I’m planning for summer. Yes, I am. It may be freezing outside, but the days are getting longer, my tomato seedlings are stretching tall like little soldiers and hope is in my heart.
And before we know it, we’ll be wiping our dripping foreheads and sighing about the heat and what we’d give for a long cool drink, and as my imagination goes into overdrive, my thoughts turn to my grandkids.
They’re both super sporty and I get exhausted just watching, as they leap three feet into the air and do flying somersaults before dashing into the garden for football or to practise backwards shots into the basketball net, which their devoted father erected last year on the shed door.
Which naturally brings my thoughts, as a doctor, to keeping them hydrated and preventing overheating in the summer sun, which really is just around the corner, I promise you.
Firstly I love that the drink bottles are insulated, meaning you can keep your child’s drink cool for up to 8 hours, and if needed, you can keep drinks warm too. Made with stainless steel and BPA-free plastic (a big plus for me), they’re surprisingly light, and strong enough to survive a few drop kicks when your grandsons practise their football skills (or is that just my two?)
With push button opening, the bottles are easy to fix together, open and close (imperative to avoid tantrums -from frustrated grandmothers that is, the kids are fine). The inbuilt straw is a favourite with the youngsters and the whole unit comes out for easy cleaning. I can confirm that they’ve been destruction-tested by my grandkids and still looks like new.
Available from Amazon, this high quality Drink and Water Bottle is a great price at £19.99. Made in a great range of funky colours, what’s not to like? And do check out the rest of the range too, including Sippy Cups, Insulated Food Jars and Fresh Food Feeders plus much more, your kids will love them.
By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
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.
A peeler is a peeler, right? Well, no actually, and I speak with some authority on the subject being the owner of three peelers.
At the risk of sounding like Goldilocks I now realise that I have been putting up with second best for some time now because – well a peeler is just a peeler.
One of my peelers has a metal handle and when wet I find it slippery and a little small (though I accept that it could just be that my hands are too big)
My other peeler has a ridged rubber handle for a better grip and is slightly larger and to be honest it was the one I used most often despite that the rubber grip would part company with the metal section during use, and whilst this was only annoying as I had to push it back on, I was willing to put up with this minor inconvenience.
That is until I was asked to review the Y peeler- straight which has seen me offloading my other peelers.
It has a smooth grip that fits the hand (yes even large hands like mine), it has some heft and immediately feels sturdy. This next thing and I may be making this up, but it seemed to me that I could peel Potatoes, Carrots and Parsnips more quickly. I accept that this was at the kitchen sink rather than under laboratory conditions, so you may wish to conduct your own experiment before contacting the Guiness Book of Records but that was my impression.
The blade and metal assembly also feels strong and honed (my wife raised her eyebrows at this point) which may help with the speed peeling.
In summer I make a salad of thin strips of courgette and carrots dressed in a lemon oil and sprinkled with toasted pine nuts. It is a simple recipe, but the thickness of the strips can vary – not so with the Y peeler – straight and I cannot wait for summer to kick in (along with my new peeler)
The extremely sharp stainless-steel blades glide effortlessly across fruits and vegetables. The ergonomic non-slip soft-touch handle fit is comfortable for both right and left-hand use.
The ultra-sharp double-blade swivels to perfectly contour the fruit or vegetable and will only remove as much peel as necessary. It is also perfect for peeling ribbons of fruit and vegetable for veggie pastas, salads and decorating cocktails with a pith-free zesty flourish.
This peeler is part of a range along with a serrated and julienne blade.
The NEW Microplane Y-Shaped Peelers are available from John Lewis
Men are so difficult to buy for,’ seems to be a popular refrain, particularly around Christmas and Father’s Day. In the case of the Father’s Day, when the focus of attention is on Dad, there seems to be even more pressure to find that perfect gift.
Some free advice – no matter what they tell you socks are not the perfect present – but then what do you buy your father that is something just for him, and yet not a cliched gift.
Treklemans have, if not the answer, certainly one good answer.
