Following the success of the acclaimed Godspell 50^th anniversary online concert, some of the biggest West End talent will reunite to recreate their performances live on-stage, as part of an exciting one-off concert screening at the West End Musical Drive In (Sunday 4^th October). The event will see cast members, Jodie Steele (SIX; Heathers), Danyl Johnson (The X Factor finalist), Jenny Fitzpatrick (Tina, The Musical; Our House), John Barr (The Story of Bart; Tommy), Sally Ann Triplett (Mamma Mia!; Viva Forever), Matthew Croke (Aladdin), and Alison Jiear (Jerry Springer: The Opera), all taking to the stage.

Alongside the live spectacular will be a streaming of the recorded concert, featuring incredible performances from Darren Day (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat; Priscilla, Queen of the Desert), Ruthie Henshall (Chicago; Billy Elliot), Jenna Russell (The Bridges of Madison County; Fun Home), Sam Tutty (Dear Evan Hansen) and more, all filmed in their homes and edited together with striking visual animations.

Title West End Musical Drive-In Dates Sunday 4 th October, 2.30pm

Location The Drive In, Troubadour Meridian Water, Harbet Road, London, N18 3QQ

How to get there Situated just off the North Circular (A406). Conveniently located and easily accessible for those traveling from London and those travelling from a little further afield.

Website www.westendmusicaldrivein.co.uk

Tickets  priced from £65. Tickets are available here for cars and car-free options: www.westendmusicaldrivein.co.uk

Social Media #WestEndMusicalDriveIn, @westendmusicalbrunch, @Gingerqmedia @hopemilltheatr1, @ActingforOthers, @NAT_AIDS_Trust

Producers Neighbourhood Events Ltd Thomas Hopkins & Michael Quinn for Ginger Quiff Media

Annie Clarke is the author of the Home Front Girls saga series. 

I came across A Box Of Stories on social media, and was interested in their advert so proceeded to check out their website. I knew instantly I had to get in touch with them to talk about their incredible business.

As a massive bookworm I was shocked to hear that 177 Million books get destroyed every year in the UK alone and only 17% of books are lucky enough to receive a decent marketing budget to make it to the ‘Bestsellers’ list, meaning some of the best books published do not make it to the shelves and go unread. I could not help but think of all the books I could be missing out on.

As we communicated, I learned the very clever way in which they pick their books – bu using an algorithm which combines reviews from forums, blogs, rankings on websites, and sales figures. So, you are guaranteed to get a book that has been well received by other bookworms. All the boxes are hand picked so you will never receive the same book or box twice.

There is a great selection of boxes to choose from;

YA Box

Crime, Mystery and thriller box

Historical fiction box

Mixed box

Non fiction box

Light reads box

Each box contains 4 brand new books. Boxes start from £14.99 which is a absolute bargain in my opinion. Not only does A Box Of Stories save books from destruction but they also donate a percentage of their profits to charities working for literacy.

I was lucky enough to receive a box from them (I chose a mixed box) and I couldn’t wait to get it, I felt like a child at Christmas I was so excited to see what I would be reading. I was not disappointed, the books in my box were

It started with a tweet by Anna Bell

To keep you safe by Kate Bradley

Buried by Lynda La Plante (Hardback)

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

I love all of the books selected, I wouldn’t have normally pick them for myself but I love the sound of them and can not wait to read them, especially The Beekeeper of Aleppo which has been on my wish list for so long.

The boxes will make a fantastic gift for someone else or a treat to yourself and with every box you buy you would have saved 4 books from being destroyed and that is extremely rewarding. You can select how often you would like to receive a box; you can choose from every 1,2, 3 or 4 months or as a one off.

www.aboxofstories.com

There has been a considerable fall in doctor visits for potential cancer symptoms, plus other serious illnesses during the pandemic. Fear of attending hospital during Covid is understandable, in fact even I resisted going until long after I should have done during lockdown. However Covid-safe measures are in place in medical establishments and there’s a real risk that a treatable cancer could become incurable just through delay, so please, please see your doctor if you’re worried.

September is Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month and Intimina, makers of women’s health products, have asked Dr Shree Datta, consultant at Kings College Hospital, London, to answer commonly asked questions about gynaecological cancers, and Frost is keen to share her answers:

Dr Datta’s Advice:                                 

The main women’s health cancers affect cervix, womb and ovaries. Your overall risk of developing cancer increases with age, but menopause alone doesn’t cause cancer and young women can be affected too. 

How can I minimise the risk of gynaecological cancer?

1. Whilst you cannot change some risk factors (eg family history or genetics), smoking or being overweight can affect risk of gynaecological cancers, so it’s important to watch your diet and exercise regularly. This can also strengthen your immune system. 
2. If womb, ovarian, cervical or breast cancer is prominent in your family, speak to your doctor. 
3. Keep a diary of abnormal symptoms such as heavy periods or bleeding between periods and make sure you attend your smear tests. Cervical smears and mammography help detect whether there is cancer and find it early. Bring a friend if needed, or take some pain relief beforehand. 
4. Safe sex and the HPV vaccination (if eligible) can protect from high risk HPV types which are commonly associated with cervical cancer. 

What things should I watch out for?

Consult your doctor early for abnormal bleeding (between your periods, after sex or after the menopause) or repeated bouts of abdominal pain.  Also for unexplained bloating, a change in appetite or bowel habits or if you are losing weight without trying.

If symptoms persist or get worse go back to your doctor. We may explore things with an ultrasound or blood test.

Further tips from Dr Datta?

Self examine your breasts regularly and attend your mammography, as well as smear tests, as some gynaecological cancers can also occur if you have breast changes or breast cancer. 

Speaking to your doctor early may mean that if you have cancer, it’s diagnosed early and may be curable. Don’t wait until your next smear test if you find symptoms in between tests, speak to your doctor.

