|
Sixtyplusurfers
Competition
Win The World at War
Digitally Remastered and Restored
.jpg)
We’ve teamed up with
FremantleMedia
to give one
lucky reader the chance to win a
fantastic
selection of The World at War goodies including a DVD
Player, a DVD Limited Edition Box Set, and The World at
War book.
The World at
War, the most influential award winning documentary
series ever produced, has now been restored in high
definition to commemorate the 70th anniversary of The
Battle of Britain.
.jpg)
Originally broadcast in 1973 and narrated by Sir
Laurence Olivier, 'The World at War' was produced by
Thames Television over a 4 year period. The 26-part
documentary series interviewed major members of the
Allied and Axis campaigns, civilian eyewitnesses,
enlisted men, officers and politicians and made use of
the rare colour film footage to investigate the events
surrounding World War II to create what is widely agreed
to be the definitive history of World War II.
The production costs were, at the time, record-breaking
in the UK.
In the years since its initial broadcast, this BAFTA and
Emmy award-winning series has had many imitators, but
The World at War remains one of the most revered
documentaries ever made.
This 'jewel in the nation's crown' has now spent months
undergoing a major restoration process whereby each
frame has been restored individually and the audio
reconfigured and upgraded. Bearing in mind that each
episode has averaged over 140,000 fixes, more than
3.6 million improvements have been made across the
series!
And on 20th
September the newly restored series will be available to
buy on Blu-Ray and DVD. With 2010 seeing many
anniversaries of World War II events, it seems only
fitting that this new award-winning series is being
relaunched to coincide with the nation's celebrations.
.jpg)
Along
with the restoration of the complete series,
FremantleMedia are offering a number of new features,
available for the first time. These will include hard of
hearing subtitles, 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio and 2.0
Stereo, enhanced picture now in 16.9 aspect ratio,
'Restoring The World at War' - detailing the process of
the restoration and narrated by Sir Jeremy Isaacs,
original series Producer.
Recommended retail price for the 11 disc DVD is £79.99
and the 9 Blu-Ray discs is £99.99.
.jpg)
The
World at War book, by Richard Holmes is also included as
part of this fantastic prize.
For Your Chance to Win
Tell us who
is the famous narrator of
The World at War documentary?
.jpg)
a) Sir Patrick Stewart
b) Sir Michael Caine
c) Sir Laurence Olivier
d) Sir David Attenborough
Then Send in Your Answer
When you have decided who is the famous narrator of The
World at War documentary, then send in your answer, together
with your full name, postal address and telephone number
by clicking on the Sixtyplusurfers link below
sixtyplusurfers@hotmail.co.uk
* This Competition is open to
our UK visitors only
|
|
PSP Southampton Boat Show
.jpg)
From 10 - 19 September
The
PSP Southampton Boat Show takes place from 10 – 19
September. The UK’s leading outdoor boat show, it returns to
Mayflower Park, bringing hundreds of boats, exhibitors
and visitors together on the south coast.
In association with ITV Meridian, the
Show, which returns for the 42nd edition,
offers an essential interactive experience for everyone
with an interest in boats, on-water adventures and an
active lifestyle.
The PSP Southampton Boat Show is an
unmissable showcase of the best of the British marine
industry. With boats of every shape and size, ranging
from dinghies to powerboats, sailing cruisers to
catamarans and inflatables to kayaks, there is no better
place to experience the sheer variety and scope of
boating. The Show is also the perfect shop window for
marine products, accessories and services; browse the
latest clothing ranges, chandlery, electronics, engines
and more, discover your local sailing club, enroll on a
course or gather inspiration for your next holiday.
The Marina
The PSP Southampton Boat Show boasts
Europe’s largest purpose built marina, with construction
of the 2km long pontoons taking well over a month. This
year, National Boat Shows expects to host approximately
350 boats on the marina, which is considered by many to
be the crowning point of the Show. From ocean rowing
boats to luxury ocean cruisers and everything in between
– the PSP Southampton Boat Show marina is a real show highlight.
