Frost Magazine is interested in anything that keeps children that little bit safer, so we were interested in LittleLife’s new Buggy Blackout. I test drove it on my granddaughter’s pushchair in this VERY hot weather. It worked a treat. Before we tried it she couldn’t rest, seemed far too hot (well, weren’t we all) but once we put it on, she was so much cooler and more cheerful. This is what LittleLife says would happen. I like it when the product does what it says ‘on the box’.

Frost Magazine found the research by Swedish Paediatrician, Dr Svante Norgren frightening. It revealed that covering your child’s pram with a blanket or muslin can lead to stifling temperatures as high as 37^oC inside the buggy, putting your baby at a high risk of overheating or even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The research showed that covering the pram with a thick blanket dramatically increased the temperature from 22^oC to 34^oC and then 37^oC, resulting in a dangerously hot environment for babies who can’t regulate their temperature.  LittleLife’s new Buggy Blackout offers a far safer solution because it’s made from cool and breathable fabric so our grandchild was  not only cool but also protected

Part of LittleLife’s new 2018 Sleep Accessories collection, the Buggy Blackout has a universal design that can be used together with a wide range of pushchairs, buggies and strollers. Ideal for creating a cool and dark environment in which your baby can nap peacefully. As well as blocking 99% of UV rays from reaching your child’s delicate skin, the mesh fabric also offers protection against flying insects and wind chill to keep the child comfortable.

It’s also easy to put on, so Grandma isn’t fiddling in this heat to get started on the walk.

What I did think the research revealed, and needs highlighting is that  when babies become too hot they will become quiet and limp, meaning you may assume they are sleeping peacefully rather than in significant danger.

So with this Buggy Blackout you can check easily because it has a practical design with a zipped double door at the front. The double-layered door means that you can easily check on your little one without disturbing them and one door can be left open and secured at the top of the blackout for greater air circulation when temperatures rise.

I thought it a genuinely important and efficient product. Anything that keeps our children just that little bit safer is priceless.

For convenient storage between uses, the LittleLife Buggy Blackout comes with a handy storage sack.

For more information about the Buggy Blackout or the rest of LittleLife’s Sleep Accessories collection, visit www.littlelife.com.

* https://www.svd.se/varmen-blev-farlig-i-barnvagnen  or  https://www.thelocal.se/20140711/swedes-risk-infants-lives-by-covering-up-prams

Pop-Up Opera are back for autumn with a reimagining of Bizet’s famous masterpiece La Tragédie de Carmen as they continue to challenge the perception of opera and bring it to the next generation.

In 1981 Peter Brook collaborated with composer Marius Constant to reimagine this emotive opera and, now, Pop-Up Opera will stage this stripped back incarnation. Sung in French with Pop-Up Opera’s signature ‘silent movie’ captions in English, this dark and thrilling piece may not always be as you expect.

Their retelling of this intense and tragic tale follows the four key multi-faceted characters in a thought-provoking drama of unhinged love and jealousy.  Actions are not without consequences and the stark reality of the repercussions for Don José are laid bare as the story unfolds in a series of his tormented flashbacks.

Director John Wilkie comments, Peter Brook’s incarnation of Prosper Merimee’s Carmen has fascinated me for many years – everything is trimmed away from the grander adaptations with which many are accustomed to focus on the intense interaction, the tragedy of the four protagonists. This production will be set at the end of the Spanish Civil War and we will investigate
the psychological elements that lie at the heart of this retelling of Carmen’s tale. I am immensely looking forward to bringing life to La Tragédie de Carmen with this very exciting team.

Pop-Up Opera’s combination of unique venues and cast of outstanding singers showcase this innovative opera

company’s  consistency in capturing the essence of this incredible refined and raw art form.

Tour:Sat 22nd Sept Court Gardens Farm, East Sussex, 7.30pm Orchard Lane, Ditchling, Hassocks BN6 8TH

Tues 25th Sept Asylum Peckham, 7pm Caroline Gardens Chapel, Asylum Road, London SE15 2SQ

Find out other tour dates (and there are many):  Website www.popupopera.co.uk

Twitter @PopupOperaUK, #LaTragedieDeCarmen

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/popupopera

‘What would you like to drink?’

