In 2018 dantoy launched its BIO-line which was made from sugarcane. In 2020 dantoy launched their GREEN BEAN line, which is products made from internal waste. Last year in 2021 dantoy launched their Take Back Strategy, in which they collect damaged dantoy toys to turn them into brand new toys.

Now in 2022, dantoy has presented its newest line – Blue Marine Toys, a unique solution in which toys are made from recycled maritime materials.

“Sustainability is not just a trend – it’s our DNA. By being open and welcoming the use of new materials, we can crack the need for new materials. It is a long and hard battle but here at dantoy it is a natural part of how we work and think” – Marck Matthiasen, CEO dantoy.

Blue Marine toys is the new and fascinating line produced from waste maritime materials, including fishing nets, ropes and trawls. At their factory in Hobro, Denmark, it then turned into sand and water play toys, all in bright and appealing shades. The colours and the surface of the products will be different from what we are used to, but this is international, to symbolize to retailers, parents, and children that the toys are 100% unique and fully sustainable.

“It is exciting and challenging to make colour mixes from fishing nets that have a dark green color as their base material. You have to think differently to achieve the different shades” – Inge S. Knakkergaard Quality and Environmental Coordinator, dantoy.

The toys are directly inspired by the ocean and are made from Blue Marine Toys is a line of sand- and water play toys. The colours and the shapes are inspired by sand, water, corals, etc. The development department at dantoy believes these all add an extra dimension to their newest line.

It is estimated that more than 12 million tonnes of plastic will end up in the sea every year. 10% of this is maritime waste, such as nets, lines, and ropes. dantoy believes it is a natural choice to develop a line where sustainability can improve our oceans.

The dantoy Blue Marine Dumper costs £19 from Coolshop.co.uk

For more information visit dantoy.dk

Here is Tilly, grumpy at being photographed. She is our editor’s cat. Tilly is the one who keeps the two dogs in order, not to mention Margaret and Dick, the two grown ups. Tilly was a rescue and is adored. So Frost Magazine loves to hear of other ‘rescuers’ who prove just how much can be achieved by a small committed group

The charity and non profit organisation The Arc, is just such a one. It is a small rescue for cats and kittens led by Sally who is helped by a small hectically busy team and based in Wolverhampton,  but which rehomes throughout the UK.

Sally told us that all cats and kittens are neutered. Why?  So that  none leave the care of The Arc to go on and reproduce thereby potentially adding to the increasing number of abandoned cats and kittens roaming our streets, or waiting for forever homes in  in rescue centres.

All The Arc’s ‘guests’ are vet-checked, vaccinated and micro chipped before leaving, though they are not vaccinated for FeLV simply because so many of the little fur balls who arrive have low immune systems due to neglect. You see, Sally tells us,  this particular vaccination can cause more harm than good in this situation. They are flea and worm treated and blood testsed for Fif needed.

Like so many of these good hearted rescue centres The Arc is self funded and money is tight, with every penny received in adoption fees put to good use with not a penny ill-spent. It makes perfect sense therefore that  The Arc reluctantly has to charge  adoptees £95  for all cats and kittens. Having seen the food, litter, flea and worm treatments The Arc requires for the well being of their cats and kittens, not to mention the vaccination, microchipping, blood tests, neutering and the often necessary vet fees  it is remarkably little in the scheme of things. Indeed, it became apparent that an much of the expense is borne by The Arc itself. Lord, aren’t rescue centres selfless.

This is why donations are of crucial importance too.  because of course, The Arc’s work does not end ‘in house’. So concerned with their cat and kitten welfare are they that there are home checks to make sure that the forever home is suitable, and let us remind you that The Arc rehomes nationwide.

I have learnt many important lessons during my menopause journey.

I have learnt to trust the process. We are inevitably going to be tripped up by life, it’s just what happens. Our power lies in trusting the process – that everything happens for a reason. That whatever happens there will be learning, healing & growth.

These hiccups don’t tend to de-rail us so much or so quickly & we start to take ‘failing’ less personally. We all experience it, isn’t unique to just us. We learn to look for the opportunities & possibilities in so-called setbacks & we may even start to look forward to these hiccups for what we will learn, how we will heal & grow.

I believe that we choose to incarnate on this earth at this time for all the lessons we have come here to learn. The Universe sends us gentle messages, if we learn to take heed of them when they are just a whisper the journey will less bumpy. But if we don’t, the lessons will get louder & more uncomfortable to get our attention.

So if it feels messy, guess what, it’s probably meant to be: that means it’s working – trust the process!

The fear of failing starts to diminish because, well, it’s not failing, it’s a lesson.

I also trust in a power greater than myself. I trust & believe that we are being taken care of, provided for. I find this comforting knowing that everything happens in divine timing & for the greatest good of us all.

It doesn’t mean that I don’t keep taking inspired action to achieve my dreams, it just means that if something doesn’t pan out as hoped I just trust that the Universe has a better plan.

But the final piece in the trust puzzle is trusting in yourself. Self-trust is the antidote to fear because when you trust in yourself you just know that you will be OK no matter what. You have an inner sense of peace & happiness that isn’t dependent on what’s going on out there because it comes from the inside not the outside. Happy, if you like, for no reason.

