Downley Village Festival 2015 by Margaret Graham

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Downley is a village perched on the top of a hill, and easing down the slopes almost to the edge of High Wycombe. Vastly extended since the 60s, it is in some ways the classic suburbia, with houses, ranging from that time, intermingling with those of the ancient village.

All this adds up to fantastic community which fizzes with heart and ‘things to do’. It is an environment that is helped by having countryside and beech woods within five minutes walks from the three parades of shops placed around the village. Added to this, the fact that there are regular buses into High Wycombe, and easy walks to Hughenden Manor (and café) through the woods, and half an hour by train to Marylebone, it’s a good place to live.

Last year Downley held its inaugural Village Festival and such was its huge success, it is to take place again.

The Downley Village Festival will take place between Downley Day on 20 June and Concert on the Common on 11 July. Some 20 activities are in place, so there’s something for everyone.

As always there will be local school events, the annual art exhibition and craft fair together with a local talent show, a comedy evening, a talk on Downley history, a free creative writing class by bestselling author, Margaret Graham.

We have a fun run, art workshop, ceilidh band, and our very own scarecrow competition back by popular demand. Come and enjoy what we have to offer.
http://festival.downley.org/

Month 4 of My Reading Challenge by Frances Colville

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Rather slim pickings this month, partly because some of the books I chose took time to read and think about, and partly because it’s been a busy month anyway and time for reading has been in short supply.

First, to tie in with my plan to read some less current books this month, I picked up Persuasion by Jane Austen (my copy Wordsworth Classic 2000). I’ve been intending to re-read it for some time because I live near Lyme Regis where parts of the book are set. And then to my surprise I found that I hadn’t actually read it before. What a treat! So I took my time and reveled in every page, and then felt bereft when I’d finished it.

Next something completely different. A book called Nothing To Envy: Real Lives in North Korea (Granta Books 2010) recommended by a member of one of my book groups. The author Barbara Demick is an American journalist who has spent many years living in South Korea and China. Getting accurate and credible information about what daily life is actually like for North Koreans is almost impossible. But she managed it by interviewing dozens of defectors currently living in South Korea and then focusing on the life stories of six of them. The result is a well written and readable book which is both informative, believable and harrowing in the extreme. Before I read it, I had not fully understood just how repressive a society this is, and I certainly hadn’t appreciated the extent of isolation and the horrors of famine and poverty which the people of North Korea endure. For me, this is one of those books everyone should read. And it reminded me of other books I now want to look at again – The Siege by Helen Dunmore (a novel set during the siege of Leningrad), If This Is A Man by Primo Levy (depicting his life in Auschwitz) and of course George Orwell’s 1984. My list grows ever longer!

I needed a bit of light relief after that so I turned to the latest Katie Fforde book to appear in paperback – The Perfect Match (Arrow books 2014). An easy read and very enjoyable, as are all her books (and yes – I have read them all), but I wonder if I’m alone in preferring her earlier books which just seem to have a bit more substance? Not that I will let that stop me reading her next – and the one after that!

My final choice for this month has been Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd (my copy is Macmillan Papermac 1969). Like many of my generation, I first encountered Hardy novels at school and distinctly remember preferring The Trumpet Major because it was short! But Far From the Madding Crowd wasn’t far behind in my estimation. Many years later I came to live in Dorset and have enjoyed visiting Hardy’s Cottage and Max Gate, his home in later years. A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to get a ticket for the preview of the new Far From the Madding Crowd film and spent a wonderful evening at the Electric Palace in Bridport enjoying both the film itself and the delights of spotting familiar locations. The new adaptation is an excellent one in my opinion. But having seen it, I felt the need to return to my copy of the book and check out the accuracy of the film. And of course to appreciate anew Hardy’s wonderfully poetic language, his portrayal of the countryside I love and above all his ability as a story teller. Both book and film highly recommended.

So that’s it for another month. And now time to think what I want to read next. It’s not easy to choose.

French House Party, Carcassonne – How it Began By Owner Moira Martingale

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Margaret Graham

By Margaret Graham with news of an exciting offer exclusive to Frost readers.

