Michael Ashcroft’s In the Shadows grips, reveals, and impresses – reviewed by Margaret Graham

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In the Shadows by Michael Ashcroft reveals much, but necessarily not too much, of the deeds of the quite extraordinary men and women of the Intelligence Corps, which is one of the smallest and most secretive though vital elements of the British Army.

Wellington realized, (and  the Duke of Marlborough before him, and probably Caesar before him etc.),  that intelligence was essential once he arrived in the Pennisular: he must have information, information, information about the geography of the area and the enemy, and  so set about using those he trusted to source what he needed.

So, what happened during the twentieth century, and up to and including today, to source desperately needed intelligence?

Michael Ashcroft supplies answers with In the Shadows, by shining a light on the British Army’s Intelligence Corps which was only formally constituted in July 1940 but which operated well before that.

In the Shadows includes stories of and  from just some of the courageous, innovative characters who have operated in secret since the first World War to the present day, as they determined to uncover ever present threats. The tools they used were/are surveillance at home and overseas, developing contacts,  interrogating during conflicts – in fact using and seemingly inventing skills various. Add to this the sometimes necessity of going into the lion’s den to achieve their ends and you are getting the picture.

What struck me reading the stories was the loneliness – who to trust in the field, indeed can you trust anyone? It reminded me of a discussion I had with a former SOE agent during WW2, one who was captured, and whose fingernails had not regrown, though some do.’ Lonely’, she said. ‘I was very lonely.’

Add to loneliness  the determination to see a mission through, as is Ascroft reveals in In the Shadows, is apparent, and the sheer courage and endurance of spirit when one knew discovery and capture was the end of all things. All of it unsung, all secret, and – I come back to it – so often alone.

Ashcroft uses the recollections and experiences of those who have served, to create a gripping, revealing and relentlessly tense, though accessible, exploration of this most vital unsung secret Intelligence Corps, without which we would go blindly forward.

Read it, and thank  these extraordinary selfless people.

In the Shadows by Michael Ashcroft hb £25 Biteback Publishing

THE ECHOES OF LOVE – REVIEW AND INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR JENNY ASHCROFT

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Jane Cable reviews this fabulous historical romance

Where do I begin with this incredible book? With the sweeping love story at its gripping heart, or the impeccable historical research, or the phenomenal sense of place and time that had me living and breathing Crete in 1936 and during the Second World War? Or shall I just cut to the chase and tell you this will most likely be my book of the year.

In 1936, eighteen year old Eleni Adams returns from England to Crete to spend the summer with her Greek grandfather, something she has done every year since her mother died when she was a baby. But this summer is different; this summer she falls in love with Otto, the German boy staying in the villa next door, and I was as captivated by the breathlessness of young love, the intensity of feeling, as I was by the setting that made me feel as though I was really sitting above that cove near sun-drenched Chania.

But we all know our history, and in 1941 Crete was captured by the Germans. By that time Eleni is an SOE agent based on the island, and rather than leave she goes underground in the bombed out ruins of Chania to help to support the resistance. Meanwhile Otto is one of the first wave of fighters to be parachuted in; a reluctant Nazi, a man who stands against cruelty and reprisals, and of course the lovers’ paths cross once again.

Also running through the book is the transcript of an interview from 1974, given by the man who, it becomes apparent, betrayed Eleni. A man who knew her well. A man who she trusted.

This book transported me absolutely, haunted my dreams, tore me apart, and put me back together again. It’s an absolute triumph, so I was delighted when Jenny Ashcroft agreed to tell me how, and why, she came up with the idea of the interview transcript.

 

JA: First of all, thank you so much for this wonderful review. I’m absolutely thrilled you enjoyed it! As for the transcripts, the idea for those actually came before the central idea for the book. Often when I’m trying to come up with something new, I’ll write scenes or bits of dialogue that spring into my mind, and one afternoon I found myself playing around with a prologue written in interview form.

I love historical documentaries, and just thought that the dynamic between a researcher and their subject could be a really rich one – especially if that subject is carrying some deep regret, or secret, from their past. So, I wrote a sample for my agent, she really loved it, and when, a couple of weeks later, I went back to her with my synopsis for The Echoes of Love, she was really enthusiastic about that too, but asked, ‘Is there any way you can get that transcript idea in?’ I thought there was, decided that they could work as being from a fictional BBC documentary commemorating the liberation of Greece, and that’s how the transcripts came to be woven through the text of Eleni and Otto’s story.

