Christmas for me, is a house full of people letting their hair down and enjoying plenty of food and drink. And whilst cocktails seem to add to the party atmosphere, quite often by the time I have made the last cocktail, the person served first, is almost ready for a second.
At a point in the year when time is at a premium, this can soon ruin the vibe, which is where these cocktails in a can come in.
At Christmas I am guaranteed to be short of two things, space and time and anything that assists with such challenges is always welcome.
No more juggling bottles for me or taking 5 to 7 minutes to make one cocktail per person as Sierra Tequila has launched a delicious range of ready-to-drink Margaritas in the UK.
These ‘bar quality’ Margaritas are available in two flavours, Strawberry and Lime.
High-quality, convenient cocktails, the Sierra Margarita cans are available in stores throughout the UK, as well as online via Amazon and are also available from Aldi and Lidl
Sierra is known for its bold, fruity, and award-winning flavour, made with the finest blue Weber agave, guaranteeing that the cocktail inside the can is full of bold flavour, expertly mixed, and made for those moments worth savouring.
Sierra Strawberry Margarita is a delicious combination of juicy, sweet strawberries with smooth agave notes of Sierra Tequila Blanco. Whereas the Sierra Lime Margarita is the perfect combination of tangy lime, well-balanced sweetness, a hint of salt, and cooked agave notes.
These would also make superb stocking fillers and guarantee you top billing at the office secret Santa.
And if I am not too early, let me be the first to wish you a Happy Christmas.
With Christmas just around the corner, these Glow For It must-haves are perfect for Christmas The growth kit is perfect for the lash obsessed and the blush stick is a budget-friendly stocking filler.
The Growth Starter Kit A best-selling set featuring the viral Lash Growth Serum and Brow Growth Serum — ideal for beauty lovers looking for real results and fuller lashes this party season. Available at glowforitshop.com
Blush Sticks A budget-friendly stocking filler infused with skin-loving ingredients for a radiant, healthy glow. Creamy, blendable and universally flattering — a festive must-have.
Oh, fab-u-lous: The Carlswick Mysteries return with a tale of blackmail, forbidden art, and a deadly game played out on the streets of New York City. Stephanie Cooper joins her boyfriend James Knox and his band in New York for the final week of their tour. But teh bands new found popularity has attracted unwanted attention and Stephanie’s research project at a New York museum puts her on a collision course with an old adversary. From the glitzy modern day bars and clubs of Manhattan to the gritty Lower East Side tenements of the 1940s, Stephanie tries to keep one step ahead of an increasingly desperate faceless blackmailer as she traces the final legacy of war time Nazi art liberator Karl Hoffman. (Fascinating) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FXLZ3SDL/ @ £1.99 Kindle edition
Here we have a three book offer – Kindle edition. Dr Margaret Demeray – Historical Crime Box Set 1-3. I find historical’s fascinating as one usually learns so much, and you certainly will from these three books. The Wrong Sort to Die by Paula Harmon: June 1910. Dr Margaret Demeray gives a stranger called Fox information about a dead down-and-out. When a second man dies the same way, Margaret starts to wonder why the enigmatic Fox keeps turning up to ask ever more complex questions. Margaret must discover the truth before someone silences her for good. Death in the Last Reel by Paula Harmon After the violent murder of three policemen in the line of duty, Fox asks Margaret to help with a mission and she can’t wait to assist. How can they discover who is behind the threat to London when it’s not entirely clear what the threat actually is? The Treacherous Dead the third in the series by Paula Harmon: It’s summer 1912. When Dr Margaret Demeray tells Fox about an unlikely spy plot, something reminds him of an old case. Just as they decide the allegation is nonsense, a young woman is found dead and evidence at the scene links Fox to her murder. Is someone now seeking revenge?
I absolutely love, love, love Cozy Crime, and here we have three historical cozy crimes by the fabulous Celina Grace. This collection of Miss Hart and Miss Hunter Investigate (Historical Cozy Crime Box Set 1-3) is a simply lovely Golden Age murder-mystery collection with three witty and delightful whodunits.
Book 1: Murder at Merisham Lodge Derbyshire, 1930s. When Lady Eveline Cartwright is found dead in her study, life at Merisham Lodge begins to unravel. Amid lies, loyalties, and hidden dangers, Joan Hart and Verity Hunter must uncover the truth before they become the next to fall. Can they expose a cunning killer before they become the next victims?
