Take Time App Review by Alex Bannard

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Margaret Graham

There is no doubt that the ancient practice of meditation is gaining mainstream popularity with its benefits being increasingly recognized and applauded (see infographic below). Indeed a Harvard study recently confirmed that meditation actually improves our grey matter. Having practiced meditation for several years and been subtly, but profoundly affected by the benefits it affords my mental and physical health, I was delighted when Frost magazine invited me to review the new meditation app TakeTime.

I’ll be honest – I have a love/hate relationship with modern technology: on the one hand it offers such a wealth of information at our finger tips but the constant demands of always being available can sap us of both time and energy whilst creating even more stress, one of the greatest health issues facing us in 21st century. However, I love it when technology can be used beneficially and help support a new habit such as meditation, making it more accessible, more available to everyone.

And this is where TakeTime steps in. Available to download on iTunes, it offers a modern way to meditate on the move. Simply plug in your earphones, choose from 7 of the different themes and transport yourself away from modern stresses. Sounds simple? And it is. The earphones and harmonic sounds and music enable you to completely focus attention on the sounds without being distracted by other auditory stimulus. The sublime images and beautiful landscapes enable you to direct attention purely on the sights in front of you. These are indeed valuable tools to the meditator: using the senses to bring the attention inward or help avoid being distracted and swept away with your thoughts.

My problem is that there is no introduction to the app or the meditations so I was left confused – who will this app appeal to?

You see, in order to meditate, a little understanding helps such as; different techniques and styles. Meditation is not about turning your thoughts off – initially it can be alarming how as soon as we still our body, our brains go haywire. It’s important to understand how to calm the mind in order to observe thoughts like clouds in the sky. This idea is only briefly touched upon in the serenity meditation. Therefore, I feel this app is geared towards a more experienced meditator.

And therein lies the dichotomy as I feel an app is generally geared towards the more inexperienced beginner than the expert. After all if you have a regular mindfulness practice that works for you, why would you use an app? Since most of the meditations are unguided, perhaps this makes them less accessible for a beginner?

However, I really liked the variety of options and lengths of meditations – from 5 to 21 minutes – all of which are perfect time frames to be slotted into busy lifestyles. The headphones and images mean the meditations can practically be performed anywhere. Although I found practicing these meditations whilst on holiday slightly unnecessary, as I only had to gaze away from the screen across the beach and towards the horizon to see stunning scenery. But I can imagine the benefit of using TakeTime on the tube when such scenic distractions are sadly missing.

I really enjoyed and benefited from the balance, relaxation and serenity meditations and I am sure I will return to them. One night I couldn’t sleep so I tried the nighttime meditation it worked effortlessly taking me from sunset imagery into nightscapes, distracting my mind from whatever was troubling it and encouraging a relaxed sleep. I would recommend this meditation before bed rather than in the middle of the night, to avoid the temptation of logging into emails or social media.

The shorter meditations of prepare and recharge were less resonant. I felt they needed guidance rather than just some random and irritating plinky plonky music or harmonics. The longer Icelandic Harmony just sent me to sleep, both times I practiced it. But then I applied compassion and kindness to myself (both ideologies which go hand in hand with meditation) and accepted that was clearly what I needed at the time.

I found the male voice on the guided meditation gentle and soothing, the female voice less so (both are accented) and again this boils down to personal preference as if a voice irritates that meditation app isn’t for you. I didn’t much like the opening images of people plugged into laptops. They are surely there to convey how the app works but I felt they were not very in keeping with the meditation vibe. But I am probably being picky here.

So in short it’s a nice app if you have a basic background in meditating.

The key thing I believe to any of these things is to try before you buy. There are plenty of mindfulness and meditation apps available. It’s essential to find one where the approach and voice resonate. I cannot stress enough that the benefits of a regular mindfulness practice are subtle but profound and I completely recommend taking up a meditation practice with or without an app to support you. After all you wouldn’t want to get left behind in what many suggest is a revolution that will become such common practice that not meditating will be frowned upon – in the same way not wearing a seat belt is.

