Inaugural Kobo Book Report Reveals Top eReading Trends from 2014

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Frostie

All readers of Frost Magazine know that we love books. Supporting authors and sharing what we loved to read is very important to us. So we found the Inaugural Kobo Book Report Reveals Top eReading Trends from 2014 very interesting indeed. Gone Girl and The Fault in Our Stars are no surprises but there are a few others that we must put on our reading list from kobo.com

It’s been an exciting year in the world of publishing, and kobo’s inaugural Book Report reveals insightful 2014 eReading trends from its world-class platform, which includes a bookstore of more than 4.2 million titles.

“Overall, the eBook market makes up about $14.5 billion in sales globally and is expected to reach more than $22 billion by 2017,” said Michael Tamblyn, President and Chief Content Officer, Kobo. “The advances that we’re seeing year-over-year are incredible, with more publishers, users and authors changing the face of the industry at an unprecedented pace.”

“This year, we wanted to look beyond the bestseller. A book’s position on the bestseller list may indicate it’s bought, but that isn’t the same as it being read or finished,” said Tamblyn. “A lot of readers have multiple novels on the go at any given time, which means they may not always read one book from start to finish before jumping into the next great story. People may wait days, months, or even until the following year to finish certain titles. And many exercise that inalienable reader’s right to set down a book if it doesn’t hold their interest.”

The typical bestseller list often looks very different when you compare books purchased versus books read cover to cover. In fact, the most completed book doesn’t even feature on the UK Bestseller List (as seen below); Rotten to The Core by Casey Kelleher was the most completed book in the UK, with 83% of people reading it cover to cover. Whereas, the number one bestselling ebook in the UK, One Cold Night by Latia Lief was only completed by 69% of those who read it. Although James Patterson’s books do not feature on the Top Ten Most Completed Books of 2014 list, overall James Patterson was the most completed author in the UK for his entire portfolio of books.

Kobo Book Report’s UK Bestseller List – ebookshelf must haves

One Cold Night – Katia Lief
Gone Again – Doug Johnstone
Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn
The Fault in Our Stars – John Green
My Sister’s Keeper – Bill Benners
The Husband’s Secret – Liane Moriarty
The Cuckoo’s Calling – Robert Galbraith
Her Last Letter – Nancy C. Johnson
Twelve Years a Slave – Solomon Northup
Bloody Valentine – James Patterson

UK’s TOP PAGE-TURNERS – The Most Completed Books of 2014

Rotten to the Core – Casey Kelleher
The Tycoon’s Vacation – Melody Anne
The Traitor – Kimberley Chambers
Concealed in Death – J. D. Robb
Wrongful Death – Lynda La Plante
All Revved Up – Sylvia Day
Present Danger – Stella Rimington
The Empty Cradle – Rosie Goodwin
The Witness – Nora Roberts
The Promise (Fallen Star Series, Book 4) – Jessica Sorensen

Homegrown British Talent
As the book world becomes ever more international, British readers continue to love British writers, with a remarkable one third of the Kobo UK’s Top 100 Bestseller’s books written by British authors. Lee Child features heavily, with Not a Drill (A Jack Reacher short story), James Penney’s New Identity/Guy Walks Into a Bar (Storycuts), Killing Floor: (Jack Reacher 1), and Deep Down (A Jack Reacher short story) all featuring in the Top 100 Bestseller’s list. Fiona Gibson also featured twice with Take Mum Out, and The Great Escape. Other notable homegrown talent includes J.K Rowling (and her pseudonym Robert Galbraith), Helen Fielding – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Kate Atkinson- Life After Life and E.L. James – Fifty Shades of Grey.

Different authors also show up in the UK’s Most Completed list, with 14 of the top 100 books being written by British authors. These include Adele Parks – The State We’re In, three books by Carole Matthews (A Place to Call Home, Summer Daydreams, A Cottage by the Sea), Jessie Keane – Ruthless, and Judy Finnigan – Eloise.

Beating the January Blues
Not surprisingly, self-improvement books, including cookbooks, health, and self-help books are more popular during the month of January than at any other time of year. More self-improvement books and books overall were downloaded in January than any other month, likely to kick-off some New Year’s resolutions.

