Christmas is about one thing and one thing only, family. Everything else is a bonus. The lovely people at Cheatwell games seem to share the same sentiment as I do, they have lots of family friendly games available to ensure extra cheer and joy this festive season.

I was sent two very festive games and my family really enjoyed playing them, we laughed so hard we cried when my goofy nine year old son had a go at charades.

The first game we all played was 8 in 1 Christmas games. With a broad selection of quirky quizzes, cheeky challenges and classic family favourites there’s something for everyone.

What I found really appealing about this game was you could pick and mix what games you wanted to play and everything you would need is included in the box, perfect for when your visiting relatives and want to take something with you , you can just grab and go with these games. This game is £9.99 from www.zavvi.com

The second game was Christmas Express, this is a board game where the players journey through a winter wonderland as you race to be the first to get to the North Pole. The aim of the game is to be the first player to travel along the train track from the Home Station to the North Pole Station.

You’ll have to avoid the Hustle Bustle, the Reindeer Crossings, the Snow Storms and maybe the naughty elf, but keep an eye out for Santa’s sleigh as he could help you on your way. Again we all really enjoyed playing this and I like the fact that instead of using a dice to determine how many spaces you move you pick up a random card from the deck provided it is a unique twist.

Christmas Express is £18.29 from www.amazon.co.uk

More information: Cheatwell.com

The mobile phone did its thing. Margaret answered, to hear: ‘I think there is another author in the family, Anma. I have written an Acrostic poem, and it has been chosen for an anthology.’

‘Oh,’ said Anma. ‘Oh how simply grand, but what is an Acrostic poem?’

Well, such a pause was there, for Miss Delilah clearly could not believe that an author with 28 books to her credit, and heavens above – with a few bestsellers in the mix – did not know such a thing. Miss Delilah you see is 6 years of age, coming on 16, and let’s face it, it seems there is little she does not know, though a great deal of which Anma is ignorant.

Miss Delilah explained, ‘An Acrostic poem is one that creates a challenge. You have to select your words carefully to form a word from top to bottom. The words have to have a connection to the word you choose.’ She sniggered. ‘No, not that bottom, Anma.’ (How well she knows her Anma).

So, readers of Frost Magazine, I present the second author in our family, who will clearly very soon outshine her Anma, if Miss Delilah has anything to do with it, because 6 year olds are extraordinarily competitive and clever, Anma is coming to realise. Soon Miss Delilah will expect launch lunches, and pop to go with it. Anma however, wise in a very few ways, will have a large glass of wine.

I thank her wonderful little school for challenging and informing their pupils (if one may call them this anymore) enabling them to stretch themselves to understand the wonders that education can bring.

Have you discovered Duck & Dry yet?

‘I’m just popping to the hairdressers, Darling’ suddenly has a whole new meaning when you pass through the doorway of these chic London blow dry bars. Not only is the setting luxurious, but guess what, they have a bar. Yes, really, where you can order prosecco or cocktails. So why not make it a blow dry party? With group tables available, where you can drink and chat in between having your hair done, you can have a lovely social time and come out looking stunning too. Oh, and they have a nail bar – it just gets better, doesn’t it?

Duck & Dry currently have blow dry bars in five iconic locations – Chelsea, Mayfair, Islington, Spitalfields and Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge. The system is simple and easy – there’s a set menu of services and styles with set prices and you can book on-line. There are special bundle prices too with free prosecco.

But there’s more, Duck & Dry have developed their own special range of hair products which use natural active ingredients and have been thoughtfully formulated to be the very best for your hair, and they’re rather special.

The Fine Feathers range is designed for fine hair. The shampoo adds volume and enlivens limp hair. It’s incredibly lightweight, and cleanses thoroughly. The matching conditioner is ultra-lightweight too and contains honey, virgin coconut oil and shea butter to add a boost of moisture and lustre to your hair. I tried these and my hair felt fabulous and smelt great.

In contrast, the Full Feathers range is nourishing and reparative for thicker and coarser hair. The shampoo contains aloe vera, coconut and essential oils so it leaves the hair incredibly smooth, strong and beautifully scented. The conditioner is a reparative blend of aloe vera, coconut oil and shea butter to strengthen and smooth each strand, restoring moisture, sealing split ends and fighting frizz. 

And the good news is, if you don’t live in London, or even if you do, you can buy these amazing products on-line too. The shampoo and conditioners are £18 and £20 each, but if you want a real treat, they come in a gift set with the Pre-Heat-Prep hair primer, which is enriched with natural actives and essential oils, and great for leaving a super smooth, frizz free and shiny finish. The gift set is beautifully presented in a sparkly pouch and at £50 would make a fabulous Christmas gift.