This is the anchor in the storm. What’s going on outside is like the waves on the top of the ocean, self-trust is like the anchor nestled into the sand on the seabed, keeping you grounded & safe.

Self-trust isn’t self-confidence. Self-trust is knowing that whatever happens you will learn something, heal, grow & work it out no matter if you mess up.

Self-trust is more a feeling than a thought or a belief. It feels different to everyone but it is a felt sensation within the body that feels grounded, centred, balanced, whole & at one, secure & connected.

Self-trust is a practice just like yoga & mindfulness & just like these practices the more you do the more you benefit & it is more accessible when you practice yoga & mindfulness. Like all these things the more you cultivate it, the easier it is to be, because it’s more about being, feeling & becoming than doing.

When you trust in yourself, in the process & in a higher power you are more decisive, trust your gut instinct more, are more hearted centred, take more chances & question yourself less.

If you would like to find out more about trust & being your own anchor in the storm check out Alex’s FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindfulnessyoga4selfcare

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

Incorporate short yoga sequences & meditations as part of your self-care toolkit with guided practices on Alex’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw

For more info check out www.alexbannard.com

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for almost a decade, not just in the UK but also around the world. Having used her training & knowledge to navigate her own menopausal journey & create a life in which she is thriving, Alex is devoted in supporting other’s in this life changing transition.

To the casual observer, there’s nothing remarkable about Sylvia Fox. An attractive, intelligent woman in her forties, she answers questions about her work with vague references to an unspectacular career in the Civil Service. Which is only very slightly true – because until recently, Sylvia was a high-ranking British spy. Can you hear the roll of drums?

When Sylvia arrives in Italy for the wedding of her niece Alice, she’s disillusioned with her job
at MI6 headquarters in London, and in need of a break. But then the bridegroom disappears,
leaving a dead body in the lake at the bottom of his garden, and Sylvia takes it upon herself to
solve the mystery and save Alice from disaster.

Despite the unpromising start to her holiday, Sylvia is enchanted by Umbria, the green heart of
Italy, and is surprised and pleased to find herself reconnecting with her estranged sister Isabel,
who lives in the handsome hillside town of Panicale.

When she stumbles upon a beautiful, derelict old house, Sylvia decides to buy it, quit her job and start afresh., living the dream. 

But Sylvia was never cut out for a quiet life and finds herself involved in a fresh mystery each
week – from the disappearance of a young woman a quarter of a century ago, to the theft of a
truffle pig, and a blackmail plot against the son of a Russian politician. At first, Carabinieri
Captain Giovanni Riva resents Sylvia’s interference, but he soon begins to seek her help.
Perhaps Riva’s interest in Sylvia is not purely professional…  Indeed, thinks Frost Magazine. 

If a novel,  Signora Volpe would be unputdownable and here, on the screen, each episode will leave us panting for the next.

Success is assured with its great cast  including EMILIA FOX – SYLVIA FOX & EXECUTIVE PRODUCER who is familiar to us for her role as Dr Nikki Alexander in BBC’s Silent Witness. She started her career in acclaimed BBC adaptations such as Pride and Prejudice and ITV’s Rebecca. TARA FITZGERALD – ISABEL VITALE  who came to international attention when she starred with Hugh Grant in the Australian comedy Sirens with her career soaring ever upwards.  GIOVANNI CIRFIERA made his debut as an actor in two short films: La Rissa, Giornata di festa and Poveri Diavoli. Other theatrical roles followed in 2003 and 2004 and he is perfect for the role of Giovanni Riva.

Just make sure you watch the series to catch up on ALL the actors.

So now we come to the superb  writing that not only reflects the ambience of Umbria, and instills the series with a delicious sense of Italy and a new life to be lived, but also a tension, and a sense that this will be a hell of a ride. This is no surprise  when the writers, creators and executive producers are the extraordinary duo RACHEL CUPERMAN & SALLY GRIFFITHS who have been writing together for almost two decades, with multiple notches on their belts including six episodes of ITV’s  long-running flagship detective series Midsomer Murders. 

Finally to the star of the whole proceedings – the sun soaked glory of Umbria itself which lulls all who go  there into the belief that it is a wonderland. Indeed it is, but there’s always an underbelly in a drama,  where the tension coils  ready to unleash onto the unspecting viewer.

We are all in for a fabulous treat, and  we don’t have to wait long – Signora Volpe launches this coming bank holiday Monday, May 2^nd, on Acorn TV.

Ep 1 will be available from midnight that day, Ep 2 on 9^th May and Ep 3 on 16^th May (in the Acorn territories of UK, Ireland, US, Canada, Australia & NZ).

You can sign up for a free month’s trial of Acorn directly through their website: https://signup.acorn.tv/ or via Amazon or Apple.

For a taster you can view the trailor of Signora Volpe HERE  

Signora Volpe is a Route 24 production, helmed by Executive Producers Josie Law and Marc Samuelson.

#SignoraVolpe and #AcornTV