Is it a bit early to recommend things for Christmas?  Well, even if it is, I suggest you make sure you send this to all the grandmas you know.

The rhymed poetry is as jaunty as the cover illustration; marching along and relatable – what Grandma has not made a call to a daughter, to find the receiver is picked up, there is clicking, breathing, and then, the burr of the line,as the receiver is replaced.  Ah yes, the grandchild has discovered the thrill of answering the phone. Read it and nod, smile, laugh, remember… Click click, clack clack, burr.

Di Castle covers the gamut from one’s child becoming pregnant, to the arrival of the grandbaby, to the advent of another. Words of wisdom, of observation, the highs, the lows… Life’s rich pattern.

Di Castle told Frost Magazine that as a child she enjoyed A A Milne’s poetry (as did most of us) then onwards to Spike Milligan’s humour and Parm Ayres laugh aloud poems so often read in her own inimitable way.

That’s where poetry  sat in Di Castle’s writer’s world until the birth of her first grandchild, when the emotion of it all set the poetic cogs turning.

Chance remarks became germs of ideas, which became poems., some of which won competitions. As the collection grew , the obvious thing was to gather them into a book. But what about illustrations? Enter Denise A Horn, and a happy partnership was born.

Grandma’s Poetry Book is many things. A memoir.  A creative view of changing roles. A humorous vehicle. But most of all a pretty fine book of rhyming poetry and one that should be enjoyed by many. Lovely illustrations too.

Grandma’s Poetry Book is available on Amazon, here:  Amazon  Kindle and Paperback.   pub Matador.

The pandemic related lockdowns caused much introspection in the Rowan household, partly brought about by an unexpected sudden addiction to baked goods. You can imagine the resulting tightness of clothes, and the gloom. So steps had to be, and were,  taken.

Now that we have returned to a semblance of normality, hours in the day hasve become something of a precious commodity. and we have slipped into the habit of resorting at times to  slim-line ready meals. Some proved more successful than others, but nothing really convinced and generally left me feeling hungry not long afterwards.

So, I approached the Love Yourself range with a degree of scepticism, particularly as I am a vegetarian, and it often seems as though  we are a bit of an afterthought where ready meals are concerned.

Not only does Love Yourself provide a thoughtful menu for vegetarians, but a calorie controlled one at that.

If being a vegetarian wasn’t challenge enough, I ordered two of the 1500 calorie packages, (various other calorie and dietary options are available) prices start at £15.00.

The food is delivered daily and has a shelf life of a few days, so if you don’t eat it all, you could have it another day. Each box contains five packages, Breakfast; Snack; Lunch; Snack, Dinner

A gourmet chef uses fresh ingredients, cooks each day without additives. Furthermore advice from  a nutritionist ensures that the food is tasty (it really is). Thanks to the slow-release carbohydrates each dish keeps you feeling full for longer (it really does).

Every meal is scannable via MyFitness app to help keep track of calories and macro-nutrients though I confess that for me  this was a step too far, (stepping on the scales is exercise enough) so this aspect remains untested.

Obviously, as I only tried this for two days, I cannot vouch for exact weight loss but I can say that I never once felt hungry, and the food was uniformly delicious, therefore sustaining 1500 calories per day would not be difficult – and how could the weight not come off?

Each week Love Yourself provides an exciting combination of innovative dishes and a constantly changing menu.

My breakfast began with scrambled eggs and homemade country style bread, delicious and surprisingy filling, so much so that I barely needed my morning snack of a sweetcorn and feta cheese muffin. The muffin felt somewhat counter intuitive, but I forced myself for Frost Magazine, and was glad that I did.  A winning combination that took me through to lunch without a problem.

Lunch was a meatless mince Bolognaise with pasta, and the mince had real bite, not the sloppy stuff that I have had in the past.

