First Ever Dual Finish at Trick or Treat Run London in Richmond Park

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Frostie

For the first time this Halloween runners will be faced with a decision when they reach the finish line – Trick or Treat? The brand new Trick or Treat Run London arrives in Richmond Park on Sunday 1 November and offers the rare opportunity to run 2k, 5k or 10k on the closed roads of this stunning royal park. Once runners have finished their chosen distance they will be faced with a unique decision, to either go down the Trick finish for a spooky surprise, or to play it safe and head in the opposite direction for a treat.

Richmond Park is famous for its stunning views and wandering deer, close to London but seemingly a different world from the bustling capital, there are few more picturesque and pleasant places in the country to run. Runners of all abilities are encouraged to take part, and the event is nicely timed to encourage running into the winter season. As well as their trick or treat everybody who crosses the line will receive a special medal to commemorate the day, which can be transformed into a badge and attached to clothing or bags.

“We have been putting on events for over 25 years but as far as we know this is the first dual run finish in the world” said Nick Rusling from organisers Human Race Events. “It’s a privilege to have this very special park available and free from traffic for the first ever Trick or Treat Run. I know many will use this as an opportunity to clock up a great 10k time”.

If you would rather stay safe in numbers at this Halloween run you can sign up as a group and run any of the three routes together. Teams of five or more can enter and receive a 20% discount off the usual entry price. Fancy dress is encouraged so runners can get creative with their outfits.

Alongside fitness, fun and fancy dress will also be fundraising. Breast Cancer Care are the official charity partner of the Trick or Treat Run, with all participants encouraged to raise money which will go towards providing vital support services for anyone affected by breast cancer. There is no minimum fundraising target and it’s easy to set up a Just Giving online donation page when registering for the event.

Places in the inaugural Trick or Treat Run London are now available through www.trickortreatrun.co.uk . Sign up now and commit to keep your running going beyond the summer.

Murder D.C. by Neely Tucker Book Review

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Billy Ellison, the son of Washington, D.C.’s most influential African-American family, is found dead in the Potomac near a violent drug haven. This is when veteran metro reporter Sully Carter knows it’s time to start asking some serious questions – no matter what the consequences.

As with so many things, all is not quite what it seems, and Sully uncovers tentacles that stretch into prestigious social areas; areas which don’t welcome intrusion.

Sully is an edgy, gritty character, an alcoholic haunted by his years as a war correspondent in Bosnia.

(I was there just after the peace, researching a novel, and can empathise with that. It was a dangerous place and that’s when I first knew real fear.)

However, Sully is a reporter, and a bloody minded one at that, and he’s not about to be put off in his hunt for the truth.

I enjoyed this novel. Neely Tucker is that rare and wonderful being, an author who seems almost to be writing his own life story, such is his empathy with his main character. Sully lives and breathes. The style is as fractured as he is, the plot as edgy. This is a gritty novel, full of suspense and depth, which is not surprising I suppose, from a veteran Washington, D.C, reporter.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this novel lives. Go along for the ride. It will be worth it.

Murder, D.C. is available here.Published in Hardback by Century.

The Ways of the Dead, Tucker’s first Sully novel is out in paperback now. Praised by Michael Connelly and the Daily Mail, amongst many, and published by Arrow.

Naming The Day: Jane Cable On Organising a Charity Litfest

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Jane Cable

Author and Frost contributor Jane Cable shares the first in a series of blogs about organising a charity litfest

“This is fabulous” said my fellow Chindi author Christopher Joyce, reading about the Words for the Wounded grannies’ latest exploit. “Let’s do something to support them.”
I was so pleased. “Perhaps an event?” I suggested.
“Yes – we’ll have a litfest.”
Nothing if not ambitious, is Mr Joyce.

First, let me explain about Chindi; we are group of indie authors from the Chichester area who work together to share information on best practice in publishing and to promote our books. Christopher Joyce, a children’s author, is one of our founders, our chairman and all round powerhouse. And when he sees a great cause like Words for the Wounded, he can’t help himself but get stuck in.