Another thing I really like about their website are the Hair Tutorials which explain how to use all their products, so that you can look as if you’ve just been to the hairdresser every day.

This brand is a great new concept and I love it.

By Dr K Thompson, award winning 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 am loving Babe Spirit, the new scent in the Babe range from Missguided. Apparently it’s targeted at teenagers, but surely I could still be mistaken for an eighteen-year old? What was that? Sorry I can’t hear you, and I shall wear this lovely perfume, so there.

The fragrance is beautifully light, so you can indulge in a good spray, even of the Eau de Parfum without fear of overdoing it.

It’s described as floating in an ocean of freesia, watermelon and candy floss, followed by a softening into waves of green floral accord – a base of soothing white musks and woody accords nestled in ribbons of spun sugar. I really can’t better this depiction.

With Christmas heading towards us super-fast, the generously-sized 80 ml Eau de Parfum is a lovely gift – beautifully presented with a RRP of just £30. However, hot tip, at the moment you can grab it on special offer for just £15 from thefragranceshop.co.uk

Check out these lovely gift sets too:

Gift set – 80ml eau de parfum with 10ml mini-spray at just £30

Gift Set – 80ml eau de parfum with 220ml body mist also at just £30

So there you go, that’s a few items on your Christmas present list which you can tick off. You’re welcome.

By Dr K Thompson, award winning 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.

Do you feel a little melancholy when the clocks go back? Yes, the extra hour in bed is welcome, but it’s also a sharp jolt into the dark cold evenings ahead and the realisation that those balmy summer evenings really are behind us now.

But take heart. It doesn’t need to be miserable. Like the Scandinavian nations, who embrace their long wintery nights we can turn our home into a cosy sanctuary too, with clever use of atmospheric illumination from stunning wall and ceiling lights, and strategically-placed lamps. And if you’re looking for ideas, head straight to Pagazzi. A family company, they have the most fabulous selection of high-quality lighting. I’m in awe. Some of their designs are so unusual and stunning I’m almost looking forward to winter now.

Being a simple soul Maeve LED Lamp in Black & Gold or White & Gold really caught my eye. At just £29 this is a beautiful quality table lamp, and what I love is it’s battery-powered, so no trailing leads, just pick it up and place it wherever you need light. The marble effect glass shade and gold-coloured metal base are super attractive, whether by your bed or on a dining table.

But there’s more. I’m stunned by their selection of floor lights. They really do make an eye-catching feature even during the day, and at night their soft light creates such a beautiful ambience to the room. I particularly love the Mason Antique Brass Floor Lamp. At just over a metre high, this tall cylindrical lamp has a satin antique brass finish to the decorative tree design. I just want to keep staring at it. It creates a real focus to any room and is surprisingly good value at £199. If you love this design as much as I do you can also buy matching table-lights and lampshades. And if antique brass doesn’t work in your colour scheme, they do the same model in copper, white, grey or polished chrome – great options whether your living room is traditional or modern.

Their chandeliers are true statements pieces, such as the Lochranza Rustic Antler 6 Light Pendant at £349  or the Camburn Brushed Gold LED Halo Pendant at £129.

These are just my choices – but they have so much more. So, if you’re feeling the need to revamp your home and want to create an inviting winter escape from the weather outside, do check out Pagazzi for ideas you couldn’t even have imagined.

By Dr K Thompson, award winning 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.

So once again Christmas is heading towards us like an express train with faulty brakes. I love it really, but it’s easy to get into automatic pilot – turkey, cheap packs of cards, a box of crackers.

Sometimes we need to remember that life can be short – I’ve had a couple of reminders recently – and see how we can maximise the simple pleasures which we’re so privileged to experience. Can I suggest that a good place to start is by sending a beautifully-crafted Me & McQ card to someone you care about? They’ll be thrilled and treasure it, I promise you.

Me & McQ is a UK family company which has been making beautiful and distinctive cards for nearly forty years. Their cards have won the prestigious International Greeting Card Awards Competition (Louie Awards) twice no less, competing against the whole of the USA plus other countries – wow.

These cards are not just greetings cards – they’re mini works of art and are crafted by a small team of paper engineers and illustrators. They have cards for every occasion, but I’m blown away by their new 3D pop up Christmas Card collection. Twelve new designs, from traditional to amusing, they include Santa exploring his garden shed, sleighs topped high with presents, snowy village scenes and cosy Christmas tree designs. The festive lantern card is stunning, and they haven’t forgotten delightful nativity scenes too. The cards are laser cut, using premium quality paper and highest quality printing ink and they’re hand finished.

The cards are available from independent retailers nationwide, Fortnum and Mason, Harrods and www.meandmcq.com, at the very reasonable price of £6.99.

