Insomnia used to be considered a nuisance. Now we know that sleep deprivation contributes to serious chronic illness including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, dementia and even obesity. As if it weren’t bad enough tossing and turning into the small hours, it’s making you fat too. Life can be a bitch.

The good news is all the good quality information on sleep problems which is emerging. One suggestion is, rather than staring at the ceiling during the early hours, get up and read – and Calm – The Magic of Sleep –  was written by Michael Acton for this very situation.

It’s a fairly light-hearted book – but then you don’t want to be studying heavy facts at 2am. However it is informative. It explains the science – what happens during sleep, the benefits, what makes us fall asleep and what stops us sleeping. There are nice easy quizzes to help us establish our own sleep type and set up good sleep habits and sleep hygiene.

Much of the book is dotted with sleep trivia and interesting stories – great to distract you before you settle back down to sleep again.

There are short sections on specific issues, such as childhood and adolescent sleep needs and how to deal with them, useful for any parent, particularly those whose own sleep problems stem from a crying baby.

He’s also included a fascinating section on dreams, with suggestions on how to keep a dream journal, which is very interesting.

The book doesn’t pretend to be an encyclopaedia on all things sleep, and in fact the author refers us to Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep for more detailed science, direct from a sleep scientist. However it still manages to slip in a lot of useful information in an easy and digestible style – with attractive illustrations and amusing quotes.

It’s linked to the Calm sleep app available at http://www.calm.com which you can try for free. This provides guided meditations, breathing coaching and special bedtime stories for adults with music and the occasional celebrity narrator.

As the book explains, many of nature’s sleep triggers, such as darkness, elude us in this modern world of city lights and mobile phone screens, and it provides many tips on how to restore our body’s natural rhythms – with recipes for calming herbal teas and advice on the best sleep positions.

Acton explains to us that sleep isn’t just dead time – one thought-provoking insight was a study where language students remembered more new vocabulary if words in the new language were played to them whilst they slept. Sports scientists are discovering that good quality sleep can give that competitive edge which makes the difference between a silver and gold. So good sleep is more important than we realise for our health and life success.

Acton’s suggestions on how to get the best sleep are definitely more helpful than W.C. Fields’ contribution, ‘The best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep.’ His book is certainly worth reading if you need help with sleep.

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.

I know what you’re thinking, who is Banjo Robinson? Well Banjo is a globetrotting feline who will write to your child(ren) twice a month about his latest adventures: where he has been, what he has seen and done. As well as where he hopes to go next.

In the first pack you will find a personalised letter from Banjo himself, personalised stickers, stamps, reply stationary, colouring in activities as well as a large and beautifully illustrated map of the world. My son absolutely loved his letter, he was amazed that Banjo knew his name, where he lives and even the street name. Together we read about Banjo and discussed what he had been doing and where he would be going next, My Son was so eager to write Banjo a letter with the paper and envelope provided that he sat down and got to it.

My Son is 5 (soon to be 6) and he is not the biggest fan of reading and writing- he would much rather be playing football. And he was engrossed with his letter which was roughly one and a half pages long.

With Banjo Robinson there are several different subscription options available:

12 months (24 Packs) £2.50 per pack- £59.99 billed annually

3 months (6 packs) £4.17 per pack- £24.99 billed quarterly

6 months (12 Packs) £3.33 per pack- £39.99 billed half yearly

Each pack is based on Banjo’s adventure in a different country which you can track using the map provided. As well as all of that excitement I can log in to my account and choose to personalise a “PS” from Banjo so if my son had done particularly well in something I could write that as a PS from Banjo for example “I was so pleased to hear how well you are doing with your swimming lessons” which adds that extra touch of magic and excitement.

I would recommend this subscription for children age 5 or older (I have a 4 year old daughter who was interested to see what the fuss was about, she wasn’t as amazed by it and wouldn’t yet to be able to fully read and write back). It’s a perfect alternative to “screen time” and as there is so much fun to be had my son will not even be aware that not only is he practicing his reading, writing and spelling but also his geography.

The subscriptions would make a lovely gift, especially for Christmas and birthdays when children receive so many toys that they soon tire of or break, (or is that just my two?) with this my son will have something exciting to look forward to every month.

www,banjorobinson.com

But why Courvoisier?  Well because it’s incredibly smooth and tastes delicious. But don’t just take my word for it – it’s graced the tables of European Royal households for years, and was specifically requested for the grand opening of the Eiffel Tower.

They say that when bad things happen good things follow. Perhaps the opening of the Courvoisier company in 1809, in the wake of the bloody French revolution is a great example. Its reputation rose so rapidly that Emperor Napoleon visited the distillery and requested the cognac as his special luxury when he was exiled to St Helena.

As you twist that stopper and watch the splash of gold whilst you pour a generous measure into a fine cut glass, take it to a comfortable seat by a cosy log fire and swirl the glass, smell the heavenly aroma whilst warming the liquor in your hands, anticipate that moment when you will bring it to your lips and finally sip pure luxury – do you really know what you’re holding? Why it tastes so, so good?

Well the Courvoisier distillery now combines the best of both old and modern methodologies in its relentless pursuit of excellence and in 1983 became the only cognac house in France to receive the ‘Prestige de la France’, the highest accolade for quality.

But what does VSOP mean? Does it matter? Well, yes – cognac has different quality grades:

• V.S. (Very Special) or ✯✯✯ (three stars): a blend of brandies, each having been stored in a cask for at least two years.
• V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old Pale) or Reserve: the brandies been in the cask for at least four years.
• XO (Extra Old) or Napoléon: currently means at least six years in the cask.

The prolonged storage is one reason for the wonderful smoothness of a good cognac.

