® Gin is a premium British gin, established in 1845 and produced exclusively in the UK according to the London Dry Gin production standards. 40% alcohol by volume (ABV), Boodles® Gin interestingly contains no citrus, obtaining its unique flavour from a number of botanicals including sage, rosemary and nutmeg. The taste is clean and crisp making for the perfect Boodles® & Tonic or Martini. Boodles® Gin is available nationwide at Sainsbury¹s and most exclusive bars and retailers.

Twitter: @BoodlesGinUK

Facebook: @BoodlesGinUK

About Proximo Spirits UK:

Proximo, which translates as ³next² in Spanish, is a privately owned, premium spirits producer based in New Jersey, USA.  In July 2013, Proximo Spirits UK launched, representing twelve premium brands including the Jose Cuervo tequila portfolio, The Kraken Black Spiced Rum, TINCUP American Whiskey, Bushmills Irish Whiskey and Boodles British Gin.  Proximo Spirits UK aim to become the next major producer of innovative marketing and new product development within the premium spirits category in the UK.

www.proximospirits.co.uk

Insights into the world of a Prison Doctor, this time taking us deeper into the walls of Bronzefield, the UK’s biggest women’s prison.

From the drug addicts who call Amanda ‘the mother I never had’ to the women who’ve pushed back at domestic abuse, to women close to release in their 70s, who just want to stay in the place that they’ve always known, these are stories that are heart-breaking, harrowing and heart-warming. Amanda listens, prescribes, and does what she can. After all, she’s their doctor.

Another fantastic and educational insight into a women’s prison, Dr Brown is compassionate, honest and neutral to all women she tends to on a daily basis. I devoured the first instalment and also this wonderful second book. Dr Brown is a born storyteller and her dedication to her job is admirable from helping women overcome drug addiction and guiding others in the right direction upon their release, she listens and sympathises, it is a fascinating to learn about the women’s back stories however I would have liked these to be more in depth. I hope for a third Prison Doctor book.

A absolute must read for those who enjoyed The prison doctor and Adam Kay’s ‘This is going to hurt & ‘ Twas the night-shift before Christmas. 

The Prison Doctor Women Inside (read on kindle) eBook and pb available from Amazon.

With summer upon us in these unsure time it is difficult to find a safe and affordable day out that the whole family will enjoy. I have lived in Somerset for 18 years and it was only a few months ago that I discovered the enchanting gem that is just 17 miles away from my door.

So one dry sunny day I threw the family in the car and off we went, we arrived just over half a hour later and paid just £2 to park all day and we embarked on a 2 mile trek around the utterly beautiful woods.

The children had great fun climbing trees, looking under rocks for insects and generally running wild. I was awestruck at the beauty of nature, the wildflowers in a huge variety of colours and scents, the towering trees, the birdsong I could hear in the background.

After our walk we found a beautiful picnic area complete with a babbling brook, despite the number of families that were also at the picnic area we had plenty of space to enjoy our surroundings.

So if you want to escape the chaos and stress of every day life and be transported to a magical place of outstanding beauty that children of and adults of all ages will enjoy then you need to venture to Great Wood. Be sure to pack a picnic with plenty of water and wear comfortable shoes. Enjoy the fresh air and forget your worries.

Great Wood, Adscombe Lane, over Stowey, Bridgewater, TA5 1HN

Grief is a terrible and complex emotion and it can be hard to know what to do or say to someone who is grieving. There is no right or wrong way grieve, there is no step by step guide. Everyone deals with grief in their own way in their own time. What I have found helpful to comfort to those who are grieving is:

To let them cry, don’t try to cheer them up- just  comfort them. Saying nothing is sometimes just what is needed. On the flip side if they’re happy and are sharing their funny memories, let them , laugh with them.

Let them be angry and curse the world if they need to, again don’t put a positive spin on things just simply let them be angry.

If you don’t know what to say then a simple “I’m thinking of you / I’m here for you” message goes a long way. It lets your loved one know you’re there for them but are also respecting their space.

Try not to say “I know just how you feel” as you may not know what they are feeling at that moment.

Be patient, they will not just “get over it” they will miss their loved one everyday some days will be better than others.

There are 5 stages of grief, not everyone will experience them all and may not go through them in this order.

5 stages of grief are

Denial – “This isn’t happening to me/ They’re not gone”

Anger – “This is all his/her fault” “How dare they leave me”

Barganing – “If only I had done ….”

Depression – “I don’t know how to go forward from here”

Acceptance – “I was lucky to have known them/ they’re in a better place now”
For grief helplines visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/

What’s the largest organ in our body? Liver? Heart? Brain? No – Skin. And no, it isn’t just something to cover up our muscles and stop our guts trailing on the floor. It’s an active organ working hard to protect from infections, dehydration, and UV radiation; it produces sweat to control our body temperature and it makes vitamin D. So, whilst beauty isn’t just skin deep, skin isn’t just a pretty face either. Nevertheless, it’s rather nice to have a pretty face too.

But what decides whether our skin’s like a baby’s bottom, or an old shoe? Major factors include ‘good genes’ (some people are just lucky), hormone levels, age, UV light damage, sleep quality, alcohol and smoking.

Can we shift the odds in our favour? Well, 75% of our skin (as dry weight) is collagen, so maybe that’s a good place to start.

Our bodies make collagen, using proteins, minerals and vitamin C from our diets. It provides structure and strength, and as, with age, it decreases, our skins can become saggy and lose that ‘plump peach’ look. Sadly this process can start from mid-20s and may worsen after menopause.

Can we encourage collagen production back up again? I’ve been looking at the data, and I’m also road-testing LQ Skin Hair Nails Collagen Powder daily for a month – the things I do for Frost readers, sigh.

