Category Archives: Life & Style

Life & Style

Busy Builders – Hape Crane Lift

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Hape-Crane-Lift

Entertain and inspire the little engineer in your life with the Hape Crane Lift. As with all Hape toys it’s so easy to put together – no screwdrivers or scissors needed while your child hops impatiently from foot to foot.

The crane lift gives hours of fun and helps develop hand/eye coordination and encourages creative play. It was a fantastic addition to the growing number of cars and lorries in the household and gave added play value to toys already owned. The lift fascinated little minds and there was no limit to toys that could be winched and moved across the playroom.

Strong and sturdy, made from natural materials and water based paints the crane meets with rigorous safety standards and will last for generations.

Available from Argos at £34.99

www.argos.co.uk

Review: Grimm Tales, Chichester

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Grimm Tales – For Young and Old
Adapted by Philip Wilson
Chichester Festival Youth Theatre at the Cass Sculpture Foundation, Goodwood
Until 19 August

Photo credit: Johan Persson

If you go down to the woods today… Just when it seems impossible for Chichester Festival Youth Theatre (CFYT) to achieve any greater heights they come along and smash it of the park. The sculpture park, in this instance.

The Cass Sculpture Foundation is the perfect setting for Grimm Tales. Woodland paths, tree-lined hollows and sheltered clearings provide a series of glorious natural stages. Greeted by a raggle-taggle band of minstrels beckoning us into the woods, the music throughout is evocative, catchy and haunting. All members of the Youth Theatre, these young troubadours are exceptional and add greatly to both the charm and continuity of the production.

Starting with Little Red Riding Hood and followed at different locations by Hansel and Gretel, Hans My Hedgehog, The Goose Girl at the Spring, The Three Snake Leaves, Rapunzel and The Juniper Tree, these yarns are grim indeed. Adultery, murder, child abduction, cannibalism – Mr Disney may have prettied some of them up for the big screen, but in their original form these fairy tales offer no trace of saccharine sparkle or Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo. Marvellously dark, but not without humour, Philip Wilson’s adaptations are magical, mysterious and utterly spellbinding.

Under the skilful direction of Dale Rooks the acting is uniformly superb. Remaining totally in character even when leading the audience from location to location, even those in minor roles demonstrate the discipline and focus of seasoned professionals. It would be grossly unfair (and almost impossible) to single out any one performance.

Testament to the excitement and enrichment of the experience, the smiles of the cast at the curtain call are wider than that of Grandma’s wolf. With satellite groups across the county, West Sussex children are so lucky to have CFYT available to them. Especially at a time when funding cuts threaten to hack drama and the arts down to almost nothing in some schools.

Ably supported by members of the Technical Youth Theatre, as darkness fell there wasn’t a star in the sky to outshine this supremely talented company.

Tickets: 01243 781312 www.cft.org.uk
There is no parking at the sculpture park, but a highly efficient system of park-and ride coach transport is in operation from Chichester College.

Review: The House They Grew Up In

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The House They Grew Up In
Minerva Theatre, Chichester
Until 5 August
Box Office: 01243 781312 www.cft.org.uk

Photo Credit: Johan Persson

Deborah Bruce’s new play, a co-production with Headlong, manages to be both entertaining and deeply moving. It’s a tale of our time. Middle-aged brother and sister Peppy (Samantha Spiro) and Daniel (Daniel Ryan) live in the house they grew up in amid floor-to-ceiling clutter (Max Jones’s claustrophobic set design is marvelous). Isolating themselves, autistic Daniel spends his days recording a precise log of every passing moment in his diary. Highly strung and obsessed with art history and Cambridge University, Peppy leaves the safety of their nest only for food and, later, to visit Uncle Manny to try to find out why he didn’t make his regular Christmas visit. But the arrival of the little boy next door into their co-dependent lives (superbly played by Rudi Millard on press night) triggers a terrifying change in their reclusive existence, with the police, social workers, neighbours and journalists forcing the much-feared outside world upon them.

Remarkably, what seems certain to be the inevitable conclusion takes a happier turn. Jeremy Herrin’s thoughtful direction and Bruce’s accomplished writing allow Peppy and Daniel to be heard and understood, ultimately earning our compassion and making us feel uncomfortable at failing to feel and extend it sooner.

Beautiful and bitter sweet, the tragedy of the optimistic ending is that in the real world Peppy and Daniel would be the exception rather than the rule.

With superb performances, especially from Spiro and Ryan, this a thought-provoking and fascinating play that deserves a wider audience than its short run in Chichester will generate.

Review: Fabulous Fiddler

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Review
Fiddler on the Roof (until 2 September)
Chichester Festival Theatre
Box Office: 01243 781312 www.cft.org.uk


Photo credit: Johan Persson

Heart, humour and world-class performances are just some of the elements that make Daniel Evans’s big summer musical an absolute belter. Add to that terrific musicians, Alistair David’s thrilling choreography and Lez Brotherston’s cleverly conceived set, which makes the very best use of Chichester’s unique stage, and you have a show that has all the hallmarks of a West End transfer.