It seems that Monday is the most popular day of the week to complete a book in the UK (16%), with Friday being the least popular day, with only 13% of book completed at the end of the week.

Opening up the Nightstand Drawer
Overall, Brits find Romance to be the most engaging genre, with 62 per cent completion, followed by Crime & Thriller (61 per cent) and Fantasy (60 per cent). Romance is also the most engaging genre in Italy (74 per cent), the Netherlands (67 per cent) and Canada (62 per cent), while the French (70 per cent), Australians and New Zealanders (64 per cent), and Americans (44 per cent) prefer a good Mystery.

Business and celebrity-focused books also enjoyed popularity in the UK in 2014. Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt by Michael Lewis came out as the top seller perhaps due to his literary status of being the most famous non-fiction writer working today. While reality TV Geordie Shore’s Vicky Pattison’s I Didn’t Come Here to Make Friends, David Walliams Camp David, and Lynda Bellingham’s heartbreaking memoir There’s Something I’ve Been Dying to Tell You, came top of the most completed celebrity biographies.

From the eScreen to the Big Screen
Several books made their big-screen debut late in 2013 and into 2014, including Twelve Years a Slave, The Best of Me, and Gone Girl. The release of Gone Girl on the 3rd of October in the UK this year certainly created a ripple effect which transferred into book sales. Over a three month period, 34% of book sales took place in the week prior and the week after the film release.

Kids Love Kobo
Kids are going digital! Children’s eBooks, including picture books, children’s and young adult novels are gaining traction as parents are realising the appeal of eReaders for a tech-savvy generation. Children’s titles, available at the Kobo Kids’ Store offering 100,000 titles, made up more than 6 per cent of Kobo’s overall 2014 book sales. This kid-friendly browsing experience even lets parents set up reading allowances so that kids have the freedom to select their own eBooks without needing access to a credit card.

And top kids’ picks for 2014? The younger generation is definitely in-the-know when it comes to new releases, so it was no surprise to see three of the most anticipated 2014 titles topping kids’ wish lists this year. The Dairy of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney led the pack followed by Gangsta Granny by David Walliams and The Iron Trial by Holly Black.

The new 6.8-inch HD Kobo Aura H2O is available in black and retails for £139.99 online at kobo.com and in-store in the UK.

‘The UK must not abandon Afghan women to the Taliban’ Olivia Colman

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Frostie

The UK must not abandon Afghan women, actress Olivia Colman warned after featuring in documentary which explores the dangers women face while undertaking ordinary jobs there.

A BBC documentary, Speaking Out, Losing Lives, on Radio Four explored the extraordinary risks women in Afghanistan face. Award-winning BBC correspondent Lyse Doucette has travelled to the country to talk to women and girls about the future of their country, at a time when security is deteriorating following the departure of foreign troops from the country.

The programme, produced with Amnesty International, features the stories of three women: a gynaecologist, the head teacher of a girls’ school and a women’s rights political advocate. Originally conceived as a performance of a play based on their testimony, Even If We Lose our Lives, commissioned by Amnesty, the programme now features extracts from the play but not interviews with the real women on whom it’s based as two of them have recently been forced into hiding due to renewed security threats.

Actress Olivia Colman voices the women’s stories. She said:

“Being a teacher, a doctor, a politician – these are important jobs but they shouldn’t be dangerous ones.

“The brave women whose words I’ve voiced risk so much to educate, to care and to shape the future of their country. Women like these are the hope for Afghanistan’s future and the UK must not abandon them to the Taliban now.

“It’s an honour to read these brave women’s words.”

Last week, to coincide with the London Conference on Afghanistan, a coalition of charities and aid organisations, the British and Irish Agencies Afghanistan (BAAG), released survey results showing that aid workers and rights campaigners in Afghanistan feel dramatically less safe than a year ago.

Sixty percent of the Afghans who responded reported that they felt less safe in their work during the past year, with half of survey respondents stating that either they, or their colleagues, have suffered intimidation or death threats during that time.

