Sixtyplusurfers Book Review
Hotel Portofino
by J.P. O’Connell
Review by Jenny Itzcovitz
Check in to a world of glamour, elegance, romance and intrigue. Enjoy a new season at Hotel Portofino!
A heady historical drama about a British family who open an upper-class hotel set in the breathtakingly beautiful Italian Riviera during the ‘Roaring 20s’.
It is the summer of 1927 and Hotel Portofino is prospering under Bella Ainsworth’s stewardship. As the season begins, Bella is keenly looking forward to her son Lucian’s imminent arrival and the chance to discuss with him her plans to convert the hotel’s basement into a spa.
But then Bella’s husband, Cecil turns up unannounced. Over the course of several hot weeks in the middle of the Italian summer, Bella is forced to confront the reality of her relationship with Cecil and to decide to what extent she is prepared to go against social convention to get what she really wants.
As she welcomes her guests, old and new, an anonymous visit from a travel guide inspector threatens to make or break the hotel’s future.
Hotel Portofino is a story of personal awakening at a time of global upheaval and of the liberating influence of Italy’s enchanting culture, climate and cuisine on British ‘innocents abroad’.
I was looking for an escapist book and I love holidays in Italy, so I was delighted to receive Hotel Portofino.
I really enjoyed finding out more about the different characters associated with the hotel, in this lively book set in 1920’s Italy. Each character has their secrets and trials, some have been damaged by WWI, others hurt by bad relationships, and some tangled up in corruption and dodgy dealings.
Bella, the joint owner of the hotel is hoping to convert the basement into a luxurious spa in order to modernise it, but she is hiding feelings for Marco the handsome architect. Estranged from her husband, who annoyingly turns up, and is up to mischief, things unfortunately don’t go to plan.
Her grown up children Lucien and Alice have problems of their own, and when Bella’s friend Claudia, a singer and actress, chooses the hotel to hide from the paparazzi, there are celebrations, press intrusion and excitement afoot.
Then there is the lonely and confused Rose, who is married to Lucien. Will she be able to sort out her marriage issues when she joins him at the hotel to spend time with him? And who is the mysterious hotel inspector who has the power to close Hotel Portofino or revive its fortunes?
Fun, lively and full of Italian intrigue and hotel drama. I thoroughly enjoyed escaping into the world of hotels, good food, and romance in Hotel Portofino. Pack a copy in your suitcase for a holiday, or enjoy it on a deckchair in the garden. I look forward to the next instalment.
Author, J.P. O’Connell
J.P. O’Connell is a writer and editor who lives in South London.
He was previously Books Editor for Time Out magazine, and has written for a variety of newspapers including The Guardian, The Times and the Daily Telegraph.
Hotel Portofino by J.P. O’Connell is published by Simon & Schuster. Price is £9.99 for the paperback.
For more information about the book visit www.simonandschuster.co.uk
Sixtyplusurfers Book Review
Grab And Cook by Suzanne Mulholland
Review by Jenny Itzcovitz
Grab and Cook from the pioneering author Suzanne Mulholland (The Batch Lady) is leading the way with a revolutionary method to put satisfying, wholesome food on your table every day.
Most of the recipes in the book take no more than 5 minutes to prepare and can be cooked there and then or popped into the freezer and grabbed out for an easy meal whenever needed.
These prepare ahead recipes mean you are making your own homemade ready meals rather than overspending on highly processed meals from the supermarket. Grab and Cook recipes use all raw ingredients and there is no prior cooking involved before freezing, you are simply preparing the meal and then freezing leaving you with a fridge or freezer full of delicious homemade meals.
By using environmentally friendly, re-usable freezer bags, filled with pre-chopped raw ingredients, Suzanne is changing how we scratch cook, helping those without the time, confidence, or inclination to still have a healthy, quality home cooked meal whenever they want.
All of the vibrant and interesting recipes have instructions for cooking in multiple appliances – including oven, air fryer, pressure cooker, hob, slow cooker and microwave – so you can choose the one that suits you.
In Grab and Cook you will find breakfast and brunch recipes (Raspberry, white chocolate and pecan brioche bake), light bites and lunches (Feta & spinach filo swirls), weeknight meals, Fakeaways (Satay Chicken Curry) as well as meals for family and friends, easy bakes (Chocolate chip stuffed cookies), and desserts (Hot Nutella Pots).
The Batch Lady includes practical advice on managing and organising your freezer, how to organise your kitchen along with tips to empower your kids in the kitchen with recipes suitable for them to cook. She skilfully guides you through meal planning for the week so you can get ahead and in control, not only of your meals, but of your food shopping and budget.
Save time, money, and stress with The Batch Lady’s life-changing approach to everyday cooking. Delicious and affordable get-ahead meals – cook how you want, ready when you want.
I love home cooking, but I never seem to have enough time to make what I want, so I was keen to read The Batch Lady Grab and Cook and see if it might help.
I was really impressed with Suzanne’s easy to make recipes, with lots of ideas for family meals, desserts, entertaining and healthy snacks. She explains how to prepare food in advance so you can stock up your freezer and have meals ready for unexpected guests or when time is limited. The recipes in the book can also be cooked immediately if you want to make them for the same day.
There are also options for air fryer cooking, which is very helpful as this is a very quick and efficient way to heat food. All the recipes have easy to follow step-by-step instructions with full colour pictures so you can see the finished dish. I also liked the fact there are a lot of quick and ‘cheat’ recipes using ready made pastry and short cuts for speedy preparation for those of us without much time to spare.
My favourite recipes are Brioche French Cinnamon Toast Sticks, Cheesy Cod & Parsley Pie, Slow-Cooked Korean-Style Beef, Spinach, Pea & Mint Pasta, Cheese & Chive Scones, Caramel Pear Pockets, and Hot Chocolate Pots. Yummy!