Do you find yourself struggling to think of an option that would really thrill?

Well, Frost has some great new ideas for you.

First – alcohol (of course). So why not try Britain’s oldest wines and spirits merchant – Berry Bro^s & Rudd, St James’s, London? Besides all their amazing wines, I can recommend two other of their products.

First – the ginger liqueur – named King’s Ginger, because it formulated by them in 1903 for King Edward VII, no less.  And I can see why the king liked it. Smooth and light with the ginger warmth at the back of your throat – delicious neat or with ice.

Second – No 3 London Dry Gin – named after their premises – No 3 St James Street. A classical dry gin, celebrating juniper at its best.

And – great news – you can try these and their other products, because they also host private events – fine food dining and wine tastings within their (two acres) of cellars, deep below the London streets. What a fabulous experience. See their website for details.

But what if you’re driving, or simply don’t want alcohol? Well, easy – go to The London Essence Company for some really special beverages.

I was blown away by their Grapefruit and Rosemary Tonic Water – in a large glass, with plenty of ice, this delicious mixer, created from distilled botanicals and natural flavourings was perfection.  And, if needed, it will complement a good gin too. Other flavours include bitter orange and elderflower, and pomelo and pink pepper, in addition to classical tonic water.

And if tonic water is not for you, try their very special ginger ale, made from steeped ginger root and aniseed distillate, or their rhubarb and cardamom crafted soda.

Stocked by Waitrose and Ocado.

Well, after all that writing, I think I need a drink.

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

As a grandmother of a toddler, I am always keen to explore new ideas to make learning fun, so my attention was captured by Mrs Wordsmith.

This is a series of reading aids for 2-5 year olds, based on research into learning and vocabulary retention. Subscribers receive a monthly pack containing a picture book, a word-of-the day workbook and a pack of word cards.  There is also a word-of-the-day display stand so that the child is able to see it and learn it throughout the day.

The books and cards are beautifully illustrated with amusing pictures to help the child learn. Mrs Wordsmith uses word-pairing – a proven system which links similar words. It focuses on different types of words every month, selecting words most commonly used in everyday speech.

The aids help children navigate the nuanced range of feelings they experience, giving them the words to tell the difference between upset and frustrated, and they help them to be aware of their needs, with words like hungry and sleepy.

There is also a separate pack available for older children (7-11 year olds) called Gargantuan.

If you want to try before you buy, you can download a free sample from the website. I’ve tried it with my grandson, and it is a lot of fun for both of us.

https://www.mrswordsmith.com/products

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

The White Rose Book Cafe have told Frost Magazine about their fabulous programme as the school holidays approach, and then there’s the drift into autumn after a summer which reminds our office of the 1976 glory. Well, those that were born then, anyway.

The Art of Reading by Damon Young is a celebratory tribute to the power of one of our must undervalued skills – an ideal gift for the avid reader. ‘An engaging enquiry into the transformative power of reading: Melissa Harrison, author of Rain.

Tel: 01845 524353 to reserve a signed copy of the book. A Free Event.

Ripon Festival in September

White Rose BookCafe is delighted to host a couple of events in association with Ripon International Festival.

Tickets are available at the bookshop.

Kate Atkinson: 14th September. Tickets £10 each (student £5) – £5 off the purchase of the book ‘Transcription’

Salley Vickers – 9th September at 2.30  Tickets £7 each

Tickets also from the Festival website where further details can be obtained.

http:www.riponinternationalfestival.com

Books can be reserved at the bookshop

And also, – a roll of drums if you please, maestro – two of my favourite ‘lads’:

The stars of Channel 5’s The Yorkshire Vet will be talking about their books. I’ve read and loved Julian’s so am thrilled to see a third, and having listened to Peter’s whimsical humour it’ll be a good one – who can forget him cornering the cat, I was on the floor laughing, just as much as he was, on the floor I mean, not  laughing.