Price and availability

TakeTime can be downloaded for free in App Store. The meditation themes can then be downloaded in two different versions: With advertisement (for free) and without advertisement (from 79p to £2.99). The premium version can be purchased for £19.49.

http://taketimeapps.com/

Submissions Now Open For The 9th Luke Bitmead Writer’s Bursary

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

We know a lot of writers read Frost so we wanted to bring this great competition to your attention. Submissions for the 2016 Luke Bitmead Writer’s Bursary are now open.

The award was set up shortly after Luke’s death in 2006 by his family to support and encourage the work of fledgling novel writers and the Bursary is now the UK’s biggest award for unpublished authors. The top prize is a publishing contract with Legend Press and a £2,500 cash prize.

Luke Bitmead was the first novelist to be published by Legend Press, his novel White Summer was released in 2006 shortly before his death. Two novels have been published posthumously – The Body is a Temple and Heading South (co-authored by Catherine Richards). Information about Luke can be found at www.lukebitmead.com.
This fantastic bursary for a ninth year, and hope to continue the success of our previous winners Andrew Blackman (On the Holloway Road), Ruth Dugdall (The Woman Before Me), Sophie Duffy (The Generation Game), J.R. Crook (Sleeping Patterns,) Joanne Graham (Lacey’s House), Jo Gatford (White Lies), Tara Guha (Untouchable Things) and Lyn G. Farrell (The Wacky Man) published today 2nd May 2016.

Only adult fiction is eligible for this bursary, no children’s books or non-fiction.

Tom Chalmers, Legend Press MD comments ‘We are delighted to be continuing this brilliant bursary for the ninth year. The prize is a fantastic way to find new, undiscovered writing talent, and we have found some of our most exciting authors through the prize. Luke was an amazingly talented young author, and it is an honour to be continuing the prize in his name.’

Submissions from writers will be accepted from Monday 2nd May until Friday 15th July 2016.

For information about how to enter visit: http://www.legendtimesgroup.co.uk/legend-press/365-luke-bitmead-bursary

“Obama Out” President Obama Makes Brilliant Final White House Correspondents’ Dinner Speech

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

Everyone who knows me knows I am a huge President Obama fan. I have read his books and I enjoy his speeches. I think he is the best President of my lifetime so far: progressive, intelligent, compassionate, witty, moral and articulate. Obama will be sorely missed and his speech at his final White House Correspondents’ dinner did not help. From the mic drop to the jokes, it was perfection. Goodbye Obama, I will miss you.

Surreal? Probably, but it’s my life Alex Bannard – Bangkok correspondent

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Margaret Graham

Being an expat affords some amazing experiences, luxuries and some frustrations. In a previous expat life I had friends who described it as ‘not real life’ – it is real, it’s our life right now, surreal though it might sometimes be.

Take a typical moment in time in Bangkok. I was invited to join a friend in her first ante-natal appointment for her fourth pregnancy. Hubby felt his role was done so it was my privilege to share a wonderful moment with her and to have some fun too. Afterwards we were waiting outside for a taxi to go to lunch. I say waiting, we actually got proactive and went straight to the area where they are dropping off to pick one up.

‘We were met with, ‘No madam you go get number, please’.

There’s a system. Wow.

We went to the taxi desk & got number 49. There are many people milling around and obviously we don’t expect to get in the first taxi. Several minutes later a lady with number 52 clutched in her palm was clearly edging to the front of the ‘queue’…there is no queue just a mass of people.

I don’t really like pointless rules but if there is a system, queue or not – you wait your turn lady or I will take you down. I’m British after all, and we invented the queue.

Realizing we probably needed to register with Clipboard-lady I told her our destination & she wrote it next to 49. We’re back in the game. Number 52 can wait in line.

After many more minutes it became apparent that the system is not a system.