As a doctor I cannot recommend excessive drinking of alcohol, but I’m a firm believer that a little of what you fancy probably doesn’t do much harm.  So if you’re going to indulge, make it something worthwhile – Courvoisier VSOP for me please.

Available from Morrisons, Sainsburys and Asda.

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.

At some point, you get tired of attending clubs but still want to have a good time with your friends, with all the variables under your control the only option you’re left with when you get to that point is to plan a party. Party planning generally requires a lot of dedication to the cause. This is because you have to make sure that every single detail is taken into consideration to achieve one important goal – guest satisfaction. You don’t need to be a party planner to throw an unforgettable party. All you need is a guide, and the type of party in question determines what details you should be looking out for. Party planning in Coventry is no different and this guide ensures that you leave no stones unturned to plan a party to remember.

THE EVENT

This is the first thing that comes to mind when a party is mentioned. What are you celebrating? It could be a birthday celebration, a Halloween party, an office party or just a random house party. Are you looking at a daytime or night time party? Whatever the case, knowing what kind of event helps you to narrow down your planning and picking a theme, if necessary.

BUDGET

For everything in life, having a budget is paramount. Now that it’s time to party, prepare a strict budget and adhere to it. Try as much as possible to avoid unnecessary things and compare prices with vendors to get the most affordable and good quality offers.

VENUE

As a party hub, there are a lot of party venues Coventry has to offer. Before picking one, however, the season at the time for the party is a top priority. You don’t want to have your guests at an outdoor party in winter. You also need to consider the number of guests you’ll be expecting as that determines the venue capacity. One last tip on the venue is the location. Find a place that is easy to locate and central to parts of the city your guests will be arriving from. Venuefinder makes it quite easy for the party planner to pick a venue, by offering an array of options around Coventry.

GUESTS

Preparing a guest list goes hand in hand with making a budget and picking out a venue. As already stated, the number of guests you intend to invite determines the size of the venue and the cost. It is also essential to prepare a guest list to make it easy to send out invitations and knowing the exact people you want at your party.

ENTERTAINMENT

This part right here is the life wire of your party. What’s a party without music, food, and drinks? Most of the venues on Venuefinder have complete packages that cater to this aspect of your party; from DJs to bands and food vendors.

The nightlife and party spirit in Coventry are very much alive but if you want to throw your party, these tips will help you do that effortlessly.

Sponsored Post.

I have just read Spies of Warsaw, and embarked on Mission to Paris both by Alan Furst: fabulous novels, taut, anxiety promoting reads, and written with such restrained delicacy that I would re-read passages for the sheer pleasure they gave me. Then,  Under Occupation arrived in Frost Magazine’s office. Being a wise old bird,  i hid it from my book review team and devoured it myself.

Under Occupation is set in occupied Paris in 1942 where the presence of the German masters is ever constant, as is the unseen – usually – German security services.

This is a Paris which still hums, restaurants which still serve food and wine, a Paris which somehow has a measure of the ambiance of a Paris before the war. Why? Because it is the playground for Germans on leave. But what is actually going on beneath the surface? Is there a resistance network? If so, who is in it? How do you become embroiled?

Well, by accident or design.

Either way, it is nerve tingling, an almost impossible way to live: who is friend, who is foe? How can one ever sleep soundly, for when will the Gestapo beat on the door at midnight?

As always, Alan Furst’s research is thorough, the world he creates is utterly believable, the tension he evokes makes putting down the book almost impossible.

Scenario: a man is being chased by the Gestapo. He is shot, and hands an onlooker, Paul Ricard, a plan but of what? Who should Paul share this with, or should he just forget all about it?

So, there we are, by accident Paul Ricard is given a choice. He accepts the challenge and becomes one of those below the surface.

Paul is also an author. He is writing a book, it is his only piece of sanity, the only thing he is in control of, the only world he can manipulate with certainty as his life becomes that of an agent. with only uncertainty as his companion.

One assignment leads to another, he travels into Germany, he grows enamoured of his handler Leila, he works with another, Kasia, This war becomes a battle for survival, not only for Ricard but for France. So many small pieces create a mass, a mass of information, a mass of actions, which will ultimately help those who are helping France.

Under Occupation is enlightening, evocative, heart stopping. Read it, try not to bite your nails. Bravo Alan Furst. A triumph.

Under Occupation by Alan Furst. pub Weidenfeld and Nicholson. hb £20.00

Annie Clarke’s latest novel, Heroes on the Home Front pub Arrow is out in paperback.

Last week I went for a walk. Halfway through it started to spot with rain, by the end it was bouncing off the paths. We splashed through streams, jumped over newly forming rivers and tried not to slip on the carpet of sodden leaves. With my unsuitable trainers acting as sponges, I couldn’t have been wetter or colder.

When I got home I went straight up to run a bath.

Shivering, I peeled off my sodden clothes then reached for the tall, slim bottle of my new coco and cherimoya bath and shower gel by Guava & Gold.

I poured a generous amount under the running tap then sank slowly into the luxuriously scented water.

Closing my eyes I was instantly transported to sunnier climes; the delicate aroma of coconut with undertones of cherimoya and bergamot assailed my senses as the cold wet walk became a distant memory.

I now use this wonderful product each morning, its rich velvety lather leaves my skin soft and fragrant, and me positive and relaxed.

I read somewhere that the cherimoya fruit is grown in tropical regions throughout the world and pollination has to be done by hand. This takes extra time and effort but, in my opinion, it is so worth it.

Guava and Gold have many more products which are available to buy online, and with their reputation of having a ’ strong commitment to sustainable development’ and prices from just £20 they are a must for any Christmas stocking.

https://www.guavaandgold.com