Last time I shared one of my all time favourite self-care rituals – meditating in the bath.

But self-care doesn’t always have to take a long time. Some of the best self-care tools are little techniques that you can turn to when you are triggered, stressed, overwhelmed. You discover them on your journey, play around with them & realize they work & you pop them in your self-care tool kit, knowing you can turn to them whenever you need them.

Having little tricks that you can pull out of your self-care tool kit when you need them is as important to creating a practice of self-care as taking time to meditate & do yoga, spend time in nature, garden, whatever it is that you like doing that is all about nurturing your mind, body & soul.

Self-care is also about having a tool kit, an arsenal of coping mechanisms. These are little tricks, techniques, conscious moments which help us to thrive even if times are stressful!

These little techniques are brilliant because when you notice that you’re triggered, stressed, anxious, overwhelmed you don’t have to disappear to meditate for 10 minutes or get on your yoga mat. Instead you can turn to these tips right when you need them. Perfect for when the festivities get a bit overwhelming & you need to reset.

Today I’m going to share 2 little breath techniques which really help to calm the mind, relieving stress, anxiety & overwhelm.

I have been using the longer exhalation for years.

The exhalation activates the vegas nerve which in turn stimulates the relaxation response, calming the mind. It’s a brilliant technique to know because you can use it anywhere.

Since our brain doesn’t know the difference between real & perceived threats it’s a really useful tool for dealing with the emotional & mental stress the holidays can sometimes present.

Simply breathe in smoothly for 3 & breathe out for 5. Keep doing this until you feel a shift. A smile, a sigh, a yawn are all good signs of a shift. Feeling lighter in the shoulders or more grounded are also a promising sign that there has been a subtle shift. These subtle shifts all mount up to create something quite profound.

The second technique I’d like to share with you is finding the pause.

We have a tiny pause between the in breath & the out breath & again between the out breath & the in breath.

With this breath technique we simply exaggerate this pause.

When we find the pause in our breath it helps us to find the pause in our life.

This is especially useful during the menopause when plummeting hormones mean we can be more susceptible to over-reacting.

But let’s face it festive commitments can also make us feel over-whelmed & more likely to over-react.

But it’s also important to find the pause when things are going well to acknowledge these magical moments, savour them, give thanks for them – no better time to start fining the pause than in the holidays!

If you would like to find out more self-care tips to thrive in the festivities check out Alex’s FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindfulnessyoga4selfcare

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexbannard/

Short yoga sequences including yoga for stress are available on her YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for almost a decade, not just in the UK but also around the world. Her mission is to help everyone discover a more mindful way of living & to encourage them to embrace regular self-care practices for a happier & healthier way of being.

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The festive season can be a stressful time. It’s so important take some time to care for your mind, body & soul all the time but especially during stressful periods.

Self-care isn’t always bubble baths & chocolate although there is definitely a place for that: meditating in the bath is one of my favourite self-care – more of that later.

Self-care is all about doing something we look forward to everyday, it’s the highlight of our day, something we do that nourishes & nurtures our body mind & soul. It doesn’t have to be time consuming or self-indulgent, just a few short minutes can make a huge difference.

It’s all about about doing what you need in order to nurture & nourish yourself.

Simply taking sometime to do this sends a powerful message – it sends a message about your self-worth. That you love yourself enough to take care of yourself. You send a message to the Universe: I am worth it, that’s why I am investing in myself, taking some time to make myself a priority. This is an act of self-love & you are SO worth it.

Self-care is an act of self-love which boosts self-worth: what a beautiful virtuous circle.

When life is stressful, as it can be during & leading up to the holidays, it’s even more important to practice self-care. This is because when we are living in stress we are living in survival mode, drawing from our energetic field. We need to balance this by activating the rest & digest system to boost our energetic field, protecting against illness & burn out.

As I said at the beginning meditating in the bath is one of my favourite self-care rituals ever.

I use magnesium salts which are brilliant for detox-ing, cleansing & soothing away aches & pains, mentally & physically.

