A Birthing Kit Designed By Midwives, What Could Be Better? Mama’s Moments – by Award Winning Author Dr Kathleen Thompson

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It’s your first baby. You’re excited, half desperate for those niggles to start, but with a touch of nervousness, knowing that life will never be the same again.

Who doesn’t love choosing cute gifts for a new bundle of joy – but what about mum – who has to climb a mountain or two before junior shows their sweet face?

Well that’s why I’m impressed with Mama’s Moments – developed by midwives – and who better to get us through that exciting but daunting period from end of pregnancy to new mum – whether it’s baby number one, two or even three?

All products are great quality – carefully made in the UK using premium naturally-derived ingredients, and free from parabens, synthetic colours and fragrances.

I love that the Birthing Essentials Kit comes in a pretty cream bag – all ready for when it’s time to dash to the maternity unit. And those midwives have thought of everything, utilising different aromatherapies to get you through labour, and afterwards.

So what’s in this fabulous goody bag? Starting with Cool It Mama body spritz: with neroli (refreshing and uplifting), ylang ylang (mood enhancer), menthol (cooling) and grapefruit (for mental exhaustion). Sounds perfect for when labour is getting a little too much (and maybe your other half would appreciate a quick spray too?) This smells fabulous, but I love that it isn’t too overpowering either.

Next out of the goody bag is Relax and Breath massage oil – really light, and glides over the skin. Ingredients include chamomile (for relaxation), cocoa butter and shea butter. Get your birthing partner to do their bit, massaging away those labour pains with this beauty.

Then, when it’s all over and you’re able to cuddle your little one, well I hate to mention it, but one can be a bit sore ‘down there’. But no worries, our midwives have thought of this too with Bottoms Up soothing spray, containing lavender (antiseptic, anti-bacterial, pain relieving), witch hazel (anti-inflammatory), cucumber (soothing) and arnica. I also noticed salicylic acid (similar to aspirin) on the ingredients list.

And finally to sleep (well until that 2am feed of course). So to get you into the land of nod after all the excitement, spray some Sleepy Mama onto your pillow and take some long deep breaths. The lavender and chamomile (relaxing and calming), bergamot (helps insomnia) and grapefruit (helps mental exhaustion) should help you doze off and have the sweetest dreams, until baby calls.

If you have a friend who is awaiting the happy day, or yourself, this is a great kit and makes a fantastic present.

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.

With pink bubbles, Michael Rowan is sure to get full brownie points this Valentine’s Day, thanks to Prosecco DOC Rosé

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Most people can be divided into those who wholeheartedly embrace Valentine’s Day, and the opportunity to spoil someone special in their life, and those who feel that every day should be treated like Valentine’s Day.

Now whilst I laud the latter, I have yet to meet anyone who actually adheres to it. So, if you are one who scoffs at us more romantic types, you should cut your losses and stop reading this review right now.

One thing that I have learned over the years, is that partners appreciate it when we make the effort. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture; it just has to show a degree of thought.

Of course, with lockdown we may have to think a little harder than in previous years, which is why I was thrilled to try Prosecco DOC Rosé available in most supermarkets, at a variety of price points.

This is beautifully dry, fresh, with intense red berry tones, balanced with floral notes and a mouth filling mousse, perfect for Valentine’s Day, to be drunk chilled as part of a perfectly pink Valentine’s Day in 2021. 

Here in the UK, we consume more Prosecco than any other country (including Italy itself) and with Prosecco DOC Rosé we can begin to plan a perfectly pink Valentine’s Day 2021. So come on chaps, time to grab a bottle of Prosecco Doc Rosé and make a special day even more special. Don’t leave me with all the heavy lifting.

Prosecco DOC Rosé is available for Majestic, Waitrose, Sainsburys

THE SURPLUS GIRLS’ ORPHANS – POLLY HERON’S EXCEPTIONAL NEW SAGA

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Much as I enjoyed Polly Heron’s The Surplus Girls, I can honestly say that The Surplus Girls’ Orphans is the best saga I have read. The restricted lives of women in the inter-war period is captured perfectly, but with a fresh eye and brilliant story-telling that avoids the ‘grit and grim’ which I find makes some sagas less than a pleasure to read.

I know, as a writer, that the essential structure of a saga is to pour increasingly huge problems onto the heroine, twisting and turning the plot until she (apparently) has no way out. But of course, as a reader, you know she will find one. While all the time I find myself wondering how much more of the unremitting misery I can take.

Polly Heron’s books are not like that. There is joy and beauty in small things; in the orphans playing pirates on a wet evening, in the barley-sugar legs of a washstand, in children dancing around a maypole. And the plots and subplots are so beautifully drawn together than even when life is incredibly tough – which was, after all the reality of the time – as a reader you are led from one storyline to another without ever having time to get depressed. Angry, frightened, heart-warmed, amused… but never down right miserable.

