OK, OK, it’s a few days late, but I gave a PLAYMOBIL Advent Calendar to one of my grand-daughter for Christmas 2015 and she absolutely loved it. She’s played with the characters all year, and there are fun new themes out this year.

Try the Dressing Up Party, or Christmas on the Farm, or how about the Secret Pirate’s Treasure Party. (£19.99 ea)

And for the big day, there is a great selection of 2016 ranges between £2 for stocking fillers, and up to £100 for the bigger presents. They are such quality products, I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending them.

There are all sorts of price ranges.

Under £50: I liked the Large City Zoo but my absolute favourite is ( Playmobil 6678) Large Floating Pirate Raiders’ Ship with 3 Pirates.

It’s fantastic, it really is. (£49.99)

It floats on water – clear the bathroom, has working firing cannons – duck Mum, there is a hiding place for weapons and ammunition and you can lower the anchor with a working winch.

Dad might like to upgrade with 55536 RC underwater motor (sold separately but do let the children play with it sometimes. Glorious present.

Under £30 – Porsche 911 Carrera S (£29.99)

Under £10  Pirates Carry Case (£9.99)

These are fantastic presents. As I said before, I do recommend them.

All available from www.playmobil.co.uk

I’m not sure why but I keep being given liquids to review, but I’m not complaining. Gin and Coffee – which go together like a horse and cart.

I know Tanqueray quite well, we’ve met from time to time. But… But… What makes this such a great present is the limited edition Tanqueray No TEN Caged Bottle. Isn’t it fantabulous, and striking.

Clearly influenced by the Art Deco movement this is a classy addition to Christmas this year, or to some adult’s Christmas Stocking, if Santa doesn’t stop for refreshment along the way. I can just see it – ‘Here you are, Rudolph, you have the mince pie, and I’ll stick with the gin.’

The bespoke metal frame  has been expertly crafted to highlight Tanqueray No. TEN’s award-winning ten-faceted bottle shape, with a striking geometric design that reflects iconic patterns hailing from the roaring twenties.

In addition to this beautifully packaged gift, the  crafted cage has been designed to be used as an ornamental home accessory such as a decadent fruit basket once the bottle is removed. I do like something that lasts and lasts.

With 200 years of distilling expertise, Tanqueray No. TEN is an award-winning gin which prides itself on its unparalleled flavours including whole fresh citrus fruit. Unique in character and flavour, this gin provides the perfect base for creating cocktails during festive celebrations. Try a Martini or the classic T & T.

Forget the roaring 20s, just have a blast with this and make 2016 roar over Christmas, and also New Year’s Eve – if there’s any left, which I doubt. Invite the neighbours in, or the noise might disturb them.

RRP £45 Available from Selfridges, Waitrose and The Whisky Exchange

@tanqueraygin #MyPerfectTen

Coffee – I love it. But only up to three cups a day or I can’t sleep and start swinging from the lights. But I read in a newspaper recently that just that daily intake might diminish the chance of Alzheimers. I do hope so, but it’s as good an excuse as any, and after an evening that builds to a roar, an excellent idea.

Union Hand-Roasted has launched gift sets for coffee lovers in time for Christmas. Here are just a few.

I’ve tried and love their coffee. The different flavours are subtle but very definitely there, if you are thinking of putting together a hamper, or just drinking it yourself.

What about this special selection of four coffees. Speciality coffee has a naturally occurring wide range of flavours, and this pack showcases four distinctive flavour profiles. Liberacion from Guatemala has notes of chocolate and caramel, Bobolink from Brazil nuts and spices, Emporium Catuai from Panama has sweet berry notes, and Yayu Wild Forest coffee from Ethiopia is floral with citrus notes. All coffees are freshly hand-roasted and can be chosen as wholebean or ground.

RRP £23.

