Category Archives: Life & Style

Chichester’s triple threat… Review: The Norman Conquests

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The Norman Conquests
Chichester Festival Theatre
Until 28 October
Box office: 01243 781312
www.cft.org.uk

Photo by Manuel Harlan

Three interconnecting plays, Alan Ayckbourn’s cleverly conceived trilogy gets the red carpet treatment in this excellent revival. While seeing all three provides the complete story, Ayckbourn wrote each play as a standalone, so you don’t lose out if you’re only in town for an evening. But there are several dates when the marathon triple bill can be seen and, if you possibly can, take your seat for the longer haul.

Fabulously staged (a first for Chichester is the addition of on-stage seating, thus creating a full in-the-round experience); the setting is a rambling country house and garden in Sussex where Annie (Jemima Rooper) lives and looks after her ailing mother. Desperate for some much-needed fun (in the absence of local nice-but-dim vet Tom putting the moves on her), she plans a dirty weekend away with her incorrigible brother-in-law, Norman (Trystan Gravelle). The arrival of her brother Reg (Jonathan Broadbent) and sister-in-law Sarah (Sarah Hadland), followed by eldest sister – Norman’s wife – Ruth (Hattie Ladbury) puts paid to Annie’s plans. The collective convergence also unleashes fall-outs, flirtations and some enthusiastic hurling of home truths.

Taking place over the course of a weekend, in the first play, ‘Table Manners,’ the action takes place in the dining room. In ‘Living Together’ we relocate to the sitting room to see what has been going on in the meantime. Finally we catch up on the outdoors action (and oh boy there’s plenty of it!) in the concluding ‘Round and Round the Garden.’

Making her Chichester debut, Blanche McIntyre directs. Written and set in 1973 (superb design and detail from Simon Higlett), while the period is evident, McIntyre injects a sense of newness; vintage Ayckbourn with a contemporary twist.

Without exception the performances are polished. Delivering beautifully played comedy while highlighting the foibles and struggles of their individual characters, there is a pleasing synchronisation between the actors that aids the flow of the entire trilogy.

Very funny, neatly done and with moments of sharp poignancy, this is a hugely satisfying three-course theatrical feast.

The Chicken Soup Murder by Maria Donovan

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Although Maria Donovan has had great success with her short stories this is her first foray into longer fiction – and I dearly hope this debut novel is swiftly followed by another. It has such warmth and humour – which isn’t bad for a story about murder and death.

Michael lives with his nan in a little town near the sea with its magic hills and the three pebbled dashed semis in a long arc. But everything is turned upside down when the Bulls move in next door and Michael’s magical creative thinking lands him in trouble: why is he the only one who thinks a murder has been committed? Can we believe his story?

As Michael struggles to help himself and the people he cares for to move on, he learns about acceptance and grief, and to what happens to those who are left behind when a loved one dies.

Reading the above you might think that this would be a maudlin, fearful book but its not like that at all. Although Donovan explores the many repercussions of death – on family, friends and neighbours, she has a light touch and paints a varied picture of grief as it is, in its everyday shabbiness and unwashed clothes, in the difficulties of holding on and letting go.

The narrator, eleven-year-old Michael, just about to go up to ‘Big School’, leads the reader through the happenings at the three semis in the street where he lives; his own home where he lives with Nan, Irma the next door neighbour and best-friend Janey and her family at the house on the end.

It would do the novel a great injustice to describe it purely as a murder mystery because it is so much more. It is about what makes a family, what holds it together and how friends and neighbours can be family too. How much they become a part of the very fabric of our lives. I was gripped until the very last sentence.

The Chicken Soup Murder was a finalist for the Dundee International Prize and is published by Seren.

Maria Donovan is a native of Dorset and has strong connections with Wales and Holland. Past career choices include training as a nurse in the Netherlands, busking with music and fire around Europe and nine years as a lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Glamorgan.

www.mariadonovan.com

 

The Crazy Nature of Human Communication: The Importance of Being Mindful of The Moment

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By Dr Rajan Sankaran, author of Dog, Yogi, Banyan Tree

Arriving at the lift of my building one evening, I met a neighbour who was known for his rudeness and for putting others down, while blowing his own trumpet. If someone from the building met him somewhere he would ignore them and walk away with his nose in the air. I tried to be a good neighbour and greeted him in a friendly manner asking him how he was.