** A very special offer for Frost readers: sign up for the House Party Creative Writing Retreat in June at this great venue, and save £150. Just email Moira Martingale quoting the code: ‘Frost’. This is a rare opportunity to find time to finish that manuscript or short story in the company of others. A professional will be on hand to help when needed. There will be great food, wine, a swimming pool, sunshine… Read more to find out the where, what and why.

‘So,’ owner Moira Martingale ponders, ‘where did the idea of French House Party come from in the first place?’

One sultry August evening, sitting around the table in Carcassonne with friends, it turned out that all of us had read Yann Martel‘s Booker-winning ‘Life of Pi’ and everyone had a view about it. The book-talk went on for ages, punctuated only by the uncorking of further bottles of the lovely local wines from this region of southern France, which is Languedoc-Roussillon.

We were all arty folk: a successful ceramicist, an early-retired theatre director, teachers, artists and writers, one of the latter being myself. A journalist-turned-author, I also had a teaching qualification and a doctorate in English literature.

Suddenly it dawned on me: why not set up holiday courses for people to come and do precisely what we were doing: discussing books with each other during a holiday in the sun with lovely food and wine laid on.

At that time there were five en suite bedrooms in this 200-year-old farmhouse, so in theory there was room for ten people. My friends were all skilled and enthusiastic artists and within minutes I had my Ceramics, Arts and Creative Writing tutors with a planned Books and Drama course run jointly by myself and my theatre director friend, Chris. It was as easy as that.

Or was it? Marketing? Promotion? Advertising? Annual accounts? Business plans? What did I know about forecasts and profits and losses? I found I knew nothing the moment the website went up. Because NOTHING happened. The enquiries@frenchhouseparty mailbox was empty.

Slowly I learned, and things picked up. My break-even point was five people per course and at six I was in profit, although I was clearly in no danger of being named in the Sunday Times Rich List. Frequently we had three or four people booked onto a course and I still ran it. Ruthless businesswoman I was not.

Eventually I made all the arts courses groups-only, other than Sarah Hymas’s Creative Writing, which was regularly over-subscribed. In 2009 I extended the house to eight bedrooms. Things were cooking, literally, because French House Party offered additional courses which individuals could join – various cookery breaks tutored by first-class French chefs and our Summer Songwriting course run by the respected singer-songwriter and 1970s/80s chart-topper Dean Friedman.

Along with Creative Writing, these remain the most popular, and are effortlessly filled year after year. Other arts courses continue to operate and the demand is, in fact, increasing, but now these are on a groups-only or privately-booked tailor-made basis.

Dedicated writers have an additional option now. Sarah Hymas, who is a professional mentor at her publishing company, is for the first time, offering a Writing Retreat for authors whose work is either complete or in progress. There will be no formal lessons, but individual one-to-one sessions for manuscript inspection, advice, help and ideas-input from someone with a pedigree in such expertise and who is fearless when it comes to sharing it.

This course – ‘Pen & Think’ starts on 15 June and ends on 20 June. The all-inclusive price is £895. As with all our courses, we provide free airport transfers and include extras such as a couple of dinners, including wine, out at lovely restaurants. (See our French house Party offer above)

In the years since that first inspirational nudge from ‘Life of Pi’, French House Party has been named one of the top ten learning retreats in a National Geographic book ‘The 100 Best Worldwide Vacations to Enrich Your Life’ and we have a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, reflecting customer satisfaction. This year the Daily Telegraph named us as one of the top ten cookery holidays in France.

You see, it might have taken eight years, but finally I’m starting to sound like a businesswoman, aren’t I?

Moira Martingale

The French House Party, Carcassonne.

Email: enquiries@frenchhouseparty.co.uk or moiramartingale@me.com

Website: www.frenchhouseparty.eu

UK Mobile: 07900 322791

UK Landline: 01299 896819

Tedium or Inspiration? By L.J. Brown

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Have you ever read a book where the plot was so dreadful, you couldn’t even bring yourself to finish it? As an avid book consumer, with over 700 books in my e-library, I can definitely say I have.

