Making every day count

At the age of 54, Robert D. Smith suddenly realized that he had been alive for 20,000 days.  While he knew how many days were behind him, he has no idea how many days remain in his life.  With this in mind, he determined to set a course to be more mindful of the important things in life.  He set out to live his life in a more purposeful, deliberate way so that he would not get lost in the “everydayness” of life.  He advises the reader in several ways that they can also live their remaining days to the fullest.  The first thing one must do is accept and embrace the idea of death.  Once we face our own mortality, we can begin the process of planning how to live.   One of the things he suggested was to create a “Life Purpose” statement.  He gives the example of people who have had near-death experiences and afterwards live profoundly different lives.  He suggests simply writing ideas on a piece of paper until you are able to refine your purpose into one sentence that fills you with joy and excitement.  After this, it is up to each of us to continually focus on the purpose statement in order to live a meaningful life.  Another suggestion is that we should celebrate more often.  Waiting until goals or milestones are reached before celebrating will not guarantee that the outcome will be worth waiting for.  Celebrate the small achievements every day (even if one of them is waking up in the morning!) and life will be more enjoyable.  I also love his suggestion to always order dessert first before you fill up on all those other calories.  The final section of the book contains some questions to ask yourself and activities to help you seize the day and make today more important.  I believe the overall suggestion of the book is to experience gratitude, reach out to others, and project a feeling of happiness every day in order to make your next 20,000 days more meaningful.  The book also includes a link to the author’s website to determine how many days you’ve been alive, which will probably amaze you, but also spur you on to make the upcoming days more significant.

 

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of 20,000 Days and Counting as a member of the Booksneeze program in exchange for this review

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People do tend to confide in old ladies

Although Agatha Christie wrote mysteries with numerous crime-solving sleuths, her two most famous detectives must be the quiet, unassuming Jane Marple and the flamboyant, dandyish Hercule Poirot.  Now, Acorn Media is offering a new DVD set featuring the best cases from each detective, as chosen by Christie fans.  Poirot and Marple: Fan Favorites features the detectives at the peak of their investigational powers, solving crimes and rooting out murderers when the police are baffled (which is most of the time!).

The six discs feature 5 Marple and 6 Poirot cases.  In an unusual bit of casting, Miss Marple is played in 3 of the episodes by Geraldine McEwan, and in 2 of them by the "new" Miss Marple, Julia McKenzie.  Poirot is portrayed by the inimitable David Suchet.  I wonder if in real life he's a bit of a slob, since he has to be so persnickety as Poirot?  There are also plenty of familiar faces popping up in the various episodes, including Joanna Lumley, Peter Davison, Derek Jacobi and Hugh Bonneville.

Miss Marple's cottage

Miss Marple lives in the idyllic village of St. Mary Mead, where there is the occasional murder, but she also has an amazing network of friends, relatives and acquaintances around England that she visits to help with their pesky murder problems.  In "Murder at the Vicarage" from 2004, we learn a bit of Miss Marple's past, and perhaps why she has remained single all these years.  Geraldine McEwan's Miss Marple spends her spare time reading mystery stories and knitting as suspects reveal their secrets.  The police at first regard her as a silly nuisance, but before long they realize that people are only too eager to share confidences with the unassuming little old lady.  The police are generally baffled, even when they work in pairs, until Miss Marple is able to explain how the crimes occurred!  The stories featuring Miss Marple include:

• The Murder at the Vicarage (2004)
• A Murder is Announced (2005)
• At Bertram's Hotel (2007)
• A Pocket Full of Rye (2008)
• The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side (2010)

It's been a while since I read any of the Agatha Christie mystery stories, but even though these mysteries seem to be true to their time period in terms of setting and costumes (and frequent references to "the war" -- meaning either the first or second world war, depending on the year events take place), I can't help but think these episodes have been "spiced up" a bit for modern viewers.  There's a presumably lesbian couple, a vaguely predatory homosexual theatrical-type, and a few energetic sex scenes (although not among same-sex couples -- Dame Agatha would have never even implied that, I'm sure!).  For some reason, in these episodes, I preferred Geraldine McEwan's performances.  Her Miss Marple was very sweet and kindly, wearing soft pastels and radiating gentleness.  Julia McKenzie's Miss Marple dresses more business-like and seems a bit more sharp.  Both Marples manage to get the job done, however!