Drawing on some of the characters in The Surplus Girls, and still wound into the story of the Miss Hesketh’s business school, The Surplus Girls’ Orphans is a standalone novel in its own right, although readers will get more out of the story having read the first book. As well as the Hesketh family, two of the Layton children feature, also as Mrs Atwood, and of course the backdrop is still the Chorlton area of Manchester.

However there is an entirely new main character in the form of Molly Watson, who is suffering perhaps the longest engagement ever, to a penny-pinching, controlling man. Deciding she would rather be a surplus girl, to the horror and shame of her family she breaks free to find work in an office, and then the orphanage, where she looks to change the lives of those around her and not just her own.

Her relationship with Aaron Abrams unfolds beautifully; the initial misunderstandings never overdone, the attraction between them perfectly paced. Nothing is sugar-coated and although the ending is perhaps inevitable (as it has to be to satisfy the genre) their journey feels unforced in a way all the best fictional romances do.

The subplots work perfectly too, in symmetry with the main story. A single thread connects Molly and the Hesketh household as secrets are revealed, with certainly some big surprises along the way. And Jacob Layton’s bullying at the hands of the inescapable thug Shirl brings an at times terrifying tension to the book.

Polly Heron has tremendous skill as a story-teller, but on top of that the quality of her writing shines through. She has a knack of wasting not a word on description, but of weaving detail into the action so the reader had a perfect mental image of a place and time as the story unfolds around them.

Overall, this is a brilliant book. I smiled when I read the acknowledgments, seeing that some of it had been written while we were on a retreat in Bath. I clearly remember Polly at the kitchen table, writing in longhand in a large notebook, and it is gratifying to think that as well as friendships, such a fabulous novel was forged at that time.

Proof of Life by R.J. Ellory is a blast. Read it, love it: review by Margaret Graham

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I came hot foot to R.J  Ellory and Proof of Life having just finished  Peter Temple’s: Black Tide – you see, I am re-reading all my heroes – Peter Kerr,  Wingfield, and Reginald Hill  – so funny, (well, Kerr not so much,but  amazing characters, living breathing and extraordinarily good novels) articulate, page turning,

So I picked up Proof of Life, and I read Ellory’s first line, and burst out laughing, relaxing even as I had wondered what on earth I was going to read next. Panic over, here it was.

But then, immediately I whimpered. For no, I had misunderstood the  first line: Airports, like crowded cities, seemed a perfect contradiction to Stroud.

I had thought Stroud, near Gloucester.

But no, it was Stroud, former war correspondent. So was I doomed to disappointment?

I read on, and calmed down, because it is sharp, and edge of seat, excellent characters, living, breathing, flawed (but of course, aren’t we all so we can empathise) and really rather fabulous.  In a nutshell, Proof of Life is a gripping unputdownable globe-trotting espionage thriller.  I have a new hero, an erudite writer, empathetic, knows his stuff, and how to pace and has, glory be, a long long backlist.  Thank you, thank you R.J.Ellory for your books, and Orion for publishing this man, I need not worry about my reading list for quite some while.

So, let me tell you a story… Who was it who said that?

Stroud is a former war photographer who left the frontline before his luck ran out like Vincent Raphael’s,  his closest friend, his mentor, his linchpin if you like. Raphael was killed in an explosion in Jordan, a  hand grenade thrown through his car window. Cans of petrol in the car … Whoosh.

It was only an empty coffin that was buried by his family – there was no body, and no car, all gone in a puff of smoke.

Stroud  took the news of Raphael’s death at face value . Well, one would, wouldn’t one? Really, wouldn’t one? And you’d drench yourself with a devasting grief that brings your world crashing in on you…

So, imagine if, six years later, you are shown a blurred distant photograph purporting to be Raphael, in Istanbul – now. Is it him? Stroud can’t be sure. So is Raphael really dead? If not, who, what  was Raphael, for if he was Stroud’s  friend, his mentor, why  just disappear and leave this gaping hole? No, no,  he must be dead.

If you are Stroud, this former globe trotting, former adrenaline fuelled journalist, maybe you take up the challenge to hunt down the truth.  But as the hunt for the elusive facts continues, does Stroud really want to know the truth?

Loved it. Will read the backlist. Will slaver over Ellory’s immaculate writing, and thank him for taking the panic out of what to read next.

Buy it, love it, savour it.

Proof of Life by R.J. Ellory. Available in hb. £20.99 eBook and audio.

