Category Archives: Life & Style

Columbia Community Centre is bursting with pride because Aimee Green and her dancers did brilliantly in all the Alton Towers competition categories

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The CCA team is bursting  with pride as they applaud their very own Aimee Green and her dance group who attended the dance festival of the year in Alton Towers last weekend. ‘The group did brilliantly in all categories of the competition. All age groups produced winners. Well done kids (and dads) you smashed it,’ Marion says. Frost Magazine is absolutely in awe at their achievements.

Men at work in the Air Raid shelter preparing for the re-structuring to commence.

‘The cheek of it, some pussycat thought they would leave paw prints on our newly laid concrete. If I could have got to it, I would have left my initials too, for posterity you know.‘ Marion said. Then she mentioned that the men at work outside appear to be happy and cheerful, despite the chilly day. Margaret suspects they wouldn’t dare be otherwise after the cat issue. Just saying.

The shelter has water in it yet again and in addition the wall that was damaged by a stolen car is being re-built. Claire CCA’s surveyor, is visiting this week to ensure all is going to plan.

Nev Harris with Gemma and her certificate. Bravo Gemma!

The courses are still going strong, with  Cultural Creatives busy busy, and  Equans weekly meetings also in play. In addition Nev Harris, who is delivering CPR and Defibrillator training, came. It is wonderful that through the generosity of the community the CCA is able to offer free places for this extremely important training. One last minute cancellation was soon filled by Jordan who was very eager to step in.

Corey Barnes arrived to measure the corridor and office area for new flooring. English Oak was the unanimous choice and it’s fabulous. And … And … Believe it or not, this will be the last job on the agenda then it will be fingers crossed ‘all finished’.

Tuesday, brought the CCA’s very first volunteer meeting, held to get people together to discuss issues, including identification. Lo and behold the postie delivered the Volunteer Lanyards, just it time. Red Shoes Bob, reckons these are just in case volunteers forget who they are. Then two new lads from Equans popped in to say hello: Adam, a Bricklayer and Sean a joiner who didn’t have time for coffee but perhaps Marion should have told them Thursday is cake day…

Anyone for a coach trip?

Leaflets about Coach Day Tours have been dropped into the centre. Margaret of Frost Magazine LOVES day trips, and I bet I’m not the only one. Marion is intent on making enquiries to see what can be arranged.

The Friday coffee mornings are becoming quite something, and Margaret can’t wait to return for a  chat, and Dick too. Just look at the goodies on offer. There is to be a fun prize Bingo planned too and all free of charge. Marion loves these mornings. ‘Everyone has so much fun,’ she says. ‘Chatting away, reminiscing, putting the world to rights and usually forgetting the time, but that’s the way it should be, sharing, caring and having a good old laugh.’

Finally a word from Marion, on behalf of us all I am sure, including Frost Magazine:

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in this devastating earthquake in Turkey. God bless you all.’

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

The Garnett Girls by Georgina Moore Book Review

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I absolutely adored The Garnett Girl. This story about a mother and her three daughters has so much depth. Margo and her daughters: Rachel, Imogen and Sasha are all so different. The Garnett Girls is centred around Sandcove, their huge family home. The book explores these women’s lives, as well as the lives of their husbands and partners. It shows how all of our lives are intertwined and how family is never easy. A beautiful and addictive read. I couldn’t put it down. 

Forbidden, passionate and all-encompassing, Margo and Richard’s love affair was the stuff of legend – but, ultimately, doomed.

When Richard walked out, Margo locked herself away, leaving her three daughters, Rachel, Imogen and Sasha, to run wild.

Years later, charismatic Margo entertains lovers and friends in her cottage on the Isle of Wight, refusing to ever speak of Richard and her painful past. But her silence is keeping each of the Garnett girls from finding true happiness.

Rachel is desperate to return to London, but is held hostage by responsibility for Sandcove, their beloved but crumbling family home.

Dreamy Imogen feels the pressure to marry her kind, considerate fiancé, even when life is taking an unexpected turn.

And wild, passionate Sasha, trapped between her fractured family and controlling husband, is weighed down by a secret that could shake the family to its core….

The Garnett Girls, the captivating debut from Georgina Moore, asks whether children can ever be free of the mistakes of their parents.

The Garnett Girls is available here.

