Latest posts London Clay by Tom Chivers Review17 September 2021ReadingKey Summary Hello and welcome to my London Clay by Tom Chivers Review. London Clay is a journey beneath London and a tour of some of it’s hidden depths. Published by Doubleday it’s out now in hardback, audiobook and ebook. My thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for my spot on the tour. The review is followed by the synopsis and then a bit about the author. Review London is my city, the one I was born in and where I grew up. So as a geologist, I was thrilled at the opportunity to read and review London Clay. Style London Clay is a very original book, it’s a collection of essays about parts of London beneath the surface. These are the bits you don’t see in guidebooks and on postcards. It’s very real; it includes the graffiti and the dog turds as well as the more attractive and magical parts. There’s a great mix of factual/social and personal history, with the author sharing the city’s history as well as his own reflections. This makes the book very interesting and it will appeal to a broad audience. It’s not just a factual textbook or a personal memoir but a mixture of both. It’s also written in a very poetic style, I love this line about looking out at London from a high vantage point: This is my city. You cannot see past the edges it doesn’t have. Content Chivers began his study of London by creating his own geological street map by colouring in a streefinder map. Clay is very significant to London and its outcrops dictate the surface topology, whilst below ground it affects the location of tunnels and other subterranean spaces. A sinkhole near the author’s Aldgate flat revealed tantalising clues about where it might lead. It turns out to be an old tube station which was relocated due to development of the underground line. This turned out to be a well-timed decision as the original station site was bombed by the Germans a short while later. Thus begins his adventure and we readers get to experience it with him. There is a wealth of other locations, including rivers directed as covered waterways, Roman ruins, ancient woodland, a submerged theatre and an array of artefacts spanning the two millenia of London’s historical strata. There is also a lot of interesting detail so readers can imagine sites or indeed visit themselves. It’s very well researched with a wealth of references for additional reading. A lyrical homage to subterranean London by a poetic terranaut. Highly recommended! Do visit the other stops on the tour, see poster below for dates and locations. Synopsis What secrets lie beneath a city? Tom Chivers follows hidden pathways, explores lost islands and uncovers the geological mysteries that burst up through the pavement and bubble to the surface of our streets. From Roman ruins to a submerged playhouse, from an abandoned Tube station to underground rivers, Chivers leads us on a journey into the depths of the city he loves. A lyrical interrogation of a capital city, a landscape and our connection to place, London Clay celebrates urban edgelands: in-between spaces where the natural world and the metropolis collide. Through a combination of historical research, vivid reportage and personal memoir, it will transform how you see London, and cities everywhere. About the Author TOM CHIVERS is a poet and publisher. He is the author of two pamphlets and two full collections of poetry to date, and is director of the independent press Penned in the Margins. In 2008 he was the Bishopsgate Institute’s first writer in residence, and has appeared widely at events and made a number of contributions to radio, including presenting a 30 minute documentary for Radio 4. He has collaborated with the climate arts organisation Cape Farewell and conducts immersive walking tours of London. Chivers is currently an Associate Artist of the National Centre for Writing.... Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy by Faye Brann Review15 September 2021ReadingKey Summary Hello and welcome to my Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy by Faye Brann Review. Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum Spy is a fantastic novel which won the Comedy Women in Print Prize. Published by Harper Collins, it’s out now in paperback, audio and ebook. My thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for my spot on the tour. First up the review, then the synopsis and finally a bit about the author. Review I very much enjoyed this book, it’s a bit like a cross between John Le Carré (whose work inspired the title) and Bridget Jones. Vicky is a mum of three who misses feeling useful and wanted beyond family life. Whilst the PTA is politically charged and demanding in its own way, it doesn’t quite cut it in the same way a career does. Vicky misses her old job in a special joint intelligence taskforce that she had before marriage and kids. One of the other new PTA recruits is married to a shady Russian businessman. So when MI5 wake Vicky from her sleeper status and ask her to collect intel she realises just what she’s been missing. Except that handling espionage alongside childcare isn’t easy, nefarious dealings don’t stop to accommodate the school run. I was expecting this novel to be a bit of humorous fluff and was pleasantly surprised! The storytelling is light-hearted, but at the same time the challenges of being a working Mum are very real. The challenges of being a working Mum in such a demanding profession even more so. The themes of motherhood, ageing and relationships, are dealt with