Anything for Him by LK Chapman: Reeling from the loss of her parents in a house fire, Felicity is pulled into the dangerous orbit of the volatile Jay and allows herself to be drawn into Jay’s twisted revenge plan against his former best friend. Soon Felicity learns that no matter what she does, it will never be enough for Jay.

As his jealousy and insecurity tip him into escalating violence against her, Felicity questions everything he has told her about his past and his former girlfriend Sammie, and hatches a desperate plan to escape … Honestly,this is so tense – a real page turner Buy now for £0.99 instead of £2.99 www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FRMTKMYK/

There is a nuclear weapon in the hands of the Vatican City’s deadliest enemy. And time is running out to stop the attack …

Marco Venetti, the only man the Pope trusts, is on the hunt for a traitor. He is willing to do anything to protect the church, and the man at its heart. Even if it means getting blood on his hands … But when Marco finds him, the traitor reveals terrifying new information: the name of a Russian mafioso with a grudge against the Vatican and possession of a nuclear bomb.

If Marco doesn’t work with him, the consequences will be deadly. To prevent it, Marco must enter a deadly game of cat-and-mouse that will take him across the continent, on land and by sea. With time running out, he will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. Because the secrets inside the Vatican may be the deadliest threat of all. And only Marco can restore honour to the church, by any means necessary … It’s beautifully written and I loved every word.

Buy now for £0.99 instead of £2.99 www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FRG6Z4R3/

The Waterway Girls by Milly Adams

In war-torn London, young Polly Holmes leaves heartbreak behind to join a narrowboat crew on Britain’s canals – where friendship, resilience, and the hope of new beginnings carry her through the darkest days of war.

In October 1943, nineteen-year-old Polly Holmes leaves poor bombed London behind to join the war effort on Britain’s canals. Stepping aboard the Marigold in the pouring rain, there’s lots for Polly to get to grips with. Not least her fellow crew: strong and impetuous Verity, whose bark is worse than her bite, and seasoned skipper Bet. With her sweetheart away fighting in the RAF and her beloved brother killed in action, there’s plenty of heartache to be healed on the waterway. As Polly rolls up her sleeves and gets stuck into life on board the narrowboat – making the gruelling journey from London up to Birmingham – she will soon discover that a world of new beginnings awaits amid the anguish of the war. Emotional, evocative unputdownable – I loved it.

And just think, there really were volunteer Inland Waterway girls who rolled up their sleeves, managed locks, endured the hardships, the dangers, and let’s not forget the fun found in the world of these fabulous Waterway Girls. What a homage to love, friendship and the boating community. Absolutely heartwarming.

Buy now for £0.99 rather than £2.99. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FRN1JWMF/

The breathtaking conclusion to the Guardians of the Crown series introduces a heroine with nothing left to lose and a hero with everything to gain … England, 1659: Following the death of Cromwell,(such a fascinating period) a new king is poised to ascend the throne of England. One by one, those once loyal to the crown begin to return … Agnes Fletcher’s lover is dead, and when his two orphaned children are torn from her care by their scheming guardian, she finds herself alone and devastated by the loss. Unwilling to give up, Agnes desperately seeks anyone willing to accompany her on a perilous journey to save the children and return them to her care.

After enduring imprisonment, exile and torture, the fugitive Daniel Lovell has returned to England, determined to find his brother and kill the man who murdered his father. But the King has one last mission for him and there is the small matter of a desperate woman who needs his help. When they are finally given the opportunity to seize everything they ever hoped for, will they find the peace they crave, or will their fledgling love be the final casualty of war? A fascinating series, unputdownable and absorbing.

Buy now for £1.99 instead of £2.99. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FRGDGWPR/

I have a brand-new obsession: these gorgeous, stylish and comfortable clothes for children. If you have a child with sensory processing difficulties then these clothes will have them looking fabulous with no complaints.

Not only are these clothes soft and beautiful, but they are super-affordable. I always say that my biggest compliment to a brand is if I would spend my own money on it. I will definitely buy these high-quality, yet affordable clothes. With the great styles mixed with the neurodiverse-friendly comfort, we love Känna.

