Recent Articles

Mary Poppins Audio Books winners (in: Freebies, offers & competitions)
Dec 23, 2020

Congratulations and happy Christmas to the winners of our Mary Poppins e-audio books from HarperCollins.

Hands, Face, Space ... Taffix (in: Healthy parents)
Dec 22, 2020

A new patented nasal spray, called Taffix, has been found in laboratory and human studies to block the Sars-CoV-2 virus (coronavirus) for up to five hours, adding to our armoury of defences against COVID-19. This product in no way replaces the masks and hand-washing but adds to our defences against the virus.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – Review (in: Cinema/theatre/TV)
Dec 21, 2020

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz performed in a sitting room near you – reviewed by Anne Coates.

Tea Break Theatre’s Sleeping Beauty? - Review (in: Cinema/theatre/TV)
Dec 19, 2020

This year we can't enjoy our usual seasonal treat of a panto at a theatre but production companies have been working hard to bring the shows into our homes. Harriet and Anne Coates had a fabulous, interactive experience with Tea Break Theatre's Sleeping Beauty? 

The Powerful Benefits of Decluttering Your Home (in: Stressbusters)
Dec 15, 2020

Your home should be the one place on the planet that promotes comfort and relaxation. But if your home is filled with clutter, this can cause stress, reduce productivity levels, and make it hard to unwind. You will also have great difficulty completing household chores with tons of clutter around. And if you have young children, too much clutter can present hazards and dangers that put their lives at risk, writes Emily Roberts.

Blended by Sharon M. Draper (in: Books: children & YA)
Dec 14, 2020

Sharon M. Draper's beautifully written novel, Blended about an eleven-year-old's struggle to be herself not what or how other people see her. Review by Anne Coates.

Everything You Need to Know About Baby Formula (in: Early years)
Dec 11, 2020

If you are currently breastfeeding but want to transition to formula for whatever reason, you’re probably wondering whether some are better than others, and therefore which you should choose for your baby. There are so many different brands out there, all at different price points. As well as this, you may be wondering whether switching is a good idea, and what you need to know before you start. Here is Emily Roberts' short guide to answering those questions. 

Win Mary Poppins Audio Books (in: Freebies, offers & competitions)
Dec 10, 2020

HarperCollins Children’s Books have just published the audio books of four classic Mary Poppins stories read by the inimitable Olivia Colman. We have three sets of voucher codes to be won. 

Reaching for the Moon by Katherine Johnson (in: Books: children & YA)
Dec 7, 2020

Reaching for the Moon is the inspirational autobiography of NASA Mathematician, Katherine Johnson. Review by Anne Coates. 

Puressential Gift Sets (in: Looking good, feeling great)
Dec 4, 2020

Loved by the French, Puressentiel, makers of evidence backed essential oils has created four limited edition Christmas aroma gift sets – a must have festive present. Each gift set includes full sized products that are 100 per cent natural with essential oils that are proven to help keep our health and wellbeing at its very best across the areas of fitness, relaxation, sleep, skincare, respiratory and air purification – by Anne Coates. 

Future Friend by David Baddiel (in: Books: children & YA)
Dec 3, 2020

Future Friend is David Baddiel's first foray into writing science fiction and it's a brilliant entry into the genre with fabulous illustrations by Steven Lenton writes Anne Coates.

Loop Earplugs (in: Products & equipment)
Dec 1, 2020

The two new Loop Earplugs are the perfect stocking-filler for staying sane and finding a little "zen" over Christmas. Named by The New York Times as the best earplug of 2020, Loop combines market leading technology with high end fashion, all with a unique ring-shaped design that fits snugly within the ear. Anne Coates put them to the test.