There is something to inspire everyone to enjoy home cooking in this lively and bright cookery book. A lovely housewarming gift or for inspiration for family meals and dinner parties. I would heartily recommend it.
Suzanne Mulholland, photograph
by Andrew Hayes-Watkins
Suzanne Mulholland, known as The Batch Lady, is a time-saving guru and family cooking expert. She is helping thousands of people to spend less time in the kitchen by getting organised in advance and filling the freezer full of homemade ready meals saving time, money, and waste.
The Batch Lady method was developed by Suzanne to share her cookery and time management expertise to help people get organised in advance and take the stress out of our daily meal times.
Suzanne worked as a time-management expert and took all the tools from her previous job and applied them to cooking when she had children. She showed a few friends how she stayed organised and made all her meals in advance, they loved it and after encouraging her to share recipes on Facebook and Instagram, The
Batch Lady was born. Suzanne currently has half a million followers across all her platforms. A regular on daytime TV, she spends her time developing recipes, writing books and articles, doing live and online demonstrations and works with brands. She is often found on the public speaking circuit as an inspirational speaker on saving time and starting up a business.
Her four previous Sunday Times bestsellers are published in many countries, and she has an engaged following around the world. She lives with her husband and two teenagers on a working hill farm in the rural Scottish Borders.
The Batch Lady – Grab and Cook by Suzanne Mulholland is published by Ebury. Price is £22 for the hardback.
Sixtyplusurfers is also featuring a fabulous interview with Suzanne Mulholland on our Food & Drink page with some great cookery tips and a recipe for you to try.
For more information about the book visit www.penguinrandomhouse.co.uk
Sixtyplusurfers Book Review
An Ideal Husband
by Erica James
Review by Janet Gordon
Erica James is one of my favourite authors. Her family type stories never fail to enthral and her writing just improves with each novel she creates.
The story begins when the family spend a wonderful Christmas Day at Charity Cottage. But on Boxing Day, Louisa is devastated when Kip, her husband of 30 years asks for a divorce.
Sure, the marriage has been jogging along, but this was a complete blindside for Louise who had no reason to suspect that not only was Kip unhappy but that he was actively planning a new future with Zoe, a much younger woman who had been seeing her son and had broken his heart.
Louise realises that her beloved Charity Cottage will have to be sold since Kip was adamant that he needed the money in order to buy a suitable property.
Eventually Louise comes to her senses, and ever pragmatic starts house hunting, but she can’t visualise herself living in any or the properties she views until she discovers the most unusual property and is told in no uncertain terms by her family that she just shouldn’t buy it.
The family are unsure about her purchasing it but Louise is determined. But Kip, having caused such enormous upset and now living with Zoe, throws a complete wobbler and just doesn’t know whether or not he actually wants to stay with Zoe.
How the family work out these varied dilemmas makes for a compelling and absorbing story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Author, Erica James
Erica James is the author of twenty-five internationally bestselling novels, including most recently A Secret Garden Affair, which was a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller.
Her books are loved by readers looking for beautifully drawn relationships, emotionally powerful storylines and evocative settings.
An Ideal Husband by Erica James is published by HQ. Price is £16.99 for the hardback.
For more information about the book visit www.harpercollins.co.uk
Sixtyplusurfers Book Review
Part-Time Baker by Florence Stanton
Review by Jenny Itzcovitz
Florence Stanton shows time-poor people how to fit tasty baking into their hectic lifestyles with minimal effort. Forget hours spent in the kitchen following complex instructions!
In Part-Time Baker, each recipe is clearly labelled with ‘Hands-on time’ and ‘Total time’ – to make it crystal clear how much effort you’ll need to put in.
Many of the bakes can be prepped in just 10 minutes and there are plenty of cheats and tips for impressive results. There’s no need for loads of obscure baking equipment and all the recipes can be scaled up for sharing or down for enjoying solo.
This easy to follow book includes delicious, speedy baking recipes for every occasion taking you from morning to noon, lunch and late-night snacks.
Part-time Baker is all about reducing the hours you spend in the kitchen, giving you more time to enjoy the tasty results. Whether you’re new to baking or managing a busy schedule, you’ll find realistic recipes that look and taste fantastic.
I like cooking, but I never seem to have time or patience for complicated recipes with difficult to find ingredients, so I was super impressed with Part-Time Baker.
The recipes are easy to make, with clear step-by-step instructions. And there is something for all occasions with tips for freezing, storage and presentation.
My favourites are Savoury Baked Cheesy French Toast, Classic English Teacakes, Cheat’s Small-batch Ciabatta Rolls, Smoked Salmon Filo Cups, Leek & Potato Turnovers, Spring Green Pesto & Courgette Flower Tart, Rose Shortbread Cookies, Spiced Ginger Traybake, Marble Coffee Cakes, Lattice-topped Cherry & Strawberry Pie, and Black Forest Crumble.
Packed with ideas for treats to bake for entertaining, alfresco dining, picnics and Springtime dining. The recipes include lots of ways to save time such as using ready made pastry, speedy bread rolls and stunning desserts and biscuits.
With stunning photographs, handy hints for getting the best results, and recipes for sharing and easy snacks. This is a lovely book to inspire you to bake without stress.
It would make a lovely housewarming gift or recipe book for all the family.
Author, Florence Stanton
Florence started her own online baking social media account Tasting.Thyme in Aberdeen, Scotland in 2021. She now has over 120k followers, and every day celebrates self-love through good food and good vibes with zero mention of calories.
It showcases easy, approachable, and delicious bakes, both sweet and savoury, that show you don’t need fancy training, a huge kitchen or every tool to create truly wonderful food.
Part-Time Baker – Simple Bakes Without The Stress by Florence Stanton is published by Carnival. Price is £18.99 for the hardback.