All very iterative, and I wish I could say that I knew from the start precisely what I was doing, but I never seem to know that with any book! For me, it really is the case that it’s only when I start to write that I come to realise where I want to go. But I’m so glad I did weave those transcripts in. They really did become such a core part of the story.

 

 

The Ritual Bathing Revolution … by Alex Bannard Wellbeing and Wellness Editor

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Recently I met Lisa from Rock & Rose Rituals and she shared her inspiring story. In 2018 she left the corporate world & London behind and retreated to Scotland in her camper van. Reconnecting with nature, she reawakened a deep connection, communication & co-creation with nature, plants & earth elements.

We talked about the studies that have been on water consciousness. Masaru Emoto’s water experiments: water imbued with love, joy, compassion created the most beautiful symmetrical crystals on freezing compared to water imbued with fear, hate, doubt whose crystals were misshapen & dark. Just search his name in YouTube to see it for yourself.

I told her how I wanted to do the rice experiment with my kids. Boiled rice is placed in 3 jars, one labeled love, one hate & the final one ignore. For 1 minute a day someone gives the jar labelled love loving thoughts & words. For another minute the jar of hate is told hateful words & thoughts. And the final jar is ignored. Weeks later the love jar’s rice is still blooming, the hate & ignore are blackened, decayed. Again check this out on YouTube!

I knew we were talking the same language so when Lisa told me how the plants talk to her, inspiring her to co—create her bathing rituals, I knew exactly what she meant. Although I have to be honest, a few years ago if someone had said that to me, I probably would have thought: yeah right. Now I understand & believe in the power of energy & how everyday people are co-creating with the Universe because they are awakening to that innate, intuition within themselves, their inner wisdom & this opens up the door to connecting with source, other realms, whatever you want to call it.

I wanted to try Lisa’s full moon bathing ritual but it had been a full moon the night before? She reassured me I still had time if I did it when I got home. The full moon guided me home reflecting in my wing mirror or side window.

At  gone 10pm I found the ritual instructions & began filling the bath reading the steps required: lighting a candle, turning on the accompanying playlist, cleansing the space with a cleansing stick, drawing an infinity sign in the water imbuing the bath with an intention. Of course being menopausal I kept forgetting the next step & would have to scrabble around for my glasses to read it.

But despite it being a very stop-start process, I finally relaxed into the bath. It was then I had a deeply profound experience: a deep sense of connection; a real sense & visceral appreciation to trust in myself, this was something I had known intellectually for a while but I really felt it. Then I had a series of inspirations & ideas. One of which was to collaborate with Lisa to create a guided experience to accompany her ritual because I absolutely loved it. Hopefully we’ll be doing that very soon!

Everyone’s experience is different because we are all unique but what I find interesting is that everyone is capable of equally profound experiences. I love meeting everyday people who are experiencing beautiful awakenings. It’s a reminder to us that this awakening is available to us all. You don’t have to be a scientist, a yogi, a Buddhist monk, everyday people are having beautiful awakenings. And you can too.

To join Lisa in her ritual bathing revolution you can find her here:https://www.rockandrose.one/#about_us 

Instagram: @rockandroserituals

If you would like more information on how to practice mindfulness, meditation & yoga check out Alex’ website: alexbannard.com

For free resources check out:

Facebook group: Mindfulness & Yoga for Self-Care: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MindfulnessYoga4Relationships

YouTube channel: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexbannard/

Living with Alzheimers – We Are Best Friends by Chris Suich

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Today, as I do three times a week, I visited my lovely husband Bob who has been in care since 10th March 2020 with the devastating illness Alzheimer’s.

It is amazing that he is still with us as he was not expected to live beyond last Christmas 2021 – according to our local GP who saw him after the first bout of Covid 19.

He is poorly there is no doubting that. He cannot walk or do anything for himself, even holding a chocolate button or a birthday card is beyond his cognition now. Recently it was our 43rd wedding anniversary. I took him a card that had a picture of two teddies in a car, I thought he might understand. Probably not.

However, he tries hard to communicate with me, chitter chattering nonsensical words, turning his head, looking at me directly and smiling. The love is still there for me and I see it in his eyes and mannerisms, and occasionally he speaks a phrase that makes sense, or he tries to sit up and puts his lips together for a kiss. For my part I still have him. I can kiss him and hold his hand. I can tell him my news and ring our sons and they talk to him when they can. He says ‘ Hello’ and he kisses the phone. I know he recognises their voices. They are wonderfully kind and patient but also brave and full of humanity. I am proud of the way they handle it all.