Book 2: Death at the Theatre London, 1932. A night at the theatre turns deadly when the curtains rise on an unexpected tragedy. A man has been stabbed to death almost under their very noses. Behind the glittering lights, Joan and Verity uncover a world of deception and ambition where the stage is set for danger.
Book 3: The Hidden House Murders West Country, 1934. What begins as a peaceful retreat quickly descends into chaos after a poisoned dinner. The deadly dish proves fatal for one unlucky soul. As Verity and Joan begin to delve deeper into the tangled relationships of the Ashford family and their guests, it becomes apparent that too many people have secrets to keep … some of which are worth killing for … https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G366L1R4/ @ £2.99
Once the clocks go back, and we are overtaken by the dark nights, watching Bake Off becomes a must; and whilst I could never hope to emulate those talented bakers, it doesn’t mean that I don’t want to give it a go.
A kitchen filled with the scents of baking is always comforting, and never more so than in the run up to Christmas. I then spend far too long searching for the baking tins which seem to migrate throughout the kitchen into a variety of cupboards and drawers.
But no longer, as the Green Pan Reserve Bakeware 6 – piece set stack neatly inside one another. These come in a stylish range of colours, and I chose the Pine Green to match my kitchen, the two other colours being Oxford Blue and Black. Featuring the beautiful and eye- catching gold PVD coated stainless steel handles.
My wife likes these not because they are beautiful, which she agrees they are, but because with the exception of the muffin tray, these are all dishwasher friendly, and for some inexplicable reason, she thinks that I am a messy baker.
Each item is sturdy with an impressive weight that exudes quality, combining performance and beauty, heating up quickly and evenly up to 230° C in the oven.
They are perfect for planet – friendly baking, as the range has 2 layers of PFAS – Free ceramic non – stick coating on durable aluminised steel that won’t warp or bend.
The set is comprised of one of each of the following 6 items. A baking tray, roasting tray with roasting rack (and I would also use this as a cooling rack), round cake tin, loaf tin and a 6 cup muffin tin.
I would buy this for an aspiring baker, it would make the perfect Christmas gift for the star baker in your life, and should you see me on next year’s Bake Off you’ll know how it all started.
Green Pan Reserve Bakeware 5 – piece set in Oxford Blue, Black and Pine Green, RRP £129 greenpan.co.uk
For her — SoleCup Original, 18oz Ice Cream Silicone A joyful pastel band (lilac/mint/lemon) with the premium glass build and comfortable grip. Dishwasher safe and made for coffee, tea or hot chocolate – ideal for cosy commutes and weekend strolls. It is a modern, design-led gift that people will use daily (and actually enjoy using).
It is dishwasher and microwave safe and has an additional tea infuser and smoothie filter that is easy to attache and clean. Sustainable and eco-friendly, it is made with reinforced glass. This is the perfect cup. We are obsessed with it. Love it.
In Safe Hands is a psychological thriller set in London and Singapore, about a once successful but now penniless woman who seeks help from her elderly, wealthy father but finds that her role has been replaced by an attractive and efficient caregiver.
Where does your inspiration come from?
For me, inspiration comes from reading, theatre, sightseeing and walking, travel, TV and movies. I very rarely take inspiration from real people as I want to create settings and characters that are larger than life. Fiction is about stretching the boundaries of our imagination. For In Safe Hands, I was inspired by the class struggle and status consciousness in both Singapore and London, two parallel cities absorbed with economic and commercial growth which made me want to write about the have and have-not characters.
What does it feel like to be published by Penguin Random House?
Like most authors, I grew up on Penguin classics. I used to admire the plain orange spines, and wonder how I would ever write a book that appears on the shelf with the Penguin logo. When I received an offer 9 months after submission for The American Boyfriend, I thought it had to be a scam. I didn’t even reply for a week. After investigating the email, I was grateful that I was going to be not just an author, but a Penguin author.
Can you describe the moment you signed your book deal?