The Hercule Poirot collection includes:

• Murder on the Orient Express (2010)
• Hercule Poirot's Christmas (1995)
• The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1990)
• The ABC Murders (1992)
• The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb (1993)
• Four and Twenty Blackbirds (1989)

Poirot's detection kit

In contrast to Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot has his side-kicks in most episodes, including his friend Captain Hastings, and the hardworking, if somewhat clueless, Inspector Japp.  In "The ABC Murders" in particular, Poirot ropes in a gang of helpers (all possible suspects) to assist him in his work to catch a killer.  Still, it is left to Poirot to actually figure out what is going on and enlighten the others.  I was also interested to see him employ a "detection kit" for collecting evidence in "The Mysterious Affair at Styles."  These episodes also span a long time period.  In "The Mysterious Affair at Styles," Poirot is a Belgian war refugee in 1917.  The very next episode, "The ABC Murders" takes place in 1936, when Poirot and his friend Captain Hastings are reunited and refer to a six month separation!

In all the episodes, there are no shortage of possible killers, and very few of them make a convincing case for their innocence until they are eliminated by the sleuth in charge.  We have a single person killed with many possible suspects, many people killed with lots of motivated relatives, killers working together and people being framed.  You'll never see the solutions coming -- at least I never did!

This set also includes a small booklet, "Delicious Death" which contains a scrumptious looking recipe for a cake of the same name, which is mentioned in "A Murder is Announced."  I haven't attempted to make the recipe yet, but the ingredients and accompanying photo do indeed look delicious!

Disclaimer:  I received a review copy of Poirot & Marple: Fan Favorites from Acorn Media in exchange for this review

Final Verdict for Poirot & Marple: Fan Favorites:  Four Gherkins, for being a wonderful look at the art of detection from the Queen of Crime!

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Clueless herione with a mid-life crisis

No, I'm not the clueless one mentioned above (although, to be sure, cluelessness figures prominently in my daily life.).  The clueless lady I refer to is Constance Harding, the leading character in the book A Surrey State of Affairs by Ceri Radford. 

Constance is in her early fifties, married to a lawyer named Jeffrey, with one child out of the house and the other one nearly so.  She decides to chronicle her daily life in a "blog thingy."  Her intentions are a bit unclear:  she goes to great pains to make sure the blog is anonymous, but she uses real names and is shocked when someone close to her admits to reading the blog (surely if you're anonymous no one can find you on the Internet!).  She also occasionally addresses the "dear readers" so she assumes she has an audience, although just who that might be is also vague.  There is never any mention of comments or interactions via her blog, so the premise is a big murky from the get-go.

Still, Constance is free with the details of her life.  Husband Jeffrey is a bit vague and distracted.  The maid, a somewhat surly Lithuanian named Natalia, is a constant source of irritation for her.  Son Rupert resists her attempts at match-making.  Daughter Sophie is a self-centered, spoiled girl floating around on her "gap year" and constantly ringing up for more money.  Others in her circle are also experiencing problems:  a man in her bell-ringing group has recently been abandoned by his wife while her pregnant next door neighbor suffers severe financial problems.

All well and good, but there are some awfully heavy hints thrown around about some topics that come as a shock once the penny drops and poor Constance gets a clue.  Naturally, all of these events conspire to occur at the same time, throwing her into a crisis which causes her to re-evaluate her life and relationships.

I did enjoy the blog format of the book, but it was hard to believe that Constance was unable to see or interpret things that were going on around her, which were pretty obvious.  Also, I tend to base my reactions to characters on my own (admittedly high) standard of, "Is this something I would do?"  Most of the time, the answer was "no."  So I can't say I found Constance or her acquaintances to be very credible.

Still, if you're willing to put aside your credulity and can stop your eyes from rolling too much, this book can be a somewhat enjoyable read.  I just wish Constance didn't come across as so dim for the vast majority of the book.