Amnesty has been running an “Occupational Hazards” campaign over the last year, drawing attention to the dangers women in work face in Afghanistan. Further details are available at www.amnesty.org.uk/afghanistan

Things That Suck About Being Pregnant

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

Pregnancy is supposed to be an amazing time but it doesn’t always work out that way. My mother always talked about her wonderful pregnancies and, in truth, I don’t think I ever heard a negative pregnancy story from a family member or friend. Sure there were some truly awful stories in the media and, although I found them horrifying, I cast them out of my mind. Which is why I am pretty annoyed now. Pregnancy is not this magical thing people told me about. It is not a magical time at all. Okay, creating our child is wonderful and I would not have it any other way but wonderful or any other such word does not encapsulate it. In fairness, my pregnancy has been termed ‘unlucky’ by my doctor. It is a bit of an understatement due to the horrendous acute morning sickness but, never mind. Here are my pregnancy rants. Feel free to add your own because ranting is good for the soul.

Bump Molestation

Seriously, what is up with this? Today I actually had a stranger molest me from barely underneath my breasts all the way down. I may have been in a sitting position but it was not appropriate and if it had not been an elderly woman she would have at the very least been slapped. It is not okay to touch a pregnant women’s bump without asking her. And even then, keep your hands to yourself unless you are a very close friend or family member. How would you like to be felt up? Especially when you are creating a life and feeling very protective of your bump? This brings me on to my next rant….

A Women’s Body Does Not Become Public Property When She becomes Pregnant

Not only does this mean NO TOUCHING but it also means you don’t get to tell her what to eat or drink, how to exercise or how much weight to put on. You don’t get to make comments on how she looks or what she does so mind your business.

The Unsolicited Advice

Your pregnancy choices were good choices for you. Only share them with other pregnant women if they ask. If you are a man, keep quiet unless you are a doctor and a question is asked. Also annoying is pregnancy advice from women who have never been pregnant. I mean, really?

The Constant Personal Questions

When people find out you are pregnant they ask you everything from what you are going to call your baby, what the sex is and how much weight you have put on. It really is too much. People seem to forget their manners when they are in the presence of a pregnant woman. If you feel uncomfortable just smile and avoid the question or say you are not sharing that information publicly yet.

Morning Sickness

As Miranda says in Sex & The City, ‘I don’t know why they call it morning sickness when it lasts all fucking day.’ Exactly Miranda, exactly. Some woman get barely any morning sickness and some, like Kate Middleton, get acute morning sickness which is otherwise known as hyperemesis gravidarum. Morning sickness is not fun. Think of your worst hangover ever and then think about suffering through it everyday for about three months, sometimes longer. There you go: morning sickness.

Not being Able To Tell Anyone Why You Are So ill

The chances of miscarriage are high in the first 12 weeks so you are recommended to keep your pregnancy to yourself. Suffering in silence is not= fun and colleagues will probably notice something is up. Just know you will get to the end of it.

Having To Do All of the Stuff You Did Before

There is a popular quote that Ginger Rogers had to do everything Fred Astaire did but backwards and in heels. Well, pregnant women have to do everything everyone else does but whilst dealing with morning sickness, being kicked internally, headaches, muscle pain, nausea, random pains, tiredness…the list is endless. The pressure for pregnant women to not let anyone down and act like some kind of superwoman is tremendous. The reality is: pregnant women should be given some slack. If you don’t like that, just remember that the little baby they are creating will be paying for public services in your retirement.

The Fact That EVERYTHING Hurts

I mean everything. From your head to your legs to your vagina. A lucky day is when it doesn’t hurt all at once.

The Constant Worrying

I stopped reading the pregnancy literature before 12 weeks. I could not take it. Even now the stuff overwhelms me. Sure, things can go wrong in pregnancy but do you really need to know about every single thing that could go wrong? No, you don’t. So relax and read a magazine or a good book instead. Ignorance is not bliss, but somedays it is easier.

The Glee of Awful Things To Come

Too many people take such glee in the fact that, apparently, you will never sleep again, nor have a life. People can seem pretty happy because they think that having a child will ruin your life or career. Ignore these people. They are jerks.

