It’s rare gift indeed that can bring harmony to the Rowan household, especially at Christmas, so I am particularly indebted to Dundas and Burgun for this clever spectacle holder.

When we go out, my wife presents me with an edict in something of a double bind, ‘Make sure you bring your spectacles’ she instructs, followed by, ‘what have you got in your pockets they look ridiculous bulging like that?’

Now until recently I have suggested that I simply pop my reading glasses into her hand bag risking a withering stare and exasperated sigh, but now that small clutch bags are on trend, my wife has announced that enough is enough.

Happily  and just in time for Christmas, comes this stylish leather wrap around that protects the glasses but takes up very little space in your pocket, handbag or Christmas Stocking.

The Dundas & Burgun Lensrappa, is a thin leather glasses case design to fit any spectacles and stay as thin as possible. They come in 6 great colours and make a great Christmas gift or stocking filler.

Lensrappa £20 from https://dundasburgun.com/

Available to order online and will arrive before Christmas.

A story of personal growth through the challenges of life in modern day China

Frost Magazine is fortunate. The reviewing team sometimes receives a book for review that we fight over.

The Biggest City You’ve Never Heard Of by Dr Andy Wynn is one of these. Imagine this:

A new job, a new town. The thing is, the town is in China. It proved to be an eye opener for the author and his wife, Julie and in this memoir, written with verve, insight, humour and respect  Wynn reveals the day to day cultural experiences to which they had to adapt. Experiences which sometimes revealed uncomfortable (at first sight) norms which challenged their western concepts. Actually, delete ‘sometimes’, I think probably ‘invariably’ might fit better.

They were forced to look into themselves, accept A N Other and open their own world to the people of China, and step into theirs, living and laughing along with them.

As I read I found myself alongside Wynn, learning to swim and navigate through, and ultimately into the Chinese world,  peering, albeit second-hand, into my own inherited norms and culture, just as he did.  I realised that one is so familiar with the nitty gritty minutiae of one’s own life life: behaviour, manners, and humour that to sink into this difference is exhausting, challenging, and ultimately uplifting, and broadening. It creates  change within a person.

I found this turbulent, throbbing world fascinating, since my first and last view of China was reading The Small Woman by Alan Burgess, about a missionary, Gladys Alywood living in China in the 1930s and 40s  during massive upheaval. Indeed, she came to speak at our school, and was small, and impressive, and enthralling. You might remember the film, The Inn of the sixth Happiness. (Actually her hostelry was called the Inn of the Eighth Happinesses)

So it was high time Frost Magazine explored the changed Chinese world. So glad I bagsed the book.

Written with great thought, panache, an eye to detail, humour and above all imbued with honestly and insight  – this is a book to be savoured, enjoyed and one which will leave you pondering your own norms in this increasingly global world.

The Biggest City You’ve Never Heard Of by Dr Andy Wynn https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1081867035

Annie Clarke is the author of the Home Front Girls series. (Arrow)

Yardley is renowned for their luxury fragrances, bath and body products. I received a charming gift set that included 5 10ml floral fragrances which includes English Lavender, English Rose, Lily of the Valley, English Bluebell and English Fressia. The fragrances were beautifully packaged in a little gift box.

I sampled the perfumes and they are absolutely gorgeous, my favourite being English Rose. Each scent is light and not at all overpowering. The fragrances stayed on my clothes all day often resulting in compliments of the floral fragrance.

As there is a mixture of fragrances I believe that they would make a beautiful gift for most women who appreciate delicate floral scents.

The gift set is just £10 from www.boots.com .

1 The Market, WC2E 8RA, London.

Covent Garden is one of the best places in London to people watch and I must have passed Ladurée a hundred times, situated as it is, on the busy corner of Covent Garden Market.

I have often admired the pastel coloured macaroons in the window and watched people choosing from the breakfast or lunch menu, seated outside amongst the original cobbles.

So how is that I have never sat down to enjoy a breakfast or lunch Parisian style?

These are questions that I am unable to answer, but I know for certain that as this Christmas approaches, this is the place you are most likely to find me.

This year Ladurée has teamed up with the Canadian Chef, Patrice Demers to bring a unique and scrumptious approach to Christmas.

In my childhood Yule Logs were more traditional than tasty, so imagine my delight to discover the fabulous range offered by Ladurée. Any of these Yule Logs would make a showstopping centre piece for the Christmas table.

Their signature Yule Log, ‘Atoca’ has a beautiful balance between sharp cranberry and sweet maple syrup with Chocolate Mousse and Chantilly Cream. (£8.00 for an individual Yule log or £36.00 for a log serving 4 people).