sensitively and with humour. The plot is very engaging, I found myself drawn in from the beginning and eager to find out what Vicky’s intel gathering would yield and where the plot would go. The characters are likeable (the nice ones at any rate) and I particularly liked that we learn more about Matisse’s backstory and how she came to be married to a Russian gangster. I highly recommend this novel for its originality and humour. I hope we get to hear more of Vicky and her adventures. Do visit the other stops on the tour, see poster below for dates and locations. Synopsis Vicky Turnbull has never regretted giving up her career for family life in the suburbs. And apart from being outstandingly good at paintball, no one would ever know that in a past life she was an undercover spy and has been trained to kill a man with her bare hands. Not even her husband, and certainly not the other mums at the school gate. But beneath the school runs and bake sales, Vicky had never quite said goodbye to the past. So, when a newcomer on the PTA sets alarms bells ringing and MI5 comes calling, she’s determined to prove that despite her expanding waistline and love of pink gin, she’s still every bit the cold-eyed special operative. When the assignment gets uncomfortably close to home, Vicky must decide if she has got what the job takes after all, and if home is really where her heart is… About the Author Faye grew up in Essex before running away to drama school. She worked in the West End as a stage carpenter but decided to get a ‘proper job’, for reasons which are still unclear but may have been influenced by Rachel from Friends. After a decade working her way to the heady heights of middle management, Faye met her husband and moved to Dubai where she ditched corporate life for good in favour of having a baby, performing improvised comedy, and gaining an MA from Falmouth University. Now back in London with her family, Faye divides her time between performing in musicals with her local theatre company and working as a freelance copyeditor, but her real passion is for writing novels about (and for) kick-ass middle aged women. Her first novel, Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy, won the Comedy Women in Print Unpublished Prize in 2020. Keep in touch with Faye on Twitter and Instagram... A Hundred Years to Arras by J M Cobley Extract9 September 2021ReadingKey Summary Welcome to my stop on the tour, I’m sharing an A Hundred Years to Arras by J M Cobley Extract. A Hundred Years to Arras is a literary historical fiction which is out now in paperback and ebook. My thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for my spot on the tour. First up the synopsis, then the extract and finally a bit about the author. Synopsis On a painful, freezing Easter Monday in 1917, Private Robert Gooding Henson of the Somerset Light Infantry is launched into the Battle of Arras. Robert is twenty-three years old, a farmer’s boy from Somerset, who joins up against his father’s wishes. Robert forms fast friendships with Stanley, who lied about his age to go to war, and Ernest, whose own slippery account betrays a life on the streets. Their friendship is forged through gas attacks, trench warfare, freezing in trenches, hunting rats, and chasing down kidnapped regimental dogs. Their life is one of mud and mayhem but also love and laughs. This is the story of Robert’s journey to Arras and back, his dreams and memories drawing him home. His story is that of the working-class Tommy, the story of thousands of young men who were caught in the collision between old rural values and the relentlessness of a new kind of war. It is a story that connects the past with the present through land, love and blood. A Hundred Years to Arras by J M Cobley Extract One cheek lay in the mud, cold and caked to his skin. He drooled into the dirt and tasted the bitterness of the earth that had spattered on to his tongue and lips. Behind his closed eyes, dark shapes fluttered and swam, whispering voices of nausea drawing him down into something deep and heavy. His limbs ached from the fall. His legs lay in a puddle, one foot tucked behind him as if running. His weight was restricting the circulation in his left arm and he felt his fingers tingle. His other arm hung limply, with his remaining grip weak and loose around the stock of his rifle. The ground’s cold embrace surrounded him. Robert lay in a shell hole, a crater punched into the French soil. He had fallen, and the fall had begun even as the sun rose. The August morning was fine and warm. The previous night’s sunset had bled into the grey rain. Sleep was fitful at best as the battalion took its place in a trench along what was laughingly called the British front line but was in fact just a staggered set of carved holes in the ground. At least, that was the way it seemed to Robert as he had settled down on a dry duckboard for the long night into morning. On their subterranean shelves in the trench, Robert and the other men from the Somerset Light Infantry knew only the basics of their orders. Set for just after dawn, a short assault was to begin. The infantry in the line in front of them were to surge forward first, and they were to await the signal to race to the parapet after them. Once through the German barbed wire, they were to leap heroically into the enemy trenches and open fire on them as they dragged themselves wearily from their beds in the ground. This had been a tactic employed regularly since the first day of July, when all along the Somme, thousands of men had