Christmas for me, is a house full of people letting their hair down and enjoying plenty of food and drink. And whilst cocktails seem to add to the party atmosphere, quite often by the time I have made the last cocktail, the person served first, is almost ready for a second.
At a point in the year when time is at a premium, this can soon ruin the vibe, which is where these cocktails in a can come in.
At Christmas I am guaranteed to be short of two things, space and time and anything that assists with such challenges is always welcome.
No more juggling bottles for me or taking 5 to 7 minutes to make one cocktail per person as Sierra Tequila has launched a delicious range of ready-to-drink Margaritas in the UK.
These ‘bar quality’ Margaritas are available in two flavours, Strawberry and Lime.
High-quality, convenient cocktails, the Sierra Margarita cans are available in stores throughout the UK, as well as online via Amazon and are also available from Aldi and Lidl
Sierra is known for its bold, fruity, and award-winning flavour, made with the finest blue Weber agave, guaranteeing that the cocktail inside the can is full of bold flavour, expertly mixed, and made for those moments worth savouring.
Sierra Strawberry Margarita is a delicious combination of juicy, sweet strawberries with smooth agave notes of Sierra Tequila Blanco. Whereas the Sierra Lime Margarita is the perfect combination of tangy lime, well-balanced sweetness, a hint of salt, and cooked agave notes.
These would also make superb stocking fillers and guarantee you top billing at the office secret Santa.
And if I am not too early, let me be the first to wish you a Happy Christmas.
Oh, fab-u-lous: The Carlswick Mysteries return with a tale of blackmail, forbidden art, and a deadly game played out on the streets of New York City. Stephanie Cooper joins her boyfriend James Knox and his band in New York for the final week of their tour. But teh bands new found popularity has attracted unwanted attention and Stephanie’s research project at a New York museum puts her on a collision course with an old adversary. From the glitzy modern day bars and clubs of Manhattan to the gritty Lower East Side tenements of the 1940s, Stephanie tries to keep one step ahead of an increasingly desperate faceless blackmailer as she traces the final legacy of war time Nazi art liberator Karl Hoffman. (Fascinating) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FXLZ3SDL/ @ £1.99 Kindle edition
Here we have a three book offer – Kindle edition. Dr Margaret Demeray – Historical Crime Box Set 1-3. I find historical’s fascinating as one usually learns so much, and you certainly will from these three books. The Wrong Sort to Die by Paula Harmon: June 1910. Dr Margaret Demeray gives a stranger called Fox information about a dead down-and-out. When a second man dies the same way, Margaret starts to wonder why the enigmatic Fox keeps turning up to ask ever more complex questions. Margaret must discover the truth before someone silences her for good. Death in the Last Reel by Paula Harmon After the violent murder of three policemen in the line of duty, Fox asks Margaret to help with a mission and she can’t wait to assist. How can they discover who is behind the threat to London when it’s not entirely clear what the threat actually is? The Treacherous Dead the third in the series by Paula Harmon: It’s summer 1912. When Dr Margaret Demeray tells Fox about an unlikely spy plot, something reminds him of an old case. Just as they decide the allegation is nonsense, a young woman is found dead and evidence at the scene links Fox to her murder. Is someone now seeking revenge?
I absolutely love, love, love Cozy Crime, and here we have three historical cozy crimes by the fabulous Celina Grace. This collection of Miss Hart and Miss Hunter Investigate (Historical Cozy Crime Box Set 1-3) is a simply lovely Golden Age murder-mystery collection with three witty and delightful whodunits.
Book 1: Murder at Merisham Lodge Derbyshire, 1930s. When Lady Eveline Cartwright is found dead in her study, life at Merisham Lodge begins to unravel. Amid lies, loyalties, and hidden dangers, Joan Hart and Verity Hunter must uncover the truth before they become the next to fall. Can they expose a cunning killer before they become the next victims?