For more information about the book visit www.quartoknows.com
Sixtyplusurfers Book Review
A Brilliant Life by Rachelle Unreich
Review by Simon Fine
Born in Czechoslovakia in 1927, the youngest of five children, Mira Blumenstock, an intelligent, studious girl and a talented singer, enjoyed a happy childhood in the village of Spisska Stara Ves. She was 12 years old when World War II broke out.
She recalled the menacing site of Nazi soldiers marching through her village. Subsequently anti-Semitism became increasingly commonplace and in 1942 many Jews were rounded up and transported to concentration camps.
In 1944 the Nazis came for the few remaining Jews, murdering her father and transporting Mira and her mother. Separated from her mother, Mira went on to survive four concentration camps, including Auschwitz, and a Death March when she was too weak to walk.
In A Brilliant Life, Mira’s daughter and journalist, Rachelle Unreich, tells the story of her mother’s life. The book is based largely on Rachelle’s interviews with Mira who sadly was in the final months of her life, suffering from cancer in her late eighties.
While in the concentration camps, Mira witnessed acts of unimaginable horror, including shootings, hangings, sadism and rape. When the German guards ran away in the face of advancing Russian troops, the barbarity continued, as some of the Russian soldiers also behaved like animals. Despite suffering from illness and malnutrition, Mira survived, thanks to acts of kindness which meant that she never lost faith in humanity or her religion.
After the war Mira was reunited with her two surviving brothers and in 1946, at the age of 19, she married Pavel who was thirteen years older than Mira. They moved to Paris, where Mira developed a love of fashion and the arts and then, in 1959, to Melbourne, Australia. Sadly, her marriage was not a happy union and Pavel returned to Europe. Mira remarried in 1965 to Manny and a year later Rachelle was born.
As a result of their conversations, Rachelle fully appreciates Mira’s perspective on her life, inspired by the goodness of the people who helped her during the war, which enabled her to go on to live a full and brilliant life and become an inspiration especially to her children and grandchildren.
A Brilliant Life is a profound and inspiring story, despite the horrors which Mira endured. The book beautifully captures the close relationship between Mira and her daughter and Rachelle’s other siblings, who are determined to be the custodians of Mira’s story and her place in history. Despite Mira’s passing, her family still share family occasions in her house. This is a quite brilliant story, beautifully told.
Author, Rachelle Unreich
Rachelle Unreich has been a journalist for 37 years, including seven years in the United States where she wrote about the entertainment industry.
Her work has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Financial Review, Elle, Rolling Stone, Good Weekend, and she has been extensively published in the US, the UK, and Southeast Asia.
A Brilliant Life by Rachelle Unreich is published by Black & White Publishing. Price is £16.99 for the hardback.
For more information about the book visit www.bonnierbooks.co.uk
Sixtyplusurfers Book Review
Soups by Maggie Ramsay
Review by Simon Fine
Soup is the original one-pot meal. It is versatile, nutritious and easy to cook. A great way of making good use of a seasonal glut of home grown vegetables or whatever is available at the supermarket or greengrocer.
There are health benefits of soups, as soup is easy to digest and retains its nutrients. For anyone who chooses to cut down on meat and eat more vegetables, or if you are trying for your 5 a day or 30 different plant-based foods in a week, soup can be a major contributor. Soups can be big and hearty, clear and light, usually warm but there are chilled and fruit soups too.
Soup is one of the most popular dishes at National Trust cafes. In Soups, published by the National Trust, the emphasis is on making the most of seasonal vegetables with some of the recipes developed by National Trust chefs. Other recipes are inspired by soups from around the world, and the book features 80 tried-and-tested recipes full of flavour, colour and goodness.
Although making soup is relatively straightforward, Soups begins with a chapter on equipment and techniques. A blender is essential for many soups. Personally, I have found a soupmaker makes the job even easier. Seasoning, thickening and storing are invaluable aspects of making the most of your ingredients.
The recipes are well presented and are marked to show if they vegetarian, vegan and/or gluten free. The first section comprises vegetable soups from a simple watercress, asparagus, creamy mushroom or garden vegetable soup to a more imaginative spicy new potato, coconut and cashew soup and some with an international twist such as caldo verde and thai-style spiced squash soup.
The chapter on pulses, pasta and grains includes familiar favourites such as scotch broth, split pea and ham and minestrone soup plus plenty of more creative soups including Ribollita, a Tuscan soup and Laksa, a coconut curry soup from south-east Asia.
A section on fish and shellfish includes crab and sweetcorn, prawn bisque, clam chowder and the traditional Scottish soup Cullen Skink. The recipes are completed with a number of chilled soups and fruit soups, and the book ends with advice on how to make various types of stock, croutons, breadcrumbs, crisps and other soup accompaniments.
Whether you want to make your own authentic soups, free from the added extra ingredients often found in shop-bought varieties, or you just want to add a few more vegetarian and vegan recipes to your repertoire, this excellent book of soups provides a variety of wonderful ideas, clearly presented, offering a hint of sophistication but not requiring an intimidating level of expertise.
Author, Maggie Ramsay
Maggie Ramsay is a very experienced food writer, who has authored and edited hundreds of cook books. Soup is one of her particular passions
Soups by Maggie Ramsay is published by National Trust Books. Price is £14.99 for the hardback.
For more information and to buy the book click on www.collins.co.uk
Sixtyplusurfers Book Review
Linda Robson
Truth Be Told
Review by Simon Fine
Linda Robson is best known for playing Tracey Stubbs in Birds of a Feather, a highly successful sitcom on BBC that aired from 1989 to 1998 and was revived on ITV from 2014 to 2020. The series created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran also starred Pauline Quirke and Lesley Joseph.
In her autobiography Truth Be Told, Linda recalls growing up with her two sisters in north London, an area where she still lives. Her mother, originally from Dublin, was one of thirteen children and her father was partial to heavy drinking and womanising, which eventually led to Linda’s parents breaking up.
