Category Archives: Life & Style

Spaghetti with Parma Ham and Roasted Garlic

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I love garlic, I adore garlic, I cook with absolutely loads of garlic. I could actually employ a full-time garlic peeler, knee deep in discarded garlic husks. A manager I worked with regularly joked I could not cook a dish without garlic, cream and alcohol, including the desserts. BUT I LOATH BURNT GARLIC. I jump up, gesticulate, shout and scream at the number of cookery programs where poor, innocent, sweet, comely garlic is tossed into woks and pans of smoking hot oil.* I am pretty certain every single person who utters the frankly unbelievable phrase ‘ it doesn’t have garlic in it does it, I really don’t like garlic ‘ is the result of a traumatic exposure to such cooking travesties. Burnt garlic is a cheek sucking, eye-watering experience of such awful culinary disgrace.

Hence roasted garlic, I swear all the disbelievers could be converted with this delicious way of cooking garlic. The slow roasting with just a little oil highlights the natural sweetness and tempers the harsher raw flavours. I first encountered roasted garlic when I worked as a manager at the Bel and the Dragon, Cookham served with rustic, crusty bread and olives and olive oil, the garlic squeezed out and spread on the bread as a kind of pungent pate. Wow!

I keep some roasted garlic cloves covered in oil in the refrigerator now handy for lots of cooking especially this simple full flavoured lunch or supper dish. Post the Christmas and Boxing Day excesses I think it is nice to have something really tasty and easy to cook. The Parma ham and roasted garlic can be cooked in the last few minutes of your pasta cooking. The chilli provides a little bite but is not there to overpower this wonderful dish, however, if you want to add a little extra go for it, one of the joys of cooking is experimenting.
* Just add the garlic later during the cooking process when the heat is lowered or with more ingredients that dissipate the heat. The garlic cream rum babas were perhaps a little ahead of their time.

 

Spaghetti with Parma Ham and Roasted Garlic serves 4

 

50 to 65 gr Spaghetti per person ( I grab a generous handful but I’m greedy )

2 large heads of roasted garlic ( see below )

16 slices Parma Ham

1 small medium Chilli, de-seeded and very thinly sliced

6 to 8 tablespoons quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil

A small handful of curly Parsley, thoroughly washed, dried and chopped

Sea Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper

½ a Lemon

for the roasted garlic

Garlic bulbs

Olive oil

A few sprigs of Rosemary and Thyme

Sea Salt and roughly ground Black Pepper

Preheat the oven to 400F/ 200C/ Gas mark 6. Remove the tops of the garlic bulbs, place on to a baking tray. Sprinkle liberally with olive oil, the herbs and plenty of salt and pepper. Roast for twenty-five to thirty minutes until the bulbs are soft. Cool and squeeze out as required.

Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the spaghetti and cook for eight to ten minutes until ‘ al dente ‘ or with just a little bite left in the pasta. The old student technique of seeing if sticks to the wall is not necessary, just remove a little of the spaghetti and bite between your front teeth. While the pasta is cooking gently heat the olive oil in a medium sized heavy bottomed frying pan. Add the chilli and garlic, sauté for two minutes. Add the ham and season, cook for a minute. Squeeze in the juice of half a lemon and stir in the parsley. Drain the spaghetti and stir thoroughly into the frying pan, ensuring all the spaghetti is coated with the oil, chilli and parsley mix. Plate and serve with a little extra chopped parsley.

 

BUSINESS OF BOOKS: CLASS OF 2017 – Jane Cable considers the big lessons

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Some writers consider their calling a business from day one – to others it comes as a complete surprise. But asking them to think about it has come up with some real pearls of wisdom we can all share.