After reading over 80% of one particular book (which shall remain unnamed) and wishing a sudden explosion would kill off the entire dreary cast; I put the book down, never to be picked up again and decided to see if I could write my own.

The only problem was finding the time. With a small family and a full time job, writing a novel was challenging but, not one to be deterred, I found a solution. Instead of taking a walk, browsing the internet or picking up my latest fiction during my lunch breaks; I opened a word document and began typing, lifting my head occasionally to walk and admire the tranquillity of the countryside. Two years later and after many lunch breaks ignoring my colleagues, I had my first draft.

Proud of my accomplishment, I handed my manuscript to my family for their unbiased opinion but what family member would tell you something you had worked so hard on was terrible? Obviously they wouldn’t and to show their support, my dad entered and won a charity silent auction through the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil on behalf of Words for the Wounded which was for Margaret Graham to critique the first three chapters of my novel. Margaret, who is not only a best-selling author but an editor and tutor, gave knowledgeable and experienced advice and her suggestions were invaluable. I can safely say that that kind of assistance and commendation is priceless and I would recommend every new and hopeful writer finds a professional opinion for their works. With Margaret’s feedback and the mind-set to succeed I re-edited, reworked and pulled in a couple of contacts to get the cover designed. Finally Scarred Soul was complete and just waiting for my courage to put it out there for the world to see.

Deciding to go the route of self-publishing I took the plunge and in January 15 sent my book into the Ethernet and by March, although slow, was seeing my book sell with good feedback from people avidly awaiting the sequel.

And so I would like to thank the unnamed writer. Although your work was not to my taste I will be forever grateful to you for inspiring me to do as you did and put fingers to the keyboard. No matter how my book is received, I am proud of the accomplishment of completing it as I hope you are with yours and, as I plan to do, hope that you continue writing and enjoying the freedom and inspiration writing can give.

www.smashwords.com/books/view/519378

Margaret River’s Readers’ and Writers’ Festival Poetry Competition Results

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Frost Magazine and Margaret River’s (WA) Readers’ and Writers’ Festival Poetry Competition, Seasons, has been an absolute pleasure to judge. There has been a plethora of entries of extraordinarily high standard. Our decision, though, was unanimous and we are delighted to announce that Melanie O’Nions is the winner with Magic Winter.

Melanie O’Nions graduated from the University of Sydney in 2009 with a double degree in Education and Arts, before returning to complete a Master of Educational Management. She is a full time English teacher in a Catholic Secondary school in regional New South Wales, and lives with her husband and six young children. She writes often as a way of finding peace and sanctity in everyday life and to be a positive role model to the students that she teaches.

Magic Winter

Even now, after age has gnarled my veins and they have grown knotted,

As my eyes have grown heavy with cataracts and my hair looks like spun grey fairy-floss,

And I can barely remember the great love stories of my past, I can still recall that magic winter.

The frost dripped lazily each morning off the leaves of the fir-trees which lined the streets and our

Breaths smoked O-Rings of inquisitiveness in front of us as we walked to school, our mother’s Hand-Woven gloves soon discarded to eat pungent toffee apples and share a suck of lemon.

It was the winter of my first love, and I can still close my eyes and see him, clear as day

Waiting for me at the mailbox of his gate for me to walk past in the morning and the anticipation

In his eyes as he hungered, not for the tuck-shop sweets, but for me.

Of course it didn’t last. They never do. By the time that Spring was in the air, and the newborn foals

Frolicked by the fields once again, he had forgotten me. The bark we had studiously carved our names into grew over, and the burst of new life meant the death of our love.

Magic Winter stood out from all the wonderful poetry that Frost Magazine and the Margaret River Arts Festival received during the course of its competition.

This evocation of lost love, which warmed a winter many years ago – a magic winter – weaves subtle imagery, gentle pacing and empathetic imagining to create a particular season of youth. One which voyages through winter’s cold, never to be forgotten, though the bark ‘grew over, and the burst of new life meant the death of our love’.

