Never judge a book by its cover, is an adage that has stood me in good stead for many years, so why am I to be found stroking the frosted black bottle and label of Jaisalmer Gin, like some James Bond villain, stroking his cat?

Normally immune to artistic labels on bottles of alcohol, I am in awe of this design. The bottle is tactile, demanding to be admired and at the base, a small but pleasing punt. The label is ridged with embossed gold lettering on a black label and then a dramatic splash of turquoise that screams sophistication.

With expectations raised this high I fear that the gin will not be able to compete, despite the bold claim that it is ‘The whole of India in one bottle.’

Gin & Tonic was invented in India, when in the 1820’s, officers from the British Army, in an attempt to ward off malaria, mixed quinine with sugar and water creating the first Indian Tonic Water.  The addition of gin made the drink more palatable.

Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin harks back to the imperial age of the Maharajas, named after the historic Golden City of the same name and pronounced ‘Jessalmeer,’ it is located in the North West of India in the state of Rajasthan.

Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin is a triple-distilled spirit, handcrafted in one of India’s oldest distilleries, located in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The use of botanicals is a time-honoured tradition in India and Jaisalmer’s gin recipe is derived from the ancient Indian knowledge of herbs. Seven of the 11 botanicals used in the distillation come from India; Coriander and Vetiver grown in the fields around Jaisalmer, sweet Orange peel from Central India, whilst the Cubeb Berries and Lemongrass are from Southern India. The Darjeeling Green tea leaves come from Eastern India and the Lemon Peel from Western India.

Truly the whole of India in one bottle.

The Master Distiller wanted to retain the classic gin flavour using juniper berries whilst adding a refreshing twist with the Indian botanicals.

So, with Copa glass filled with ice and a fat piece of orange peel, twisted to release its oil, it was with much trepidation that I poured my very first Jaisalmer Gin. (Tip – before twisting the peel run it around the rim of the glass)

With nose set as close to the ice cubes as I dare without risking frostbite, I am hit by an initial crisp aroma of zesty Lemon and Coriander.

This gin does not disappoint, with Pine notes from the Juniper, woody and earthy notes from the Angelica Root and Liquorice whilst the spicy definitive notes from Cubeb Pepper keep this gin medium to full-bodied.

Finally, there is the elegant and refreshing finish, that lingers long after the first sip and which in my case, left me smacking my lips with satisfaction.

Please don’t worry if you miss the Indian summer, this is a gin to be savoured on a mellow autumn afternoon or a dark winter evening and is so beautifully packaged that it would make a most welcome gift come Christmas.

There is also a very helpful list of recipes for cocktails and for the purposes of this review I made the

THE G&T Signature Serve and the Indian Negroni, both of which I can thoroughly recommend and I am looking forward to trying the others very soon. (Purely in the name of science you understand)

Images courtesy of Rob Lawson.

STOCKISTS -The Whisky Exchange www.thewhiskyexchange.com RSP: £34.95 for a 70cl bottle ABV: 43%

How cute is this? My adjectives for Hape toys are simple, good quality, robust, fun. As with others in the Hape range, this frog is made of beautiful carved and painted (sustainable) wood. At a time when toyshops are filled with plastic gimics, this toy is tried and tested and will last a long time, both physically and in terms of child interest.

It’s small and light enough for a baby learning to crawl to pull on, and the bright colours will certainly grab their attention. When Baby starts to walk they will have even more fun trailing it a long behind, as its mouth opens and closes, like a real frog catching flies.

With Christmas looming closer, this is a real winner if you have young babies to buy for. At £9.60 from YesBebe it is very reasonably priced for such a quality toy.

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.

Possible a controversial title – but Leo the Snail, a teether/rattle/dummy from BabyToLove is unique and delightful, and perfect for teething babies.

