St. Pancras International has officially unveiled its much-loved and highly-anticipated Christmas Tree, in partnership with Hatchards, the UK’s oldest bookshop and one of the station’s many iconic retailers. It is a brilliant partnership when one considers the magical ability of both books and train travel to transport people to exciting new places.
The St. Pancras International Christmas Tree has been a London icon for well-over a decade with a reputation for iconic brand partners and pushing the boundaries of what traditionally constitutes a Christmas tree. Over the years, the Tree has played music, displayed light shows and even snowed as part of its ambition to bring festive cheer to travellers and tourists.
The Tree also includes the Christmas Grotto, located on The Grand Terrace of St. Pancras from the 17th of November. During their visit, children can meet Santa, enjoy activities with Elves, listen to stories and even take their parents for a trip to Hamleys and Hatchards where they can receive 20% off with their grotto ticket.
The 2023 Christmas Tree stands at 12 metres tall, and features a winding staircase, wrapping around 270 shelves with an impressive array of more than 3,800 books, which have been hand-painted and inscribed with titles of Christmas Classics such as Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” and many more.
Within the tree there are eight cubby holes where children and adults alike can sit and fully immerse themselves in the magic of Christmas. In each booth, there are speakers which allow customers to select a five minute excerpt from an audiobook or reading provided exclusively by Penguin Books, featuring authors including Charles Dickens, Beatrix Potter, Zadie Smith, Robin Stevens, Gabrielle Zevin, Alice Winn, Rick Riordan, Michael Morpurgo, Richard Osman and Tom Fletcher. With each booth having two options, guests will be able to choose from sixteen different audios.
These cubby holes are a great free attraction for the whole family or the perfect place to take five and relax while travelling through St. Pancras. Do visit such a magical Christmas tradition at St Pancras International https://stpancras.com/ this most amazing of historic stations.
Have you ever noticed that wearing a particular colour can make you feel good? When I had my ‘Colours’ done I was surprised and intrigued how my energy levels and emotions changed as the practitioner draped me in different-coloured fabrics.
Well Mike Booth, from Aura-Soma and founder of AEOS, believes that colours can benefit our consciousness and wellbeing. If this is all new to you, this link explains the philosophy.
Well firstly their active plant extracts, essences and essential oils are extracted from plants grown on their own organic, biodynamic Shire Farm in Lincolnshire, described as a thriving sanctuary, and the water used is drawn from an artesian well drilled on that same land. The basis of all their skincare products is oil from their own Spelt crops, a potent antioxidant packed with vitamin E, proteins and essential fatty acids, to revitalise, moisturise and regenerate, and is particularly good for very dry, prematurely aged, sensitive or eczema-prone skin.
Their second distinguishing feature is the inclusion of tinctures of gems and crystals prepared using ancient alchemical techniques. Many people, including Mike believe crystals have cleansing, healing and vibrational powers.
And finally, a very unique aspect of AEOS is their focus on the healing powers of colour with the inclusion of 100% natural and plant-derived colours.
If you’re drawn to their Blue range this signals a desire for peace and serenity. These use skin-soothing chamomile with amethyst, turquoise and emerald, to help you slow down, breathe deeply and to soothe stress.
A desire for their Pink range indicates a need for more kindness, caring and love – remember to nurture and look after yourself. They’re enhanced with fire opal, rose quartz and rubellite to support the heart chakra.
If the Yellow formulations appeal, maybe you need more joy, happiness and self-confidence? This colour is associated with a balancing of the nervous system and centering. These include Harmonising Body Lotion with soothing calendula, and sapphire, turquoise and clear quartz, and Awakening Beauty Body Lotion, rich in crystal essences of fire opal, calcite and zincite.
If this has peaked your interest, then for only £9.50 you can try an AEOS starter kit in Blue or Pink to experience their benefits. These are great because they contain eight travel-sized (3ml) tubes – three cleansing products, an exfoliant, a conditioner, a serum, a hydrating mist and a moisturiser. They’re also really handy to grab if you’re going away for the weekend.
I really liked the products in the Pink range – easy to apply and they felt great on my skin. Maybe I need to include a little self-care in my life – hm?
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.