Julian you can meet in September, date to be advised, and Peter’s book is launched in October, and the party will be at – roll of drums… White Rose BookCafe 18th  October.Author  Milly Adams aka author  Margaret Graham, who will be a new resident of Thirsk by then, will be there, notebook in hand to report on it for the international Frost Magazine.

(Images courtesy of White Rose BookCafe)

As the author of a breast cancer guide myself, I was keen to review Annie Belasco’s book.

Was it another of those personal accounts of cancer? Well yes … and no.

Annie tells a gripping tale about having breast cancer in her early twenties and dealing with the fear, the surgery, and the gruelling chemotherapy.

But what makes Annie’s story stand out is the journey into her psyche – and the impact of a life-changing diagnosis on the mind of a young woman – and it isn’t always pretty.

At the start, Annie is looking for her Prince Charming amongst the bars of Benidorm. She gives on-line dating more attention than the rather large lump in her breast. After all, that was probably just a cyst.

Except it wasn’t, and totally shell-shocked, she has to face urgent decisions she just doesn’t want to make – like should she have her eggs frozen in case the chemotherapy affects her fertility? Damn it, she hasn’t even got a partner. And yet, she has to decide, and quick.

Through her treatment, she continues her quest for a soul mate. Amazingly she finds the wonderful Sammy, who is not phased by her wig, or the fact that one boob is currently AWOL.  He really is Mr Perfect, and Annie admitted to me when we spoke, that in some ways it was because of her cancer that she found him.

So did she spend all her time telling this hero how much she loved him? Well, no, not really …

And this is where Annie is frank about the psychological effects of cancer.  We know that, when people are undergoing any catastrophic life situation, they go through stages of denial, anger, bargaining and depression before they can finally accept and deal with it. During this process, at least some of the time, they can be irritable, unreasonable, confrontational and generally not very nice – often to those they care about most, and Annie illustrates this beautifully in her account.

This very normal behaviour can of course affect relationships, particularly if loved ones don’t understand that it isn’t ‘personal’. Fortunately Sammie was made of sterner stuff and Annie’s book has a happy ending.

This is a fabulous book for anyone trying to deal with a serious illness, directly or indirectly and consequently it was snapped up by TriggerPublishing.com, a publisher which specialises in mental health issues.

Annie is speaking at the Pink Ribbon – RSM Conference: What Causes Breast Cancer? What Cures It? On 14 September 2018 at Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London. This is an excellent conference with world-class breast cancer experts, so do come along and listen to Annie and her fellow speakers.

Love and Remission by Annie Belasco

 Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

What to buy for the husband who has everything? A Concorde Technical Flight at the famous Brooklands Race Track and centre of British aviation fitted the bill and for only £30 each.

Our experience started in the nostalgic club house – unchanged since Brooklands was opened by Hugh Locke-King at in Surrey in 1907 as a banked oval racetrack.   It thrived for 30 years and I remember tales of my father riding the circuit in the 1930s on his Velocette motorcycle.

The original Clubhouse at Brooklands – now a listed building

Vic, one of the many passionate  volunteers who keep Brooklands going today, gave us a fascinating talk about the Brookland’s history.  He spoke about its life as a race track – now only discernable in the sad remnants of the track which appear in small sections on the perimeter – often covered by weeds.

Then he described its history as one of the most significant places in the development of British Aviation.  This saw 18600 planes built there through the years when aviation progressed from planes which looked like bicycles with rudimentary fabric wings to Concorde and the Harrier Jump Jet.

Harrier Jump Jet

We were led to the glossy white Concorde which stands in pride of place on the tarmac – looking as if it could take off at any minute.   The last Concorde flew in 2003 having become economically unviable.   We climbed the steps and walked along the cabin which, in comparison with the wide bodied jets most of us are familiar with these days, rather resembles a toothpaste tube!   Once in our seats our imaginary flight began – the seats vibrating and the Mach indicators climbing to more than twice the speed of sound while the captain talked us through the flight.   The experience went a way towards showing us what an adventure it would have been to set off, knowing that you would be in New York in a matter of three hours or so.