A Devon-based mother has turned her family’s personal struggles into a groundbreaking solution for children with sensory processing difficulties. Today marks the official launch of Känna, a new online clothing brand offering stylish, sensory-friendly garments designed to bring comfort and confidence to neurodivergent children.

The inspiration behind Känna came from founder Katie Lodge’s own experience with her daughter Evelyn, who struggled to find clothing she could tolerate due to sensory sensitivities. “Evelyn had one outfit she could wear comfortably, and it was on repeat every single day,” Katie recalls. “Seams, labels, waistbands – everything felt unbearable to her. It wasn’t just about clothing; it was about her quality of life.”

Determined to create a solution, Katie assembled a team of expert designers and manufacturers to develop a range of clothing that is as kind to the senses as it is stylish. The result is Känna, a collection of thoughtfully designed garments that prioritise comfort without compromising on aesthetics.

What makes Känna different?

Every detail of Känna’s clothing has been meticulously crafted to address the unique needs of children with sensory sensitivities:

·       Minimal, ultra-soft seams for durability without irritation

·       Tagless, screen-printed care labels to eliminate itchy contact

·       Soft, breathable organic cotton blends, brushed inside for extra smoothness

·       Stretchy, non-restrictive waistbands for ultimate comfort

The inaugural collection, available for children aged 5 to 14, includes short- and long-sleeve tees, A-line skirts, and dresses in a variety of styles and colours. Prices range from £28 to £35, offering a mid-range, high-quality alternative to high-street clothing.

Comfort for all kids – with sustainability built-in

While Känna was born out of a need to support neurodivergent children, its mission extends to all kids. “Let’s normalise comfort and self-care for our children,” Katie says. “Everyone feels better when they’re comfortable, and Känna is here to make that possible for every child.”

Känna is also deeply committed to ethical and sustainable practices. All garments are made from OEKO-TEX or GOTS certified fabrics, responsibly sourced from European mills, and built to last.

A family’s journey, a community’s solution

Katie’s journey to create Känna has been one of love, determination and risk. “This brand was born out of necessity, even desperation,” she shares. “But it’s been created with so much love, and we couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved.”

The Lodge family’s story is one of resilience and innovation, and Känna is set to become a brand that empowers children to feel good in what they wear.

Learn more

For more details about Känna’s story and its sensory-friendly clothing, visit the blog at https://kanna.co.uk/blogs/latest-news-1/sensory-clothing

About Känna

Känna (inspired by the Swedish/Icelandic/Japanese word for “feeling,” “explore,” and “waves”) is a UK-based start-up creating premium children’s clothing that combines sensory-aware design with ethical sustainability. Känna’s mission is to empower all children to feel good in what they wear.

Childhood anxiety affects millions of families across Britain. One moment everything seems fine. The next, a child refuses to leave the house or bursts into tears over seemingly small things. For parents and carers, knowing how to help can feel overwhelming. 

Spotting the Signs

Anxiety wears many masks in childhood. A seven-year-old might complain of tummy aches every school morning. Teenagers sometimes become snappy and withdrawn. Younger children often struggle to explain their feelings at all. 

Some warning signs are obvious. Others sneak up gradually:

• Difficulty concentrating at school
• Nightmares or trouble falling asleep
• Avoiding friends or favourite activities
• Explosive anger over minor issues
• Constantly asking “what if?” questions

Physical symptoms matter too. Headaches, nausea and exhaustion often accompany anxiety. Yet doctors find nothing medically wrong. This frustrates everyone involved.

Opening Up Conversations

Getting anxious children to talk requires patience. Direct questions rarely work. “What’s wrong?” often meets silence or “nothing.”

Better approaches exist. Sharing activities creates natural openings for chat. Baking together, walking the dog, or building Lego removes pressure. Children often open up when their hands stay busy.

Timing matters enormously. Anxious children need space to process feelings. Pushing for immediate answers backfires. Sometimes waiting until bedtime or the weekend helps. Each child has their own rhythm.