The story of Tevye, a poor dairyman with five daughters, it is 1905 and in Russia an uneasy sense of impending change is in the air. But on a poor shtetl Tevye is more immediately concerned with finding husbands for the three eldest of his girls. Alas, despite his best efforts to keep with tradition, it seems that they are determined to follow their hearts rather than their heads, or indeed the advice of Matchmaker Yente (gloriously played by Liza Sadovy).

Omid Djalili is superb as Tevye. Radiating warmth sufficient to melt a Moscow frost in January, he convinces absolutely as the ordinary family man who is not without his shortcomings. In his regular exchanges with God (Dajalili’s stand-up career is much in evidence here), and later as he sings the touching Do You Love Me? to his wife, he reveals a touching vulnerability.

Tracy-Ann Oberman as his wife Golde is equally impressive. A feisty lioness who knows her old man better than he knows himself, it is an inspired pairing.

The singing overall is outstanding. From sweet and soaring to joyous and rousing, Tradition, the opening number, is nothing short of an emotional musical wallop to the gut.

A stupendous ensemble effort, this is a revival that feels both fresh and relevant. Delivering the theatrical triple of laughter (the dream scene is as clever as it is riotous), tears, and food for thought, it is the latter of the whole shebang that is the production’s ultimate strength.

A sharp reminder of how political and social unrest continues to throw lives into disarray, the final moments are heartbreakingly poignant.

Treat yo self with Candice Brown’s Baileys Cocktail Inspiration

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Winner of The Great British Bake Off is winning hearts yet again by teaming up with Baileys and Grind café’s to create a showstopping Baileys Iced Coffee Cocktail. Baileys, famous for their indulgent and downright delicious cocktail serves, remember the Baileys Freakshake, this year have enrolled the help of star baker Candice Brown to come up with ‘Baileys Mint Brownie Iced Latte’. Featuring the bakers Baileys brownie, the cocktail is a cheeky twist on a milkshake. What’s more, the tasty cocktail is exclusively available at Grind’s eight London cafés for only one more week when you whisper the password ‘Don’t Mind if I Bailey’s’. But just in case you can’t make it, we wanted to make sure you get to try this one out at home;

CANDICE’S BAILEYS MINT BROWNIE ICED LATTE
(makes two serves and extra brownie …) 1.5 units per serve

For the salted caramel
120g dark brown sugar
120g unsalted butter
100ml double cream
50g good quality dark chocolate with mint

For the Baileys Cream
300ml double cream
75ml Baileys liquor

For the Milkshake
2 cans of Baileys Iced latte
6 big scoops vanilla ice cream
 
For the Brownie
250g good quality dark chocolate with mint
250g soft unsalted butter
250g dark brown soft sugar
4 medium eggs
60g plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
Pinch salt
60g Cacao powder
100g roughly Toasted chopped pecans
A drizzle of Baileys Liquor

Method-

For the caramel-
1. Place the sugar and butter in a saucepan over a low heat until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Turn the heat up and allow to froth and bubble. Turn off the heat and add in the chocolate- stir to melt then pour in the cream. Whisk until combined. Set aside to cool

For the Brownie-
2. Preheat oven to 160c fan and grease and line a 25cmx25cm square baking tin
3. In a Heat proof bowl add the chocolate and place over the top of a saucepan of simmering water on a medium heat. Stir occasionally until melted then remove from the heat
4. In a large bowl on an electric mixer place the softened butter and sugar- whisk for 2 minutes until pale and whipped
5. Add in the eggs one at a time whilst still whisking on a high heat- make sure all is combined before adding the next egg. Whisk for another 5 minutes until the mixture is pale and fluffy- You may need to scrape the sides of the bowl down between each egg
6. Pour the melted chocolate over the whipped egg mix and fold in until combined.
7. Sieve in the flour, cacao, baking powder and salt- add the toasted pecans fold in until combined
8. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 30-40 minutes until the top has set. Check with a skewer- although the middle will still be quite sticky as we want a gooey brownie.
9. Remove from the oven and allow to cool
10. Drizzle the Baileys to soak in and slice into 3x1inch rectangles or little triangles

For the Baileys cream-
11. Place the double cream and baileys in a large bowl and using an electric whisk whip up until Peaks form and hold their shape- transfer to a piping bag with a star nozzle

For the Milkshake-
12. Place the Baileys latte and ice cream into a blender and blitz for 15 seconds until thick and mixed

To construct-

1. Drip the salted mint caramel down the inside of the glass.
2. Pour the baileys milkshake up to 3/4 full and pipe on a big swirl of the baileys cream
4. Place a piece of the brownie onto the side of the cream then drizzle over more caramel and top with a sprig of mint
6. Place a straw into the glass and serve

Excilor 3 in 1 Protector Spray-protect your feet this summer

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Excilor-3-in-1-family

 

Excilor 3-in-1 Protector Spray – The ideal product for all the family who want to protect their tootsies from any infections

Hands up – how many of you – or your children – are running around barefoot? How many have sweaty feet? How many will admit to a verrucae?