It has such heart, such carefully worked rhythms, and worked at many levels to amply fulfil the brief of ‘Seasons’

Melanie will be sent free tickets for the Festival. Festival director, Helen Allan is looking forward to meeting her.

SEASONS is the theme for the seventh annual Readers and Writers Festival to be held in the beautiful Margaret River wine region in Western Australia over the May long weekend 29-31

Festival director Helen Allan said the annual festival has a huge line-up of famous authors to excite readers of all genres.

“We focus on the environment, nature and the seasons of our lives – the theme `Seasons’ encapsulates all of those things, and Autumn is such a beautiful time in Margaret River, we should celebrate that – when Keats wrote that Autumn was the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ it almost seems like he wrote it for our region.”

Mrs Allan said the festival committee had lined up around 20 authors and the festival would, once again run over three days.

“From Tomorrow When The War Began author John Marsdon to science fiction author Isobelle Carmody, comedian and authors Sami Shah, Justin Heazelwood and Luke Ryan to romance author Fiona Palmer, Michelle de Kretser and food/nature author Sophie Zalokar, we have something for everyone,” she said.

www.wapoets.net.au/

Facebook : www.facebook.com/pages/Margaret-River-Readers-Writers-Festival/531293773636991

Web : www.artsmargaretriver.com

Tel: 08 97 587316 (Mondays and Fridays)

www.frostmagazine.com

Icebar London celebrates its 10th anniversary

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Frost Magazine, left the sunshine of Heddon Street Food Quarter off Regent Street to step into an environment where the walls, bar, tables and even one’s own personal hand-carved glass is made of the purest ice. Best not to slip one into your handbag as a memento. But absolutely best to go.

So what’s it all about?

ICEBAR LONDON is the UK’s only permanent bar made of ice and is kept at -5°C all year round but if that sounds a bit close to the bone, it isn’t. There are warm cloaks you can wrap around you, whilst you see London’s equivalent of Tom Cruise (in Cocktail), doing his stuff behind the bar to produce perhaps a Lavender Margarita at £8.70 or maybe a Walk in the Green at £9.50.

40 mins is the optimum time allowed in the Icebar, after which you can slip out and warm up in the Lounge Bar, move on to the theatre or club, or try the newly opened Restaurant downstairs offering great cocktails, a light snack or sit-down meal with a wide selection of modern British dishes.

The menu looks interesting: spring lamb belly with Jerusalem artichoke puree, gordal olives, tomatoes and preserved lemon at £18 sounds just the job for warming the cockles.

ICEBAR LONDON, which celebrates it’s 10^th anniversary this year, is designed by ice artist Jens Thoms Ivarsson and created by a team of skilled ice designers and sculptors, using fresh ice from the Torne River, Northern Sweden, a source highly regarded for its unique purity. It truly is extraordinarily clear. Within the ice are flowing lines which are artistic features in their own right. I assumed these lines were a reaction to the artists and craftsmen wielding their chainsaws and other glinting tools but no, they are natural contours.

A new theme is created annually, and each new design is built on the tradition of the ground- breaking innovation and style for which ICEBAR LONDON has become famous. This year’s theme is‘Frozen Food’.

Jens Thoms Ivarsson and his team are obsessed with using ice to transform everyday products into something extraordinary. As well as creating this amazing bar and the world’s largest ICEHOTEL, Jens has even worked with ICEHOTEL to create catwalks for Chanel.

Matthieu Bourgogne, General Manager of ICEBAR LONDON says, ‘10 years from first opening its doors and ICEBAR LONDON is now firmly established as a permanently frozen feature on any list of iconic London venues. During this time we’ve created 14 incredible themed bars with the talented team from ICEHOTEL, imported and displayed over 1000 tonnes of beautifully pure ice from the Torne River in Northern Sweden, and welcomed over 1.8 million guests through our doors for a -5 ̊C ice cocktail experience.

Our current Frozen Food theme is one of our most popular ever, with crystal clear cupcakes, frozen fruit sculptures and a full-sized hipster food truck bar all carved from ice, and our newly refurbished restaurant and team of expert mixologists behind the bar means that, whatever the temperature, we’re more than ready to offer a warm welcome to our next 1 million guests.’

