Cocoon Sleep Squad: Cocoon Mattress Review

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cocoon-sleep-squad-cocoon-mattress-reviewAs an editor of a magazine you get offered a lot of stuff to try. It is quite cool actually, because you tend to be the first to know about new brands and trends. So much so with Cocoon. The Sleep Squad were in full force and sent us one of their mattresses to try. It comes in a box the size of some (large) golf clubs. Completely manageable. You then take it out and it is covered in plastic which you take off obviously. It also came with a free pillow.

You tear along the give of the plastic and then roll it out. It says do not use scissors, but I had to just at the very beginning of the plastic because I could not find the give. It wasn’t as easy as I am sure other people find it. But small niggles aside, the entire thing is easy enough. Cocoon recommend that you wait 72 hours before you sleep on your new mattress so it returns to its normal state following transit.

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Cocoon is designed and made by Tempur Sealy, the world’s largest mattress company. With 130 years’ experience to build on, the engineers know what it takes to create quality mattresses that not only stand the test of time but provide lasting comfort for everybody. The mattress moulds to the body and gives a good nights sleep. It leaves you feeling weightless. You sink into it, but not in a bad way. It is very comfortable and supports the entire body. You can even try before you buy for 14 nights and they have a free return policy. You can choose a soft or firm mattress and they do single, double or king size. The single is £350. Cocoon will collect your old mattress for you and your new mattress has a 10-year warranty.

We were very impressed with the mattress. Not only does it look good, but it really is a superior mattress which give you a good nights sleep. Cocoon is a great name for the brand as it fits the mattress perfectly. You feel very cosy indeed. It is definitely worth the money and the delivery is seamless. Try it for yourself. We take our sleep very seriously at Frost and we give this a thumbs up.

Below: the mattress before it expands. They compress it for delivery. 

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It’s official – this summer has been a sleep washout with a third of Londoners saying it’s the worse they can remember for getting a good night’s rest.

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Humidity, Brexit anxiety, heightened pollen levels and being generally uncomfortable means the capital’s slumbers have been tossing and turning from June to September.

And with 80 per cent of us only managing between five and six hours sleep this summer, much less than the recommended eight hours, we are seriously suffering from sleep deprivation, according to new research.

Now help is at hand for all those insomniacs as the Cocoon Sleep Squad is hitting the streets with everything from sheep to count and choirs singing lullabies to bringing new mattresses for restless Londoners as the Indian Summer continues.

“Our research has shown that the humidity this summer has been the main culprit for night-time wakefulness, followed by frazzled children, nocturnal pets and noisy neighbours, which is why we’ve decided to do our bit to help the nation catch up on  some ZZZs with our sleep squad,” said  spokeswoman Hayley Parle.

When it comes to getting some shut eye, almost a fifth (18 per cent) said they read a book, one in seven of us (14 per cent) turned on tablets or phones to try get into the land of nod and almost 10 per cent swear by having a bedtime bonk!

Weirdly one in 20 still try the traditional method of counting sheep to drop off while a more modern five per cent got up make a brew or have a fag.

In fact, a quarter of us (25 per cent) just gave up trying to snooze altogether which is why the Cocoon Sleep Squad is here to help the nation get back to sleep.

Of those Londoners who made it through the night, their favourite sleeping style is being cocooned in sheets (25 per cent), with a fifth (21 per cent) preferring the face-up starfish position.

“We’ve extended the Cocoon Sleep Squad for the next few weeks because the stifling weather is set to continue and we want to do our bit to make sure we get some well needed shut-eye,” added Hayley.

To call in the Cocoon Sleep Squad tweet @CocoonSleepUK/visit  www.uk.cocoonsleep.com and use #needanewmattress to stand the chance of winning a bed in a box, the new Cocoon from Tempur Sealy.

 

 

 

Wild and inspiring images – from the Knitting & Stitching Show 2016

The Knitting & Stitching Show is one of the most colourful and beautiful events of the year – I dipped into its hues and textures at Alexander Palace today. With around three hundred exhibitors and some wonderful workshops, there is so much inspiration to be had here. You can catch The Knitting and Stitching Show tomorrow (Sunday 9 October) at Alexandra Palace, 24-27 November at Harrogate International Centre and 20-23 October at Simmonscourt, RDS, in Dubln. My purchases were fairly modest: I came away with a new skill to master in the form of a ‘Make Your Own Needle Felt Dog’ kit from www.feltcreative.co.uk, and and an early Christmas stocking filler buy: some alapaca ‘Posh Socks’ from ukalpaca.com. But I was lusting after many more exhibits. Here are just six of the most gorgeous things I saw today…

Autumn Seedheads by Jean Littlejohn, a beautiful embroidered picture that made me want to buy thread, lots of it. This was featured in the book Stitchscapes by Jean Littlejohn and Jan Beaney…

 

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A lush rail of felt coats by Te Su. Oh those colours…

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A stunning wall artwork entitled Mass Hysteria: free motion embroidered birds by Leisa Rich.

