Book review - The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

I finished this book by one of my favourite authors, Kate Morton a couple of days ago and I can't stop thinking about it.

Image via http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Secret-Keeper-Kate-Morton/9780330477598

It begins as a fairly standard but well written family mystery novel. A young girl, Laurel, is sitting reading in a tree house on a warm summers day in 1961.  She witnesses something that afternoon which changes her life for ever.  The act that she sees is a lot more 'full on' than is usual for the genre and this was the first sign that this book was going to be different.

Action switches between 2011, the 60's and wartime London as the adult Laurel tries to uncover what actually happened that afternoon and why.  She realises that something happened to her mother, Dorothy during the war which triggered the event she witnessed as a young girl.  I must admit, I very nearly stopped reading the book because I found the character of Dorothy incredibly irritating, manipulative and self absorbed but I continued reading & I'm so glad I did.  The twist at the end of the book is shocking and completely unexpected and yet emotionally satisfying.  It subverts the conventions of the genre in a rather good way.

The Secret Keeper is a very rich, multi layered book - very much my favourite kind of read.  A definite recommendation from me. 

Musings on 2013

What a strange year this is turning out to be...

Firstly there was the nasty dose of norovirus

And then came the travel...

As a freelancer I'm used to January being a quiet month but before January had finished this year, I'd been to Barcelona and Berlin, (purely for work reasons).

It was only slightly surreal going from snowy London to sunny Barcelona in the space of a morning

Berlin was icy cold and snowy

But, as ever, it was the exciting, creative city I love so much

There was the excitement, the hard work and the chaos of Fashion Week.  I wouldn't change it for the world but I'm always exhausted by the end of it.  

I can't talk about the rather peculiar job I did in a large London school, (if you employ me because you need a professional, you need to listen to what I'm saying) but how I'd love to!  All I can say is, schools certainly have changed since my day.

On a individual level, I had a particularly bleak couple of weeks when I was owed in the region of £5000 and had -£30 in the bank.  I wasn't far off fighting the down & outs in Lidl's for knock down items.  I've certainly learnt my lesson now and have savings which I won't touch unless absolutely necessary.

And on a more cheerful personal note, I've started taking French lessons.  It's something I've wanted to do for a while but it's harder than you'd imagine to find a good French teacher.  I've taken lessons with the Alliance Française in the past but I've found them to be rigid and inflexible.  Whilst I do appreciate the importance of being able to speak perfect French what I actually need is to be able to understand the people I'm working alongside in their everyday transactions with each other.  Les hommes versus les mecs, anyone?  I've got high hopes for the teacher I'm with now.  She understands that the purpose of learning a language is communication, not following a syllabus.  

Whilst we're on the subject of how strange this year is - what is up with the weather??  It's April (which if I remember rightly is spring) and it's freezing!  I've actually got the heating up on full.  Please let it be a warm summer.  Please.

Happy Easter (and some Hot Cross Buns)

I've never been very fond of shop bought Hot Cross Buns.  They promise so much, (warm, gently spiced buns sound soo enticing) but are generally disappointing - flaccid beige affairs with too many soggy sultanas.

This year I decided to take the plunge and bake my own.  I'd been wary of making them because it involves cooking with yeast.  I've always believed this to be very tricky but turns out it's not that hard.  You just have to be patient and give the dough time to rise (or prove as I believe the professionals call it).

So without much further ado.

Ta da!  Here they are...

Absolutely delicious with butter (bang goes the diet!)

We tried fooling around drawing shapes on the second batch.  My attempt at a cat's face on the top right bun was less than successful!

I used this recipe from the BBC Good Food Guide website but with a few alterations of my own.  After reading the user comments I added a lot more spices - 1/2 a teaspoon of ginger; 1/2 a teaspoon of mixed spice; a good sprinkling of nutmeg and doubled the quantity of cinnamon.  Next time I think I'll double those quantities.  The recipe recommends glazing with apricot jam but I didn't have any so I used a mixed of Golden Syrup and water gently heated on the stove.  That worked very well.  I brushed it on whilst the buns were still warm and it really sunk in.

Most importantly though the cooking time says 20 minutes.  I checked after 10 minutes and took them out after 12-14.  I think that if you left them in for the whole 20 minutes, you'd just end up with a tray of inedible cinders.  

Also note that the recipe states 'preparation time 30 mins' and it's only when reading the recipe that you realise there's also 3 hours of proving time involved to let the dough rise.  

Happy Easter everyone!  x

Hero Beauty product - E45 Lotion

Today's beauty product is effective, multi-tasking and very cheap.

Ladies, I'm talking about E45 lotion.  Regular readers of these beauty reviews will know that I have dehydrated, sensitive skin.  I struggle to find products that  work without irritating.  E45 lotion is, in my opinion, nothing short of miraculous.

Image via http://www.superdrug.com

I use it as a daily body lotion but during the winter months when my complexion becomes especially dry thanks to a combination of central heating & cold outdoor weather, I use it on my face.  I do use it during the summer but sometimes I find it a little rich then. 

It's unperfumed.  I love gorgeously scented body lotions but they can irritate my skin. 

Texture-wise, it's thick and rich but it does sink in quickly.  My skin is supple and hydrated all day when I use this.  It's especially good if I spend a lot of time outdoors because my skin retains moisture levels.

It's also useful for travelling because I just need to take one bottle with me instead of one for body and one for face.

And the best thing?

It's only £5.50 for 500ml!  Seriously, half a litre of really good product for the princely sum of £5.50.

You're welcome.

Beauty review - Origins Starting Over Age-erasing moisturiser with Mimosa

'Starting Over Age-erasing moisturiser' - the name immediately annoyed me.  I'm 47, I like being 47, why on earth would I want to 'start over'?  The implication is that there's something wrong with being older, you've somehow made a mistake and woo hoo, Origins has kindly given you a chance to make good your error for only £38.  Mmm...

Anyway, onto the product.  It has a gorgeous citrusy smell.  The texture is thick but easily absorbed which I did like.  It can be used morning and evening but I chose to use it as a day cream.  I found it relatively moisturising for my dehydrated complexion but towards the end of the day, my skin started to dry out a little.

Image via http://www.sephora.com

All in all, not a bad moisturiser but they really need to change the name.

Tax is always taxing

I've finally finished my tax return.  It's always torturous for me.  There's the trying to decipher what exactly the various sections mean; there's the tedious sorting through and adding up of receipts and in my case invariably there's a sick feeling at the end when you realise that there's not enough money in your tax account because you had a cash flow crisis a few months ago where you 'borrowed' money from it & forgot to pay it back.

I've resolved to be far more conscientious about keeping records and putting aside the money.  Seriously, I have to do it.

Hero beauty product - Balance Me Radiance face mask

What a curious thing this mask is - an exfoliator, cleansing face mask hybrid.

Image via http://www.naturisimo.com

It comes out of the tube looking like an exfoliator - grey with noticeable grains (walnut shells) in it - but you smooth it all over a cleansed face and leave it on for five minutes like a mask.  Then you remove it with circular movements and warm water which exfoliates the skin.

It's very good.  True to it's name, it did leave my skin looking radiant. The mask bit did a good job of drawing out impurities and the exfoliator bit left my skin smooth.

A great multi tasking product.