Do you ever feel bewildered by all the different moisturisers, serums, toners and everything else that are available to slap on your skin? I mean what are they, which should you use, and when?
Well a great place to start is Glow Recipe, because it was co-founded by skin care specialists Sarah Lee and Christine Chang, who have a passion to demystify the recipe for your healthiest skin.
They pair antioxidant-rich fruit with gentle yet powerful active ingredients to create the best skin care regime for you, and they also consider your complexion’s ever-changing needs. So if you have dry areas and oily areas (combination skin) or one day you wake up with a huge spot on your nose, just head to the Glow Recipe website and they’ll have something to help.
I love their website because you can search by your skin concern under the ‘Shop All’ menu. If you have a particular problem, be it hyperpigmentation, redness or dryness just click on the link and find exactly what you need. Equally if you want a particular ingredient, such as retinol or ceramides, then you can use the ‘Clinically Effective Ingredients’ links. If you have a penchant for a particular fruit ingredient – fear not, these links are listed too.
Then once you’ve decided on your purchase, head to the Cult Beauty website for some fabulous Glow Recipe deals.
I particularly love the Glow Recipe Plum Hydration Heroes – a boxed set of moisturiser and gloss lip balm. These are not just your regular moisturising products, but they’re specially formulated for intensive hydration. You’re probably aware that hyaluronic acid is a great hydrator, but these Heroes are packed with a blend of not just one, but five multi-weight hyaluronic acids to really lock in moisture for plump-looking skin. But there’s more, they also include another hydrator, polyglutamic acid, plus three antioxidant-rich plums (kakadu, illawarra, and burdekin) which hydrate, nourish, and rejuvenate your skin’s appearance. I can see why they’re named Heroes. At just £39 for the attractively packaged set at Cult Beauty these are definitely not just for Christmas.
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.
I’m feeling exhausted after a weekend of latin dancing – the Grand Finals at Blackpool’s Wintergarden no less. It’s unbelievable fun wearing a stunning dance dress, having your hair sprayed and gelled into a work of art and using enough eyeliner to cause a national shortage.
However, the downside is the next day, when that intense activity and excitement is all over, the buckets of makeup have been scrubbed off, and it all rather shows in one’s skin, particularly when one’s skin, like the rest of one, is no longer eighteen.
Being intrinsically nosey, I was curious to know how Evolve Organic Beauty came into being. It’s actually very interesting – as a child, the founder, Laura Rudoe would watch her Romanian grandmother make skin creams from traditional ingredients, such as oats and calendula flowers and from that time she’s been fascinated with natural remedies and nature.
She personally researches every ingredient and, with her small team actually hand blends the essential oils for the products, ensuring the highest quality and maximum freshness. No wonder this range is so special – and, trust me, it really is. The company is also committed to sustainability, net zero and supporting local communities.
Take The Super Treats as an example. Three targeted face masks to clarify, exfoliate and nourish presented in a beautiful box. What’s not to like? Let me take you through the set:
Bio-Retinol Gold Mask improves elasticity, stimulates collagen and plumps, using Bidens Pilosa, which acts like a natural retinoid. This is totally my favourite – not only is it brilliant for my (only slightly) over eighteen year old skin but it actually looks like a pot of liquid gold. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Very light to apply but boy is it effective. I used it to add a great glow post- dance competition and it works like a dream.
True Balance SOS Mask – a clarifying clay mask to unclog pores and prevent breakouts. But this isn’t one of the usual anti-spot treatments, it contains Quora Noni in green clay which apparently stops blemish-promoting skin bacteria from replicating.
And finally Miracle AHA 3 Minute Mask boosts luminosity using fruit AHAs which increase cellular renewal and remove dead skin, revealing glowing new skin. I have this on now. It’s light enough not to feel like a face mask but I know it’s doing its job.
So how much does this set, all hand-made with top quality organic products cost, you may ask with perhaps some trepidation? Well, it’s on special offer, reduced from £45 to just £35. This really is a steal, for Christmas presents, but (more importantly) for you. Go on, treat yourself. You’re welcome. And while you’re there check out their other amazing products – from candles to body wash and more. The Bio-Retinol Gold Mask comes as a Christmas bauble too, making a really special stocking filler.
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.