Final verdict for A Surrey State of Affairs:  Two Gherkins, for being a light, if somewhat far-fetched, look at the life of a middle aged English housewife

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Partners in solving crimes

Crime solving duos are not entirely unknown in the world of mystery fiction, but Agatha Christie is most known for her two solitary sleuths: Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.  She did, however, write quite a few mysteries featuring the married duo Tommy and Tuppence Beresford.  In Partners in Crime: the Tommy & Tuppence Mysteries, we get to see the detecting pair in action.  This incarnation of the pair stars Francesca Annis as Tuppence and James Warwick as Tommy.

The series begins soon after the end of World War I.  Tommy Beresford and Tuppence Cowley are childhood friends who came across each other during the war when he was wounded and sent to a hospital and she was a nurse. They have re-connected after the war, but while they have feelings for each other, at the beginning both insist their relationship is merely friendship.  Both are at a loss for employment after the war, and both complain of poverty (although this doesn't stop them, Tuppence in particular, from having a fantastic wardrobe; "poverty" must be a subjective term here!).  They begin their search for interesting, and hopefully lucrative, employment by placing an ad in the local newspaper offering their services to "go anywhere" and "do anything" as long as the pay is good.  Naturally, an interesting offer comes in right away.  Tuppence is granted an interview with a man who offers her good pay to travel with him to Paris as his ward and investigate a finishing school.  She's more than happy to accept, but when she turns up the next day at his office, she's distressed to learn he "closed up" his business and has left no forwarding address.  With what little they know, she and Tommy set out to solve the mystery.  They end up involved with government ministers, shadowy foreign figures, an American millionaire and a mysterious Mr. Brown.

After that case is wrapped up, the pair declare their mutual admiration for each other and decide to get married.  Fortunately, Tommy's uncle decides to give him "an allowance" so that money problems seem to be a thing of the past for the young couple.  They are also approached with an offer to take over a business, the International Detective Agency, as the former owner, a Mr. Blunt, is going to be spending some time behind bars.  It is suggested that since Mr. Blunt has established an identity as a detective, that no one in the public needs to be informed that a new "Mr. Blunt" is taking over the business.  So Tommy assumes the roll of Mr. Blunt, and Tuppence becomes his secretary/assistant, Miss Robinson.

Their first case is something of a plant, as Tuppence conspires with a friend to arrange a missing person case for the agency to investigate.  This garners them word of mouth publicity, in addition to the occasional newspaper ad advertising their services.  They are soon investigating missing jewels, a possible haunted house, murders and poisonings.  Through it all, Tuppence exhibits her love of sometimes outrageous hats and Tommy indulges her shopping habit.



Tuppence's "disguise tree" because a good hat
is all you need to fool the criminals!

I was surprised to see an appearance in one episode by Lynda La Plante, the author of the Prime Suspect mystery series.  I had no idea that she had started her career as an actress.  She does a quite passable American accent in her role as a spoiled wife who carelessly mislays her expensive pink pearl.

This set includes 11 episodes on 3 DVDs.  The episodes were originally shown on PBS's Mystery and were filmed in the 1980s.   This set also includes SDH subtitles, which are always useful!

In typical Christie fashion, most of the action seems to center around the upper-classes: fabulous clothes, expensive cars and stately homes feature prominently.  The characters also direct phrases at each other like "old thing" and "old bean" -- and these are apparently terms of endearment!  I really enjoyed seeing these episodes and learning more about Christie's married detective duo.

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of Partners in Crime from Acorn Media.

Final Verdict for Partners in Crime: the Tommy & Tuppence Mysteries: Four Gherkins, for being a fabulous visit with two stylish and funny detectives

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Amazing escapes and colorful characters

While not much of a military history buff, I do enjoy compelling stories of people and events from past conflicts.  A new collection of such fascinating stories, Narrow Escapes of World War II has recently been shown on the Military Channel and is now available on as a 4 DVD set.