When we put the idea of holding an event to raise funds for the charity to one of our monthly meetings most people supported it so we agreed to go ahead. But our calendar was already crowded with a series of Saturday morning workshops over the spring and summer and two events as part of the Festival of Chichester in June, so it had to be in the autumn. Plenty of time to arrange things then.

The only person I know with more energy than Chris is Words for the Wounded chief grannie and Frost contributing editor, Margaret Graham. I sometimes worry about what will happen when we get them in the same room. But for the litfest, even Margaret exercised words of caution; Chris was planning a whole weekend – she thought perhaps a day would be fine.

We sketched out ideas of a structure and in the end compromised on a full day on the Saturday and a Sunday breakfast. Margaret would give a morning talk, then lunch with a keynote speaker, a family bookish treasure hunt in the afternoon and an informal fundraiser in a pub in the evening. Rounded off by a book-swap breakfast to nurse our hangovers.

For a while we suffered from chicken and egg syndrome; we had the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ – but should we now focus on the ‘who’, the ‘when’ or the ‘where’? Realistically it had to be when so we narrowed it down to a couple of dates when Margaret and her right hand woman Jan could make it.

Next was who: – we had Margaret, of course, but really wanted another writer as a keynote speaker. Once again we turned to Margaret – having read Words for the Wounded’s impressive list of literary patrons – and she suggested Elizabeth Buchan. I have to admit I was nervous emailing such a superstar of the writing world but I received an almost immediate reply – she would be honoured to help out, but she could only make one of the dates – 17^th October.

So there you have it… save the day if you’re anywhere near the Chichester area – 17^th & 18^th October, Chindi’s Words for the Wounded Litfest.

But have we left ourselves too much to organise in too little time? Find out, dear reader, next month.

Learn more about…
Words for the Wounded: www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk
Chindi Authors: www.chindi-authors.co.uk
Margaret Graham: www.margaret-graham.com
Elizabeth Buchan: www.elizabethbuchan.com
Christopher Joyce: www.creaturesofchichester.com
Jane Cable: www.janecable.com

Twelfth Night or What You Will, by William Shakespeare

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Paloma Kubiak

Either my education’s failed me or I’ve failed my education as this is the first time I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing the great William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, or What You Will.

A production by the Pell Mell Theatre Company at The Space on the Isle of Dogs, I had no preconceptions of what the play was about, let alone how it compared to the written word or other stage adaptations.

Twelth Night came across as organised chaos – entertainers with painted faces stretched, performed, laughed and mocked the other characters and we never quite know whether they’re visible to all on stage or if they just act as a narrative device to help the audience’s understanding.

At times they were comedic in their moves, at other times they were somewhat distracting pacing about the stage while the audience tried to keep up with the main characters.

I was glad to see Shakespeare’s chief ploys of gender swapping and love triangles present.

Orsino pines for Lady Olivia, but she’s ironically hypnotised by Orsino’s page boy, Cesario, a woman who’s disguised herself as a man. And Cesario – aka Viola – is in love with Orsino.

The play is predominantly set at Lady Olivia’s home, where we meet her outspoken maid Maria, her pompous chief servant Malvolio and where her uncle, Sir Toby, roams the corridors after late night drinking sessions.

We also meet Feste, the fool who is wickedly honest and surprisingly witty and who shone through his thickly painted face.

As the love triangle heightens and madness has descended on the cast as the once disinterested Cesario has now wed Lady Olivia, is forced to fight Sir Andrew who’s also trying to win Olivia’s heart, and comes to blows with his/her master Orsino who believes he’s been betrayed, Sebastian enters.

The long lost twin brother of Cesario/Viola stands in front of the whole cast and all is now made clear. The way Sebastian was revealed and the way we saw each of the characters seem to realise the truth was a great strategy.

And though the play’s a little farcical as Lady Olivia is happy to have wed the male counterpart of Cesario, it was heart-warming to see Cesario revealed as a female – as she’s able to declare her love for her master, Orsino.

Viola, played by Ella Garland, was truly fantastic – she had the right mix of authority and playfulness for the role.

You couldn’t help but warm to Malvolio, played by Andrew Seddon, who paraded around in a grand suit before dressing in yellow stockings in the belief this would win the heart of Lady Olivia.