Can I also mention the lovely ‘Let It Snow’ story book written by Lauren Everdell and illustrated by Reuben McHugh, It has its own Me&McQ keepsake card to match and tells the story of a proud, free-spirited cat that learns a life lesson from his closest friend about a warm welcome. At just £6.99 too, this makes a special little extra gift.

Do check out the website for these and other lovely cards.

By Dr K Thompson, award winning 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.

[slide 2 My book]

Do you suffer with ‘panda eyes’? I like pandas, but it’s not a great look on an evening out – or in my case whilst trying to do my best samba at a dance competition.

You may know that dancers use our own body weight in eyeliners and eye shadows. Like everything in the dance world, it’s about fantasy and illusion, and under the spotlights those huge dark-painted eyes look amazing. But, and here’s the problem, after spending simply ages creating a work of art where my eyes should be, a later glance in the mirror frequently reveals that my perfectly-defined violet eyelids have decamped south.

So I’m constantly on the hunt for ‘stay put’ makeups, and was excited to discover KVD Vegan Beauty. Created by a tattoo artist, it takes inspiration from this art-form and they really understand bold and dramatic makeup which doesn’t budge.

Eyeliner is integral to competition dancing – cat eye, winged, patterned or layered colour – the list gets longer, but these eye-catching (pardon the pun) designs are not restricted to the dance floor – people wear beautiful eye designs for a great night out too. So you’ll be pleased to know that Tattoo Pencil Liner Waterproof Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner definitely lives up to its name. In 17 different colours, it’s soft to apply, leaving a highly-pigmented clear line which can be blended or left to dry. Once dry it didn’t budge, even on my eyes. It was easy to draw graceful lines, or blend as a super long-lasting eye shadow.

The Moongarden Vegan Eyeshadow Palette is a dream – 12 shades, from matte base colours to the dramatic Metallic Cobalt and Satin Glitter Moss, all in a beautiful box designed by tattoo artist Myriam Lumpini. The key to their stand-out appearance and durability is their unusually concentrated pigment. Perfect for a Christmas party and a great Christmas gift.

Having deep-set eyes, my mascara often spreads onto skin, so how great that Full Sleeve Long + Defined Tubing Mascaraabsolutely doesn’t because it forms polymer sleeves around each lash which remain locked in place however much you sweat. It’s super lightweight, and again, packed with pigment, guaranteeing blackest black, long, defined eye lashes right until you decide to remove it, simply using warm water and finger pressure. This does exactly what it says on the tin.

So if you, like me love to dance hard but stay looking great, check out this great brand. The gel eyeliners are between £19 to £21, the mascara is £22 and the beautiful Moongarden Vegan Eyeshadow Palette is on special offer at £38. The website also provides useful tips on applying each product – do take a look.

By Dr K Thompson, award winning 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.

St. Pancras International has officially unveiled its much-loved and highly-anticipated Christmas Tree, in partnership with Hatchards, the UK’s oldest bookshop and one of the station’s many iconic retailers. It is a brilliant partnership when one considers the magical ability of both books and train travel to transport people to exciting new places.

The St. Pancras International Christmas Tree has been a London icon for well-over a decade with a reputation for iconic brand partners and pushing the boundaries of what traditionally constitutes a Christmas tree. Over the years, the Tree has played music, displayed light shows and even snowed as part of its ambition to bring festive cheer to travellers and tourists.

The Tree also includes the Christmas Grotto, located on The Grand Terrace of St. Pancras from the 17^th of November. During their visit, children can meet Santa, enjoy activities with Elves, listen to stories and even take their parents for a trip to Hamleys and Hatchards where they can receive 20% off with their grotto ticket.

The 2023 Christmas Tree stands at 12 metres tall, and features a winding staircase, wrapping around 270 shelves with an impressive array of more than 3,800 books, which have been hand-painted and inscribed with titles of Christmas Classics such as Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” and many more. 

Within the tree there are eight cubby holes where children and adults alike can sit and fully immerse themselves in the magic of Christmas. In each booth, there are speakers which allow customers to select a five minute excerpt from an audiobook or reading provided exclusively by Penguin Books, featuring authors including Charles Dickens, Beatrix Potter, Zadie Smith, Robin Stevens, Gabrielle Zevin, Alice Winn, Rick Riordan, Michael Morpurgo, Richard Osman and Tom Fletcher.  With each booth having two options, guests will be able to choose from sixteen different audios.

These cubby holes are a great free attraction for the whole family or the perfect place to take five and relax while travelling through St. Pancras. Do visit such a magical Christmas tradition at St Pancras International https://stpancras.com/ this most amazing of historic stations.

Photography – courtesy of Sam Lane Photography