After over a year of home-working, offices are cautiously opening their doors. So how do you feel? Excited, nervous or both?

However it’s affecting you, the chances are you’re not alone, and the Airdri survey of 1,000 working British adults provided some interesting reasons why people are concerned about returning to the office:

58% had reluctance relating to having to look smart and dress in office attire

68% said that the commute was putting them off working back in the office

Only 16% were concerned over picking up germs from colleagues and communal areas

With my doctor’s hat on, I’m slightly concerned at the apparent lack of concern about spread of infection as we mix more. We’ve seen how Covid rates sneak up on us before, and whilst we absolutely should enjoy our well-earned new freedoms, we must remain cautious too. Let me explain exponential growth rate and why it can catch us unawares. When we think of growth graphs we usually think of straight lines. However natural growth is often exponential, meaning the graph curls upwards, ever more steeply. The reason is usually due to doubling, so one bacteria splits into two, each of which then split into four and so on – the same with cancer cells, which is why a tumour can be small for a long time and then appear to really take off. Viruses are a bit different but the way they spread follows a similar pattern. So growth starts off deceptively slowly, but because the time for infections to double is the same, whether it’s one infection to two, or 100,000 infections to 200,000, the infection rates can get faster and faster if we do nothing to intervene. Fortunately, with testing, monitoring, vaccination and other controls such as social distancing, we can suppress this exponential growth very successfully. So yes do enjoy those long awaited hugs, but don’t fling out the hand sanitizer or masks just yet – take things slowly, follow the guidelines and stay safe.

And that’s where companies like Airdri can help. To quote Steve Whittall, group director of R&D and operations:

“Whilst employees might not be overly concerned about picking up germs back in the office, it is at the top of mind for business owners/team managers concerned about the safety of staff and visitors.”

“We have seen huge sales increases in our air sanitiser technology – SteraSpace which again shows the investment many firms are making to ensure the safety of their staff. Maybe so much so, that it’s given employees something else to worry about – what to wear”.

Stay safe people, and have fun choosing your outfit.

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.

London, 14^th May 2021: The shortlist for the Indie Book Awards 2021, the annual awards curated by independent bookshops as part of Independent Bookshop Week (IBW, 19-26 June 2021), has been revealed today.

Richard Osman, Kiley Reid, Raynor Winn and Benjamin Zephaniah among the shortlisted authors, chosen by indie booksellers. Winners announced on Scala Radio on Friday 25^th June

2021 Shortlist includes: Windrush Child  by Benjamin Zephaniah; The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman; Hungry by Grace Dent; The Hospital Dog by Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie

 The awards honour the paperback books of the year across four categories – Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children’s Fiction and Picture Book – as voted for by independent booksellers. Celebrating the best reads for the summer and the books that readers should be taking on holiday (or on their staycations) this summer, the awards are a part of the annual campaign celebrating indie bookshops in the UK and Ireland organised by the Booksellers Assosciation.

This year’s shortlist include the debut sensation Richard Osman (The Thursday Murder Club), the number 1 Sunday Times Bestselling author Matt Haig (The Midnight Library), Julia Donaldson MBE (The Hospital Dog), previous Indie Book Award nominee Onjali Q. Rauf (The Night Bus Hero),  2020 Booker Prize longlisted author Kiley Reid (Such A Fun Age), Stonewall Book Award winner Jessica Love (Julian at the Wedding), writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah (Windrush Child) and Carnegie award winner Meg Rosoff (The Great Godden). During Independent Bookshop Week, Bookshop.org and Blackwell’s will be hosting virtual events featuring some of the shortlisted authors.

A judging panel of independent booksellers and authors will decide on the four winners, to be announced at 10am on Friday 25 June 2021, the penultimate day of Independent Bookshop Week. The winners will be announced on Scala Radio, the official media partner of the Indie Book Awards.

The judging panel for the Adult categories consists of booksellers including Tina Gaisford-Waller (Winstone’s Hunting Raven Books), Saber Khan (Toppings, Bath), Sam Fisher (Burley Fisher Books), Alice Carr (Blackwell’s, Edinburgh) and Hachette author Will Dean.

The Children’s categories will be judged by Nicola Lee (Children’s Bookshop, Lindley), Mariana Mouzinho (Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books), India Chambers (Round Table Books), Gill Edwards (Little Ripon Bookshop) and Hachette author Patrice Lawrence.