Feature boats
The marina will also host an exciting
selection of feature boats, which are always popular
with visitors to the Show. The first to sign up is Show
favourite, the University of Southampton's research
vessel, Callista. Science ship Callista
will be on the marina for the duration of the Show and
encourages curious minds to come aboard to see, feel and
touch the fascinating 'other world’ of life beneath the
ocean. Once onboard Callista, visitors can take
part in real experiments, see live specimens and play
with the onboard gadgets.
.jpg)
Also on the marina will be Calypso
from the Jeremy Rogers yard, a greener version of the
iconic Contessa 32. Embracing
hybrid engines, hydrogen fuel cell technology, solar
panels and reclaimed and recycled fixtures and
fittings, Calypso embodies a green vision, a
classic yacht, a legendary boat builder and a hunger for
sustainability, all supported by the only bespoke
environmental boating programme of its kind from the
British Marine Federation (BMF) and the Royal Yachting
Association (RYA) – the Green Blue.
Get afloat with Rockley
Encouraging the Show’s younger visitors
to get out on the Solent’s calm waters, Get Afloat with
Rockley offers 8-16 year olds a free 90-minute sailing
lesson with a qualified instructor. Parents are advised
to sign up at the booking point situated at A001, as
places will be limited and filled quickly.
Nautical Imaginarium Challenge Stage Show
Based in Solent Park, the Imaginarium
Stage Show encourages visitors of all ages to take up
challenges set by a nautical guru. Visitors can either
compete by themselves or as part of a team with friends
to become Nautical Masters. With challenges ranging
from nautically themed quizzes to knot tying, from
learning the language of the sea to more physical
challenges such as the bosun’s chair run; this highly
interactive feature allows visitors to get involved and
immerse themselves in the Show.
Try-a-Boat
Visitors are advised to book early on in
the day for the Show’s signature feature, Try-a-Boat, to
experience the thrill and excitement of being out on the
water – all for free! In association with
www.onthewater.co.uk, a new online portal full of
ideas and advice on getting out on the water more,
information on boating events and holidays and help in
finding local clubs and activities.
Try-a-Dive
In
association with Andark, the ever popular Try-a-Dive is
back. Held on the Andark stand just before the first
bridge, Try-a-Dive is fully supervised by qualified
professionals in a purpose built four-foot deep tank to
ensure a safe and comfortable environment for that first
experience of scuba diving.
Ladies Day
Thursday 16 September will see the fairer
sex take over the Show with the third consecutive Ladies
Day. In association with the Southern Daily Echo,
Ladies Day will centre on the Piper Heidsieck Champagne
Bar, ensuring the day is suitably glamorous from start
to finish. With a range of prizes to be won for the Best
Dressed Lady and TV presenter and former Capital Gold DJ
Mike Osman heading up the proceedings, the event is set
to be the best yet. Ladies Day at the PSP Southampton
Boat Show is one stylish day out and it’s all in aid of
the Wessex Cancer Trust.
Hydrozorbing
Following the success of Hydrozorbing at
the 2008 Show, NBS is thrilled to present Water Warriors
in 2010. These giant inflatable spheres will be floating
on a pool in Solent Park and will allow visitors to
climb in and literally walk on water, with absolutely no
danger of getting wet – perfect for the conservative
thrill-seeker!
Science of the Sea
Whether you work in the marine industry
or are a budding marine engineer, scientist or
archaeologist of the future, the interactive joint
University of Southampton and National Oceanography
Centre stand has something for everyone. There’s the
chance to navigate a model Roving Underwater Vehicle (ROV)
around a challenging course; find out how the pressure
of going to extreme depths of water can affect the body;
and complete a RNLI rescue mission in the fastest
possible time.
Planning your day at the Show
.jpg)
Tickets can be booked in advance from the
website at
www.southamptonboatshow.com or by calling the
ticket hotline on 0871 230 7140. Tickets booked in
advance will be priced at £13, while tickets bought on
the door will be £18. Tickets to the Show are excellent
value for money and offer a great day out for the family
as each ticket admits one adult and two children under
the age of 15.