I was so full, that I moved my afternoon snack of an apple and banana slice which was as filling and tasty as it sounds to a late night snack, allowing me to savour a dinner of Cumin spiced lentils and Brussel sprouts. Now I love brussel sprouts, so I should declare an interest, but these were taken to a whole new level.

So all in all possibly the tastiest diet day I have ever had and quite without feeling ravenous the next morning. when  I embarked on a breakfast of crunchy granola with sharp tasting berry yoghurt offering intense burst of flavour.

The morning snack was Butter bean and rosemary hummus with carrot, which felt worthy and the closest we came to a diet food, but tasty for all that. Lunch was Tempeh chasseur which was possibly my faourite of both days and my afternoon snack was energy chocolate,  prune and orange cookie.

Because the lunch and snack were filling, I was pleased to have a fresh, crisp and tasty Tofu and grape salad with a sesame dressing for dinner.

Love Yourself lets you enjoy a hot filling tasty meal on the table within 3 minutes, and one that will aid weight loss if that is your aim.

Meal plans with higher (and lower) daily calory allowances and of course containing meat are available and if the vegetarian option is anything to go by, you are in for a treat.

https://www.loveyourself.co.uk

I love candles, I do. But I’m seriously impressed by wax melts. A Melt In Time is a family-run UK company and their mission statement says it all: to create luxury wax melts that stimulate the senses while being gentle on the planet.

All the melts are made with best quality natural wax. This is important as candles made from poor quality ingredients or chemicals can be harmful, sometimes irritating the eyes and lungs.

These lovely natural melts are so easy and convenient too. They come as a block of six small cubes and you simply put one cube on your burner, light a tea light underneath, sit back and enjoy the beautiful aroma. The pack of six have a total burning time of 30-40 hours so they last for ages, and any residue can just be popped in the bin once cool.

As soon as I opened the package, I could smell the Sandalwood and Myrrh. Even within the wrapping the scent was stunning, and when I melted a cube on the pretty burner, the room filled with the powerful fragrance within minutes. I felt strangely compelled to stop everything, relax on the sofa, sip green tea and read a magazine. The Lavender melt smells equally amazing and I can’t wait to test it with a relaxing bath tonight. (Note to self – keep away from melts when I need to work – they are surprisingly addictive and ‘melt’ away my stress maybe a little too much.)

I love that A Melt In Time have such a huge range of traditional and unusual scents – from Vanilla Cinnamon and Rhubarb and Rose to Fresh Bread (good for house-selling I hear) plus some rather quirkly scents such as Unicorn Sparkle and Alien Invasion.

But don’t take my word for it, check out their website for yourself. The melts are just £3.99 for a block.

There’s also a range of very attractive and unusual Tea Light Wax Burners available. You can buy these individually, or as a set with two blocks of wax melts, currently on special offer at just £12.99 which make a fabulous present.

But if you want a real bargain, for everyday use, watch out for their ‘Waxidents’ (not quite perfect melts) at just £2.50 a pack of six.

So if you’re looking for a lovely Christmas present for friends or just out to treat yourself, take a look at A Melt In Time – you’ll wish you’d discovered them sooner.

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.

Recently I was chatting to someone about their yoga practice & I asked  what style of yoga was it? In his gorgeous Geordie lilt he replied, ‘I don’t know, it’s just yoga.’

This reminded me of my own journey of discovery around the time I did my yoga teacher training – that yoga wasn’t just ‘yoga’, there are in fact many different styles.

So to help you work out which style might suit you best, here’s a little run down of the most popular traditions.

Hatha yoga

This is an old system and relatively easy for beginners to access. It explores basic yoga postures (asanas) and breathing exercises (pranayama) to bring peace to the mind and body sometimes used in preparation for meditation. It is generally slow, gentle and relaxed with the poses being held deliberately and for longer than in other styles. You may not work up much of a sweat in this class but you will feel longer, looser and more relaxed.