We meet some charismatic characters in the stories from the DVDs.  My favorite was the eccentric Charles Onde Wingate from Episode 3, "Wingate and the Chindits."  Wingate belonged to a religious group that was seen as somewhat odd, so that made him the object of bullying during his school days.  Nevertheless, he became a much admired and respected leader in the British army.  He trained his troops to fight and survive in the jungle.  Their mission was to sabotage the railway in Burma to keep the Japanese from being able to use it to transport troops and supplies.  The men and their mules managed to complete the mission, which included crossing a dangerous river, but were then faced with attempting to evacuate back to friendly territory.  While everything didn't go as planned, Wingate's methods and tactics influenced special operations training for many generations.

 

The most poignant story was one I had never heard of before, the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion, a group made up entirely of African-American soldiers.  This was documented in Episode 4, The Black Battalion.  Many of the soldiers from this battalion were from northern states, and were shocked to experience racism for the first time in the military.  They were invariably led by white commanders who gave them the most menial tasks to complete.  The 333rd was sent to a supposedly quiet area of the Belgian front.  However, military commanders didn't realize that Hitler was planning a march to Antwerp in order to target one of the few ports still under Allied command.  As the conflict began to get heated, Allied troops began to retreat, with the men of the 333rd providing cover for the retreating soldiers.  Many of this unit were captured or forced to surrender.  Eleven soldiers from the group became separated from their unit and took refuge with a local farm family.  The family was more than willing to hide the men, but word got out that they were there, and they were rounded up and marched off by German soldiers.  Later, it was discovered that the 11 men were horribly tortured and killed  by their captors.  No official recognition of their sacrifice was made by the US government, but in 2004 a monument was erected near the area where they were killed in Belgium to commemorate the "Wereth Eleven."

This set includes 13 gripping episodes covering a wide range of locations and individuals who made lucky escapes during the war.  There is also a 16 page viewer's guide with information about the war as it was fought in Europe and Asia, as well as an overview of the "ways of warfare," highlighting newfangled tactics used in WWII such as the blitzkrieg, aircraft carriers and commandos.  Something that really surprised me from the series was how often soldiers were deployed for daring and involved missions, with little or no thought put into how they were going to be returned to safety after completing the missions.  I hope that today's military commanders put a little more thought into completing missions safely than their predecessors did!

Anyone with an interest in history or even fans of suspense will enjoy this exciting look at how some colorful characters managed to make their escapes from behind enemy lines during WWII.   The stories really come alive with archival footage, modern re-enactments, and commentary by some of the men who participated in the events.

 

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of Narrow Escapes of World War II from Acorn Media.

 

Final Verdict for Narrow Escapes of World War II:   Four Gherkins, for being a thrilling look at some brave (and some foolhardy) wartime escapes

 

 

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A welcome visit with old and new friends

After a long and productive career catching the evildoers around the picturesque Midsomer area, Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby has left the crime solving to his Detective Sergeant, Ben Jones.  If Jones thought he was going to be promoted to the top spot, he was sadly mistaken.  A new DCI, who happens to be the cousin of the former one, John Barnaby, comes in to take the reins.  The 21st set of the delightful Midsomer Murders: Set 21 features all the things that make the series so enjoyable: friendly banter, lovely scenery, and not-too-graphic murders.

This set features four episodes:

Episode One: Death in the Slow Lane takes place at a private girls' boarding school.  DCI Barnaby is attempting to get his bearings in his new assignment, living among unpacked boxes and fending off the advances of his new female neighbors.  His first case to solve in Midsomer involves both a new and old murder.  He also must adjust to the sometimes quirky ways of his new town and co-workers.  The coroner, George Bullard, has a perfectly rational natural/accidental explanation for nearly every death that crosses his path.  It's up to the skeptical Barnaby to work out who is really responsible for the deaths.  We are also gradually exposed to Barnaby's family situation, starting with his "sprechhund" Sykes, who gets to hear all the theories as Barnaby works them out.

The second episode is Dark Secrets, takes place mostly at a stately country home and at a nearby artists' colony.  A social services worker, something of a busybody, turns up dead, and Barnaby and Jones need to question everyone in the vicinity to solve the case.  Naturally, another body turns up before they are able to work out who the culprit is.  There's more development on the home front as Barnaby's wife Sarah arrives to take over as head of Causton Comprehensive School.  Mirroring her husband's situation, the existing employees are not especially pleased that the new head is an outsider, rather than one of their own.