For those visitors wishing to treat
themselves to a more elite experience at the Show, the
Platinum Ticket with Princess free Show guide,
exclusive use of the Platinum Lounge which is situated
in the Mayflower complex, complimentary tea, coffee and
a selection of pastries in the morning, buffet lunch and
afternoon tea. The Platinum Ticket also offers the
chance to get out on the water with a luxury power boat
experience aboard a Princess yacht.
|
|
Best Audiobooks of the
Year 2010
.jpg)
Vote for your favourite
Audiobook and you could win a £50 Voucher
Wolf Hall, the bestselling
Booker Prize winner of all time, has now been
shortlisted for the Best Audiobooks of the Year 2010,
along with 2010 longlist The Long Song by Andrea Levy.
Launched in July, the Best
Audiobooks of the Year 2010 features the best in audio
publishing from April 2009 – March 2010. Comprised of
four categories – fiction, non-fiction, poetry and
children’s – the objective is to showcase the very best
audiobooks, and the resulting shortlist features a
diverse collection of audio ranging from Shakespeare to
Charlaine Harris.
Over 100 titles were
submitted by audio publishers to a judging panel formed
of key figures from the book trade and national media,
including The Times’ audiobook reviewer Christina
Hardyment, and audiobook reviewer for The Independent
Sue Gaisford. The panel’s selections were based on
excellence in several criteria: quality of literary
content, abridgement, reading, production value and
sound quality.
The Best Audiobooks of the
Year 2010 is a trade promotion with a public vote,
supported by retailers including Waterstone's, WHSmith’s,
Foyles, The Audiobook Store and Easons. Libraries can
get involved through The Reading Agency, and Independent
Booksellers through distributors Bertrams or Gardners.
.jpg)
Samples of each title will
be available to listen to at
www.audiobooks.co.uk/vote2010
where the public can also vote for their favourite
audiobook, and be in with the chance of winning £50
worth of vouchers for The Audiobook Store. Voting closes
on 10th September and the winner will be announced at
Chiswick Book Festival (17th – 19th September 2010).
The Best Audiobooks of the
Year 2010 includes titles by Hilary Mantel, Rose Tremain,
Peter James, Jack Dee and Andrew Marr.
|
|
|
|
|
Winston Churchill Weekend at
Bletchley
.jpg)
On 4th and 5th September
at Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park is honouring
Winston Churchill and World War
II 'Enigma' Veterans at a
special weekend on 4th and 5th
September. They will also be
celebrating the 70th anniversary
of Churchill becoming Prime
Minister for the first time.
Bletchley Park’s annual
Churchill Weekend takes place on
Saturday 4 and Sunday 5
September, with the Enigma
Re-union event taking place on
Sunday 5 September. One of the
Park’s most popular events, the
Enigma Re-union gives visitors
the chance to mingle with and
talk to veterans who worked at
the Park during World War Two.
There will also be a special
Lancaster flypast on both days
by the Battle of Britain
Memorial Flight.
The two-day Churchill weekend
honours the man without whom the
legacy of Bletchley Park and the
tremendous things achieved by
its codebreakers during the
Second World War, might never
have happened. While some were
sceptical about the value of the
work at Bletchley Park,
Churchill was convinced that it
was essential to gain accurate
and up-to-date intelligence from
the breaking of Enigma and other
encoded messages. He therefore
gave his full support to the
Park, famously referring to its
workers as ‘The Geese that laid
the golden eggs – but never
cackled.’
.jpg)
There will be special Churchill
displays and talks, celebrating
70 years since Churchill became
Prime Minister for the first
time. An essential part of the
weekend will be a visit to the
Churchill Collection – a unique
and fascinating collection of
memorabilia that captures the
spirit of the great man. World
War Two re-enactors dressed in
uniforms and civilian costumes
of the day, will bring Bletchley
Park to life, with highlights
including a 1940’s fashion show
by Allied Assortment.
At the Enigma Re-union on Sunday
5 September, around 100
Bletchley Park veterans will
return to the Park to celebrate
the breaking of the Enigma
codes. There will be a memorial
service and an opportunity for
visitors to meet and talk to
people who actually worked at
the Park during World War Two.
* The Lancaster flypast is
weather and serviceability
dependent.
.jpg)
For visitor information, contact
01908 640404,
info@bletchleypark.org.uk
or visit the website at
www.bletchleypark.org.uk
|
|
The Portrait Gallery Launches
Exhibition Menu in Honour of
Camille Silvy
.jpg)
The National Portrait Gallery is
exhibiting the outstanding work
of Camille Silvy: Photographer
of Modern Life 1834-1910, and to
celebrate Searcys Portrait
Restaurant on the rooftop of the
gallery has created an exquisite
limited edition Camille Silvy
menu.