What are your pregnancy rants?

The Hidden Health Risks of a Nutrient Gap: Should You Be Taking Vitamins?

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

Late November I attended a very interesting event at The Ivy, Mind The Nutrient Gap: Hidden Health Risks. Apart from having lots of fun chatting to amazing journalists and eating an extraordinary lunch (I would not have expected anything less), I found out some interesting facts. many of which I found shocking. Leading dietitian Dr Carrie Ruxton, top nutrition specialist Miguel Toribio-Mateas, and regulatory expert TC Callis, all gave excellent talks and revealed exclusive research into the growing and hidden nutritional gaps in the UK and its wider impact on health.

DID YOU KNOW?

Almost 40% of Brits admit that they do not know what nutrients can help them to support heart health, immune health, bone health, eye health, energy, nail or hair health
A third of Brits state that they do not have time to prepare home cooked meals
77.7% of Brits reveal that they do not get their five fruit and vegetables a day
Over half of us say we don’t understand the benefits of vitamins and minerals
Obesity figures in England have more than tripled over a period of 25 years. Over 30% of children (aged 2-15) are overweight or obese
More than a fifth of Brits in their 40s and 50s do not know how best to adjust their eating habits to support their nutritional needs

There is some controversy on whether people should be taking vitamins but the truth is our diets are just not good enough. The evidence that some of us should take vitamins is insurmountable. We don’t all need a daily multivitamin but we all have gaps in our diet that need filled in.

The Health Supplements Information Service unveiled new research on our diets, the nutritional gap we face, and its wider impact on long-term health sorting fact from fiction. If I wasn’t convinced to take vitamins before, I certainly was after. A shocking two out of three adults don’t hit their five-a-day target of fruit and vegetables. To make matters worse, intake has actually fallen over the last four years. More than a quarter of calorie consumption comes from crisps, treats and drinks which have minimal nutritional value. Even more worryingly, 57% of people thought that children did not need to take supplements. Despite the fact that the Chief Medical Officers of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have repeatedly reminded parents and health professionals that all children under the age of five need supplementary vitamin D unless they get a sufficient intake from fortified formula milk.

It is not just during pregnancy and childhood you need vitamins, many people start taking vitamins in their forties and fifties but by this time you can already be paying the price of a bad diet. Leading dietitian Dr Carrie Ruxton notes: “The lifestyle choices you make during your middle years are incredibly important. When you’re younger, you have resilience and are physically at your peak, but by 40-50-something years you begin to pay the price for any bad habits or nutritional shortfalls. Your nutritional needs also change, and certain nutrients, including vitamins B12 and D, calcium, potassium and fibre become increasingly important.”

The so-called sandwich generation, those ages 30-55 years, have the highest stress levels of any other age group. Sandwiched in-between their children and sick or elderly parents, they also have the early development of health problems to deal with and it is the peak time for career achievement. Women in the latter end of the spectrum also have the menopause to deal with and both genders have to maintain a home. According to Age and Ageing 2014, persistent job strain in middle age may lead to longer hospital stays later in life. Vitamins D intake is particularly important. We do not get enough sun in the UK and the evidence for vitamin D usage mounts all of the time. Dr Carrie Ruxton said that the recommended dosage was going up. Not only is vitamin D safe, it also stops infection. Women are apparently more likely to take vitamins than men and multivitamin use peaks at 30-44 years.

The truth is: our diets are just not good enough. We should eat more fruit, veg, lean red meat, low fat diary and oily fish. We should also drink healthy drinks. Any gaps should be filled in by vitamins or we will pay the price as we age. Most vitamins are safe and you would have to take a lot to overdose. Vitamin D is very safe, vitamin A becomes toxic over 3000mg, especially to pregnant women and over 5mg of copper is toxic as the body stores certain vitamins and our bodies also store minerals. It takes a lot to overdose on vitamins and keeping within the RDA and filling in our bad diet habits will pay off in the future.

What do you think?