When he perfunctorily asked me how I was, I thought it might help bridge some of the gap between us to share something. I said, “the younger of my two sons has gone to the USA to study, and with both my sons gone I feel an emptiness in the house.” Instead of some words of empathy or enquiring what my sons were studying, he pointed out that now my sons had left, the alterations that I had made to my apartment, which he had advised against, were now useless. He went on to mention that the alterations were probably illegal.

I was taken aback by this comment. I had tried to be a good neighbour and this was the response! This thought kept going on in my mind all day. So, when later I met another neighbour who is a friendly person, I told him about the incident. I wanted to share with him my experience of the rudeness and insensitivity of the other man.

Instead of seeing where I was coming from, he immediately was concerned about the plans of my apartment that he said he had seen some time ago. He told me that he was quite sure there was nothing illegal about the changes I had made to the apartment.

Stepping back from these experiences; I observed how the three of us saw the same thing in entirely different ways. I was lonely because my sons were away. I tried to convey this to my neighbour, who wanted to find some way to put me down. Then the second neighbour who heard all this, saw it from a completely different perspective: namely, the legality of the changes in my home.

Though I know somewhere that each one of us has his own perspective and that there is no objective reality, my mindfulness in the above incident made this very clear. Each individual comes from who they are and how they perceive things.

There are so many perceptions in one reality. When we communicate with each other, it is actually each one of us talking to himself. We hardly hear the other one. We are hearing ourselves all the time. It is like an orchestra where each musician is playing his own melody.

By stepping back and becoming a witness to the whole phenomenon, I got an insight into how stuck each one of us is in his own inner pattern of perception. I also realized the crazy nature of human communication.

Dr Rajan Sankaran is an internationally-famed homeopath, spiritual thinker and practitioner of holistic healing. His new book, ‘Dog, Yogi, Banyan Tree’ is an insightful and inspirational chronicle of personal and spiritual self-discovery. It is available now in paperback from Amazon UK, priced £21 and published by Homoeopathic Medical Publishers. For more information visit www.dogyogibanyantree.com

Win a copy of Dog, Yogi, Banyan Tree by Dr Rajan Sankaran

We have three copies of Dog, Yogi, Banyan Tree by Dr Rajan Sankaran, usually priced £21, to give away. To be in with a chance of winning follow frost on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/frostmag, just email frostmagazine@gmail.com with your name and address. The three lucky winners will be notified by 3rd November and will receive their prizes shortly thereafter.

 

ZeroWater Really Cleans Up | ZeroWater Review

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zero water filter

Lead and other heavy metals in our waters is a major concern. However, bottled water is bad for the environment and the costs add up. Never mind that the plastic is not very good for you. So water filters are big business and rightly so. Every home should have one. Not all water filters are equal however. When Frost read the press release for ZeroWater we were very impressed. ZeroWater is the only water filter brand that delivers the equivalent to purified bottled water into your home. Developed a pour-through system, with an aim to deliver the best filtration possible with their premium five-stage ion exchange technology, this filter removes virtually all total dissolved solids (TDS), a claim which no other filter can say. 

Well you can see why we are impressed. So we reviewed it. And…it is brilliant. It looks great, is easy to use, and makes great-tasting water. It gets the Frost stamp of approval.

ZeroWater is the only gravity-fed filtration system to match the TDS levels found in purified bottle water. This breakthrough filtration system from ZeroWater is certified by NSF International for the reduction of Lead and other heavy metals such as Chromium 3 & 6 and Mercury. The Good Housekeeping Research Institute have also revealed that ZeroWater removes more total contaminants from water than a regular Brita filter, making it a must have for all homes in the UK.

zero water

ZeroWater’s 12-cup Ready-Pour™ pitcher is the first in its class that has a sealed lid and reservoir, making it possible to pour water that has already been filtered without spilling water that’s still filtering. This means the reservoir can now be kept full, adding a full two cups’ capacity to the existing 10-cup design. It also features a one-hand, pull and pour button spout for easy bottle filling.