Benjamin Zephaniah, author of Windrush Child, said: ‘When I say I owe a lot to independent bookshops, I mean it. My first book was not published by an established publisher, it was published by Page One Books, an independent book shop in east London. When I couldn’t find venues to perform in, I performed above, or in, independent bookshops all over the country. Independent bookshops made me, and I don’t want to get too heavy, but in times like these I use them for their human connections, and as a political statement. Long love the book lovers.’

 Raynor Winn, author of The Wild Silence, said: ‘Independent booksellers are an amazing network of people with an understanding and passion for books like no other. They’re incredibly important not only for authors and publishers but also as hubs of connection within their communities. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to indie booksellers the length of the county for the overwhelmingly generous support they’ve shown for both of my books – thank you!‘

Richard Osman, author of The Thursday Murder Club, said: ‘Independent bookshops are the heartbeat of their communities and the heartbeat of the publishing industry. They feel like home for me, and I am beyond thrilled to be nominated for this award.’

Emma Bradshaw, Head of Campaigns, Booksellers Association, said: ‘The Indie Book Awards celebrate the best titles of the year, as recommended by the expertise of independent booksellers. This year’s shortlist features an eclectic mix of books, from Sunday Times best-sellers, to Booker-nominated titles, to books that have kept us company throughout lockdown. As bookshops gradually reopen in the UK and Ireland, I can’t wait to go to my local indie and get my hands on this year’s shortlist – and I hope all book lovers will do the same!’

 For more information about the Indie Book Awards and previous winners, please visit www.indiebookshopweek.org.uk/IBWBookAward.

Follow the latest developments via social media: #IndieBookshopWeek @BooksAreMyBag

Sofia Stephanou will move into the position of Executive Director at Arch 468 taking on more of the overall responsibility for producing and organisational strategy as Rebecca Atkinson-Lord takes up the position of Artistic Director and Chief Executive at An Tobar & Mull Theatre on the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides.  Atkinson-Lord will continue as Artistic Director, curating the artistic programme at Arch 468,

Up until spring 2020, Stephanou was the Producer at Paines Plough where she was responsible for the organisation’s festivals and touring work.

Rebecca Atkinson-Lord founded Arch 468 in 2007 as an arts production and development hub that exists to shape the cultural ecology of the future. The Arch 468 Hope Prize launched earlier this year offered a £10,000 commission for a new play that offers a vision of hope. Submissions have now closed and the winner will be announced in due course.

Atkinson-Lord comments, Sofia has worked with Arch 468 since the very start of her career and has become an invaluable part of the fabric of the company. Her time as Executive Producer has been a remarkable period of growth and ambition, so stepping up to become Executive Director to allow me to focus on curating the Artistic Programme at Arch 468 alongside my work on Mull is a natural next step. She’s a phenomenal producer and cultural leader and I can’t wait to work alongside her in her new role.

 Stephanou comments, I am delighted to be stepping into the role of Executive Director. Arch 468 is where it all started for me and has been an important part of my life and career, from touring my first production and learning the ropes of being a producer to touring world class new writing both nationally and internationally. I am incredibly grateful to have had a creative home with the company for so long. I look forward to working alongside Rebecca in this new role and period of growth for the organisation, whilst blazing new trails for the future.

An Tobar & Mull Theatre is a cross art form theatre and arts centre developing and producing theatre, music, dance, film, literature and visual arts. A Regularly Funded Organisation in the Creative Scotland portfolio, they tour nationally and internationally and work with artists of all kinds to commission and develop new and exciting work.

 Website https://www.arch468.com/

Instagram @Arch468TheatreStudio

Twitter @Arch468 Facebook @Arch468

Greenwich Theatre presents a family-fun Summer repertory season of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and Pinocchio at Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, Greenwich, London, SE10 8ES

Thursday 5 th August – Sunday 5th September 2021

The rescheduled adaptation of Joan Aiken’s acclaimed novel The Wolves of Willoughby Chase will run alongside a brand-new retelling of family-favourite Pinocchio. Both directed by Greenwich Theatre’s Artistic Director James Haddrell, the productions will combine captivating music and magical storytelling for some much-needed escapism.