Validation beats advice initially. “That must feel scary” acknowledges feelings without judgement. Children need to know their emotions make sense before tackling solutions.

Practical Anxiety-Busting Tools

Body-Based Techniques

Anxiety lives in the body as much as the mind. Teaching children to notice physical sensations helps. Tight shoulders? Time for shoulder rolls. Racing heart? Let’s try slow breathing.

The 7-11 breathing technique calms most children. Breathe in for 7 counts, out for 11. It’s harder than it sounds! This difficulty actually helps by focusing attention away from worries.

Progressive muscle relaxation works brilliantly at bedtime. Tense each muscle group for five seconds, then release. Start with toes, work upwards. Many children fall asleep before reaching their heads.

Creating Routine and Predictability

Anxious minds crave structure. Regular mealtimes, consistent bedtimes and predictable schedules reduce uncertainty. This doesn’t mean rigid timetables. Flexibility within framework works best.

Visual schedules help younger children. Knowing what comes next eases transitions. Even teenagers benefit from shared family calendars showing upcoming events.

The Power of Play

Play therapy isn’t just for professionals. Drawing, crafts and imaginative games let children express fears safely. A child who can’t discuss school anxiety might draw angry pictures or act out scenarios with toys.

Older children often prefer journals. Writing worries down gets them out of spinning minds. Some children enjoy creating worry monsters – drawing their anxiety as silly creatures removes some power.

When Outside Help Makes Sense

Professional support becomes necessary when anxiety disrupts daily life significantly. Missing school regularly, losing friendships, or family relationships suffering all signal intervention time.

GPs provide starting points for help. School pastoral teams often have training in anxiety support. Waiting lists for CAMHS can stretch long, but early referral means getting in the queue sooner.

Different children need different support levels. Those in care situations, including foster placements, often face complex anxiety from past experiences. Organisations like orangegrovefostercare.co.uk offer specialised guidance for supporting these vulnerable young people.

Private therapy remains an option for families who can afford it. Many therapists offer sliding scales based on income.

Conclusion

Supporting anxious children challenges even the most patient adults. Progress rarely follows straight lines. Good weeks follow difficult ones. Setbacks happen just when everything seemed sorted.

Remember that small improvements count. A child who couldn’t enter shops last month but managed five minutes today has achieved something huge. Celebrating these victories, however tiny, builds momentum for bigger challenges ahead.

Above all, anxious children need to know they’re not broken. With time, understanding and the right tools, they can learn to manage their worries. The journey might be long, but hope always exists.

Guest post from our partner.

Ever wonder how to reduce your beauty bag? Is your skincare overflowing with multiple choice products, so much so that  you find you neglect them or simply don’t know how to add this in to your routine? Consumerism has driven the availability of some brilliant products that are holy grail in our skincare routines, but also, the amount of steps to treat our skin can be overwhelming. So how much do we really need daily? Whilst everyone’s skin and skin needs are different (be it oily, dry, sensitive, acne-prone, aging, etc), there are some staple skincare products that should be used by all. We spoke to skincare experts to find out what those are…

CLEANSER

Chartered Chemist, founder of SOS Serum Skincare, Bruce Green, says, “Cleansing is one of the single most important things you can do for your skin. Everyone’s skin gets dirty from dust, sweat, make-up, sebum and atmospheric impurities, at all times of the day. A nighttime cleanse clears the day’s gunk, giving your skin a chance to repair while you sleep. our skin doesn’t get that dirty while you sleep – unless you roll around in pizza at 3 a.m., a splash of water in the morning can be enough. It is estimated that over 50% of users of cleansers, suffer from skin discomfort, tingling or itching. In my opinion, many cleansers on the market contain too much ethanol and an excess of surfactants that can upset and unbalance the skins natural protective barrier, its ‘Acid Mantle’ – which can lead to redness, irritation, clogged pores and the skin feeling tight and the skins barrier being compromised. Do not over cleanse or use an aggressive cleanser as this can stimulate the skin to produce more sebum and the need to cleanse more. Your skin might even thank you for not scrubbing it like a kitchen countertop. Over-cleansing wrecks your skin barrier and can cause dryness, irritation and even more oil production. I recommend SOS Cleanse as your go to cleanser for healthy looking skin: alcohol-free & petrochemical free.”