Darts World Champions Return To Norwich For The BetVision Norwich Charity Darts Masters 2015

Posted on December 7, 2014 by Corinne Tuddenham-Finn

A host of former World Champion darts stars have signed up for the first BetVision Norwich Charity Darts Masters to be held at Norwich City Football Club on Saturday 27^th June 2015. The event itself will be held in the Norfolk Suite providing a fantastic location for a very prestigious event.

The event is being organised and promoted by Lord Russell Baker of Little Moulton who is looking to fundraise for the ‘Lord Baker Community Fund’ managed by The Norfolk Community Foundation. The main aim of the ‘Lord Baker Community Fund’ is to promote health and wellbeing; tackle disadvantage; support local solutions to meet local needs; promote community cohesion; develop sustainable and supportive communities and to deliver grant-making and charity support for the current fund beneficiaries that include East Anglia Children’s Hospices (EACH), Star Throwers Cancer Care & Support, Chapel Road School for Severely Disabled Children and Norfolk Community Foundation, who will also create a Community Grant programme which will be advertised and local community groups will be invited to apply for grants up to £1,000.

The World dart stars attending on the evening are Eric Bristow MBE (5 x World Champion; John Lowe (3 x World Champion); Peter Manley (former World No.1 and 3 x World Finalist) and from Suffolk – the youngest ever World darts champion, Keith Deller.

The event offers everyone on the night a chance to play at least one of these former World champions and master darts players. In addition there will be a small competition with the darts masters consisting of two semi-finals and a Final on the night – playing for the Norwich Charity Darts Masters Trophy. It is envisaged that this event and competition will become an annual event in Norwich for many years. The trophy itself has been donated by David Willimott from Carmichaels Dart Mart in Magdalen Street, Norwich. David Willimott is the former Suffolk darts champion and has had the privilege to play these players on many occasions. In fact a score card still hangs in Carmichaels Dart Mart when John Lowe played David some years ago; David Willimott will be attending on the evening as a special guest.

John Lowe said, “Eric Bristow, Keith Deller, Peter Manley and myself will by playing at the Norwich City Football Club in aid of the Norfolk Community Foundation and other local charities’. It will be a great night, for me it will be a reunion with friends made over many years. I first visited Norwich in the late 70’s and I have to say if ever I was to move from my beloved Chesterfield, Norwich would have been my first choice, not because they have a church for every day of the year and just as many pubs, but because I made friends that became everlasting friends.” John Lowe added, “The 27th June 2015 will have a great line up, but for me it will be the Norwich Big Reunion, see you there my friends.” Lord Baker said, “This is going to be a massive night and one that should put Norwich and Norfolk back where they belong, in the ‘Premiership’ of Darts. We are hoping to raise much needed funds to support local charities and community projects through the ‘Lord Baker Community Fund’, and I am expecting this event to become an annual community fundraising event for years to come, with various darts masters and former World champions attending each year.” Lord Baker added, “The Norwich Charity Darts Masters Trophy will hopefully become a prestigious trophy too, and over the years will bear the names of many World darts stars making the trophy a potential fundraising auction item too in the years to come”. Graham Tuttle, Chief Executive of the Norfolk Community Foundation said, “The first Norwich Masters Dart Event will be a great event on the Norfolk calendar next year and the Norfolk Community Foundation is really pleased to be working with Lord Baker in such an innovative fundraising event for local charities and community groups across Norfolk”. Steven Ho from Star Throwers said, “We are very grateful that Lord Baker is supporting Star Throwers again with this fantastic darts fundraiser. Russell organised a darts evening in May which was itself a fantastic evening but this one is looking like it will be even bigger and better! Russell’s continued fundraising means a great deal to our charity as it will help us to continue to provide advice and support to cancer patients and their loved ones”. Laura Carver from EACH said, “We are delighted to be one of the beneficiaries of Lord Baker’s fundraising events and thank him sincerely for his fantastic efforts in helping to ensure we can continue caring for children and young people with life threatening or life limiting conditions and supporting their families in the community. Lord Baker’s fundraising efforts are truly inspirational and we urge the public to support his events. They really are enjoyable occasions and what’s more, help to raise much needed funds for local charities”.

