Wouldn’t you love to have Michelin chef, Shaun Hill peering over your shoulder as you’re putting together a quick Chicken Bourride? ‘No dear, not flour, pop in a big dollop of garlic aioli to thicken the sauce, your guests will love it.’

If that resonates with you, then you need this fabulous new cookbook. Not just Shaun Hill, but sixteen top British chefs from around the UK share their secret tips for luxurious cuisine including: Chef Patron at KOL, Santiago Lastra; Great British Menu finalists Kerth Gumbs and Roberta Hall-McCarron; Executive Chef at Barrafina, Angel Zapata Martin; and Head Chef at acclaimed gastropub The Parkers Arms, Stosie Madi.

I love that this cookbook features the types of dishes so popular with modern entertaining: Small Plates, Sharing Platters, One Pots, Al Fresco, Dinner Party Starters, Dinner Party Mains, and Make-Ahead Desserts.

The recipes have that fine dining feel and yet are easy and fun to make, with plenty of supportive advice in the clear instructions. From Tuscan Fish Stew to Olive Oil Cake with Thyme Jelly and Elderflower Cream, even the titles make your mouth water.

The book’s beautifully illustrated, so you can see what you’re aiming for and it would make a fabulous gift (yes, Christmas is careering towards us rather too quickly).

Just to tempt you further the Wild Garlic Malfatti (an Italian gnocchi-dumpling hybrid) and the Sesame and Pink Grapefruit Treacle Tart are pictured below – how perfect for a late summer soirée?

Published by Great British Chefs, Around The Table is available from 2nd September 2021 priced at £24.99.

And now I need to start lunch – that Chicken Bourride isn’t going to make itself (even with Shaun Hill’s help).

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.

Although we have really only touched the tip of the iceburg on all things meditation & mindfulness, we’ve decided to move things on & now I’m going to focus on the second passion of mine – yoga.

Let’s get a few things straight, though first! I am not your typical yoga teacher. I’m partial to a good steak, will enjoy the odd glass at wine-o’clock & love a good party – who doesn’t? I have tight hips so my knees don’t elegantly grace the floor in lotus pose & I’m prone to drop the occasional f-bomb. But that doesn’t mean I don’t absolutely love yoga.

So what is yoga? Is it all sweat and stretch? Well, I do like my clients to feel they’ve had a good physical workout, but, and it’s an important but: yoga is more than the pose (in yoga speak poses are called asanas), it’s also what you learn on the way to attaining these poses.

What do I mean?

Yoga means union – union of body, mind & breath. Yoga is a very intentional practice, practicing yoga you are engaged & present. In the beginning you will concentrate on the asana itself & this has a calming effect as you focus on the bodily movements.

However, once you start uniting the pose with your breath this calms the mind, creating space in both the body and mind. This is when yoga moves onto a whole different level & it starts to become a more powerful, all round holistic practice. An emotional, mental & sometimes spiritual practice.

You see, as we start to release ourselves from our ego & forget about perfecting the pose, but instead bring our attention towards awareness, a voyage of self-discovery begins – this is when yoga becomes a practice for mind, body & soul.

As Amit Ray, one of yoga’s great spiritual masters says, “Yoga is the artwork of awareness on the canvas of the body, mind and soul.”

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the ‘go to manual’ for all things yoga, states “Yoga is the stilling of the changing states of the mind”.

On one level all asanas benefit both the external body building strength & muscle tone whilst balancing flexibility & mobility but they also cleanse the body internally – flushing out toxins out of the internal organs, balancing the hormones & the nervous system & reversing the aging process.

But by being intentional & engaged, bringing the awareness to the breath, over time the waves in our mind calm & we get to the point where we have created a palpable sense of peace & calm. We are truly focused & attentive, thinking only of the pose & the breath, totally in the moment & not distracted. We are in a state of flow or in ‘the zone’ which, many believe, is the secret of happiness. Put simply, as only Buddha can, ‘Rule your mind or it will rule you.’

And that’s why yoga is not just about the pose & it take you to a whole different plane than just the physical expression of the asana.

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.

Roberta leaves her six-week-old in the car as she nips to the shop. Surely nothing can go wrong when she’s only gone for a minute?

But when she returns, the baby is gone. Not only gone, but replaced with someone else’s child.

Get THE SUFFERING OF STRANGERS by Caro Ramsay today for a bargain price. Only £1.99 / $2.99 for launch!
              

A Bestselling Murder by Brian Battison  (Great title)   99p/99c

Bestselling author Glen Watkinson is murdered. His battered body is dragged inside and left in a car crusher. Only two teeth remain to identify him.