Vinyasa yoga

This is a flow style class whereby the instructor will lead you through one posture to the next continually, often linking the standing poses through sun salutations. It is a dynamic class synchronizing the breath with the movement. No two classes are generally the same and you will work up a sweat and feel it.

Ashtanga yoga

Ashtanga yoga was bought to the modern world by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in the 1970’s. There are 6 different series of poses, each of which are always practiced in the same order moving fluidly from pose to pose. It is typically physically challenging and fast-paced and not really aimed at the beginner, unless everyone is starting at the same point together. Like vinyasa every movement is linked to a breath.

Bikram yoga

This style of yoga was introduced around 30 years ago by Bikram Choudhury. Like Ashtanga yoga, Bikram yoga always follows the same sequence of poses. There are 26 poses in Bikram practiced in an artificially hot room around 40 degrees centigrade with high humidity for 90 minutes. It is a physically demanding class where you will sweat like never before. Like marmite, you either love it or you hate it. It was designed to emulate conditions in India where yoga originated and it is claimed to flush out toxins. Choudury himself is a controversial character, living a luxurious lifestyle funded by the success of his ‘Bikram’ brand of yoga and suing anyone who dares to use the name and not present the exact 26 poses in the correct order. Thus, many studios will offer hot yoga where the conditions in the room are hot and humid but the sequence of poses is different in each studio.

Iyengar yoga

‘Invented’ by B.K.S.Iyengar one of yoga’s original and authentic yogi’s. A typical class involves the poses being held for much longer than in other traditions to intensely explore the subtleties of each asana and pay attention to the foundation and alignment of each pose. Props are often used such as blocks, belts, blankets and chairs to accommodate individual’s limitations, tightness, injuries etc so that the student can move into a posture gradually and with precision. As such this is a great choice if you have a chronic condition or injury.

Anusara yoga

John Friend developed this style relatively recently in 1994. It is a deeply spiritual practice based on the belief that within us we are all filled with intrinsic goodness, we all hold our own Buddha nature. Physical poses are used to open the hearts of students allowing their grace and goodness to shine through. Classes are sequenced utilizing Friend’s Universal principles of Alignment and are a vigorous workout for both the mind and body categorized around the 3A’s: attitude, alignment and action.

Power yoga

This style is not dissimilar to Ashtanga whilst accessing elements of Vinyasa flow yoga too but it is not a determined series of poses, so each teacher will devise their own sequence. It is a more accessible style of yoga to most in the west than Ashtanga which is often seen as a more ‘purist’ style and is popular in many studios. In this class you will work hard and feel it. It is not so spiritual.

Kundalini yoga

Kundalini yoga repeats movements, dynamic breathing techniques, chanting and meditation designed to awaken the energy at the base of the spine allowing it to navigate through each of the seven chakra’s. Introduced to the west by Yogi Bhajan this style of yoga is quite different to the others due to its repetitive focus on breathing techniques and energy flow in the body. Not for the faint-hearted!

Yin yoga

A slower paced style of practice where each pose is held for several minutes, 2 minutes or more. You are encouraged to find your edge in the pose, commit to holding the pose in stillness & then open into the pose, release & let go, find the space if you will. This passivity in itself can be quiet challenging especially if you are not used to holding poses for such times. Yin opens the tissues, tendons, ligaments & fascia inside the body, whilst being quite a meditative style of practice. It was founded in the late 1970’s by Pauline Zink, a martial arts expert and I think the interesting thing is the link between martial arts and yoga, the mental discipline and flexibility necessary for both.

Restorative yoga

This is a gentle, passive, relaxing style of yoga. Students relax and release into a pose or a stretch with the support of blankets, bolsters and blocks in order to completely let go. Poses are typically held for 2 minutes at least. Despite the seemingly inactive approach, this style of yoga is actually fairly advanced and demanding. It can feel emotional to engage in one pose for an extended period. These classes are great if you are slightly injured and don’t want to put your body through a more dynamic class as well as being a fabulous way to relax and soothe yourself after a stressful week. A restorative class can be as rejuvenating as, if not more so, than a nap.