Echos of the Dead, the third installment, is the goriest of the lot.  Someone seems to be re-enacting scenes from famous British murder cases.  The first is a woman found drowned in the tub, with a reference written on the mirror to the famous "Brides in the Bath" case.  Unfortunately, this time there are no shortage of suspects:  a former bent cop who now runs a pub, his wife who used to work in the S&M industry (is it an industry?), a somewhat odd gas station attendant, etc.  Basically, most of the townspeople in this episode are a bit weird.  This episode is chock full of familiar faces for fans of British TV, though.  We've got Kacey Ainsworth (Little Mo from Eastenders), Pam Ferris (of Rosemary and Thyme fame) and Sarah Smart (who most recently graced our screens in Wallander).  Poor Sarah Smart spends most of this episode sniveling, though, so it's perhaps not her most attractive role.

The final episode, The Oblong Murders, requires DS Jones to go undercover as a prospective member of a local cult in order to investigate the disappearance and possible murder of one of the members.  He turns out not to be the only undercover operative there, and he also turns out to be the object of affection of some of the female cult members.  Sykes the dog also has some adjusting to do as he is sent for an audition at a doggy day care.

The new DCI Barnaby gets on well with his underling DS Jones, and he seems to be fitting well into Midsomer, even if the local customs still confound him.  At one point, someone mentions that a possible witness has moved to London, to which Barnaby replies, "Who can blame him?"  Still, I'm sure he will continue to be an asset to the police force in Midsomer for a long time to come!

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of Midsomer Murders: Set 21 from Acorn Media

Final Verdict for Midsomer Murders: Set 12:  Four Gherkins, for being a delightful visit to a beautiful part of the country which houses some of its most devious criminal minds

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Can we have another Wexford instead?

Ruth Rendell's novels written under her Barbara Vine pen name are always something of a challenge for me.  Although she's one of my favorite authors, I can rarely finish the Vine books.  The style of them is hard to follow.  There might be frequent references to "the awful event" from page one, which I suppose are designed to reel in the reader, but just serve to exasperate me. The "event" is generally not revealed until the very end of the novel, by which time I've long since ceased to care.  So I was a bit wary when I saw that there is a new Barbara Vine book out, The Child's Child. 

This book concerns two themes: homosexuality and single motherhood and how the two issues have become more socially acceptable.  There is also the device of a novel-within-a-novel at play here. 

The story begins with college lecturer Grace being given an unpublished novel, The Child's Child, which was written by a fairly well-known deceased author.  The author's son wants her opinion as to whether or not the novel could interest a publisher.  Grace has recently moved into her deceased grandmother's large house with her brother Andrew.  The house is so large that they can live independently of each other if they wish.  Andrew soon moves in his attractive, but somewhat prickly boyfriend James.  Grace puts the novel aside as she works on her thesis, which deals with the idea of illegitimacy and single motherhood in Victorian fiction.  She gets into some rather heated discussions with James, who says that male homosexuals faced a much more difficult life during that time, as homosexuality was illegal and anyone found guilty of the crime could be sentenced to hard labor. 

While society may have softened its views on both homosexuality and single motherhood in modern times, James and Andrew experience the continuing hostility that gay men face when they witness one of their friends being murdered as they leave a gay club one evening.  They are both potential witnesses at the trial, a possibility which causes James to become severely depressed.  In this state, he and Grace experience a new dimension to their relationship.

At this point, the modern story takes a pause while we are given the full text of the novel "The Child's Child" which Grace has agreed to read.  This story begins in 1929.  John is a teacher at a school in London, and is involved in a highly passionate, but illegal relationship with the flighty Bertie.  He decides to move to a rural school to get away from the temptations of London, and plans to devote himself to a life of celibacy.  A visit home to his parents at this time reveals that his teen aged sister, Maud, is pregnant and unmarried.  Her horrified parents plan to send her to a home for unwed mothers and have the baby adopted.  John quickly takes charge and proposes a solution that will change every one's lives.