The 12-cup Ready-Pour™ uses the patented ZeroWater filtration system, which combines FIVE sophisticated technologies that work together to remove virtually all dissolved solids from your water. The result is great-tasting water, straight from the tap, and the only pour-through filter pitcher on the market that’s certified by the NSF to reduce lead. ZeroWater’s first layer of filtration, activated carbon and oxidation reduction alloy, removes the chlorine taste you are accustomed to with tap water. The Ion Exchange stage removes virtually all dissolved solids that may be left over from public water systems or even leached into your water from piping, such as aluminium, lead, zinc, nitrates, and more. Three additional stages are included to remove other impurities and ensure your water receives the appropriate amount of treatment time to deliver a “000” reading on the included laboratory-grade Total Dissolved Solids meter.

About ZeroWater

  • NSF Certified to REDUCE LEAD
  • Removes 99.6% of all dissolved solids
  • Purest tasting drinking water
  • 12 cup capacity = 10 cup pitcher + 2 cups in reserve
  • Immediate pouring ability
  • One-hand “push to dispense” spout to fill any bottle or cup
  • Convenient space-saving design
  • Certified* to reduce Lead, Chromium, & Mercury
  • Premium 5-Stage Dual-Ion Exchange filtration system
  • Ion-Exchange system that removes virtually all dissolved solids in your water
  • The FDA requires the TDS level in PURIFIED bottled water to reach 000-010ppm. ZeroWater is the only filter in its class to achieve this level.

The ZeroWater 12 cup ready pour costs £39.99 from Zerowater.co.uk and amazon.co.uk, smaller jugs start from £24.99.

 

Coping with Hyperemesis Gravidarum – mums speak out on severe morning sickness

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As news of the Duchess of Cambridge’s third pregnancy makes waves across the nation, we are reminded of the realities of morning sickness and its level of severity in some rare cases.  The UK’s leading support resource for mums to be Emma’s Diary, (verified by the RCGP – Royal College of General Practitioners), has spoken to several mums suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (which affects 1 in 100 pregnant women) about their experiences, in a series of candid interviews.

Around 80% of pregnant women suffer from morning sickness (and despite its misleading name, it doesn’t just happen in the morning).  For some, like the Duchess of Cambridge, extreme vomiting triggered by pregnancy can be severe, even life threatening for those diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). In a bid to share their stories and raise awareness of this less common condition, these mums have spoken out to warn others that if you believe you are suffering from extreme sickness, not to be fobbed off by suggestions that ‘it’s normal’, because it might not be the case:

Bella Drew from Norwich in Norfolk said:

“My baby is due in just over two weeks time. The moment I first found out I was expecting, my heart filled with excitement but that was soon to be diminished a week later.  My experience of so-called ‘morning sickness’ started at around three weeks, I couldn’t keep anything down but I was told that was normal.  As my suffering worsened I was put on medication which didn’t really help in my opinion.  I had lost around two and a half stone, had sustained haemorrhages within my eyes from the straining while being sick. 

I was being sick every 15 minutes throughout the day and night.  I was bedridden and eventually I gave up.  I couldn’t cope anymore and I was admitted to hospital diagnosed with HG. Despite all of the recent media attention the condition is still massively misunderstood. I wouldn’t wish this debilitating illness on anyone and we really need to spread more awareness of the impact and symptoms of HG.” 

Emma Eaton from Gosport in Hampshire said:

“I am pregnant and am currently suffering with HG; I was also hospitalised for two weeks in my last pregnancy having almost died from starvation and dehydration.  I have been in and out of hospital numerous times during my current pregnancy to have IV fluids and IV anti-emetics to help control the symptoms. I have to take two different types of tablets to help prevent me from being sick as I have been physically passing out and collapsing – also knocking myself out in the process. I believe there needs to be much greater awareness of this life-threatening condition amongst pregnant women and those who are planning to have children.”

Gemma Edwards from Walsall in West Midlands said:

“I was diagnosed with HG with all three of my pregnancies which has left me with some long term health problems. I am losing my teeth due to the impact of the stomach acid because I was vomiting anything from 20 to 50 times a day. I was also hospitalised for weeks on end with ketoneuria (ketones in my urine – a sign of dehydration) and my veins kept collapsing, this condition made me very ill and my kidneys went into pre-failure meaning my life was at risk and also that of my children.  This is a very serious condition and more awareness of the long term health risks it poses is much needed.”