EVA GLYN’S HIDDEN CROATIA: ROMANTIC FICTION

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In celebration of the #RespectRomFic campaign, today I’m sharing some ideas of how you can visit Croatia from the comfort of your own armchair – and perhaps even fall in love.

The classic summer read: The Getaway by Isabelle Broom

This sun-drenched holiday book is set on the island of Hvar, loved by international jetsetters and backpackers alike.

When Kate’s life falls apart in a spectacularly public manner she joins her brother in Hvar to disappear from the world and lick her wounds. But then she meets Alex, a loner with a secret to hide. As he shows her the beautiful island she begins to have feelings for him that seem to be reciprocated. But will he ever be able to confront his demons and move on? And can Kate be there for him if he does?

 

The romcom: The Secret Cove in Croatia by Julie Caplin

Many people’s first experience of Croatia is on a cruise around the islands, and one of these small luxury boats setting out from cosmopolitan Split is the setting for this book.

When no-nonsense Maddie Wilcox is offered the chance to work on a luxury yacht for the summer, she can’t say no. She will be waiting on the posh guests, but island-hopping around Dalmatia should more than make up for it – especially when Nick, her best mate’s brother, is one of them. In this will-they won’t-they romance, sparks fly when they meet on board and Maddie can’t believe self-entitled jerk Nick is really related to her friend. But in a secret, picture-perfect cove, away from the real world, Maddie and Nick discover they might have more in common than they realise.

 

The biography: The Girl Who Left by Debra Gavranich

Set in a small rural village on the island of Korcula during and after the Second World War, this biography is a love story too.

The author’s mother Marija’s Yugoslavian childhood was tough but happy – until first the Italians, and later the Germans, arrived to occupy their island. Her older sister fled to join the partisans and she was left, frightened and hungry, to cope with the rest of the family when she should have been in school. After the war her best chance of a bright future was to travel to Australia as a proxy bride, married to a man who had emigrated from the village years before, but who she had never met.

 

The dual timeline: An Island of Secrets by Eva Glyn

The smallest of apologies for including my own book, but I would so love take you to the island of Vis in Dalmatia, and in particular the small fishing town of Komiza.

In 1944, British commando and SOE operative Guy Barclay is stationed there alongside Yugoslavian partisans. Not only does his war change when he witnesses a brutal execution, but he meets and falls in love with local fisherwoman Ivka. But can their love survive the war? Seventy years later Guy sends his investment banker granddaughter Leo to the same island. Battered and broken by a loveless marriage and her desire for a baby, she meets local travel agent Andrej. But are their worlds too far apart for their love to have a chance?

 

 

#RespectRomFic is a movement started by publishing luminaries to try to assure that romantic fiction is given the respect it deserves, and that matches its importance in readers’ lives – and its commercial value in the book market. For far too long the contribution to the literary landscape of the books written by the authors writing in the romance & saga space has been at best ignored, at worst dismissed. Show your support by using the hashtag to talk about your favourite romances.

 

 

 

Made By Cooper – Pure Serenity – by Award Winning Author Dr Kathleen Thompson

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What I love about Made By Coopers is their commitment to natural, organic and plant-derived ingredients. The brand was created by Clare and Darren Cooper. Clare had suffered for years with anxiety disorders and when the couple visited Kerala, the home of Ayurvedic medicine, they were inspired by the therapeutic powers of the different plants used there. They were particularly impressed to experience the positive effect of essential oils on how they felt and on their wellbeing.

After a rather crazy few days, I was thrilled to try their Calm Candle. Beautifully presented in a pure white pot, the engraved wooden lid forms a firm seal to protect those wonderful essential oils between use.

The candle itself is 100% natural, made with soothing Organic Lavender, Bergamot and Ylang Ylang, with base notes of Frankincense and light Rosemary undertones. The only other ingredients are coconut and rapeseed wax, and the unusually high concentration of essential oils was very noticeable – in fact the aroma was so stunning that I was immediately compelled to wrap myself in a blanket and close my eyes (I’m not convinced my boss was totally on board with this reason for the delayed report but I certainly felt great after a very relaxed nap).

Unlike other scented candles, Made By Coopers actually hand pour their candle wax in three stages, meaning that the candle is consistently aromatic throughout its life.

