Father’s Day gifts can be tricky. Do we go for comedy with something zany, or should we be more practical; socks, ties, a t shirt perhaps?
I personally would always prefer something that spoke to my inner foodie, rather than my inner clown, which is why I was so delighted to try Tracklements condiments. Gifts for the foodie can be expensive, or if reasonably priced then the product is tiny but not in this case.
Coming in an optional presentation box, you can give the gift of great taste this Father’s Day with a selection of bold British condiments designed to elevate every meal.
Tracklements Strong Horseradish Cream is one of those foods that I rarely think to buy for myself, but love receiving as a treat. This Horseradish sauce certainly packs a punch and brightens up any sandwich or salad.
The Particularly British Piccalilli reminds me of my childhood, and in particular, my mother making homemade Piccalilli in our kitchen. Tracklements version is easily the closest to her recipe that I have tried. Fresh al dente vegetables in a tangy yellow sauce, great as an accompaniment, but I also love it on a teaspoon, straight from the jar. Don’t judge me.
Most, if not all Dads, would love Tracklements Proper Tomato Ketchup. It has that fresher taste and doesn’t have that vinegary aftertaste of some more commercial better known brands. Proper Tomato Sauce does exactly as you might expect, perking up the Burger and indeed the fries. Again, please no judgement.
I am something of a mustard aficionado and have yet to meet a mustard that I didn’t enjoy. Traditionally, adding bite to sausages and even bacon, but also adding some zing to salad dressing and even mashed potato. I love all mustards from mild to eyewatering and Tracklements British Beer Mustard comes somewhere in between with a lasting heat in the mouth. However the true genius is to marry it with beer which has a subtle background taste and in addition to meats do try it with a strong cheddar.
Finally, Tracklements Fresh Chilli Jam is that clever balance of heat and sweet, creating a tense battle between the tastebuds.
Packed with some of the finest homegrown flavours, family-run Tracklements lovingly make an award-winning range of over 50 planet-friendly condiments in the heart of Wiltshire. This special edition collection includes one of each of the above.
Happy Father’s Day and if you happen to be the lucky recipient of such a gift – you’re welcome
I became a vegetarian in 1985, a time when vegetarians were grateful if restaurants offered omelettes or mushroom stroganoff and knew better than to complain.
In the 1990s we were presented with fluorescent pink strips, purporting to be vegetarian bacon. Thankfully things have come a long way since then, but as our options improved other information came to light, such as the importance of protein in one’s diet, and the need to avoid over processed food. So, as a wider range of vegetarian and vegan food became available, we learned that some of it was not as healthy as we thought. Honest I tried, but frankly, even I am unable to make Tofu taste of very much, and yes I did marinade it in all sorts of concoctions, and the texture always left much to be desired.
The solution is at hand, two mouthwatering flavours, Original and Mexican, Veg’chop delivers a rich, savoury taste with a slight nutty flavour at its core.
Packed like a sausage, it is soft to the touch but crisps when cooked. When preparing the Veg’chop I advise you to use a serrated k
Pan fried takes 3 minutes each side, and is absolutely delicious, with a nutty crunch. I have tried it in a stir fry, and will definitely use in vegetable wraps or with pasta in a sauce. The Mexican version was spicey with a little heat. I would, add it to a salad, or veggie curry. It also works well with cooling yogurt and mint and the original with crisp lettuce and tomatoes. I can see that I will be experimenting with this for some time.
veg’chop curry lifestyle
Not only is it a low ultra-processed food, but it’s high in protein and fibre. Created with hearty ingredients , such as lentils, quinoa, sweet potato and chai seeds.
Full disclosure, I ate some of the pieces on their own, as a tasty snack, but you may well have more restraint than me.
Veg’chop is currently available to purchase in two delicious flavours. Veg’chop Original (RRP: £3.00/250g) and Veg’chop Mexican (RRP: £3.00/250g). Both are available in 649 Tesco stores. The full list can be found here.
