Dear Ms Taylor

The King has asked me to thank you for your kind letter, in which you shared the wonderful news of the refurbishment of Columbia Community Association Centre.

His Majesty is most grateful to you for taking the trouble to write as you did, and for sharing a little of this community project. The King was particularly interested to learn of the unique door with its original brass handles which has been so carefully restored.

I am to convey His Majesty’s hope that everyone in the local community enjoyed the grand opening day of the community centre on 28th July, and I am to send the King’s warmest good wishes to you for writing with this uplifting news.

Yours sincerly

All of this has made Frost Magazine, particularly Margaret homesick, so she and Dick are hoping to pitch up at the CCA coffee morning on 28th October, and apart from catching up with everyone, they will admire the letter. Yes because… knowing Marion and Red Shoes Bob, it will already be framed and up on the wall.

See you all then.

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

Good heavens – spare a moment, well, a great many moments to turn the pages of this book … No one got cracked over the head for no reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter by Martin Brunt. 

Trespass into the world of crime from the journalist’s eye view. Come with Martin Brunt into a world we might glimpse in newspapers, or watch in snippets on TV. Here, you can  take time to turn a page or two, or three, or, oh come on, let’s stop shilly shallying , you will want to  go the whole hog – all 333 pages. It is fascinating, a world of which we know nothing, not really, which leaves us thinking:  Good grief, heaven’s above. Surely not. Ah, I see. Crikey …

Martin Brunt, who was chief reporter at the Sunday Mirror before moving to Sky in 1989, reveals shocking and harrowing crime he’s covered over the past thirty years, and in doing so introduces us to the life of a crime reporter, and discusses the obsession of the public with crime. Add to this the nature of the relationship between the press and the police, not  forgetting the input of that strange phenomenon  social media, which appears, through witnesses, to inform not just the public, but the crime reporter. One suspects it might also mislead…

Brunt grapples not just with actual crime but with the question: what sort of crime grips the nation, and why is it that others do not? He also considers the damage done to those like Cliff Richard who are mistakenly suspected of sex abuse – such a feast for those eager to chew the cud, cast aspersions, and let’s face it gloat – and others to despair over the salacious acceptance of suspicion as guilt.  Whatever the reason, it ruins lives and careers.

So many questions, revelations, that it’s a must read for all those interested in crime from many angles.

This book is accessible, informative, fascinating and thought provoking.

No One Got Cracked Over The Head For No Reason – Dispatches from a crime reporter by Martin Brunt. HB and e-Book.  Biteback Publishers. Available on Amazon.

Frost loves The Story Hive. Amazing audio at your fingertips, and completely free!

The Story Hive is a brand new and COMPLETELY FREE audio story streaming platform. Pop onto the www.thestoryhive.co.uk platform from your mobile or laptop. Featuring the work of London based writer Phil Ryan.

You get access to hours of wonderful audio stories and novels for both adults and children alike, across a wide range of genres including mind body and spirit sections. You get guaranteed entertainment at the swipe of a finger. You get to leave the world behind just briefly.

But don’t take our word for it. Listen for yourself. Prepare to be entertained and enchanted. And best of all it won’t cost you a penny! In a world of corporate subscription platform models that now essentially starve creators it’s completely free – no sign up – no email – no marketing – just make a donation if you feel it’s worth it. Support independent authors.

Lord Bird (The Big Issue Founder) “Please flock in your thousands to The Story Hive: free audio storytelling to extend your imagination. It’s full of thrillers, romance, sci fi, comedy, observational and literary literature; even children’s stories. Ghost and horror sit side by side with these genres, so fear and fun go hand in hand. And no Phil Ryan hasn’t paid me to write this piece….”

I have picked my own choice of Joffe Books’ new titles for this week. But trust me, it was quite a task as they are all so scrumptious. Let’s start with the book of the week. 

A Body in the Cottage which is a gripping crime mystery full of twists from bestselling author P.F. Ford and is out for — just £0.99 * 

A woman is left badly beaten in a derelict cottage. Then the killer comes forward — an elderly man. Case closed.  But as another body is discovered, Detective Norman suspects a false confession . . . and that the real killer is still at large. It’s up to you to turn those pages to find out who dun it…

Below you will find my pick of the the rest. But crikey, talk about dithering. It’s so hard to choose, they are all such satisfying reads. But here we go:

      
Jack  Knife by Steve Parker £0.99/$0.99

It’s 1975. A young woman is found disembowelled by the side of a road. Detective Bill Roach will spend the next fifty years searching for the serial killer: Now, unsuccessful and ageing in a retirement home, eighty-year-old Bill might just be the closest he’s ever been to discovering the secret. This is an original take on crime. Read and chew your nails.