The Child's Child part of the book is the main chunk of the story.  None of the characters is particularly likable:  the ungrateful, selfish Maud; the opportunistic, violent Bertie; and the spineless, weak John.  A murder happens, but most people seem rather indifferent to it.  Eventually, the crime is solved, and things go on pretty much as before.  Undeserving people are rewarded and unreasonable demands are inexplicably met without much resistance. 

We eventually swing back to the modern story where there is a bit of unrealistic drama and an ending that sort of fizzles out.  It is interesting how the social problems are contrasted between the modern and distant characters.  A single woman becoming pregnant in 1929, which was seen as the end of the world, is today accepted as the norm.  States are passing same sex marriage laws, when homosexuality was a crime in Britain until, unbelievably, 1967.  The book does make the reader marvel at the societal changes that have taken place over the last century, but the characters in the book are not very likable, either in the present or the past.  There's not really anyone to root for.

On the bright side, I did manage to get through this Barbara Vine novel, so perhaps I'm mellowing in my old age!

Final Verdict for The Child's Child:   Three Gherkins, for being a thought-provoking look at modern social changes

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Wander among a lost city

Most people tend to think of London as being an ancient city full of history.  Surprisingly, most of London is not really that old.  Little remains from the Roman era, and a series of disasters (the Great Fire of 1666, German bombing during WWII, misguided attempts at modernization) has removed many of the landmarks and buildings that would have been familiar to London residents over the previous centuries.  Lost London: An A-Z of Forgotten Landmarks and Lost Traditions by Richard Guard singles out some notable nearly forgotten aspects of London that have been lost to the march of time.

There are buildings which have been lost, but also occupations, among them Crossing Sweepers, Death Hunters (early sensationalist journalists) and Dog Finders (although I have a feeling "dog-napping" might still be a lucrative, if not very popular, occupation!).  The Frost Fairs, held on the ice on the rare occasions when the River Thames froze over, are also mentioned, along with the years, starting in 1150, when they were held. 

Some of the lost things are not missed, such as plague pits.  It was interesting to read that still today when new construction is begun, excavations frequently turn up large numbers of human bones.  Must make the life of the London construction worker a bit more lively than those who work elsewhere!  The old horrific Fleet Prison, so vividly described by Charles Dickens, is also better off being relegated to the pages of history, as is the appropriately named Execution Dock.

I would have liked to have seen some of the locations built strictly for entertainment, though.  The Colosseum in Regents Park, described as having a dome larger than that of St. Paul's Cathedral, must have been a sight to see.

The book is packed with many interesting facts and contains many beautiful black and white drawings which help to give the book a feeling of historical charm.  All in all, this book gives the reader an appreciation of the older parts of London that managed to survive at all!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Lost London from the publisher in exchange for this review.

Final Verdict for Lost London:  Four Gherkins, for being a fascinating look at a vanished past

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Get on the same money page with your spouse!

Most couples, at some point in their relationships, will experience disagreements and possible resentments over money.  While the conventional wisdom has always been that having a budget and sticking to it will solve the financial problems in a marriage, this isn't always the case.  The book The 5 Money Personalities: Speaking the Same Love and Money Language by Scott & Bethany Palmer instead focuses on the different beliefs and attitudes about money that each partner brings into the marriage.  Until you and your partner understand your own unique Money Personalities, it is unlikely that any money disagreements can be solved.

While nearly everyone is familiar with the statistic that 50% of all marriages end in divorce, I was surprised to find that among couples who do end up going through a divorce, 70% of them blame money issues for the failure of their marriages.  The authors of this book, who work in financial planning, recount their experiences in working out detailed financial plans for their clients, only to have the clients come in at a later date and announce their separation over some financial aspect of their lives.  This gave them the unique insight that budgets and financial plans will not solve money problems unless each person realizes and takes responsibility for his or her own Money Personality. 

The five Money Personalities are: Saver, Spender, Risk Taker, Security Seeker and Flyer.  Not only that, but most people are a combination of several of these personalities.  Talk about being challenging in coming to a financial consensus!  There are examples of each category given in the book to help you work out your primary and secondary type.  Additionally, there are negative aspects of each type given to show how the resulting behavior might impact your spouse.  If you're still unsure, you can take an online quiz to determine your Money Personality.