Light and summery dishes have
been carefully selected by head
chef Katarina Todosijevic. The
menu features dishes including
Tea cured salmon with sweet
pickled cucumber and lime crème
fraiche to start, Chicken
breast, truffle mash and
rosemary jus for main, and to
finish Raspberry & vanilla pot
with raspberry sorbet.
Choose
two courses for £14.50 or three
courses for £18.50. To add a
touch of sparkle to your meal,
indulge in a signature aperitif
‘Portrait Bellini’ (Prosecco
with lychee liqueur and
pomegranate juice).
The exhibition showcases some of
the finest photographs by
Camille Silvy, portraying the
real lives of all classes during
the 19th century. This
remarkable insight into hidden
lives on the streets of London
and Paris, many unseen since the
1860’s, can be seen at the
National Portrait Gallery
until 24th October 2010. After
enjoying the exhibition, take it
upstairs to the Portrait
Restaurant which is situated
perfectly at the top of the
National Portrait Gallery.
.jpg)
The Portrait Restaurant offers
breath taking views over London,
is designed with a modern and
fresh approach and sets the
standard for gallery dining.
For bookings at The Portrait
Restaurant, call Telephone: 020
7312 2490 or send an email to:
portrait.reservation@searcys.co.uk
|
|
England
Opens its Doors for Heritage
Long Weekend
.jpg)
Heritage Open Days from Thursday
9th to Sunday 12th September
From Cumbria
to Cornwall, and Northumberland to
Norfolk, properties across
England will throw open their
doors for free as part of the
country’s annual celebration of
local architecture, history and
culture. Supported nationally by
English Heritage and run locally
by an army of volunteers and
community champions, Heritage
Open Days takes place on people
doorstops and is the country’s
leading grassroots cultural
event.
One million people are expected
to take advantage of the four
day event, exploring more than
4,000 properties of every style,
period and function, many of
which are normally closed to the
public. They include Medieval
cottages, timber-framed Tudor
buildings, Gothic temples,
Georgian townhouses, Victorian
factories, Second World
War defences, Art Deco
cinemas, Modernist masterpieces
and 21st-century eco-homes.
Heritage Open Days offers people
the chance to visit those
historic, cultural and
architectural gems not normally
open to the public or which
usually charge an admission fee.
There is also an extensive
events programme run by local
organisers at museums, churches,
historic parks and elsewhere,
ranging from re-enactments of
Roman life to battlefield walks.
Baroness Andrews, OBE, Chair of
English Heritage, says, “Heritage
Open Days is about people and
places. It offers a chance to
explore those local landmarks
which however familiar, are
normally closed and therefore
mysterious and alluring. Not
only are the secrets and history
laid bare, but it means you can
meet the people who live or work
in those buildings and who are
delighted to share their
knowledge and enthusiasm. Those
are the people who, by
dedicating their spare time to
opening properties and
organising activities, make
Heritage Open Days the huge
success it is. English Heritage
is proud to support them.”
Highlights
of the Heritage Open Days
The Battle of Britain command
centre – Bentley Priory in
Stanmore, Hertfordshire –
has been closed to the general
public during its 70 years as a
RAF base. Re-enactors will
re-create the tensions within
the Operations Room and there
will be a Spitfire and Hurricane
flying display. The Second World
War Beacon Hill Radar Tower
at Harwich, Essex and the
Royal Air Force College in
Cranwell, Lincolnshire will
also be open.
.jpg)
Gothic Temple at Stowe
The 18th-century ironstone
Gothic Temple at Stowe,
Buckinghamshire with its
circular domed vault and
magnificent views over the Stowe
Landscape Gardens. And in the
Gothic Revival style is the
former home of architect and
Houses of Parliament designer,
Augustus Pugin. Built in 1845,
The Grange in Ramsgate, Kent
reflects Pugin’s desire to live
out his life in the Middle
Ages.
The new Aardman Animation
headquarters in Bristol, home to the creators of
Wallace and Gromit and housed
within a state-of-the-art
sustainable building.