The BetVision Norwich Darts Masters 2015 is expected to be a sell-out with the VIP tickets already SOLD-OUT. Standard tickets for the evening are still available and these will make ideal Christmas presents for all those darts enthusiasts, so fill your loved one’s stocking this Christmas by visiting the On-line Ticket site – https://ncfdarts.eventbrite.co.uk/

This is your chance to give a special gift to those in your life and the chance of a lifetime to meet and possibly play one of the World’s most iconic darts stars in history – everyone on the night will have the chance to buy raffle tickets with the lucky winners able to play either Eric Bristow, John Lowe, Keith Deller or Peter Manley. So bring your darts!

For further information about the ‘Lord Baker Community Fund’ please visit the Norfolk Community Foundation web site – http://www.norfolkfoundation.com/funds/the-lord-baker-community-fund/

Aston Martin ‘In Motion’ Event … Aston Martin Celebrates 50 Years Of Bond

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Corinne Tuddenham-Finn

Thursday 4^th December saw Aston Martin together with EON Productions, the producers of the James Bond film franchise, unveil Bond’s stunning new car, the Aston Martin DB10, on the 007 stage at Pinewood Studios. The luxury British sports car brand was delighted to confirm that James Bond will once again drive an Aston Martin in Spectre. Celebrating the great British brand’s half century with Bond, which started with the iconic DB5, the DB10 gives a glimpse into the future design direction for the next generation of Aston Martins.

Dr Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin, said: “In the same year that we celebrate our 50-year relationship with 007, it seems doubly fitting that today we unveiled this wonderful new sports car created especially for James Bond.

Following on from this, this evening’s event saw celebrities and friends of the brand gather together to celebrate 50 years of Bond.

Hosted at the London Film Museum in Covent Garden, guests enjoyed Louis Roederer Champagne and cocktails. Aston Martin’s newly appointed CEO Andy Palmer was thrilled to hear that “DB10” was trending the top 10 UK twitter feed today following today’s Bond Spectre announcement with the HQ phones ringing off the hook with people from across the globe looking to buy one of the not for sale limited editions.

On the night, guests had the opportunity to view some of the exclusive installations that feature within The London Film Museum’s 50 Years of Bond exhibition, including the legendary Aston Martin DB5.

Amber Nuttall was seen talking to Kelly Hoppen about their past experience of Aston Martin, whilst Grantchester’s James Norton was the eye of all the ladies at the party, heard saying ‘a dog-collar’ does wonders for the love life!

Camilla Rutherford and husband Dominic were also seen waxing-lyrical about their amazing journey to the party in an Aston Martin Rapide, comparing notes with Amber Le Bon who dazzled in a light blue gown before hitting the decks.

VIP attendees included: Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer, Amber Le Bon, Camilla Rutherford, Ozwald Boateng, Amber Nuttall, Kelly Hoppen, Alistair Guy, Barbara Broccoli, Diarmaid Murtagh, James Norton, Roxie Nafousi and Pips Taylor.

The VIP guests were treated to a sumptuous cocktail buffet which included mini beef burgers, grilled sea bass with lemon puree and parsley oil, tuna tartare with yuzu and soy pearls in sesame cone, parmesan taco with creamed goats cheese and rhubarb jam, charcoal wafer with truffled brie, quince jelly and candied orange, blackened salmon with Asian slaw, iron bark pumpkin tortellini, walnut pesto and parmesan crisp and assorted Macaron de Paris, accompanied by Louis Roederer Champagne.

HardlyEverWornIt.com’s Variety Fundraising Party hosted by Harold Tillman

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Frostie

On 27th November 2014, Hardlyeverwornit.com created a glamorous grotto at Cafe Royal, to celebrate their Christmas charity auction to raise funds for Variety, the Children’s Charity.

The event featured a McLaren F1 simulator, real live penguins (on the terrace) a psychic medium and DJ spinning party tunes. Guests enjoyed champagne and canapés throughout the evening, while some indulged in shopping from Hardly’s Christmas Edit.

Most VIPs attendees brought a hardly-used designer/luxury accessory/fashion item to donate to the online auction, which goes live from 4th December, with all proceeds going to Variety, the Children’s Charity. Funds on the night were also raised through generous donations.

