Friday 27 December 2013

Last Minute Christmas Chutney

So this is based off of this recipe from the Hairy Bikers on the BBC, but I made some changes so here is my version.

It makes the most wonderful sweet, dense chutney that is great with cold meats and cheese and can be done right at the last minute. No need for long maturing on the shelf. I made mine on 23rd and we ate it on Boxing day (26th for those who don't do Boxing day :)).

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 2 red onions, sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp finely chopped fresh root ginger (or stem ginger in syrup)
  • 200g/7oz ready to eat dried apricots, 1/3 roughly chopped, 2/3 minced
  • 175g/6.2oz ready to eat dried figs, 1/3 roughly chopped, 2/3 minced
  • 100g/3.5oz raisins, 1/2 minced, 1/2 whole
  • 150g/5.5oz demerara sugar
  • 150ml/5fl oz white wine vinegar
  • 1/4 whole nutmeg, grated
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • a glug of port (to your own taste)
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Heat the oil in a large non-reactive saucepan and sweat down the onions over a low heat until soft and not coloured (about 10 mins).
  2. Add the garlic and ginger and fry for another 2-3 mins to release the flavours.
  3. Bring up the heat a little and fry for a further 4-5 minutes until the onions start to brown slightly. Keep stirring all the time and make sure they do not crisp, you want them to remain completely soft - you're just caramelising the sugars in the onions.
  4. Add all the fruit and cook for 2-3 minutes until the dried fruit begins to plump up.
  5. Sprinkle over the sugar, the vinegar and the spices and mix, adding salt and pepper to your own taste (don't add too much at first because you can add more later if you need to, but you can't take it out).
  6. Your mixture will be quite thick because of the minced fruit so add your glug of port to loosen it up a bit.
  7. Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer and cook, uncovered for 30 mins, keeping an eye on it and stirring. If it looks too dry too soon add a glug more port and taste it every now and then to see if it needs more seasoning.
  8. You should have no free liquid left once it is ready, but it should still be nice and moist. Remove it from the heat and set aside to cool, stirring occasionally.
  9. Spoon the chutney into sterilised jars if you want to keep it, but I just popped mine into Tupperware because I knew it would all be eaten very rapidly.

Thursday 26 December 2013

How to make a Scramble Square (9 piece matching puzzle)

So I made my darling twin a little puzzle for Christmas to take advantage of her new obsession that I managed to pass along to her :). I made her a Loki scramble square as pictured below and I thought I'd share how I did it in case you're all feeling creative too.

If you would like to make the same one you can download the image below, just by clicking on it to see it full size. Otherwise you can use it as a pattern. It's based on the tropical frog Scramble Square pattern and I can promise it's hard to do because we had four people try it yesterday afternoon and no one could do it :).


To Make Your Base Image

Image 1
To make the base image you need 4 images of your chosen theme. I had 4 pictures of Loki, you could use kittens or puppies or Thor or anything else cute that takes your fancy :).

Cut these out in an image program so they have a transparent back ground and then add in guide lines underneath somewhere around the centre of each image (see image 1 - this is to help with placement).
Image 2
As a base you need an image divided up into nine equal parts and I had black lines around the edge and across the centre to mark out the divides and help with the cutting (Image 2). Your edge black should be half the width of the dividing black lines which will be split in half on cutting of the puzzle. You want them to all end up equal so there are no give aways as to what is edge and what is join.

You don't have to have these, you can just make the image slightly bigger and have markers to show where to cut around the edge if you prefer (in this case you would need a precision cutting implement). (I have an Adobe Photoshop file here for those who have the program blank.psd).

Image 3
Next add in guide lines down the centre of each square - this is for image placement (Image 3). If your editing program doesn't have guides, just use a new layer and draw in lines - you can remove them before printing.
Image 4
Now take your first theme image and place it on one of the squares using the guide lines on the image and on the background. The vertical guide line on your theme image must line up with the centre blue guide line and the horizontal guide line should line up with the black line on the edge you are crossing (Image 4).