Clipboard-lady approached the next available taxi and gave him a range of options on which location he wanted next, which often he declined & drove off. Oh for goodness sake -it’s 37 degrees humid as a Chinese Laundry we’ve be waiting for almost 1/2 hour, my friend is in wedges and I am watching my long awaited Dean & Delucalunch disappear up the ‘system’.

So I took things into my own hands & walked down the line and asked a taxi way back in the taxi queue if he will take us to Emporium. ‘Madam, number?’ he said.

I replied, ‘We have a number but there is seriously no system. Taxi just choose where he wants to go. You want to go to Emporium?’

‘Ok but 100bht’

‘Done.’ We jumped in with our laminated 49 (stick that in your ‘system’) and drive off.

The traffic is horrible. We pass a Dean & Deluca and get stuck in a nose to tail traffic, so I hand him his 100bht & say ‘Kap kun ka we get out here.’

‘No madam. Just round corner.’ He replies.

‘Oh ok’

Finally we pull up at…Central Embassy. Not quite where we wanted to be.

Yep, surreal it is. But we love it.

Varidesk Soho Review: Is Standing Up The New Sitting Down?

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

Standing up is the new sitting down. Well, almost. The trend for working while standing up is not going away. It has numerous health benefits and you can burn 52,000 calories per year if you use it daily. It also decreases neck and lower back pain, lower blood pressure and help prevent heart disease.

With this in mind we reviewed the Varidesk Soho. Varidesk specialise in sit/stand desks.The Soho is their smallest standing desk model, with just enough space for the mobile minimalist who needs a stand up desk that’s just the right size for their laptop or tablet and easy to move and manage. It’s a single, flat deck that’s 76.2cm (30″) wide, and pops up or folds down in just seconds, making it a true sit-stand desk.

So what did we think? It came well packaged which is always a plus. When we took it out we noticed how good it looked. It is well made and it looks high end. The instructions are on a removable plastic film on the desk. It is heavy but not too heavy. It is easy to work, moving up and down effortlessly and without any juddering when you get the hang of it.

The Varidesk is easy to use, and is flat enough to be stored away easily. It looks good and is adjustable so it will suit every height. It is also small enough to work in a cubicle if you don’t have your own office. You can fit a laptop and a mug of tea on it. We are sold. We think it is a great piece of engineering and a fantastic product. It costs £150 and is available from Varidesk. We are not sure if we will be standing up all day, but we will definitely be incorporating it into our working day.

Free delivery
76.2cm (30″) wide for laptops or tablets
Single deck
Holds up to 4.54kg (10 lbs)
Sits on top of existing desks and cubicles
Sturdy and stable even when fully extended

http://uk.varidesk.com/laptop-standing-desk-VARIDESK-for-laptop

Stop Talking Start Doing Action Book By Sháá Wasmund MBE Book Review

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

In 2013 I very briefly met Sháá at a How to Create A Non-Fiction Bestseller seminar at RADA. Sháá was great during the seminar, giving lots of advice and getting good answers out of the publishers who were there. Despite everyone in the room wanting to talk to Sháá she took some time out to acknowledge me. I always remembered her courteousness and generosity. She has charisma and talent in spades. When I got the press release for her new book I jumped at the chance to do a review.

This book works for a number of reasons: it can be read in one sitting (as I did), it has practical tools and exercises to do throughout the book, it has inspiring quotes, and the book is well structured. It allows you to take one step and then another. By the end, who knows what you will have achieved? The book gives you a kick in the pants while removing all of the excuses you make to yourself. It also takes advice from other self help writers and either expands on them or uses them to make a point. All in all this is a great inspirational book which helps you get your butt into gear. I wasn’t disappointed.

Stop Talking, Start Doing Action Book: Practical Tools and Exercises to Give You a Kick in the Pants is available here.

Stop Talking, Start Doing Action Book

Practical tools and exercises to give you a kick in the pants

By Sháá Wasmund MBE

Published by Capstone.