Concorde

The highlight was being taken the cockpit where I chose the Captain’s seat, relegating the birthday boy to the status of co-pilot and we had fun moving what our guide called the “tiller” and generally marvelling at how anyone could ever get their heads round the mass of instruments – still analogue in those days of course.

 Concorde’s Cockpit

Once we had mastered the intricacies of how to fly the thing, we visited the flight simulator used to train Concorde pilots – really something.    Now the simulator does not move, but the display through the windscreen does such a good job of moving that you would swear you were flying, climbing, banking, coming in to land.  A marvellous experience and a great birthday present.

The Concorde Simulator

Our main visit complete, we had the afternoon to visit the Art Deco Café for lunch and then explore what else was on offer at Brooklands.  The highlights?   The first was visiting the Sultan of Oman’s VC 10 with its wealth of mustard coloured Dralon (even the TV was upholstered in it).   That certainly took us back to the early days of our married life when you were nobody unless you had a Dralon “settee”.

 The Sultan of Oman’s vintage VC 10

The main museum was set up as an aircraft factory.   I clocked in and out for the first time in my life, constructed a model aeroplane, and looked into a Wellington Bomber (particularly poignant as it gave me an insight into what it was like for my father lying in the belly of a Stirling Bomber as a Bomb Aimer in the war).

Bomb Aimer area of Wellington Bomber

And lastly, we had the treat of climbing into the cockpit of the Harrier Jump Jet.    Being instructed not to press any buttons created the illusion that we were moments from firing the ejector seat and being shot through the roof.      We enjoyed a fascinating time with the Harrier volunteer – endlessly knowledgeable about aviation and able to bring things to life brilliantly.

Francis Gerrard in the Harrier Cockpit

We recommend a visit to Brooklands an excellent place for a fascinating day out -see www.brooklandsmuseum.com

Images with the permission of P. Gerrard

Ladies first on this occasion, as Frost Magazine has a look at two novels just launched.

Homecoming by Iona Carroll is the third in the series about Oisin Kelly, but is quite definitely a stand alone story too, so don’t be put off if you haven’t read the first two.

It is written with lyricism – about memories I suppose. How they sneak into our minds and lurk ready to ambush us. Memories we have to address, comes to terms with.

Oisin Kelly has embedded himself in the outback Queensland town of Kilgoolga when a Vietnam veteran enters his life. Both men suffer from post traumatic stress, and it asserts itself  sometimes similarly, sometimes not. As the memories surface, always carried on a lyrical wave or writing, Oisin Kelly begins to wonder, or so I though, what is the point of life? But more – where is his true home? And is love or submission to darkness the answer to the path he must follow.

Evocative lyrical writing, creating an environment you can smell and see, and with an eye to the traditional structure of a novel. With author Iona Carroll we feel we are in safe hands and tackling a subject that Frost Magazine supports, in its association withthe charity  Words for the Wounded.

Homecoming by Iona Carroll.

Launching also is The Parth Path by Oliver Eade

Oliver Eade won the Words for the Wounded Georgina Hawtrey-Woore Award Fiction for Yong Adults category with The Kelpie’s Eyes, and here is his latest novel for young adults.

Set in a post-apocalyptic Scotland dominated by women, Peter escapes from a mancamp, hoping to reach the island with Rea, a beautiful clonie. The dastardly truth is…  Should I tell you?

Oh, well, I’ll spill just a few beans, for you need to read The Part Path in all its glory to find out what really happens. Is this journey something that Peter and Rea  have really decided upon,  or are they being manipulated? If so, by whom?  Who to trust in other words? A real teaser.

As with The Kelpie’s Eyes, this has a firm plot, an imaginative grasp of concepts which I would struggle to conjure up. Clever, clever. Written with pace and verve.

The Parth Path by Oliver Eade