Recent Articles

Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical (in: Cinema/theatre/TV)
May 10, 2023

After five sold-out development runs at the New Diorama Theatre in 2019 and Southwark Playhouse in 2020, 2021 and 2022, plus an extended Riverside Studios run last summer, Operation Mincemeat is back – now at the Fortune Theatre until 19 August, 2023. Anne Coates reviews.

Creative Thinking Tips For Your Child (and You) (in: Personal development)
May 1, 2023

Chris Thomason, author of Freaky Thinking; Thinking that delivers a dazzling difference outlines his top tips to promote creative thinking for us and our children.

Bing: Ready to Play? (in: Books: children & YA)
Apr 28, 2023

Bing: Ready to Play? A Push, Pull and Spin Book for toddlers and young children, reviewed by Anne Coates.

Time to Renew Your Tax Credits (in: Money matters)
Apr 26, 2023

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will issue 1.5 million annual tax credits renewal packs for the 2023 to 2024 tax year to customers between 2 May and 15 June 2023. Once customers receive their annual renewal pack they will have until 31 July 2023 to check the information is correct and notify HMRC of any changes to their circumstances which may affect their claim.

Bored of Lunch The Healthy Air Fryer Book (in: Books for parents)
Apr 12, 2023

Following on from Bored of Lunch The Healthy Slow Cooker Book, Nathan Anthony shares his cooking enthusiasm in The Healthy Air Fryer Book, reviewed by Anne Coates.

Ai Weiwei: Making Sense at The Design Museum (in: Great days out)
Apr 6, 2023

Ai WeiWei has collected "things’" both ancient and  contemporary from China, scouring flea markets, rescuing derelict buildings and more for the priceless, valueless, functional, broken, decorative, mass produced, artisan made but all reconfigured for a new audience. Angela Woods highly recommends a visit to the exhibition at the Design Museum.

Top Tips for Keeping Healthy After The Birth of A Baby (in: Healthy parents)
Apr 3, 2023

Christophe Champs, founder of PODO Clinic and Workshop, gives his top tips for new mothers to keep healthy, post-partum.

 

Big Day Energy Face Mist from NEOM (in: Products & equipment)
Mar 31, 2023

Anne Coates has been trying out the newly launched Big Day Energy Face Mist from NEOM.

The Big Book of Nature Art by Yuval Zoomer (in: Books: children & YA)
Mar 28, 2023

The Big Book of Nature Art by Yuval Zoomer is a wealth of wonderful ideas for people of all ages to enjoy making from materials they would find naturally in gardens, parks and open spaces or from recycling. Christine Mayle and her grandchildren loved it.

 

 

Books for Gifts (in: Books for parents)
Mar 15, 2023

Mother's Day, Easter, Father's Day or birthdays, books make great gifts. You can travel back in time, into the future or live other lives through characters. Escape our everyday lives and whatever their preferred genre, there's a perfect book for your mum, dad, best friend or sibling somewhere. Anne Coates offers some suggestions.

Tee and Mo: Only One Mum (in: Books: children & YA)
Mar 8, 2023

Celebrating International Women's Day with a review of Tee and Mo: Only One Mum by Anne Coates.

BYO Paper Plane Launcher (in: Games & toys)
Mar 6, 2023

Get inspired with our Build Your Own Cardboard Plane Launcher. The 47-piece kit contains everything you need to slot together and build this incredible launcher. Follow the detailed instructions, press out the pre-cut parts, attach the elastic bands and you’re ready to fly your planes, writes, Lee Cooper-Muir.