The actual play was simple in terms of props, and I think this was the right move, as the costumes were majestic and the lighting and music filled the stage.

Twelfth Night is showing at The Space until 8 August – tickets are available from https://space.org.uk.

Meningitis By Dr Patricia Thompson

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Frostie

A new vaccine, for Meningococcus B, will soon be available for babies. What, another vaccine? Do we really need it?

I would say – absolutely yes.

Meningococcus causes meningitis, and blood infection (septicaemia) – sometimes leading to limb amputation or brain damage. Approximately 1:10 people affected die.

As a paediatrician, I’ve seen healthy children become seriously ill within hours. Most recover, but, inexplicably, some don’t, and I’ve had to tell shocked parents that their child may not make it through the night.

Meningitis is an infection of the meninges – the thin protective layer covering the brain and spinal cord. It can affect any age, but predominantly under fives, and, particularly, under ones. Teenagers/young adults are also susceptible.

In the UK, it’s usually caused by a virus –and recover is generally complete. However bacterial meningitis is far more dangerous – and the Meningococcus bacteria, of which there are several strains, is the main culprit. It normally lives harmlessly in the nose and throat, but sometimes invades the blood, causing the illness.

The UK vaccination programme already protects against some meningitis types – the bacteria – Haemophilus, Pneumococcus, Meningococcus strain C, and the viruses – Measles and Mumps.

A new vaccine against Meningococcus A, C, W and Y will soon be offered to young adults, plus the new B vaccine for infants.

Meningococcal vaccines are between 85 -100% effective initially – much less so in young children. They are usually safe but can cause pain/redness, vomiting, headaches, drowsiness or irritability. Occasionally, allergic reactions, or, rarely, neurological problems may occur. Protection wanes over time, so teenagers are given boosters. However, vaccination reduces the number of people carrying the bacteria, thus reducing infection risk for the whole community.

If you think someone may have meningitis, look out for:

Headache, stiff neck, photophobia (dislike of bright light), vomiting, drowsiness or confusion and fever. The typical rash (called petechial) is red but doesn’t fade when pressed. It isn’t always present, but if you see it, you must seek medical help urgently.

Sometimes, particularly youngsters, are so ill, that the classic signs aren’t obvious. The child may have a temperature, but, equally, may seem cold. They make look blue, cry incessantly (often high-pitched), refuse feeds, have convulsions or become unconscious. In young babies, their fontanelle (‘soft spot’) may bulge and feel tense.

It is important to treat rapidly. Antibiotics will kill the bacteria, but, if severe, intensive care may be necessary.

To give some perspective – approximately 3000 people will get bacterial meningitis/septicaemia in the UK this year. The incidence has decreased due to vaccination.

Knowing the signs could save a life. Always have a low index of suspicion – an unnecessary visit to A&E is far better than delayed treatment. I myself rushed my young son there, late one night. Embarrassingly, he made a miraculous recovery a soon as the doctor (my colleague) examined him – I did eventually live it down at work.

Further Information:

http://www.meningitis.org

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Meningitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx

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

Five Simple Steps To Beat Baby Blues Naturally

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Frostie

It comes from nowhere and catches you off guard. Those feelings of being vulnerable, emotional, sad, tearful and sensitive may make it difficult to believe that it is supposed to be the happiest time of every woman’s life.

Don’t worry, you are not alone! Postnatal anxiety, also known as ‘baby blues’, affects 85% of women and may occur on the day of the birth, the day after or not at all. Despite those overwhelming feelings, remember it is a normal reaction after having a baby.

‘Crying and confusion are experienced by most women and are partly due to the hormone changes experienced during the labour and can also be connected to when the milk comes through. But for some 15% of women, this despair and tearfulness continues and develops into post-natal depression’, explains Dr Marilyn Glenville, the UK’s leading nutritionist and an author of The Nutritional Health Handbook For Women.

Before you start worrying, follow these five simple steps to beat baby blues naturally and start enjoying motherhood!

Take a break

Make sure you find time to rest. Permanent sleep deprivation is the biggest cause of anxiety and low mood. Instead of catching up on all those chores that have piled up, try to coordinate your rest periods with your baby.