If your dad takes over the barbeque in summer, or fancies himself as Jamie Oliver in the kitchen, this is the gift for him. Or maybe he is at the other end of the spectrum, and just likes to eat. Either way this year you can give the gift of fabulous flavour, and it all comes in a rather cool gift box so you can sit back and know that this year, you have got it right.
Each item brings with it a burst of surprising flavour. Food is enhanced and cooking skills magnified.
I would love this box of goodies and would happily give it as a gift, as the everyday items such as Tomato Sauce, Mustard, Mayonnaise and Chutney have been sprinkled with Tracklement’s magic (I readily admit to being a super fan) and are supercharged with flavour.
The Tracklements Father’s Day Gift Box (£22) includes these lovelies:
• Proper Tomato Ketchup, 290g – made with the juiciest Mediterranean tomatoes and a subtle blend of spices for a perfectly balanced flavour. Perfect in a bacon or sausage butty, or with any barbecued meat. It makes you consider this ketchup in a whole new light, and I could definitely taste the tomatoes, as they were not overpowered by vinegar as some ketchups tend to be.
• Rich & Creamy Mayonnaise, 200g – made to a traditional recipe with just a soupçon of Dijon mustard, this delicious mayo is smooth, creamy and adds wonderful depth to summer dishes such as potato salad or mackerel pâté on toast. It is a little too early for potato salad, but I enjoyed this enormously on a not so humble baked potato, and I am sold.
• Fresh Chilli Jam, 210g – this original, multi award-winner smoulders with a gentle heat from fistfuls of fresh red chillies. Perfect with fish, meats, sarnies and creamy cheese. I enjoyed this, but I am not sure that I would describe it as a gentle heat, it seemed pretty punchy to me- and that is no bad thing in my book.
• Apple & Cider Brandy Chutney, 270g – made with Kentish Bramley apples and a liberal measure of Somerset cider brandy for a succulent, boozy kick. Indecently good with roast pork, mature cheeses and pies. I love all Tracklement’s chutneys, and this one is no exception. It is the fact that you can taste each individual element that set this apart for me.
• British Beer Mustard, 140g – made with a malty Wiltshire beer, this earthy, piquant mustard does great things for slabs of ham, pork pies or good, mature Cheddar. I have loved a cheese sandwich with mustard for decades but I can honestly say that this is the best combination that I have tasted.
The Dandelion Dog is written in catchy and rhyming verse, has vibrant illustrations and a dancing font which will mesmerise children as they discover the Dandelion Dog’s powers, his amazingly handsome demeanour and unexpected magical prowess.
Written to encourage children to let their imaginations run wild, children (and those reading to them) will be hoping that this most extraordinary of hounds has plenty more adventures to share. But let me tell you more about this particular adventure:
This dandiest dog of them all pays a visit to a little girl who, unknowingly, has summoned him after wishing on a dandelion flower. Together they embark on a wonderful adventure through the countryside with the help of the Dandelion Dog’s powers, but will the little girl’s wish really come true? Gracious, I wouldn’t dream of telling you.
Before we go on, just look at the fabulous font and welcoming tone of the artwork:
I was as entranced as the 6 year old who read it to me. It has robust and energetic illustrations, which ooze with fun, and a bouncing rhythm to the rhyme. So much so, I simply can’t resist sharing a paragraph with you: (copyright Nathalie Warriner-White)
They let out a great big bellow! Then were saved when they landed in the meadow in a bed full of yellow.
‘Well thank you my marvellous fellows!’ said the Dandelion dog to the bed full of yellow. Which turned out to a sea of Dandelion flowers so wild and free.
I simply had to ask Nathalie how on earth she arrived at this wonderful creation, the Dandelion Dog.
Nathalie Warriner-White who lives in Kent with her husband and crazy Jack Russell dog loves to both write and draw ‘My inspiration comes from my cheeky crazy dog, the many camping adventures that I have been on, and all the places I have visited. I am a self taught artist, and have always loved to draw since I was 5 years old. My first recollection was drawing Tweety Pie at school and I carried it on throughout my life, doing pictures for all my friends’ children which they have hanging on their bedroom walls.’
So, has she always been a career artist, toiling in a studio? Well, not quite, she toiled in a bank and is now working for the council. However the creative urge was always present, as was reading. Her absolute favourite was that most original of authors, Roald Dahl.
