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

Joffe Books is  thrilled to announce that in conjunction with literary agent Susan Yearwood and bestselling crime writer Dorothy Koomson, they are looking for a new crime fiction writer to join our list.

The competition aims to champion authors from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds writing in one of our favourite crime fiction genres: electrifying psychological thrillers, cosy mysteries, gritty police procedurals, twisty chillers, unputdownable suspense mysteries, shocking domestic noirs . . .

Whether you are writing your crime fiction debut, previously published or self-published, if you are an unagented crime fiction writer of colour, we want to hear from you!

THE PRIZE
The winner will receive a two-book publishing contract with Joffe Books.

HOW TO ENTER
Entrants are invited to submit their full-length manuscript, written in English, along with a synopsis of the book and author biography, to: prize@joffebooks.com

The opening date for entries is 1 May 2021. The closing date for entries is 30 September 2021 23.59 p.m. GMT. No entries received after this date will be accepted.

Meanwhile, some new books from Joffe Books.

DON’T BELIEVE A WORD BY PATRICIA MacDONALD  99p/99c

One phone call changes everything. Eden’s mother is dead in what looks to be a murder-suicide. She wasn’t perfect, but Eden can’t believe she could be a killer. Quick turn the page.

CONSTABLE IN THE FARMYARD BY NICHOLAS RHEA  £1.99/$2.99

Chaos reigns over the north Yorkshire moors.  A motley gang of eccentrics are keeping Constable Nick busy with their outrageous antics — even though there are genuine criminals to be tracked, like the most recent bane of his existence: the phantom milk bottle thief. Can Constable Nick keep the peace while maintaining his own sanity? This, Frost Magazine readers, is something I ask myself when surrounded by my children.

And finally, .    THE ICE DAUGHTERS BY D.E. WHITE in audio

As the temperature drops, the body count rises: Firefighters race to a burning farmhouse to discover two young girls . . . alone. Their mother is gone and the dead body of a man is found. The only scrap of evidence is two chess pieces that have been left on the doorstep.

It happens again: a missing woman, a frozen body, chess pieces made of ice.  Can Detective Dove Milson put a stop to a serial killer without putting herself in danger? Listen and learn is what  Frost Magazine says.

Find  out more about Joffe Books’ inaugural Crime Writing Prize here

Find out more about Joffe Books book list here

Here at Frost Magazine we are endlessly impressed by the quality and superb customer service of the artisan producers we have had the pleasure of knowing.

I caught up with Williams Handbaked again when under pressure from Dick and my own great  need to spoil myself, we totted up a list of our favourite hand baked cookies, and worked our way though the individual ordering system, rather than ordering a box hamper. At the same time, our son phoned to say he MUST order more shortbread cookies, but this time dig deep to find some control or he’ll scoff the lot in one sitting, again. One daughter dare not have them in the house until the diet is at an end. She calls them the diet destroyers.

Williams tell me they are sorting out a ‘Choose your own Box’ ordering system, which will make it an altogether quicker activity. But either way, if you have tried the box hampers, then rest assured that you can order your favourites with careless abandon. I have decided that there are no calories in any of Williams Handbaked goodies. But I am a fiction writer, which after all is one big lie, so what is another?

Do any of you watch Montalbano, set in Sicily, with sub titles in English?   Well,  Il commissario Montalbano (Salvo if one was being familiar, which one would so like to be) leads a police procedural, but in my mind he is my new best friend, because he  is also a glutton for fine food. So, as well as enjoying the Sicilian scenery, and the actual business of solving ‘who dun it’, please enjoy  Salvo’s sheer unmitigated pleasure in the food he devours. He will not speak when eating, he must enjoy in peace – well quite. One of his favourites is cannoli, baked by his housekeeper Adelina.  I have longed to try some.

So, when I was informed that online delicatessen  Affetto Italiano  would provide these, (what diet??) we had to try them.

Cannoli are Italian pastries that originated on the island of Sicily and consist of tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling. Dick and I could not decide between chocolate, pistachio or lemon, so ordered a box of each. (We have no shame). They’re not large, three  mouthfuls, or as Dick so wisely said, ‘If you don’t want crumbs it can go in in one’. It is not, though, a good look. I repeat, no calories  – I repeat, I am a fiction writer, do not believe me.

We also ordered one of the most popular Italian filled pastries – Aragostine which are also far too delicious.

Affetto is an online Italian delicatessen based in Birmingham. It was formed in 2017 and works in partnership with a family-run producer and importer of fine Italian foods. Agostino is the director, a young entrepreneur that has kept his customer firmly in mind, much like another of Frost Magazine’s favourites:

Delicario ,  whose artisan products were delivered trouble free to the kids  in wicker hampers  at Christmas, but are available all year round, and of course, one can order individual items. The hampers went down a treat.  I must order more of their products.

