Don’t you just envy that person who gives the most beautifully wrapped Christmas presents? You wonder how they have the time and energy to find those gorgeous gift bags and chic bottle boxes. Well fear not, as now you can be that person the ultimate gifting guru with the help of Vanilla Reindeer.

No matter your needs Vanilla reindeer has something that will suit your needs they offer a range of products and designs ideal for Christmas for all ages from gift boxes to advent calendars and chocolate truffle boxes.

I was fortunate enough to sample the chocolate truffle advent calendar. I was able to personalise it with a picture of my children and a message and design of my choice and even able to choose the recipient and have their name added. The result is beautiful, the picture was clear and of a great quality, the chocolate truffles were divine and bigger than I expected.

The chocolate truffle advent calendar is a must for fellow chocoholics who need an excuse to have a chocolate truffle a day throughout December, it will also make a great gift for that someone special as you can make the calendar completely unique. A gorgeous calendar that will impress everyone.

Red Truffle Advent Calendar £22.99

Snowman Standard Advent Calender £11.99

www.vanillareindeer.com

Award winning author, Oliver Eade opens his latest novel with a prologue concerning Professor Peregrine Pringle. What a name to get your teeth around. What a whoosh to get you reading chapter 1. What a joy to read the galloping tale set in Scotland, and why not, for this is where Oliver Eade resides.

Dylan believes his dog-phobic dad has destroyed his chance of ever impressing Alice, the girl next door – for the girl next door, has a DOG, called Bouncer. Arghhh.

But …. But… the Bouncer goes missing. Is this Dylan’s chance? Well, yes. Together they set off to find Bouncer, but where is he?  They seek him here, there and everywhere until finally they arrive at a decrepit manor house, Number 24 \and there, outside is Bouncer’s collar.

But they have a problem with Number 24 as it is where Alice’s big brother went missing, and Dylan’s little sister too. So if they enter, will it be the end for the two of them as well. Or, by being courageous and resourceful will they find not only Bouncer, but their siblings?

Into the house they go, and end up in a dimension where human and dog roles are reversed, and where Alice becomes Bouncer’s pet. But that is not all, because like all good stories there is an antagonist, or is that plural? For this stalwart pack of dogs and humans have to save the deposed Top Dog, Bosona.

And what happens to Colin? Who’s Colin you ask. Well, read Number 24 and see.

It is a fabulous novel for the Christmas stocking, written with Eade’s usual elan, and structural confidence. Loved it, loved it.

And you can meet the author at the Triple Book Launch for Silver Quill PUblishing Borders Writers. Not just Oliver Eade but Pamela Gordon Hoad whose latest novel, The Prophet’s Grief is launched, and a collection of short stories by Iona Carroll Other People’s Lives. Such a feast of talent and expertise. Such fun authors.

Melrose Corn Exchange Market Square, Melrose TD6 9PN – November 7th. 7-9. Free drinks and nibbles.

Number 24 by Oliver Eade pb £7.99

Annie Clarke’s latest novel is Heroes on the Home Front

A rare Buddhist manuscript, known as ‘Sankhara bhanjani kyam,’ fromThailand dated 1917 c British Library Board.

I have a love of exhibitions and am often to be found wandering around both National and Local Art Galleries and Museums, so it takes something very special to impress me as much as the British Library’s Buddhist Exhibition.

The British Library is perfectly situated, just five minutes’ walk from Kings Cross and St Pancras Railway Stations and 10 minutes from Euston Station.

By some standards it is a small exhibition, but it is so full of artefacts many of which are so exquisitely decorated and so finely carved and drawn, that I recommend that you allow at least an hour to fully appreciate it.

18th century copy of the Tibetan Book ‘bar do thos grol,’ known in the West as ‘Tibetan Book of the Dead’

c British Library Board.

The exhibition explores the roots, philosophy and contemporary relevance of one of the world’s major religions, from its beginning in north India in the 6^th century BCE, to having over 500 million followers across the world today.

Set in a high- ceilinged exhibition space, the walls of which are bathed in the richest red which adds to the feeling of tranquillity, aided by a sound scape of bird song, and a Temple Bell the tolls intermittently.

Tenets appear amongst the exhibits offering wisdom on how one might become a better person.

The layout of the room uses artefacts to identify the three main schools of Buddhism -Therevada, Mahayana and Vajrayna and is the British Library’s largest ever display of Buddhist collection items.

A copy of the Lotus Sūtra in a lavishly decorated scroll from Japan, dated to 1636, c British Library Board.

The exhibition also features contemporary art from Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and Taiwan as well as ritual objects used in Buddhist practice.