Minors are welcome to join during our daytime sessions (last entry at 17:45) accompanied by an adult, after that the age limit is strictly 18 and older. Children five years and over will require a separate ticket. Valid ID may be required. Management reserves the right to refuse entrance if guests are intoxicated or underage.

The nearest underground stations are Piccadilly Circus (on the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines), Oxford Circus (on the Victoria, Central and Bakerloo lines) and Leicester Square (on the Northern and Piccadilly lines). The nearest rail station is Charing Cross.

@ICEBARLONDON Please see http://www.icebarlondon.com/ to book tickets

Photos courtesy of Peter Kindersley

The Magical Mermaid Shop And Gallery By Wendy Breckon

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Some of the best places to visit are often just round the corner. If you take a few skips away from the sea in Lyme Regis, you will encounter a world of inspiration and wonder at the Mermaid Shop in Church Street. Take a partner or friend, a small child or two and enjoy the magical experience where the imagination can tumble and twist and creativity will flow. Here, you can almost hear the waves crashing, the circling sea gulls and the taste of salt in the air. This is one of my favourite places and always has been.

Linzi West the delightful owner is a very talented portrait painter. On the walls of her studio is a collection of the young and old and those in the middle, in various poses. On the table near her easel is a superb collection of sketch books, some quite tiny, that Linzi carries to visually record journeys and travels. Here inside, are sketches of figures and faces and interesting places (as a writer with many notebooks crammed full of my ideas, I was quite enthralled).

Linzi, who originally trained in Richmond, has been motivated and inspired by peoples’ faces from a young age. She captures the essence of character perfectly and enjoys how a face tells a story, their story, always from life.

A love of sketching and life drawing has always held a fascination. Linzi creates her art in oils, charcoal and water colours, whichever is most appropriate. She describes the experience perfectly, as being one of the journey from the heart to the hand, which all creative people will appreciate.

Linzi feels the younger age group can be captured superbly onto a small canvas. Her portraits of children (6 x 6 inches) are very popular and the little ones only need to sit for an hour.

A visit to Lyme Regis for a holiday many years ago, gave Linzi the idea that this would be the perfect place to raise a family. Having lived originally in Windsor, the move to the seaside resulted in the opening of The Mermaid Shop, something she always wanted to do. Inside the window, her beautiful hand painted ceramics, lino cuts, prints, paintings and plates in their dazzling seaside colours nestle closely to each other. Here, the hearty sea captains, quirky fish and charming mermaids gaze out on all who walk by. Alongside these are exquisite cards and a selection of children’s books with her bold and cheerful illustrations inside.

If The Mermaid Shop is closed, feel welcome to telephone or even knock if you have an enquiry. You can also visit her website at www.mermaid-at-the-tudor.com or www.linziwest.co.uk

There are many charming and inspirational shops around the Jurassic coast, but this has got to be one of the best. If you get the chance, move away from the hubbub of Lyme, turn that corner, pay a visit, stay a while…

Now, did I use the word magical?

Alfresco Dining Helped Along by Hardy’s Wines By Margaret Graham

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Thank heavens Thomas Hardy travelled from Devon to the south of Australia in 1850, because, within a short while, he began to work with John Reynell, South Australia’s first winemaker and learned the skills of winemaking. Soon Thomas had moved on to become his own master, beginning within a long blink of an eye to create wines that ‘would be prized in the markets of the world’.

Summer is coming. So, what about a few ideas for recipes and some Hardy wines to go with them. Try them and see how Thomas’ efforts have borne fruit.

Alfresco entertaining is a quick and easy way to gather groups of friends and family in an informal setting to enjoy the long summer evenings. Whether you’re hosting a Bank Holiday BBQ, heading out for a picnic or enjoying the weather with some outdoor dining, Hardy’s has a summer wine to match any occasion. Here are some tips to help you whip up a fuss free night of entertaining to make the most of the summer months.

For alfresco entertaining in the garden with friends, complement the longer evenings with tea lights in jam jars and add to the atmosphere with your favourite summer soundtrack, but keep it low, or you’ll have the neighbours joining you.