Book 2: Death at the Theatre London, 1932. A night at the theatre turns deadly when the curtains rise on an unexpected tragedy. A man has been stabbed to death almost under their very noses. Behind the glittering lights, Joan and Verity uncover a world of deception and ambition where the stage is set for danger.
Book 3: The Hidden House Murders West Country, 1934. What begins as a peaceful retreat quickly descends into chaos after a poisoned dinner. The deadly dish proves fatal for one unlucky soul. As Verity and Joan begin to delve deeper into the tangled relationships of the Ashford family and their guests, it becomes apparent that too many people have secrets to keep … some of which are worth killing for … https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G366L1R4/ @ £2.99
Once the clocks go back, and we are overtaken by the dark nights, watching Bake Off becomes a must; and whilst I could never hope to emulate those talented bakers, it doesn’t mean that I don’t want to give it a go.
A kitchen filled with the scents of baking is always comforting, and never more so than in the run up to Christmas. I then spend far too long searching for the baking tins which seem to migrate throughout the kitchen into a variety of cupboards and drawers.
But no longer, as the Green Pan Reserve Bakeware 6 – piece set stack neatly inside one another. These come in a stylish range of colours, and I chose the Pine Green to match my kitchen, the two other colours being Oxford Blue and Black. Featuring the beautiful and eye- catching gold PVD coated stainless steel handles.
My wife likes these not because they are beautiful, which she agrees they are, but because with the exception of the muffin tray, these are all dishwasher friendly, and for some inexplicable reason, she thinks that I am a messy baker.
Each item is sturdy with an impressive weight that exudes quality, combining performance and beauty, heating up quickly and evenly up to 230° C in the oven.
They are perfect for planet – friendly baking, as the range has 2 layers of PFAS – Free ceramic non – stick coating on durable aluminised steel that won’t warp or bend.
The set is comprised of one of each of the following 6 items. A baking tray, roasting tray with roasting rack (and I would also use this as a cooling rack), round cake tin, loaf tin and a 6 cup muffin tin.
I would buy this for an aspiring baker, it would make the perfect Christmas gift for the star baker in your life, and should you see me on next year’s Bake Off you’ll know how it all started.
Green Pan Reserve Bakeware 5 – piece set in Oxford Blue, Black and Pine Green, RRP £129 greenpan.co.uk
Before the Killling by Margie Benedict is fabulous, and don’t you think the title grips before you even start to read – you just know it will be the cutting edge mystery thriller it is. Gulp.
Let me tell you just a little more… because the past doesn’t stay buried. It waits for Cassie to return to her coastal Massachusetts hometown, which indeed she does.
In the summer of 1973, the day after Cassie’s return, the town is shaken by a brutal killing – and someone close to her is accused of the crime. The investigation tears through the community, leaving behind guilt, suspicion, and secrets Cassie can’t forget. Seven years later, Cassie’s life is still defined by that night. An unexpected and inexplicable event gives her a chance to finally uncover the truth. But as she retraces the days leading up to the murder, she begins to realize the story she remembers isn’t the whole one—and that someone has been keeping dangerous watch all along.
Now, hunted by a killer who knows more than she does, Cassie must piece together what really happened – before the past and the killer catch up to her. (Book 1 The Killing Hour) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G24SFSGB/ Pre-order @ £0.99 instead of £2.99
Dark Corners by Alex Walters – Volume 2 – the Murrain Series – a tense crime thriller.
When a child’s body is found, DCI Kenny Murrain uncovers buried secrets and a killer ready to strike again. A missing child’s body is found on the edge of the Peak District. As DCI Kenny Murrain and his team investigate, more attempted child abductions are reported. Murrain’s instincts tell him this is a community with secrets, and those secrets have their roots deep in the past. Unexpected connections surface as he uncovers mysteries long buried… And a high-profile child killing two decades before. Then another child goes missing, and Murrain and his team must race to identify the killer before it’s too late … I confess I usually skip child killings, but this is written with humanity and empathy, and of course, that – ‘what happens next’ – magic.