Margaret Graham is the author of many novels under various names

 

YaconViva! Cacao Nibs – Surely Nothing This Yummy Can Be So Good For You? – by award winning author Dr Kathleen Thompson

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We’ve all heard of probiotics – the good bacteria which live in our gut and help digest food. But they do so much more – secreting hormones and chemicals to make us happy, controlling our appetite, helping prevent obesity, diabetes and even cancer. In fact, ongoing research is constantly uncovering just how much we rely on these little critters for our health and well-being. It’s actually quite astonishing.

So how do we make sure we get plenty of good guys in our guts, and avoid the bad guys?

Well we can swallow good bacteria directly – there’s a vast range of prebiotics available, which contain various strains of friendly bacteria.

But more importantly, we need to keep them there. Like any living thing probiotic bacteria like to be fed, and to do this, we should eat good food. If your diet’s mainly junk food, it doesn’t matter how many probiotics you take, the good boys will simply die and bad bacteria will take over.

So what has this to do with eating delicious YaconViva! Cacao Nibs – cacao nibs coated in yummy sweet yacón syrup?

Actually, quite a lot. Let me explain about prebiotics. These contain nutrients which good bacteria love, and fructooligosaccharides  (FOS to their friends) are particularly effective prebiotics. FOS are found in vegetables like onions and chicory root, but also in yacón – a root vegetable from the Andes. The great thing about FOS is, they’re naturally sweet, but, unlike sugar, they tend to stay in your gut, where they provide a tasty meal for good bacteria. And because we don’t absorb them readily, they’re less likely to make us fat or cause sugar spikes – win-win.

Yacón Syrup is a delicious sweet FOS-rich syrup which is extracted from the root of the yacón and it’s a great way to indulge your sweet tooth healthily.

I genuinely love Yaconviva! Cacao Nibs – all organic and a really yummy snack. The only ingredients are yacón syrup and cacao nibs, so they’re vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free, plus they’re packed-full of antioxidants and contain natural caffeine. They taste delicious and yes, they can be good for you, and your gut bacteria – so no guilt today.

And if you want to give the love of your life a healthy choccy gift for Valentine’s Day – you should get plenty of brownie points for choosing Yaconviva! Cacao Nibs.

Available from Amazon UK, and yaconviva.co.uk and good health stores.

RRP £8.99 for a 300g pack.

By Dr K Thompson, 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.

Wolfson History Prize 2021 Dates announced

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The Wolfson History Prize 2020 winner was David Abulafia for The Boundless Sea: A Human History of the Oceans.

The Wolfson History Prize (@WolfsonHistory), the most prestigious history writing prize in the UK, has confirmed this year’s Prize dates, with the shortlist of six historical non-fiction books set to be revealed on Wednesday 21 April, and the winner announced on Wednesday 9 June

A key date in the literary calendar, the Wolfson History Prize recognises outstanding works of historical non-fiction from the past year and is awarded annually to a work of historical writing that combines excellence in historical research with readability for a general audience.  Shining a light on the relevance of history and history writing to society today, the Wolfson History Prize is the most valuable non-fiction writing prize in the UK; £40,000 is awarded to the winner, with each shortlisted author receiving £4,000.

 

The Wolfson History Prize 2020 winner was David Abulafia for The Boundless Sea: A Human History of the Oceans. The 2020 shortlist was also made up of: John Barton’s A History of the Bible: The Book and its Faiths; Toby Green’s A Fistful of Shells: West Africa from the Rise of the Slave Trade to the Age of Revolution; Prashant Kidambi’s Cricket Country: An Indian Odyssey in the Age of Empire; Hallie Rubenhold’s The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper; and Marion Turner’s Chaucer: A European Life.

 

In its 49-year history, the Wolfson History Prize has awarded over £1.3 million to more than 100 historians, showcasing a huge variety of fascinating and eclectic books, and shining a light on the incredible breadth of historical writing being produced in the UK. Previous winners of the prize have included Mary Beard, Simon Schama, Eric Hobsbawm, Amanda Vickery, Antony Beevor, Christopher Bayly, and Antonia Fraser.

 

The Wolfson History Prize is run and awarded by the Wolfson Foundation, an independent charity that awards grants in the fields of science, health, heritage, humanities & the arts.

About the Wolfson History Prize

 

To be eligible for consideration, authors must be resident in the UK in the year of the book’s publication (the preceding year of the award), must not be a previous winner of the Prize and must have written a book which is carefully researched, well-written and accessible to the non-specialist reader.

To learn more about the Wolfson History Prize please visit https://www.wolfsonhistoryprize.org.uk/ or connect on Twitter via @WolfsonHistory / #WolfsonHistoryPrize.

 

Stokke’s Tripp Trapp High Chair Review

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I know I bang on about sustainability a lot and some of you might even be sick of hearing about it. However, I need to talk about the Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair. It is a gorgeous high chair that lasts from birth all the way to, well, the rest of your life. How is that for sustainability?