Now that Halloween has come and gone I can officially say that word… CHRISTMAS. Every christmas I try to support as many small businesses as I possibly can, one of which is the Carslake Tea Company. Yes I do treat myself to their tea but they also make brilliant gifts for the tea lover in your family.
I first discovered Carslake Tea at the Eat: Food Fest in Burnham on Sea. I am a huge fan of loose leaf tea , and they have so many flavours available all of which are delicious and never disappoint. Recently I purchased Elderflower Lemon ,Christmas Mulled Fruit, and Turkish Apple, as well as a adorable platypus infuser. Each flavour is refreshing and warm and comforting , perfect for these cold rainy days.
They even have a tea advent calendar which is a delicious and healthier alternative to chocolate ones , each day you will be treated to a different flavour of loose leaf tea , these calanders are perfect for tea fans such as myself or those who want to try loose leaf tea but don’t know what flavours they will enjoy.
I reached out to Phil and asked him more about Carslake Tea , and here’s what he had to say:
‘Carslake Tea Company is a family business, run by myself and my partner and our son. Established in 2014, we decided to set up the business because whilst working on another project I realised that tea drinkers were being neglected. There were many Artisan Coffee producers, but very little choice for tea lovers.
Initially starting with around 20 blends, we now have almost 100.
We cater for traditional tea drinkers, but also are passionate about being different, having unusual and quirky blends and offering choice to niche drinkers (Decaffeinated and Caffeine free being one such sector).’
(Carslake Tea Loose Leaf Advent Calendar: available in Blue or Red)
This exciting loose leaf tea advent calendar comes complete with 24 jars of tea FOR TWO. Share a brew with a loved one or treat yourself to luxury loose leaf teas throughout December. LIMITED NUMBER AVAILABLE @ £39.95 including postage Delivery starting and continuing throughout November.
There are also ‘must have’ Silicon Tea Infusers – which are ideal stocking fillers or Secret Santa gifts. Available in cute Platypus and Squirrel designs. Fill the Squirrel tea infuser’s big busy tail with a loose tea of your choice and put it in a cup of hot water. Hook the little Squirrel over your favourite mug, twisting his tail down into the hot water and the tea infuses through the tail.
The duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed Platypus is a unique and rare animal inhabiting eastern Australia. Inspired by what might be the strangest creature on earth, the Platypus is a fun take on the tea infuser that’s as friendly to use as it is to look at.They are cute and fun it is great to see them peeping curiously from your cup or mug, enjoying their tea hot-tub.
There are many more details of fabulous tea products on the Carslake Tea Company website including four majestic Christmas tea blends. Do have a look, it won’t be a waste of time.
I have a fascination with beauty products. Maybe it’s panic as the years rush by a little too swiftly, or maybe it’s because, as a doctor, I’m aware how efficiently skin can absorb anything we slap on it – be it beauty creams, medicines – or harmful chemicals. Sadly, some ‘beauty’ products aren’t always as pure and innocent as we may assume.
Mindful of this, I was super excited to discover Avīela. I love their story and I simply adore their products, and as ever, I’m keen to share (their story – not their products, those are all mine).
Avīela products are, unusually, based on raw (unrefined) Shea Butter. The company founder, Patricia Monney first discovered this whilst visiting her home country, Ghana, where a doctor recommended massaging her young daughter’s weak ankle with raw Shea Butter. It worked so well that Patricia researched this traditional treatment and ultimately created Avīela (pronounced A-vee-el-ah, meaning something ‘Good’ or ‘Beautiful’ in the Dagara people’s language).
For those who don’t know, Shea Butter is an incredible natural oil, extracted from the seeds of the Shea tree. It’s been used forever as a remedy in East and West tropical Africa, where the Shea tree grows and is believed to have anti-inflammatory and healing properties.
Although many skin products boast Shea Butter as an ingredient, usually it’s been refined using excess heat and artificial chemicals, which probably destroy some of the natural properties.
In contrast, Avīela ethically source the highest quality Shea Butter directly from the fields of Northern Ghana, supporting local women through a Women’s Cooperative. Because the Shea Butter is left in its raw state, it’s not only free from artificial colours, fragrances and preservatives but also has a light, whipped texture, and melts smoothly and easily into the skin. Trust me you can see and feel the difference.