‘You may need to ask for help with the housework and other chores so that you can have time to rest, sleep, eat properly and also spend time getting to know your baby. It is a good idea to get out the house on your own; it can feel quite overwhelming to suddenly have someone depending on you twenty-four hours a day. Giving birth may bring up unresolved emotional issues from the past that needs to be dealt with. Counselling may be very helpful if this has happened’, Dr Glenville suggests.

Keep your sugar levels at bay

It is important that you make sure that you are eating little and often. Keeping your blood sugar in balance is crucial for helping you through this time as it directly affects mood and energy. ‘Aim to eat complex and unrefined carbohydrates as part of your main meals – this means choosing brown instead of white (wholewheat bread, brown rice and wholemeal flour). Don’t forget about breakfast, porridge and oatmeal is a good choice. Do reduce and preferably avoid stimulants including tea, coffee, chocolate, smoking and canned drinks with caffeine’, explains Dr Glenville.

Too much copper is no good news

Mineral imbalances or deficiencies can also contribute to ‘baby blues’. One of the most important nutrients during this difficult time is zinc.

Zinc and copper are antagonists, which means that high levels of copper reduce zinc and vitamin B6. Once you are pregnant, copper levels in the blood tend to rise dramatically and remain high for up to a month after giving birth as it stimulates the uterus.* This can cause what feels like depression: extreme fears, anxiety, sleep problems, paranoia and even hallucinations. ‘High levels of copper that decrease zinc can be dangerous, especially for a new mum, as she may be already low in this mineral after giving birth. Zinc deficiency can cause stretch marks, white spots on fingernails, decreased wound healing, loss of appetite and low mood. Make sure you are taking good multivitamins and minerals, the ones you took during pregnancy are fine but add some extra zinc’ (recommended daily intake is 50mg of zinc a day), advises Dr Glenville. Try Nature’s Plus Zinc (www.nutricentre.com, £8.59).

Fatty acids

During pregnancy, women are constantly being deprived of fatty acids because of the physical demands of growing fetus. ‘Omega 3 fatty acids are proved to increase levels of serotonin so they are essential in fighting depression and anxiety. Try to include salmon, avocado and nuts in your daily diet. If you don’t like fish, choose a good quality omega-3 supplement such as Omega 3 by Quest Vitamins (www.revital.co.uk, £6.19).’ recommends Shona Wilkinson, Head Nutritionist at www.nutricentre.com.

Balance your hormones

‘Try to take milk thistle every day to support the liver and gall bladder. This powerful herb can help the liver to deal with toxins and process excess hormones from the body. In addition, it is an excellent promoter of milk production, so will help with breast-feeding as well’, says Shona.

*http://metabolichealing.com/zinc-copper-imbalances-immense-biochemical-implications/

Why a Caesarian Can be a Positive Birth Experience

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Catherine Balavage

I didn’t give enough thought to how my son would be born. I just knew it would be painful. I would put the baby clothes, we bought, to my bump and wonder at just how lucky we were to be having a child. It felt like such a happy miracle it didn’t even feel real, even as he kicked inside me. Little did I know just how hard his birth would be.

I went into labour with a positive mindset. I am a worrier by nature so I can’t say there were not moments when I did not contemplate the worst, but overall, I was feeling strong, happy and positive. We were so excited to finally meet our son. For such a worrier, I wasn’t that worried. The human race has survived thousands of years. Women have given birth at home, in caves and even in cars. It was going to hurt but I have always had a high pain threshold. I was confident I could manage the birth. So when I went into labour on a Sunday evening I did not think it would be long until we met our child. What followed was over 80 hours of hell followed by something glorious: a C section.

A lot of negativity is said about the C section. Some people claim it is the easy choice, it isn’t, the recovery is a bitch. Others say it isn’t natural, it may not be ‘natural’ but it has saved countless human lives so hurray for medical science. I, however, have nothing but praise. After 80 hours of labour our son was in distress, the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck twice and his heartbeat kept on dropping. I switched off and just concentrated on the best case scenario, knowing that panic would just make the situation worse.