died in an attack that nobody spoke of now in the trench. The last phase of the Battle of the Somme was tailing off, and Robert was there at its last few shakes. Robert’s specific order was to join in the attempt to reclaim some old trenches on ground in No Man’s Land that had been conceded to the Germans earlier in the year. Two years earlier, the winter frost crusted the ground and bits of straw clung to the Old Man’s boots as he waited on the hill for his son. The November air bit hard as he hauled hay into troughs. His nose ran and he wiped on his sleeve, already cold and wet from a morning’s work. Robert Henson senior was the wrong side of seventy and his legs ached with every bend and stride. For a long time now, he had to tighten his belt just to keep his back straight and sharp pains shot down his leg whenever he shifted a heavy weight. There were days when the only thing that would warm his muscles enough to keep moving was a measure of whisky or, as today on the coldest of days, a glass of rum. Just a mouthful now to get the blood flowing would have been what he needed to get him through the rest of the morning. The cows were bursting with milk, ready to be relieved. But hadn’t the Old Man already milked them? It was difficult to remember; sometimes it was difficult to remember a good many things: he couldn’t even remember going to sleep the previous night, just waking up in the chair by the cold grate as the cock was crowing outside. Lucy had bustled about and brought him a cup of tea as she ushered their son out of the house with a hunk of bread as his breakfast. She had to crack the ice in the bucket to fill the kettle, but the steam from the stove soon filled the kitchen. Now, on that frosty slope, he wondered where his son was. He had given him his name, and the name of his father, who in turn had carried his mother’s maiden name. Robert Gooding Henson was his only son, his only child in fact, his past continuing into the future. To distinguish between them, his wife Lucy insisted on calling the boy Bob. This was not the father’s choice. His son was in his twenties now, a man, and he would not treat him like a boy. That meant he also had responsibilities to the family and the farm. So where was he? About the Author J. M. Cobley was born in Devon of Welsh parents and now lives in Warwickshire with his wife and daughter. Jason studied English Language and Literature at university and is currently Head Teacher at a hospital school in Coventry. Jason is otherwise known for his work writing scripts for the long-running Commando comic and graphic novel adaptations of classics such as Frankenstein and An Inspector Calls, as well as the children’s novel The Legend of Tom Hickathrift. Jason also hosts a weekly show on Radio Abbey in Kenilworth, where he indulges his passion for classic and progressive rock. The central character of A Hundred Years to Arras is based on his relative Robert Gooding Henson. J M Cobley Twitter Do check out the other stops on the tour and enjoy all the insightful reviews. See below for dates and blog locations.... Raiders of the Hidden Ark by Graham Addison review8 September 2021ReadingKey Summary Welcome to my Raiders of the Hidden Ark by Graham Addison review. My thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for my spot on the tour. I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Raiders of the Hidden Ark is the story of the Parker expedition to Jerusalem in search of the Ark of the Covenant. Raiders of the Hidden Ark is out now from Edgcumbe Press in hardback, paperback and ebook. My Review As soon as I saw this book is about a search for the Ark of the Covenant my interest piqued. I’ve dabbled in archaeology and know it’s been an object of obsession for many. For those that might not know, the Ark of the Covenant is a wooden chest covered in pure gold decoration. It was created to house the Ten Commandments which Moses received from God. The design described in detail by God to Moses, is recorded in the Bible. At the time of it’s creation (over 3,000 years ago) it was a hugely significant religious object to the Israelites. It’s historical and cultural significance still remains and is the inspiration for the Indiana Jones film Raiders of the Lost Ark. Addison’s book focuses on the Parker expedition, a motley crew who in 1909 sailed to Jerusalem in search of the Ark. The book is written for a general audience and the writing style is very accessible. It’s also very fascinating! It’s clear that Addison has put in a great deal of research and some sources are completely new or presented in English for the first time. The book is richly detailed with photographs of the sources which helps to create a picture in the reader’s mind. I found the writing immersive, exciting and in places almost unbelievable. Seriously, reading some of the details I just thought ‘you couldn’t make it up’. It’s an absolutely brilliant adventure story and even better it’s all real! The book begins with the significance of Ark itself, then describes the members of the expedition and their motivation, and how the expedition was planned and funded. It goes on to give details of the expedition itself, or more accurately three expeditions, the implications of the expedition on geopolitics (both in Jerusalem and more widely) and what became of the expedition members. I think this book has wide appeal, for fans of both fiction and non fiction. It reads just as captivatingly as any work of historical fiction or adventure, and will also naturally be of interest to fans