Linda Robson with Pauline Quirke
Linda’s interest in acting began at the age of nine when she attended the Anna Scher Children’s theatre school, for a laugh. It was here that she met Pauline Quirke. Along with other children from the school, they began to get small parts in theatre and film productions.
She tells some wonderful stories about appearing with Jim Davidson, Richard Burton, Billy Connolly and Maureen Lipman. After appearing in the ITV comedy Shine on Harvey Moon, they were then approached by Marks and Gran to star in a new BBC sitcom Birds of a Feather. Linda speaks fondly about her co-stars and the crew.
As well as recalling some memorable encounters with stars of entertainment, including meeting her teenage idol Donny Osmond, she talks about the difficult times she has encountered. Her financial problems after Birds of a Feather ended, her daughter’s issues with bulimia and the death of her parents.
More recently Linda encountered serious problems with her own mental health. A combination of OCD, heavy drinking and relying on sleeping pills took Linda and her family to a dark place. She spent time in a clinic on suicide watch but thankfully has made an impressive recovery with support from her family, friends and her colleagues on Loose Women.
Linda comes across as a down to earth person who loves nothing more than the company of her children and grandchildren. She is outspoken but has no malice. She has been a regular panellist on Loose Women since 2012 and has great affection for her colleagues.
After a revival of Birds of a Feather, Linda and Lesley Joseph performed in a final Christmas special in 2020, by which time Pauline Quirke had decided to step away from the show, though they remain firm friends.
Truth Be Told is a very entertaining memoir from a deservedly popular personality.
Linda Robson meeting Queen Camilla with Pauline Quirke and Lesley Joseph
Linda Robson is a British actress and television presenter. She began her acting career over five decades ago and established her place as a force in the entertainment industry in 1989, playing the beloved Tracey Stubbs in ‘Birds of a Feather’.
The sitcom was originally on air for over a decade, and Linda reprised her role when the show was revived in 2014. Linda is also known as a panellist on the ITV series Loose Women.
Truth Be Told by Linda Robson is published by Michael Joseph. Price is £22 for the hardback.
For more information about the book visit www.penguinrandomhouse.co.uk
Sixtyplusurfers Book Review
Drawn to the Garden by Caroline Quentin
Review by Jenny Itzcovitz
Find solace in your outdoor space in this delightful horticultural journey with actress Caroline Quentin, as she draws on her life-long passion for gardening.
Through the pages of this gift book, Caroline shows how much joy she gets from spending time in her garden, whether it be grappling with the best way to grow plants and vegetables, or raising seeds in her potting shed.
Though she now has a large following on her Instagram account, CQGardens, her attitude to gardening is the same as it has always been – expertise helps but is not essential.
Gardening should be fun and enjoyable, filled with the simple pleasures of planning, planting, harvesting and cooking. It is also a meditative and restorative pastime, and a great way to lift your spirits.
Written in a warm and engaging way that reflects her personality, Caroline tells stories of growing chillies from seed in her greenhouse, berating the thieving blackbirds in her fruit cage, and swimming in her pond singing to dragon flies and flag irises.
Over the years, she has come to realise that gardening, just like life, is a series of happy accidents, unplanned successes, and baffling and frustrating failures.
Illustrated by Caroline herself, this gorgeous book mixes personal stories of her life and experiences in the garden, with practical tips, recipes for food and drink, and even the occasional favourite poem.
As she likes to misquote Dorothy Parker, she enthuses, “Take to horticulture, it’s cheaper than a shrink.”
I follow Caroline Quentin on Instagram as she is so cheerful and such a natural and enthusiastic gardener, so I was delighted to receive her new book, Drawn to the Garden. I have also loved watching her television appearances over the years, especially playing Dorothy in ‘Men Behaving Badly’ – a fond favourite.
I absolutely loved everything about this book, it was such a joy to read. Written almost like an autobiography, it is packed with Caroline’s personal experiences of life and her love of gardening. You can really feel her voice, encouraging you to get out in the garden and sow some seeds. I also really savoured her memories about her family and her childhood.
There are beautiful watercolour painted illustrations throughout the book which make it really special. You can see how tenderly she has put it all together herself and generously gives her garden advice.
Warmly written, with a positive, uplifting feel, Caroline explains how gardening brings her happiness and comforts her in times of trouble and stress. There are also plenty of tips for beginners on plants that are easy to grow and others that can be more of a struggle.
She shares her advice on the best seeds to sow, depending on the seasons, and how to plant them, whatever your size of garden or growing space. There are also delicious recipes to make with your home grown produce, poems, stories of her own life, and solicitous thoughts to help in the process.
A charming book, it has encouraged me to get back in my garden and start growing fruit and veg again, instead of relying on what is already there. I also really enjoyed finding out more about Caroline and her varied experiences in the garden. There are successes, amusing anecdotes, and advice for novices and garden experts. All written with sparkle and gentle humour.
Drawn to the Garden would make a lovely gift for gardeners and to lift your spirits. I would suggest buying two copies – one for yourself and one for your friends, because you will want to share it with others and you won’t want to lose your own copy!
Author, Caroline Quentin
Caroline Quentin is a renowned figure in British comedy, well known for her lead roles in the award-winning British sitcom Men Behaving Badly and crime drama Jonathan Creek. Aside from her career as an actress, she has been a passionate gardener for many years.
She grew up in Reigate, Surrey, but now lives in a country farmhouse in Devon, where she grows her own vegetables, and has a large orchard.
Her dedicated Instagram account, cqgardens shows her love for gardening in pictures, and is wildly popular in its own right. From rhubarb to kale and sprouts, she shows off her cultivation skills in all their leafy green goodness.
Drawn to the Garden by Caroline Quentin is published by Frances Lincoln, an imprint of The Quarto Group. Price is £20 for the hardback.