MOISTURISER

Dr Bonny Armstrong, Teoxane expert and award-winning Aesthetic Doctor, says, “A healthy skin barrier protects against almost all skin issues including dryness, sensitivity, breakouts and early signs of skin aging. Even oily/acne-prone skin needs hydration to prevent overcompensation. If your skin “feels fine,” daily moisturising prevents problems before they start. Your skin barrier is the outermost layer of skin and protecting it with daily moisturiser keeps water in and irritants out. Throughout the day, your skin loses water (transepidermal water loss), and can lead to tightness, premature fine lines and sebum overproduction to compensate. Pollution, weather, indoor heating/AC and UV rays all wear on your skin daily, so finding a solid moisturiser that is protecting and nourishing to your skin makes a big difference to your skin’s appearance over time from daily use. Sometimes, we feel we want to avoid moisturiser, especially if it feels too heavy. Teoxane Advanced Filler Normal‑to‑Combination Skin is a light formula suited to normal or combination skin, delivering hydration, smoothing and anti-wrinkle benefits using RHA and a restructuring complex.”

SPF

Clinic Lead at Face the Future, Kimberley Medd, says, “If there’s one none-negotiable in your daily skincare routine – no matter your gender, skin type and age, it’s sun protection. Whilst skin cancer is rightly still the number one reason to wear SPF, there are a multitude of protective benefits to wearing sunscreen that go beyond sunburn. UVA protection in the UK is the key understanding to protect the skin from premature fine lines and wrinkles, which we are more at risk of throughout all seasons, whereas summer is more closely tied to UVB protection (protecting against sunburn). Other SPF benefits include minimising and protecting the skin from hyperpigmentation, sunspots, fine lines and wrinkles, accelerated collagen depletion, drier skin from no barrier protection and maintaining an even skin tone. As skin gets thinner and less resilient with age, it becomes more vulnerable to UV damage. When we’re younger, we might not think too much about sun protection, but as we age, the consequences of not using SPF regularly—like wrinkles, age spots, and an increased risk of skin cancer—become more evident. This is telling in that the latest 365 Days of SPF report by Face the Future, 77% of the UK believe it’s important for people aged over 40 to wear sun protection.”

LIP BALM

Emma Coleman, Senior Magnitone Ambassador, Clinic Director and Dermatology Nurse, says, “Lips don’t have oil glands, so they dry out faster than the rest of your skin. They’re constantly under pressure from talking, eating, licking and weather. Applying lip balm can help prevent dryness, cracking, chapping from environmental factors, lip lines and irritation. Just like our skin barrier needs protecting, our lips are often neglected or seen as a “nice to have”. Even those with smooth and generally non-problematic lips can adhere to daily wear, as travel, lifestyle, outdoor exposure, or breathing through your mouth at night, can impact the health of your lips. Some balms cause the very dryness you’re trying to fix, so it’s important to watch out for irritants such as menthol, camphor, phenol, eucalyptus, or fragrances. Avoid lip balms with exfolitating ingredients like Salicylic Acid, which is too harsh for daily lip use. Some balms only offer an addictive feeling and not much healing – they give quick relief but don’t seal in moisture, leading to more reapplying. Instead, look for a lip balm with humectant qualities such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin, and nourishing ingredients like shea butter, ceramides and vitamin E. UV rays cause lip ageing and increase the risk of skin cancer, especially on the lower lip, so opting for an SPF enriched lip balm can also create an added benefit.”

Regular readers know I’m a massive fan of Tracklements, a Wiltshire-based family company who create quality food, using simple, honest ingredients. Their products are made by hand in small batches, using ingredients sourced from farms and small businesses across England. They boast a huge range of innovative products – using both traditional recipes, and also modern inventions, meaning that one can never be bored – there’s always something new and exciting to sample.