Make sure your images are above the black lines so that they will meet over the edge of the pieces. Repeat with your first theme image to form the same pattern as on the Loki scramble square above, rotating the image where necessary.

Repeat  this for your other three images as well. Always make sure to use the guidelines or it will be obvious which images line up with which.

Image 5
Go through and edit the individual theme images to remove the guide lines as in image 5 to the left.

You can leave the background blank, but I think it looks much more interesting if you have something behind the images. To do this, create a square of whatever background you would like just big enough to fit on one of the nine pieces. Then place one of each of these backgrounds on each piece underneath all other parts of the image, remembering to rotate it every now and then so there is no particular way up to it. You should end up with something like the complete Loki scramble square shown at the top.

Turn off the blue guidelines.

How to Make the Puzzle
You will need:
  • 1 A4 (or local equivalent) print of your base image
  • 1 A4 (or local equivalent) piece of black card
  • paper glue (photo mount is best - it must be strong and must not cause wrinkles)
  • 1 A4 (or local equivalent) laminating pouch
  • laminator (my laminator is a hot one, I have no idea if cold laminators adhere in the same way)
  • scissors (or accurate guillotine or craft knife and ruler)
How to go about construction:
  1. Print out your image with the fit to paper option.
  2. Glue your print out onto your card and leave to dry completely (our photo mount suggested 24hr)
  3. Place the construct into a laminating pouch and laminate it.
  4. Being incredibly careful cut along the dividing lines and around the edges making sure not to leave any obvious imperfections.
Congratulations, your puzzle is complete. Because the laminating pouch adheres to the paper and card you now have a nicely plasticised surface on the top and bottom of your pieces to prevent damage. If your glue is not durable enough your image and your card might come apart at this point, hence the need for good glue.

Now all you have to do is give the puzzle to someone and watch them stare at it for hours or try it yourself :).

Wednesday 25 December 2013

Merry Christmas - Win all 24 eBooks from the Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway 2013

Merry Christmas From Wittegen Press
A Very Merry Christmas to You All 
from
Wittegen Press

This is our final post of our Advent Giveaway, and, as part of the magic of  Christmas, we're giving everyone one last chance to win all 24 eBooks that we gave away throughout Advent in one big bundle (see below for the list of books)! Just check back through all the Advent Giveaway posts in the list below (one per day) and collect the letters at the end of each post. Tell us what they spell in the Rafflecopter competition below and you'll be entered into the draw to win these fabulous books.

The competition runs from 25th Dec 2013 to 1st Jan 2014.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Wittegen Press Christmas Giveaway eBook Bundle

Out of The Frying Pan by Tasha D-Drake When Darkness Beckons by Sophie Duncan and Natasha Duncan-Drake Face of the Dead by Tasha D-Drake Forbidden Soul by Tasha  D-Drake In The Event of Death by Sophie Duncan and Natasha Duncan-Drake Christmas Poems by Sophie Duncan The Trade by Tasha D-Drake The End of the Journey by Sophie Duncan An Amusement by Sophie Duncan The Need in Me by Sophie Duncan Book of Darkness by Sophie Duncan and Natasha Duncan-Drake Beyond Our Horizon by Sophie Duncan and Natasha Duncan-Drake Romantics by Sophie Duncan and Natasha Duncan-Drake Supernature by Sophie Duncan and Natasha Duncan-Drake Bright Young Things by Sophie Duncan and Natasha Duncan-Drake Cat's Confidence by Natasha Duncan-Drake Half of Everything by Natasha Duncan-Drake Cat's Call by Natasha Duncan-Drake The Other Half of Everything by Sophie Duncan Myriad Imaginings by Sophie Duncan and Natasha Duncan-Drake Cat's Creation by Natasha Duncan-Drake Death in the Family by Sophie Duncan Advent by Natasha Duncan-Drake Sacrifice of an Angel by Sophie Duncan and Natasha Duncan-Drake



Tuesday 24 December 2013

Merry Christmas


Merry Christmas one and all, hope you are have a good holiday season.
Tasha, Rob and Amber

Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway 2013 - Day #24 - Sacrifice of an Angel by Sophie and Tasha Duncan

Welcome to the Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway Day #24
To celebrate this festive season we at Wittegen Press are giving away an eBook a day up until
Christmas!