of history, archaeology or theology. Do check out the other stops on this tour, see poster below for details. Cover Blurb The cover blurb for Raiders of the Hidden Ark by Graham Addison: Where is the Ark of the Covenant? One of the Bible’s most sacred and powerful objects has not been seen for over 2,500 years. At the start of the 20th century a group of Europeans believed they knew the answer. The story of the Parker expedition seems stranger than fiction and includes aristocrats, poets, psychics, secret cyphers in the Bible, a deadly curse, bribery, gun-running, riots, and madness. It sounds unbelievable but the Parker expedition is real. Rudyard Kipling, who knew several expedition members, wrote ‘Talk of fiction! Fiction isn’t in it’. The expedition started when a Finnish scholar had convinced a group of young Englishmen from wealthy and titled families he had uncovered secret cyphers in the Bible showing where the Ark was hidden. They were educated at Eton, had fought in elite units of the British military and socialised with European royalty and wealthy Americans. One had thwarted an assassination attempt on Queen Victoria. Another had helped spark the Boer War. Most of the funding came from the family of one of the richest men to have ever lived in Australia. With them were a Swiss psychic, a Finnish poet, and a Swedish captain who had experienced the darkest heart of colonial madness in the Belgian Congo. They headed for Jerusalem on a private yacht to dig for the Ark. They spent several years and a fortune digging underground in Jerusalem and in the course of their search for the Ark they unwittingly ‘scattered sparks in the religious tinder-heap’ that is Jerusalem. The expedition caused riots and disorder resulting in a parliamentary enquiry and headlines around the world. The story has never been told in full in English before. Graham Addison’s research has uncovered many new details. He skilfully weaves these together in the amazing story of the individuals who in 1909 sailed for Jerusalem. He examines who the adventurers were, what happened while they were in Jerusalem and what became of them. About the Author My first love is history, which is what I obtained my degree in from Leeds University. I have lived in Scotland and France and now reside in Berkshire in the south of England. My first love is history, which is what I obtained my degree in from Leeds University. I am married with two children, who are no longer children, have lived in Scotland and France and now reside in Berkshire in the south of England. History may be my first love but I have spent the last thirty-five years helping create the modern world. If you love the world of mobile communications, personal computing, spreadsheets, instantly being able to search for any answer in the world and online financial transactions then I played a small part in its creation. If you hate a world in which people spent all their time on their phones, can’t be bothered to remember anything because they can always look it up, you are asked to fill in yet another spreadsheet and can’t deal with an individual because you are always dealing with a computer then I am sorry, it wasn’t all my fault. A few years ago I decided that wanted to do something different. I came back to my first love and have now written a book, which seeks to shed new flight on an almost forgotten episode. I hope you will enjoy it. Graham Addison’s Webpage Graham Addison’s Twitter... Fireborn by Aisling Fowler review25 August 2021ReadingKey Summary Welcome to my Fireborn by Aisling Fowler review, part of The Write Reads blog tour. My thanks to Dave at the Write Reads and to Harper Collins for my proof copy in exchange for an honest review. Fireborn is Aisling Fowler’s debut novel, it will be published on 30th September in hardback. My Fireborn by Aisling Fowler review This is one of my favourite books this year! It has everything you could want from a middle grade fantasy. The story opens with a training class at the Hunting Lodge, the students ‘huntlings’ have made a pledge to give up their past (identities, bonds, feuds etc) and serve the Lodge as Hunters. They have a number instead of a name. The protagonist Twelve is a whizz with axes, but no one wants to be her training partner. She’s a loner who is thought of as aloof and weird. Her pet squirrel Widge was a gift from Seven, who lacks any useful weapons skill but tries to be nice to Twelve. Not that Twelve wants anyone to be nice to her, she isn’t there to make friends. During the training session she has (another) spat with Five and the pair of them get hauled off to Elder Silver’s office by their teacher Victory. Sent to the dungeons to reflect on their behaviour as punishment, all hell breaks loose when goblins invade the Hunting Lodge. It transpires that Seven has been taken and whilst the Council argue about who should form the rescue party, Twelve decides action is needed now. The world of Ember is set in simpler times where inhabitants form clans and survive on farming and mining. It is a magical place with good and evil creatures, some with realistic nuanced shades of grey to their personalities. The world building is wonderfully immersive from the Hunting Lodge to the Frozen Forest, from Poa village to the Fang Mountains. The Hunters act as peacekeepers and protectors of the Clans. Over the course of the adventures in Ember we learn more about the characters and their motivation for becoming huntlings. Review Summary Fireborn has everything a reader could want in a middle grade