And now, as the weather cools and the nights are drawing in, I’m super excited about the Tracklements Christmas Gift packs. There are several to choose from, but I just love their Farmers Market Gift Pack, comprising three jars of fabulous hand-made preserves in an attractive gift box:

Green Tomato Chutney, 200g
Particularly British Piccalilli, 170g
Tomato & Chilli Chutney, 190g

Naturally I had to test them immediately and let’s just say that I wasn’t disappointed. I’ll do my best to share my experience.

Green Tomato Chutney – traditionally made to use up the tomatoes which didn’t ripen before the end of summer. The green tomatoes are mixed with apples, dates, sugar, cider vinegar and an amazing selection of spices. Absolutely delicious with cheese or on cold-cut meats.

Particularly British Piccalilli – a true British tradition, pickled vegetables mixed with sugars, vinegars and spices, predominantly mustard. This is the best piccalilli I’ve ever tasted and a great accompaniment for a ploughman’s lunch.

And finally Tomato & Chilli Chutney – tomatoes and tomato purée blended with onions, apples and dates together with cider vinegar, cane sugar, and spices, including of course red chillies. Warm, rich flavours, with a decent chilli bite – this could enhance a stew, or simply enjoy it with a cold spread – it really is a bit special.

Tracklements Farmers Market Gift Pack, RRP £13.80 is vegan and gluten free and it’s available at Tracklements, together with so many more jars of sheer loveliness. Don’t wait for Christmas – life’s too short.

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

Dr Fiona Hill is a leading foreign affairs advisor to a series of US Presidents, the UK government, and US National Security Council, who believes she has cracked the secret to success. As the daughter of a coal miner and midwife, Dr Fiona Hill is no stranger to success herself – the former White House aide and Senior Fellow at Washington DC’s Brookings Institution is considered one of the world’s top experts on Russia and Putin. But success, she says, lies closer to home: the North East to be exact.

Born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, Hill launches her new short podcast series, Forged in the North, at this year’s Durham Book Festival in October. Hill – who is also Chancellor of Durham University and a defence advisor to the UK’s Labour government – chatted to some of the region’s most successful minds in politics, the Arts, sport, and business, to work out the secrets of their phenomenal success. Her guests include the music icon Sting, Yale historian Paul Kennedy, author Lee Hall (Billy Elliot), screenwriter Peter Straughan (Wolf Hall/Conclave), North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, Dragon Den’s entrepreneur Sara Davies, Brendan Foster, who founded the Great North Run, and Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson.

Fiona Hill said: “The idea behind it was inspired by my memoir, There is Nothing for you Here, about growing up in County Durham and how the social fabric of North East life in the 80’s supported my ambitions in education, travel and social mobility.” Fiona added: “What Forged in the North is trying to do is put the spotlight on a region that is normally only in the headlines for something going wrong: child poverty, the lowest life expectancy, worst nutrition. But the North East is home of the Industrial Revolution – literally the engines of prosperity. 200 years ago, it was the forefront of innovation, and we’re saying, there’s still a lot of potential for innovation. This podcast is learning from all these amazing, successful people who were forged in the North.”

One of the common denominators of her guests was their sense of roots and home as a driver to success and part of the motivation of Forged in the North, she says, was to challenge the North-South imbalance. Hill found the North excels in ‘soft-power’ – now touted as a driver of success.“There’s YouGov research that shows the North East has the strongest sense of regional identity in the UK after Scotland. When they dug down, the reason why was people. There’s a sense of solidarity that’s been forged in adversity. Everyone’s thrown all kinds of rubbish at the North historically; but it has a resilience.”

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “This podcast celebrates the North East’s incredible legacy as home to some of the UK’s most successful people in sports, business, and the creative industries. It shows how talented individuals have transformative power, but also asks how we create what Fiona called the infrastructure of opportunity to let more succeed. It’s my vision the North East becomes a cultural powerhouse, and this important podcast shines a light on how with the right support, talent can truly thrive...’