I just love meditating in the bath – words can’t do it justice, just try it.

Fill the bath with bubbles or magnesium salts & then lie in the bath just rest your attention on your breath. Every time you get distracted by a train of thought, no need to beat yourself up, criticise or judge, just simply guide your attention back to your breath.

If your mind feels really noisy & busy, don’t worry, this is normal: when we become still & silent our minds can suddenly seem really busy thinking thoughts.

We can’t stop our minds thinking thoughts but we can stop these thoughts from controlling us. We simply become aware when we have been interrupted by a thought & gently & kindly accept this interruption, guiding our awareness back to our breath.

Join me next week for another self-care tip to help you thrive in the holiday season.

If you would like to find out more self-care tips to thrive in the festivities check out Alex’s FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindfulnessyoga4selfcare

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexbannard/

Short yoga sequences including yoga for stress are available on her YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for almost a decade, not just in the UK but also around the world. Her mission is to help everyone discover a more mindful way of living & to encourage them to embrace regular self-care practices for a happier & healthier way of being.

Nettlecombe Manor, nestled in the rolling hills of Devon, is home to  Lord Farringdon and his second wife, Lady Charlotte. As if running the vast estate wasn’t enough, Lord Farringdon has five daughters to keep him busy. Lady Charlotte is determined that the betrothal of the eldest, Louisa, should be celebrated with a ball, one that will be the envy of Devon society. A corsetiere is summoned from Exeter to measure them up for new corsets.

Apprentice Jane Haydon arrives at Nettlecombe to do the fittings. Having never set foot in such a grand home, Jane is disturbed to hear tell of a gypsy’s curse which has haunted the family for generations, and a local wise woman’s vision that there will never be a wedding at Nettlecombe.

I found myself reading  this novel without stopping for anything, or that’s what I would have liked as it was just so hard to put down, but I expected this, as I had enjoyed her previous ones so much.

Farringdon’s Fate transports the reader back to 1854 and the world of balls, corsets grand estates and grandiose ambition. I simply could not pry myself away from the tremendous characters and their lives set in my home territory of the west country, an area which Finlay captures and portrays so exquisitely.

If you enjoyed TV shows such as Bridgerton then you will no doubt enjoy Farringdon’s Fate.

Published 9th December2021 available in Paperback, ebook and audio

7.99 from Amazon

I had the great pleasure of interviewing Linda Finlay for Frost Magazine recently. Linda is one of my favourite authors and it was fascinating to go ‘behind the scenes’ and learn more about the way she  works to create such evocative novels. Farringdon’s Fate is her latest, and I loved it. So here we go:

1. Who are your favourite and least favourite characters from Farringdon’s Fate and why ?I

I love most of the characters I created in Farringdon’s Fate, but my favourite has to be Jane because despite her unfortunate start in life, through sheer hard work and determination she becomes a successful corsetiere. My least favourite would have to be Parson Preetcher who was out to make money by exploiting young, vulnerable women. A total cad.

2. What was the hardest scene to write and why ?

The hardest scene to write was where the young girls go missing – and when people read the book, they will see why I needed a box of tissues beside me.

3. How did you develop the plot and the characters? Where did you draw inspiration from ?

For each book I have to find my craft first and a visit to the most beautiful lingerie shop in Exeter provided the initial inspiration. Learning how corsets were made in Victorian times was the next task and proved most enlightening. I wanted to set a young businesswoman in 1850’s up against ladies of privilege and a local manor house proved my next light bulb moment.

4. What significant changes were made to Farringdon’s Fate since the first draft ?

Luckily there weren’t any significant changes to the actual plot although my wonderful editor and copy editor had their input, adding sparkle and ironing out the creases.

5. Farringdon’s Fate is set in Devon and Exeter, did you visit these places for research?

I always visit the locations my novels are set in so that I can actually feel and soak up the atmosphere. Although the manor house is sadly now empty, my niece’s wedding reception was held there so I have memories and photos of the inside which proved most helpful.