Firstly it looks extremely attractive, in pink or green. It’s big enough to grab Baby’s attention but very light, so easy for even a 3-month old to grab and hold – and of course, take straight to their mouth. The whole toy is made of food-grade silicone so no concerns when Baby chews on Leo’s various bits, and the snail’s feelers are designed to resemble a dummy (pacifier in the USA) which is a clever additional feature.

The whole thing is light and delicate, yet robust, and will wobble playfully if Baby shakes it, which will also activate the delicate integral rattle.

So if you have a new baby present to buy, or Baby’s first Christmas, this is just great. At £11.95 from BabyToLove it is a beautifully-made and unusual toy.

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.

December 1987 Roberto Diaz a bioterror operative and Trini Romano a Lieutenant Colonel are on their way to the Atchison mines . They are transferring a metal crate that the have flown half way across the planet . The mysterious crate and it’s unknown contents are securely sealed in the facility and should be out of sight out of mind .

Fast forward to March 2019 we meet the loveable , cheeky and rebellious Teacake who has recently finished a 19 month prison sentence. He has a new job at a local storage facility.

A concoction of boredom, persistent beeping and the desire to talk to Naomi, the new girl at work , results in a series of catastrophic events, events that put all forms of life on earth at risk .

I’m not going to lie, I would not describe myself as a Science fiction fan. I initially chose ‘Cold Storage’ because it is written by David Koepp who is a celebrated screenwriter and director for films such as:
• Jurassic Park
• Spiderman
• Panic Room
• War of the World’s
• Mission impossible
• Indiana Jones
And having watched most of those amazing films I had very high expectations and decided to give it a go .

Koepp in his genius way, not only makes the characters believable but also the extreme situations that they find themselves in. There were times where I could not turn the pages fast enough .

Written from many different points of view , the reader gets a true understanding for the story line. What struck me most about ‘Cold Storage’, other than the heart racing , nail biting plot, was the fact that with all the scientific jargon I was able to understand what it meant and therefore what was going on. This is not due to my scientific knowledge, oh no, it is Koepp’s clever writing style. Much like ‘Mr DNA’ In Jurassic Park.

A perfect blend of excitement, humour, science and nightmarish terror.

Kathryn O’Reilly and Anna Doolan

image credit Nick Rutter

The complexities of childhood trauma, drug addiction and shame are brought to the forefront in this bold new play from writer and actor Kathryn O’Reilly.

Blending powerful physical expression, lyrical monologues and realistic drama with original music, Poisoned Polluted is an exciting and challenging piece of theatre, taking the audience on a brutal journey as they face the devastating reality of the impact and strain of addiction within a family.

Poisoned Polluted, explores the impact of being nurtured in a toxic environment. Stark, raw and bold, this original full-length poetic drama tackles uncompromising social issues and shines a light on the direct correlation between addicts,
abuse and suffering which is carried within our bodies.

Writer Kathryn O’Reilly comments, Poisoned Polluted began as a poem inspired by real life
experiences. As a playwright I am constantly exploring what it is to be human, our interactions,
transactions and coping mechanisms. I am fascinated with learning more about the nature of
addiction, as we all have the capacity to become addicts. Drugs don’t discriminate, but affect
every walk of life, age, class, gender, culture. Why are some people’s lives destroyed by it, and
others are not? It’s important to create female-led stories with new and varied characters for
women, focusing on issues in society that affects us all and to raise awareness.

Poisoned Polluted Tuesday 5th – Saturday 30th November 2019
Location The Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 St John St, Islington, London EC1V 4NJ

Tickets are £14.50 with some concessions available frommnnhttps://www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk/poisoned-polluted.html or
0333 012 4963

Recently, I watched a good friend struggle with the 3-dimentional jigsaw required to fit one’s liquids in the modest plastic bag provided at UK Airports.  Having already ditched a half-carrier bag’s worth of lotions, and, balancing a full-sized bottle of rather expensive perfume on the top of various face creams, deoderants and sunscreen, she handed the gaping bag to the (very patient) security officer.  Her triumph and relief melted as she was told that the bag needed to be sealed – a complete impossibility due to the Givenchy-embossed bottle struggling to escape. I shifted my few small bottles, which were mixed with the refugees I had already taken from her bag and somehow managed to fit in her perfume in my plastic bag too.  Everyone was happy and the Givenchy was saved from the large bin by the X-ray scanner.