The Bluebonnet Betrayal by Marty Wingate £0.99/$0.99   As you all know by now I am a sucker for cozy crime. Blame M.C. Beaton and her glorious Agatha Raisin series. Here is a belter from Marty Wingate, USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR: beautiful blooms, a fabulous guestlist — and one dead body. Had Pru’s dream of working at the Chelsea Flower Show just turned into a nightmare?  But she won’t give up — not on the show or the hunt for the murderer. So very there…

Now, what about The Frank Doy Thrillers in this eleven book box set? That’s right, eleven books all with great characters, plot lines to die for – oops – well you know what I mean. All with a dash of  of humour too.  I thought them in the mould of Lee Child, Michael Connelly and Michael Grant.  Great price at £1.99/$2.99. On we rush:

New from Choc Lit:

Lucy Keeling’s ‘Friends’ box set – whether you like soft or hard centres there is something for all: slow-burn romances to friends-to-lovers and fake relationships:  £0.99/$0.99

Hanukkah at the Great Greenwich Ice Creamery by Sharon Ibbotson

Is it trite to say, help yourselves to a scoop of delight? Probably, but I’ve said it because I loved it, almost as much as I love pistachio ice cream. Surly New Yorker Cohen Ford has a sweet surprise in store when he visits London and the Great Greenwich Ice Creamery one December.  Little does he know that his life is about to change . . .   £0.99/$0.99

Now, what’s new at LUME?

Kingfisher by Christopher C. Tubbs £0.99/$0.99   – historical naval adventure which really  gripped me as Ralph Wrenn, officer on HMS Kingfisher, navigated mayhem and terror, as he endeavoured to capture pirate vessels in the Mediterranean. But when Ralph meets a beautiful young woman, he must keep his wits about him — there is more to her than meets the eye. Never a dull moment.

Postman’s Knock by J.F. Straker £0.99/$0.99  is a classic British murder mystery as Detective Inspector Pitt is called to unravel the disappearance of the local postman. But the local residents are unwilling to help . . . they’ve all got something to hide. So, can Pitt dig deep and find the culprit before anyone else dies? Oh, go on, read it.

Now, a newbie coming on 24th October, and as I’m fond of Marlow I must mention it. 

The Marlow Murders by Biba Pearce £0.99/$0.99 is a great crime mystery: Debby Morris, mother of two, goes to a Christmas party at the historic Hollyhock Manor in Marlow . . .   And never comes home. Is it a planned disappearance or something more sinister?

Finally, a look at Joffe Books’ NEWS

Publishing Director Kate Lyall Grant is delighted to have signed a new two-book deal with bestselling psychological thriller writer Jane E. James

‘We’re really thrilled with how well Jane E. James’s first two psychological suspense titles for Joffe, Her Second Husband and Not My Child, have done. And Jane’s darkly imaginative genius shows no sign of running out of steam in her latest novel, Her Daughter’s Husband, which we’ll be publishing later this year. Her growing number of fans are in for a real treat.‘

Jane E. James

‘I’m thrilled to have signed a second two-book deal with Joffe Books and am looking forward to working with Kate and the rest of the team again. I can concentrate on writing even more of the mind-blowing twists that readers have come to expect from Joffe’s psychological thriller authors since I know I’m in good hands with them. The best readers are Joffe readers.’

For more information: Joffe Books

*Launch prices are available for a limited time only. Please check all offers are live and available in your location before purchasing.

I have fallen for Ringana. Their baby products are fantastic and I recently trialled their travel kit. The products work and they have no nasties in. I have had sensitive skin my entire life and these products never upset my skin. I love sustainability and freshness and Ringana are serving up both with a cherry on top. Top marks for this fantastic beauty brand.

Brand-new fresh products to expand your RINGANA beauty routine…

Right on time for the start of autumn, some fresh products have been added to RINGANA range, not only enhancing beauty routines, but also setting standards with regard to ageing care.

With three brand-new products – FRESH cleansing water, FRESH scrub face & body and our unique FRESH illuminating enzyme maskthe RINGANA cleansing and grooming steps are expanding, taking beauty routines to a whole new level.

In addition, the formulations of our two intensive better-ageing products, FRESH overnight face treatment and FRESH overnight body treatment, have been given a comprehensive update so they are now far more effective. And we’ve done all of this completely in keeping with our freshness and sustainability philosophy – just as you’d expect from RINGANA.

THREE FRESH PROSPECTS FOR YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE

1) Highly concentrated cleansing with a long-term effect

Thorough cleansing should always be the first step in the morning and at night. To complement our well-known FRESH cleanser, we are now introducing our new FRESH cleansing water.

It contains micelles, formed by mild sugar tensides, that envelop and remove accumulated dirt such as residual make-up, helping to minimised blocked pores. The oil-free formulation is suitable for all skin types, but is particularly good for skin that’s oily or tends to impurities because its bioflavonoids refine the pores and regulate sebum production. Hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin, promoting a firm, youthful look. FRESH cleansing water can be rinsed off after application, or left on to do its work.

125ml for £21.92.