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Enormous crochet hooks, wonderfully big and beautiful buttons that made you want to create a garment to fit them and giant Macro knitting needles that came up to my shoulder height. Apparently, you lay them across your lap and jumpers knit up oh-so-fast…

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This chap from Game of Thrones was made using metal threadwork beading, applique and quilting. He was commissioned by the HBO Home Entertainment TV Network and made by The Embroiderers’ Guild, the Royal School of Needlework, Hand & Lock and Fine Cell Work and took 5000 hours to produce, with 140 people involved in the process. He appears on the Series 5 DVD and Blue Ray boxed set, and in real life he is big!

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My final shout out goes to Di Gilpin.Here she is with a cable collar and weaved cable back on just one of her fabulous jumper creations…

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Get along to the show and find your own favourites – you’ll probably find you have quite a few!

 

 

Nerve and Jekyll and Hyde – Two one act plays. Preview by Margaret Graham

Reverend Theatre’s new double bill of two one act plays, Nerve and Jekyll & Hyde, both written by Charlie Howitt, are two distinct but interwoven plays set within the same apartment block. Pertinently, they both explore morality in contemporary Britain. This double bill embarks on an exciting UK tour in Autumn.

Nerve follows a disparate group of people as they work to find their own authenticity. Sam edges closer to her magnetic new housemate Danny, inspired by his bold, decisive approach to life. But, after a violent dispute with their neighbour, she is left struggling to locate her moral centre.

Her best friend, Tess, is overwhelmed by anxiety as she approaches the 24th week of her pregnancy. While, local policeman Greg is too lost trying to rekindle his relationship with his ex-wife to notice that their neighbour from Flat B is missing.

Inspired by the Gothic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, Reverend Theatre’s Jekyll & Hyde blurs the lines between good and evil, insane imaginings and real life monsters. Brilliant surgeon Ellie Jekyll is feeling the strain of caring for her terminally ill brother. Luckily, a newfound friendship with her neighbour proves to be just what the doctor ordered. But, when a young girl dies unexpectedly during surgery, Jekyll’s world begins to unravel around her.

Tickets are available from individual theatre box office See http://www.reverendproductions.com/

@ReverendTheatre

https://www.facebook.com/ReverendTheatre

10th – 11th October       Greenwich Theatre
Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ES

13th October                  Fisher Theatre
10 Broad Street, Bungay NR35 1EE

21st October                  The Old Fire Station
40 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AQ

 

 

Young Voices by Meg Cannell

Duke of Edinburgh (Bronze) Expedition         

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I am Meg Cannell and decided a few months ago that I would do the DofE Bronze. For this I have to have a skill. Well, I play the flute. I also have to have a sport, and I have chosen Pilates, which seemed the best option because I have scoliosis. Scoliosis is curvature of the spine and that means a limit to the sort of physical sports I can play.

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards are designed to give millions of 14 to 24 year olds the opportunity to be the very best that they can be. One of the requirements of the Bronze category is to take part in an expedition.

There is a concessionary backpack weight for those with scoliosis. I have a partial fusion, which means I have rods holding some of my vertebrae in line, and soon will have a full fusion.

We sorted out our kit at Ashridge Estate Visitors’ Centre, before setting off on 1st October in the pouring rain. We had to share out the tent, small gas cookers called trangias, and sleeping bags. Thoroughly cold and wet we set off to walk 17 kilometres that day.

We met marshalls at points along the route, just in case anything was wrong, but nothing was. On we trudged and squelched over fields, and along roads until finally we reached our over-night spot. Then we had to erect our two tents, and cook some supper on our trangias. Then we tried to sleep, going to bed really early because we were so tired. And we did sleep, though we were so cold and wet.

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Breakfast the next morning was still not a picnic in the sun. As the rain fell we cooked up some breakfast on the trangias, and then set off on the last 13 kilometres heading for Wendover Woods. Again it was a hike across fields. Once there was a bull, and we didn’t dawdle across that one. In another were alapacas which we all loved.

Finally we arrived at the finish, exhausted, wet, but really excited to have actually achieved our aim.

The expedition taught us the value of teamwork, and sometimes we didn’t get this right, but that’s how you learn. I think it’s a lesson that will be valuable when we do the Dof E Silver expedition (after my final operation). And actually, it will be valuable for the rest of our lives because we know that we have to endure if we want to achieve our goals.

 

 

Living Death by Graham Masterton – Reviewed by Margaret Graham

 

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Halloween is coming soon, bringing with it trick or treat time. So treat yourself to Living Death which is another in the Katie Maguire crime series. It’ll scare you, see if it doesn’t. Of if not scare, perhaps intrigue you, and get your pulses racing.

 

I do like Masterton’s writing. It is crisp, confident, and zaps along with satisfying clarity. His plotting is meticulous and exciting from the moment a girl with green hair stumbles out of a club and we just know she’s in jeopardy.

 

DS Katie Maguire and her team are up to their neck investigating dognappers (as a dog owner, how dare they?) drug trading and now a missing girl.