Many women who are diagnosed with HG say they can’t keep anything down. They can also lose a lot of weight and fluids and sometimes have to be admitted to hospital for re-hydration treatment as well as require antiemetic medication to stop the vomiting.  In terms of adverse effects on the baby, experts say there are usually very few unless weight gain continues to be poor during the second half of pregnancy; or indeed the symptoms are more severe over a sustained period of time.

Sufferers of HG reported:

  • Extreme fatigue
  • Muscle weakness
  • Weight loss
  • Depressed mood
  • Tooth loss
  • Kidney failure
  • Severe dehydration (with ketones present in urine)
  • Disturbed salts in the blood
  • Eye haemorrhages
  • Long term health issues

Dr Shauna Fannin FRCGP, Chair of the Editorial Board at Emma’s Diary said: “Every pregnancy is different and whilst pregnancy sickness is extremely common, Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) only affects 1% of pregnant women and is a condition at the extreme end of the pregnancy sickness scale. HG sufferers will vomit frequently and can become dehydrated very quickly so it is very important to seek urgent medical advice.”

Faye Mingo, mum of two and Marketing Director at Emma’s Diary said: “It’s really brave for these women to speak out and share their experiences with others.  What is apparent is a desire to build greater awareness on the topic of HG and to dispel any myths about what is considered to be ‘normal’, the message from most of the mums we spoke to is to trust your instincts and to keep pushing for medical support if you believe you or your pregnancy might be at risk.”

 

Fancy a weekend away? Try Thirsk in North Yorkshire   By Milly Adams

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Thirsk in North Yorkshire is about a two and quarter hour train journey from London, or a three to four hour drive, so off we went to explore an area that interested us, following on the heels of the the Yorkshire Vet series, and before that All Creatures Great and Small.

Thirsk is a traditional market town, unspoilt, delightful, with a market place festooned with flowers, and surrounded by small shops. On the edge of the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors, it was the home of author and vet James Herriot, (Alf Wight) and the vets of the Yorkshire Vet fame have their practice on the outskirts of the town.  For horse racing enthusiasts, Thirsk boasts its own racecourse, not far from the train station.

 

Interestingly for me, an author who has just published No 1 in the series The Waterways Girls (Arrow), I discovered there had been a project to build a navigable waterway to the town from the River Swale along Cod Beck in the 1760s, but sadly not completed. Nice to see several of my titles in WH Smith.

A vital resource for Thirsk is the small but beautifully formed Thirsk Tourist Office manned by volunteers, and what gems these volunteers are. We called in and received all sorts of information from the friendly, and fun, staff.

 

We nipped into The World of James Herriot which is where Alf Wight, aka James Herriot worked with Donald Sinclair,aka Siegfried Farnon,  and stepped back in time – totally fascinating. Another day we set off, bus pass in hand, from the market square to Ripon to see the annual art display in the small cathedral.

That particular bus route had just been taken over on the death of Shaun by another bus company. One of the fantastic Tourist Office volunteers appeared just as we were boarding to check that we were on the right bus, or was it just to make sure we left them in peace for a bit. Honestly, everyone in Thirsk goes above and beyond to help, and to welcome.

We stayed at The Fourways Guesthouse, just a step away from the centre. Nicky and Mark were great and the breakfasts lovely.

And I mustn’t forget the White Rose Book Café which we used constantly, to browse, buy, (Christmas sorted – Julian Norton’s book bought for several family members)  and to tuck into tea and cake. This is a great independent bookshop, one that holds numerous events, and positively buzzes.

In a couple of weeks I’ll tell you more about Thirsk, including our bus trips to Northallerton and Betty’s Tearooms, and the villages on the way.

Anyone else out there have ideas for those essential breaks that keep us all going? Let Frost know.