Greenwich Theatre’s favourite pantomime villain Anthony Spargo (Horrible Histories – Barmy Britain Part One and Two, Garrick Theatre; co-writer of Olivier nominated Alice’s Adventures Underground for Les Enfants Terribles) will join a fantastic ensemble cast, taking on numerous roles across both productions. Further casting includes Alice DeWarrenne, David Haller, Cassandra Hercules, Serin Ibrahim, Adam Karim and Reice Weathers.

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase tells the story of two brave and determined girls as they encounter unforgettable characters, take on ferocious wolves and battle through snowy wastelands. Bonnie, Sylvia, and their friend Simon the Goose-boy soon realise that the wolves roaming the forests outside may not be as dangerous as the wolfish adults plotting inside.

Carlo Collodi’s iconic tale of a talking puppet, Pinocchio, has been adapted specifically for Greenwich Theatre by Anthony Clark. Packed with puppetry, a wood-influenced score, and a sense of adventure, the production is a beautiful reimagining of the original material. Join Pinocchio, a talking cricket and a whole host of characters, as they discover the impact of their actions and lies. James Haddrell,

Artistic Director and Director comments, I am delighted to be working with writers Tony Clark and Russ Tunney to launch this ambitious new venture for Greenwich Theatre, a summer repertory season which this year features Tunney’s adaptation of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and Clark’s version of Pinocchio. Family theatre has always been incredibly important to us at Greenwich Theatre. From the launch of the Greenwich Children’s Theatre Festival in 2008 to the year-on-year growth of our Offie award-winning pantomime, audiences have come to expect exciting, innovative family shows in Greenwich every season, so this new signature moment in the year is set to become a must-see moment in the capital’s cultural calendar. Greenwich Theatre is excited to bring quality entertainment back to the area.’

The theatre continues to adhere to the ongoing government guidance, with social distancing potentially in place for indoor performances. Should the restrictions and circumstances change they will look to adjust accordingly.

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and Pinocchio Dates Thursday 5 th August – Sunday 5 th September 2021 Location Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, Greenwich, London, SE10 8ES

How to Get There: The nearest train stations are Greenwich Station, Deptford Station and Cutty Sark Station (DLR). Running Time Both productions are 90 minutes

Box Office: Tickets are available from £21 (Concessions £18.50, Child £11, Family Ticket £54) on www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

Twitter @greenwichtheatr

Instagram @greenwichtheatre

Facebook /GreenwichtheatreLondon

Open Door Retreats is the creation of Hugh Williams-Preece who has had the vision to create a space where guests could visit and be immersed in a world of complete wellbeing. With a background in international, bespoke events management, and a passion for fitness and health, if anyone should be running a retreat – it’s Hugh.

The concept of Open Door Retreats is simple though the results should be anything but. Having direct access to a host of experts from across the wellness industry for three days, guests will gain invaluable insights into how to implement positive changes – for life. Workshops will cover the importance of good sleep with best-selling author and journalist Rob Hobson. Sleep affects every part of our lives, and we need to ensure we get the right amount of it. Nutrition is also an integral part of how we feel, and topics will cover how to shop, cook and really enjoy healthful meals. Helen Ford is passionate and highly knowledgeable on the subject of nutrition, not just for the everyday, but also harnessing the power of good food to heal and restore. Using creative art as a way to calm the mind, Jaq Chase will give guests the chance to understand how they can use their creativity. Jaq focuses on each person’s potential and encourages a sense of freedom that builds confidence and joy.

Sunrise yoga is the perfect start to each day at Open Door Retreats. Yoga guru Julie King leads these sessions, using the time to focus on different aspects of movement and breathing each day. Tailored fitness sessions with Kate Rowe-Ham and David Gover are designed for every individual guest to work out well and learn how to take those lessons into everyday life.

Hugh told Frost Magazine: “It’s so important to us that guests feel completely welcome and unjudged. This is not a fitness retreat, it’s a wellness retreat, so any active session is literally for every body, whatever stage of fitness they might be at.

“The setting for our retreats is New House Farm, a country estate nestled in 12 acres of outstanding natural beauty in East Sussex. The open space, stunning views and trail walks and runs from the back door are magnificent and complement the programme content to perfection. Meals are made from local ingredients that are organic wherever possible, and are designed to give our guests the very best of healthy, nutritious and balanced food.”

