Having recently been ill, I am enjoying relaxing, guilt-free, in this lovely sunny weather. But how do you bottle this sunshine and make it last all year round? Well Opies literally do this (OK, not literally sunshine, but their bottled products are as good as).

Opies is an old family business, based in Kent since the 1920s, and the local fruit and nut trees have influenced their passion for making amazing preserves over the years.

For those with a sweet tooth I can highly recommend their fruits preserved in syrup and various alcohols. They are delicious in various recipes which are available on their website, or if you are feeling lazy and decadent, just put a generous dollop of their Apricots with Jim Beam on some some vanilla ice-cream – perfect.

However my favourite is the pickled walnuts. When Len Goodman used to threaten to pickle his, I had no idea about this scrumptious delicacy. Opies have enlightened me. They take the green walnuts, whilst the shell is still soft and prepare them by hand for pickling. The result is an earthy flavour, with a distinctive tangy after-taste. Absolutely delicious as a slice on top of biscuits and cheese, or adding a couple to a stew will provide depth and interest.

But don’t take my word for it – try any of their products. They also make lovely gifts.

Photos provided by Splat Marketing

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

We seem to have reached that point in the year that I call ‘Peak Summer.’ It’s that time where the summer feels as though it will go on forever. A time for planning picnics and eating in the garden, of languidly turning the pages of that holiday novel whilst sipping a long cool summer drink or laying in the shade close to a swimming pool.

And whilst there are a number of drinks that I can turn to, I am always on the lookout for something new, so, imagine my delight to discover this wonderful Puerto de Indias,

Strawberry Gin.

Light fresh and with the unmistakable taste of fresh strawberries what could be more  perfect? Puerto de Indias Strawberry Gin is crafted with fresh distilled strawberries grown locally in Seville.

On the nose, the gin has subtle hints of strawberry and a touch of juniper and aniseed. This gin begs to be teamed with good tonic water, plenty of ice and of course a few chopped strawberries.

The sweetness of the strawberries is offset by the gin making this perfect summer drink. Fruity and sweet, you can enjoy this Gin over ice as an aperitif, with tonic or in cocktails.

So, with a timely nod to the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament they have invented the ‘Perfect Serve’

The Perfect Serve

50ml Puerto de Indias Strawberry Gin

200ml premium tonic water

Fresh strawberries & lime wedge

Method

Build the cocktail in a Copa glass over ice, garnish with fresh strawberry slices and a wedge of lime, stir and serve.

Alternatively, you could try the Strawberry Mule,

Strawberry Mule

50ml Puerto de Indias Strawberry Gin

200ml premium ginger beer

Juice of ½ lime

Mint leaves & lime slice

Method

 Build the cocktail in a branded Copa glass, stir and serve.

Or you could experiment and devise your own cocktail which would be quite appropriate

given that like many a great discovery, this unique strawberry gin was born from a mistake,

when a master distiller was attempting to make a strawberry liqueur; he took his fresh

mashed strawberries and added them to a new recipe gin he was working on, and the rest is

history!

Puerto de Indias has an ABV of 37.5% per 70cl bottle, available at RRP of £27 from Amazon, Master of Malt, Whisky Exchange and the Drinks Supermarket.

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You can’t pass a health shop which isn’t advertising CBD oil at the moment, but what is it? Is it safe? Is it the cure-all claimed? And does it make you high?

Well Simon Horth, founder of Green Stem, was keen to tell me about his products.  He knew of many who seemed to have benefitted, including his own mother, who suffers from arthritis, and a friend with multiple sclerosis who’s muscle spasms had decreased.

As a doctor, I’m cautious of anecdotes – they sound exciting, but can be misleading – people who feel benefit tell everyone, whilst those who don’t, or feel worse, fade away. There’s no substitute for properly regulated clinical trials, to quantify genuine benefit, find the best dose, and check for side-effects. Ideally these involve many hundreds or even thousands of people, under strictly controlled conditions. So what clinical trials have been done with CBD and what did they show? I took a look.

But first what is CBD? Well CBD is short for cannabidiol – extracted from the hemp plant, a cousin of the marijuana plant. Marijuana contains THC, which makes one ‘high’, however CBD doesn’t have this ability. CBD hemp flower from PHF is thought to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.

I found a limited number of pharmaceutical-quality clinical trials in the literature. Just a few hundred people seem to have been studied in trials to date, and more trials are definitely needed to establish the pros and cons of CBD, and, importantly the most-effective and safe doses.