I rave incessantly about Tracklements, and with good reason. Established in the 1970s, Tracklements, a Wiltshire-based family company, is a byword for quality. Their secret is sourcing ingredients from farms and small businesses across England plus, believe it or not, everything is still made by hand in small batches. No wonder every one of their products is such a special treat.
Never satisfied with an already outstanding range, the company is constantly creating new and original tastes. They demonstrate a genuine passion for amazing food and I’m always happy to appreciate the results.
So I couldn’t wait to try their new special edition Pineapple and Chilli Relish (how do they think of such combinations?) and I was definitely not disappointed.
True to form, this relish is jam-packed with real, honest ingredients. Nearly two thirds of the relish is pure pineapple, and a generous helping of red chillies infuses a real bite to the heavenly pineapple sweetness. Add a medley of other natural ingredients including cider vinegar, raw cane sugar, onions, carrots, ginger and mustard seed, and an absolute feast of flavours hits your taste-buds. It’s also gluten free and vegan friendly.
You can enjoy this stunning relish in many ways – I love it with a slice of cheshire cheese personally, but here’s a great suggestion from Tracklements – it makes an amazing meat marinade. Not only do the flavours complement chicken and pork perfectly, but the high content of pineapple contains a natural enzyme which tenderizes the meat. My mouth is watering and I can’t wait to try that.
At RRP £3.95 for 190g, Tracklements Special Edition Pineapple & Chilli Relish is available from fine food delis and farm shops nationwide and at www.tracklements.co.uk. This is definitely one to grab whilst it’s still available.
By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
Regular readers will know I’m addicted to Ballroom and Latin dancing. And of course competitive dance is a performance sport – meaning dress, hair and makeup are super important. But, dancing or not, you can never have too much glam in your life. If you look good, you feel good and if you feel good, you live your best life.
Consequently I’m forever seeking better products – miracle-workers are particularly welcome – and I’m bursting to tell you about LZRD Lash, created by transgender model and business woman, Zii Lizard.
Zii Lizard is a rather special person. She was separated from parents and family at just 14 yrs old, when she moved from Thailand to Belfast, where, on top of dealing with a deep personal journey, she was also faced with a foreign language. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and, after grappling with the realisation of her true self, Zii has emerged as a beautiful individual, inside and out. She tells me that LZRD Lash, a vegan, eco-conscious, sustainable all-gender lash brand is more than just a business, because it embraces her values and celebrates self-expression and her personal transformation. She’s passionate to show that beauty has no rules and that everyone deserves to feel seen.
I’m blown away by the LZRD Lash range of both strip lashes and individual cluster lash sets – all designed to be easily self-applied at home. With 30 different styles, there really is a strip lash for everyone and every occasion, from every day pretty to red carpet super glam. A beginner can feel overwhelmed when confronted with an array of different false lashes but fear not, Zii provides excellent web-site guidance on choosing the most suitable lashes and how to apply them. I love her eye-shape guide, and that the lashes are categorised by style and occasion too. Each lash advises for which eye-shapes they work best. Zii’s blog and LZRD Instagram also have useful advice on application and maintenance, fashion trends and much more.
My personal experience with LZRD Lash was first class. In all honesty I’ve never experienced such amazing quality lashes. Normally I struggle not to damage flimsy lashes as I extract them from their box. Not so with LZRD Lash lashes – the adhesive fixing them in their box was only attached to a small spot at each end, making removal easy. They were beautifully soft and light and yet maintained their shape perfectly throughout application. The cute pink Hold It Hottie lash applicator was perfectly aligned, holding the lashes firmly but gently, and the vegan, latex-free and cruelty-free Let’s Glue Thisstrip lash glue was rapidly effective, and easy to remove afterwards.
Zii had chosen three lashes which would both complement my eye shape and look spectacular during my dance competitions. I admit to having felt slightly apprehensive when I first saw them, they were longer and thicker than I would normally dare wear, but once in place I was thrilled. They were very comfortable and looked absolutely stunning – no, I looked absolutely stunning – thank you Zii. You showed me that it’s safe to make bolder choices. In the photo below I’m wearing Celebrity. Glamour Queen and Giving Everything were two further great suggestions from Zii.