All Union coffees are 100% Arabica beans and sourced via Union’s fundamental sourcing principle Union Direct Trade, which creates direct, long term partnerships with farmers to improve the quality of both coffee and livelihoods. As a result, all Union coffee scores 84+ on the globally recognised Q-grade scale which assesses coffee quality.  To be classed as a speciality coffee, a score of 80+ is required. Union carefully hand roasts the coffee beans in small batches in their East London Roastery, for unrivalled flavour and freshness. They are scrummy.

Or you could simply give a coffee lover everything they need:

Isn’t it gorgeous? The set includes a copper Hario kettle and v60 filter dripper, which results in a lighter bodied, delicate brew with a high clarity of flavour, and a copy of Union’s Real Fresh Coffee Book which is a culmination of over 20 years of experience in speciality coffee written by Union’s Co-Founders. Two special coffees have been chosen, freshly hand-roasted, for the set: Los Lajones Geisha, exceptional coffee from the Panama producer Graciano Cruz, and Genesis from Costa Rica, with notes of red berries, demerara sugar and caramel. Accompanying the set includes a Hario hand grinder, filter papers and a Union mug.

RRP is £265

On the other hand, what about the Cascara Infusion gift set.

For those preferring a brew of a different kind, this should fit the bill. Coffee cherry fruit, known as cascara, is the dried fruit husk of the coffee bean. They produce a delicious syrupy sweetness and can be brewed in the 2 cup La Cafetiere teapot and served in a Union mug. The set includes a teapot, 300g of cascara, and 2 Union mugs.

RRP is £38.

Available from Waitrose, Ocado or online www.unionroasted.com

The team at Frost Magazine are deeply impressed with this all encompassing animal sanctuary, which was founded in 1995 to help and campaign for ‘animals in need’ and most importantly, to bring public awareness to the millions of animals suffering every day in the intensive factory farming industry.

Hillside have given sanctuary to 1600 horses, ponies and donkeys, 300 Rescued Cows, 600 Sheep and Goats, 200 Pigs and lots of rescued dogs…

 Hillside’s Dog Rescue takes in dogs from all around the UK and always does its best to find loving family homes for them.

Let me tell you about little Henry.

Henry is a victim of indiscriminate breeding, confused, frightened and blind, he is being helped at Hillside. The ethic of the Sanctuaryis to try to help those dogs most in need and Henry is just one dog with special needs who have come to the sanctuary very recently.

Hillside are always keen to try to find foster homes for ‘special care’ dogs, where the fosterer pays for their everyday keep but Hillside are responsible for their on-going veterinary care – that they so often need, through no fault of their own. This helps the rescuers to place these dogs in a home environment which clearly is much better for them.

Hillside decided to become more involved with dog rescue after working with a Channel 5 undercover investigation into puppy farming in 2009. This prompted them to found Hillside Dog Rescue with the aim of encouraging people to take on a rescued dog rather than give business to the wrong sort of puppy breeder. So, with Christmas on the horizon, and children wanting pets, don’t give more business to the awful puppy farms, but think of one of these little souls who need you, desperately.

In fact, I met someone who was clearly from a puppy farm when we were looking for a Cavachon. The gentleman was so plausible. Could I see the mother? I asked. Of course. Come and meet us. So off we drove to what turned out to be an apartment, with barely any furniture, just his backpack and this tiny almost hairless little puppy, and no mother. Him indoors was with me, and we left, but had I been on my own I would have taken the puppy, just to save it. When we eventually found Polly from a lovely breeder, our vet said we were right to leave the previous puppy, or it just encourages the puppy farms. I still worry about that little dog, though.

With so many animals at the Sanctuary to feed and care for, funding is essential for survival. Hillside are grateful for every donation received, and with Christmas on the horizon, and a lot of giving going on, why not think of making a donation towards the care of these animals, from dogs to chickens, to horses? Every pound helps to make a difference. 

Do go to the website to see how you can help, perhaps with fostering, or just making the animals, of whatever ilk, more comfortable.

Donate £4 and it will pay for a bale of hay.

£10 will feed a rescued dog for a week this Christmas.

£20 will pay for a warm outdoor coat for a rescued dog while being walked and exercised during the winter.

