Our publisher, Alison, went along to try out the new afternoon tea at The Ivy in St Albans. Well, someone’s got to! I took my mum along for the afternoon tea – I knew she’d enjoy it! It was a Monday afternoon when we went and, as you would expect, the restaurant was fairly quiet […]
McFinnia By Pam Howard £6.99 This is local author Pam’s third novel in the series; McDragon came first, followed by Effel. While on a school trip to Wales, Peter and his sidekick Biffy come across a red Welsh dragon who desperately needs their help to hide from an evil witch’s flying gargoyles. Their journey takes […]
Monique By Mike Walsham £12.99 paperback, £3.50 Kindle. Austin Macauley Mike Walsham lives in Ringshall, Little Gaddesden, and this is his first historical fiction novel. Set in WW2, it tells the story of Andrew, who joined the British Secret Service and got involved in a daring raid in enemy territory in France. It’s a compelling […]
Impossible Causes By Julie Mayhew £12.99 hardback, Bloomsbury Press Release date: 17 October 2019 Another Berkhamsted author, this is Julie’s first foray into adult fiction, having previously written several wonderful books for young adults. Never one to shy away from a controversial subject, this time Julie turns her attention to the deeply religious inhabitants of […]
The Girl at the Window By Rowan Coleman £7.99 paperback and eBook, Ebury Press. I love Rowan’s writing, and I know she has a real interest in the Brontes – so this story, based in the place where the Bronte sisters wrote and set their novels, sounded amazing. It’s both a ghost story and a […]
This is the sixth in our series of dog-friendly local walks. With thanks to George Edwards as always for his wonderful detailed walk. The walk starts at Wigginton Greyhound pub (ask permission first if leaving your car in their car park) or Wigginton Community Shop, where there is free parking. The walk uses part of […]
This delicious chocolate brownie recipe comes from Rumbles Catering. Ingredients 200g dark chocolate 200g butter 200g caster sugar 4 medium eggs 120g self-raising flour (or Gluten Free Flour) How to Make It First, line an 8-inch square cake tin with baking paper. Heat the oven to 150C. Gently melt the butter and chocolate together over […]
Can decluttering your home make you happier? Our thanks to NFU Hemel Hempstead for sponsoring this article in our Autumn issue. You can find out more about them and the services they provide here. With a decluttered home comes a decluttered mind, so the experts tell us. And decluttering expert Marie Kondo has certainly made […]
Our native hedgehogs are on the decline. Here’s what you can do to help According to the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), the number of hedgehogs in the UK has declined by a third since the millennium alone. So why is it happening and how can we stop the decline? We spoke to Fay […]
We’ve tracked down the best dog-friendly places to eat in the area, so you don’t have to! The nights are drawing in and the temperatures are dropping – but your doggy still needs a walk! So what do you do when you’re out and about with your pooch and you want to stop somewhere for […]
Pilates instructor and INNOVO ambassador Jane Wake advises to do five quick and simple exercises to work the inner core The women’s health fitness expert recommends starting with one exercise a day, building up to a full workout with all five exercises, 3 times a week Incontinence and postnatal body issues are major health concerns for […]
I love curry, but the ones I make at home either end up slightly bland or far too hot. So, when I go out for curry, I want something special – and the K2 in Hemel is definitely that. I’m also fairly hard to please when it comes to my curries, but I’d heard good […]