The moment I signed my book deal, I felt excited and light-headed, Prosecco-filled and buzzing. This was swiftly followed by a heavy responsibility, and also that I was an amateur and not good enough. Although in theory every author feels a debilitating sense of anxiety and inferiority, I felt the pressure of no longer someone who was just messing about, experimenting with writing, with sporadic success. Now I was a “real” writer and there were consequences, which were a sense of professional duty to perform, the urge to gain readers from all over the world, while developing my author brand, and finally the responsibility in delivering a top quality product to the world.
Tell us about your writing journey.
My writing journey actually began quite early, even though I only published my debut novel in my late 40s. I was writing short stories throughout my childhood for fun. Some received national commendation. I had always been interested in competitions, in case I won something. A real breakthrough came when one of my short stories was broadcast on the BBC World Service. I was actually even paid for it. It was the first time I had been paid for my writing. Gradually I entered more competitions and eventually won two big first prize competitions.
Encouraged by my initial success, I signed up for an MA in Writing. I began writing my first novel then, which won a literary prize in Hong Kong. After I started writing novels, I was less interested in writing short stories, which I saw as something you do in between novels, like a side dish or a snack. I really enjoy investing time and energy into novel writing, which I feel is all-consuming and more like a satisfying, seriously rich meal.
In Safe Hands is your sixth book. Does it get easier?
Yes and no. They’re like children. The problems change and get bigger. Before, they just come out, exist and you make sure they don’t die. Then, when you have more books, you have to look after the whole family, your brand identity, your own development, the commercialisation of your writing, your publishing strategy and plan. There is no more hodgepodge or random scribblings, unless they are just for fun. The marketing and promo is the least fun bit of being an author, yet a significantly and disproportionately large part of publishing today, to the detriment of the fun bit: just writing. Everytime I make a reel, I know I’m not writing.
Which book is your favourite?
In Safe Hands is my favourite book. I say this not just because it is my latest book. I have made meteoric improvements since my debut 8 years ago. I exceed my own expectations with each book. I wrote better and better books. With each book, I tackle a little weakness or strength learned from previous books. Had I given up, which of course, I have considered doing many times, I would never have realised my potential to grow as a creative thinker and writer.
What is your writing routine?
I don’t have a writing routine. Being a full-time architect and mum of two, I just write whenever I can. If I have one hour while waiting for my daughter at ballet, then I’ll write for one hour. If I have 15 minutes in between appointments, then I will write for 15 minutes. I don’t schedule any of it or get stressed if the words don’t come, because I feel that eventually when you get those minutes or an hour, the words will come. If it’s a story, then the story will be told sooner or later.
Are you a plotter or a panster?
I’m definitely a plotter, as I had made the mistake of spending 12 years writing my first novel due to not having any plot. I would just make things up as I felt like, until I got to the end. This only cost me many more years of rewrites. Now I can fill an A3 page with a diagram of my plot, and a google sheet with my chapter plan. It gives me a sense of peace just staring at these diagrams or Google sheets. I don’t mind if I have to spend a bit more time on the plotting. I see them as just as valid as plans for a building, or instructions to construct an object.
What writers and books do you love?
I enjoy character-driven plots. I read Liz Nugent, Elle Marr, Tony Parsons, Emily Barr, Shari Lapena, Lisa Jewell and Andrea Mara. I also enjoy literary fiction. Books which have influenced me include Penguin Classics. For contemporary book club fiction, I enjoy JM Coetzee, John Lanchester and Rebecca Kuang. An automatic read for me would be David Szalay. I have already ordered his Booker winner, Flesh. I love anything he’s written.
Before the Killling by Margie Benedict is fabulous, and don’t you think the title grips before you even start to read – you just know it will be the cutting edge mystery thriller it is. Gulp.
Let me tell you just a little more… because the past doesn’t stay buried. It waits for Cassie to return to her coastal Massachusetts hometown, which indeed she does.
In the summer of 1973, the day after Cassie’s return, the town is shaken by a brutal killing – and someone close to her is accused of the crime. The investigation tears through the community, leaving behind guilt, suspicion, and secrets Cassie can’t forget. Seven years later, Cassie’s life is still defined by that night. An unexpected and inexplicable event gives her a chance to finally uncover the truth. But as she retraces the days leading up to the murder, she begins to realize the story she remembers isn’t the whole one—and that someone has been keeping dangerous watch all along.
