Turning a much-loved story on its head with an intriguing modern twist, Tea Break Theatre will present their new re-working of Sleeping Beauty?.

This live and interactive epic Zoom adventure will feature puppetry, original music and comedy. Everyone knows the story: in a faraway time and a faraway place, a beautiful Princess is asleep in a castle. But this time, it’s 2020, and that faraway tale is happening here and now. Prince wants to save the Princess, so sets off on an adventure with his faithful dog, Puff. Can he save the Princess and defeat the evil villain, Dreaver, who is determined to turn your own dreams against you, all in time for Christmas?

Written and directed by Katharine Armitage (Big Finish’s Doctor Who Audio Adventures; Funny Women Writing Award finalist, 2020), Sleeping Beauty? is a fairy-tale for the 21st century. Families will be transported into a magical fairy-tale world, while exploring the feelings of loneliness, community, and isolation that have been heightened during the Covid-19 lockdowns. This uplifting and enlightening tale will explore how being honest about our emotions and identity can help our mental wellbeing. Sleeping Beauty? hopes to help adults and children alike feel grounded and empowered, in what for many has felt like a chaotic and uncontrollable year.

Performers Felicity Sparks (Golem, BBC Four; A Christmas Carol, Pitlochry Festival Theatre), Alicia McKenzie (Blond Bombshells of 1943, Pitlochry Festival Theatre; The Wind in the Willows, New Vic Theatre), Chris Dobson (In The Night Garden Live, UK Tour; Bobbin, Little Angel Theatre) and Molly Small (A Wake In Progress, The Bunker, Pleasance and Underbelly; Beauty and the Beast, Sutton House) will engage with families directly in this live spectacle, while audiences remain on mute to enjoy this home adventure in their own individual way.

Katharine Armitage, writer and director of Sleeping Beauty?, comments, The power of theatre is that it is always there for us, whatever is happening, whatever the challenges, theatre finds a way to tell stories which both distract us and allow us to process the world we find ourselves in. By taking theatre online, but keeping it live and interactive, I hope to create something new and exciting: a form of theatre that actually would never have existed without the pandemic! I want to tell a story which will transport you and your kids to an epic adventure with all the magic, hope and joy we need right now. Ensuring theatre is accessible for all families this Christmas, Tea Break Theatre will be using a ‘pay what you can’ ticketing system, where low cost and free tickets are available for those who need them most.

Title Sleeping Beauty? Dates Thursday 17th December – Wednesday 30th December 2020

10.30am performances – 20th, 22nd, 23rd December 5pm performances – 17th, 18th, 20th, 21st, 28th and 30th December 7pm performances – 18th, 21st, 22nd, 29th December

Running Time 50 minutes

Tickets: Tickets are available as ‘pay what you can’ from £5.

Advanced booking is available here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/teabreaktheatre

Twitter @teabreaktheatre Instagram @tea.break.theatre Facebook @teabreaktheatre Hashtag #NotAsleep, #SleepingBeauty? Website https://www.teabreaktheatre.com

Age Guidance Age 3+, perfect for children aged 4 to 9.

Grand Hotel Royal Bedroom Italy

Determined to highlight how trees connect us all on a universal level, photographer Adrian Houston’s acclaimed retrospective, A Portrait of a Tree, succeeded in reaching, and indeed surpassing, his original goal.

Inspired by this success, Adrian decided to introduce these powerful and extraordinarily beautiful images to a new audience as Eclipse puts them centre stage in an exclusive and bespoke new collection of luxury murals and art pieces. Adrian spent several years photographing trees that held a very special meaning for a diverse group of individuals, among them actresses Joanna Lumley and Goldie Hawn, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and Sir Richard Branson. Locations included Madagascar, Ibiza, France and the UK. Now captured in this stunning series, the magnificence and atmosphere of each tree will create a stylish and dramatic statement for both contemporary and period properties.

A private home in London UK

It was back in the 1700s that murals were  first used as a replacement for tapestries and taken as a sign of great wealth. Since then they have been viewed as a timeless luxury interior design item, adding a distinctive look and feel to a home. This ephemeral collection will similarly transform any space.