Today he is sat up in a Stirling chair (nice and deep and tipped slightly backwards so he can’t fall forwards), dressed nicely, shaved and clean, looking at the TV. He likes Tipping Point as he likes the bit where the coins drop down, and as he was brilliant with numbers in his past life he will read out the amounts the contestants win. Then it is The Chase. I tell him he is on my team and I try to answer the questions and he watches the red writing turn to green writing if I get it right.

The carers are kind and I know they make more effort when I come in. I insist they get him up as he likes to sit upright in a chair and I think is is better for his digestion. No one wants to lay in bed all day and he is not any different.

I take him the food we enjoyed together. He knows it. He looks for the red carrier bag with pictures of Parisian cartoons on we bought together in Paris. I like to think it evokes some happy memories of our time together. That and the food.  Maybe somewhere deep inside him he’ll associate the food with me. Sometimes I get a positive clue that this is the case. But in any case I am satisfied that he is enjoying the food and relishing every mouthful. He eats everything we would normally eat, apart from chewy meat or stringy chicken as he doesn’t like the texture. Or the sloppy food which is sometimes given by the home. I feed him from a teaspoon as he opens his mouth a little. He is used to a beaker and the home gives him fortified drinks to keep his weight up.

It takes a little while to get him going with a spoon, but once he gets the taste of the food he opens his mouth wide and as he has all his own teeth he chews well and swallows fine.  Today it is Lincolnshire sausages, two chopped, onion gravy, parsnips and broccoli and mash. Then chopped mince pies and extra thick cream blobs. It only takes me 30 mins and the swallowing is interspersed with ‘ lovely’. I have had a little victory with the food situation.

I couldn’t understand why he was on a semi-soft diet when he ate my food so magnificently. Once he pouched his food in one cheek with me and also with a carer but that was because he didn’t like the chewiness the stringy consistency but he never did it again. Not enough evidence I thought for giving him the sloppy soft diet daily that he clearly didn’t enjoy. I asked for a speech and language Dysphagia assessment as if these professionals thought the same then I would agree with it. However, Bob did not meet the criteria for a dysphagia assessment so therefore I reasoned he could still eat the chopped normal food. That is now supposed to  happen whether I’m present or not! Bob also has a beer, or some wine and on Sundays a tot of port. Everything I would normally give him at home. Why not?

After this nutrition he will often say something. ‘ Are you alright for money?’ or ‘Be careful’ or sadly ‘ Let’s go home’

I play a range of our favourite music and music videos I’ve downloaded onto my iPad for him to watch. He loves these. I show him ELO Mr Blue Sky, Telephone Line, Wild West Hero and several Beatles black and white films with music tracks. I have a great playlist now and Bob enjoys it. I see the light switch on behind his eyes and his fingers and toes twitch. He becomes relaxed and content. I know it makes a difference. It makes him feel better and it is good for his well being. I don’t like to think of him on his own laid in bed with limited interaction. But I know the carers are busy, and Bob is easier to manage in bed as many residents can walk and are more difficult to keep occupied and safe. But all residents need to have their well being addressed and music is game changing.

Emotionally for me it is a roller coaster. I hate to see him struggling to communicate getting frustrated, pulling at his hair, trying to explain. ‘It’s horrible!’ he says. I hate it when he says ‘Let’s go together’ or ‘Is it time to go home?’

I still look forward to seeing him and he is always in my mind even though I try to fill my life with being busy. I have my Inner Wheel and Rotary endeavours to take part in. I volunteer at a local school weekly and have a wide range of friends to see regularly. I dread a phone call from the care home in case it is some bad news and my stomach lurches when I see who is ringing me on the phone. Sleeping all night is difficult as Bob comes back to me in the middle of the night. I have tried to get on with my own things in the day but at night he is in my unconscious brain. I remember the little things we did together, often long forgotten. I am probably more anxious as Bob smoothed out all my worries. He was a good match for me.

It almost makes me cry nowadays, when he tells me ‘You’re lovely’ or ‘ I’m sorry’. I tell him everything is fine and not to worry and that he’s lovely too. He sometimes is sad and downcast and I have a job to get him to respond to me but he usually does in the end.

Sadly he doesn’t know I’m his wife but thinks I’m his best friend.

That is ok we are best friends.