Now, hunted by a killer who knows more than she does, Cassie must piece together what really happened – before the past and the killer catch up to her. (Book 1 The Killing Hour) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G24SFSGB/ Pre-order @ £0.99 instead of £2.99
Dark Corners by Alex Walters – Volume 2 – the Murrain Series – a tense crime thriller.
When a child’s body is found, DCI Kenny Murrain uncovers buried secrets and a killer ready to strike again. A missing child’s body is found on the edge of the Peak District. As DCI Kenny Murrain and his team investigate, more attempted child abductions are reported. Murrain’s instincts tell him this is a community with secrets, and those secrets have their roots deep in the past. Unexpected connections surface as he uncovers mysteries long buried… And a high-profile child killing two decades before. Then another child goes missing, and Murrain and his team must race to identify the killer before it’s too late … I confess I usually skip child killings, but this is written with humanity and empathy, and of course, that – ‘what happens next’ – magic.
Never let her goby LK Chapman Book Three in the Chilling Psychological Trilogy (No Escape)
Oh crikey All he wants is his family – no matter the cost. But hang on a moment, it might be an idea to have just a little glass of something calming (a gin) before you begin to read … You see, I fear this jaw-dropping thriller about obsession and jealousy will keep you up all night.
A while ago Felicity escaped from Jay, her obsessive cruel ex, and thought she was safe, as she built a new life with Scott and son Leo in a seaside town. Little does she know that Jay has tracked her down and wormed his way into the confidence of Vicky, a woman from Scott’s past who has her own very sharp axe to grind … This is the taut and gripping finale (yes really – boo hoo) of the No Escape trilogy, Jay’s obsession with Felicity pushes him to ever more desperate lengths to get her back. Felicity soon discovers that he’ll stop at nothing, and history begins to repeat itself as she finds alone, terrified, and at Jay’s mercy once again. Can she escape him before it’s too late? …Nope, I’m not going to tell you … Read it and see. Wonderful.
Hope on the Waterways by Milly Adams – The gripping finale of the historical trilogy which is touched by romance – well, more than a touched – there are three girls after all. Add to all this, there is that final question … should Sylvia keep a promise which will see her gone from the waterways, or will she, as closest friends, Polly and Verity hope, choose love of a different kind? Nope, no answer forthcoming, because yet again, I will leave that for you to find out for yourselves. Let’s just say thatwhen all seems lost, the three waterway girls find strength in each other and in that most important of emotions, especially in wartime – hope. Sensitively plotted and building to a satisfying pitch.
Set in January 1945, West London: Sylvia Simpson is flourishing in her role aboard the Marigold and has quickly become an invaluable member of the waterways crew and their little family. But as the V-I and V-2 rockets draw closer, someone from her past is about to burst into their lives. Meanwhile Polly and Verity are still waiting for their sweethearts’ safe return, and soon find they have their own battles to fight on the home front. It will take all their resolve to keep their heads above water, but as long as they stick together there will always be hope. I found the setting of wartime canal transport in which girls were recruited is a most satisfying world within which all these disparate characters find out just what they are made of. Heavens, could I do what they did? I fear not.
When we were walking Polly over golden leaves in Sowerby churchyard looking for squidgies (which everyone knows are squirrels for Polly to chase) we saw this 1902 headstone for a lady – who was …. Relict of her husband.
I was intrigued. Relict? I nipped home and researched: relict means ‘left behind’. relicts are widows, and the term was in common use between the 17th and 19th centuries. It became obvious the more I thought about it, that the term underlined the fact that a woman’s social standing was dependent on the context of her marriage, so, on the death of her husband, and the start of her emergence as a relict or widow meant – what now?
Just think, widowhood, or relic-hood was a highly precarious situation. Not only did the relict, face grief – if in fact love existed in the marriage, which was so often arranged – but also the social and financial vulnerability as laws governing property and inheritance frequently left widows dependent on the goodwill of their children or other family members. Perhaps a brother, or a cousin. The word Relict was far too often the reminder of a life that had been fundamentally altered by loss.
But… many relicts played pivotal roles in their families, and even communities. As time passed some found themselves navigating complicated inheritance law to secure dosh for their children. Or even gave them time to think, and become determined to change the scenario for their daughters and grand-daughters. After all, the female suffrage movement was stirring.
All so interesting. Or is it just me finding it so? Lord, I do go on.