Such is the wealth of artefacts it is hard to pick out the ‘must sees’, but for me the copy of the Lotus Sutra in a lavishly decorated scroll written in gold and silver ink on indigo dyed paper, dating back to 1636 is one; and one of the oldest illustrated extant palm leaf manuscripts, Pancharaksha, an illustrated ritual text from Nepal, dated 1130 – 1150, is another

On more familiar ground with an 18^th Century copy of the Tibetan Book Bar do thos grol, which is a guide through the stages between death and rebirth, commonly known in the West as the Tibetan Book of the Dead.

I love an exhibition from which I emerge richer either in wisdom or in appreciation of aesthetics and today I emerged blinking into the light, enriched by both.

I learned that Buddha is a title not the name of a person and is awarded to someone who has gained enlightenment.

The Buddhist Exhibition runs from the 25^th October 2019 to the 23^rd February 2020.

Adults £14.00

Concessions £12.00

Students £7.00

18 -25 years of age £7.00

All over the world animals are put to work helping to provide livelihoods for millions of families, roughly 200 million animals do the jobs of trucks, tractors and taxis. Since 1923 SPANA (The society for the protection of working animals abroad) has been the charity for the working animals that over half a billion people rely on.

In 26 countries SPANA provide free veterinary care to horses, donkeys, mules, camels, elephants and other animals. In the last year alone SPANA treated over 376,151 working animals. The charity also works on improving the welfare of working animals in three ways: free veterinary treatment, education and training along with emergency and outreach projects.

Even though working animals are crucial to the communities that they support, they all to often endure awful working conditions, they carry backbreaking loads, in extreme heat and with ill-fitting equipment. With little to no access to food, water and shelter that they so desperately need they face a variety of problems that will cause them pain and suffering such as infectious diseases, dental and hoof issues and lameness.

In majority of cases there is no veterinary care available to the animals and in other cases the care that is available is simply unaffordable for the owners to pay for.

To help ensure a better future for working animals SPANA work with school children overseas to build empathy and promote a positive attitude towards all animals. This fantastic project has reached more than 63,969 children in developing countries. SPANA also work with animal owners in the local communities to help change attitudes and behaviour and promote humane treatment of the animals and teaching the owners how to reduce preventable problems.

SPANA have created a short film which features working camels at the brick kilns in India, donkeys transporting people, goods, food, water and firewood in Ethiopia and working Donkeys that haul rubbish on the towering dumps in Bamako, Mali.

SPANA receives no government funding and relies completely on donations to continue their work improving the welfare of working animals around the world.

For more information please visit- spana.org

Beano has been a household name for over three generations, winning children over with relatable characters, appealing stories and the spot-on humour has proved a immense success.

On October 24, 2019 Beano launched “Beano Booktopia” a brand new and one of a kind book subscription service for children, offering newly published books across a range of genres and authors.

Booktopia encourages children to expand their reading horizons with new books that fans of the Beano will love. The books selected for the Booktopia service follow the winning Beano formula that has won over children for three generations by combining spot-on humour, captivating stories, relatable characters and amazing visual storytelling.

The made to measure service will include both fiction and non-fiction books are chosen by Beano experts based on the individual child’s interests and reading ability. Beano Booktopia inspires children to expand their reading horizons with new books that fans of the Beano will love.

So how does it work?

 Firstly, you will need to pick a plan, choose from one of Beano Booktopia subscriptions with a book arriving every month for either 3, 6, 12 or 24 months – starting from £24.99

 Secondly, you will be able to name the lucky child who will become part of Beano’s Booktopia club

 Next the child(ren) answer a few simple questions outlining their interests. Questions will be based around what they love? Fact or fiction? Adventure or mystery? Books with pictures as well as text?

 Finally, the adventure begins. Beano masterminds hand-pick a book a month to match each child’s expressed interests and reading ability.

Reading is a vital stepping-stone for every child, not only does it broaden their vocabulary it expands their imagination as well. With the fun and exciting books that Beano Booktopia has to offer your child will not even be aware that they are learning, they will be having far too much fun.

For more information on Beano Booktopia and to purchase a subscription visit https://beanobooktopia.com/

Endgame by Daniel Cole

That puzzling chestnut: a suicide (or is it murder?) in a locked room, especially when the victim is a retired police officer. It’s only a disgraced detective William ‘Wolf’ Fawkes who isn’t so sure.

He and his team begin to dig into Finlay Shaw’s past, for a possible motive for murder. Was Shaw dirty? Or was he on the trail of corrupt police? If so, would those he hunted kill to save themselves?

Exciting, page turning.

Daniel Cole is an author after my own heart, prefers to be down the beach when he should be writing. Thinking time, Daniel. Thinking time it’s called.

Endgame by Daniel Cole. hb and ebook pub Trapeze £16.99/£9.99

Fugitive 13 by Rob Sinclair

The second book in the SLEEPER 13 series, but fine as a stand alone.