Today we are giving away 

Sacrifice of an Angel by Sophie and Tasha Duncan Front Cover
Sacrifice of an Angel

by Tasha & Sophie Duncan

"Harry Potter (with grownups) meets Midsommer Murders with a magical version of C.S.I. thrown in for good measure." - Rob Drake

The body of a beautiful girl dressed in a ceremonial robe is found on a playground roundabout. Her throat has been ripped out and the roundabout has a bad case of perpetual motion. Is it a ritualistic, magical murder or a setup to distract from the real killer?

That is the question that faces twins, Theo and Remy Haward, detectives in the Sorcerous Crimes Task Force (SeCT), when they are called to the scene in the middle of the night. That and who could commit such an act. They must find the answers to these and other questions, all the while ensuring the general public finds out nothing about the magical world that co-exists with their own. 

Armed with their experience, their natural magical abilities and their complimentary instincts, Remy and Theo must identify the victim, follow the evidence and find the killer before anyone else dies.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Every day during this giveaway, we are also posting a letter, collect the letters and at the end of Advent, you'll have a message 24 letters long. Tell us what that message in from Christmas Day to New Year and you are in for the chance of winning all 24 eBooks from the giveaway!


Today's letter is S.

Monday 23 December 2013

Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway 2013 - Day #23 - Advent by Natasha Duncan-Drake

Welcome to the Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway Day #23
To celebrate this festive season we at Wittegen Press are giving away an eBook a day up until
Christmas!



Today we are giving away 

Advent by Natasha Duncan-Drake Front Cover
Advent

by Natasha Duncan-Drake

When you're a vampire hunter infected with vampirism your life expectancy is short. Nate's a hunter and Lexie's a witch and they have less than six months before Lexie's magic can no longer delay the symptoms and keep them at least partially human. There are legends the ancient Avebury ritual, originally designed to destroy a powerful vampire, may also hold the key to curing vampiris­m and Nate and Lexie must search across continents to find the four relics from the ceremony. In their way are vampire nuns, a crystal cave, shape changers, a labyrinthine catacomb, mummified monks and even librarians. If the cure is real it could be the advent of a new era in vampire hunting.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Every day during this giveaway, we are also posting a letter, collect the letters and at the end of Advent, you'll have a message 24 letters long. Tell us what that message in from Christmas Day to New Year and you are in for the chance of winning all 24 eBooks from the giveaway!


Today's letter is A.

Sunday 22 December 2013

Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway 2013 - Day #22 - Death In The Family by Sophie Duncan

Welcome to the Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway Day #22
To celebrate this festive season we at Wittegen Press are giving away an eBook a day up until
Christmas!



Today we are giving away 

Death In The Family by Sophie Duncan Front Cover
Death In The Family

by Sophie Duncan

Tom Franklin has never really understood his midnight cravings for red meat, he has merely accepted them. His Harley Street doctor had always diagnosed his symptoms as a protein deficiency, aggravated by stress, particularly the dark dreams that haunt his subconscious. Yet, when his dreams and consequently his symptoms escalate, Tom's parents are forced to reveal the truth: he isn't human. Tom discovers that the nightmarish images of dark places and even darker instincts are in fact repressed memories of his early childhood, and he must face the wild heritage from his birth-father, a ruthless vampire known only as Raxos. 

Realising his memories are his only hope of controlling his awakening instincts, Tom returns to, Coombedown, the sleepy, Cornish village in which he was born, unknowing that the night-breed in his veins will lead him into danger.

"Death In The Family" is a young adult, paranormal novel.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Every day during this giveaway, we are also posting a letter, collect the letters and at the end of Advent, you'll have a message 24 letters long. Tell us what that message in from Christmas Day to New Year and you are in for the chance of winning all 24 eBooks from the giveaway!