Says Adrian Houston, “Murals have always been an important medium for communication and information. From prehistoric times onwards, they have served to educate as well as enhance the living space. I am delighted that my tree portraits will carry on this time-honoured tradition.”

Added Graham Hayhurst, MD of Adrian Houston Art: “Adrian Houston enjoys a global reputation as a photographer who sees the natural world from a very personal perspective. His powerful photographs serve as a timely reminder of the contrasts our world offers and the importance of preserving them. We are delighted to have the opportunity to translate this iconic artwork into large scale decorative murals.”

Tyringham Hall sitting room UK

Employing the latest technologies and the skills of its in-house design team, Eclipse will ensure the murals remain true to Adrian’s original vision. In line with Adrian’s own eco-friendly ethos, the electronic print process reduces plastics and solvent emissions found in more traditional printing processes.

In addition, the use of non-woven material significantly reduces the use of paper and consequently the natural wood products required to make it.

The Portrait of a Tree Collection will be produced to customer bespoke dimensions as limited edition of 50 prints.

Mural pricing starts at £330 per square metre. Art pieces measuring three metres by two metres are priced at £9000.

Images are credited to Adrian Houston

Commercial enquiries should be directed to Graham Hayhurst  ( graham.hayhurst@sky.com. )

I must say it’s always uplifting and inspiring to hear of those special people who grasp opportunities from even the most difficult situations.

Take 31 year old Pippa Kent for example – having had a double lung transplant, she needed to shield throughout the first Covid lockdown. So after thirteen weeks of house arrest, having become bored of the incessant circulating toilet paper jokes, TikTok and staring at her four walls (maybe this says more about me than Pippa), she started designing and making beautiful table Napkins. At first they were intended for personal use, just for her and her husband and to help her de-stress, but when friends and family saw them, they begged her to make some for them too. So one thing led to another and now she’s selling them as a business. Well done Pippa.

The Napkins are beautiful. Lovely soft 100% cotton, hand tie-dyed in beautiful colours and designs ranging from delicate pastels to striking deeper shades.

They come beautifully wrapped and with a note from Pippa herself. Prices start at just £12 for two Napkins, up to £35 for a set of eight.

The Napkins became so popular that Pippa has expanded her range to Tea Towels – which I just love – in fact I had to open mine up to show its full glory in the picture below. Like the Napkins they are cotton, but thicker for absorbency and at £8 make a really unusual and attractive Christmas gift.

And guess what? There’s more. Now you can also buy table runners and tote bags. How about a Tote and matching Tea Towel for £15?

I have the feeling this is just the start for this great company, based in Battersea, so watch out for more products.

Pippa’s designs and colours are lovely, but if you wanted something specific she offers a bespoke service too.

You can see more of her lovely designs on her Facebook page and Instagram, and you can buy them on Etsy.

Why not check out her special Christmas range for your gift list?

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.

According to NHS.co.uk Dyslexia is defined as : a common learning difficulty that can cause problems with reading, writing and spelling.It’s a specific learning difficulty, which means it causes problems with certain abilities used for learning, such as reading and writing.

Unlike a learning disability, intelligence isn’t affected.It’s estimated up to 1 in every 10 people in the UK has some degree of dyslexia which is a lifelong problem that can present challenges on a daily basis. Support is available, however,  to improve reading and writing skills and help those with the problem to thrive at school and work.

According to NHS.co.uk.  Dyspraxia, also known as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), is defined as:   a common disorder that affects movement and coordination.

Dyspraxia does not affect your intelligence. It can, however, affect your coordination skills – such as tasks requiring balance, playing sports or learning to drive a car. Dyspraxia can also affect your fine motor skills, such as writing or using small objects

Growing up I always thought that my dear dear mum was a clumsy and forgetful person, and I remember that when I was at school studying for my GCSE’s she would often ask me to check her spelling.  I just thought she wasn’t confident that  her spelling was correct, after all we all have those words we find difficult to spell,  mine is “Receive”. Thank God for spell check and autocorrect.  But what do you do when not one but two different people ask if you are Dyslexic ?

 Following her diagnosis earlier this year I asked my beautiful mother what it was like finally finding out in her 50s she is not only Dyslexic but has Dyspraxia. 