fantasy. There are strong characters which readers can identify with, an exciting plot packed with adventure, danger and moments of humour, and a wonderfully immersive fantasy world that is rich in magic and monsters. Cover Blurb Lyra. Lucy. Percy. Once in a generation, a hero emerges whose story enthralls readers worldwide. Fireborn is an epic quest, perfect for fans of the His Dark Materials and The School for Good and Evil series, that will spin readers into a magical world like no other–and introduce them to an unforgettable new heroine named Twelve. Ember is full of monsters. Twelve gave up her name and identity to train in the art of hunting them–so she says. The truth is much more deadly: she trains to take revenge on those who took her family from her. But when Twelve’s new home is attacked, she’ll find herself on an unexpected journey, where her hidden past is inescapably intertwined with her destiny–and the very fate of her world. About the Author “Aisling wishes that she had grown up in a magical, mountainous kingdom, but was actually raised in Surrey on a diet of books and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Her early ‘adventure’ stories involved surprisingly little action and her first novel (3 pages long) was politely declined by publishers at age 11. After earning a BSc in Biology and working as a support worker and then a nurse, the idea for her debut novel, Fireborn, came to her as she moved back and forth between London and the US. Now based in Hackney, when she is not reading or writing, Aisling loves cooking and plotting adventures (for herself as well as her fictional characters). Fireborn will be published by HarperCollins in 2021.” Twitter: @fowler_aisling Instagram: @aislingfowler If you’re a fan of middle grade fantasy you’d likely also enjoy Amari, and if you love magical creatures check out Mythopedia.... Learning How to Leave by Michael Padraig Acton23 August 2021Balance / ReadingKey Summary Welcome to my review for Learning How to Leave by Michael Padraig Acton, a Practical Guide To Stepping Away From Toxic and Narcissistic Relationships. Learning How to Leave is the first title in a new series of self help books called Power of You. Learning How to Leave is out now in both paperback and ebook. My thanks to Helen of Literally PR for the gifted copy. My Review for Learning How to Leave by Michael Padraig Acton This book is absolutely packed full of information and written in a very accessible style. It’s helpfully divided into 3 parts: 1. understanding narcissism and co-dependency, 2. different perspectives outside of therapy and 3. unhooking and recovering from a narcissist. Each part is divided into chapters and each chapter sub-divided into sections. This makes it very easy to find exactly what you’re looking for; although page numbers in the contents listing would make this even easier. The writing style is engaging and easy to understand. The author uses real examples drawn from 3 decades as a therapist as well as from his own life. This makes the concepts easier to understand and gives the advice a true authenticity. I was horrified when during lockdown news reports came out that between April and June 2020, there was a 65% increase in calls to the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, when compared to the first three months of that year. If those victims had access to this handbook it would have made their situation so much easier to deal with. The advice for how to leave and how to heal is empowering. Narcissistic relationships don’t have to happen between romantic partners, they can occur in families, in friendship groups or at work. This book has me reflecting on past relationships and I feel better informed to observe others’ behaviour and spot warning signs going forward. A deeply researched, easy to understand guide to identify, understand, leave and heal from narcissistic relationships. Illustrated with real life examples, it has the potential to change, and even save, lives. A very timely and valuable book in the wake of increased incidences of domestic abuse resulting from lockdowns. Cover Blurb The most comprehensive, easy-to-read, survival guide for co-dependents packed with practical advice: from identifying and understanding toxic narcissistic relationships, to learning how to leave and heal. Narcissists thrive on isolating their ‘victim’, cutting them off from the life they could be living, and making them so dependent that they feel unable to survive outside of the toxic relationship. This book challenges the reader to refuse to accept the toxic life any longer. To choose a worthier existence. Because we all live the lives we accept for ourselves. “A narcissist is only done with you when they’re done. For those in a relationship with a narcissist, the most powerful step you can take now is to learn how to leave.” – Michael Padraig-Acton. Michael Padraig-Acton’s 30+ years experience in psychological therapy and counselling, plus incredible case studies and insights from leading experts, are packed into this accessible, hard-to-put-down guide that will empower codependents – and those who care for them – to understand and identify why and how they need to step away from toxic narcissistic relationships forever… and how to heal. Tackling domestic abuse, domestic violence, addiction, coercive control and more, Learning How To Leave explores myriad narcissistic relationships (romantic, family, work etc). Michael Padraig-Acton is dedicated to finding a lasting solution to the silent pandemic of narcissistic personality