It’s been approved in USA for rare epileptic illnesses and is under review by FDA as a treatment for cancer pain.  Side-effects seem to be few, such as nausea and sleepiness so far, although it ‘s difficult to be sure with such limited data.

It’s currently available in health shops in some countries including the UK. Until more evidence is available I can’t tell you whether it works in the myriad of illnesses suggested, or even what dose you should take, but you can try it if you wish.

If you do, it’s important to find a quality product and Green Stem makes CBD to stringent guidelines and quality and potency checks.  Their products are also free of THC (the chemical causing marijuana ‘highs’). CBD can affect the blood levels of various medicines, so if you do take it in addition to other medicines, you should check with your doctor.

CBD is absorbed best when inhaled, or as drops under the tongue. Green Stem produce products suitable for inhalation, oral use or skin application and their website has some useful information.

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

I love Scentered.  If you  want to treat your body as the temple it should be, (in between the odd aperol spritz and naughty desert that is) then I would strongly recommend these lovely aromatherapy balms and candles.

Essential oils have been extracted from aromatic plants and used medicinally since ancient times, and for good reason and Scentered prides itself on high quality.  Their balms are blended moringa and shea butters, infused with essential oils, in a handy twist-up container. They are 100% natural, so no nasties such as parabens, artificial fragrances or colours.

The first thing you’ll notice when you open the packet is the amazing smell. And the second, and third thing you’ll notice is the amazing smell – nothing more, nothing less.

This set of five balms is a real treat – ‘Be Happy’, ‘De-stress’, ‘Focus’, ‘Escape’ and ‘Sleep well’ – the names speak for themselves.

You can rub the balm onto pressure points as you dash out, or you can take time, lie down and relax, apply the balm of your choice, then take some deep breaths and send yourself to another place and time, just for a few minutes in your busy day – or longer if you really want to feel the benefit.

Personally I suffered from terrible jetlag – it’s been the bain of my working life, and my holiday-time too.  There’s nothing worse than staring at a hotel ceiling, conscious that the few hours before that important meeting are ebbing away, and yet no amount of counting sheep is doing the trick. So I was delighted to spot the Sleep Well and Focus travel pack. It contains a 5 g stick of each of these two balms – to help you get off to sleep, and then to focus at that meeting – and the pack is small enough to slot into your hand luggage.

There are more suggestions on how to use these products on the Scentered website, where their lovely balm sticks, and beautiful scented candles can be purchased.

Go on – treat yourself, you deserve it.

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.

Well, when they’re coming, anyway. Not sure I’ve seen any senior citizens lining up to buy these for themselves, but, YES, they buy them for their grandchildren, as I have done.

Baby To Love sooth those tired, teething gums with an ultimate must have collection of teething accessories. That provide a much needed distraction to help avoid those inevitable teething tantrums.

Leo The Snail (Green or Pink) is available to buy online for £11.95 from BabyToLove.

Both a rattle and a teether toy, Leo The Snail’s original spiral shape in a flexible, soft silicone makes it easy for little hands to hold. Leo the Snail will certainly become one of your baby’s favourite toys as it’s two jingles and feelers are made to imitate pacifiers, which provides even more of a pleasant chewing experience for your baby. Not to mention, Leo is fitted with two rattles inside his little shell for additional play value, tackling those teething troubles at the same time.

The Hugging Monkey Teether Toy (Green, Yellow, Blue or Pink) is available to buy online for £9.95 from BabyToLove.

Super soft on sore gums and budding teeth, this adorable Hugging Monkey Teether Toy in an extra-soft silicone. A fantastic resource of manipulation, thanks to its long arms which can be transformed into a multitude of different shapes. Giving baby many play options to relieve teething pain, this cute hugging monkey is both super fun to chew and play with, what’s more it also becomes a hugging companion for your little one’s bottles, perfect for busy parents on the go, in the car, at the park, shopping or anywhere else for that matter.

Bonnie The Octopus Teether, (Purple, Yellow, Blue or Pink) is available to buy online for £13.95 from BabyToLove.

Bonnie the Octopus is the perfect teether toy to sooth teething discomfort that can even reach the back teeth. This adorable little octopus is both pleasant to chew and play with thanks to its eight tentacles and four different textures, brushes on the one side and bumps on the other. Not to mention a slotted hat and smooth body which covers the different needs that your child has, according to his or her age. The 3D hollow body makes it light enough to hold, thanks to it’s smart design this teether won’t slide out of your baby’s mouth like all the others do.