One of the earliest buildings
designed by Norman Foster after
establishing Foster Associates,
the Willis Building in
Ipswich, Suffolk, was the
youngest building to be given
Grade I listed status. Completed
in 1975, the kidney-shaped,
glass-sheathed office for the
insurance company Willis Faber &
Dumas was a pioneering example
of energy-conscious design.
Another Foster-designed
building, the Sainsbury
Centre for Visual Arts in
Norwich, Norfolk, will be
hosting behind the scenes tours.
.jpg)
Chawton House in Hampshire
The honeymoon destination of
composer Edward Elgar, No.3
Alexandra Gardens in Ventnor on
the Isle of Wight, one of
eight grand Victorian villas
overlooking the Isle’s south
coast. Other Heritage Open Days
properties associated with the
arts include the former home of
Jane Austen’s brother,
Chawton House in Hampshire,
and the Elizabethan North
Lees Hall in the Peak District
National Park, said to be
the inspiration for Charlotte
Bronte’s description of Mr
Rochester’s House, Thornfield
Hall in Jane Eyre.
A quintessential Modernist home,
The Concrete House in Bristol,
was built in 1934 and designed
by Basil Ward of architectural
firm Connell, Ward and Lucas.
And Anderton House in
Barnstaple, Devon is an
exceptional example of 1970s
design, still furnished with
contemporary curtains,
furniture, ceramics and
paintings.
The Fisherman’s Hospital in
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk was founded in 1702 to
provide housing for old or
“decayed” fishermen who could no
longer support themselves.
There are charming ornamental
details and Saint Peter, patron
saint of fishermen, stands proud
on the roof of the brick
building. Staying on the English
coast, one of Hastings’
unique net shops in East Sussex
(built in 1835 to store
fishermen’s equipment) will
reveal its old nets, ropes,
corks and sails, all harking
back to a lost age of fishing.
The North of England’s great
Victorian theatres open
their doors with special
backstage tours of both The
Journal Tyne Theatre and
The Theatre Royal in Newcastle
upon Tyne and Leeds’
Grand Theatre & Opera House.
And for sports fans, there will
be tours of the Victorian
Jesmond Dene Real Tennis Club in
Newcastle upon Tyne (one of
the few remaining indoor courts
for the precursor to the modern
game of tennis); Chester
Racecourse, dating back to
the early 16th century and the
country’s oldest racecourse;
Molineux Stadium, home to
Wolverhampton Wanderers
since 1889; the Georgian
swimming pool, The Cleveland
Pools in Bath, Somerset; and
a number of 1930s lidos
including Broomhill Pool in
Ipswich, Suffolk and
Sandford Parks Lido in
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
.jpg)
Pugin's House, The Grange in
Kent
Heritage Open Days is part of
European Heritage Days, taking
place across 49 countries during
September as part of a mass
celebration of Europe’s cultural
heritage.
Full details of Heritage Open
Days activities are available
from the website by clicking on
www.heritageopendays.org.uk
|
|
Kent Life Hosts Annual Beer and
Hops Festival
.jpg)
Saturday
11th and Sunday 12th September,
Maidstone, Kent
Kent Life, the
family farm attraction in
Maidstone, is hosting its annual
Beer and Hop Festival on
Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th
September 2010.
The family friendly attraction,
home to ferret racing, tractor
rides, shire horses and 10
newborn saddleback piglets, will
be hosting the annual event as
part of its summer of
activities!
Visitors can see the animals in
the farmyard, feel the wood of
the apple sorting machine, sit
in the hard pews and school
desks in the Historical
Schoolroom and smell the hops
whilst listening to the
traditional Hopping songs played
in the Oast House.
.jpg)
The farm will be brewing its own
ale – The Cobtree Mild Ale -
which some say is a cure for
flu, as well as have a wide
range of rare and common ales
for all to try (including The
Highway Man, the Pegasus and the
Steaming Wagon)!
They will have two music stages
featuring a variety of live
music throughout the weekend,
including the Elations who have
been championed by Paul Weller!
Discover the vibrant history of the people who lived
and worked in the Garden of
England over the past 150 years
on the beautiful and historical
28-acre grounds. Step back in
time and experience Kent’s rural
life in the traditional
buildings from around the county
which have been perfectly
rebuilt onsite, as well as
visiting the friendly farmyard
animals.