I enjoyed the insights that were pointed out in this book.  For instance, many small decisions you make during the day can have a negative impact on your relationship.  If you and your spouse are trying to save money, but one has a Starbucks habit or leaves the cap off the toothpaste so that it dries out and half the tube has to be thrown away, that can enrage the other partner who may feel it is unfair that he or she is putting more effort into following the plan.  "Make it Happen" suggestions at the end of the chapters to help you more fully explore your attitudes toward money.  There are also suggestions on how to negotiate and "fight fair" if you happen to be married to someone with a different attitude to money than you have. 

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book from BookSneeze for the purpose of writing this review.

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A sweet and savory treat

Any visit to London would not be complete without stopping by the venerable Fortnum & Mason store in Piccadilly.  Serving customers since 1707, the dealer in luxury goods is especially known and admired for its food selection.  The new book Fortnum & Mason: Honey and Preserves offers a delightful look at the process of making preserves and honey, and also plenty of recipes using both substances to make a wide variety of delicious dishes.

The book begins with a lovely overview of both Fortnum & Masons, and the history of preserves.  Known since the middle ages, when it was called "stuff," preserves have been used to liven up an otherwise bland diet.  Still, it was difficult to keep any food fresh for very long, until 1809, when the Frenchman Nicolas Appert won a prize from the French government for his discovery of how to preserve food to keep it fresh for transport and storage.

Fortnum and Mason has been selling different types of jams, jellies, chutneys, pickles and honeys for over 300 years.  In the mid 19th century, they began selling their own range of preserves.  The history of the company is very much tied in with the history of the British empire.  Travellers to exotic foreign lands brought back a variety of new spices, fruits and flavors that quickly became sought-after in general society.  Fortnum & Mason incorporated these new tastes into numerous popular new creations.  Everything was going quite well until the war-time rationing of sugar (and the frequent torpedoing of ships carrying fruit) meant that supplies for creating the jams and other delicacies were in short supply.  The creative folks at Fortnum & Mason just continued on with what they had, creating jams using cheaper fruits (such as apples and plums) and using such things as raisins for sweeteners.  In the first decade of the 21st century, the idea of rooftop bees was put into place, with a palatial hive built to exacting specifications.  After dallying with some inferior foreign bees, it was decided that the hardy and industrious Welsh Black bees should be used instead, and they have not disappointed.  However, the honey is only harvested two times per year, so it is not easy to secure a batch before it's sold out.  You can watch the activity of the bees on one of two "beecams" on the website (although they weren't working when I checked.  Maybe the bees' lack of activity in the wintertime necessitates a camera hiatus until spring!).

The majority of the book is taken up with delicious recipes, many accompanied by lovely color photos of the dish involved.  The recipes are divided into Light Bites & Starters, Main Courses, Puddings, Bakes and Preserves.  Some of the recipes included are Lemon and Lime Cheesecake, Beef and Stout Puff Pastry Pie, and Warm New Potato and Spinach Salad.  Yummy!  Most, but not all, of the recipes include a specific Fortnum & Mason product.  I can't wait to try some of them out, even if some of the recipe instructions are a bit puzzlings.  In one, for instance, we are instructed to "gradd the remaining milk."  Is that a mis-print, or some new word that means (I think) "gradually add"??  I was also puzzled as to what a "marrow" is, but it seems to be a generic squash.  It's interesting to read the recipes, although I'm sure my own versions won't be nearly as pretty as the ones in the illustrations!

I found the book to be lovely and quite informative.  If you've ever wondered about jams, jellies, mustards and piccalillis, and how they came to be on our tables, you will enjoy this little gem!

Disclaimer:  I received a review copy of the book from the publisher, Trafalgar Square Publishing.

Final verdict for Fortnum & Mason: Honey and Preserves:  Four Gherkins, for being a delicious look at how condiments came to play such an important role in our lives

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A visit to Cornwall

While I've been to England many times, my trips have generally centered around the London area. I'm hoping to one day have the time and resources to explore the rest of the country.  In the meantime, I'm always thrilled to be able to learn more about England.  The new DVD Cornwall with Caroline Quentin will certainly give you travel fever to explore that beautiful and unique part of the country.