Today's letter is M.

Saturday 21 December 2013

Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway 2013 - Day #21 - Cat's Creation by Natasha Duncan-Drake

Welcome to the Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway Day #21
To celebrate this festive season we at Wittegen Press are giving away an eBook a day up until
Christmas!



Today we are giving away 

Cat's Creation by Natasha Duncan-Drake Front Cover
Cat's Creation

by Natasha Duncan-Drake

Life goes on for the residents of Between as they struggle to recover from the events that nearly destroyed their home and left a gaping hole in the structure of their world. As one of the leaders of the Questors, Charlie feels responsible for helping them to remain strong and together, but he's not sure how. To make his problems worse, his magic has become unreliable, and yet there is another task to deal with; one that requires all seven Questors to be at their magical peak. The difficult road before them ends in, Mydarec, a world run by mafia-style families, where sorcerers and vampires are a part of every-day living. Forced to play a role that could cost him his life and plagued by a vision of death, Charlie must struggle to overcome his own insecurities and, with his friends, figure out why they have been sent to such a dangerous world.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Every day during this giveaway, we are also posting a letter, collect the letters and at the end of Advent, you'll have a message 24 letters long. Tell us what that message in from Christmas Day to New Year and you are in for the chance of winning all 24 eBooks from the giveaway!


Today's letter is T.

Friday 20 December 2013

Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway 2013 - Day #20 - Myriad Imaginings by Sophie Duncan & Natasha Duncan-Drake

Welcome to the Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway Day #20
To celebrate this festive season we at Wittegen Press are giving away an eBook a day up until
Christmas!



Today we are giving away 

Myriad Imaginings by Sophie Duncan & Natasha Duncan-Drake Front Cover
Myriad Imaginings

by Sophie Duncan & Natasha Duncan-Drake

2 writers, 31 days of writing madness, the result: 28 fabulously diverse stories for your reading pleasure, including horror, fantasy and science fiction, paranormal adventure, young adult and erotica.

In July 2012, Wittegen Press gave away a short story, or story part every day to their readers. Each story was only available for one day, but now all 28 stories have been gathered here into 1 volume where you can meet: a spy who becomes a vampire; a young professor with a mental gift beyond his intellect; a zombie cat and many more enthralling characters.

Queen of Heaven by Natasha Duncan-Drake (Sci-Fi)
Incubus Shadows by Sophie Duncan (M/M/M Erotic Fantasy)
Sleep of The Damned by Natasha Duncan-Drake (Horror)
Samling-Born by Sophie Duncan (YA Contemporary Fantasy)
To Life Reborn by Natasha Duncan-Drake (Fantasy)
The Name Is The Game by Sophie Duncan (Paranormal Contemporary Fantasy)
Cleave To Until Forever by Natasha Duncan-Drake (M/M Paranormal Romance)
The Gift by Sophie Duncan (Fantasy)
Lost Kitty by Natasha Duncan-Drake (YA SciFi)
Undercover by Sophie Duncan (M/M Erotic Crime Drama)
The Machine by Natasha Duncan-Drake (Contemporary Fantasy, M/M Romance)
BFF by Sophie Duncan (Horror)
The Vampire Who Loved Me by Natasha Duncan-Drake (Paranormal Espionage, M/M/F menage)
The End of The Journey by Sophie Duncan (Contemporary Fantasy, M/M Romance)
God of Love by Natasha Duncan-Drake (M/M Erotic Fantasy)
Just One Day by Sophie Duncan (Horror)
All The Glitters by Natasha Duncan-Drake (M/M Romance)
Girl In The Mirror by Sophie Duncan (Paranormal Fantasy)
Connections by Natasha Duncan-Drake (M/M/F Erotic SciFi)
A Special Catch by Sophie Duncan (M/F Erotic SciFi)
The Crosses We Bear by Natasha Duncan-Drake (Horror)
Song For A Sovereign by Sophie Duncan (Fantasy)
Timothy by Natasha Duncan-Drake (M/F Paranormal Romance)
Queen of My World by Sophie Duncan (Horror)
Dead Not Dying by Natasha Duncan-Drake (Horror)
All In The Mind by Sophie Duncan (SciFi)
The Beginning by Natasha Duncan-Drake (YA Urban Horror, Paranormal Fantasy)
A New Path by Sophie Duncan (YA Contemporary Fantasy, M/M Romance)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Every day during this giveaway, we are also posting a letter, collect the letters and at the end of Advent, you'll have a message 24 letters long. Tell us what that message in from Christmas Day to New Year and you are in for the chance of winning all 24 eBooks from the giveaway!