The high chair itself it stylish, with stunning design. It is well-made of course. I would not expect anything less. I put the high chair together myself. Well, with the help of my two young children who insisted on joining in. I found it easy. That said, I did it via a YouTube video and not the instructions.

stokke, high chair, tripp trapp.

I absolutely love the high-end Scandinavian baby brand Stokke and I am not the only one;  Alesha Dixon, Katy Perry, Joe Wicks, Rochelle Humes, Jessica Alba and even Ronaldo all love them too.

stokke, tripp trapp, highchair, review,

Stokke’s iconic Tripp Trapp high chair grows with your child, which can include an additional Newborn attachment. The Newborn Set for the Tripp Trapp chair brings your baby into the heart of the family from day 1 – to develop and learn alongside each other and allow for moments of bonding between all family members. The chair can also include a baby set and can hold up to 136 kilos, meaning your chair can last a lifetime. Tripp Trapp was born in 1972 and have sold more than 12 million chairs. Impressive. I now people who have had theirs for decades.

Available from stokke.com, johnlewis.com and many other good outlets.

 

Choosing The Perfect Bedding: A Practical Guide

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Finding the perfect bed and creating a comfortable set-up has always been essential to your wellbeing. 

However, in today’s challenging times, it’s more important than ever before. Our lives are changing rapidly, and that means that we need to focus on getting the rest we need. 

There are also other reasons why we need to make sure that our bedding is perfect. For example, you might be feeling more tired due to the pandemic, or you could find that your working life has changed, and you now spend more time working from your bed.

Whatever your reason, if you’re searching for the perfect bedding, then there’s a lot of factors that you need to consider.

It’s not just the duvet cover that you should think about; from the mattress to the pillows you choose, every aspect of your bedding influences your comfort and ability to sleep.

If you’re choosing fresh bedding products to improve your sleep in 2021, then read on, and we’ll share some top tips to help you find the ideal solutions. 

Invest In A Quality Mattress

One of the most important parts of your bed is your mattress. If your mattress is old, or it isn’t supporting you correctly, then you should consider replacing it with a new model. There are many different types of mattress out there, each with unique features so that you can always find the right product to suit your sleeping style and other nighttime needs. All of this choice can feel incredibly overwhelming, so consider finding a mattress brand that you like and then choosing from their selection of products. 

Mattress brands usually have a unique selling point, so you can narrow down your search by choosing a mattress maker that aligns with your values. For example, if you’re looking for an environmentally-friendly mattress brand that cares about the planet and quality, then you could explore Nectar’s range of products. As this Nectar mattress review shows, the brand takes the environment as seriously as it takes your comfort, and it is one of few brands that offers you 365 days to trial the mattress and a lifetime warranty. The products are made in the UK, so they travel fewer miles to reach customers. They’re also sent in climate-neutral packaging to cut down on the cost to the planet so that you can sleep easily on one of these comfortable and eco-friendly mattresses.

Test Out Your Bedding

Every sleeper is different, so you need to make sure that you find the perfect bedding that looks amazing and feels great. It can be tough to tell if your bedding will be comfortable and suit your sleeping needs without testing it out, particularly if you’re buying it online.

Therefore, you should consider buying your bedding products, particularly expensive and important ones like your mattress and your pillows, from a seller that gives you a great returns policy and a trial period. Check the terms and conditions of each site before you commit to buying their bedding so that you can return it if the products you choose don’t suit your requirements. With a little trial and error, you should be able to find snug bedding that will keep you comfy for many nights to come. 

Consider Buying Multiple Products For Different Climates

When you’re buying bedding, it can be easy to think that you only need one of each; one duvet, one set of pillows and pillowcases, etc. However, you might want to consider selecting several products to keep you snug all year round.

After all, in the winter, you’ll need a completely different set of bedding to what you used in the warmth of the summer. While you could just add blankets, these can fall off your bed if you toss and turn in your sleep. Instead, consider selecting multiple duvets of different togs, so that you can change your duvet depending on the temperature. This approach will ensure that you feel comfortable no matter what the weather outside is like. 

Combine Style With Comfort

While comfort is key to choosing the right bedding, you should also consider style. Try to select bedding that is both comfortable and fits in with the aesthetic style of your bedroom. 

Style is where duvet covers, pillowcases and blankets all shine. There are many different styles to choose from, and you can buy several different designs to suit every mood and trend that takes your fancy. You could choose a timeless style that will never go out of fashion, or you could go for some trendy bedding by a renowned designer. Whatever you choose, make sure that it is thick enough for your needs and that it is the right size, to ensure that you don’t have to return it. 

With so many options to choose from, it can be tough to find the perfect bedding solutions. Use this guide to find comfortable, stylish bedding that enables you to get a great night’s sleep. 

Collaborative post with our partner.