Do visit their website because their products are a ‘Who’s who’ of pure luxury and at a very fair price too. I particularly love their Intense Moisture Pack, which contains the traditional African Shea Black Soap (quite different from a regular soap bar), made from 100% raw Shea Butter, Cocoa Pod Ash, and Coconut and Neem Oils – it’s suitable for all skin types and you can also use it as a makeup remover. But there’s more – you also get a large (180ml) pot of Shea Body Butter and a Shea Hand Butter too. At just £48 for the set it’s a fabulous deal.
With Christmas racing towards us even faster than my wrinkles, you may want to check out their stocking fillers:
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.
Pitching to Penguin after being signed to small publishers and being self-published.
Beginnings: I had not planned to be an author. I grew up believing that books were written by others, not me, for us to enjoy. Three or four events in my life, like special occasions, led me to “think” I was a writer. I was raised in a rich environment of stories, via my mum, my aunts, my grandparents, my dad, my teachers. I enjoyed hearing them so much that I also began telling them. I had a little burst of success as a 16-year-old in a national short story writing competition with the New Straits Times. I felt that indescribable buzz when I saw my byline among 30 highly-commended entries.
The hotel rooms: As a university student and an adult, I wrote nothing. I only started when I started travelling for work in hospitality and resort design. I was in hotel rooms and airports a lot. I learned that I really valued and enjoyed observation and being alone, which of course, are the prerequisites of the writing life. I was surprised to be flooded with ideas which had nothing to do with work. I began writing again because as you know, you don’t need any fancy tools or equipment. In those days, I printed and posted my stories from airports, or the nearest post office to the hotel. This period led me to believe I had again some chance of success because I was getting accepted by the Sunday magazines. One story was bought and broadcast by the BBC World Service. I had meetings with agents in Soho back in London, which led to nothing but an inkling that my writing was getting attention, any attention. I took writing more seriously when I invested in an MA in Writing at Middlesex University. As you know it’s not free, so I was taking a big chance but I was working and it paid for the fees. I was astonished to discover that I won the Middlesex University Literary Prize in an international competition, a cash award large enough to cover a third of my fees. The judge was Penelope FitzGerald and about my story, she said she had never read anything like it in her life.
The agent: I was snapped up by an agent immediately following the prize, a decision that was poor. I had no other offers. After 5 years, she did not get me a deal despite my writing not one but two novels for her to market. I did not write a word for 10 years. My writing stayed on my hard drive. It was deliberate. I had two children whom I wanted to give 120% of my attention. After 10 years and they were in primary school, I started submitting the novel again, and following 87 rejections I won a prize in Hong Kong, also a large cash prize. This novel, my debut, Cry of the Flying Rhino, was the turning point for me, because I now was an author. My entire family flew out to Hong Kong for the award ceremony and the publication. It was a small publisher, like my second novel’s, Heart of Glass.
The pandemic: Following the two novels with small publishers which were given zero marketing and publicity and unsurprisingly, hardly earned any royalties, I started to wonder if indeed they had even been published. I wrote another, Overboard. I got 50 rejections and I decided to start an imprint to publish it as I consider it to be my best book yet. I think my limit for rejections is now 30. I do think there is a limit otherwise you will be querying until you die. I don’t think I have the time or the patience to withstand 87 rejections like I did with the first, and 55 with the second. There’s no point and nobody cares. It’s an art form. It’s not a pizza which is edible and sort of OK even when bad. During the 2-3 years of the pandemic. I ate, sleep, wrote, published. Repeat. It was like a bumper sticker.
Keep going: I did online courses on self-publishing, keywords, genres and copywriting to study the market. I cannot stress how important it is for a writer. Without knowing the market and the audience, you can’t pitch. I learned to write through editing other people’s work and through reading hundreds of books in the genres I was interested in. The MA will not teach you these skills. My objective had always been to write the best book that could write. This kept me going in the lockdown years. I published a couple more, short stories, and another novel, White Crane Strikes.