Never let her goby LK Chapman Book Three in the Chilling Psychological Trilogy (No Escape)
Oh crikey All he wants is his family – no matter the cost. But hang on a moment, it might be an idea to have just a little glass of something calming (a gin) before you begin to read … You see, I fear this jaw-dropping thriller about obsession and jealousy will keep you up all night.
A while ago Felicity escaped from Jay, her obsessive cruel ex, and thought she was safe, as she built a new life with Scott and son Leo in a seaside town. Little does she know that Jay has tracked her down and wormed his way into the confidence of Vicky, a woman from Scott’s past who has her own very sharp axe to grind … This is the taut and gripping finale (yes really – boo hoo) of the No Escape trilogy, Jay’s obsession with Felicity pushes him to ever more desperate lengths to get her back. Felicity soon discovers that he’ll stop at nothing, and history begins to repeat itself as she finds alone, terrified, and at Jay’s mercy once again. Can she escape him before it’s too late? …Nope, I’m not going to tell you … Read it and see. Wonderful.
Hope on the Waterways by Milly Adams – The gripping finale of the historical trilogy which is touched by romance – well, more than a touched – there are three girls after all. Add to all this, there is that final question … should Sylvia keep a promise which will see her gone from the waterways, or will she, as closest friends, Polly and Verity hope, choose love of a different kind? Nope, no answer forthcoming, because yet again, I will leave that for you to find out for yourselves. Let’s just say thatwhen all seems lost, the three waterway girls find strength in each other and in that most important of emotions, especially in wartime – hope. Sensitively plotted and building to a satisfying pitch.
Set in January 1945, West London: Sylvia Simpson is flourishing in her role aboard the Marigold and has quickly become an invaluable member of the waterways crew and their little family. But as the V-I and V-2 rockets draw closer, someone from her past is about to burst into their lives. Meanwhile Polly and Verity are still waiting for their sweethearts’ safe return, and soon find they have their own battles to fight on the home front. It will take all their resolve to keep their heads above water, but as long as they stick together there will always be hope. I found the setting of wartime canal transport in which girls were recruited is a most satisfying world within which all these disparate characters find out just what they are made of. Heavens, could I do what they did? I fear not.
When we were walking Polly over golden leaves in Sowerby churchyard looking for squidgies (which everyone knows are squirrels for Polly to chase) we saw this 1902 headstone for a lady – who was …. Relict of her husband.
I was intrigued. Relict? I nipped home and researched: relict means ‘left behind’. relicts are widows, and the term was in common use between the 17th and 19th centuries. It became obvious the more I thought about it, that the term underlined the fact that a woman’s social standing was dependent on the context of her marriage, so, on the death of her husband, and the start of her emergence as a relict or widow meant – what now?
Just think, widowhood, or relic-hood was a highly precarious situation. Not only did the relict, face grief – if in fact love existed in the marriage, which was so often arranged – but also the social and financial vulnerability as laws governing property and inheritance frequently left widows dependent on the goodwill of their children or other family members. Perhaps a brother, or a cousin. The word Relict was far too often the reminder of a life that had been fundamentally altered by loss.
But… many relicts played pivotal roles in their families, and even communities. As time passed some found themselves navigating complicated inheritance law to secure dosh for their children. Or even gave them time to think, and become determined to change the scenario for their daughters and grand-daughters. After all, the female suffrage movement was stirring.
All so interesting. Or is it just me finding it so? Lord, I do go on.
I love it when people use their initiative to fill a need, and I’m very impressed with Alvin Mills, founder of SHYNE. As a man of colour, he struggled to find hair products for men with textured hair. He decided that if a specialist brand didn’t exist by the time he’d completed university, he would create one. In 2018, he graduated, and SHYNE was born.
What makes SHYNE stand out is that all their products are packed with nourishing natural ingredients, whereas parabens, silicone and mineral oils are conspicuous by their absence. Let me talk about two of their great range.