£10 will buy a large bale of straw for bedding of farm animals.

Not a lot in the scheme of things, but every pound makes this sanctuary’s work possible.

Don’t forget little Henry, and the others.

Details:

www.hillside.org.uk

The Fourth Wall Syndrome by Martin Gunn is a fast paced sci fi novel. It’s one that if it was a film I’d be behind the sofa. But in spite of it not being my genre of choice I found it held me, kept me turning the pages, and what’s more, thoughts of it kept me awake last night. Arghhh.

Renowned psychoanalyst Doctor Barnabus Middlebrook has called a high powered clandestine meeting to discuss a patient of St. Claire’s psychiatric hospital. The person in question is Alice Denham, a young woman in her mid-twenties who had everything to live for. She had a good job and had recently moved into her new home with husband John. Everything was going fine but then suddenly in the space of two weeks, she was driven out of her mind and had to be sectioned. Little did they know that Alice’s experiences would have far reaching implications for the human race and indeed the planet.

Find it on   http://amzn.to/2fOVeoT   ebook and print

Someone is Watching by Joy Fielding

Another one to grip you by the throat. A smart and savvy private investigator is attacked after which she – Bailey Carpenter – becomes imprisoned in her Miami apartment. Imprisoned by what? Paranoia. Everywhere she looks she seems to see her attacker, especially in the apartment opposite.

Yep, indeed someone is watching her… I won’t tell you anything else. But honestly, you will hardly breathe if you keep it for yourself. Or if you must give it to someone, read it before you do so.

Joy Fielding is the New York Times bestselling author of Charley’s Web, Heartstopper, Mad River Road and others.

Zaffre £7.99 / e book available.

Have You Been Good? by Vanessa Nicolson

Something different, but equally compelling. Have You Been Good is a memoir by the granddaughter of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson. Vanessa Nicolson was born to an illustrious name, and to unhappy parents. Ben Nicolson, her father was homosexual, and unsurprisingly his marriage to his Italian wife soon disintegrated. Nicolson charts her fractured, or is it damaged childhood, her wild youth which rather put me in mind of her grandmother’s ability to throw her hat over a windmill. Then, in her own turn, a mother she had to experience the appalling loss of her daughter, Rosa.

A beautifully written journey through a fraught and uncertain childhood, the result of imperfect parents, but what parent isn’t after all? And then onto her own experiences in that same role. It might not sound a laugh a minute but amazingly there is a bleak humour amongst the honesty and energy – because that’s what comes across; the energy of the writer.

www.grantabooks.com   £9.99

Scrooge and the Seven Dwarves by Sleeping Trees

You know it’s panto time when the theatre doors open and Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You quietly plays and the excitement builds in the audience.

Sleeping Tree’s show begins with the company members introducing themselves: James Dunnell-Smith, Joshua George Smith and John Woodburn.

[The cast: Ben Hales, then Snow White, Scrooge and a Munchkin]

From a simple start, anarchy soon takes over and the show is terrific fun. Aided and abetted by the superb Ben Hales (sneakily supplying music and sound effects) the hapless trio embark on a ridiculously silly story that the audience are more than happy to join in with. The expected slapstick and songs come thick and fast. I will refrain from any spoilers, suffice to say there are quite a few plot twists along the way.

For me, I thought the peril stakes with Tiny Tim could be more effective. Instead, the show steers well-clear of the heart-strings and peril of any sort, preferring to focus on The Three Stooges school of comedy.

John Woodburn as Scrooge

John Woodburn, especially, shines as Scrooge, amongst other characters. His portrayal of the magic mirror is in glorious danger of stealing the show. He sometimes has a stillness on stage that the others lack.

A wonderful set, designed by Zahra Mansouri, uses the tiny space to the full.

[James Dunnell Smith as the Wicked Witch]

The whole evening reminded me of other shows such as Thunderbirds FAB, The 39 Steps and The Play That Goes Wrong. It is a style of theatre that has spawned so many brilliant companies over the years. Sleeping Trees are the newest on the block.