Next time I hope she’ll decant her precious beauty products into 50ml plastic containers, but what about the perfume? Well I shall probably buy her a Portascent atomiser for her birthday. It’s such a simple but clever gift, and perfect for travelling. Made of aluminium it’s extremely light and small, and of course unbreakable. You can fill it with perfume in seconds. Simply remove the spray end from any perfume bottle, exposing the nozzle underneath. The Portascent has a port underneath which fits over the nozzle. Pump the Portascent up and down on the nozzle and it will fill up with perfume. A word of caution, you must keep the cap on the Portascent when you do this or it won’t work.  If your perfume bottle isn’t a spray, there’s an option for pouring too. It looks neat and attractive, and carries 120 sprays – perfect for a holiday, or even just carrying around in your handbag, in case you bump into Daniel Craig on the commute home. At just £7.99 from Leakproof.co.uk it makes a really useful present.

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.

Image credit: Asaf Sagi

The spectacular true story of how a Jewish acrobat escaped the Nazis by running away to join the circus!
Based on the true story of Irene Danner-Storm, The Escape Act – A Holocaust Memoir tells the riveting and powerful story of a Jewish acrobat who hid in a German circus during WWII to escape the concentration camps. Hard-hitting and inspiring, this historically researched and poignant onewoman theatre and puppetry production embarks on a UK tour this autumn.
The production follows Irene’s journey from Kristallnacht in 1938 to liberation in 1945, and her all too risky escape to the circus. It’s the story of how she fell in love and started her own family, all under the protection of the Althoff Circus. It is about the immense kindness shown towards Irene by the non-Jews who risked their lives to save her and inspects the devastating impact of the Holocaust on individuals and families who were torn apart.
The performance flits from past to present as it simultaneously examines Irene’s life under the Third Reich and the experiences of writer and performer Stav Meishar growing up a grandchild to Holocaust survivors. As Meishar tells Irene’s story it triggers her own memories of family stories, and she is compelled to face the past traumas and struggles of their history.

Image credit: David Konecny

A multi-faceted performance combining theatre, circus and puppetry, the performance is a
culmination of seven years of research into the lives of German-Jewish circus families between 1929- 1945. Using collected testimonies and interviewed witnesses, the production is brought to life by Meishar in an effort to document and commemorate the Jewish legacies.
Creator and Performer Stav Meishar comments, I felt compelled to make this work of historical circus-theatre in light of the current climate. With statistics showing 1 in 20 Britons disbelieving that the Holocaust happened …’

In addition, the tour is accompanied by a public talk about the history of Circus Jews in Europe
Between the World Wars; interactive circus and drama workshops for all ages; audience Q&As; and
more, which are all available to book in advance.

The Escape Act is produced by Dreamcoat Experience and Petite Mort Productions, and supported by
Arts Council England, The European Cultural Association, TelepART and The Puffin Foundation.
Title The Escape Act – A Holocaust Memoir
Running time 75 minutes
Box Office Tickets are available from individual theatre box offices.
Twitter #TheEscapeActShow
Guidance Suitable for ages 10+ (Viewer discretion advised)
Performance Dates
23rd -24th September Jackson’s Lane
269a Archway Road, London, N6 5AA

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26th September Circomedia
Portland Square, Bristol BS2 8SJ, UK

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26th – 27th October CircusMASH
2 Vicarage Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 7RA
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4311021
29th October The Lowry
Pier 8, The Quays, Salford M50 3AZ
https://thelowry.com/