So if you’re scratching your head for a Mother’s Day gift check out Made By Coopers . I can totally recommend Calm Candle at just £28 for a beautifully presented and boxed 170g candle (up to 34 hr burn time) but they have other lovely gifts too – Calm Room Spray at £16.50 and Vanilla Rose Bath Salts at £22.50. Delivery is free for purchases over £20.

You can follow Made By Coopers at: https://www.instagram.com/madebycoopers/ 

 https://www.facebook.com/madebycoopers | https://twitter.com/madebycoopers | https://www.pinterest.co.uk/madebycoopers/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/madebycoopers/ 

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows


http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q
http://faitobooks.co.uk


Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

The Ugly Truth by L.C. North Book Review

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The Ugly Truth is a rollercoaster of a book that has you hooked from the first page. Told in an original way: through transcripts, interviews and social media posts, it is a damning indictment of our tabloid media and celebrity obsession. It’s also a heartbreaking exploration of mental illness. 

Your heart will be in your mouth throughout this book. I think it’s impossible to read it and not feel passionate about it’s characters and subjects.. The Ugly Truth is not for the faint hearted. It’s original, blistering and brilliant. A triumph. 

 

Melanie Lange has disappeared.

Her father, Sir Peter Lange, says she is a danger to herself and has been admitted to a private mental health clinic.

Her ex-husband, Finn, and best friend, Nell, say she has been kidnapped.

The media will say whichever gets them the most views.

But whose side are you on?

#SaveMelanie

#HelpPeter

The Ugly Truth is a shocking and addictive thriller about celebrity culture, coercive control and the truth behind the headlines.

The Ugly Truth is available here.

Add Zest To Your Life With The NEW Funky Edition Premium Classic Zester – by Award Winning Author Dr Kathleen Thompson

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I simply hate wasting any good food, and, when I peel an orange or use a lemon, it bugs me to throw away all that lovely zest, packed with delicious citrus oils and vitamin C. But I have to be honest, struggling with a traditional grater, which shows no discrimination between the lemon rind and my finger-tips is a toil involving little  pleasure.

So I absolutely adore the Microplane Premium Classic Zester and their new range of limited edition designs, which merge beauty with practicality.

Microplane® classic zesters are a bit special. Their design was inspired by a Canadian housewife in the early 90s, who, fed up with her traditional grater, borrowed one of her husband’s wood-working tools…  They really are quite unique, clever and attractive.

What I love about them is their long and slim stainless steel blade which has regular photo-etched micro-teeth – 400 of them. They’re so sharp that they make zesting completely effortless, but thanks to the strong handle and long blade, one can keep one’s fingers well out of the way.

Just gently rubbing the blade against a lemon created a pile of perfect zest, leaving the pith intact on the lemon. I absolutely love the eye-catching limited edition designs on the handles – the featured one is named Tropical. The tiny anti-scratch ‘feet’ on the end mean that you can stand it in a pan or bowl for more stability and because the micro-teeth all face in the same direction, it’s really easy to wipe clean, although you can also put it in the dishwasher. What’s more, they all have a protective cover to save you accidently hurting yourself when they are in the drawer.

Besides citrus fruits, you can use the zester for other things too –you can grate ginger root, chocolate, spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon – and if you’re really cooking something special, how about truffle? It’s easy to grate tiny or larger amounts and the zester is attractive enough to take its place at the dinner table.

The Microplane® Funky Edition Premium Classic Zester is available in a choice of attractive designs to suit any kitchen: Safari, Skull, Ombre, Tropical and Black Marble. Available for RRP £24.95 from hartsofstur.com however at the moment they’re on offer at £17.47 so take a look – you’ll love them.

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q
http://faitobooks.co.uk


Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

 

DEA Agent Plunges Readers Into Seedy World of Trap Houses and Police Corruption in New Book

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The Quiet Houses: Fall of the Narcs immediately caught my attention and I’m glad it did. Not only is it a fascinating story of the beginning of Jeff Moore’s career as an undercover detective, but it is a true insider view. Jeff is a fantastic writer and his empathy and compassion comes through on the page. You can tell he is a good person. Thankfully he shared his interesting life with us. 

The Quiet Houses: Fall of the Narcs is based on real events and keeps you hooked from the first page. Jeff and Tammy make an unusual, yet fascinating partnership. This book is perfect for true crime fans. I loved it and I cannot recommend it enough. 