But what brought about the birth of The Dandelion Dog? I asked. ‘I had reached a stage in my life when I needed to do something I absolutely loved which I could run alongside my job as a second string. After a conversation I had with my Dad, in which he asked if I had ever thought about illustrating childrens books, I realised that, as I loved to write, why not create my own illustrated children’s book? That was it and within days The Dandelion Dog magically elbowed its way into my life, insisting on being written – in rhyme. Then I drew the illustrations, colouring them in pastels before buying an iPad Pro to do all the pictures again digitally as they translated better when printed on paper.’
This second string is our children’s gain as we enjoy the birth of The Dandelion Dog series. Do read it, it’s fabulous.
I must be honest, I don’t like prosecco – I’ve always found it too sweet, so I’m delighted to have found a soulmate in Katherine Jones, creator of ThinK Wine Group. Keen on reducing unnecessary sugar in her life and having failed to find any palatable low-sugar sparkling wine, in 2020 she decided to create her own, and I’m so glad she did.
In fact I’m very excited about ThinK Wine Prosecco. It’s made in the Treviso region of Italy, from the finest Glera grapes, thus earning its right to the Prosecco name. But this isn’t just ‘another prosecco’ – oh no – it’s organic and vegan, and lower in sugars, carbohydrates and sulphites.
But now for the exciting bit, unlike some low sugar wines, ThinK Wine haven’t relied on ‘cheats’ such as artificial sweeteners. Through arduous trial, error, and more trial, ThinK Wine have developed a method which allows nature to express itself. The ThinK Wine Prosecco process majors on the natural flavour and sugars in the grapes to create the alcohol and the fizz. As someone with a passion for the healthy benefits of natural, unadulterated products and the power of nature, this is a joy to learn.
So that brings us to the million-dollar question – how does it taste? Well my verdict is … exquisite. The lower sugar allows the natural flavours of the grapes to shine, and I now have a new respect for the Glera grape – pear and citrus, delicate and exciting – a real pleasure to sip slightly chilled. Thanks to a guest appearance of the sun today, I can confirm that ThinK Wine Prosecco is perfect for a warm afternoon in the garden with friends. And this isn’t just my opinion, it won silver at the world-renowned Glass of Bubbly Awards.
But there’s more. ThinK Wine have developed a great sparkling rosé too – ThinK PinK, made from Pinot Grigio grapes, also from Treviso, an area with a great reputation for this type of wine. Like the Prosecco, ThinK PinK is vegan and organic with reduced sugar, calories and sulphites. And yes I did test this in the garden today too, although only the one glass, I promise. It was simply delicious – light and distinctive – classic pinot grigio. And like it’s Prosecco sister, it also has the validation of a silver win at the world-renowned Glass of Bubbly Awards.
Both wines have just 75 calories and 0g carbs with just 0.58g of residual sugar per 125ml (classed as zero sugar by UK standards), while still retaining an ABV of 11%.
So if you’re tempted, and you should be, these super sparkling wines are available from ThinK Wine at a very competitive £20.99 for a 75cl bottle. Handy 20cl bottles are also available. So think summer, ThinK Wine.
By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
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 someone who loves cocktails and coffee in equal measure CAFÉ SOLO are pretty much pushing at an open door with their latest offering.
CAFÉ SOLO ORIGINAL is the first in a range of full-bodied super premium cold brew coffee liqueurs, carefully combining their exceptional blend of cold brew espresso -strength coffee, with premium vodka and natural sugar. In restaurants I have been known to forgo pudding in exchange for an Espresso Martini, but one soon learns that the quality can vary, so thank goodness that CAFÉ SOLO realised the market is missing a premium coffee liqueur and crafted the ultimate Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur.
CAFÉ SOLO Original is a premium espresso strength cold brew coffee liqueur. The cold brew coffee brewing process retains the natural flavours and oils from ethically sourced coffee which is mixed with British vodka and natural sugar and boasts a full-bodied flavour profile, rich acidity, and a refreshingly clean finish. It boasts a robust ABV of 25%, delivering a bold, rich flavour profile with hints of dark fruit acidity, chocolate and vanilla notes, culminating in a subtle sweet finish.