Three days after the murder, Billy Mason confesses to the crime. But why? The murder hasn’t even been reported yet . . .

An open and shut case – or is it?

Caribbean Flame  by Faith Mart writing as Maxine Barry  £1.99/$2.99

Keith sunk all his money into a luxury cruise liner . . . so when his death from a gunshot wound to the head is ruled as a suicide, his fiancée Ramona King finds it hard to believe.  Her prime suspect is the ship’s owner, the devastatingly handsome Damon King. But when they meet the passion between them is hard to deny.

Does Ramona have what it takes to resist Damon and uncover the truth?
 

Constable in the Wilderness by Nicholas Rhea OUT NOW – ONLY £1.99 / $2.99

Winter is coming to the North Yorkshire moors.  And the bobbies of Aidensfield had better be ready. The blizzard outside may be endless. But it’s nothing compared to Constable Nick’s caseload.

Dark days and ferocious weather engulf Aidensfield – can Constable Nick keep the peace despite the bitter cold? don piece together this murder mystery before anyone else gets killed?

And, great news and you are just in time to enter: The Royal Society of Literature has launched a short story competition that is now open for submissions!

The prize was founded by the RSL at the beginning of the new millennium to commemorate the centenary of an author widely regarded as the finest English short-story writer of the 20th century, and to preserve a tradition encompassing Pritchett’s mastery of narrative.

The annual prize of £1,000 goes to the best unpublished short story of the year. The winning entry is also published in Prospect magazine and the RSL Review.  This year’s judges are Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, Paul McVeigh and Emma Jane Unsworth.

Submission deadline is Friday 20th of August.

Find more about the prize at: https://rsliterature.org/award/v-s-pritchett-short-story-prize/

For more new books from Joffe Books: here

This month, the UK’s oldest remaining teddy bear manufacturer will celebrate the 100th birthday of Edward, Christopher Robin’s much-loved childhood bear who became the inspiration for Winnie the Pooh.

Purchased from Harrods, London, Edward Bear was given to Christopher Robin by his mother Daphne as a first birthday present on 21 August 1921. Daphne’s husband and Christopher’s father, AA Milne, was so enamoured by the partnership he witnessed between a boy and his bear, that he began to write stories about their journey through life together – and the stories of Winnie the Pooh were born. 

Now a century later, an adorable quartet of Edward bears created by Merrythought is charming a new generation of children and adults across the world. 

To celebrate this special bear’s 100^th birthday this year, Merrythought is also giving away a free commemorative gold-plated keyring with the purchase of every original 18in Edward bear, until the end of 2021.

Originally created by Farnell in 1921, Edward Bear was brought to life again for the 2017 Goodbye Christopher Robin film after Merrythought, which owns the Farnell brand, was asked to recreate the bear that featured throughout the award-winning film.

It has seen the Shropshire-based firm play its own part in the ongoing legacy of Winnie the Pooh, and the enduring stories of friendship which have connected people across the generations.

Hand-crafted in Shropshire, the premium teddy bear collection includes adorable Edward bears in three different sizes – 11inches, 18inches and 39inches and a cute limited edition 7in version.

Fourth-generation managing director Sarah Holmes said: “These very special bears have been handmade in our factory in Ironbridge using the same traditional skills and natural materials as Christopher Robin’s original Edward Bear, all those years ago.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the 100th birthday of the bear which inspired AA Milne’s Winnie the Pooh.

“At its heart is the beautiful story of how a teddy bear captured a little boy’s imagination and how much joy and companionship children can find from teddy bears and soft toys. Now 100 years later, it’s wonderful to see how Edward is still enjoyed by so many adults and children alike, and we’re proud that he continues to be hand-made in Britain.”

Featuring a rich, golden mohair coat and sandy-beige pure woollen felt paws, Edward’s deep-set eyes, and hand-embroidered nose and friendly smile, give him real quintessential English charm. 

For more information, go to Merrythought.co.uk

For the past few weeks we have been exploring what are mindfulness & meditation & how they can help you to find more peace & calm & maybe ultimately stumble across subtle but profound transformations.

For many the hardest thing is settling into a routine with their meditation & mindfulness practice. But you as your practice evolves, so will you.  When I first started I didn’t meditate everyday; then I did but at random times; then I meditated before I went to bed; then I started waking up to meditate & journal before the day started.  Now I regularly rise before the rest of the house does (I have teenagers so it’s not sunrise early!) to meditate, practice yoga & face yoga & it has changed my life again (I always credit yoga & mindfulness with changing my life but it keeps doing so!).