For more information about the book visit www.quartoknows.com
Sixtyplusurfers Book Review
Mrs Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford
Review by Janet Gordon
The list of baking shows on television that we are all glued to is seemingly endless, and has created many television stars, not only of the winners, but of the losing contestants as well.
We’ve taken them all to our hearts, bought the books and baked the cakes. And now here’s a wonderful new entry, Britain Bakes, but sadly it’s not a real show – yet!
The story is about 77 year old Jenny Quinn who has spent a lifetime baking. In times of happiness, sorrow and hardship, she’s turned to her quaintly old fashioned kitchen and baked her heart out.
She also has a book full of baking recipes handed down from her mother, annotated with handwritten notes and packed full of memories. As far as Jenny is concerned, she can bake a cake for any and every occasion. Married for 59 years to husband Bernard, now in his eighties, Jenny has only kept two secrets from him in her entire married life.
Following a call on television for contestants for the next Britain Bakes series, Jenny – almost on auto pilot, finds herself completing the application form. And after undergoing a telephone audition, she finds herself in central London, along with a baker’s dozen full of cakes for yet another audition, making a host of new friends along the way. And not telling a soul where she’s been.
But it’s not only a story of a baking competition, it’s the story of another family secret, a secret Jenny has kept since a young teenager. It’s a wonderful story of a long lived happy marriage and of the strength of love between Jenny and her Bernard.
I absolutely urge you to read this story. I found myself willing Jenny along, following her baking with every flick of her wooden spoon. There are lovely insights into how I imagine baking competitions work, and into the camaraderie (mostly) behind the scenes. There’s also anguish and heartache, as Jenny’s long hidden secret threatens to rock her world.
Jenny’s love of baking shines through every page, and it’s one of the most heartwarming stories you’ll read this year. I absolutely adored it. And I fully expect to see this at the top of the book charts.
Olivia Ford by James Cox
Olivia Ford has spent the last ten years in entertainment TV, most recently as a story producer.
Olivia is a graduate of the Faber Academy where she wrote the beginnings of Mrs Quinn’s Rise to Fame, which was longlisted for the 2021 Women’s Prize Trust’s Discoveries Prize.
Raised in Lincolnshire, Olivia now lives in London.
Mrs Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford is published by Michael Joseph. Price is £14.99 for the hardback.
For more information about the book visit www.penguinrandomhouse.co.uk
Sixtyplusurfers Book Review
Being Henry
by Henry Winkler
Review by Simon Fine
Henry Winkler is an American actor best known as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli in the American television series Happy Days. Winkler studied theatre at the Yale School of Drama and performed with the Yale Repertory Theater. After a small role in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, he became a star playing the role of “Fonzie” from 1973 to 1984.
Winkler’s parents were German, living in Berlin during the rise of Nazi Germany. Henry learnt that his parents fled Germany in 1939 on the pretext of a business trip to the United States. Henry struggled at school, to the frustration of his parents. It was only when he was thirty four that he was diagnosed with dyslexia, which also made it difficult for him to learn his lines throughout his acting career.
In his autobiography, Being Henry, he tells the story of the success of Happy Days, being mobbed by fans and the friendships he developed during the show’s eleven seasons. He is a lifelong friend of Ron Howard, who played Richie Cunningham. After the success of Happy Days, Henry was so concerned about being typecast that he turned down the opportunity to play the role of Danny Zuko in Grease, a decision he now regrets.
After the glorious era of Happy Days fame, he struggled to find acting roles which led to him expanding his skills into producing and directing with some success including MacGyver. He also did a lot of voice work. It is clear from the book that he struggled with insecurity, due in part to the difficult relationship he had with his parents and the undiagnosed dyslexia.
A meeting with children’s book author Lin Oliver inspired them to write what became a series of books about Hank Zipzer, a young boy struggling through school because of his dyslexia. The success of the books led to a TV series on CBBC, where Henry played Mr Rock, Hank’s favourite teacher. He has also given talks on dyslexia.
Coming to terms with his dyslexia plus working with a therapist appears to have given his acting career a new lease of life with roles in shows such as Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and Barry, where he has revealed himself as an actor with greater depth and pathos, a departure from “The Fonz”.
Winkler has a reputation as one of the nicest men in Hollywood, and it is easy to understand why. His story is full of self-deprecating humour, lots of hilarious stories about people he has worked with and much love and pride for his family.
Henry Winkler is an American actor, comedian, author, executive producer and director. He rose to fame playing Arthur Fonzarelli on the long-running hit television series Happy Days.
Henry won over a new generation with roles including Barry Zuckerkorn in Arrested Development, Uncle Joe in The French Dispatch, Dr Saperstein in Parks and Recreation and Gene Cousineau in Barry.
He has won a Primetime Emmy, two Daytime Emmys, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Critics Choice Award. In 2011, he was awarded an OBE for his work around dyslexia.
Being Henry by Henry Winkler is published by Macmillan. Price is £22 for the hardback.
For more information about the book visit www.panmacmillan.com
Sixtyplusurfers Book Review
Running on Empty
by Guy Deacon
Review by Simon Fine
Running on Empty tells the story of Guy Deacon CBE, a former fit and healthy Colonel in the British Army, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2010. When he retired he visited 25 African countries, as an ambassador for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust and Parkinson’s Africa, to highlight the issues associated with Parkinson’s disease in Africa. He made this incredible journey, crossing Europe and the full length of Africa, travelling alone, driving a Volkeswagen Transporter.
Guy started the journey in 2019, driving through Europe to Andorra and Gibralta before travelling through Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal and eventually to Sierra Leone. Guy drove, lived and slept in his Transporter, often camping alone in the jungle and remote spots hundreds of miles from the nearest village or town. His Parkinson’s made even simple tasks very difficult and slow, with little use of his hands, poor spatial awareness and often appearing drunk to those unaware of his condition.