So if you have a special event to attend, or you just want to feel great about yourself, I would totally recommend LZRD Lashes. Prices are generally between £4 to £5 – excellent value for such high-quality lashes, but do check out the clearance items too for some great bargains. For MUAs there are generous professional discounts too.
In fact, why not go to the LZRD Lash website right now? It’s the moment to start being your best self.
By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
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.
It’s a historic year for the annual awards as the convention ends after 17 years; the first convention was hosted in 2008. The awards honour the best crime fiction and non-fiction books released in the UK in the last year, and feature the hotly-contended Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award, which offers a £1,000 cash prize.
This year the Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award goes to the Japanese author and journalist, Akira Otani (and translator Sam Bett) for The Night of Baba Yaga (Faber), a no-holds-barred queer gangland thriller. Award judge Dame Mary Perkins, co-founder of Specsavers, which sponsors the award, said: “I read many crime thrillers mainly at night before going to sleep. However, I could not do that with The Night of Baba Yaga. Totally gripping and, quite frankly, violent, but a book which I had to read in one go – not in bits. So – quite different to the usual scenarios I read. It’s set in Japan and certainly paints a different picture to “cherry blossom” ones. Congratulations to Akira Otani for introducing her writing to us here in the UK.”
Akira Otani said: “I’m immensely grateful to have been chosen for this prestigious award. For someone writing in a minor language like Japanese, there’s no greater joy than seeing your work translated and shared with a wider audience of readers. I also offer my sincerest thanks to the translator, Sam Bett, for bringing this novel into English. This prize is for both of us.”
The winner of the CrimeFest H.R.F. Keating Award for the best biographical or critical book features goes to Mark Aldridge with Agatha Christie’s Marple: Expert on Wickedness (HarperCollins).
CrimeFest’s Last Laugh Award for best humorous crime novel is awarded to Mike Ripley for Mr Campion’s Christmas (Severn House).
The CrimeFest E-Dunnit Award for the best crime fiction e-book goes to the American novelist and playwright, Jean Hanff Korelitz with The Sequel (Faber).
The CrimeFest Best Crime Novel for Children (aged 8 – 12) goes to Sufiya Ahmed for her World War Two adventure set in Cairo, Rosie Raja: Undercover Codebreaker (Bloomsbury).
The Best Crime Fiction for Young Adults (aged 12-16) goes to Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis, the sequel to the Waterstone’s prize winning Thieves’ Gambit.
Adrian Muller said: “We are proud of the role our awards has played championing categories that were previously not recognised on the awards circuit. However, it’s our work championing children’s and Young Adult crime fiction that we’re most proud of. “Crime fiction is recognised as a gateway into reading, and has the important ability to hook young readers, helping forge a life-long reading habit. There’s countless research on the benefits of reading, from improved mental and physical health, enhanced cognitive abilities, and personal growth. It improves focus, empathy and understanding, as well as reduces stress. It’s a gift to any young person on their journey through life.
“As CrimeFest closes, we would like to take this opportunity to challenge the Crime Writers’ Association to incorporate children’s and Young Adult categories into their famed Dagger awards going forward. It is vital the future generations of readers, and the authors that serve them, get the recognition and platform they deserve.”
Leading British crime fiction reviewers and reviewers of fiction for children and young adults, alongside the members of the School Library Association (SLA), form the CrimeFest judging panels. In partnership with the independent Max Minerva’s Bookshop and participating publishers, CrimeFest gifts thousands of pounds of crime fiction books for children and young adults to school libraries.
This year also featured the Thalia Proctor Memorial Award for Best Adapted TV Crime Drama, which celebrates dramas based on a book screened in 2024. The award is named in honour of Thalia, a CrimeFest team member and a much-loved figure in the world of crime fiction.
The winning show is Slow Horses (series 4) based on the Slough House books by Mick Herron on Apple TV+. It’s the third year in a row Herron has won the award, beating hit shows including Apple TV’s Bad Monkey, based on the book by Carl Hiaasen, the BBC’s Moonflower Murders based on the books by Anthony Horowitz, and the BBC’s The Turkish Detective based on the Inspector Ikmen books by Barbara Nadel.