.jpg)
The site is one of the few remaining places in
Britain where hops are grown and
harvested by hand and dried in
the magnificent, original double
Oast house, using only time
honoured, and traditional
techniques. Take in a myriad of
additional events throughout the
year – see
www.kentlife.org.uk
or call
(01622) 763936 for more
information.
Every (adult) visitor to the
festival gets a free pint of
beer! Gates open 10am until 8pm
on Saturday, and 10am until 6pm
on Sunday.
For more information visit
www.kentlife.org.uk
or call 01622 763936.
|
|
|
|
Sixtyplusurfers
Book
Reviews
Teddy Bears and Doodlebugs
By Jacqueline Hollings
Review by Jenny Itzcovitz
.jpg)
Teddy Bears & Doodlebugs
is a delightful account of World War II as seen
through the eyes of a little girl living in
North London.
While battles were being fought around the
world, on the Home Front ordinary people were
trying to come to terms with the change World
War II brought to their lives. For civilians,
the war was an epic struggle in trying to go
about their daily business. For Jacqueline
Hollings and her younger sister and brother
growing up in Colindale, a part of Hendon in
London, the war brought changes and hardships
that they could never have imagined.
Having lived a carefree pre-war existence,
eight-year-old Jacqueline and her family soon
faced nightly bombing raids, disruption to
school life, food rationing and freezing winters
with short supplies of fuel and power. They
lived through the dark days of the Blitz, while
hearing the thuds of air-raids nearby as local
shops and houses were flattened by bombs.
Despite the hardships, they remained stoical and
resilient, anxious to ‘do their bit’ for the war
effort. There was a spirit of camaraderie that
appears in wartime, and a staunch belief that
the war would eventually be won.
Seventy years on and Jacqueline returns to her
childhood in Colindale through her vivid
memories of the war. In doing so she paints a
picture of a little girl with a gift for music
growing up against the bewildering backdrop of
wartime Britain. Her heartwarming story is one
of survival, family love and strength and
ultimately ‘coming through’.
I am lucky enough to be too young to have lived
through the war, but I am always interested to
find out what it was really like to live through
such dangerous and austere times. In this
beautifully written book, Jacqueline shares her
childhood experiences about how she felt during
the war, how her family was involved and the
effects it had on her in later life.
The book includes Jacqueline's own photographs,
I particularly like the shot of her dressed in a
pierrot costume with other local children, when
she took part in a charity show organised by her
mother to support Mrs Churchill's Aid to Russia
fund. It was also fascinating to find out how
she coped with travel on the tube to get to her
piano lessons, sleeping in an air raid shelter
with the sound of the bombs above her, and the
feeling of exhilaration of playing on the beach
when the war was finally over.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am sure those
who experienced the war will enjoy reminiscing
and comparing similar memories with Jacqueline.
.jpg)
Author, Jacqueline Hollings
Jacqueline Hollings grew up in Colindale, North
London, with her parents and younger sister and
brother. Throughout the war and for a number of
years afterwards Jacqueline continued her weekly
study of music at the Guildhall School of Music
and Drama in Blackfriars as a gifted pianist,
eventually becoming a full-time student at the
age of eighteen.
Jacqueline qualified as a teacher and performer
in 1953, having gained music diplomas and many
prizes and medals. Her career has included
teaching in schools, choir training, performing
and accompanying as well as teaching piano
privately. Jacqueline lives in Rustington,
Sussex.
Teddy Bears & Doodlebugs is published by
Book Guild. Price is £8.99 for the hardback.
For more information about the book click on
www.bookguild.co.uk
|
|
Funny How
Things Work Out
By Chris R. Pownall
Review by Jenny Itzcovitz
.jpg)
I was delighted when Chris Pownall, a regular
reader of Sixtyplusurfers told me that he'd had
his book published. We wish him all the best of
success with it.
Funny How Things Work Out is a hilarious
autobiography, laced with many fascinating
travel experiences around the world.