‘La Marquise’ features a hazelnut dacquoise and pieces of hazelnut in a Sachertorte sponge, crisp hazelnut wafer and hazelnut cream and a velvety milk chocolate mousse. . (£7.50 for an individual Yule Log and £32.00 for a log serving 4)

‘La Favorite’ has a base of pistachio macaron and buttercream infused with pistachio together with a delicately flaked praline as subtle as it is delicious. (£7.50 for an individual Yule Log and £36.00 for a log serving 4)

More traditional flavours possibly, are to be found in ‘La Duchesse’ Yule Log featuring a Genoese sponge soaked in aged dark rum, chestnut mousse and candied chestnut pieces. (£7.50 for an individual Yule Log and £36.00 for a log serving 4)

The show stopping ‘Marie Antoinette’ Yule Log is described by Ladurée as iconic and having tasted this I am unable to disagree. A mouth-watering confection of macaron, rose infused buttercream with a raspberry and lychee jam. (£7,50 for an individual Yule Log and £52.00 for a log serving 6)

There is for me but one problem and that is, which to choose. Each Yule Log is as elegant as it is delicious and I simply could not choose a favourite. The individual logs are available from 4^th to the 31^st of December whilst the larger logs go on sale from 11^th to 31^st of December so plenty of time to try them all.

What would Christmas be without Mince Pies and this year Ladurée has launched its take on this festive treat. Bite sized puff pastry with a traditional spiced fruity filling and a crumble topping offer a melody of textures that go perfectly with a cup of delicious tea or coffee. (£1.95 each or £8.70 for a gift box containing 4 mince pies, available from the 4^th of December)

Continuing the theme of partnership Ladurée have also teamed up with Moet & Chandon to produce two stylish hampers containing both champagne and elegant comestibles. Beautifully packaged these hampers would make the perfect give for loved ones or clients and are bound to delight. (£66.00 and £96.00 available from 6^th of November.

If like me you know Ladurée for their macarons you will not be disappointed by their Christmas selection which includes Pecan and Maple Syrup; Haskap (the Canadian Blue Honeysuckle); dark chocolate and Labrador Tea. Beautifully packaged with maple and pine branches motif there is no need to wrap this gift.

Gift boxes are available containing 8, 12 and 24 macarons and are priced at £19.50; £28.00; £52.50 respectively.

A special mention for the L’eau de Nil and gold coloured Treasure Chest, containing 200 glorious macarons some of which can be customised with a name or simply ‘Merry Christmas.’ The hamper costs £620.00, so it is a gift for someone very special, but what a show stopper.

If all this Christmas shopping has made you weary Ladurée have carried their Canadian theme one step further with their Christmas and Canadian French Toast (£14.00) or make an occasion of it and treat yourself to their Christmas Afternoon Tea. (£42.00/£48.00 per person and available from 4^th to 31^st December)

A trip to Ladurée, Covent Garden is a deliciously indulgent treat, but with all the hard work involved in getting ready for Christmas, surely you deserve it?

www.laduree.co.uk

When younger and invited to Christmas parties the only questions I ever asked were ‘when and where?’

These days I am far more likely to check what plans I have for the following day and if a monumental hangover is going to be a price worth paying.

I have had these ‘Good Night, Great Day’ capsules on my desk for some weeks, not wishing to waste them on a few drinks, unlikely to result in a hangover.

The longer they remained untouched the more my scepticism grew, but finally myself and a friend arranged to go out in London and knowing my friend, I suspected that the dreaded hangover was only a day away.

We met for a late lunch and plumped for the tasting menu which had 5 courses with an accompanying glass of wine, (white, red and a Sherry- see the lengths I am willing to go to for you?)

After a short walk we found ourselves in a favourite wine bar, where we shared a bottle of white and a glass of red.

From the wine bar to a cocktail bar where we each had three rather tasty cocktails (all in the name of science you understand)

I had dutifully taken two capsules before I began drinking alcohol much to the bemusement of our waiter.

I also took the precaution (but my friend didn’t) of placing a capsule next to a toothbrush, so I didn’t forget to take it when I returned home.

Given my earlier scepticism you can imagine my surprise, when I woke up this morning without a hangover. I laid in bed for a good 10 minutes, convinced that it was going to kick in at any moment but no, I feel fine.

I also contacted my forgetful friend who reports a hangover, so it would seem that you must take all three capsules to fully benefit.

The capsules boost liver function and increase energy levels whilst being the mother of all antioxidants, helping to reduce those unwanted effects from the night before.

I appreciate that this is not a scientific review and all I can say is that on this occasion, they most definitely worked for me.

However, they are not an excuse for drinking irresponsibly and the lack of a hangover does not mean that you will necessarily be fit to drive the next morning. So please, always be drink aware.

That said, if you think that there is an occasion when you may drink more than usual, these capsules could just be the thing to ensure that you have a Good Night and a Great Day!

Good NIGHT, Great DAY Capsules can be found at yetiandthefox.com with prices starting at just £6.00.

365 Simple Daily Practices to Boost Happiness & Fulfilment

I was emptying the dishwasher the other day and stabbed myself on a sharp knife as I reached in. I didn’t see it. Why not, I wondered, it was so obvious.

Later, while talking to my brother we discussed the simple philosophy of how sometimes things are right in front of us but we don’t see them, are we so preoccupied with other things that we are not paying attention to the matter in hand? Looking but not seeing or looking from the wrong angle?