On finding time to write:

“I’ve found the trick is to stay focused on the current work in progress while trying to fit all other aspects of my writing around it – and remembering to stop and eat occasionally. I can recommend writing retreats where I find working whilst gazing out to sea from my desk can be a welcome rest from my desk at home!” Elaine Everest

“I have the same commitments as everybody else. I’ve had to be very disciplined and make time to write. I set several evenings a week aside and also write on weekends; I watch a lot less TV than I used to. When I’m working under deadline… I write any spare moment I can, whether it’s during lunch breaks or into the early hours of the morning.” Nikki Moore

On marketing:

“Networking with fellow authors and bloggers, and interacting with readers is so important. It builds relationships, and ultimately I believe that the business of books is about people.” Barbara Copperthwaite

“While I don’t normally spend much on book marketing, I did engage a publicist for my second novel. That probably helped get it into bookstores. It certainly spared me a lot of time and footwork.” Carol Cooper

On running a business:

“I always remember my dad telling me that a new business takes an average of two years to make a profit. I went into self-publishing my books with that in the back of my mind, and very much thinking of it as an entrepreneurial venture. I ensured I had enough money behind me to survive for two years without making any profit at all.” Barbara Copperthwaite

“It’s only recently I’ve converted my way of thinking to writing as a business, so I’m learning and in the process of developing the business model… In its simplest form: keep writing, keep engaging, and keep building my readership.” Laura E James

On diversification:

“I give talks about my writing to groups such as the Women’s Institute and to libraries. Sometimes I’m paid for the talks but they all give me an opportunity to sell paperback copies and also to collect email addresses of readers interested in hearing when my next book is out. I’d like to grow this side of the business in order to get a better return on the amount of preparation required to devise a talk.” Sally Jenkins

“I don’t have a formal business model, but writing full-time has given me the opportunity to take on different projects and I am now beginning to earn from a wider source than book sales. Writing short stories for magazines is a good way to supplement income and I have also taught a ‘writing a novel’ day course.” Heidi Swain

And the final word:

“Keep writing. Be flexible. Be aware of the market. Be dedicated.” Karen King

In 2018 The Business of Books is running a new regular feature on best advice from authors and publishing professionals so there will be plenty more great ideas from the world of words.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find out more about the authors featured above at:
http://www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org/about/author/elaine_everest
 https://nikkimooreauthor.wordpress.com/
https://www.barbaracopperthwaite.com/
http://www.drcarolcooper.com/
http://www.lauraejames.co.uk/
https://sally-jenkins.com/
http://heidiswain.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.karenking.net/

Protect your Pets this Christmas

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Tips for keeping your pets safe this winter from Pawbo

 

With the cold freeze creeping in we leave the house wearing a t-shirt, jumper, big woolly coat, hat, scarf and gloves. But while we are warm and cozy, we often leave our furry friends to cope with the wild winds and snowstorms on their own. This could get them ill and bring much discomfort to them. Unconditional love deserves protection, so ensure to apply for reliable and affordable pet insurance today to help cover your pet’s care.

 

A classic Christmas jumper

Some dog breeds are blessed with thick fur that naturally keeps them warm in winter, but for others why not dress them up in a matching Christmas jumper so while you’re out for a walk they look festive as well as warm! Do keep in mind that even with a jumper, short haired dogs will still get cold very quickly so don’t keep them outside for too long.

 

Check for ice balls

If dogs start lifting up their paws, whining or stopping mid-walk, their feet might be painful from the cold and wet ground. If their paws are too cold, ice balls may form between the pads and toes of their feet. Make sure you trim the hair around their paws and keep an eye on how they’re walking.

 

Clear your cat flap

Cat flaps can often be blocked by snow so make sure you clear the pathway for your cat. Cats may also wander off to find warmth and hide underneath car engines so take care when starting the car as cats can be seriously injured when the engine starts. It is also advisable to microchip your cat, so if they are found they can be traced back to you.

 

Keep an eye on your pets whilst you’re out and about this Christmas

It’s hard leaving your pets at home but with the Pawbo⁺ interactive pet camera, you can easily check in on your animals to make sure they are safe and sound. Whilst you’re out spending the evening with friends or visiting family for Christmas lunch, the Pawbo⁺ interactive pet camera easily lets you hear and see your pets, talk to them, take photos, give treats and even play games with them.

Along with the live feed, videos can be stored allowing you an in-depth look into your pet’s behaviour and giving piece of mind. You can also add accessories including the Pawbo Flash, a light that lets you see pets when the room is dark, and the Pawbo Catch, a teaser toy for cats proving more interaction and exercise.