Paperback original and e-book, £9.99

ISBN: 9780857086860

New book shows how to apply an entrepreneurial spirit to life

The Stop Talking, Start Doing Action Book is a motivational kick in the pants for anyone who has an itch to try something new or feels that there must be more to life. Encouraging people to face their fears, it helps readers identify their personal starting point and develop a plan to reach their goals.

Stop Talking, Start Doing Action Book is written by bestselling author and leading businesswoman, Sháá Wasmund. Awarded an MBE in 2015 for her services to business and enterprise, she helps readers apply an entrepreneurial spirit to achieve more and gain greater fulfilment from life.

Whether readers want to ditch their partner, seek a promotion, renovate their house, write a book, or start travelling, the Action Book demonstrates how to find the inspiration, self-discipline and confidence to move from talking to doing.

“As time roars past our ears we drift, deliberate, doubt and take ourselves too seriously” says Shaa. “But there’s never been a better time to start something. Now more than ever we live in a world of opportunity.”

A follow-up to the bestselling Stop Talking Start Doing (Wiley, 2011), the Action Book includes new tools and exercises to support readers who want to put their ideas into motion.

About the author:

Sháá Wasmund is a graduate of The London School of Economics. Her entrepreneurial career had an unusual start. At 22 she won a competition to interview Super Middleweight boxing champ Chris Eubank and ended up helping to promote his next fight to a sell-out 48,000 live crowd and an 18 million TV audience. Sháá remains an ardent boxing fan.

Shortly after she set up her own PR and marketing company and won the then relatively unknown vacuum cleaner company Dyson as one of her first clients. Working alongside Sir James Dyson helping to establish Dyson as a global brand taught Sháá more about business than any MBA. To this day, Sháá credits James as being one her biggest sources of inspiration.

Sháá’s love affair with the Internet began after she became a founding director in Sir Bob Geldof’s online travel company. A year later, Sháá raised substantial funds to launch mykindaplace.com an early social networking site. The company was later sold to BSkyB.

Sháá is an international bestselling author, prolific public speaker, digital native and passionate champion of small businesses. Amongst other accolades, Sháá has been voted by the Institute of Directors as one of the UK’s Most Connected Women.

In 2009 Sháá launched Smarta.com, the UK’s #1 Resource for Small Business. In 2011 Sháá launched ‘Smarta Business Builder’, a groundbreaking cloud-based toolkit for business.

In 2015, Sháá was presented with an MBE from the Queen for her ‘services to business and enterprise’ and published her second #1 bestseller Do Less, Get More: How To Work Smart and Live Life Your Way.

Sháá now runs business bootcamps, workshops and coaching programmes under her own brand, shaa.com. She has helped thousands of people monitize their passions and knowledge to build digital businesses they love.

She’s a regular guest on Sky Sunrise, reviewing the papers with Eamonn Holmes and now speaks on stages across the world, most recently sharing stages with Gary Veynerchuck and E-Myth legend Michael Gerber.

Follow Sháá: @Shaawasmund

Facebook: facebook.com/shaawasmund

FOREO LUNA 2 and LUNA Mini 2 Review

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

Facial cleansing brushes are huge right now and show no sign of waning. The fact is, they really do work. But not all facial cleansers are good and do women really need yet another beauty burden to add to their routine? Well, yes. As long as it works and it not too time-consuming. This makes the Luna 2 and Luna 2 Mini perfect. Both only require an extra two minutes to your routine. Easy to fit in but does it work?