 

Masterton weaves his web with his usual touch. He really thinks through his characters and plot. Will the green haired girl be saved? Or not.

 

Graham Masterton is a bestselling author who spent twenty or so years writing horror and thrillers before turning to crime. I’m glad he did. I don’t like horror – I’m a hide behind the sofa kind of girl when there’s anything like that going on, and crime is more painstaking than thrillers or so I feel. Probably wrong, but there you go.

 

I enjoyed Living Death. I think you will too.

 

Living Death     Graham Masterton.   Pub. Head of Zeus.   £18.99

 

 

 

National Poetry Day: Tigress Tigress Poem From What Do You Think?

poetry, poetry book, poems, women authors, Scottish writers, poetry book, female writers,Happy National Poetry Day! To celebrate here is a poem from our editor Catherine Balavage’s new poetry book What do you think? A collection of poems. Enjoy and send us your favourite poems.

 

Tigress, Tigress.

She lies on the ground.

Silent as night.

Pouncing on her prey.

She gives it a fright.

Tigress, Tigress.

Don’t become extinct.

Tigress, Tigress.

What do you think?

When a hunter comes along,

What do you think?

She looks at her cubs.

Clear as day,

Some day they will have to go away.

She feels proud, keeps her head up high.

Tigress, Tigress.

Don’t become extinct.

Tigress, Tigress.

What do you think?

When a hunter comes along,

What do you think?

She closes her eyes.

Feels someone watching.

Ready for attack.

She puts her cubs to safety.

Tigress, Tigress.

What do you think?

Tigress, Tigress.

When a hunter comes along,

What do you think?

(I think this was the first poem I ever wrote. It was written in November of 1996 and I got a lot of positive comments about it. Along with a lot of encouragement. It was the start of everything and for that I am thankful).

Tigress Tigress is taken from What do you think? A Collection of Poems by Catherine Balavage. Available in ebook and print format now.

 

Wong Kei – the most famous Chinese restaurant in London!

Wongkei restaurant in Wardour Street Soho

My friend Roy at the Wongkei, which has been frequenting since 1979

I was having a chat with my friend Roy, when I mentioned that I’d never actually been to Wong Kei Chinese restaurant. He was astounded. After all, Wong Kei is hugely famous. It serves incredibly cheap food, but has a reputation for having rude waiters and for not accepting any kind of credit cards – cash only! It is in the lower end of Wardour Street, in the heart of London’s China Town and seems to have existed forever.

It has entered London folklore. Many people will tell stories of having arguments with the waiters there. And I remember at one poetry performance, a woman reading a poem about the drunks who used to come to Wong Kei late at night.

Because it is such an institution, I suggested that Roy and I should go there for lunch. Roy is a regular at the restaurant – he first visited in 1979 – and he says it has hardly changed in all that time. When we visited it was mid-day and at that time of day the restaurant seems to operate as a sort of cheap canteen for the local Chinese community.

It is absolutely basic in its décor. Lines of Formica tables, sturdy restaurant chairs, no table cloths and a pot of chilli sauce on every table. As soon as we arrived someone brought a pot of tea – which is free.

Roy admits to being a creature of habit and generally has beef with fried noodles. I had roast duck with soup noodles, which is my favourite Chinese lunch.

The food arrived fairly promptly and it was very pleasant. I felt that the duck was slightly overcooked and I’ve had better noodles- these lacked the sort of bite that I enjoy. The broth was rich and tasty and there was plenty of chilli sauce to spice things up.

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Wong Kei at lunchtime – serving seriously cheap Chinese food

Likewise Roy’s beef was perfectly nice. I found it a bit blander than I’m used to.. Again the noodles weren’t as crisply as I’d have liked. But the point of the restaurant comes when you ask for the bill. The price for two meals was £10.50. In the West End of London, it’s probably the cheapest meal you can find.

It is busy, it is bustling, the waiters put food on the table and take it away. The food isn’t top class, but it is ridiculously cheap. It’s not a place for a romantic meal, but as an alternative to a lunchtime sandwich it makes a nice change.

Vote for President at The Hippodrome London… sort of

The run up to the Presidential election, has got everyone riled up so The Hippodrome Casino thinks it only fair that everyone across the pond should have a say too. So in the run up to the election, they will be allowing their (over 18 year old) customers to vote at the bar.

Yes, that’s right, The Hippodrome Casino have launched two new cocktails, The Clinton and The Trump and to vote you must simply pick one over the other to give a fairly accurate* gauge on who will come out on top.

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The Clinton: a refreshing blend of gin, lemon and lychee juices, and blue curacao for that all important Democrat blue.

The Trump: a mixture of raspberries, Zubrowka, crème de fraise, cranberry and lemon juices, creating a bright Republican red.

The cocktails cost £10 each and can be ordered at The Hippodrome’s Piano Bar. The cocktails will be available until Monday 7th November.

*Your cocktail buying habits will not guarantee your favourite candidate to win the presidential vote. But we really enjoy that The Hippodrome have included us in the voting fever. All in the name of fun!