Travelling through Africa brought many challenges. Road conditions were often difficult and his Transporter required repairs on several occasions, with spare parts needing to be flown out from the UK. Navigating himself through cities and towns without knowing the language was problematic. Obtaining visas was a constant problem and he had to deal with awkward border crossings and corrupt officials and police. Obtaining supplies of his essential medications also proved a constant worry.
Then in 2020 Covid struck and Guy was evacuated on an emergency flight out of Sierra Leone, leaving his trusty van behind. He was only able to continue his journey two years later, this time better organised and with a documentary filmmaker to record the journey. Guy eventually arrived at Cape Town three years after he first left Dorset, having driven through Liberia, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Angola and Namibia.
On his journey Guy met with Parkinson’s sufferers, learnt what daily life was like for them in Africa where the illness is not well understood and medicines not widely available. He made many appearances on TV and radio to raise awareness.
Guy’s journey was supported by his family, friends, former military colleagues, British embassy and consulate staff and the kindness of strangers that helped him through some very difficult and potentially dangerous situations.
Guy’s incredible journey will be the subject of a documentary for Channel 4 to be released in Spring 2024. It will be well worth watching.
Author, Guy Deacon, CBE
Guy Deacon CBE joined The British Army in 1985. During his time as a student and in the early years of his career in The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, he travelled extensively throughout Africa. His career took him all over the world including 18 months in The Congo with the UN after which he was awarded an OBE.
He was Colonel of The Royal Armoured Corps, responsible for much of the strategic thinking on how The Corps could best provide an armoured capability to UK Defence. For this work he was awarded a CBE. He retired in 2019. Guy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2010 on his return from The Congo. He carried on working until the age of 57. At that point he started planning his journey from the UK to South Africa.
Running on Empty by Guy Deacon is published by Ad Lib Publishers. Price is £9.99 for the paperback.
For more information about the book visit www.adlibpublishers.com
Sixtyplusurfers Book Review
Meditation for the
Real World
Review by Simon Fine
Meditation is a practice which uses a technique, such as mindfulness or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.
There are many types of meditation but the thing they all have in common is that, over time, they can help lower stress levels. By releasing physical tension, meditation can help us release worries, easing anxiety and pain, stress and low mood, achieve more restful sleep and become more productive.
Meditation used to be considered as rather unusual but has become much more widely accepted and even encouraged by health professionals. In Meditation for the Real World, Yoga Therapist Ann Swanson explains how to use meditation to help navigate everyday challenges.
She describes how she discovered meditation as a means of addressing her own self-destructive and unhealthy patterns of thinking. One ten minute session built into another and she developed her own health promoting pattern of behaviour by meditating for an hour a day and building mindfulness into her daily activities.
The book begins with a section on how meditation works, which covers the many and varied techniques, the benefits of meditation, how to get started which includes postures and breathing techniques and some of the science explaining how meditation affects the brain.
Meditation for the Real World moves beyond theory and into practices to support a healthy mind. How to ease stress, deal with anger and frustration, managing depression and anxiety, help improve relationships and cope with social situations, fight fatigue and develop compassion.
Meditation can also contribute to improved physical wellbeing. The author explains techniques to improve sleep, enhance immunity, lower blood pressure, improve digestive health and ease many types of pain. Throughout the book there are suggested simple meditations that are suitable for each situation.
The author shows how meditation can be built into your daily life, when you are commuting, gardening, walking and exercising for example. Meditation can also be part of activities such as yoga, tai chi and dance.
The book is full of practical and accessible guidance. Each exercise is short and can easily fit into a busy schedule. The author recommends that best results can be achieved by building regular meditation into your daily routine.
Dr Sara Lazar, meditation and yoga researcher at the Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital provides the science to support the claims made in the book. Her groundbreaking research suggests that meditation can help protect the brain from age related decline.
Author, Ann Swanson
Ann Swanson is a certified yoga therapist and author of the best-selling book Science of Yoga, which has been translated into over 15 languages.
Ann makes the tools of mindful movement and meditation non-intimidating and accessible world-wide, especially to people who feel like they can’t do yoga or their mind is too busy to meditate. She specialises in helping people safely and effectively manage stress and relieve chronic pain – like back pain or arthritis.
Meditation for the Real World by Ann Swanson is published by DK. Price is £16.99 for the hardback.
For more information about the book visit www.dk.com/uk
Sixtyplusurfers Competition
Win The Big Country on Blu-ray
Sixtyplusurfers has teamed up with Final Cut Entertainment to offer three lucky readers the chance to win The Big Country, a star studded Blu-ray film.
One of Hollywood’s greatest directors teams with a cast of incredible screen legends for this bold, sweeping tale of a ship’s captain, played by Gregory Peck, who ventures west to find a hotbed of jealousy, hatred and dangerous rivalries.
As the reluctant hero is thrust into the maelstrom, he must summon all of his resolve to save not only his own life, but also the life of the woman he loves.
Four-time Academy Award® Winner William Wyler* directs this action packed adventure that triumphs as ‘a work of art’. Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Charlton Heston, Chuck Connors and Burt Ives star in an Oscar® winning performance.
This magnificently entertaining epic will take your breath away with unbridled suspense, exhilarating and explosive drama on a grand scale.
*Directing, 1942: Mrs. Miniver; 1946: The Best Years of Our Lives; 1959: Ben Hur; 1965: Thalberg Memorial Award
The Big Country Special Features
Big Country includes special features with a studio commentary by noted cultural historian Sir Christopher Frayling. There is a 60 minute documentary by William Wyler.
Fun in the country out-takes are with Jean Simmons, Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston And Billy Wilder.
Plus, there are epic interviews with Cecilia Peck, Carey Peck and Tony Peck.
Also interviews with Fraser C Heston, Catherine Wyler, and Larry Cohen On Chuck Connors.