So now you are equipped with the right knowledge to go forth and practice, whether it be exploring a new genre or just feeling confident when perusing the studio or gym timetable, now you know vaguely what to expect.

If you would like to practice yoga with Alex her YouTube channel offers free short classes for everyone & is available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw

Alternatively all of her classes are streamed on live on Zoom, for more information message her at alex@alexbannard.com

Free resources are also available on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AlexBannardYogaMindfulness

And her website is www.alexbannard.com

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.

Get THE SUPPER CLUB MURDERS by Victoria Dowd, WINNER OF THE PEOPLE’S BOOK PRIZE  (Hoorah)  for only 99p / 99c.

The phones are out, the roads are flooded, and now the murders have started.  Everyone is trapped, and Ursula Smart, along with her mother, finds herself with another perplexing crime on her hands.
Discover a charming mystery series that’s perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Agatha Christie and Sophie Hannah.

The Case of the Missing Faces by Michael Leese  00p/99c  (arghhh – really?? Yes, read it and turn those pages)

A man’s body has been discovered in a disused warehouse. His face has been completely removed.
He’s not the only one — this is the second body to be uncovered. Both victims supplied military equipment to the government.  Hooley and Roper have a serial killer on their hands, and he’s threatening national security.

The Red Red Snow by Caro Ramsey. A cracking jacket yet again. £1.99/$2.99

Eric Callaghan is stabbed to death at a crowded Christmas Ice Show.   Murdered in plain sight. No clues and no known motive. The hunt for a killer who leaves no trace is on.

Constable around the Park by Nicholas Rhea £1.99/$2.99

It’s original, it’s funny . . . one of life’s little pleasures.” Yorkshire Post and Frost Magazine will second that.
What does the future hold for Constable Nick?  He’s just passed his exams and currently stands next in line for a promotion. Until then, it’s business as usual on the Aidensfield beat.  But when a dog unearths a human leg, things take a much darker turn.

THE AWARD NOMINATIONS ARE ROLLING IN . . .

Steve Parker’s CHILD BEHIND THE WALL has been selected as a finalist for the Page Turner Screenplay Award.

Plus, last week Kerry Buchanan was nominated for the Page Turner Book Awards 2021 and Victoria Dowd was nominated for the UK Crime Book Club Book of the Year award.

Fabulous news all round.

Find out about the many books Joffe Books have on offer: here

Figure – St John Passion , Cloth Fair, Barbican, EC1A 7JQ

Figure inaugural concert, St John Passion, Sept 2021 – courtesy Oliver Bowring and Musicarta Media 3.

Could  St Bartholomew be a more perfect setting, for this most majestic of works? Beautifully lit stone pillars with Norman and post reformation architecture to delight the eye, and a rendition of St John Passion to delight the ear.

Figure are a newly established historical performance ensemble based in London, bringing music of the past to life, through the modern understanding of the instruments, in their new home at St Bartholomew the Great.

Seeing so many musicians and singers together, served to remind, just how much we had missed live music during the various Covid lockdowns.

Sitting in such surroundings it was easy to get lost in the glories of Johann Sebastian Bach’s St John Passion, but the instruments intrigue, not least the Theorbo and the wooded flutes.

Figure is a youthful ensemble, but no less accomplished for that, with many having played at the Proms, Wigmore and Festival Halls and Glyndebourne, and one could not doubt their passion and ability as they brought the piece to life.

It would be quite wrong to pick out any of the principals, as they were each wonderful both in voice and facial expression, but Claire Lees who stood in at the last minute, sang with such aplomb it would be remiss not to mention her. Similarly, Frederik Waxman, who conducted with a lightness that belied his authority.

The melody ricocheted off the stonework filling the space with an ecstasy, this was music to be feasted upon and feast we did. I freely confess to having actual goosebumps, such was the quality of the music and singing.