SHYNE Curl Defining Cream does what it says on the tin – after applying to dry (or wet) hair, curls immediately look defined, shiny and in great condition. There are some excellent ‘before and after’ images on the website. And the secret of its success? It’s packed full of fabulous natural oils, including shea butter, castor oil and coconut oil, which have been used traditionally to moisturize and promote hair growth. At only £13 for 100ml this is a great buy.
Although I am neither a man, nor do I have textured hair, I couldn’t resist trying SHYNE Hair And Beard Oil (I hasten to add, for my hair – I absolutely do not have a beard). Wow, just wow, I’m so glad I did. The light oils soaked into my hair rapidly, leaving it feeling so, so soft. Formulated with a blend of rosemary oil, castor oil, olive oil, argan oil, grapeseed oil, black seed oil and patchouli oil, it’s no wonder this product is so effective. It smells wonderful too. At £18 for an easy-to-use 50ml dispenser it can transform your hair.
But there is so much more on the SHYNE website – if you are a man with textured hair, and you’ve been searching for great products, designed with you in mind – look no further.
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.
Frost Magazine has raved about the Tormek T-1 Kitchen Knife Sharpener before – with its fine-grained diamond grinding wheel, it’s both exquisitely beautiful and incredibly useful. The first real knife sharpener for the home chef, unusually for a home device, it sharpens the entire bevel of the knife, achieving professional sharpness in minutes.
So it would seem fitting that such an elegant piece of engineering would have a super stylish cover. And I would like to present the NEW MC-1 Cover, tailor made by Jeansverket.
Made from premium denim in Borås, Sweden and finished with a Swedish leather handle, the cover is tailored to protect your sharpener from dust and moisture when not in use – all while looking impeccably sharp. The handle is easily removable for machine washing, ensuring both durability and practicality. Thoughtful details make this cover stand out: a dedicated pocket for storing small items and a sturdy loop secures your EM-15 Edge Marker right where you need it. What a fabulous display for your work top. I really love this cover.
The NEW Jeansverket MC-1 Cover for the Tormek T-1, RRP £45, is available from shop.tormek.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.
Late Checkout: An unputdownable police procedural thriller by Alex Walters (DCI Murrain Series Book 1) in Kindle – a real belter.
DCI Kenny Murrain is called in to a Manchester hotel to take the lead in the investigation when a woman is found murdered. Roll of drums as the crime scene raises more questions than answers: a violent killing, but so precise. No forensics. No witnesses. No clear motive.
More victims are discovered across the region, each bearing the same hallmarks,and it becomes clear only one killer is behind them – methodical, mobile, and always one step ahead. Murrain is forced to rely on the instincts that have always set him apart, but the closer he gets, the more the case begins to unravel in ways no one could have foreseen.Truly good, truly a great price.
Wow, remember Anything for You by LK Chapman? Well, follow Volume 1 with Volume 2: Found You – and let me tell you, it’s pretty damn good.
Just as Felicity begins to believe she’s safe with her new life and nice bloke, the shadow of her violent past looms – because Jay is out there, and he isn’t finished with her.
She’s escaped once, acquired a new name, a new hairstyle, and supportive Scott. Though the nightmares still creep up on her, she’s starting to feel that she may, finally, be safe.
Death Under Palm Trees: A cozy 1930s murder mystery (Jack and Frances Mysteries Book 4) by Carmen Radtke Kindle Edition https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FVXW2XRP/ @ £1.99
I simply love, love, love cosy murder mysteries, and isn’t this jacket evocative of the 1930s?
Before a party turns deadly Jack and Frances must trade glamour for disguises to unmask a thief – and a killer. So, do they? Hang on, give me a moment. It’s 1931 Jack, Frances and Uncle Sal are all dressed up ready to be guests of honour at a dazzling New Year’s party in Nice. But – oh dear me – instead, their discreet help is needed to help their host solve the theft of government documents – and quickly – before it causes chaos if it bursts upon the public.
Frances dons a maid’s uniform, Jack poses as a chauffeur, and good old Uncle Sal …
Nope, that’s it. Read and enjoy – you know you will.