As the surgeon who did my caesarean explained why I should have an emergency caesarian she looked almost like an angel to me. Within twenty minutes, my son was born. The obstetrician team at Kingston Hospital who did my C section were amazing. Despite being paralysed from the waist down and being naked underneath my hospital gown I felt safe. They were truly wonderful and I still think of them when I look at my little boy. My little boy who’s life they saved. The midwife even stayed with me the entire time, from the morning when my baby was in distress, until just after noon when he was born. There is an obsession with natural birth these days, and as I was wheeled into the theatre I did feel like I had failed, but the only thing that really matters about childbirth is a healthy mother and child. How that happens doesn’t matter in the end, and that is never more true than when they put the baby in your arms. My C section was not only a positive experience, it saved the life of my son. What could possibly be negative about that?

Heeltap London

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Sarah Bacchus

Perfect evenings spent outside with great food, fabulous cocktails and our trusty camera in tow. Food photography is one of my total favourite pastimes. Food reviews are even better as we actually get to eat the food after shooting it. We get to sample delicious meals so you guys know where’s hot and happening. Heeltap is a heck of a find and if you already know this place you need to revisit it as soon as possible. Once you do you will know why we are about to give it rave reviews. If you don’t then you need to seek it out. Tucked in a little corner off London Bridge you could miss it if you didn’t know it was there. Now we eat out and shoot at countless places all the time but this is in our top 10 of all time. Yes we are rating this heavenly place 10/10. They have recently revamped all the offerings at this little bar and we can say hand on heart they have got it spot on. Its buzzing and thriving, so whatever they are doing its working.

The entire evening we spent sampling their new menu and it was divine. The cocktails where superior, the staff incredible and the food was so delicious we’d happily eat there every day of the week.

We arrived and settled in our seats with a couple of cocktails. An Espresso martini for me and a Long Island iced tea for Ian. These set us up perfectly for our food.

The new menu is packed with simple and ravishingly dribblsome dishes. If you like burgers this is the place to come. Home cooked brioche buns cooked fresh using the chefs grandma’s secret recipe! Just these alone will make you want to eat here all the time.

Our dishes where served and we got stuck in straight away. If your ready for some serious foodie snaps that will make you groan with delight then here goes….Ian went for the jerk chicken burger with fries and I had the spicy option. Jalapeño and chorizo burger with sides of Parmesan, truffle oil fries and a fresh tomato and basil leaf salad. Yes my eyes are always bigger than my belly and I endeavoured to eat it all!

We washed all this down with a bottle of fizz and a side of fruit flavoured water, trying to be a little good.

The chat at this point stopped while we savoured each and every morsel. Jealous on lookers stated that the food looked spectacular and we can report it was as good as it looked.

My burger was perfectly seasoned with heavenly hot spices. It was garnished with Gherkins, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and the dressing created the most amazing kick. Simply the best burger tower know to mankind!

Ian’s burger was pretty much devotedly demolished along with satisfied mumblings! As he took bite after bite the dressing oozed out and made the ideal amount of mess. Finger licking goodness to satisfy any soul.

Now normally I’m all about the burgers but here we have a slight problem. I have a real addictive nature when it comes to Parmesan and truffle oil fries. They where definitely the best thing about the entire meal. They know me and I was allowed to order these off menu. I’m sure if you take a visit and mention this article you might just be able to get the chef to rustle you up a plate or 3!! They are simply the best.

Then…it was time for pudding….Not just any old pudding either!

Now at this stage we where really rather full….But pudding, you guys need to know what to expect don’t you…We do what we do for you. Remember that if you ever see us out stuffing our faces! And the fact that you can’t not have a sticky toffee Sunday when it’s up for grabs. An odd mix but by gosh was it good. Custard is a thing of the past my friends. Velvety ice cream is the only thing to serve with toffee these days!

So the verdicts in….We give Heeltap one of the biggest thumbs up for excellence, staff attentiveness, friendliness and a double thumbs up for the fabulous food!

Find them on Twitter here and now dash off to see them near London Bridge. Get those taste buds working over time as your in for one gastronomic ride of your life! They are just opposite Borough market and down a little side ally. Worth a little wander we think.

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