 

At a glance: Pawbo⁺

  • Treat dispensing camera designed for small dogs and cats (can also be used for rabbits)
  • 720P HD live video and 130° Wide-Angle Lens, supported by high-quality sound
  • Allows up to eight users to chat with your pet through Pawbo at one time, with all users able to operate the interactive functions simultaneously
  • Six built-in ringtones to attract your pet’s attention
  • Built-in games for interacting with your pet, with the capability of extending functions via wireless connection
  • Push-to-Talk function allows your pet to hear your voice at the touch of a button
  • Via the Pawbo Life app users are able to control multiple Pawbo⁺ devices and operate multiple Pawbo accessories
  • The app is also compatible with social media platforms, enabling users to instantly upload images of their pets

Pawbo⁺, RRP £149

Pawbo Illuminate Kit, RRP £169 (Pawbo⁺ with Pawbo Flash)

More information from Pawbo.com

 

HIS GUILTY SECRET by HeLENE FERMONT Reviewed by Jan Speedie

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HeLENE’s FERMONT’s novel shows how a man who is highly regarded in his professional life is a selfish coward in his private one.  Lies can turn lives upside down and cause unhappiness to all. An overheard family secret causes a rift between siblings which has lasted for years.

Jacques Beaumont is an Air France pilot who flies between Paris and Gatwick. He holds a closely guarded secret which is that he loves two women and doesn’t want to lose either of them. Unfortunately, Jacques health suffers because of the stressful double life he has to lead and he is found dead in an airport hotel from a heart attack. The consequences of his double life are exposed to all.

His wife, Patricia, struggles to come to terms with the unexpected death of her loving husband and the revelations that are revealed – who is the unnamed beneficiary of a large sum of money in his will and why? Will Jacques sister Coco be able help her find the truth?

Meanwhile, Isabelle, Jacques mistress, lives in Paris with her controlling husband and must learn to cope with keeping Jacques’ guilty secret.

Patricia has a twin sister living in Malmo, Sweden. During a party to celebrate the twins 10th birthday years ago Jasmine overheard a secret conversation that affected her relationship with her twin and the rest of her family. Will the death of an elderly aunt help resolve this rift?

HeLENE slowly weaves a pathway through the problems the secrets and lies have caused and eventually the truth emerges.

HeLENE has lived in London for the past twenty years. His Guilty Secret is her third novel and she is busy working on her fourth.  She was born and brought up in Malmo, Sweden by her bilingual family. Following a brief career on Swedish TV and radio she trained as a teacher and eventually a child therapist.  HeLENE loves to return to her native Sweden and enjoy the tranquillity and spectacular scenery to help her creative process.

His Guilty Secret by HeLENE FERMONT   Fridhem Publishing in paperback priced £9.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Books For December

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Becoming Hitler. The Making of a Nazi by Thomas Weber

A fascinating and well researched book. 

The story of the making of Adolf Hitler that we are all familiar with is the one Hitler himself wove in his 1924 trial, and then expanded upon in Mein Kampf. It tells of his rapid emergence as National Socialist leader in 1919, and of how he successfully rallied most of Munich and the majority of Bavaria’s establishment to support the famous beer-hall putsch of 1923. It is an account which has largely been taken at face value for over ninety years. Yet, on closer examination, Hitler’s account of his experiences in the years immediately following the First World War turns out to be every bit as unreliable as his account of his experiences as a soldier during the war itself.

In Becoming Hitler, Thomas Weber continues from where he left off in his previous book, Hitler’s First War, stripping away the layers of myth and fabrication in Hitler’s own tale to tell the real story of Hitler’s politicization and radicalization in post-First World War Munich. It is the gripping account of how an awkward and unemployed loner with virtually no recognizable leadership qualities and fluctuating political ideas turned into the charismatic, self-assured, virulently anti-Semitic leader with an all-or-nothing approach to politics with whom the world was soon to become tragically familiar. As Weber clearly shows, far from the picture of a fully-formed political leader which Hitler wanted to portray in Mein Kampf, his ideas and priorities were still very uncertain and largely undefined in early 1919 ― and they continued to shift until 1923.