I am thrilled to be able to tell you that the second concert by Figure will be Mozart’s Serenade No 10 for Winds ‘Grand Partita.’ on Friday 19^th November 2021 at 7. 30pm with a running time of 1 hour. Tickets are priced £15 (£10 concessions) and can be purchased at www.figureensemble.co.uk

To possess such talent so young, to play with such maturity and with a long career stretching ahead of them can only bode well for us music lovers.

Bravo.

David Kovats Gallery – Barnabus Lakatos Gelleri – Arriving into something new

You could easily walk by the David Kovats Gallery, at the Drury Lane end of Long Acre, at least you could, if it wasn’t for the arresting art in this latest exhibition with works painted on 2m x 2m canvases.

Artist Barnabas Lakatos Gelleri, a queer artist, the son of a bishop, who became an artist to be free to express himself how he wished, through his art.

Although Barnabas is gay, and is part of a Queer Art collective, this seems almost incidental to his work and more a political statement. It is his choice of colour, an almost Gaugin palette, that first grabs the attention.

Bull under a Tree

All his work in this exhibition features bulls (Barnabas is Taurus) and snakes,  (not for their biblical symbolism, but that for him, they represent many aspects of life including, knowledge, temptation, and sin)

Both the snakes and the bulls have a benign, almost Japanese anime quality, soft, feminine facial features, in an array of citrus colours of lemon, pink, orange, mauve and turquoise.

Catch the Snake

Barnabas works with the medium of acrylic with brush strokes, spray paint and Japanese ink, creating a layered almost 3D effect.

On two canvases the artist has deliberately left an area, one in the shape of a dagger, unpainted. Barnabas treats this as a deliberate pause, similar to a silence sometimes found in music, but here intended to pull the viewer up and allow for reflection on what has just been seen.

Fighting Bulls

David Kovats, the owner of the gallery is no less interesting. As a child at Kindergarten in Hungary, he and the other children could choose a recognisable symbol to act as their signature. Some chose an apple or a flower, a bee or a tree it was the child’s imagination that guided the choice, and these symbols would even be sewn into clothing. David’s father was an art dealer and so it was perhaps inevitable that David would choose a price tag as his symbol and his own artwork would be taken to his father’s gallery, complete with his signature price tag.

David became an art dealer and supporter of the arts, looking for new talent and bring them to a new audience. David opened a gallery in Hungary and then worked at Sotheby’s before opening his own gallery in London’s Covent Gallery.

Sadly, because of the restrictions of Covid, Barnabas has not been able to visit his very first exhibition, but if you are walking through Covent Garden you should certainly make a detour, as I suspect that this particular artist is going to come to prominence, and this is an opportunity to see him at the start of his career.

The exhibition is open all week including weekends but must close on October 3^rd

For more information:
David Kovats Gallery
80 Long Acre, Covent Garden
London, WC2E 9NG
https://davidkovats.com/

England, 1444. Three women challenge the course of history…

King Henry VI’s grip on the crown hangs by a thread as the Wars of the Roses starts to tear England apart. And from the ashes of war, the House of Paston begins its rise to power.

Led by three visionary women, the Pastons are a family from humble peasant beginnings who rely upon cunning, raw ambition, and good fortune in order to survive.

Their ability to plot and scheme sees them overcome imprisonment, violence and betrayal, to eventually secure for their family a castle and a place at the heart of the Yorkist Court. But success breeds jealousy and brings them dangerous enemies…

My favourite genre to read is without a doubt historical fiction, The Royal Game is the first book I have read that is set in the medieval era, O’brien beautifully brings to life not one, not two but three strong female characters. It is a gorgeously insightful, inspiring and courageous read and I find myself impatient to learn the fate of the Paston family.

If you want to delve into the past and be transported to England almost 600 years ago then I highly recommend picking up a copy of The Royal Game.