© 1958 Estate of Gregory Peck and The Estate of William Wyler. All Rights Reserved. The Big Country © 1958 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Big Country on Blu-ray is now available from Amazon
For Your Chance to Win
Simply tell us what part does Gregory Peck play
in The Big Country?
a) A club’s singer
b) A train’s driver
c) A ship’s captain
d) A hotel’s manager
To Enter the Competition
Tell us what part does Gregory Peck play in The Big Country? Then send in your answer with your full name, postal address and telephone number
to the Sixtyplusurfers email address
at sixtypluscomp@hotmail.co.uk
or click on the blue link below:
* Please label your entry
The Big Country Competition
* This competition is open
to our UK readers only
* Names and addresses of entrants
will not be shared with third parties
and will be deleted after the prize
draw has been made
Annabel James Gifts
Spring Gifts from Annabel James
Annabel James offers a gorgeous range of gifts to get you all set for Springtime. This delightful set of three Emma Bridgewater Roses Cake Tins is the perfect gift for anyone who enjoys baking.
This set of three nesting cake tins in Emma Bridgewater’s Roses design will look lovely in any home and great when filled with cake and other treats. Perfect for your Victoria sponges, brownies, cupcakes, fairy cakes, biscuits and other treats.
The tins can be stacked on top of each other and when not in use can be stored inside each other. The storage tins can be used for cakes and biscuits. They can also be used to store craft supplies, trinkets or home accessories. Price is £37.95 for the set of three.
To buy the Cake Tins click here
Entertain in style with this beautiful Roses Tray. This round serving deep well tray in Emma Bridgewater’s ‘Rose & Pink Toast’ design would be great for serving tea or drinks in the garden and is a lovely gift for a rose lover or gardener.
Made from steel. Diameter is 30cm and height is 3cm. Easy to clean, simply wipe with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly. Price is £9.95.
To buy the Roses Tray click here
This gorgeous Sailing Boats Half Pint Jug from Aston Pottery’s Seaside Collection featuring colourful sailing boats is designed, manufactured and hand decorated at Aston Pottery in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside.
Whether you live by the seaside or would like a reminder of holidays at the beach this beach hut design encapsulates the fun of classic British summer holiday locations. Each jug is individually hand painted. A classic size and shape, this half pint jug will admirably compliment any tea set or pudding course. Price is £19.95.
To buy the Sailing Boat Jug click here
These beautiful Orchid Fairy Lights are hand made and hand painted in shades of pinks and cream, with green buds which bring this delicate light string to life.
Lit by warm white LEDs, these gorgeous fairy lights are suitable for use indoors or outdoors bringing the striking beauty of Spring and Summer colours to your living space.
Battery operated, these decorative lights have a timer function set to six hours on and eighteen hours off so they can switch on at the same time every day for enchanting feature lighting. Great for entertaining and weddings. Price is £39.95.
To buy the Fairy Lights click here
Enjoy an outdoor picnic with this charming Bee Picnic Blanket in Anorak’s fabulous Bee design. Waterproof backed, super lightweight and machine washable.
The blanket features a beautiful bee design on a blue background. Made from high quality 100% cotton, it rolls away conveniently with adjustable carry handles. Made in Britain. Price is £44.95.
To buy the Bee Blanket click here
This ‘Grey Thompson’ Tartan Pure New Wool Throw/Picnic Blanket is made from pure wool and is supplied with leather straps. Perfect for Summer picnics the blanket has a deep fringe and comes in shades of soft grey, cream, red and black tartan.
British made, it comes from one of this country’s last remaining vertical woollen mills. When not in use as a perfect blanket use as a throw – over the back of a chair, on the bed, even in the car. Approximate size is 185cm x 140cm.
Made in England by Bronte, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of woollen blankets and throws. Renowned for their high quality, these throws are made in one of the longest established mills in Britain, where fine wools have been manufactured since 1837.
The Bronte Mill is one of the last ‘vertical’ mills left in Britain, where dyeing, blending, carding, spinning, weaving and finishing all takes place on one site. Price is £94.95.
To buy the Tartan Blanket click here
For more information about Annabel James visit www.annabeljames.co.uk
Westminster Abbey Gifts
Westminster Abbey Collectible Gifts
Treat yourself to a special gift from Westminster Abbey to help support the ministry and fabric of the Abbey.
Enjoy a royal cup of tea in this King Charles III Coronation Fine China Teacup and Saucer. Commissioned by Westminster Abbey Shop to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on 6th May 2023.
The gold pattern is inspired by the choir screen which separates the nave from the east end of the church, and is beautifully decorated with gilded stars. The core of the screen in Westminster Abbey is of thirteenth-century stonework but in present form was designed by Edward Blore in 1834. The colouring and gilding was carried out by Stephen Dykes Bower in the 1960s.
The intricate detailing in red is inspired by the base of the Coronation chair whilst at the centre of the teacup are the official royal cyphers of King Charles and Queen Camilla. Made by hand in England, using fine bone English china and finished with 22 carat gold. A lovely collectible, price is £85.
This classic Westminster Abbey Burgundy and Cream Chess Set and Board in burgundy and ivory has been created from statues, figures and artefacts that can be found in and around Westminster Abbey. The king of the chess set is based on Edward the Confessor who is the patron saint of the Abbey and is also one of the earliest monarchs to be buried here.
The queen is based on St Helen who was reported as finding the true cross in Jerusalem; a statue of her can be found within the Lady Chapel. The bishop is based on St Dunstan who was Bishop of London and brought the first Benedictine monks to the site where the Abbey now stands.
The knight is based on St George, the patron saint of England, who is commemorated in a stained glass window inside the Abbey and also on the Crimea and India Mutiny memorial in front of the West Towers. The castle is inspired by the West Towers that are such an iconic part of Westminster Abbey and one of its last major additions.