It certainly does seem that attending an Open Door Retreat will leave guests feeling rejuvenated, renourished and reconnected. In this busy world, they will have had the time and space to look at their wellness and understand which habits need to be changed and how to change them – for life.

Hugh is so right when he says, “There has never been a more perfect time to stop and put ourselves first – all of us deserve the chance to create a more balanced and healthy life. Not just for ourselves but for our families, employers and communities too”.

Find out more aboutHugh’s launch retreat here: https://www.opendoorretreats.com/book-now-open-door-retreats.html#events

Joffe Books is thrilled to announce that Victoria Dowd has won the People’s Book Prize for Fiction this year, and is absolutely delighted that so many readers showed their support, and voted.

THE SMART WOMAN’S GUIDE TO MURDER (99p/99c) is a worthy winner: a brilliantly fresh take on the classic country house murder mystery that Christie did so well. Readable is not the word. Let me tell you, you are not going to be able to put it down.

A faded country house in the middle of nowhere. The guests are snowed in. The murder begins. Very tantilising.

And a few more of the excellent novels on offer from Joffe Books this week.

Crime in the Kitchen by Catherine Maloney (99p/99c)  will make you think twice about lounging around the kitchen.  Jayne Padgett is a beloved teacher.   So how does she end up dead, neatly posed at the kitchen counter?  Strangled and forced to drink bleach.

Stranger yet, this tidy killer cleared up the scene before clearing off.   Then, another murder with the same M.O. A killer that’s cleaning up the town is on the loose.

The Gentle Art of Murder by Jeanne M. Dams. (£1.99/$2/99 – fabulous title,

All eyes are on renowned artist Gillian Roberts at the Wolfson Art College party to celebrate her arrival, until her loathsome boss turns up dead.  There’s nothing this brilliant sculptress can’t do with a chisel, but what about murder? Cripes – a chisel?!

Plenty of people at this party had the motive to commit the ultimate crime. Dorothy Martin really has her work cut out for her this time.

A Vow of Poverty by Veronica black (£1.99/$2.99

‘We have a secret the Devil and I.”
These are the chilling words on the back of an old photograph that Sister Joan uncovers while cleaning the storerooms.  What she discovers among the dusty antiques leads to her most dangerous case yet.

“Joan’s wry wit and shrewd observations add zest to the mystery.” Publisher’s Weekly

And finally:

Joffe Books draws our attention to  THE OTHER WOMAN by bestselling author Jane Adams, (99p/99p) which is launching this week. It is a haunting crime drama:   Marcie vows to help her grandfather pull the truth from his nightmares and locate Rebekkah, a raven-haired beauty he’s been chattering about from his death bed.   Is she a fragment of a dying man’s fevered imagination? Or something more?

Marcie never wanted to feel this way about her grandfather. Uneasy, resentful, afraid.   Is she ready to face the killer secret she’s about to expose? Well, is she? Read on…

More information from Joffe Books here

Kids’ toys are fabulous aren’t they? Sometimes I covet my grandchildren’s playthings just a little too much. But the amount of plastic in the average toybox would make anyone with environmental concerns shudder. So thank goodness Italian toy company Mondo are taking a big step towards environmental sustainability with their Bioball and ReNew toy lines. How appropriate that Mondo means ‘World’ in Italian.

So, of course I had to road-test these lovely toys (and I may eventually let my grandkids play with them too).

All boys love a ball, and my grandsons are no exception. Mondo’s pvc Bioballs are now made using a bio-based formula, which replaces 50% of fossil-derived substances with a renewable sourced plant derivative – completely recyclable hence reducing the environmental impact by 50%. This is all brilliant news, and it’s great to know that quality hasn’t been compromised. In fact, the balls have enhanced elasticity, making them very bouncy and light and generally a lot of fun. They also come in a range of fabulous designs.

And with Staycations the order of the day, I was delighted with the ReNew Sand Playset. Really attractive, sturdy and well-made, the bucket comes with a lid that doubles as a sieve – to make those really smooth sand castles, and there are holes to poke in the cute spade and rake. And that’s not all –when you take off the lid there’s a sand mould (I got a turtle) and a sweet water jug inside too. Mondo are using a new formula, which includes both standard material and food-grade pre-consumer recycled material. Food grade means that the plastics can’t contain dyes or other harmful additives, so the chemical safety of these toys is actually higher than current requirements. My grandson will love it – and yes, I probably will let him have it, if he promises I can play too.