Mum works as a Clinical Pharmacy Technician, helping to  support GP surgeries and nursing homes with their medicine management. When dealing with drugs on a regular basis it is absolutely vital that the correct medicine and amount is dispensed, and of course, there is no room for error. So how does someone with Dyslexia ensure that she doesn’t make any mistakes? What prompted her to get tested? How does she feel about her diagnosis? What help is available to fellow dyslexics? I asked Mum all of this and more.

What prompted you to get tested for Dyslexia?

‘4 years ago my then line manager asked if I was Dyslexic and they even offered to pay for the test to find out. This test would have set the NHS back roughly £500 and I did not want them wasting that money as I had always assumed I was just thick. However, at this point,  I took it upon myself to go to night school to improve my language as I was only using simple words in my work,  and my punctuation was very poor. Then at the beginning of 2020 someone else asked me again if I was Dyslexic. I then went online and discovered that I did in fact show signs of Dyslexia and I found a woman who offers private assessments. I  wanted to find out one way or the other and at least this time it was coming out my pocket and not the NHS’s.

What was the testing process like?

‘I was asked questions about my childhood and about what school was like when I was younger. She also asked if I was clumsy which made me chuckle,  as any member of my family will tell you that I am known for always bumping into things or stumbling. With that said she  explained that she was going to test me for both Dyslexia and Dyspraxia.

With one test there were various shapes that she had made up from a number of squares, I then had to mimic these. I did struggle to make up some shapes. Another test required me to read a passage from a book and then she questioned me about about my understanding of the passage, particularly certain words.

One test which I found very difficult was where she would say a sequence of numbers and letters, for example “1C2D4H7F3K” and I would then have to repeat it back to her but backwards.

In another test she would tap out a rhythm which I would then have to copy, I found this fairly easy.

Finally after an assessment that lasted nearly 3 hours she revealed that I did in fact have Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. Which did come as a bit of a shock to me and I was concerned that others would say that I was not fit to do my job anymore. And then the imposter syndrome set in, how did I get here if I couldn’t read properly?

And whats more I was not just Dyslexic, but  I also had Dyspraxia…  Until  that day I had never heard of Dyspraxia let alone what it was, but once she explained  the condition, my clumsiness started to make sense.

Looking back on everything you have achieved ( a degree and NVQ) despite your undiagnosed Dyslexia, are you proud?

‘I wouldn’t say proud, I am however surprised that I have been able to achieve so much. I had to work extremely hard to achieve my NVQ and degree, graduating from Portsmouth University in 2012 with a foundation degree in Science.I poured my heart and soul into achieving my qualifications. and as I am very slow at reading  I had to keep re-reading things to make sure I understood them properly and if I had been diagnosed earlier and  had the help one can receive now, my life would have been considerably easier. So, not proud, but frustrated that it was harder than it had to be.’ 

Tell us what help is  available now?

‘Work is wonderfully supportive, and I also have an array of practical support: one piece of software converts my speech to text which is a great help and then there is a different piece of software which will read any documents for me, making my working life so much easier. I am also getting a dictaphone so i will be able to record meetings and then my computer will convert it to text for me.

What was school like for you?

‘Junior school was absolutely awful for me, I was called names and always lacked the confidence to ask questions on things that I didn’t understand. I was even held back a year. At the time Dyslexia wasn’t heard of so the teachers just treated me as if I was slow and not very bright. Luckily these days learning difficulties such as dyslexia are usually  understood, and children are diagnosed at a young age.’

What advice would you give to others who are struggling with Dyslexia, or at least think they might have it?

‘I would say: get diagnosed, and then accept all the support offered. Do not be afraid to accept the help that is available to you. Make ‘to do’ lists to help organise your day. I am also a member of a Facebook group called Dyslexia UK which is a great support to me and I find that it is a relief to talk to fellow sufferers.

When Mum told me her diagnosis I was so surprised.

I have always been so proud of her, of everything that she has achieved whilst juggling her career and her family, but on learning that she did all of that whilst being dyslexic just blows me away: ‘Caryn Peeke you are one phenomenal woman and I am very proud to call you my mother.’

Margaret Graham, editor of Frost Magazine says, ‘Yes, indeed, Caryn Peeke is so inspiring, and with a mother like that, no wonder her daughter, our Natalie – West Country Corespondent,  is so remarkable.‘