Cornwall is located in the extreme south-west corner of the country. Here is a visual representation, courtesy of Wikipedia, that shows what part of the island we're talking about:


In this series, the talented actress Caroline Quentin visits Cornwall and takes in its breathtaking beauty as she gets to know some of the locals.  The program consists of 8 episodes on 2 discs, as well as a small companion booklet Viewer's Guide.


Because Cornwall is mostly surrounded by the sea, many of the people who are featured work or are in some way connected to the ocean.  We get to go along on a fishing boat, visit a restaurant and beach-side food stand which specialize in seafood, see rowing competitions and experience Pirate Day celebrations.

In each activity, the lovely scenery is always a beautiful backdrop to the story.  The dramatic coastal landscapes and gorgeous blue water help to show what a magnificent part of the country this is.


Some of the people Caroline meets include a family who are, against all expectations, running the successful Camel Valley Vineyard in Cornwall; a fisher-woman who also runs a teashop; and a man who gets to dress up in pirate gear to participate in the annual Pirate Day on  the island of St. Michael's Mount.  There is a joyful spirit and happy enthusiasm that shines through from the people of Cornwall.  Of course, having a camera turned on you would probably make most people perk up, but you get the feeling that the people who live in this part of the world are genuinely content with their lives.

There are also plenty of humorous moments, such as the regatta run by oddly costumed characters in questionable boats who "haven't a hope" of winning.  Everyone seems to be having a great time with the thrill of the race.

We also get a bit of history thrown in, such as the fact that over half of the world's tin used to be mined in Cornwall.  Along the coast, engine houses sprout up and give testament to the former industry that employed so many people in this area.

The mines also gave rise to that great Cornish delicacy, the pasty, which was an efficient way for miners to eat their dinner without having to take too much time over cleaning up (the crimped pastry around the edge could be held by grubby fingers and tossed away after the filling had been consumed).  Also saved on the washing up!

The series was made even more delightful by the cheerful enthusiasm of the presenter, Caroline Quentin.  She is full of excitement and wonder as she greets each new person and experience.  I wouldn't be surprised to learn that she bought one of the Unique Homes featured in this series!

All in all, this was a wonderful introduction to Cornwall and its people.  I am now itching to put Cornwall on the itinerary for my next trip to the UK!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of Cornwall with Caroline Quentin from Acorn Media in exchange for this review.

Final Verdict for Cornwall with Caroline Quentin:  Four Gherkins, for being a delightful visit to a charming part of the world

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The Bucket of Lists

As we get older, we all begin to take stock of our lives and try to figure out where we've been and where we're going.  Many people, taking inspiration from the film of the same name, assemble their own personal "bucket lists" of things they want to do before it's too late.  In the book More Than a Bucket List, author Toni Birdsong gives advice on how to assemble your own list, and ties many of her suggestions to Biblical passages.  Conveniently, the back of the book contains blank pages for the reader to work on his or her own list.

While many of the ideas listed sound fun or inspirational ("Pay the tab of the person behind you," "Visit Ground Zero," etc.), others are just plain strange.  For instance, there's the suggestion that you should "Live long enough for Willard Scott to show your face on a jelly jar."  I had no idea that living to be 100 was something we all could do if we just put our minds to it.  Other suggestions sound downright illegal, such as "Walk through Disneyland after hours."  Of course, there are no directions included as to how to accomplish that, so whether you should hide somewhere until after closing, or just break in is not stated -- I guess it's your Bucket List, so do whatever suits you!

There are also an awful lot of  suggestions that begin "take the day off," "skip work," "leave work early" and so on.  This coupled with extravagantly expensive travel-related suggestions ("Visit the 1200 islands of Maldives," "Summit Everest," "Raft the Zambezi," etc.) makes you wonder how anyone can follow many of the ideas and remain employed for long.

The sections sprinkled throughout the book labeled "Real-Life Challenges" are more practical and involve suggestions such as volunteering at a homeless shelter and asking advice from people you admire.  While I realize that the book is a sort of wish list, I would have enjoyed it a bit more if it had leaned more toward the practical, or achievable for the average person.

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. 

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