It was the failed Ludendorff putsch of November 1923 – and the subsequent Ludendorff trial ― which was to prove the making of Hitler. And he was not slow to spot the opportunity that it offered. As the movers and shakers of Munich’s political scene tried to blame everything on him in the course of the trial, Hitler was presented with a golden opportunity to place himself at the centre of attention, turning what had been the ‘Ludendorff trial’ into the ‘Hitler trial’. Henceforth, he would no longer be merely a local Bavarian political leader. From now on, he would present himself as a potential ‘national saviour’. In the months after the trial, Hitler cemented this myth by writing Mein Kampf from his comfortable prison cell. His years of metamorphosis were now behind him. His years as Führer were soon to come.

Becoming Hitler. The Making of a Nazi by Thomas Weber is available here.

Enid Blyton Five Get On The Property Ladder

Hilarious. It is impossible to not be amused by this funny and clever book. Perfect for fans of The Famous Five but also timely. Both retro and modern.

Enid Blyton’s books are beloved the world over and The Famous Five have been the perennial favourite of her fans. Now, in this new series of Enid Blyton for Grown-Ups, George, Dick, Anne, Julian and Timmy turn their attention to finding a property they can call their very own.

Join the Five as they struggle to get their feet (and paws) on the first rung of the property ladder. Luckily cousin Rupert is on hand to help. But not before they’ve had some very exciting adventures. Who knew that it was all going to be so difficult?

Enid Blyton Five Get On The Property Ladder is available here.

Sketchy Muma By Anna Lewis

A wonderful illustrated book which tells the truth about motherhood. 

This gorgeous little book charts the various bewildering stages of becoming a mother, from those tell-tale blue lines in the pregnancy test, to labour, birth, coming home and venturing out. Breastfeeding nightmares, eating dinner with one hand, soft play hell and chronic sleep deprivation – but also the sheer beauty of falling in love again and the amazing discovery of what it’s like to have a family – these are all captured in Sketchy Muma’s glorious drawings.

This is the perfect gift book for both young and experienced parents. Anna Lewis understands the light and shade that comes with motherhood, and it is those universal truths that will connect all those parents who delight in her sketches.

Sketchy Muma By Anna Lewis is available here.

The Book of Forgotten Authors By Christopher Fowler

This is a great book full of authors who deserve to be more famous. Will have you rushing to the bookshop or nodding your head in agreement, or disapproval. 

Absence doesn’t make the heart grow fonder. It makes people think you’re dead.

So begins Christopher Fowler’s foray into the back catalogues and backstories of 99 authors who, once hugely popular, have all but disappeared from our shelves.

Whether male or female, domestic or international, flash-in-the-pan or prolific, mega-seller or prize-winner – no author, it seems, can ever be fully immune from the fate of being forgotten. And Fowler, as well as remembering their careers, lifts the lid on their lives, and why they often stopped writing or disappeared from the public eye.

These 99 journeys are punctuated by 12 short essays about faded once-favourites: including the now-vanished novels Walt Disney brought to the screen, the contemporary rivals of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie who did not stand the test of time, and the women who introduced us to psychological suspense many decades before it conquered the world.

This is a book about books and their authors. It is for book lovers, and is written by one who could not be a more enthusiastic, enlightening and entertaining guide.

The Book of Forgotten Authors By Christopher Fowler is available here.

You Do You By Sarah Knight

More great (anti) advice from Sarah Knight. Funny and tough: this book is perfect to kick you into action in January. 

In The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k, our favourite ‘anti-guru’ Sarah Knight unleashed the power of saying no. In Get Your Sh*t Together, she prioritised the sh*t you need and want to do so you can achieve your hopes and dreams. Now she’s back, doubling down on your happiness with her latest message: You Do You.

Being yourself should be the easiest thing in the world. Yet instead of leaning in to who we are, we fight it, listening too closely to what society tells us. You Do You helps you shake off those expectations, say f**k perfect, start looking out for number one and keep on with your badass self. From career and finances to relationships and family, lifestyle and health, Sarah Knight rips up the rulebook.

Writing about her mistakes and embarrassments in her own personal quest to ‘do me’ – because nobody gets everything right all day, every day – Sarah Knight shows why you can and should f**k up and teaches you to let yourself off the hook, bounce back and keep standing tall.

You Do You By Sarah Knight is available here.