disorder abuse that is spreading disaster and death across the world. The power of knowledge, understanding and support offered to co-dependents through this book can be a life-changing step towards freedom... Bee Prepared Immune Formula Review5 August 2021NutritionIntroduction to Bee Prepared Immune Formula Welcome to my Unbeelievable Health’s Bee Prepared Immune Formula review. Immune formula comes in two versions: original and max strength. The max strength variety contains the same ingredients as the original but in more concentrated amounts, it also has two additional ingredients: astaxanthin and reishi mushroom. I won Bee Prepared Immune Formula on Unbeelievable Health’s Instagram with no expectations or conditions. I absolutely love it though, so am sharing my honest review. Bees are an essential part of our environment, a portion of all sales of Bee Prepared is donated to bee causes. A box of 20 capsules of Bee Prepared Immune Formula Max Strength costs around £12.99 and is available from a wide range of health shops (including Holland and Barrett, Planet Organic), Amazon, Ocado and the Unbeelievable Health shop. Health Benefits The primary benefit of this supplement is to support the immune system. This can mean: reduction in the likelihood of picking up a bug when experiencing stress, reduction in the impact of an illness or infection and/or relief of seasonal allergy symptoms. One if the key ingredients in Bee Prepared Immune Formula is bee propolis. This is a mixture of resin (50%), wax (30%), essential oils (10%), pollen (5%), and other organic compounds (5%). It has natural antibiotic, antiviral, antimicrobial as well as anti-inflammatory properties. There are over 2,000 studies into the use of bee products for human health. You might ask: if it’s so great, why isn’t it used in medicine? This is a fair question. The difficulty with pharmacological use is bee propolis varies widely in it’s composition depending on which species of plants the bees visited. This makes standardisation impossible and more research is needed on how best to harness these health properties. If you’d like to know more, check out this scientific review paper. As always, if you are pregnant or have allergies, consult your doctor before taking any new supplements. My review of Bee Prepared Immune Formula Max Strength I take these daily to help support my immune system. I am experiencing a bad reaction to my first covid vaccine and am keen not to stress my immune system further. At several hospital visits recently, I needed to remove my mask for treatment which makes me nervous. I’ve managed not to pick up any colds or other bugs though. I’ve also found that since I started taking Bee Prepared Immune Formula max strength, my hay fever symptoms have almost completely disappeared. As someone with a lot of allergies I always try to eat local honey to help with hay fever, but this only makes a small difference. The addition of Bee Prepared has led to a near cessation of hay fever symptoms. A particularly good feature of these tablets is that the essential ingredients are in a cellulose capsule shell. This means that if you find tablets hard to swallow you can open it and sprinkle the ingredients onto cool food or drink. I’m very impressed with this supplement and how well it supports my immune system. I have purchased more of the max strength and also bought the other varieties: Bee Energised, Bee Calm and Bee Rested. Stay tuned for reviews for those…! When and How to Take Bee Prepared Immune Formula You can take Bee Prepared as part of your daily health regime. Alternatively, you can use it in times of increased stress; either when you are putting your body under pressure for an event (e.g. sports race, exam, travel) or when you’re suffering from infection or allergies. Adult dose is one capsule up to four times per day. Child (over eight years) dosage is 1 capsule up to two times per day. If you can’t swallow capsules you can open them and sprinkle the contents onto yoghurt, juice or smoothies. It’s best not to mix supplements with hot food or drink as this can sometimes affect how well the ingredients will work. Ingredients The active ingredients in Bee Prepared Max Strength include extracts of: bee propolis, elderberry, olive leaf, acerola cherry, beta glucans, reishi, and astaxanthin. It also contains vitamin C. This supplement is free from gluten, sugar, yeast and soy. It’s also certified vegetarian. For more details on the active ingredients, take a look at Bee Prepared’s webpage. ... Book Review: Call Me Mummy by Tina Baker1 August 2021ReadingKey Summary Welcome to my book review: Call Me Mummy by Tina Baker. This is a phenomenal debut novel, published by Viper and out now in hardback and ebook. You can also pre-order the paperback. Call Me Mummy is an original, tense and gripping thriller about two damaged women on different parts of the social spectrum. My Book Review for Call Me Mummy by Tina Baker The story opens dramatically with a woman in a shop we know as ‘Mummy’ watching Kim a pregnant mother who has several young children with her. Swearing and focused on her phone Kim does not seem like the perfect mother. Seizing her moment, Mummy kidnaps the oldest child, a bruise covered girl named Tonya. Mummy works hard to be perfect and have the perfect life. The only thing missing was a perfect child of her own. But motherhood is harder than Mummy anticipated, especially as five year old Tonya does not want to be Mummy’s perfect new child. Meanwhile, impoverished Kim is vilified for allowing