DEA Agent Plunges Readers Into Seedy World of Trap Houses and Police Corruption in New Book

Based on real events, The Quiet Houses: Fall of the Narcs traces the remarkable career of DEA Special Agent Jeff Moore, who captured the world’s oldest and most successful drug cartel mule, Leo Sharp — the story of which became the inspiration for Clint Eastwood’s blockbuster movie, The Mule.

 

The Quiet Houses follows Jeff’s employment journey from redundant graphics designer to patrol officer to undercover detective in a corrupt, Kansas City, Missouri, narcotics unit led by Sgt. Ryan Shale, who has aligned himself with a large-scale drug trafficker in a symbiotic relationship of profit and police protection.

 

Embarrassed by Jeff’s sub-par results on the streets, Ryan forces Jeff to work alongside an unmanageable but streetwise informant named Tamera Josephine Mack. The unlikely pair embarks on a surreal odyssey infiltrating as many drug houses as possible to conduct undercover street level drug buys of heroin and cocaine. They encounter lost souls and violent men during their journey.

 

Jeff’s relationship with Tammy is exceedingly contentious yet entertaining.

 

“My experiences with Tamera Mack were almost too unreal to believe, which served to create an incredible story I wanted to tell,” Moore said. “In my career, I have met some of the most interesting and nefarious people in the world.”

 

Tammy opens Jeff’s eyes to a world he has never seen, and he is forced to redefine his purpose, and accept his failures and fears. Through self-preservation, Tammy and Jeff look past stereotypes and social differences, and form a deep friendship.

 

However, Ryan Shale’s unrelenting corruption knows no limits, as he uses his criminal contacts to steal drug and money seizures off the streets while eliminating adversaries. Eventually, Jeff and Tammy find themselves in Ryan’s crosshairs. In a final battle of cat and mouse, a surprise ending unfolds with Tammy and Jeff fighting for their lives with all the players under one roof.

 

About the Author

DEA agent Jeff Moore’s 2014 New York Times interview regarding his capture of the world’s oldest and most successful drug cartel mule, Leo Sharp, became the basis for Clint Eastwood’s movie, The Mule. In the movie, Eastwood portrayed Leo Sharp and actor Bradley Cooper portrayed agent Moore. Prior to working for DEA, Moore spent a year as an undercover narcotics police detective buying crack cocaine and heroin from drug houses throughout Kanas City, Missouri. Currently, DEA agent Jeff Moore works in Detroit, Michigan.

 

The Quiet Houses: Fall of the Narcs is available here. 

Publisher: Allestone Publications

Release Date: August 28, 2022

ISBN-13: ‎ 979-8218053260 (Paperback)

ISBN-13: ‎ 979-8218057091 (Hardcover)

 

The Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives

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I’m a lifelong lover of music. I’m pretty much always listening to it. I believe music is healing, it’s one of the things that make life worth living. I have always thought it has a lot of benefits and now I know I’m right. 

The Sound of Being Human is part memoir, part scientific study and part music history. It is a deep and soulful read by an important music journalist, Jude Rogers. She has interviewed every musician worth knowing and knows her stuff. I learned a lot from this brilliant book and I cannot recommend it enough. 

The Sound of Being Human explores, in detail, why music plays such a deep-rooted role in so many lives, from before we are born to our last days. At its heart is Jude’s own story: how songs helped her wrestle with the grief of losing her father at age five; concoct her own sense of self as a lonely adolescent; sky-rocket her relationships, both real and imagined, in the flushes of early womanhood; propel her own journey into working life, adulthood and parenthood; and look to the future.

Shaped around 12 songs, ranging from ABBA’s ‘Super Trouper’ to Neneh Cherry’s ‘Buffalo Stance’, Kraftwerk’s ‘Radioactivity’ to Martha Reeves and the Vandellas’ ‘Heat Wave’, the book combines memoir and historical, scientific and cultural enquiry to show how music can shape different versions of ourselves; how we rely upon music for comfort, for epiphanies, and for sexual and physical connection; how we grow with songs, and songs grow inside us, helping us come to terms with grief, getting older and powerful memories. It is about music’s power to help us tell our own stories, whatever they are, and make them sing.

The Sound of Being Human is available here.