This life story by Chris Pownall is a
recollection of 65 years from humble beginnings
to the conclusion of a 40 year career in
technical sales. Chris shares many incredible
stories starting from his childhood in Cheshire,
a brief spell in the Merchant Navy and later on
nearly 40 years at James Walker - an
engineering, manufacturing company.
But
this is a biography with a difference, as Chris
gives the story a positive bias towards the
humorous aspects of his life. He has always had
a reputation for being there when things were
going wrong - but it's nothing to do with him
really!
His former work colleagues will bear witness to
situations involving freak weather conditions
and disrupted travelling arrangements.
Fortunately his sense of fun and good humour
have seen him through many difficult situations
and he has managed to salvage them with wit and
discretion (even if he says so himself).
Chris enjoys humour and receives great
satisfaction in giving others a reason to laugh.
His fifty years of continuous employment have
given him great fulfilment and also provided
amazing opportunities for travel and the chance
to experience many industries and cultures which
he describes in the book.
Chris has been privileged to work with some
highly capable and interesting people, and he
shares some of the most interesting stories and
anecdotes with us in this highly original book.
Life has been full of surprises and
opportunities for Chris, and when times were
tough he held on tight and went with the flow
with a great sense of humour in tow.
As you read these stories, the author hopes that
they will bring a smile to your face as you
share in the merriment of his hilarious and
colourful past!
I
thoroughly enjoyed reading this warm and witty
book by Chris Pownall. Lively, honest, fun, and
a little bit spicy in a few places, but above
all highly entertaining - I felt I'd got to know
a kind hearted and inspiring man. Good luck with
the book Chris, you definitely deserve it.
.jpg)
Author, Chris Pownall
Funny How Things Work Out is published by
Pneuma Springs Publishing.
Price is £6.99 for the paperback.
For
more information about the book click on
www.pneumasprings.co.uk
|
|
The Mary Dear
By Alfredo De Gallegos
Review by Jenny Itzcovitz
.jpg)
It is 1951 and a storm is raging in Guayaquil
when Edward Hannah boards a plane on its way to
Peru's capital, Lima and so begins a tale of
pirates, treasure islands, looted Nazi gold,
terrorists and KGB assassins.
Hannah is Joseph Keating's best friend who dies
in Austria at the end of World War II as a
result of a mysterious car accident leaving him
with a treasure map and an enigmatic black
notebook that belonged to a U-Boat commander.
At the start of the New Millenium, Elliott
Shephard, a journalist and adventurer, finds
himself in possession of the map and the
notebook and sets off to find the treasure. In
London he meets Natalia, a beautiful Chechnyan
art dealer who is involved with Esteban Blanco,
a Colombian drugs baron.
Elliot is dragged down into an underworld that
he is not prepared for, where the risks of death
are high but where the pay-off is a king's
ransom.
The Mary Dear is an exciting debut for Alfredo
De Gallegos. The novel is full of twist and
turns, adventure, intrigue and very well
researched. Ideal for those who enjoy action,
mystery, danger and a touch of romance, this is
a great book to liven up a cold Autumn evening.
.jpg)
Author, Alfredo De
Gallegos
Alfredo was born in 1942 in El Salvador of a
Salvadorian father and Costa Rican mother. His
father died in 1948 and his mother returned with
her young family to Costa Rica to live with her
parents and there they stayed until her
appointment in 1955 as Costa Rica's Ambassador
to England. That same year, his mother travelled
to London to take up her position accompanied by
Alfredo and his younger brother.
In 2008, after a long and varied working life,
redundancy forced him to retire and he decided
to indulge a long-held ambition to write a book.
With the help of Darren Laws of Caffeine Nights
Publishing, this eventually led to the completed
manuscript of his first novel, The Mary Dear.
Asked what he likes, Alfredo will readily admit
to being an avid reader. He speaks his native
Spanish as well as English, Italian and what he
calls, a modicum of French and loves to read in
all those different languages. He lives in
Surrey with his wife and has a grown-up daughter
and newly acquired grandson whom, he says, has
brought him and his wife a brand new lease of
life.
The Mary Dear is published by Caffeine
Nights Publishing. Price is £7.99 for the
paperback.