The Waterway Girls by Milly Adams. Pb Pub Arrow. £5.99

A Yorkshire Vet through the Seasons. Julian Norton pub Michael O’Mara £14.99

www.worldofjamesherriot.com

www.fourwaysguesthouse.co.uk

www.visitthirsk.org.uk

www.whiterosebooks.com

www.bettys.co.uk

www.thirskracecourse.net

Knife sharpening nightmares? Forget them. By Milly Adams

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I have a kitchen drawer full of knife sharpeners which I don’t use any more, because they don’t work. I even have a steel similar to the one my dad used to use to produce razor sharp knives. He would ‘steel’ away at the carving knife and then cut super thin slices off the Sunday joint.

In fact, he turned the steel sharpening into a ritual, or even an art form, one that took an interminable time, so the slices might have been super slim, but  the meal was cold.

On the other hand, however, he sharpened my mum’s cooking knives with the same finesse and gusto. I have tried to achieve even a modicum of his success with the myriad sharpeners I have bought but no, into the reject drawer always goes another one.

However, the day has been saved. We at Frost were sent Any Sharp Pro to try. This is a small in size but mighty in range  knife sharpener which we have discovered produces excellent results so, to coin a phrase, size isn’t everything.

It has a strong suction grip, and can handle straight and serrated blades.

With Chrimbo approaching, this could save hours of whingeing about blunt knives, which can and frequently do, end in cut fingers. I even tried our carving knife and though a small sharpener it produced a razor edge.

Do give it a go. At only £16.35 from Amazon it’s a steal. Sorry, should that be steel? But perhaps it’s time the curtain closed on poor jokes.

Try it: Any Sharp Pro knife sharpener: Amazon £16.35

 

Theatre Review by Paul Vates – Book Story

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at Little Angel Theatre, Islington, London

“ it’s all a little too ‘safe’ “

 

 

 

Book Story is exactly what it claims to be: a story about books, told by books. It is a tale of a librarian whose books come to life when humans are not around. They sing, fly, dance, tell jokes, have adventures and become the subject of a picture-book themselves.

 

The setting is primarily in ‘Brians Library’ – and the missing apostrophe there (or, rather, not there) is exactly what the sign said, centre-stage, looking down on the audience throughout. Not a good sign, in more ways than one…

 

 

There is an imaginative use of props and a multitude of clever library and book puns to keep the adults interested. The style and story is just good enough to keep the children focussed. Although it is a little rough around the edges at times, Book Story is original and fun, but not magical and unforgettable. There is a Kindle-type product at one point, which reads aloud. The funny voice was instantly recognised by one child as sounding like a Minion. Much unintended mirth ensued.

 

MONSTRO Theatre claim to be pioneers of the Puppet Musical, which is a bold claim. To me, this is a play with a few songs in it. There is a brilliant cast, playing all the varied characters, singing and animating all the puppets: Karina Garnett, Andrea Sadler and Phil Yarrow, showing that, overall, this is a performers’ piece.

 

 

It was written, composed and directed by Ben Glasstone, from his and Michael Fowkes original idea. Fowkes also designed and directed the excellent puppetry. The children really liked the play, but they weren’t blown away by it.

 

Book Story has a tagline which is superb when spoken in a Sean Connery voice: Learn To Love Your Shelf… It is a ‘safe’ production for children to watch and enjoy. But that is also what is holding it back: it’s all a little too ‘safe’.

Show Length: 60 minutes (no interval)

 

Audience: Aged 5+

 

Twitter: @monstrotheatre, #BookStory

 

MONSTRO’s Book Story now embarks on a UK Tour.

October:

6th        Goodrich Village Hall, Ross-on-Wye

7th        Spring Arts & Heritage Centre, Havant

8th        The Capitol Theatre, Horsham

9th        Hook Library, Kingston

11th      Central Library, Redbridge

13th      Trestle Arts Base, St Albans

14th      Old Town Hall and Arts Centre, Hemel Hempstead

16th      Tooting Library, Wandsworth

18th-21st            Take Off Festival, City Theatre, Durham

22nd     Gulbenkian, Canterbury

23rd      The Woodville, Gravesend

24th      Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds

26th      Norden Farm Arts Centre, Maidenhead

27th      Arts Centre, Bridport

29th      Arts Depot, North Finchley

November

4th        Astor Community Theatre, Deal