her child to be snatched; a woman like her doesn’t deserve children. This book drew me in from the first page. The kidnap is a perfect hook and the plot line development is truly absorbing. I couldn’t put this book down! At first I judged Kim just as Mummy had, for being a less than ideal parent. But how much can you know about someone from a brief observation? And I found myself examining my prejudices later on. Mummy tries to give Tonya a perfect life: stimulating activities, organic vegetables and beautiful clothes. But is she really better than Tonya’s real mother? The story is told mainly from two perspectives. That of Kim and of Mummy, which works very well. There’s also a little from Tonya’s perspective, this seems intended to fill in details of the plot but to me she doesn’t sound quite right for a five year old. This very minor criticism is literally the only thing I can nit pick. I found the plot to be very lifelike from the kidnap, the press coverage and social media fallout, to the two women’s backstory. There was a good variation in pace with time passing in the novel but no let up in the tension. A fantastic debut and I can’t wait to see what Tina Baker does next! Cover Blurb CALL ME MUMMY. IT’LL BE BETTER IF YOU DO. Glamorous, beautiful Mummy has everything a woman could want. Except for a daughter of her very own. So when she sees Kim – heavily pregnant, glued to her phone and ignoring her eldest child in a busy shop – she does what anyone would do. She takes her. But foul-mouthed little Tonya is not the daughter that Mummy was hoping for. As Tonya fiercely resists Mummy’s attempts to make her into the perfect child, Kim is demonised by the media as a ‘scummy mummy’, who deserves to have her other children taken too. Haunted by memories of her own childhood and refusing to play by the media’s rules, Kim begins to spiral, turning on those who love her. Though they are worlds apart, Mummy and Kim have more in common than they could possibly imagine. But it is five-year-old Tonya who is caught in the middle…... Emma Hybrid Mattress Review28 July 2021RestGorgeous golden retriever plush from Living Nature Emma Hybrid Mattress Review: Introduction Welcome to my Emma Hybrid Mattress review. People with chronic illnesses can spend more time in bed than the average healthy person. Severe spoonies can be bedbound permanently or for intermittent periods. I spend a lot of time in bed, so it’s very important to me to be comfortable. Being bedbound on the wrong type of mattress can result in increased pain, bedsores and other complications. I sleep on the Emma hybrid mattress and after 4 months on it, I can offer a full review. The main thing I love about it is how comfortable it is! It’s also very practical and I found the customer service excellent. I originally wanted to try an Emma mattress after reading lots of positive reviews. But being housebound means I can’t go to a shop and try it out. Emma offer a 200 night trial, which is around 6 months. That’s plenty of time for spoonies to have one delivered and decide whether it meets their needs. This is not a sponsored post and is my honest opinion. What is the Emma Hybrid Mattress made of? The Emma Hybrid mattress is a mixture of pocket springs and foam layers. The mattress is a mix of mini pocket springs and layers of foam. The top layer is a soft and ultra-breathable Airgocell® foam which allows enhanced air flow keeping the sleeper at an optimal temperature. Beneath this are the pocket springs. They act as an advanced pressure relief, boosting breathability and also extending the mattress lifespan. Underneath the spring layer is a zero gravity viscoelastic memory foam. This adds additional bounce and keeps the sleeper cool. The final and thickest layer is the HRX Supreme foam. This is an innovative foam which contours to the sleeper’s body offering support in the right areas. The Emma hybrid is a slightly bouncier mattress compared with the Emma original one (which I will also review soon). The hybrid is aimed at those who prefer a medium-soft mattress. On a scale1 (soft) to 10 (firm), the Emma Hybrid is a 3 (medium soft) mattress. What is it like to sleep on? The first question many people have is: is the Emma hybrid mattress good? I’m happy to say that it is! I’ve tried various mattress types and topper combinations to help me sleep better. Some memory foams are so soft that when you sink in, you worry a team of archaeologists will be needed to excavate you. The Emma foam layers are soft enough to be comfortable but strong enough to be supportive. I spend many hours in bed and often lie on my side. So, whilst the Emma mattress is a vast improvement on my previous (pocket sprung) mattress, it is still a little stiff for my hips. I have a noticeable hip to waist difference so felt this; others without such a big difference may have a different experience. After 8 weeks of use, I contacted Emma customer support for advice on my situation. I was offered a ‘comfort layer’ which is an additional layer of very soft memory foam which can be added to the mattress. This was at no cost to me (and delivery was free too) and doesn’t affect the length of my trial. I’m happy to say it makes an appreciable difference. How practical is it? Gone are the days of a two person mattress delivery and the need for an engineering degree to successfully manoeuvre it to it’s final destination. Emma mattresses come rolled in a box! All sizes of mattress come in a box with dimensions 45x45x110cm. The weight depends on the size you choose; a standard