Guests included:

Chloe Green, Samantha Barks, Richard Fleeshman, Henry Holland, Patrick Grant, Noelle Reno, Scot Young, Emily Berrington, Pandemonia, Henry Conway, Sir John Hegarty, Andy Goode…among many others.

What was the best festival of 2014? Olivia Outram spills the Secret

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Richard Mylles

The Secret Garden Party

So with the initial line up for 2015 released this week, I think it’s about time to gush a bit about my festival of last summer.

The Music
As the sun went down over the main stage on a balmy Saturday evening Sub Motion Orchestra revealed themselves as the standout performers of the festival for me. Theirs was the kind of bass that makes the earth, not shake, that wouldn’t be the right word, but sway in a luxurious, sensual manner. Ruby Wood’s ethereally jazzy vocals were the cherry on a quite delectably sexy cake. Clean Bandit have really upped their game since doing the festival rounds in 2013, commanding the main stage with tens of thousands of festival goers singing back their lyrics. And for the late night lovers, Sigma “absolutely smashed it” (as Cheryl Cole might say) in Temple of Boom post 3am. My only personal disappointment was standing pride of place on the top platform of the Collisillium, having elbowed hundreds of people out of the way, waiting for this year’s secret act to perform (Chase and Status again…) at the stroke of midnight – Only to be left waiting… and waiting… and waiting… Rumour has it they finally rocked up over two and a half hours late. Not. Cool.

The Locale
This really was the ultimate adult’s playground, whether you like it colourful, eerie, hard-core or filled with sunflowers, there was a playground for every personality. There was also the option of swimming in the lake, which might sound spontaneous but after you’d donned your sexiest swimsuit you were left standing in line for the best part of an hour waiting to be refreshed (or, let’s be honest, have a replacement bath). To be fair the excessive queue was no doubt due to the scorchingly hot weather we enjoyed at SGP this year (Sorry (not sorry) to all of you who pinned your festival hopes and dreams on Glastonbury but forewent your summer glow for trench foot). From secret tunnels, floating dance floors, winding forests and colossal stages to fields filled to the brim with 6 foot tall giant sunflowers hidden behind a secret portaloo door – the one thing we can all admit is the hills of Abbots Ripton are transformed into something truly magical, that even Alice in Wonderland would gawk at.

Local Wildlife
The clientele cannot go unmentioned. It seemed like this year’s festival had an unparalleled supply of beautiful people – everywhere you looked you saw another “genetic lottery winner”, as one companion commented. As ever, body paint, glitter and “quirky” headwear were all the rage. Meaning the usually bold and unique individual fizzled into the crowd. Those who really wanted to stand out, and there were quite a few, dispensed with the outfits altogether, some choosing to don only carefully applied body paint and a few of the most adventurous opting for just the glow of the summer sun and a dab of moisturiser. For the sake of their nipples, I sincerely hope one with SPF.

Inevitable Celebrity Sighting
This bit all depends on your definition of “celebrity”… you could feast your eyes on pretty much the entire cast of Made in Chelsea. Alex Mytton even made the sought-after headlines of Daily Mail Online with his episode of “exhaustion”. For the more refined celebrity oglers, his royal highness (absolutely no pun intended) Prince Harry graced us with his presence in full Secret Garden Party glittery glory with his face painted a smirf-tastic shade of ‘royal’ blue.

Transcendent-moment-where-everything-makes-sense
As the sun dipped behind the horizon on the Saturday evening, it was replaced by a spectacle of fiery colourful delight with the annual SGP fireworks extravaganza. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a Secret Gardener who didn’t suddenly think their drink had been spiked with the best type of acid, when a plane flying low rained giant bubbles over the entire festival’s heads. This, combined with the darting lasers piercing the wobbly, translucent globules made for a truly incredible vision. The whole of the main stage appeared to be covered in glittering fairy dust. Either that … or the drive to the festival from the station with the utterly charming former Police Constable Simon, now of ‘Steve’s Cars’. Simon you are an utter legend.

words by Olivia Outram