In the interest of balance, I felt that despite any personal hardship, I would follow the Espresso Martini recipe on the website visit: www.solocoffee.co.uk (it’s a tough job but someone has to do it.) and I can report that it is pretty much perfect, not too sweet and not at all harsh I would happily order this is a restaurant, so making it at home seems to me a great alternative and cheaper too. From my experience it takes practice and a fair amount of exertion to achieve that foam on the surface, but practice makes perfect.
I was keen to try the CAFÉ SOLO Negroni recipe as I consider myself something of an aficionado although previously my experimental urges only extended to adding a teaspoon of Limoncello to the traditional recipe. It had never occurred to me that coffee could also be added, and I can report that this is a game changer, although there is room for both.
Irish coffee is a little too retro for me as I well remember it from the 1970s, though I am sure that this would make one even better than the original, but I didn’t attempt to make it. However, in my homage to Affogato do try the coffee liqueur poured over vanilla ice cream. You can thank me later.
CAFÉ SOLO Original is available on Amazon at an RRP of £30 for a 70cl bottle.
Funnily enough, it didn’t happen until I was in my late teens. I have always been a lifelong reader, but it wasn’t until I was in college in Canada that I finally realized that publishing was actually an industry (we don’t have a publishing industry in Pakistan). I started to look – really look – at how the industry worked and that started inspiring me to write my own book. I started seeing myself as a published author.
You live in Lahore. How does that inspire your writing?
Lahore is in every aspect of my writing. I think, feel and breathe Lahore. There’s a popular saying in my part of the world ‘One who has not seen Lahore has not been born’, so you can quite imagine the kind of impact this city has on my writing. Lahore features heavily in all my books, and it wasn’t until I started writing Someone Like Her, which is partly set in London, that I realized how easy it was for me to write about Lahore, because I really struggled to bring London to life in my novel. Having said that, I have a very complicated relationship with my city. Just like in any relationship, there are good days and bad days, but I would be lying if I said that the city didn’t inspire my writing. Lahore is the very essence of me. Lahore is like for me as Paris was like for Ernest Hemingway – a moveable feast.
You have written four novels now. Do you feel like a veteran now?
Hardly. If anything, I feel like things are getting more and more difficult. People tell me that I’ve made it, but they don’t know just how terrified I really am most of the time about failing. With each book, reader expectations rise, and after a point, the pressure sort of gets to you. However, while the insecurity never really goes away – it shouldn’t really, as it keeps us grounded – I have to say that I am getting slightly more confident about my writing. I may be having doubts, but somewhere at the back of my mind, there’s a small voice that says, ‘You’ve written something good. All it needs now is that one big push, that one final edit.’
How did your first success come as a writer?
Success depends on one’s definition of success. Success can be selling a million copies of your book, but success can also be critical acclaim or positively impacting the life of even one reader. I first started writing In the Company of Strangers back in 2012, but it wasn’t until 2019 that it was published. During that time, I amassed a significant social media following, and since I naturally love to support my fellow authors, by the time my debut came out, it was an instant success with everyone I knew clamouring to buy a copy to support me in turn. The book went into reprint before it was officially out and also ended up becoming a national bestseller in Pakistan. However, it wasn’t until No Honour was published that I understood what it was like to be reviewed in major UK publications, and perhaps it was the topic, but No Honour ended up doing phenomenally well everywhere. In many ways, it was bigger than In the Company of Strangers.
What’s your writing routine?
My writing routine is all over the place. I suffer from writer’s block a lot when I’m in Lahore, and have frequently flown to London in the past just to finish writing my book. Being a writer in Lahore is not easy. Since there isn’t a publishing industry here as such, the environment here isn’t conducive for writing. A lot of people here disregard your efforts as a writer, thinking that whatever you’re doing has no value. All of it affects your self-esteem and motivation. Despite all of that, I try to be regimental about my writing, spending a few hours in my favourite café in Gulberg five days a week. It does bring some structure to my day and allows me to complete writing tasks that would just get delayed or put off otherwise. When in London, I like to write early in the morning and then in the afternoon too, preferably in a favourite café of mine.