I also always meditate before bed & put pen to paper in my gratitude journal.

Science has proven that meditating before bed & after waking up are particularly good times, as our mind is calmer & more receptive. I can definitely attest to that. I started with short practices & over time I extended the duration & so too the frequency. Now I’m tending to move towards longer meditations for some interesting insights & subtle shifts. Overtime these become quite transformational because you just don’t get up from your meditation the same person when they happen.

So, you see, there is no hard & fast way of crafting your own practice – it’s your practice, it’s your choice, how often, how long is less important than doing it!

Meditation & Mindfulness are called a practice for a reason – it takes practice to become permanent as they say! Overcoming yourself in order to practice is part of the practice. Getting out of your own way, if you like. But the best way to practice meditation & mindfulness is to just do it.

Start small, don’t set yourself up to fail. I knew meditating in the morning was a really receptive time to meditate but when the kids were little I was already getting up at silly-o’clock in the morning with them, I wasn’t going to set myself up to fail by trying to get up even earlier. Soon as that changed I was ready to too. Now getting up early to practice is part of who I am.  Try different times of the day – see what resonates best with you.

Most of all have fun with it. If meditation becomes another ‘Thing To Do’ in an endless list, yes it will give you some respite & it’s better to do it than not, but you won’t get the same longer term benefits because the energy you bring to your practice is so important.  Try a variety of different styles of meditative practices: formal & informal, different anchors, different voices because there are lots of amazing practitioner’s out there to guide you in your journey.

Take some time daily to be present, engaged & connected, aware – this is mindfulness. Overtime it will be a more obvious route for you to take as the neuron’s in your brain wire together & you will spend more time being instead of doing.  Find yourself a space where you enjoy just being & claim this can be your meditation space, your sanctuary. You don’t need specialised equipement but I have a really simple comfy meditation   cushion & I’d highly recommend them. Comfort over perfection every time!

Crafting a meditation & mindfulness practice is all about just doing it until it becomes easier to just be it.

I’d love to know your experience of starting up your own meditation & mindfulness practice – please email me at alex@alexbannard.com.

In this week’s meditation is a return to the body scan meditation – it helps us to reflect on the journey we have been on since we first dtarted . To obtain your copy email Alex at alex@alexbannard.com quoting FROSTBSCN.

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.

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: alexbannard.com

The art exhibition of the Disciples of Dóra Maurer, a group exhibition dedicated to the young generation of artists taught by the iconic Hungarian artist, Dora Maurer

12 August – 19 September David Kovat’s Gallery pop-up space: 28-32 Shelton St, London WC2H 9JE

Knowing nothing about Hungarian art, I was delighted to be invited to view this latest exhibition, not least because viewing art on-line, or via Zoom, is no substitute for standing in front of, and getting lost in the picture that you are viewing.

Dóra Maurer, born in 1937, in Budapest is an iconic Hungarian artist whose work has spanned the past 50 years. Her work has been exhibited, recognised, and celebrated around the world including at the Tate Modern Gallery, which hosted the largest UK exhibition of the artist to date.

Dóra Maurer has been a huge influence on a new generation of artists and judging by this exhibition of contemporary art, Hungary is home to some amazing artistic talent. The artists taking part, represent different generations with different styles.

My favourite work (and yes, I know that a reviewer shouldn’t have favourites) has to be, ‘Balaton IV,’ a stunning work by Andras Zalavari, the youngest artist in this exhibition. The work, a photomontage, shows water from different perspectives, drawing the viewer’s eye both to the centre of the picture and to the far horizon.

Another photomontage work that I found myself drawn to, was another Andras Zalavari photo montage, ‘Plane-tree Allée II’. This time with verdant trees, forming a tunnel and throwing playful shadows on the ground, drawing the eye to the mysterious garden beyond.

Barbara Nagy, Floating shapes I and II, painted engraved wood captivated me for the longest time, the etched grooves, black on black, changed perspective with every movement that I made, as the light played effectively on the art.

And yet these art works are not windows, they invade the personal space of the viewer.

This exhibition aims to bring Hungarian art to a whole new audience here in the UK, and judging by the talent on show, it would be remiss of any lover of contemporary art to miss out on this exhibition.

For more information:

Hungarian Cultural Centre London

Website https://culture.hu/uk/london | Email: info@hungary.org.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hcclondon

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hungarian_culture_uk/

David Kovats Gallery: https://davidkovats.com/