The Luna easily charges via USB. I plug it into my computer and the light starts flashing. When it is fully charged the light remains steady. I start with the mini. The brush feels so soft and lovely. I cannot stop stroking it. The device itself is beautiful. The Luna 2 and Luna 2 Mini come in different colours and each colour is for a different skin type. The pink is for normal skin. Now, did it make a difference to my skin? It is an outstanding yes. Luna says it ‘removes 99.5% of dirt and oil (based on clinical trials) plus makeup residue. Dead skin cells are also cleared away, enhancing the absorption of skincare products and also diminishing the appearance of pores to refine skin texture.’ After using the mini just once I am impressed. One side takes a minute to cleanse and the other is for anti-ageing. The brush leaves skin visibly cleaner and smoother. On-going use really does make a difference to skin. A lot of beauty bloggers have fallen in love with the Luna and it is easy to see why. The Luna 2 and Luna 2 Mini really works. The Luna 2 is bigger and some prefer it because they find it quicker and more thorough. The Luna 2 Mini however sure gives you bang for your buck. It is cute as hell and really does the job. All while taking up a small amount of space.

Here are the other reasons why I am a Luna convert:

You don’t need to replace the head which saves money.
It is 35X more hygienic than nylon-bristled brushes
The ultra-hygienic silicone design is quick drying and nonporous to prevent bacteria buildup
1 full charge lasts for 7 months when the device is used twice a day.
It comes with a 2-Year Limited Warranty and 10-Year Guarantee.
It is 100% waterproof.
It is stylish and the bristles feel amazing.

So as you can tell, I am a Luna fan. I can highly recommend both devices and they now have a place in my beauty routine. check out the press releases below for more info. My verdict is not only that the products are stylish and work, they are also great value for money as they require no replacement brush heads and don’t need constant recharging. I’m sold.

FOREO Launches LUNA 2: the Next Generation of Skincare with Five New Areas of Innovation

Swedish beauty brand FOREO, who has achieved global success with its award- winning LUNA skincare and anti-aging device, announce the launch of second- generation LUNA 2 devices. With five new areas of innovation, the new LUNA 2 range of devices will allow avid LUNA fans to experience an even deeper, yet gentle cleanse that is completely tailored to match their specific skincare needs.

The LUNA 2 has been optimized for even deeper, more efficient cleansing while offering all the benefits of the original LUNA design. Its T-Sonic cleanse will remove 99.5% of dirt and oil (based on clinical trials) plus makeup residue. Dead skin cells are also cleared away, enhancing the absorption of skincare products and also diminishing the appearance of pores to refine skin texture. The anti-aging mode of the LUNA 2 smooths the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles and leaves skin looking firmer. What’s more, the ultra-hygienic silicone design is quick drying and nonporous to prevent bacteria buildup.

“This new launch marks not only technology-related improvements to offer more advanced devices, but an expansion of our range for more refined skincare solutions,” says Paul Peros, CEO of FOREO. “With the addition of the LUNA 2, even the finest details of an individual’s skincare needs will be catered to, from users with slightly oilier skin to those who want a more powerful cleanse. We are excited to be able to offer such customized designs with this new range.”

FOREO’s LUNA 2’s newly optimized design offers five new areas of innovation, including:

50% Bigger Brush Head* enables more efficient cleansing in the same amount of time.
26% Longer Touch-Points* allow for more flexibility when making contact with the skin, extending their reach to allfacial contours to deeply cleanse pores.
2X More Powerful Motor* + 12 Adjustable Pulsations Intensities for an Enhanced T-SonicTM Cleansing and Anti-Aging System means the LUNA 2’s 8,000 T-SonicTM pulsations per minute dislodge more impurities from the pores while its lower-frequency pulsations provide more effective anti-aging.
36% Thicker Silicone Body* means the LUNA 2 is plusher, smoother and softer, making it a delight to hold and use while also dampening the noise of the motor for a more relaxing skincare ritual.
4 New Brushes Specific to Skin Type – “Sensitive”, “Normal”, “Combination” and “Oily” models are each designed to meet a specific type of skin by strategically positioning thinner touch-points to cleanse sensitive skin and thicker touch- points for stronger cleansing.
*Compared to the design of the LUNA.

The LUNA 2 is available for £149 at foreo.com and selected stockists.