 

SUNDAY SCENE: JULIE HOUSTON ON HER FAVOURITE SCENE FROM THE NEXT VILLAGE VICAR BOOK

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I think visitors to the north of England, and especially to the industrial urbanised towns of West Yorkshire, are always surprised to find themselves in the Yorkshire Dales – Skipton, Kettlewell and Grassington – and then, within another fifty miles or so, into the glorious Lake District. Wordsworth certainly knew what he was talking about when he called Grasmere, ‘The loveliest spot that man hath ever found’ and, writing in praise of Lake Ullswater, found it to be, ‘The happiest combination of beauty and grandeur.’

I have just completed my sequel to The Village Vicar (available January 2023) and, in this sequel, (probably to be titled The Girls of Heatherly Hall and available Summer 2023) I had a glorious time writing about Eva, one of the Quinn triplets, spending a weekend at an art retreat on Lake Ullswater.

To put the scene into context, Eva, newly separated from her husband, and utterly miserable, is in the Lake District for the weekend on an art course at one of the UK’s upmarket retreats, but also there on a fact-finding mission, prior to setting up her own similar art retreat back in West Yorkshire.

Eva arrives in the pouring rain for which the Lake District is renowned and, after a sleepless night, walks in the early hours of a now fine midsummer morning, down through the grounds of the retreat to the edge of Lake Ullswater itself. She is instantly captivated by the beauty and peace of the place:

…twelve acres of gardens and woodlands, as well as over half a mile of shore around the lake, and she set off down the beautifully kept gardens to the lake side.  The stunning mountain scenery to the south softened gradually to the gently undulating hills of the north and, as she walked, breathing in the early morning scents of Oriental Poppies, Astrantia and a mass of red and yellow roses she recognised but couldn’t identify, she began to feel calmer.

Eva spends the weekend learning to throw pots with the charismatic Russian, Andrea Zaitsev and, when he suggests an evening bike ride around Ullswater, she willingly concurs.

…the bike set off through the stable yard and down towards the large open wooden gate, before turning right onto the country road and accelerating at speed. Eva felt her heart and pulse escalate in unison with the bike as the Harley Davidson roared along, the warm summer evening breeze in her face and the rumble of the V-twin engine beneath her.

Andrea powered the bike through the village of Pooley Bridge before taking the main road which clung to, and followed, the margin of Ullswater lake to their left. Once on the main road, the bike gathered momentum and Eva realised they were probably well over the speed limit, but she felt totally safe in this man’s hands, surrendering to the glorious experience of flying through the summer evening as dusk began to descend and a large Strawberry moon rose over the lake itself.

Andrea slowed down completely as he took them through the villages of Watermillock and Glenridding where tents and B and Bs announced their popularity with tourists and then, leaving the A road, continued slowly down country lanes until he pulled up at a quirky-looking pub in the village of Patterdale.

‘Where the dogs come from,’ Eva said as, with slightly shaky legs, she dismounted the bike and waited until Andrea parked correctly in front of the pub.

‘Dogs?’

‘Patterdale terriers. No idea what they look like, but I guess they must have originated from here…’

 

 

 

 

COEUR DE LION AW22 Pearl Collection

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I have absolutely fallen in love with German hand-made jewellery brand COEUR DE LION. They have launched their AW22 pearl collection and it is stunning. I can’t think of a better Christmas present.

The pieces also include their Freshwater Pearl multi-way necklace which is available in gold and silver. Head to their website now for these beautiful pieces.

https://www.coeur-de-lion.org/

CCA continues its drive towards completion, and this week Red Shoes Bob, aka John Robert, brandishes his ‘Ology’certificate.

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CCA is privileged to be able to offer its services to the WASHINGTON YOUTH COUNCIL who are asking people if they are willing to donate pamper products to the WEARSIDE WOMEN IN NEED this Christmas. How very thoughtful, and CCA are  enormously proud of these wonderful young people, as is Frost Magazine.

  

During the week Red Shoes Bob went off to do training on Life Support, CPR and Defibrillation, ‘That’s another ‘Ology he will have. He does love an Ology.‘ says Marion. 

 

 Monday saw Equans’ meeting and people coming and going though, sadly, it was the last session for Cultural Creatives.  They will, however, be back very soon with their fantastic workmanship and creative skills. The CCA  loves having them here and will miss them.

Now for an update from Richard, the surveyor, who is still waiting for the Archaeologist’s report for the Air Raid shelter. This is needed  before tthe shelter can be demolished but in the meanwhile the internal refurb is coming along with Marion insisting ‘Evry day is an exciting journey.’