Theresa Cheung’s The Ritual Yearbook is, for a personal growth and spiritual development book, surprisingly down to earth. It is full of insights into how we see ourselves and how to be the best we can be.

With just a few minor changes to our days she suggests that simple things: making our bed as soon as we rise, having a good stretch each morning, getting out in the fresh air, are all rituals that can transform our lives. Even smiling in the mirror at ourselves each day (not so easy first thing in the morning unless you do it before you put your glasses on) can have a transformative effect.

The one ritual I found difficult at first was writing down things I’m grateful for. Theresa suggests writing three things each day.

At first I felt slightly overwhelmed. Was I grateful for the rain, the sun, the trees and to be alive?

Yes, I am grateful for those things but I’m also grateful for small things: My comfy bed, my warm house, my phone. And because I am grateful for these things, I realise that I don’t have to feel guilty that I have them.

I have watched Theresa Cheung on a podcast with Russell Brand, and with Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain. Sometimes she looked nervous but she held her own and was never lost for words, not even when faced with a barrage of disbelief from certain interviewers.

The Ritual Yearbook has given me permission to believe that, if I follow the rituals and look at the world from a different angle, everything will be ok.

Theresa Cheung allows me to believe in angels.

The Ritual Yearbook: pb £14.99

Prezzybox aims to create moments of happiness, by delivering the extraordinary and has won an award for its customer service.

We all seek that moment of elation when we find the perfect gift and Prezzybox believe that they have a range of gifts suitable for the office Secret Santa, Stocking Fillers up to and including more substantial gifts.

The gifts themselves range from the whimsical to the unusual and provide the perfect presents to give to family and friends alike.

How about Unicorn’s Blood? A gin and rose flavoured jelly containing edible glitter enough to put the sparkle into any Christmas breakfast.

Still with the breakfast theme, but perhaps at the other end of the spectrum is the ground coffee entitled Black Like my Soul, 250g of a single origin, dark roast, naturally processed Vietnamese ‘robusta’ ground coffee. This coffee is full bodied, laced with rich cocoa flavours leading to a luxurious lingering chocolate after taste.

The Underwater disco light turns bath time into a vibrant disco light show. The light glows and flashes with an array of bright colours, bobbing on the surface of your bath, projecting 5 different 360 degree light patterns. Perfect for the disco diva in your life, that really wants to get into the mood, whilst getting ready to go clubbing.

The Cable Bite is an amusing pun on the word bite, in the shape of a small dog which both decorates and protects, preventing the cable from disconnecting.

If you wish to continue with the doggy them, how about pairing the Cable bite with a pair of Corgi socks?

These and a wide range of other gifts are available from Prezzybox

https://www.prezzybox.com

Insomnia used to be considered a nuisance. Now we know that sleep deprivation contributes to serious chronic illness including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, dementia and even obesity. As if it weren’t bad enough tossing and turning into the small hours, it’s making you fat too. Life can be a bitch.

The good news is all the good quality information on sleep problems which is emerging. One suggestion is, rather than staring at the ceiling during the early hours, get up and read – and Calm – The Magic of Sleep –  was written by Michael Acton for this very situation.

It’s a fairly light-hearted book – but then you don’t want to be studying heavy facts at 2am. However it is informative. It explains the science – what happens during sleep, the benefits, what makes us fall asleep and what stops us sleeping. There are nice easy quizzes to help us establish our own sleep type and set up good sleep habits and sleep hygiene.

Much of the book is dotted with sleep trivia and interesting stories – great to distract you before you settle back down to sleep again.

There are short sections on specific issues, such as childhood and adolescent sleep needs and how to deal with them, useful for any parent, particularly those whose own sleep problems stem from a crying baby.

He’s also included a fascinating section on dreams, with suggestions on how to keep a dream journal, which is very interesting.

The book doesn’t pretend to be an encyclopaedia on all things sleep, and in fact the author refers us to Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep for more detailed science, direct from a sleep scientist. However it still manages to slip in a lot of useful information in an easy and digestible style – with attractive illustrations and amusing quotes.

It’s linked to the Calm sleep app available at http://www.calm.com which you can try for free. This provides guided meditations, breathing coaching and special bedtime stories for adults with music and the occasional celebrity narrator.

As the book explains, many of nature’s sleep triggers, such as darkness, elude us in this modern world of city lights and mobile phone screens, and it provides many tips on how to restore our body’s natural rhythms – with recipes for calming herbal teas and advice on the best sleep positions.

Acton explains to us that sleep isn’t just dead time – one thought-provoking insight was a study where language students remembered more new vocabulary if words in the new language were played to them whilst they slept. Sports scientists are discovering that good quality sleep can give that competitive edge which makes the difference between a silver and gold. So good sleep is more important than we realise for our health and life success.

Acton’s suggestions on how to get the best sleep are definitely more helpful than W.C. Fields’ contribution, ‘The best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep.’ His book is certainly worth reading if you need help with sleep.

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.