Simple bite size appetisers are a good idea, such as smoked salmon canapés. Serve on blinis with crème fraiche and pair with a delicious glass of Hardys Stamp Sparkling Pinot Chardonnay (Asda, £8,99RRP). This medium-bodied wine delivers fresh lime with hints of nectarine and apricot and a fresh, zingy finish

Freeze summer berries to use in place of ice cubes – add some frozen berries to your Hardys Sparkling Pinot Chardonnay (Asda, £9.75RRP) for the ultimate summer tipple

Prepare in advance and whip up fruit based dessert the day before. For the perfect wine pairing, serve with a glass of Hardys Stamp Shiraz Rosé (Tesco, £7.99RRP

This wine… We came, we tried, it conquered. You can see from the photo that we chilled, sipped, and drank..

So, the scent: Full of the summer fruits – strawberry, cherry & citrus aromas, with hints of spice.

Palate: the fruit flavours continue, true and rich, smooth and creamy, with soft tannins & excellent fresh acidic finish. Perfect for alfresco dining.

For something a bit special, serve up a classic Antipodean surf and turf dish to really wow your friends. Try Lantana Café’s onglet and mackerel recipe that can be paired with both red and white wine, in a nod to the meat and fish flavours. Match with Eileen Hardy Pinot Noir (www.hardys1853club.com , £34.99) and William Hardy Adelaide Hills Chardonnay (www.hardys1853club.com, £11.99)

Onglet with baby gem lettuce, smoked mackerel, popped wild rice and gochujang dipping sauce

Ingredients

6 x trimmed Onglet steaks (approximately 200g each), seasoned well with salt and pepper 200g x boneless smoked mackerel fillets, flaked2-3 baby gem lettuces separated into whole leaves (approximately 4 leaves per person) 30g wild rice. Sunflower oil for popping the rice. Gouchugang dipping sauce (recipe below)

Preparation

1. To make the popped rice, add enough oil to a heavy bottomed pan to just cover its base and place over a high heat. When the pan is hot, add the wild rice and shake the pan vigorously to coat the grains thoroughly. Cover the pan with a lid, reduce the heat to medium high, and shake the pan until you can hear the rice popping.

2. Reduce the heat to medium low and keep shaking the pan until the popping slows. Note that wild rice will not make as much noise as popcorn does so listen closely. Tip the popped wild rice onto a plate lined with kitchen paper to drain.

3. To cook the steaks, place a fry pan over a medium to high heat and when hot, add a couple of teaspoons of oil. Depending on the size of your fry pan, place 2 or 3 pieces of onglet into the pan (don’t overcrowd the pan) and cook each side for 5 minutes until nicely browned. Repeat until steaks are cooked and then transfer to a plate and allow to rest for 5 minutes.

4. When ready to serve, place the flaked mackerel fillets under a grill for a couple of minutes to warm slightly. Arrange the gem lettuce leaves on a serving platter or board. Slice the onglet on the diagonal into 1cm thick slices and place these over the gem lettuce leaves- a couple of slices per leaf. Scatter the flaked mackerel over the top of the steak and place dollops of the dipping sauce on top. Finally, scatter the popped rice over the platter. The idea is that people help themselves with their hands and create little parcels with the gem leaves.

Gouchugang dipping sauce

This will make more than you need for this dish but it can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week and used as a condiment with other meats or noodle dishes.

Ingredients 1/4 cup kochujang (red pepper paste)* 1/3 cup daenjang (soybean paste) or miso paste*5 cloves garlic, minced. 1 green chilli, deseeded and chopped finely. 2 spring onions, finely chopped2 tablespoons rice wine*1 tablespoon honey1 tablespoon sesame oil. Black pepper to taste. Water to thin, if needed *Available from Asian supermarkets

Preparation: Mix the ingredients well and chill. Depending on the type of kochujang and daenjang you use, your sauce may be too thick. You can thin with water or sesame oil. Credit – Lantana Café, Shoreditch

All that’s needed is the sun, and it’s breaking through…

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