Save yourself the trouble and drop Excilor 3-in-1 Protector Spray into your gym bag before you leave the house.

The spray dries instantly to create an non-greasy invisible barrier to protect against nasty foot infections including, verruacas, warts, athlete’s foot and nail fungus – it even helps fight odour too!

Easy to use: spray over the soles of the feet, on and in-between the toes to form a protective barrier that lasts eight hours. It’s resistant to moisture and forms an ‘invisible sock’ over the foot that protects your feet against contamination from floors and other surfaces –  and from dirty socks and shoes. It washes off quite easily with warm soapy water and does not stain skin or clothes.

It has a soothing, cooling sensation as it hits your feet and smells lovely and fresh. An added bonus is that it dries in seconds, is non-greasy and non-sticky and you can really feel the difference. I tested by spraying on one foot and leaving for a few hours. The protected foot felt cleaner and cooler. It also felt less sweaty so I could definitely experience the benefit.

The 100ml spray is not at all bulky and is easy to drop into your bag before you head for the gym or spa. A must for mums before they set off for the pool with their little ones.

So much nicer than having to cope with irritations of Athlete’s foot, nail fungus or dreaded verrucas.

Excilor 3-in-1

Excilor Protector Spray 3 in 1 is suitable for children over 2 years and the spray delivers over 50 applications.

Currently available in selected pharmacies, RRP £9.99.

 

Review: Sweet Bird of Youth, Chichester Festival Theatre

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Sweet Bird of Youth

Chichester Festival Theatre

Until 24 June

Box Office: 01243 781312 www.cft.org.uk

Photo credit: Johan Persson

With the run-up to General Election a veritable carnival of hypocrisy, self-interest, arrogance and rampaging egos, the day after the event itself wasn’t the ideal time to digest more of the same. Alas, in Tennessee Williams’s 1959 play there is little relief from such monstrous conduct.

Fearing derision and rejection after the premiere of her latest film, aging Hollywood movie star Alexandra Del Largo (Marcia Gay Harden) has bolted and is holed up in a hotel in St Cloud on the Gulf Coast of Mexico with Chance Wayne (Brian J. Smith), a gigolo and wannabe actor who skipped the town a few years previously. While the actress hides behind an alias and dulls her demons with alcohol, narcotics and sex, Chance is determined to be reunited with Heavenly, his teenage sweetheart. Unaware that before leaving St Cloud he infected his girl with a STD that necessitated a hysterectomy, he has no idea that Heavenly’s father and brother are resolute: should Chance ever show his face in the neighbourhood again he will pay for his crime.

The first act, almost entirely a two-hander set in a hotel bedroom, offers superb performances from Harden and Smith. Convincing and compelling, on the Festival Theatre’s thrust stage, however, some of the intensity and intimacy is lost.

Elsewhere the performances are strong, especially Richard Cordery as Boss Finley, a bully with double standards and an unshakable belief in the American Dream. Victoria Berwick as Heavenly Finley is also excellent. Vulnerable, compliant but filled with a rage, when she sobs silent, despairing tears, her grief and anger is sorely palpable.

Easy on the eye, Anthony Ward’s set is stunning; clever, evocative and stylish, it is also beautifully complemented by Mark Henderson’s lighting.

The ruthless marching of time is one of the play’s key themes. In Jonathan Kent’s undeniably ‘classy bird’ there remains a niggling sense that the pace needs to be stepped up.

Firefly collaborate with Mr Lyan for new ‘Superfly’ Drink

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Firefly, the all natural juice drink brand, are on a mission to inject a little sunshine into your drinks. Aside from their already fruity offerings which include some of our favourites; Lime and Ginger, Pomegranate and Elderflower and Peach and Green Tea to name a few, they have decided to follow on from the success of their recent Mojito inspired Kiwi, Lime and Mint combo to bring you a swoon worthy collaboration with award winning bartender, Mr Lyan himself.

Having won several awards for his innovation and influence within the drinks industry, Ryan Chetiyawardana aka Mr Lyan, has an impressive repertoire under his belt. Some of his best assets include his book, ‘Good things to Drink with Mr Lyan and Friends’, his impressive and successful retail range of bottled cocktails and of course his award winning bars, Dandelyan at the Mondrian Hotel and White Lyan in Hoxton (now Super Lyan).

Inspired by the lighter, brighter days ahead, Superfly marries the flavours of Cascara, Wormwood, Kola Nut, Green Coffee, Grapefruit and Redcurrant to bring you a unique all natural, energising and fruity new drink to enjoy on its own or, as Mr Lyan recommends, mixed in with Scotch or Gin. Serve in a tall glass with a sprig of mint as garnish. As well as the deliciously botanical taste of Superfly, the bottle is also a delight with a unique and bright design you would be proud to have stacked in your fridge or on a drinks trolley.

Superfly is now available from Mr Lyan’s bars, Selfridges stores and Ocado.