So: Aydin Torkal -aka Sleeper 13 – is on the run from international intelligence agencies, and the insurgents he has betrayed.

Of course, he has an ally. Someone who believes in him, and that is M16 agent Rachel Cox, who is glad he is supportive in the ongoing war against terror, an ally indeed. But who else is there who can be classed in this way – an ally? It seems perhaps not her colleagues. So she’s on her guard, on the hunt.

And as for Aydin, he hunts down those who committed the sin of destroying his childhood, but where will that trail lead ? Aaah, read and see.

I like espionage thrillers,and this is a good ‘un. The title is evocative. 13 is such a flag for ‘unease, for trouble’.

In our street, there is no thirteen. It goes from 12 to 14. 13 is scary, brings bad luck.

Fugitive 13 by Rob Sinclair. pb £7.99 eBook £4.99. Audio book available.

The Adventures of Maud West – Lady Detective by Susannah Stapleton

Non-fiction, a true story about the life and career of Maud West, one of Britain’s first lady-detectives.

Maud opened her agency in London in 1905, and thereby started a thirty year career sleuthing at the behest of society’s finest who might not want their linen, or silk, ferreted about with, and aired in public by the coppers. Maud is far more private as behoves a Private Deterctive.

By no means a shrinking violet,our  Maud’s exploits grabbed international headlines but who was she really?

Susannah Stapleton, an historical researcher, put dear Maud  under the microscope, ignoring the red herrings Maud liked to scatter in her wake in order to preserve her own version of the truth. No, no, none of that. Come into the garden Maud and let Stapleton show you your life, as it really was.

Fascinating portrait of a woman ahead of her time, not to mention the gossipy shock and deliciousness of glimpses into Society’s nether regions. I enjoyed it. Bravo and good old Maud, good on Susannah for exposing the evidence of a life definitely lived.

The Adventures of Maud West, Lady Detective by Susannah Stapleton.

Annie Clarke’s latest book, Heroes on the Home Front is out now.

The glorious M.C. Beaton has done it again with Beating About the Bush  – a blisteringly funny teasing mystery, with the redoubtable Agatha Raisin blundering around, offending willy nilly and not caring. I adore this woman, and as always, as I read, I know I have met my disgruntled soul mate, or has Beaton has been peeping through my curtains?

Listen a moment: you know you buy those Christmas presents that you wish you’d bought for yourself? Well, buy this and a second for that sensible person who – Snakes and b…….s – adores our Aggie too.

Agatha is known for her repetitions, as am I. One of Agatha’s is to shout every time she passes woodland in a car. ‘That’s a good place to dump a body.’ It drives everyone mad, as it drives my family mad when I say, ‘Should we have taken that turning? Just asking.’

Agatha is not alone in her predilection, for the police find elderly Mrs Dunwiddy in the woodland next to the road leading out of Mircester.

Of course our Cotswold resident, Agatha, runs her own investigation, digging deep, heeldless of bosses, Russians, and the sensitivities of those around her.  And let us not forget her complicated love life.. And what is going to happen between her and Sir Charles Frith?

Oh lord, what a treat, what a fabulous read, what laughs, what larks, what charm, what naughtiness. I love this woman. Read it, give it, let others share in this crazy Agatha Raisin world.

Beating About the Bush by M.C. Beaton hb £18.99  pub Constable.

Annie Clarke’s latest novel Heroes on the Home Front is out now.

Snap Dragon by Drumond Park is my sort of game, eh, I mean my grandson’s sort of game. Well he needs someone to play with doesn’t he? And this is such fun.

It centres around a big purple dragon. Each player takes it in turn to throw a die, and then pull on the dragon’s tongue to see if he snaps at them. If he doesn’t, you gain a gold coin, but if he does, you lose one.

Simple, no complicated rules and lots of excitement. I find my adrenaline levels shoot up more than my grandson’s as I pull on that scary tongue, wondering whether those big teeth will snap shut or not.  Recommended ages: fours years old to very big kids.

RSP £22.99  Stockists include; Smyths, Argos, Amazon, Entertainer, John Lewis and Independents

And for slightly bigger ‘children’ (recommended from five plus years old), Pile Up Pirates has a similar element of raucousness and laughter to Snap Dragons. With all the TV series and films, pirates are as popular today as they were in my childhood and this game is simple and visual – maximum fun with minimum effort – I love it.

It consists of a small pirate boat and a jolly pirate standing on a wobbly deck, holding a plank above his head. The players need to balance more little pirates on more planks one on top of the other, all above the first one. Eventually the inevitable will happen, and they will all come tumbling down. The trick is not to let the boat deck wobble. But who will place the last pirate before disaster strikes?

RSP £12.99  Stockists include; Amazon, Argos, Shop Direct and John Lewis

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.