The pawns are based on St Roch who was reported to have cured the plague; a statue of him can be found inside the Lady Chapel. This set comes with a beautiful handmade 50cm chess board which has been individually crafted using ancient marquetry techniques. The board is made using Walnut veneer and high quality synthetic mother of pearl which has been hand polished. Price is £509.
Celebrate the beauty of Westminster Abbey with this luxury Poets’ Corner Window Silk Scarf. The design of this scarf is taken from the modern window above Geoffrey Chaucer’s tomb in Poets’ Corner which is a memorial to Edward Horton Hubbard, who did much to save the Victorian heritage of Liverpool.
Designed in antique flash glass it contains 12 small diamond-shaped panes, which will gradually be inscribed as memorials to poets and writers. The abstract design is loosely based on the 13th-century geometrical layout of interrelated roundels. Price is £99.
This beautiful Catherine Middleton Inspired Necklace will make a lovely gift for someone special. Inspired by the engagement ring given to Catherine Middleton by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, this necklace is sure to delight.
The original ring was made by the jewellers Garrard, and consisted of 14 diamonds surrounding a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire set in 18-carat white gold. The ring had originally belonged to William’s mother Princess Diana. Price is £25.
When you buy from them, whether online or in the shop, you are helping to maintain the ministry and fabric of the Abbey. Profits from the Westminster Abbey Shop are gift-aided to Westminster Abbey.
Westminster Abbey relies principally on tourist income as it receives no funding from the Crown, the government or the Church of England. It costs over £10 million each year to run the Abbey, and income from visitors (through tickets, retail and catering) helps to maintain their UNESCO World Heritage site.
In addition to maintenance and every day running costs, the Abbey also uses income for conservation projects, including major restoration work, the development of education and music programmes, and work to improve and enhance the experience of visitors and pilgrims who visit the Abbey.
Country Style Gifts
At Home In The Country Gifts
At Home In The Country offers a lovely selection of gifts for the Springtime. Perfect for the home and housewarming gifts.
This eyecatching Duck Decanter will make a great talking point at your dinner party. A timeless classic, the duck’s head is hinged at the back of the neck to enable filling.
Use it to serve water, wine or soft drinks. Just rinse it out with cold water after use. It would make a fabulous Wedding present or any other special occasion. Every home needs a Duck Decanter. Price is £79.95.
To buy the Duck Decanter click here
This gorgeous Square Country Meadow Flowers 100% Cotton Cushion features beautiful country meadow flowers. Measuring 45cm x 45cm.
The cushion comes vacuum packed with a fire retardant BS5852 regulation removable foam inner via a zip. Hand washable on cool wash. Price is £34.95.
To buy the cushion click here
Cheer up your dinner table with this adorable Metal Garden Bird Salt Pot and Spoon. Use it to serve salt, sauce, mustard or other condiments. It can also be used as an egg cup.
The Bird Pot measures 7.5cm long x 7.5 cm high. Hand wash only. Gift boxed. Price is £18.95.
To buy the Salt Pot click here
Serve up your cake in regal style with this splendid Crown Cake Server. This beautiful silver plated crown cake slice features a wonderful Crown design attached to the ivory coloured resin handle.
Ideal for serving cake, flan, pastries and other culinary masterpieces. The server measures approximately 30.5cm. To clean, just rinse in warm soapy water. Presented in a branded At Home in the Country gift box. Price is £24.95.
To buy the Cake Server click here
For details about At Home In The Country visit www.athomeinthecountry.co.uk
Colouring In Book for All Ages
Whimsical Fashion Colouring Book
The Whimsical Fashion Colouring Book is the perfect gift for all the family. A great way to get artistic without having to create the pictures yourself. Join in with your grandchildren or colour in the pictures yourself. Colouring is relaxing and mindful.
All you need is a packet of crayons, some felt pens or colouring pencils to make your own beautiful pictures.
This unique colouring book includes 100 beautifully drawn fashion illustrations for everyone who enjoys fashion and style. There’s something for everyone to enjoy whatever your age!
Colour in pictures of cute animals, fairytale princesses, pirates, historical characters, and street style fashion.
There is plenty of scope to be imaginative with colours, textures, patterns and shading. Each picture will be your own unique creation once it is finished!
Take a break from your smart phone or television and enjoy colouring in this delightful book. Colouring in pictures is mindful and relaxing and lots of fun!
Perfect for lifting your mood, and the ideal boredom buster. These charming pictures are stunning when you have coloured them in. Each picture has been lovingly drawn by Natasha for you to enjoy.
All ages can colour in the pictures. Switch off the news for a few minutes and enjoy some relaxing colouring with all the family.
Author, Natasha Itzcovitz
Natasha Itzcovitz is a fashion stylist. She explains, “Adult colouring books are so much fun and this is a great way for people to see my designs and ideas.
“I hope you enjoy using my colouring book and it encourages you to get creative.”
The Whimsical Fashion Colouring Book is great value at £9.99.
To buy your copy of The Whimsical Fashion Colouring Book by Natasha Itzcovitz Call 07889 980 457 and ask for The Whimsical Fashion Colouring Book.
Or simply send an email with your details to Natasha at itznatasha@outlook.com
Natasha has also launched a stunning 70s Fashion Calendar in full colour A3 style. Featuring unique hand-drawn pictures.
This high quality calendar is printed on 250gsm silk stock and is A3 portrait in size.
Great value at £19.99. Order it now from the comfort of your own home!
For more information and to buy your calendar click here
Personal Fashion Styling Service
Natasha also offers a Personal Fashion Styling Service. Services include Wardrobe Edit, Style Personality, Personal Shopping, Colour & Body Analysis, Seasonal Trend Edit, and Personal Shopping.
Need some help with your Spring wardrobe, not sure what to wear or what suits you? Or simply need some seasonal fashion advice? Natasha is here to help you!
To find out more visit Natasha’s website at www.natashaitzcovitz.co.uk
And book your discovery call!