As with many food supplements, there are relatively few quality studies. Nevertheless, some research suggests that collagen supplements, particularly at higher doses may improve facial moisture, amount of skin collagen, skin elasticity and/or wrinkle appearance. Whether a good diet, containing the necessary components of collagen would do the same is a subject of current debate. However higher collagen doses seem to produce slightly better results than low dose, so maybe our bodies do respond to this extra supply.

The LQ Collagen Beauty Range all contain high doses of hydrolysed marine collagen, plus hyaluronic acid for skin hydration, and are made from high quality, traceable ingredients.

LQ Skin Hair Nails Collagen Powder, which I’ve been taking for nearly two weeks so far, contains 10g collagen, plus biotin and selenium, and vitamin C, which helps our body make collagen.

Individual vials – LQ Skin Hair Nails and LQ Skin Hair and Nails Max – are also handy to pop in your handbag.

So how’s my trial going? Great. The collagen powder comes with a convenient measuring scoop and it’s fairly easy to dissolve for a pleasant passion fruit-flavoured shake.

Do I look like Jennifer Aniston yet (apparently she swears by collagen supplements)? Well it can take up to 4 weeks to see changes, but I did have a compliment just this week so … maybe?

LQ Skin Hair Nails Collagen Powder costs £34.99 for 300g and is available from lqcollagen.com Be aware that these products contain fish and shellfish if you’re allergic.

Finally, don’t forget that it’s equally important to protect your skin collagen, using sunscreen, and to eat foods high in antioxidants, which prevent collagen breakdown.

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 are so in need of good news right now, that I am pleased to bring Maison sur le Littoral, Sauvignon Blanc to your attention.

The azure blue bottle and stylish label call out to me each time that I open the fridge door, which during lock down, has been more frequent than I would like.

The name translates as the ‘House on the Coast’ and the deep blue of the bottle transports one to the southern French coast looking out over the Mediterranean, without having to worry about quarantine.

Aldi has launched this crisp, fresh citrus tasting classic Sauvignon Blanc, which will undoubtedly go well with fish, sea food, chicken and salads. Perfect for the current heat wave and all those summer suppers in the garden, or to be honest, you could just take it easy and enjoy by itself.

Available from Aldi at £5.99 this is a great example of Sauvignon Blanc that won’t break the bank and will bring a smile to your face every time that you open that fridge door.

JK Rowling, Roald Dahl and David Walliams all made it into the top three for children’s most loved authors.   Fantasy and adventure stories are the biggest hits amongst our kids

A THIRD of kids in the UK have said that Harry Potter still takes the wand as most beloved character from a book – despite him being introduced to the world all the way back in 1997.

Other characters who topped the list include Paddington Bear and Roald Dahl’s Charlie Bucket alongside The Gruffalo. JK Rowling tops the list as children in London’s favourite author with 25%, while Roald Dahl takes second place with 21%. David Walliams proves he’s made a big splash in the world of children’s literature by claiming the third spot with 18 per cent.

As big believers in the power of children’s minds, the research from the collective kids, Suckies, the UK’s fastest growing yoghurt brand, also found that tapping into the imaginations of our kids seems to pay off well as adventure books and fantasy tales both come out on top as kids’ favourites with 18 percent and 16 percent of the vote respectively.

(The  online survey was conducted by Atomik Research among 2,003 children aged 4-14 in the UK. The research fieldwork took place on 3 – 9 July, 2020. Atomik Research is an independent creative market research agency that employs MRS-certified researchers and abides to MRS code.)

Despite the growing number of toys, tech and games that are available to kids these days, half still love to sit down and have fun with a read of their favourite book. 64 percent have even decided to write their own stories but of those who don’t, 30 state that they just don’t feel creative enough.

The love we have for reading hasn’t faded throughout the generations as the research by dairy lovers, the collective’s beloved products for kids, Suckies also found that the average child will sit down and read to themselves for over an hour and a half. It also seems that kids really are just like us as 34 percent will sit and have a snack with a good book, while 31 percent will go and get their comfy clothes on before they settle down for a read.

As so many children are keen to write their own stories, it will come as no surprise that many also want to become a JK Rowling of their own, and turn writing into a full time career when they grow up – tied with wanting to be a doctor at 20%, and just topping an illustrator with 19%.

Sarah Horowitz at The Collective said, “We understand how important it is for kids to get creative and keep their imaginations alive – especially over the summer holidays! Reading, writing, running, jumping, whatever it is, it’s critical that we help children to feel comfortable using their own voice, creating their own adventures, and of course keeping their energy topped up throughout.”

About The Collective 

The home of gourmet yoghurt, and was the brainchild of two ex-chefs, Ofer and Angus, their quest was simple: shake up the yoghurt category by creating an extraordinary yoghurt with an unbeatable taste.

In 2011 they joined forces with Amelia Harvey and the late Mike Hodgson in the UK who believed the unique taste, texture and fun positioning of the brand was just what the market was looking for. The Collective’s aim is to bring excitement and innovation to the dairy market and is committed to creating the best-tasting yoghurt on the market using only the finest natural ingredients.

Over the last 6 years The Collective has revolutionised the yoghurt market, starting with its gourmet range. Based on the original New Zealand recipe, but produced in Somerset using the finest West Country milk, The Collective’s handcrafted gourmet yoghurts are thick and creamy with a silky smooth, clean texture and taste that melts in your mouth, and have a double layer of fresh fruit compote, delivering a burst of flavour in every spoonful. Their gourmet yoghurt is also packed full of live cultures, has no artificial additives and contains only 5%