For over 10 years, specialising in creation of original, innovative and trend led baby products provide a helpful hand throughout every moment of your baby’s life look no further than BabyToLove. Designed and developed in France BabyToLove are committed to the quality and safety of their products, to achieve only the best results.

My youngest grandchild has found these invaluable, as have her parents. P-E-A-C-E…

https://shop.babytolove.com

Lynne Robinson has waited a lifetime to create the garden of her dreams. A dream in place since her childhood. After 33 years of marriage, with numerous grandchildren, it seemed that perhaps she would have the time at last to embark on the cottage garden she had thought of for years. Then, disaster:  Lynne was struck down with acute arthritis. The condition grew so extreme that she was confined to the house, immobile and in pain. Still she dreamed her dream as she fought the disease until after four years of immobility,  fabulous news – the doctors found a drug which worked, and slowly, slowly her mobility returned, and the pain became more manageable.

But still she was thwarted in her plans to turn her dream garden into reality. First she had to lose the extra ten stone in weight – yes, ten stone – she had put on during her illness. A woman not to be daunted – after all, she was a mature student who graduated with a first class joint honours degree, and subsequently taught Open University undergraduates for years, she fought to lose the weight, and to return, emotionally and physically, to normality. Crucial to this was the ongoing planning of her dream garden.

Then another hitch,just when the tide was turning , Lynne and her husband had to move to Telford,

Or was it a hitch, because here they were presented with a  blank canvas that was her and her husband’s garden – just a massive lawn, with not a single tree or plant. So one day, they went to Lakeside Plant and Garden Centre which was just around the corner. It was a turning point, and so began the real rebirth of Lynne’s life. She spent hours in the garden, planning, thinking and finding utter joy in just being outside, and turning her dream into reality.

The plan evolved day by day, the digging began, and the blowsy cottage garden she had planned in her mind gradually took shape.

Once the structure was in place, the planting could begin, and with each stage, Lynne grew stronger, awakening her mind and body from her illness and  immobility. Each stage of the development of the garden brought more energy, more solace, more enthusiasm for life.

Lynne had decided that birds, bees and butterflies must be attracted, nature must be encouraged, but her grandchildren were not forgotten. Lynne determined that this place must be one of enchantment not just for her, the birds, bees and butterflies but for her grandchildren, and husband. So she included coloured lights and flowers which were clearly artificial but which made statements amongst the real plants. Lynne says, ‘I didn’t want block planting so wove it together by colour. I mixed heights so that you didn’t see everything at once. It became a discovery when looking at it from different angles.’

Lynne hid butterflies, dragonflies, ladybirds and fairies within the plants. And even added a few little stakes with pigs, cows and bees for my youngest granddaughter to discover. She added statues of children and animals and currently working on the bird bath, bird table and wild flower area.

‘Today I bought a peacock and heron, artificial of course, to sit amongst the trees. My lady shed and summer house with architectural plants on the decking area create another “room” within this magical place. So, my garden and the beauty of the flowers have restored my health and I am now looking forward to our final stage of life. I may have left my house and job behind but I have finally been able to realise my dream at the age of 63.’

Lynne explained how the Lakeside garden centre has been an integral part of this process with their never ending advice and support. Sharing ideas and providing excellent quality plants at a reasonable price.

‘Lots of the lights and small touches were enabled by them and this small family run centre have been amazing. I remember standing in there at the beginning of the year crying, just at the beauty of being amongst nature again. Almost as if I had forgotten there was beauty to be found in life, so hard had been the struggle to grow strong again. In effect my illness and the consequences of it actually enabled me to achieve something I’d always wanted to do but never been able to until now.’

The garden centre is owned by Steve and Cathy Evans. They are on Facebook and have a website at www.lakesideplantcentre.co.uk. their address and details about the centre are on there. It is in Priorslee Telford Shropshire.

Lakeside Plant and Garden Centre, your garden centre in Telford

We are a family owned independent garden centre and pride ourselves in providing a first class service to all our customers. We stock a wide range of high quality plants, garden care and garden related products.

lakesideplantcentre.co.uk

The Cheltenham Literature Festival, (sponsored this year by The Times and Sunday Times),  the oldest literary festival in the world, reveals part of its unmissable line-up for 2019 www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature takes place from 4 – 13 October when the vibrant Festival Village in Montpellier Gardens will welcome over 1000 of the very best writers, thinkers and performers for ten extraordinary days of literary revelry.