But let’s leave the final thoughts to Dr Fiona Hill: “Being from the North East grounds you, it’s an anchor, a solid base with a strong sense of what’s right and wrong and a clear perspective and values. Social capital means those who succeed invest back. Sting has said recently in his interviews backing Gateshead’s Baltic that the North has been neglected and there needs to be a bit more national attention. It’s just giving people a chance. He is miles away, travelling around the world constantly, but feels a very strong affinity to the North East.” She adds. “The fact the region changed dramatically, from being the forefront of pretty much everything, has shaped my enquiry into the world: what does that imply for the rest of the world? What pitfalls lie ahead? How do you overcome that? How do you dig deep? That’s what I’m trying to think about. How you make societies more resilient? I keep coming back to these lessons from North East England.”

All episodes of the Forged in the North podcast series will be available to listen on 10 October on all the leading podcast platforms.

Fiona Hill will discuss her podcast Forged in the North at the Durham Book Festival on Sunday 12 October with Northumberland internationally bestselling author, LJ Ross, and Romani storyteller, Richard O’Neill. To book, visit www.durhambookfestival.com

Let’s get one thing out in the open from the off – this is not a farce. It’s not even a comedy. So, my expectations were dashed straight away. Silly me – two great comic writers and a title that the Whitehall farces in their heyday would have been green with envy to have…

No, this is a dramatic peek into what could have happened if a young Adolf had become acquainted with Freud. Could Freud have changed history? Or was Hitler’s mania an inevitability beyond anyone’s control?

A bleak, brown set captures the mood. Sadly, for me, it matches the script and the characters too much as well. To avoid comedy, Marks and Gran have dipped their toes into meaty territory, into the very mind of Hitler to try to see why he became what he did. And their device is through Freud’s methods. But, really, this is a play about Freud, not Hitler. To paraphrase, once Hitler becomes Führer, Freud exclaims that he doesn’t know whether to admire Adolf for achieving his dreams or to be appalled by the fact that he has achieved them.

Jonathan Tafler as Freud with Sam Mac as Hitler

And it is ‘dreams’ that is at the core of this play. A wonky doorway and window frame on one side of the stage, a straight one on the other, representing, one assumes, the closeness between sanity and insanity. The play plods along at a dull pace until the penultimate scene – the climax and the whole point of the production: where an elderly Freud faces a triumphant Hitler. A scene reminiscent of Salieri and Mozart, or when Frankenstein finally faces up to his monster… whose head are we inside, at this moment? Has it been a Freudian dream all along? Apart from this magnetic moment, the play had too many scenes, scene changes, lighting changes and characters. Although Jonathan Tafler played Freud convincingly, he was similar throughout. With no obvious journey, he was stuck in a character without much emotional depth. Sam Mac plays a few versions of Hitler, from child all the way through to German Leader. He has more growth, but his ‘temper tantrums’ are what any of us expect to see. Are we watching clichés or well-rounded characterisations?

Sam Mac as a young Adolf Hitler

Sadly, the rest of the cast have to find what space they can in the shadows of these two large characters. But they all come across as having different styles, as though they were in different plays.

The whole piece is disjointed and stutters towards its climax. I can’t help feeling that what began as a Radio Play from 2007 has accidentally been stretched too far and fallen almost into a televisual style. It says, in the programme, ‘Be prepared for an adventurous evening of theatre.’ I was, but it wasn’t.

Photography Chromolume Writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran Director Isaac Bernier-Doyle Producer Annlouise Butt for Chromolume Productions Set & Costume Hannah Danson Lighting Design Simon Jackson

Cast Jonathan Tafler, Nesba Crenshaw, Ruby Ablett, Sam Mac, Brendan Lyle and Neil Chinneck

Venue Upstairs at the Gatehouse, 1 North Road, Highgate Village, London

N6 4BD

Until Sunday 28th September 2025

Tickets £25 from: https://upstairsatthegatehouse.ticketsolve.com/shows/1173663994/events

Showtimes 7.30pm daily (no Monday performances)

Saturdays Matinees at 3pm, Sundays at 4pm Running Time 2 hours – inc interval

Guidance Mentions of antisemitism Socials @upstairsatthegatehouse Website www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com/freudplay