It’s great to hear this advice from an expert such as Dr Datta and if you need more information or want to speak with her, you can contact Intimina@cowpr.com

Many thanks to Intimina for providing this important resource. For more advice and resources please visit Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month – Foundation for Women’s Cancer

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.

As a doctor you may expect me to dismiss claims for the vibrational energy of plants.

Not so. I was privileged, when first qualified, to work for the late Dr Alec Forbes, a highly regarded NHS physician, excelling in conventional medicine. This extremely compassionate man was conscious that modern medicine, whilst improving so many lives, was not a ‘cure all’. Conditions persisted where conventional medicine was an imperfect solution. His concern drove him to explore numerous complementary medical approaches and he went on to play a key founding role in the Bristol Cancer Help Centre, now Penny Brohn UK.

Amongst the alternative treatments, which Dr Forbes used, side-by-side with conventional therapy, were Bach flower remedies – developed in the 1920s. Bach diluted selected flower essences with water and a little brandy and, dependent on the combination of essences, claimed to help many states of mind, including anxiety, despair and anger.

Thus I was interested to discover Saskia’s Flower Essences – which follow similar principles to Bach remedies, and yet are definitely different.

Saskia Marjoram (yes that’s really her name) has lived and worked with flowers all her life – having been a gardener, and later a florist to Prince Charles, so maybe it’s no surprise that she ‘feels’ the energy of flowers and knows how to use this to help others.

From the start, I was struck by the presentation of my sample essence, Breath Deep, Seek Peace. A hand-written card from Saskia herself explained the product. The beautiful apothecary-style bottle was hand-wrapped in tissue and there was an excellent accompanying guide, explaining the different flower essences.

I felt cared for, even before using the essence. I’ve tried Bach Remedies in the past, but what struck me about the Saskia Essence was the stronger taste – perhaps Saskia uses more flower essence? I’m not sure, but it was pleasing.

Was it psychological? I don’t know, but I felt a swell of hope, calm and happiness and this feeling persisted for some time. It’s main purpose is for sleeping, but the ‘winding down, letting go’ subtitle is relevant to many of us during this crazy Covid-2020, perhaps not just at bedtime.

Strength and Support (featured) offers help for dark thoughts and hopelessness. There are combinations designed for confidence, emotional relief and focus, for shock and – so important for us all, Sexy and Gorgeous – for self-love.

There are spray formulations too, and for those who require alcohol-free essences – the organic vodka component can be replaced with cider vinegar.

You can see the full range on Saskia’s website. A boxed set of 8 key combination essences (£64) is a fantastic gift for someone special (including yourself).

If you wish, you can choose your own combinations too, using Saskia’s helpful guide.

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.

Rosebud Preserves has shared with Frost Magazine that   its NEW season Gooseberry & Elderflower jam is now available to buy  from fine food retailers and online at www.rosebudpreserves.co.uk.  Hooray!

Gooseberry & Elderflower Jam (£3.95/227g)

Gooseberries 66%, unrefined sugar, water, fresh elderflowers 2%. Prepared with 66g of fruit per 100g. Total sugar content 60g per 100g.

The perfect seasonal pairing of sharp summer gooseberries with the muscat scent of wild elderflower. Naturally set with unrefined sugar goes the blurb, and honestly, the jam lives up to all of this, and I have also tried  the strawberry jam. Lucky me… Scones for tea again this week. Perfection.

Using fresh, local or foraged ingredients is very important to Elspeth Biltoft, founder of the company.  For the Gooseberry & Elderflower Jam that means at the end of May/beginning of June you will find Elspeth foraging in the North Yorkshire countryside for fresh elderflowers with members of the Rosebud Preserves team.

Elspeth says: “Every year we check local hedges for abundant quantities of fresh creamy white flowers. They must be picked when the day is warm, dry and sunny. It is more a pleasure than a chore and we work as a very efficient team. When we return to the farm we chill the blossoms and when we’re ready, make a simple Muscat flavoured liquor with them to add to the gooseberries, to make the jam.”

Elspeth continues: “Gooseberry & Elderflower is perhaps the most special of our jams and has won more awards for us, over the years, than any other product. The ingredient list is deceptively simple – sharp Gooseberries, just enough unrefined sugar and generous quantities of freshly picked Elderflowers. The soft natural set retains a sweet/sharp fruity flavour, replete with the heady scent of Muscat.”

Now, if you are planning on foraging for elderflower yourself, it will have to be next year, but make a note of these tips that Elspeth has given us:

Whilst gathering take care not to damage the Elder bushes, they have fragile stems, or surrounding habitat by trampling over it.

Spread yourself around, picking a little here, then there, rather than stripping the  bush. After all, flowers develop into berries and provide food for birds.

Get permission to pick on private land.

And best to pick away from traffic fumes.

How did I not know that Rosebud Preserves has been making its jams, marmalades, chutneys and jellies at Masham, North Yorkshire, since 1989? Living a stones throw away in Thirsk I should have done. My excuse is that I only left London environs two years ago.

The company was started by Elspeth Biltoft and her founding principles, to source local produce whenever possible; to cook traditional recipes; and practice time honoured techniques, without the use of additives, preservatives or pectin; remain the same today.

 All prices quoted do not include postage and packing.

As well as selling direct, the products can also be bought from fine food retailers, such as Whole Foods Market, Neal’s Yard Dairy, Castle Howard Estate and are served with afternoon tea at Cowarth Park, Ascot, Berkshire.  The company also exports its products – since 1992 it has been exporting to the United States of America.

www.rosebudpreserves.co.uk.

Rosebud Farm, Healey, Masham, North Yorkshire, HG4 4LH

Annie Clarke is the author of the Home Front series pub. Arrow.