6. When you create your characters do you base them on film characters/ people you have met ? For example when I first met Charlotte I could not help but picture her as the evil step -other from Cinderella.

I actually dream up my characters, who sometimes surprise me with the way they develop. However, I can see what you mean about Charlotte. In her defence, she was an unhappy and unfulfilled woman who did try to help her stepdaughters although she wanted to shine herself.

7. Was Farringdon’s Fate written during lockdown? If so how did the experience differ from when you wrote your previous books ?

Most of Farringdon was written during lockdown, which was fine at first, but I did begin to miss outside stimulus! I am an avid people watcher!

8. Was there ever a different ending in store ?

No, the ending was always going to be this way. Hopeful rather than sentimental and with an eye to the Farringdon’s future.

9. What does 2022 have in store for you and your fans ?

Well, Farringdon 2 is with my editor at the moment, so the saga continues. I also have many ideas for future development – so here’s hoping.

Farringdon’s Fate by Linda Finleyis available here

A supernatural myster to shiver the timbers. Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula must join forces to banish a terrifying enemy.

This is a  robust novel from the Sherlockian author Christian Klaver – the final instalment of The Classisfied Dossier where we see Sherlock and Watson battle the villains of Gothic literature, and terrifying they are too. They include Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde and Dorian Gray all wrapped up in a classy hardback edition ripe for the Christmas season.

Sherlock is dead. His body lies in a solitary grave on the Sussex Downs but Dr Watson survives and is now given permission to release tales in Sherlock’s classified dossier. These are cases that are of the most outre and grotesque nature.

Count Dracula arrives in Baker Street….

Nope, that’s enough. Buy this for Christmas for someone, but read it first. Good page turning stuff. Sleep with the light on.

Sherlock Holmes & Couynt Dracula by Christian Klaver

I have always liked Sourdough, particularly that slightly sharp yeasty taste that sets it aside from other types of bread. However, I have to confess that until now I have always thought that all Sourdough tasted the same.

How wrong could I have been? Jason’s Sourdough is beyond delicious, but don’t for a minute think that I took his word for it.

Oh no, nothing is too much trouble for the readers of Frost Magazine. First of course, I had to try it toasted. Initially, slathered in so much butter that it refused to accept any more, other than as a trowelled layer. So,obviously this was beyond delicious, but was that due to the butter or was the bread really that tasty?

On with the experiment and the addition of marmite which I realise divides the nation but to those with the finest of taste buds this took the bread to another level.

Tirelessly (and on another day) we tried it with Marmalade and also with Honey and by now I was sold on Jason’s Sourdough which tasted just as fresh on day 2 as it had when it first arrived.

That wasn’t the end of my commitment to you dear reader. Oh no. I then made French Toast or as some will have it Eggy bread, not the fabulous recipe that Jason has on his website but a far simpler version, and I can report that this was still a dish made in heaven, undoubtedly aided by the regularly sliced pieces of Sourdough.

Now, I have tried cutting a loaf, and it is fair to say that I have mixed success, usually some are cut to perfect proportions, but mostly as Goldilocks might have said, too thin or too thick. The ones delivered are perfect to fit in the toaster, under the grill, on the griddle and yes in the frying pan, the latter to make the yummy French toast.

Apparently it is the sprouted spelt grains that are soaked in the famous Jason’s Sourdough culture, before being added to the final dough that lends an added extra resulting in such a delicious flavoursome bread.

The loaf brings all the deliciousness that Jason’s is famous for, alongside the health benefits associated with Sprouted grains, such as gut-health properties and high nutritional content.

Jason’s Sourdough is slow proved over twenty-four-hours, typical of artisanal sourdough, delivering that special and unique flavour that the loaves are famous for. All Jason’s breads, and there is a complete range, are free from any added sugars or nasties – perfect for those looking for great tasting bread made up of minimal ingredients.