Etiquette Rules! A Field Guide to Modern Manners By Nancy R. Mitchell

Full of common-sense and excellent advice. A book that everyone should read. 

Has there ever been a time when courtesy and kindness are needed more? We need only follow the news, drive down a road, look around our communities, or visit a favorite social-media site to know there is an etiquette crisis. With rudeness rampant and civility on life support, it’s time for each and every one of us to take a hard look at our behaviors to determine if we are contributing to the problem or helping to combat it.

Enter Etiquette Rules! A Field Guide to Modern Manners, a common-sense examination of etiquette as an operating system for living life with kindness and courtesy as we work, play, shop, drive, dine, and interact in our real and virtual communities. Arranged by events and settings, the book clearly and succinctly defines rudeness and suggests corrective measures. Readers will not only raise their etiquette IQ, but will change their mindset about manners because Etiquette Rules! jettisons the old-school notion that etiquette is how to properly hold a teacup. In reality, it is a powerful tool that can help everyone feel comfortable and confident in a variety of situations, build personal and business relationships more easily, demonstrate respect for others, and live lives that flow more smoothly. Courtesy is contagious, and Etiquette Rules!will help to jump-start a saving pandemic.

Etiquette Rules! A Field Guide to Modern Manners By Nancy R. Mitchell is available here.

How To Draw Almost Every Animal. An Illustrated Sourcebook By Chika Miyata

A perfect book for any artist. A brilliant how-to to help you draw (almost) any animal. 

Not sure how to start your drawing of a flamingo or a flying squirrel? Boggled by how to draw an antelope, an armadillo, or a cheetah? How to Draw Almost Every Animal is here to help!

Have you ever wondered how to draw a hippopotamus? Or a lazy, brown dog? Or a hedgehog? Then this collection of over 75 adorable animals to draw and doodle is just the book for you!

This teaching tool does more than just show you completed pictures of the animals. Each illustration is broken down with step-by-step diagrams and helpful tips to truly teach you how to draw. Plus, we’ve included extra images to teach you how to draw animals relaxing in their natural habitats and on the move.

A helpful how-to section includes valuable coloring tips and techniques for mastering fur and feather, spots, stripes, scales, spines, and everything else animals are covered in.

How To Draw Almost Every Animal. An Illustrated Sourcebook By Chika Miyata is available here.

Please Don’t Do Coke In The Bathroom: Irreverent Hand Lettering For Every F*cking Occasion By Sami Christianson

An inappropriate sweary book. This is your guide to lettering told in an adult- and funny- way. 

Who says art has to be delicate and proper? Get angry, get creative, get your sweary soul out and do it beautifully! Please Don’t Do Coke in the Bathroom is your guide to mature (and funny) lettering.

Creatively express your irreverent attitude and sarcastic sentiments with beautiful calligraphy and hand lettering! Send an artfully lettered note telling your boss to f*ck off, let a friend know her cat is kind of an a$$hole, or share your true feelings about kale with the help of this laugh-out-loud lettering book for adults.

Featuring a crash course in calligraphy and hand lettering the alphabet, this book also includes a selection of removable hand-lettered signs with inappropriate sayings like “Monday is a D*ck,” “Your Spirit Animal is an A$$hole,” and more.

Now you can create your own brazen billboards or hostile stationery, or tell the sh*tty person in your life how you really feel, with delicate swirls and hand-drawn letters gleaned from Please Don’t Do Coke in the Bathroom. After all, if you’re going to tell someone they suck, it might as well look good when you do it!

Please Don’t Do Coke In The Bathroom: Irreverent Hand Lettering For Every F*cking Occasion By Sami Christianson.

How The Universe Works

A wondrous book. Excellently illustrated and fascinating. 

It’s hard to imagine how big the universe is, but with help from How the Universe Works, you can get to know what makes it tick.

The cosmos is a complex and intricate system that astronomers have been trying to dissect for years. From Galileo and Copernicus to the Space Race and Modern Day NASA missions, humanity has craved more knowledge about the universe and how it works. Hundreds of years of scientific discovery, and there’s still so much to learn. How the Universe Works is the latest installment in a series of books that deconstructs how things work and explains in a format that is easy to understand.