[Joshua George Smith as Bob Cratchit]

Three words to sum up the evening: manic, madcap, marvellous.

The panto is at the Theatre 503, London SW11 running until January 7th 2017.

Websites – www.sleepingtreestheatre.co.uk and https://theatre503.com

Facebook – Sleeping Trees and Theatre503

Twitter – @wesleepingtrees, @theatre503, #Scrooge503

(Production photos ⓒ David Monteith-Hodge)

In the October half term, my grandma, grandpa, younger sister Josie and I went to Krakow in Poland because I am learning about the 2^nd War and Grandma thought it a good idea to see this lovely city, and learn first hand something of the holocaust.

Kraków is beautiful and on the first night we sat at one of the outside restaurants that had heaters and watched the nightlife around the Medieval Market Hall. There were so many people walking, chatting and even riding in the horse driven carriages that looked like something from Cinderella.

On the next day we went to Schindler’s Factory. Schindler and his wife took over an enamel factory after Nazis Germany conquered Poland in the second world war. It was formerly owned by Itzhak Stern. The Nazis who had occupied Poland took businesses from Jews and offered them to Aryan businessmen. Stern worked as Schindler’s accountant and suggested that Schindler saved Jews by employing them as workers, and is said to have helped draw up Schindler’s List, the list which ensured the safety of the Jews on it.

Schindler’s study and some of the pots the factory produced.

The Schindler’s and Stern were the most courageous of people. It was wonderful to be in his factory, and to look round the museum set up there. Mr and Mrs Schindler made no money but spent all the profits keeping the Jews healthy, and bribing the Germans.

It was upsetting, to actually BE there, but Josie and I are glad we went, because it really made us begin to understand the situation.

To lift ourselves, we went to the shopping mall, which of course I had also researched. On the second day we decided to just have a mooch around. We walked around the square, and then Wawel Castle, and the river with the bridge with loads of padlocks on it, left by lovers. We had lunch at a really nice cafe where you can have soup in a loaf of bread (grandma’s favourite soup in the whole world)

We also had a lovely hot chocolate. Honestly the hot chocolates in Poland are to die for. We also had the most amazing ice creams, even though it was 2 degrees, it’s never to cold for an ice cream.

On the third day we went to Auschwitz, which I don’t really know how to describe, but everyone should go. It is so disgusting that people could work others to death, or make them walk to the gas chambers, after taking everything of value from them.

Krakow Jews were marched from the Krakow ghetto which had been built to imprison them, to a square with their belongings, which they had to leave behind, before being taken by train to Auschwitz to work or die. Now there are sculptures of chairs on this square to commemorate those who collected here.

Our trip to Auschwitz was the start of really imagining what had happened to Jewish men, women and children under Nazi Germany’s rule. Though gypsies, Poles, and just about anyone who didn’t agree with the Nazis also suffered. There are so few Jews left in Europe anymore. It really made me think of how the cities must have changed, so many Jewish quarters now gone, as though they’d never been.

The things that made us so upset was the hair which was collected before the women and children were killed, the false legs and so on which were displayed, to get the message to us. And importantly, also the prayer shawls. It’s so saddening to see that something so sacred was taken away, before their death. The final insult. Nothing was wasted apparently. The hair was used for mattresses and the lining of submarines, their belongings were distributed to Aryans, and so on.

On the last full day we went to the beautiful Jewish Quarter. We  looked around the old synagogue and learned about the Jewish history and festivals. Next we went to look in the cemetery. We actually saw some Jews singing the prayer for the dead (we think) at one particular headstone. Perhaps it was for an ancestor? All the headstones had stones on them, much as we would put flowers. Next we went to a nice cafe in the Jewish Quarter, which is really coming to life again, Grandma said, having been coming to Krakow for some years.

At the restaurant my sister thought she had lost her phone and made a massive fuss of it, turns out it was in her bag! The next day was our final day and it was time to say good bye to Kraków. It was the most eye opening trip and I would love to go there again, and learn even more, and have another hot chocolate. Hope you’re reading this, Grandma.