For more information about the book click on
www.cnpublishing.co.uk
You can also see some interviews with Alfredo at
www.youtube.com/caffeinenightsfilms
|
|
Cook
Up A Feast
By Mary Berry & Lucy Young
Review by Jenny Itzcovitz
.jpg)
Mary Berry and Lucy Young have been working with
each other for 20 years, and together have
written cookery books on a vast range of
subjects. Cook Up A Feast is their
long-awaited entertaining cookbook filled with a
wide selection of recipes and dishes for any and
every occasion. From a family get-together
around the kitchen table to a full on party,
this book will give you all the advice you need
to make cooking for a crowd easy and
stress-free.
Kicking off with the basics, Mary and Lucy show
you how to plan for a feast and guarantee that
there’s enough food for everyone. This along
with tips on how to get the most from your
kitchen, cheats and shortcuts on how to make
life that little bit easier when preparing food,
and ideas on how to set the scene on the day
itself, Cook up A Feast will help both amateur
and more experienced cooks put on a great spread
whatever the situation.
From party bites and bowl food to a classic
summer buffet, Mary and Lucy provide a delicious
collection of recipes for every occasion. Home
made Blinis with Salmon and Crème Fraiche,
Roasted Figs with Parma Ham and Goats Cheese,
Celebratory Fish Platter, Pheasant Breasts with
Mushrooms and Madeira, Butternut Squash Lasagne,
and Aromatic Beef Curry with Ginger and Tomatoes
are just a few of the recipes which feature
throughout the book. Each dish includes details
on how to prepare ahead and freeze, how to cook
in the Aga and how many each dish serves to make
sure you never fall short on the day.
With themes such as Italian Food, Summer in the
garden, including great ideas for those all
important bank holiday weekends, Desserts and
Tea for a Crowd, every event is catered for. If
you’re looking for a classic dish or something
more adventurous, Mary and Lucy share their
culinary know-how to help you create the perfect
party.
With over 150 recipes, beautiful photography
throughout and easy-to-follow guidelines, Cook
Up A Feast will show you how to spoil your
friends and family with memorable dishes. This
book is guaranteed to make cooking for others,
however big or small the occasion, an absolute
pleasure.
I have several cookery books by Mary Berry and I
always turn to them if I am looking for a
delicious
and reliable recipe. Cook Up A Feast is packed
with new and interesting recipes which are
perfect for entertaining or enjoying with your
family.
Fully illustrated with clear and helpful
photographs and step-by-step instructions, the
book includes plenty of ideas and inspiration
for appetising meals. Mouthwatering
recipes include Salmon and Asparagus with a
Basil Sauce, Italian Farmhouse Chicken, Buttery
Scones, and Heavenly Lemon Cheesecake on a
Ginger Crust. There's something here for
everyone in this beautifully compiled book.
.jpg)
Author, Mary Berry
Mary Berry is one of the UK’s best-known and
most respected cookery writers and television
presenters, with over 70 books to her name, and
over 6 million sales worldwide, including nine
accompanying Thames Television series. An Aga
specialist and a champion of traditional family
cooking, she ran celebrated Aga workshops and
cookery courses from 1990 to 2006 and, with her
daughter Annabel, has produced a best-selling
range of salad dressings and sauces. In an
article in this year’s BBC Good Food magazine
she was voted by the public the third favourite
chef/cook for the most reliable recipes after
Jamie Oliver and Delia Smith. Mary will be
judging The Great British Bake Off on BBC2 to
find the UK’s best amateur baker later this
year.
Lucy Young has been assistant to Mary Berry, who
describes her as “a truly exceptional cook”, for
19 years and has helped develop the recipes for
all Mary’s books – including those that
accompanied the BBC Television series Mary
Berry’s Ultimate Cakes and Mary Berry at Home.
Lucy helped set up the very first Aga Workshop
at Mary Berry’s home and teaches on every
course. Lucy’s expertise is in creating and
demonstrating no-hassle recipes to cook for
family and friends. Lucy was a regular guest on
Great Food Live and Great Food Bites – live food
shows broadcast on the UKTV Food channel. She
has also been interviewed many times on BBC
Radio 2 and local radio and writes a regular
column for Country Kitchen magazine.
Cook Up A Feast is published by DK. Price
is £20 for the hardback.
For more information about the book click on
www.dorlingkindersley-uk.co.uk
|
|
September
2010 