With beautiful and detailed visuals in the form of info-graphics, 3D illustrations, cutaways and renderings, How the Universe Works offers a tiny glimpse of the massive stretch of the universe.  Each page delves more into the composition of the stars and shows the information in such a way that makes even the most complex phenomenons easy to understand. Learn how different cosmic bodies interact with one another, why, and how humanity has worked to understand space.

The observable universe spans billions and billions of light years. How the Universe Works is a work intended to put the cosmos in the hands of its readers. Understanding the most complex mechanisms that rule space is quite a task, but with information for the entire family, this editorial ally is perfect for getting immersed in the intricacies of the observable universe and all its natural beauty.

How The Universe Works is available here. 

Cocktail Ideas: Missy Flynn’s 2017 Round Up

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In our final instalment of Cocktail Ideas before the big day, we’ve got some inspiration from cocktail expert and mixologist Missy Flynn. This week the cocktails featured are a step away from being quintessentially Christmas but a round up of the biggest food and drink trends of 2017 in a glass. Inspired by foraging, veganism and superfoods, we simply love the colours and healthy element of these cocktails. We think they would be the perfect day-after partying tonic for you to refresh yourself and unwind as well as being utterly instagrammable so impress and wow your friends and family and serve up these delicious cocktail creations this week and if mixing up your cocktails is not for you fear not, All Bar One will be serving these very cocktails all the way until New Years Eve.

From Left to Right: Baileys Blush, Turmeric Sour, Beetroot Mule, Tanqueray Forager Smash

Our star cocktail this week is the;

Captain Morgan – Turmeric Sour

Ingredients:

50ml Captain Morgan Spiced Gold
75ml Funkin Sour mix
15ml ginger syrup
1/4 bar spoon turmeric
Lemon twist and mint sprig to garnish

Glass: Rocks
Ice: Crushed

Method:
Add the Captain Morgan Spiced Gold, sour mix, turmeric powder and ginger syrup to a shaker or jam jar.

Seal the shaker or jam jar and holding it closed, carefully ‘dry shake’ so that the sour mix begins to emulsify the drink, building a froth.

Open the shaker, add ice and then shake again.

Strain over ice into a tumbler. Using a zester, take the peel from a lemon and snap it over the drink to expel oil from the skin, resting the peel in the glass.

Clap the mint between your hands to release its aroma and then place inside the drink as garnish.

Bailey’s Blush

Ingredients:

35ml Baileys Irish Cream
50ml Half and Half cream / milk
15ml Cherry Heering
12.5ml cherry syrup
Garnish with raspberry dipped in edible glitter / gold

Glass: Coupe
Ice: None

Method:
Add Baileys, Half and Half cream / milk, Cherry Heering, cherry syrup and ice into a cocktail shaker.
Shake hard!
Double strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass, use a tea strainer to remove any small shards of ice so the drink is nice and smooth.
Roll raspberry in edible glitter or gold until it reaches your desired level of glam, cut a slit in the base of the raspberry and rest it on the edge of the glass.

Tanqueray Forager Smash

Ingredients:

50ml Tanqueray London Dry Gin
25ml lime juice
20ml sugar syrup
Mint leaves
Pea shoots
100ml soda
Garnish with pea shoots, viola flower and mint

Glass: Copa
Ice: Crushed

Method:
Fill a tall glass with lots of ice, add the Tanqueray London Dry Gin, lime juice and sugar syrup. Stir to mix, and top with soda water. Add a little more ice if needed. Gather all your herbs and flowers and toss into a rough mix, dress the drink with this mix, scattering a few extra flowers on the top.

All cocktails featured are available in All Bar One bar’s until New Years Eve and liquors and ingredients are available to purchase through ocado.com

Here’s why it’s a bad idea to stick cotton buds in your ears

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Cotton buds is a household essential for many of us, but now health professionals have warned that using them could potentially damage your hearing.

But why do we have ear wax in the first place and what kind of damage can cotton buds cause? National charity Action on Hearing Loss has the answers.

Ear wax – it’s brown, sticky, and many of us don’t want it; it’s gross! You may even be wondering what the point of it is. Well, it is mostly harmless and even has a lot of good qualities, like protecting our ears from nasty bugs and germs.