Let’s hope other toy manufacturers follow Mondo’s lead on sustainability. You can find more information on the Mondo Sustainability website and the Bioball and Beach Sets are both available on Amazon.co.uk.

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.

Last time we explored the 3 most common hurdles people experience when they are practicing meditation & mindfulness. Here are some of the other obstacles it’s not uncommon to crop up against as your practice continues.

Things feel like they are getting worse before they get better.

When we get still & silent our minds often seem very loud & busy, this is completely normal, we just weren’t aware how busy our mind was until we stop & turn inwards. And sometimes in the stillness & quiet it amplifies things inside of us that we maybe don’t like that much. Meditation may show you things you don’t want to see, work that you need to do on yourself. And this work is never done, there is always something to work on – we’re a bit like the Forth Bridge: when they get to the end of painting it, they need to start all over again. So it is with spiritual healing.

Often if we have been pushing away thoughts, feelings, behaviours we don’t like, which is a habitual human habit, it can feel harder to deal with what comes up than to just push it away. Here’s the thing: we have all ‘chosen’ to incarnate on this planet to learn the lessons we need to learn to grow, heal & transform. If we keep pushing these lessons away, the universe will keep giving us the same one until we learn it & can make things really uncomfortable to guide towards that lesson. Healing & growth isn’t always love & light, sometimes it’s hard work but that’s a good thing, it’s always worth it because you are evolving & transforming.

How will I know I’m doing it right?

There’s no right or wrong to meditating. Every experience is different & unique for that time. Just remember: there’s no such thing as a bad meditation! Even a ‘tough’ meditation is transformative. The best thing to to try to not come to the practice with any expectations, just appreciate whatever your experience is. You’ll know it’s working when you you start to miss the practice if you skip a session.

It’s not what I expected

Nothing in life generally is! Be mindful (pardon the pun) of your expectations – they can trip you up. I mentioned before to watch your intentions & the energy you bring to your practice. It’s the same with expectations. Not every meditation will be relaxing, peaceful & calm so if this is what you are expecting you could be disappointed.

During the first lockdown I had done several days of hip opening yoga practices. We hold a lot of emotional energy in our hips. I was meditating one evening & felt this huge black mass of energy moving through & out of my body. It felt like stuff that had been buried decades ago was finally being released. It was immensely emotional & quite a visceral experience. Thankfully I am well aware that sometimes things like this can happen in a meditation & although it was emotional, it felt very cathartic & cleansing & so I appreciated the experience as such. I have been meditating for almost a decade & never experienced anything like this before or since & it is highly unlikely you will experience something so moving especially in the early days but meditation can often lead to insights & revelations you weren’t expecting, it’s all part of the healing process. It’s helpful to be mindful of this.

I can’t get comfortable.

We rarely sit still & silent for long so it can feel uncomfortable. Try lying down, sitting in a chair rather than cross-legged on the floor. Or try befriending the discomfort, using it to anchor yourself – discomfort can be a little like the distractions around you, try using them as an anchor rather than a distraction.

But if you are uncomfortable, simply shift your position, there’s no rule that says you must sit in a certain position & stay there – don’t sacrifice comfort for perfection. You are more likely to gain insights if you are comfortable.

Meditation & mindfulness have been a huge part of my life, helping me to navigate many of life’s challenges from international relocations, divorce, mental health wobbles, parenting issues, the menopause & I have found them to be extremely useful during the recent lockdowns. The journey hasn’t always been plain sailing but the practices have literally changed my life which is why I am so passionate about them. Next time we’ll explore informal meditation practices, which helps us to integrate mindfulness into our lives.

This week’s FREE meditation is the something very different to what I’ve shared so far: an energy clearing meditation. To get your own copy, simply email Alex to the email address below quoting Frost ECM.

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for the last 8 years, not just in the UK but also around the world. Her mission is to help everyone discover a sense of peace & calm within & to encourage them to embrace regular self-care practices.

If you would like more information on how to practice mindfulness, meditation & yoga message her at alex@alexbannard.com

For free resources check out her Facebook group: Mindfulness & Yoga for Self-Care, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MindfulnessYoga4Relationships

Alternatively please check out her website: www.alexbannard.com