“Sensitive” (Lavender)
“Normal” (Pearl Pink)
“Combination” (Light Blue)
“Oily” (Teal Blue)

FOREO Launches LUNA mini 2: A Big Step Forward for the Small & Mighty Cleansing Device!

Swedish beauty brand FOREO, who has achieved global success with its award-winning LUNA skincare range, announce the launch of second-generation LUNA mini 2 devices. The new LUNA mini 2 devices will allow avid LUNA mini fans to experience an even deeper yet gentle cleanse that is still compact and travel-friendly. Incorporating several new areas of innovation, the LUNA mini 2 marks FOREO’s next step forward, offering a superior cleansing experience within the same smart and stylish device.

The LUNA mini 2 has updated its design for deeper, more efficient cleansing while offering all the benefits of the original LUNA mini. Its T-Sonic cleanse will remove 99.5% of dirt and oil (based on clinical trials) plus makeup residue. Dead skin cells are also cleared away, enhancing the absorption of skincare products and also diminishing the appearance of pores to refine skin texture. What’s more, the ultra-hygienic silicone design is quick drying and nonporous to prevent bacteria buildup. The device is 35X more hygienic than nylon-bristled brushes.

“This new launch marks not only technology-related improvements to offer more advanced devices, but an expansion of our range with improved beauty solutions for travelers,” says Paul Peros, CEO of FOREO. “We’ve taken into consideration that even when jet-setting, our customers want a superior and more efficient cleanse, perhaps even more so than usual! Travelling is when your skin is subject to different, maybe even harsher environments, and that’s when you’ll want access to a convenient, yet powerful cleanse. I’m proud to say with the LUNA mini 2, we’ve achieved all that and more!”

6 new reasons to love FOREO’s LUNA mini 2 newly optimized design:

50% Bigger Brush Head* enables more efficient cleansing in the same amount of time.
26% Longer Touch-Points* allow for more flexibility when making contact with the skin, extending their reach to allfacial contours to deeply cleanse pores.
2X More Powerful Motor* for an Enhanced T-Sonic Cleansing System means the LUNA mini 2’s 8,000 T-Sonic pulsations per minute dislodge more impurities from the pores.
8 Adjustable Pulsation Intensities for personalized cleansing based on your comfort preferences – slow down for agentle more relaxed cleanse or speed up for a powerful and deep clean.
36% Thicker Silicone Body* means the LUNA mini 2 is plusher, smoother and softer, making it a delight to hold and use while also dampening the noise of the motor for a more relaxing skincare ritual.
Even More Travel-Friendly, now with lockable controls for absolutely safety when travelling.*Compared to the design of the LUNA mini.

The LUNA mini 2 is 100% waterproof with 1 full charge lasting for 5 months when the device is used twice a day. Requiring no replacement brush heads, the LUNATM mini 2 boasts exceptional value and comes with a 2-Year Limited Warranty and 10-Year Guarantee.

The LUNA mini 2 £99 is available at foreo.com and selected stockists in the following colors: Aquamarine, Fuchsia, Midnight, Pearl Pink and Yellow.

https://www.foreo.com/luna-2

Pan Fried Sea bass and Jersey Royal Potatoes

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Christian Gott

The Jersey Royal season is reaching a peak and around the island honesty boxes are full of bags of delicious potatoes. Bizarrely you will probably be able to buy them cheaper on the mainland due to the buying power of the supermarkets but I guess I can console myself with some very low food miles. I wrote last year about the history of the Jersey Royal and here is a very light and tasty way of serving up this year’s harvest. To keep it really local I am going to use some fresh line-caught Sea Bass, Jersey Dairy Salted Butter and island grown Vine Tomatoes.

A good fishmonger should be able to source your Sea Bass for you, as a cheaper alternative, you could do worse than take a look at Sea Bream as an alternative. A good local fishmonger with an ice tray full of fish and seafood, caught from our coastal waters, should be treasured. Along with your local butcher and greengrocer, he should be on the family Christmas card list, invited to weddings and treated as a valued friend. Not only will he have an array of fish to tempt you but can provide advice and help prepare your lunch or dinner. This is an ideal recipe to be served as a delicious, but quick and simple to cook supper.