I also bought cheeses from Affetto: Asiago, Percorino with black pepper, and Scamorza affumicato. Salvo would drool.

To round off our tour of well – gluttony if we’re being honest, onto another Frost Magazine favourite … Rounton Coffee Roasters where a small group of entrepreneurs have introduced Midnight Harvest. The Midnight beans from Porta do Ceu, Brazil,  have been stored in barrel aged (whisky) and let me tell you, it is pretty darned splendid. But I think aged in brandy flasks would flavour the beans just as well. I might then buy a bag of both, and their sparkling water de-caff to look less BAD.

All in all, quite frankly, and seriously,  I feel Salvo and I could sit on his balcony, after treating ourselves no end, and watch the sun go down, sipping whisky or brandy barrelled Brazilian coffee with no need of speech.

How about it, Salvo? And reply came there none.

Williams Handbacked is available here

Affetto Italiano is available here

Delicario is available here

Rounton Coffee is available here

Bringing together a trio of short and unforgettable plays from one of the country’s most prominent playwrights, Caryl Churchill (Top Girls; A Number; Drunk Enough To Say I Love You), Greenwich Theatre are reopening once again with their first in-house production since December.

Led by acclaimed actor Paul McGann (Withnail and I; Doctor Who), Churchill’s earlier works will be brought to life for this limited season. Further casting will be announced in due course. Bad Nights and Odd Days will see Churchill’s rarely performed plays, Abortive, Seagulls, and Three More Sleepless Nights, reenergised for the stage under the direction of Artistic Director James Haddrell.

Exploring life-shattering events, a carousel of shifting relationships and the presence of psychic phenomena, this intimate collection of plays shows why it is so hard to categorise Churchill’s writing, blending the personal with the political, the naturalistic with the supernatural, the spoken with the unspoken.

Abortive highlights the strains of a married couple reeling in the aftermath of a shocking event; Three More Sleepless Nights details the everyday arguments and daily suppression of emotions; while Seagulls is Churchill’s powerful and personal allegory about losing the ability to write.

Director James Haddrell comments, We are delighted to be emerging from the last year of closure with this special collection of short plays. Caryl Churchill is undoubtedly one of the most important British playwrights of the past half century, and thanks to support from Arts Council England I am excited to be able to share some of her earliest, most rarely performed work. With special permission from Churchill herself to bring the pieces together under the title Bad Nights and Odd Days, I know that this collection of intimate, quietly heart-stopping dramas will offer a powerful, moving evening of live theatre – the kind of evening that we have all been missing so much.

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.

Bad Nights and Odd Days: Three short plays by Caryl Churchill (Abortive, Seagulls, and Three More Sleepless Nights)

Dates Wednesday 23rd June – Saturday 10th July 2021 Tuesday – Saturday, 7.30pm Saturday matinee, 2.30pm

Running time 90 minutes (no interval)

Access Tickets are £26 (concessions £21) and can be purchased online at https://greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/bad-nights-and-odddays/

Age Guidance 15+ (trigger warnings: Abortion, Rape and Suicide)

Director James Haddrell Writer Caryl Churchill Producer Greenwich Theatre Twitter @greenwichtheatre Instagram @greenwichtheatre Facebook /GreenwichTheatreLondon

ARE YOU…DEAD?’

OH MY GOD. I THINK HE IS.

When Meddy Chan accidentally kills her blind date, she turns to her aunties for help. Their meddling set her up on the date so they kind of owe her.

WELL, THAT DIDN’T QUITE GO TO PLAN.

Although hiding this goddamn dead body is going to be harder than they thought especially when her family’s wedding business has THE biggest wedding of the year happening right now.

IT’S PRETTY BAD TIMING REALLY.

It turns out the wedding venue just happens to be managed by Meddy’s ex, aka the one who got away. It’s the worst time to see him again, or…is it? Can Meddy finally find love and make her overbearing family happy?

Dial A for Aunties is such a page turner… Recently I have been trying to broaden my reading horizons, because,  like many other book worms I have a specific genre which is my absolute favourite and that genre takes up around 80% of my bookshelf space. This year I said to myself “Natalie, just pick up a few books that you wouldn’t normally read. What is the worst that can happen?” So sticking to my guns i tucked into my advanced readers’ copy of ‘Dial A for Aunties’.  It would have been one of those books that I would have said to myself “Nah, I won’t enjoy that.”

I am so glad that I read it, it was funny – and not the little chuckle to yourself on the inside funny but genuine laugh out loud funny.