2) Smoother and more radiant in just a few minutes

We recommend that once or twice a week you expand your evening routine by adding a further cleansing step, using our brand-new FRESH illuminating enzyme mask or FRESH scrub face & body. Afterwards your skin will be perfectly primed for other subsequent steps of grooming, and ingredients will be able to penetrate more easily into the deeper layers of skin:

FRESH illuminating enzyme mask is a gentle exfoliant made of enzymes from papaya, pineapple and kiwi fruit which effectively removes impurities and excess sebum from the surface of the skin. At the same time, kaolinreduces fine lines and wrinkles. What’s special about the mask are the fruit-derived enzymesand PHA – a gentle polyhydroxy acid – which is also very well-tolerated by sensitive skin. Coriander and rosemary extract soothe the skin and have an antioxidant effect. This innovative combination is unique and represents a completely new way of exfoliating.

50ml for £34.10.

3) FRESH scrub face & body contains upcycled exfoliating grains from raspberry, blueberry, apricot and pomegranate and removes dead skin cells, while helping to regenerate the skin and stimulate skin renewal. Circulation is boosted and the skin also gets a natural, healthy look. In addition FRESH scrub face & body activates the body’s own production of collagen and elastin. Orange fruit waterhydrates the skin, while almond kernel oil and sesame oil groom the skin and make it supple.

200ml for £41.41.

I have to be honest, I usually find board games a bit tedious. However, whoever thought up Goat Yoga must be a pure genius, plus possess a touch of madness maybe? What other game leaves the players collapsed in hysterics AND feeling like they’ve done an exercise class by the end of the game? Hopefully there’ll be no unscheduled trips to the Emergency Department due to the combination of a large glass of Rioja and an overenthusiastic Downward Dog pose – but it’s a risk worth taking, believe me.

The principle is simple, so no endless rules to learn (another bonus). The box contains a pack of challenge cards, a plastic goat (yes, really) and a score pad and pencil. You simply pick a card from a pack, and there are six random categories, so you could end up with one of the following:

Ready Set Goat: You need to hold a yoga pose AND balance the plastic goat for 5 seconds

Bleat to the Beat: Hold the pose (and the goat) whilst bleating out the melody of a song

Billy Buddies: Pick a partner and both hold the pose and the goat together (don’t drop the goat)

Float the Goat: Hold the pose and bat the goat like a balloon to keep it in the air – don’t drop it.

Buck Wild: These cards have a twist – beware. (And of course don’t drop the goat).

So I think you get the drift – lots of yoga poses, alone and in pairs, balancing plastic goats, pretending to sing like a goat and batting a plastic goat in the air like a crazy person. There is some scoring involved but I suspect that will soon be forgotten in the mayhem.

Personally I simply can’t wait for Christmas after lunch – no boring TV repeats for me this year. And if you want to join in the fun you can buy this brilliant game from Kikkerland for just €30 (free ship in EU and UK and global shipping also available).

By Dr K Thompson, 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.

I find wine fascinating, particularly Italian wines. I’m familiar with some of the big names – Soave, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Chianti – who isn’t? But I’d just love to sound a bit more informed when at dinner with some of my posher friends (yes I am that shallow). The problem is remembering all those wine names, and what part of Italy they’re from, not to mention the grapes involved. I suppose I could try just drinking more, but I’m not sure my liver could take it, and would I remember the names the next day anyway? Somehow I doubt it.

So how excited was I to discover this Wines of Italy Jigsaw, from Ginger Fox? It’s a fabulous map of Italy featuring the different wine-producing regions. The grapes grown in those regions and the famous wines are shown on the map too. As it’s a 1000 piece jigsaw, I’m confident that all that wine knowledge will be etched on my brain by the time I’ve completed it (which should be by Christmas at my current speed, but hey what’s the hurry?) Such a clever idea. I’ve just completed the Liguria region – so ask me anything you like about Barolo, Asti and Barbaresco and you will be impressed. The jigsaw also includes a fun fact sheet about Italian wines too – did you know that Italy has somewhere between 377 and 2000 different grape varieties – higher than any other country?

I’m considering an advanced game, which involves drinking the wines from the relevant region whilst completing that part of the jigsaw – only in the interests of research of course.

Thank you Ginger Fox – such a brilliant game and what an excellent Christmas present for the wine lovers in your life? Just £16.19 from Ginger Fox website.

By Dr K Thompson, 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.

When Jodie and Paris Welton started to experience unpleasant peri- and post-menopausal symptoms, they decided to explore a number of plant-based supplements which might help. Thrilled with their success they decided to share, and Adaptogenic Apothecary was born. Working with a medicinal herbalist they have developed various formulations aimed at women’s health issues, including Freedom, to help menopausal symptoms.

Freedom contains Lion’s Mane, and Ashwagandha both of which are believed to improve anxiety, together with a number of other plant extracts including cacao, rosehip and cinnamon.

Menopause can affect different women in different ways – some sail through without a problem, many of us are not so lucky. Thankfully the medical profession are much more switched on to this these days, and there are some excellent menopause clinics which offer a diverse range of therapies to deal with whatever symptoms an individual is experiencing.

I do believe herbal treatments have an important role to play in managing some menopausal symptoms and Adaptogenic Apothecary use good quality ingredients and have clearly put a lot of thought into their products. If you suffer from the symptoms they list on their website it may well be worth giving their products a try.

Freedom can be purchased from the Adaptogenic Apothecary website on special offer at £36 for a month’s supply.

By Dr K Thompson, 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.