However, some people produce far too much wax or are prone to their ears blocking up, which is one of the biggest causes of temporary hearing loss. It’s also a major cause of hearing aid failure.

If you are worried about a blocked ear because of wax the biggest temptation is of course reaching for the cotton buds.

But in a new report published by NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), experts said that using cotton buds could push the wax further down into the ear causing damage to the ear canal and ear drum.

It also states that ear syringing, where a large manual syringe is used to pump water into the ear, is potentially harmful and should no longer be used.

Gemma Twitchen, Senior Audiologist for Action on Hearing Loss, said: “Actually for many of us, wax is not an issue and believe it or to our ears are self-cleaning. If you are worried about a blocked ear because of wax  many of us automatically use cotton buds, or even worse hair pins, or anything else you think you may be able to fit into your ears. I’ve even heard of people sticking their car keys in their ears! So, what can you do about it?

“We strongly do not recommended putting anything in your ears as it can make the matter worse- all of these can push the wax further down into the ears and make it harder for the wax to come out of the ear naturally.

“If you have any trouble with your ears, consult your GP who will arrange the best course of action to remove it safely, if need be.”

For more details about ear wax and why we have it, visit https://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/how-we-help/information-and-resources/publications/hearing-health/ear-wax/

For the full NICE report published this week, visit: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-cgwave0833

 

THE BUSINESS OF BOOKS: SECRETS OF SEASONAL SUCCESS – Jane Cable takes a sleigh ride with Sunday Times bestselling author Heidi Swain

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How much of your working life does the business of books take up?

The business of books, in one way or another, takes up all of my working life now. Earlier this year I made the leap and gave up the day job to write full-time. I had been gradually cutting down my hours, but going out to work two days a week meant compromising time at the keyboard. I was increasingly feeling that I was spinning one plate too many and something had to give. Nonetheless it was a difficult decision because I loved my job, but following my heart has been the right thing to do.

Now I can write from six thirty to lunchtime and work on guest posts, blogging and interviews in the afternoons. It’s a much better balance all round.

 

What’s your business model to earn a living from writing?

I don’t have a formal business model, but writing full-time has given me the opportunity to take on different projects and I am now beginning to earn from a wider source than book sales. Writing short stories for magazines is a good way to supplement income and I have also taught a ‘writing a novel’ day course. That said, I’m not poised to order the diamond shoes just yet and my priority is, and always will be, focusing on writing novels readers love.

What do you write and what do you consider to be your major successes?

I write commercial fiction for Simon and Schuster, although I prefer the term ‘feel good fiction’. I want my readers to feel whisked away to the fictitious town of Wynbridge as soon as they sit down with the book.

I feel very fortunate to have readers getting in touch every day to tell me how much they love Wynbridge and want to live there, or that they have purchased my book to take on holiday or to give as a Christmas present. For me personally, those messages and tweets are all major successes. What could be more flattering than a reader loving what you have written so much that they take time out of their day to tell you?

I’m also very proud of my two Christmas books. Mince Pies and Mistletoe at The Christmas Market was my winter 2016 release and having listened to readers and friends who had been disappointed by novels which featured ‘Christmas’ in the title but barely covered it in the book, I was determined to pack my pages full of festive feeling. Looking at the response it definitely worked and it wasn’t far into January before my editor called asking if I would consider writing another one!

Needless to say I jumped at the chance. I already had the beautiful setting of Wynthorpe Hall in mind and got to work straightaway. The result was Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at The Christmas Fair which was published in October and again, I’ve crammed in as much cinnamon and spice as possible.

 

Tell me about your latest project.

I’m now working on my sixth novel which will be released next summer. This one features a Wynbridge resident who isn’t living in the town, but don’t panic. I’m planning for her to visit her friends and family at least twice so there’ll be plenty of opportunities to catch up with the girls from The Cherry Tree Café and The Mermaid Pub.

Thank you Jane for inviting me to feature today and I may take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas!

 

Since my interview with Heidi Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at The Christmas Fair has taken the Sunday Times bestseller list by storm and just has to be this year’s most successful seasonal romance. Heidi lives in Norfolk with her wonderful family and a mischievous cat called Storm. Find out more about her here: Website: http://www.heidiswain.co.uk/