I will not give away any spoilers but I will say that even though I have absolutely nothing in common with Meddy I found her to be extremely relatable and so too her aunties for that matter. They are all strong and developed characters . The writing style is something that all bookworms love – you start reading at 9pm, telling yourself that you will only read for a hour and before you know, it’s 2am and you still can not put it down.

I applaud Sutanto, she has single handedly converted me and I can not wait to see what other delectable delights she has in store for us.

Paperback and E-book and Audible Audio book.

Friday 2nd July – Sunday 18th July 2021

Amplifying diverse voices from a team of international collaborators, Theatre-Rites have announced the outstanding cast for The Global Playground, which will mark this acclaimed company’s 25^th anniversary. An innovative production which mixes dance, music, theatre and puppetry, this exciting production will premiere simultaneously at the Manchester International Festival and online this July.

The Global Playground examines our essential human connections and how these have both grown and become disjointed through digital connections. The incredible ensemble cast features acclaimed dancers Jahmarley Bachelor (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Zoonation), Annie Edwards (A Kate Prince Company), Kennedy Junior Muntanga (Phoenix Dance Theatre), and Charmene Pang (Isadora Now: A Triple Bill, The Barbican). Joining them are renowned puppeteer and actor Sean Garratt (A Christmas Carol, National Theatre of Scotland), and celebrated percussionist Merlin Jones (Birmingham Symphony Orchestra).

Director Sue Buckmaster comments, As Theatre-Rites turns 25 I have been reflecting on the importance of the connections we have developed with artists and our audiences, how it is our responsibility to nurture and empower both. As a company we have always been driven by the child’s needs and we know that young people’s futures will be a fluid experience of online and real adventures. The Global Playground, with its exceptional cast, is our gift to our audience of young people and to their carers; a chance to reflect on how they can be fully present, wherever they are and however they are connecting. A truly fitting way to celebrate our exciting return to Manchester International Festival and to live theatre.

To mark their 25th anniversary, Theatre-Rites will be publishing a book celebrating the company and the incredible artists they have worked with. The book will also tell the fascinating story of Artistic Director Sue Buckmaster, who lives with ME, and her puppeteer father who inspired her work. The book will be published on 29th July and has been co-written with Dr Liam Jarvis, Theatre-Rites board member and lecturer at Essex University.

The Global Playground Dates Friday 2nd July – Sunday 18th July 2021

Performance times Thursday – Friday, 7pm Saturday – Sunday, 11am and 3pm There will be an additional performance on Wednesday 14th July at 3pm

Location Unit 5, Great Northern Warehouse, 235 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN This production will also be presented digitally. How to Get There: Unit 5, Great Northern Warehouse is a 5 minute walk from Deansgate Station or a 20 minute walk from either Manchester Piccadilly or Victoria Stations. Parking is available at NCP Great Northern opposite the venue.

Running Time 75 minutes TBC

Ages Recommended for ages 8+ Website theatre-rites.co.uk

Social media @TheatreRites

It is said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but no one said that it had to look so boring, yet porridge, cereal, toast or croissant are uniformly brown or beige.

Haskapa is the world’s first all-natural superberry powder and its colour alone will make you rethink the way you start each day. A speedy, simple and delicious alternative to the beige breakfast packed with four times more anthocyanins than blueberries.

Anthocyanins are naturally occurring blue, purple, and red pigments that have been scientifically linked to numerous health benefits, including heart and cognitive wellbeing.

Haskapa’s freeze-dried powder is easy to use and has a unique, delicious tangy flavour and bold colour, thanks to the haskap berry’s deep blue skin and juicy crimson flesh.

Just one to two teaspoons of Haskapa added to any breakfast dish (probably not the toast or croissant) is sure to transform your day. Swirl the bright, berrylicious powder into porridge, sprinkle onto yogurt or spoon into smoothies for an instant boost.

I added some to Rhubarb Compote and Greek Yogurt and I also made a banana smoothie, both equally delicious, with an unforgettable berry flavour and vibrant purple hue. 

Haskapa has teamed up with Rebel Recipes, food unashamedly for foodies where It’s about pleasure, vibrancy and flavour in each dish, has created some fun, speedy and nourishing recipes to help make breakfast time an absolute blast. Each recipe card is as vibrant as the Haskapa powder with easy to follow recipes.

Haskapa adds an incredible colour but it also packs a nutritional punch – absolutely perfect to add to breakfast dishes. Wonderful in oats, smoothies, simply swirled into yogurt, added to baked goodies and it makes a fantastic tea.

Each packet is re sealable and as you only use one or two teaspoons it will last for ages or it would do, if it wasn’t so tasty and versatile.

https://www.haskapa.com/collections/all – to purchase direct

https://www.haskapa.com/