Mick Herron said: “Thalia would be delighted to know of this award being given in her name. She was a great friend to crime-writers, a great boon to the community, and is often remembered when groups of us gather. I’m proud to have known her, and I’ll be proud to have this on my shelf. Thank you, Thalia, thank you, CrimeFest, and thank you all.”
CrimeFest readers established the shortlist and the winning TV show. The 2025 CrimeFest Awards were announced at a gala dinner hosted during CrimeFest on Saturday 17 May at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel, compered by the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) chair and author, Vaseem Khan. Hosted in Bristol, CrimeFest was one of the most popular dates in the international crime fiction calendar, with circa 60 panel events and 150 authors attending over four days.
The final celebratory event saw long-standing friends attend, led by blockbuster author Lee Child, who attended with his brother and co-Reacher author, Andrew Child. The final CrimeFest also saw exclusive talks from the actor and screenwriter Mark Gatiss on his upcoming TV series for UKTV’s U&alibi channel Bookish, the TV writer Chris Chibnall with his debut novel, Death at the White Hart, and a tribute to John le Carré, featuring his two sons, the film producer Simon Cornwell and novelist, Nick Harkaway.
CrimeFest was created following the hugely successful one-off visit to Bristol in 2006 of the American Left Coast Crime convention. Established in 2008, it follows the egalitarian format of most US conventions, making it open to all commercially published authors and readers alike. All category winners received a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative award. Eligible titles were submitted by publishers, and a team of British crime fiction reviewers voted to establish the shortlist and the winning title.
St Mary’s Church, Thirsk, hosted the heartwarming concert by the multi-generational RBL Band, and the soaring notes of assembled brass instruments, (and drums, of course) almost lifted the roof. Naturally, just before things got going there had been the blowing of instruments, a chat from Tim Alderson, the conductor, the chats of the audience who had recognised friends.
Then we were off, beginning with 1914 and slipping into High on a Hill with Norman Hare on cornet which really stirred the memories.
Norman Hare: image credit Maureen Worley
On with Aces High then another Cornet solo from a lovely young man, Jonathan Williams whose Shepherd’s Song had me on the verge of tears, (and who later, I had the temerity to grab, not just to congratulate him but to see if he could hunt me down a programme, which he could, and did).
Then to Benedictus from The Armed Man, a Mass for Peace by Karl Jenkins which I always find heartbreaking, but no time to sob, with such a well chosen programme, because we were swept into a compilation of nursery rhymes which had us humming along. The first half ended with the Training Band who really ‘smashed’ it. Then onto the refreshments, of course, and more chat.
During the break I learned more about our band, because Thirsk is such a community, frankly, it is ours and has been blowing and drumming away since 1985. Since then it has grown in both size and stature, giving many brass and percussion players the opportunity to perform music. But don’t think for a moment that the Band is just for Thirsk. They have made several trips to Austria and also a trip to the Menin Gate, where they played, and also toured the war cemetaries, which brought home to them the tragedy, endurance and sacrifice of all those involved in war.
Menin Gate: image credit Maureen Worley.
There are of course, several generations in the band, and often the children, even grandchildren join. Awards are given annually, Brianna Cawood is pictured with John Worley, President being presented with the Improved Player Award.
On we galloped into the second half, welcomed by a rendition of 633 Squadron, then Bring him Home, with the solo euphonium played by Charles, and the evocative We’ll Meet Again and White Cliffs of Dover, then the heartrending Hymn to the Fallen. They Shall Grow Not Old was read beautifully by Leti Hawthorn and I had another lump in the throat until a foot tapping Dambusters drew this triumph of a concert to a close.
What a memorable afternoon. Everyone loved every minute and felt enormously proud of the work and achievement of Thirsk Royal British Legion Band.