And so… let’s look at the kindness of strangers:

There I was, in London with fellow Words for the Wounded granny, crime writer Penny Deacon, heading across the bridge to walk along the South Bank to see the outside of the Tate Modern extension, when we called in at Caffe Nero (Golden Hinde, Bankside)

It was my call, I was cold, needed a caffeine shot, which we had, and very nice it was too.

Then, on we scurried because we then had lunch at The Wellington on the Strand, before hitting the Caravaggio exhibition at the National Gallery.

All went exceedingly well, much like Mr Kipling’s cakes. Penny liked the extension, I didn’t – normal for us, we agree on virtually nothing but somehow we never quite strangle one another.

Then to the Wellington Restaurant upstairs which we do agree on, had a great time with Jose and Erica and tucked into a delicious fish pie (very large).

Then on to the National. I was feeling strangely unburdened as we had our bags searched on entry. Then, holy moley, No, no no, I was without my tote bag, last seen with me at – yep, you’ve got it, right back along the Embankment at Caffe Nero.

Disaster.

The research notes for my new novel for Random House were in it, plus an essential research book, and the bag itself which was precious, given to me by Dr Kathleen Thompson, medical correspondent for Frost Magazine, and author of the award winning From Both Ends of the Stethoscope.

Could it possibly still be there? Surely it was tucked over someone else’s shoulder, and later they would have to lie in a darkened room having tried to decipher my totally illegible handwriting.

I phoned, and – glory be -they had rescued it. It was in the office. Penny went on into the exhibition, I scurried, hurried, legged it back down the Strand, and along theSouth Bank, zipping past people, swerving in and out, all in a lather.

Finally I arrived at the Golden Hinde. ‘Ah yes,’ the young woman said, and off she went to collect it from the office. My notes, my book, my lovely bag… So the next Milly Adams could proceed.

Off I roared, back along the South Bank, then the Strand, then to the National Gallery, and coincidently met Penny in the queue for the loo (where else)

So I reckon that at least some of the calories consumed at the Wellie were walked off, my novel due out in October 2017 was saved, my feet were sore, and I will never walk past a Caffe Nero without feeling grateful.

In addition, the grannies are walking Hadrian’s Wall next year, so I can now say I’ve done some training. Well, I am a fiction writer.

www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk

http://www.millyadams.co.uk

Caffe Nero Golden Hind, 3 Cathedral Street, London SE1 9DE
Phone: 020 7407 7100

http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/london/thewellingtonstrandlondon

Paul Vates, Frost Magazine’s doyen of all things theatrical, had a great time with Sweet FA, and the fact that it was raising money for GOSH made everything that much better, especially for me. My grand-daughter, Meg, who runs the Young Voices column is having a massive operation there in a couple of weeks, though soon after that she will be back with us.

So, over to Paul:

Making things up as you go along sounds a great career to choose. That’s what Graham Dickson and his colleagues have chosen to do at The Free Association in north London.

The FA specialise in improvisational theatre and comedy. Based upstairs at The De Beauvois Arms in north London, they run comedy evenings, workshops and training – all in the art of impro.

I popped in for a two-hour taster session with Graham as part of the Charity Weekender, with proceeds going to GOSH (Great Ormond Street Hospital). We were a small group, eight in total and began by playing basic and easy games. Before we knew it, we were in full flow, performing sketches and taking risks. Always scary, always funny.

Part of the ‘serious’ side of impro was explained to us by Graham: how it only works when we work as a team; how we must trust each other even though, in our case, we’ve only just met; how we must allow ourselves to stop thinking and just let it happen.

After our brilliant taster session, there followed a full day of impro sessions led by some of the best in the business. What better way to give to GOSH, by learning and laughing.

The FA always have events and shows coming up. Keep in touch with them via their website: www.thefreeassociation.co.uk. They are also on Facebook and, of course, Twitter @FAimprov … And I’m not making this up.