Marion mentioned to Frost Magazine that the CCA had pleasure of the company of Mr Reay who was having his bungalow rewired by Equans. ‘We thoroughly enjoyed his company, and he told us he had enjoyed his breakfast with us, hot buttered toast and coffee. He said he might just make this his daily routine and he would be very welcome. Our aim is to please.

The CCA volunteer list is growing – the lovely lady who donated the hall table  has signed on the dotted line, ‘Welcome to our team Lesley,’ say the committee

Pauline has returned from holiday  and is busying herself recording and tagging the CCA’s assets. She explained that she has a gadget in her bag for detecting the ‘hard to locate’ serial numbers. The Committee think she bought it in Fuerteventura while on a WINE tasting cruise. Margaret of Frsot Magazine is making no comment, because she has been on a WINE tasting day out, and prefers to draw a veil. 

More hats have been delivered from Plain and Purl, so special thanks for their ongoing support.  Sister Mary is overwhelmed at their generosity.  PAT Testing all completed, Service records updated and filed.

Marion couldn’t wait to tell Frost Magazine: ‘Bob did the Vet visit, Rosco’s six monthly check up and his kennel cough (which he hates). Our beautiful boy got a clean bill of health and he was back to work at the CCA in time for the afternoon shift.’ 

Margaret put her dogs’ photo on, as Rosie thought her sister, Polly, looked so silly in her breadface, made by Margaret’s ‘him indoors’ Dick, that she should be seen by lots of people. After the photo was taken, Rosie and Polly ate the breadface, so very there. 

The weather in Columbia has, apparently,  been so bad even the flag didn’t fly, lest it be washed away, and Marion wasn’t having that. However; the centre remained snug and warm, kettle always on, hot buttered toasted teacakes available or delicious soup from 11am.

Lyn Beth and Alan

A huge thank you has gone out from the CCA again for all that Equans  do for them. The lovely Kerry popped in with a donation of pamper products, enjoyed a chinwag over a coffee, made a note of CCA’s end of the month coffee morning and took a pamper donations poster away with her to circulate within the company. ‘You just never know what is coming next.‘ Marion says. ‘It’s like writing your Christmas list, and by magic, it appears. They even ensure that the community are cared for and often bring people along to our Warm Spaces days. Earth Angels, every one of them.’

Columbia Community Association received a thank from Macmillan for  hosting the legendary coffee morning which raised £200 in support of this amazing cause. The CCA would like to ‘Share a thousand thanks with our fantastic community who gave their time, shared delicious homemade cakes and dug deep to support MacMillan Cancer. One thing for sure is we at CCA will continue to be in their corner.‘

Frost Magazine can assure the CCA that many are following the series on the refurbishment  and therefore the community’s activities, and their readers increasingly talk of the power of ‘Community’. Hooray, says Frost Magazine.

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

 

 

Michael Rowan puts the New Microplane® Gourmet Series Dual Grater, RRP £34.95 from hartsofstur.com through its paces and concludes that he would be grateful to find this grater in his stocking or under the Christmas tree.

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‘Boys and their toys’ were the first words uttered by my wife, as I tried out the New Microplane® Gourmet series Dual Grater in our kitchen.

As I am the cook in our household, I think that I am entitled to get the best tools for the job and with Christmas fast approaching, I know that I am going to need all the help that I can get. Just to be clear  – on this occasion I am talking of the fabulous New Microplane®  Gourmet Series Dual Grater – and not my wife, who freely admits that we only have a kitchen because it came with the house.

However, the piles of ginger, garlic, nutmeg, orange and lemon currently cluttering the kitchen made her wonder what I was cooking, and I didn’t like to tell her that it was all for this review.

This dual grater combines two of the most frequently used grating sizes, the fine blade and the course blade.

I found the dual grater to be sturdy and well balanced, less important perhaps for a block of cheese but excellent for cloves of garlic.

The fine blade, ideal for zesting citrus fruits and grating ginger, nutmeg, Parmesan, and of course garlic, worked effortlessly and will be a time saving boon come Christmas Day. As will the coarse blade, that works well with chocolate, onions, and other hard vegetables.

Two blades with one handle is perfect for those times when the recipe demands some ingredient grated followed by another ingredient also to be grated. Prior to this I would be washing the grater and desperately trying to dry it so that I can reuse it for the next ingredient.

The handle fits nicely in the hand, not saying ergonomic, but somehow it feels right.

So, if my wife is reading this, think stocking filler for yours truly, although I would be quite happy to receive this as a main gift.

NEW Microplane®  Gourmet Series Dual Grater, RRP £34.95 from hartsofstur.com 

Image courtesy of Microplane®