Thirsk Royal British Legion Band includes players of all ages, and welcomes newcomers, as you will have already seen from the Training Band’s offering. Do go to https://thirskrblband.weebly.com/ to learn more about them and heavens, do consider joining them. They are enthusiastic, accomplished and frankly, the band is like one big family.
On 1st June they will be playing at Holy Rood House, Thirsk to raise funds for this welcoming and inclusive Retreat.
Celebrating 100 years of filming at the Old Royal Naval College, (such a stunning venue) an evening of unforgettable film music in partnership with Docklands Sinfonia, will be hosted in the stunning Chapel of St Peter & St Paul. The concert, lasting 75 minutes – the bliss – will feature music from Hollywood’s greatest movies, some of which were filmed at the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You will be treated to music by composers such as John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Ennio Morricone, Ludwig Göransson, and Howard Shore, and of course, because what evening would be complete without – roll of drums – music from Les Misérables, Pirates of the Caribbean, to name just a taste of the treats on offer. (I do hope Bring Him Home is included).This will be a rare and excellent evening filled with unforgettable film music in this iconic venue, performed by Docklands Sinfonia, to celebrate many many wonderful years of filming at the Old Royal Naval College.
ORNC_Cinematic Sounds_Docklands-Sinfonia
Programme
A Tribute to John Williams: Star Wars, Jaws, Superman, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T
Jurassic Park
James Bond
Magnificent Seven
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Wicked
Batman: The Dark KnightRises
Schindler’s List
Gladiator
Inception
Interstellar
Les Misérables
Harry Potter
The Greatest Showman
*Programme subject to change
Docklands Sinfonia is a major cultural force in Docklands and beyond, a diverse, dynamic and versatile orchestra working with composers, producers and promoters across film, rock, pop and classical music. Since its formation in 2009 Docklands Sinfonia has enjoyed great success with performances for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace and with Grammy-Award winner Imogen Heap at the Royal Albert Hall.
The evening sounds too tempting to be ingnored. 24th May. Go, bask in the marvellous acoustics of the Chapel, and the beauty of the music. It will evoke memories, and provide new ones.
I’ve been on a decluttering mission recently – removing pots, pans and various weird and wonderful kitchen devices that I’ve never actually used, and many of which I discovered had quietly died some time ago. Now the challenge is to maintain my beautiful zen kitchen, which contains just enough – and where I don’t have to drag hundreds of pieces of pot and plastic out of cupboards every time I need to find a pan.
So I’m seriously excited to discover HokanBowls – Hokan means storage in Japanese. Although a British company, Hokan Bowls have embraced the Japanese values of Shibui – simple, beautiful, unobtrusive. As I look at them I feel a calmness descend, I want to make beautiful food, quietly and slowly, respecting simple nutrition in both the cooking and eating.
The three bowls – small, medium and large all have the same circumference – the size is determined by their height. This means they stack on top of each other, taking up little room in a cupboard or on a work surface, and their lids are interchangeable. The colours are beautiful – I love the new Green Jade. The reactive glaze on the stoneware ceramic pots creates natural variations, meaning each pot is unique. If your kitchen needs a different colour – there’s plenty of other choices too.
But now for the clever bit – they are oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe, so you can prepare a meal in the bowl, cook it, then serve it – or even use the bowl itself to eat from (or the lid, which also doubles up as a small bowl). This is the kind of minimalism I love. Then if you have any left-overs you can keep them, still in the bowl, in the fridge or freezer, then take out and microwave (of course in the same bowl) for a later meal.
The stoneware allows for even heat distribution during cooking and the lids help maintain stable temperatures and retain moisture. Simply remove the lid for an ideal crust or browning.
As a doctor I do worry about all the plastics our bodies are constantly exposed to and I love that Hokan bowls are sustainable and of course BPA-free, unlike many plastic containers.
These lovely bowls are really not expensive, at RRPs of £25, £30 and £35 for the small (440ml), medium (600ml) and large (1000ml) bowls respectively. Available from hokanbowls.com
If you’re trying to declutter your life too, these are a good start on your journey. Good luck.
By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
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.