Seventy years is an anniversary well worth celebrating and the Cheltenham Literature Festival has just released its plans to do just that with a part of its line-up of writers and authors guaranteed to please everyone, from the casual reader to the most critical devourer of literature.

This year’s theme – Seven at Seventy – celebrates 70 years since Cheltenham Town Hall hosted the world’s first literature festival and started a global, cultural phenomenon.

Some of the illustrious names, drawn from the world of commentators, celebrity and academics include: Ali Smith | Ian McEwan | Richard Ayoade |Debbie Harry | Nadiya Hussain | Francis Rossi |Julian Fellowes | Philippa Gregory | Alastair Cook |Paul Whitehouse | Bob Mortimer | Tom Kerridge | Emily Maitlis| Richard Dawkins |James O’Brien, John Humphreys|William Dalrymple | Emily Chappell | Gareth Neame| Aeham Ahmad | Virginia Nicholson | Dermot O’Leary| Juno Dawson

Alongside the biggest new book releases and up to the minute political debate, there will be food, history, poetry, current affairs, art, sport, faith, fashion, lifestyle, psychology, science and business events on offer, as well as a packed family programme for toddlers to teens.

A packed Family programme has more on offer than ever before including, presenter Dermot O’Leary and illustrator Nick East with the latest escapades of Toto the Ninja Cat, and some horrendously horrid fun with Francesca Simon.

For littles ones there will be family fun with multi-award winning Oi Puppes! duo Kes Gray and Jim Field, mesmerising storytelling from Atinuke, and Elmer creator David McKee will be celebrating the 30^th birthday of the much-loved patchwork elephant.

The celebration of international literature continues with 70 global book festivals each recommending one title they would like Cheltenham audiences to add to their bookshelves to form a ‘Reading the World’ reading list.

The Full Programme and Booking

The full Festival line – up will be announced on Friday 16^th August at cheltenhamfestivals.com Booking for the Literature Festival opens to Cheltenham Festival Members at 10.00am on Wednesday 28^th August and general booking opens at 10am on Wednesday 4 September.

The 2019 Festival will run from 4 – 13 October

Follow @cheltlitfest on Twitter and #cheltlitfest for further updates

www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature

“Evocative, mesmerising and surprisingly emotional”

Wigmore Hall is a glorious oasis within the hustle of central London. Their year-round programme of classical music from all over the world inspires just from reading the listings!

Today, courtesy of the Avex Recital Series 2019, there was a performance from HONJOH Hidejiro, playing the traditional shamisen.

[HONJOH – Ⓒ RESOBOX]

The shamisen is a three-stringed instrument, similar in shape to a conventional guitar or banjo or, as one of the pieces demonstrated, a sitar. Yet, the tones are – to this Western ear – so very ‘Japanese’. Evocative, mesmerising and surprisingly emotional.

My previous Japanese music experience is perhaps best explained in the John Williams soundtrack to the film Memoirs Of A Geisha – with its shakuhachi and koto solos (that’s like a traditional Japanese flute and a steel guitar, respectively).

[HONJOH – Ⓒ RESOBOX]

HONJOH presented some world premières within his set of eight pieces of contemporary music – my breath taken away by Red, composed by Marios Joannou Elia. HONJOH describes it thus: “the overall impression resembling the falling of a maple leaf to the ground.” Brilliant.

The 60-minute concert comprised a programme of music by a range of composers: Urata, Takahashi, Sakamoto, Elia, Iyer and Fujikura. All creating music specifically for the shamisen, some in conjunction with HONJOH.

[HONJOH – Ⓒ Yo Hirai]

HONJOH plucks the strings with his fingers or with the aid of a bachi – commonly mistaken for a putty knife or grouting stick (this is no joke!). It looks the same, but helps to create the unique sound of the shamisen: its sawari.

Not just a musical experience – an educational event as well!

The Avex Recital Series is over for this year, but events for 2020 are planned for May 23rd, June 27th, November 28th and December 19th. Visit avexrecitalseries.com for more details.

Photographs courtesy of Yo Hirai and RESOBOX

Twitter:  @AvexRecitals @wigmore_hall