Do you have a favourite of your books?
I feel that just like kids (not that I have any), one cannot have a favourite book. I’ve spent a lot of time with each of my books and they’ve all uniquely contributed towards my journey as a writer. However, if forced to choose, I would probably say No Honour, because I spent over three years researching and writing that book and it remains very close to my heart.
Tell us about The Writing Institute.
I set it up back in 2016 when I realized that there were absolutely no creative writing courses available in Pakistan. Initially, a lot of people laughed at me, saying that nobody would be interested in something like this, that writers didn’t even exist in Pakistan. Yes, my courses did struggle at first, but as word got around, more people started joining them and since then, over 10,000 people have taken courses with The Writing Institute. Today, the institute prides itself on providing the best online and in-person creative writing courses in Pakistan at the most affordable prices imaginable.
What is your top creative writing tip?
My top tip for any aspiring writer is to never give up. This is a very subjective industry, and what works for one would probably not work for another. Never stop believing in yourself. Deep down, we know just how good our work really is. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. If someone is giving you proper critical feedback that can be used, then listen to them, but if someone is disparaging your work just for the sake of it, don’t listen to them. Similarly, be very wary of people who praise your work to high heavens. Just believe in yourself, in your talent, and don’t let the rejections get you down. Have the skin of an alligator’s.
Tell us about your new book.
I am very excited about my next book called In the Shadows of Love. It is the sequel to my debut In the Company of Strangers. The story moves twelve years into the future and Mona is now in her early fifties. She and Bilal have weathered the storm of infidelity, with Bilal embracing the son Mona had from her affair. Although on the outside, it seems that Mona has everything, and that every single day of hers is the same, with glittering parties and society events, things are not how they seem. Her perfect world is forever changed when the first message arrives. Will the secrets of Mona’s past threaten her future, her marriage and even her life?
In the Shadows of Love will be published by Hera Books in October, 2024.
What’s next for you?
I have recently finished writing my first thriller, tentatively titled Her Sister’s Secret. We don’t get to see a lot of thrillers coming out of Pakistan and I really wanted to write one that explored themes of sibling rivalry, guilty secrets and toxic marriages. The story centres around Maria and Sohaib who seem to have everything they could ask for, but behind the perfect façade, their marriage is toxic and when Maria’s sister, Fareena, comes to visit, everything goes awry.
British sculptor Laurence Edwards’ striking bronze figures, Walking Men (2018-2022), have taken up residence in the grounds of Blenheim Palace, where they will be on display until 10th June.
Laurence Edwards said of his creation: “These five 8ft ancient bronze figures pass through an iconic English view, on their search for a place, where have they come from, where are they going, what are they thinking?”
The 8ft tall figures are seen to be anti-heroic and seem to have come from the earth itself. Branches, leaves and clods of clay are woven through them, making it unclear where human and ground begin and end.
The raw materials from which they have been cast, have been pushed, pulled and gouged into shape ‘with a visceral energy that makes the artist’s act of creation palpable’.
Heather Carter, Managing Director, Blenheim Palace, commented: ”We are delighted to welcome Laurence Edwards’ five Walking Men to Blenheim Palace.
Images courtsey of Pete Seaward
“These remarkable pieces set against the backdrop of the Palace allow our visitors to experience art at its most incredible within an awe-inspiring setting. This installation is with us until 10th June 2024, and we encourage people to visit us quickly to enjoy and appreciate
Blenheim Palace is home to the Dukes of Marlborough since 1705, Blenheim Palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Set in over 2,000 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped parkland and designed by Vanbrugh in the Baroque style, it was financed by Queen Anne, on behalf of a grateful nation, following the first Duke of Marlborough’s triumph over the French in the War of the Spanish Succession.
Today it houses one of the most important and extensive collections in Europe, which includes portraits, furniture, sculpture and tapestries. Blenheim Palace is also the birthplace of one of Britain’s most famous leaders, Sir Winston Churchill, and it was his father who described the vista on entering the Estate from the village of Woodstock as the ‘finest view in England’.