Perfect pitch: A famous author, unfortunately I forget who, said that if you cannot tell your story in 17 words, you don’t know your story. That intro letter, one-page synopsis and first paragraph in your manuscript is everything. I wrote The American Boyfriendin November 2021 which I decided I would query until that magic self-imposed 30 rejections before I would publish it myself. I would trade the complete control and higher royalties in self-publishing for a traditional deal because of the connections. By the time I started querying again post-pandemic, I had already distilled my book to the most grabby Netflix 40-word synopsis. I saw a window of open submissions from Penguin Random House Southeast Asia. I was just about to release my book, because I got to 27 rejections. 9 months after querying, in August 2022, I got the best email ever. It was from Penguin and consisted of 5 words: has this manuscript been acquired?
Worldwide connections: The worldwide connections have been the most astounding and rewarding part of the publishing experience. Having a publicist was already mind-blowing as I had never had one before with self-publishing (that would be me) or with the small publishers I had been with (that would be no one).
The Penguin publicity, marketing and sales team have opened doors from day one: no. 1 Sunday Times authors providing the cover endorsement quotes, media and press outreach including World Literature Today, Nerd Daily, Culturess, Book Riot, The Telegraph and Elle, being no. 4 on the Straits Times bestseller list in its opening week, being on sale at WHSmith at the airport departure lounge, book launch at West End London bookshop and in the USA, in Barnes and Noble physical bookstores throughout USA and at the airports such as in Key West, Miami International and JFK. I have also been invited to the Jaipur Literary Festival (“the greatest literary show on earth”) in February 2024. I have also seen an uptick in the sales of my other books. These opportunities to build audience trust and author visibility would not have been possible without the Penguin label. This experience has changed the way I see publishing as I come from a “nothing happens” school of thought from my previous publications. I am proud that my book now belongs with the orange-spined classics I grew up reading. I am inspired to keep writing. Stories keep us alive. Stories are more than ever what we need in these times.
My parting words and 5 rules of writing: Persevere. Learn to write. Write the best book that you can write. Believe that top quality writing always stands out. Above all, read.
I enjoyed her last two WW2 series about The Ops Room Girls and The Wrens, but I loved the first in this new series about The Girls of Bomber Command.
A poignant subject, Beeby comments in her notes that the RAF Bomber Command had one of the highest casualty rates of any Allied unit during the Second World War and yet the author manages to portray this sensitively in a very enthralling read.
I loved Pearl, who reminded me of myself as she tries to look after her younger sister and strives to find her own place in the world whilst staying true to her aspirations. Greg has to deal daily with the thought that he might not survive the next bombing mission and that colours how he lives his life.
The author’s notes on the research undertaken to inspire and also to make this story authentic were fascinating.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Wild Hope by Donna Ashworth
I cannot speak too highly of this volume of poetry. Comfort in troubled times and wisdom for everyday living.
Having seen a social media video of the author using the volume as an oracle, I now open this book daily at random and the results have never ceased to surprise me. I have my favourite poems of course but each page has the ability to touch my heart and often to produce tears.
I don’t think I have ever read a volume of poetry so often. Wonderful.
The Paris Affair by Victoria Cornwall
I really enjoyed this book and felt as if I was actually Charlotte, the heroine as she negotiated the sadness, excitements and uncertainties of her life and relationship with Pierre.
The Parisian scenes, particularly the characters’ visit to The Sacre Coeur took me right back to a long ago visit to Paris.
Victoria Cornwall is a skilled storyteller who makes you care about her characters and root for them as they tackle dangers and challenges.
I have always wondered how I would have coped in times of war and hope that I would step up to the challenge of helping with the war effort just as Charlotte, Pierre and their colleagues did in the book.
A thoroughly enjoyable read that made me reflect on the war experiences of members of my family.
The Lost Heir by Jane Cable
Jane Cable captures the time of the Covid era lockdowns, which caused many people to re-evaluate their lives and make changes, as does the modern day character of Carla in The Lost Heir. As a family historian myself, I enjoyed the research Carla and Mani’s research adventures. I liked the present day story, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to read about Covid times when I started reading the book, and would really like to know more about what happened to these characters after the end of this story.
Franny in the historical story, with her different way of seeing the world and her companion, Harriet, is a very complex character. I loved the secrets and risks surrounding William.
Loved the fact that Carla had inherited her grandmother’s skills for seeing auras and presences. Fascinating to read in the notes to the book about the inspiration for the story and the research done by the author.