 Jason’s Sourdough Straight Up – The Great White, and Superb Sprouted Grains (450g) are available in most good Supermarkets online & in store including Marks and Spencer, Waitrose and Tesco.

It’s 1984. Patricia Vickers returns like a phantom to deliver an unwelcome revelation. Jayne Thornhill is reminded of those spiteful 1960s’ schooldays: bullying, Charlie the skeleton, séances, strip poker and sexual encounters with the school’s handymen. Jayne’s confessions have now been whitewashed from lavatory walls, only to be unearthed in a third school friend’s 1969 diary. A cloud of sadness is cast over the three women’s lives and only by revealing their own stories in later life can they move the stubborn hands of the undertaker’s clock forward. In doing so, something shockingly out of line is revealed …

Beginning in the 1960s the structure’s foundations are securely laid, and it proceeds to be mapped with fulsome use of  letters and diary entries by the main characters Jayne, Patricia, Rachel Shelly, Danny and Benji, all of whom are linked, rather than bonded together by tragedy.  The varying points of view, melded with time travel (from 1969 to 2020) are nonetheless  tracked, and revealed.

Shakespeare’s Clock’s raison d’etre is to expose the intricacies of bullying, relevant  in an age when bullying – ranging from face to face to anonymous trolling on social media give  pause for thought.  Wickedness, weakness, duplicitity, and almost collusion are revealed. Where does bullying end, and collusion begin? Well, that’s a question to ponder.

I found the book rather hard to get into, but in due course it became engaging and relevant.

Jan Moran Neil’s previous works include the award-winning ‘Death by Pythagoras’ for BBC Writers and broadcast on Radio 4 and her winning sonnet ‘Silver Surfing’ at Bloomsbury Publishing. She teaches creative writing and is the founder of Creative Ink for Writers and Actors, and Creative Ink for Young Writers.

Shakespeare’s Clock by Jan Moran Neil  is available :  here

I am one of those people who absolutely adore the festive season , I love shopping for gifts and thinking about what each person would like, what would put a smile on their face. However there is one member of my family who is always so difficult to buy for because they have practically everything and I know I am not alone in this situation. So whether this is your other half, your parents, siblings, in laws, – well you get the picture. Then buckle up because I have put together a gift guide to help you out.

Naturally the first gift that I think of is books, I have one for almost every family member: Dragon World by Tamara Macfarlane is the perfect book for a budding bookworm  who enjoys magical stories.

I love Family Comforts by Rebecca Wilson, I can say these recipes are simple, easy to follow , delicious crowd pleasers and as the title suggests, comfort food.     Nature’s Treasures by Ben Hoare is ideal for the curious young mind.

Micro Life by Chris Packham is an utterly fascinating look into life under the microscope, interesting and beautifully illustrated. And finally, Be Kind by Rosie Nixon. This book is full of self care and self love, relaxation and calming techniques, perfect for the one who needs a big comforting hug.

Another category is self care. I have to say that the past year has really opened my eyes to the benefits of self care, it’s not selfish, it doesn’t make you lazy nor should you feel guilty about taking some ‘me time’ so these gifts can either be for yourself or for a family member.

Hair syrup, www.hairsyrup.co.uk This is a brand I found in TikTok and I am so glad I did, they make pre wash hair syrups, a delectable and conditioning buttercream, as well as other hair care products.

Bee bald www.beebald.co.uk A incredible skincare regime for him. Complete with 5 different products that will give him a smooth, burn free finish every time.

Beauty Pro www.beautypro.com is a favourite of mine. I have tried a range of their masks and they are amazing, a huge selection to choose from depending on the recipient which will leave them feeling like a million pounds.

And finally, The Holistic Mummy www.theholisticmummy.co.uk I have shopped from this lovely lady for myself and for others. She is incredibly knowledgeable about aromatherapy and is more than happy to help you select the perfect gift, I personally love her pulse point rollers and always have one in my handbag.

I have personally tried or read each gift that I have recommended and I hope that you have found some inspiration in this year’s gift guide for my favourite time of the year.