Pan-fried Sea Bass with Jersey Royals serves 4

4 Medium Sea Bass fillets, pin boned and de-scaled

( Your fishmonger should do this for you )

500 gr Jersey Royal Potatoes

50 ml Good quality Olive Oil

25 gr Salted Butter

100 gr Vine Cherry or Baby Plum Tomatoes

1 small Red Onion, peeled and very finely chopped

2 Cloves of Garlic, peeled and very finely chopped

1 small Chilli, de-seeded and very finely chopped

Zest and Juice of 1 fresh Lime

A small handful of fresh Coriander Leaves

½ teaspoon Coriander seeds

½ teaspoon Caster Sugar

Sea Salt and freshly cracked Black Pepper

Prepare the Jersey Royal potatoes by washing in cold water, rubbing any dirt off with a cloth. Place in a pan of cold lightly salted water and bring to the boil. Simmer for about ten minutes, depending on size until just cooked and they fall off the point of a small sharp knife. Place the pan under a cold tap and run until the potatoes are cold and the cooking process is arrested.

Halve the cherry tomatoes and place in a bowl with the onion and the chilli. Sprinkle with the sugar. Toast the coriander seeds in a small sauté pan over a moderate heat to release the essential oils and develop the flavour add a splash of olive oil and one clove of the garlic. Sauté for two minutes without burning either the garlic or the coriander, gently crush in a pestle or food processor and add to the bowl of tomatoes. Add the lime juice and zest and one fluid ounce of the olive oil, mix well and season then set aside.

Prepare the sea bass fillets by carefully scoring parallel lines just through the skin with a very sharp knife point. This will help prevent the fish from curling up in the pan during cooking. Generously season the fish fillets on both sides. Heat two medium sauté pans and divide the remaining butter and oil, when the butter is melted and starting to foam, add the potatoes to the first and the fish to the second. Place the fillets in the pan, one by one, skin side down and gently press down with your fingers in the centre of the fish for thirty seconds to ensure the middle of the fillet remains in contact with the pan.

Warm the potatoes through until the skins begin to slightly crisp then add the remaining garlic and plenty of salt and pepper. After the fish starts to turn from opaque to white and the skins are crisp and golden brown, around three to four minutes, turn over and finish flesh side down for a further two minutes. This process will depend on the size and thickness of your sea bass fillets and they may need a little longer.

Chop the fresh coriander and add to the salsa. Place hot, garlicky potatoes in a circle on a warm plate and fill the centre with salsa, the top with the cooked fish. Using a spoon decorate the edge of the plate with a little extra salsa including some of the liquor. For an extra special finish top with a deep fried prawn.

Optional

4 large King Prawns, peeled and de-veined

50 gr Plain Flour plus extra for dredging

A small bottle of cold Sparkling Water

Sea Salt and freshly cracked Black Pepper

2 pints of Vegetable Oil for Frying

Sieve the flour into a bowl and add a generous amount of salt and pepper. With a whisk, mixing continuously, add some sparkling to the flour until you have a smooth batter about the consistency of double cream. Place the batter in the fridge to rest for fifteen minutes. In a large, heavy-bottomed, pan heat the oil to 160°C / 320 F using a thermometer to check. If you do not have a thermometer have a few cubes of stale white bread to hand. Place a bread cube in the oil if it rises to the surface and cooks to a golden brown in a couple of minutes the oil is hot enough.

Take two teaspoons of flour and place in a shallow tray, season well. Dredge each prawn in the seasoned flour until covered. Shake off the excess flour and dip in the batter mix before carefully lowering into the hot oil. Fry the prawns for around four minutes or until the batter is crisp and golden, turning the prawns from time to time with a large slotted spoon. When the prawns are cooked remove using the spoon and drain on kitchen paper.

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