single is 16.5kg, a double is 25kg, you can check the weights of the other sizes here. There’s an envelope on the box with a pamphlet and safety knife to help you cut the plastic cover off. Memory foam has a particular smell when new and most people opt to air it for a day or two before use. I have chemical sensitivity so needed about 2 weeks for the smell to vanish completely. Another great practical aspect is the mattress cover because it has handles and is machine washable. The cover zips on and off the mattress easily and can be machine washed. This is great for bedridden people who often have to eat and drink in bed increasing the risk of spills. Summary of Emma Hybrid Mattress Review The Emma Hybrid mattress is a mixture of pocket springs and foam layers. Perfect for sleepers who prefer a medium-soft mattress. The Emma hybrid is soft enough to relieve pain and feel comfortable, but strong enough to offer support where needed. This makes it a great choice for those who spend a lot of time in bed. There is a practical cover which zips off so you can machine wash it. You can also add an optional comfort layer of foam to increase softness. It is delivered in a box so it’s easy to get it into the right room. Finally, there is a 200 night trial so if you’re not sleeping better on it, you can return it and it also comes with a 10 year guarantee. I find the customer service to be quick at responding and very helpful. For more tips on getting a good night’s sleep check out my detailed post on Sleep Hygiene.... 3 Spoonie Benefits of The Cheeky Panda Facial Wipes20 July 2021Aids and AdaptationsIntroduction to The Cheeky Panda Facial Wipes Cheeky Panda facial wipes are very convenient for a wide variety of situations. Here I’m reviewing them in the context of chronic illness. People with energy limiting chronic illnesses (ELCI) can struggle to meet their daily care needs (e.g. showering/bathing), especially when in a flare. If someone is bedbound then being able to clean their face or hands with wipes is much easier. Cheeky Panda facial wipes come in a pack of 25 for £1.99. There are also offers for buying in bulk or via subscription. They come in coconut, rose or unscented varieties. I have the coconut ones. This is not a sponsored post and is my honest opinion. Cheeky Panda Facial Wipes Review There are 3 main reasons why I think that Cheeky Panda facial wipes are great for spoonies. Obviously, they’re also great for non-spoonies! But here, we’re focusing on living well with chronic illness. My 3 favourite things about them are: they’re kind to skin, convenient and eco friendly. 1. Kind to Skin Up to 60% of consumers report having sensitive skin. This figure could be higher amongst spoonies due to e.g. allergies, medication side-effects, chemical sensitivity etc. Cheeky Panda facial wipes are dermatologically tested with SGS. They are also super soft on skin and naturally hypoallergenic. The wipes are made with just 3 natural ingredients: 99% purified water, aloe vera and fruit extract. They’re vegan certified and cruelty free. I found the coconut scent to be delicate and natural (not an artificial/chemical scent). They leave my skin feeling refreshed and comfortable. As well as cleansing my face or hands, I use them for cleaning off the sticky residue which T.E.N.S. pads leave on the skin. The wipes are embossed which makes them quite strong if you need to rub a bit harder. 2. Convenient I find these wipes so convenient. Whether I’m bed ridden, in hospital, travelling to the Drs or just unable to get to a tap. If I want to clean my face or hands I just pull out a wipe. Contrary to logic, hospitals are nightmare places if you’re in a wheelchair: non-automatic doors, poor/no signage of accessible routes, random steps or kerbs, broken lifts etc. So, if you just want to clean or refresh your face you can save yourself the energy of seeking out the disabled toilet and just use a wipe. Also handy if you’re bedbound and in hospital as the commodes which are provided don’t come with handwashing facilities (lovely… not!). I like that these come in a pack size of 25 wipes. So, I won’t run out quickly but they’re also small enough to fit in a bag or pocket and not heavy to handle. Also, unlike larger packs, they won’t dry out from being reopened before you reach the last few. Top spoonie tip: pop the pack in the fridge and enjoy an instant cold compress whenever you need one (without the faff of flannels and water). 3. Eco Friendly = Guilt Free Cheeky Panda facial wipes are eco friendly which means you don’t have to feel guilty for using them. They are made of bamboo which uses 65% less Carbon emissions than using trees (and also less deforestation). The bamboo comes from FSC Certified forests. Panda’s eat a different variety of bamboo, so no one is stealing their snacks. Cheeky Panda are a ‘carbon balanced’ company, so they balance the carbon emitted in processing with The World Land Trust activities (by e.g. rebuilding rainforests in Vietnam and protecting animal habitats). Finally, Cheeky Panda supports The World Land Trust, Whale & Dolphin Conservation & Toilet Twinning through donations and fundraising. The wipes are compostable, so you can pop them in your veggie scraps bin. Remember to never flush them down the toilet. The plastic packaging they come in is not recyclable. Do you use wipes regularly? Have any useful hacks? Maybe you have other energy-saving spoonie suggestions? Let me know in the comments below!... Categories Balance Aids and Adaptations Nutrition Rest Reading Food & Drink