Today's letter is S.

Thursday 19 December 2013

Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway 2013 - Day #19 - The Other Half Of Everything by Sophie Duncan

Welcome to the Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway Day #19
To celebrate this festive season we at Wittegen Press are giving away an eBook a day up until
Christmas!



Today we are giving away 

The Other Half Of Everything by Sophie Duncan Front Cover
The Other Half Of Everything

by Sophie Duncan

Many genres, 14 exciting stories in this anthology of shorts and novellettes by Sophie Duncan. Whether you're looking for horror, Sci-Fi or something else, you'll find what you're looking for in this collection.
In July 2012, Wittegen Press gave away a short story, or story part every day to their readers. Each story was only available for one day, but now the 14 stories by Sophie Duncan from The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games have been gathered here into 1 volume.

Incubus Shadows (Erotic Fantasy M/M/M)
Samling-Born (YA Contemporary Fantasy)
The Name Is The Game (Paranormal Contemporary Fantasy)
The Gift (Fantasy)
Undercover (M/M Erotic Crime)
BFF (Horror)
The End Of The Journey (The Hidden War #1) (YA Contemporary Fantasy, M/M Romance)
Just One Day (Horror)
Girl In The Mirror (Paranormal Fantasy)
A Special Catch (M/F Erotic Sci-Fi)
Song For A Sovereign (Fantasy)
Queen of My World (Horror)
All In The Mind (Sci-Fi)
A New Path (The Hidden War #2) (YA Contemporary Fantasy, M/M Romance)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Every day during this giveaway, we are also posting a letter, collect the letters and at the end of Advent, you'll have a message 24 letters long. Tell us what that message in from Christmas Day to New Year and you are in for the chance of winning all 24 eBooks from the giveaway!


Today's letter is I.

Wednesday 18 December 2013

Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway 2013 - Day #18 - Cat's Call by Natasha Duncan-Drake

Welcome to the Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway Day #18
To celebrate this festive season we at Wittegen Press are giving away an eBook a day up until
Christmas!



Today we are giving away 

Cat's Call by Natasha Duncan-Drake Front Cover
Cat's Call

by Natasha Duncan-Drake

Existence is a Balance. Multiple universes and myriads of worlds exist in their own time and space and through each of them threads magic. Seven great Spirits guard the Balance against the forces of evil and chaos. It is time for them to choose new Questors to wield their power and be their mortal advocates.

Charlie Waterman is eighteen and until he is assaulted by a cat figurine and wakes up with a tail, he is boringly normal. Apparently he is supposed to be the Questor of the Cat Spirit, but no one bothered to ask him if he wanted to be. It's not the kind of thing that comes up when you're taking your A Levels at a grammar school in Kent. When destiny catches up with him he's two years late and past some mysterious threshold. Eighteen isn't really old, unless you're dealing with magic for the first time.

On meeting Akari, the man who claims to be his mentor, he is introduced to Between, a magical realm that exists outside normal time and space. Here he is supposed to learn how to fulfill his destiny. Accompanying Akari to Between to explore his new powers, he meets his fellow Questors: dragon; wolf; horse; spider; hawk; dolphin. They all seem to know what they're doing, but, fighting to maintain control, Charlie's causing earthquakes and accidentally turning into a cat while asleep, which is plain embarrassing.

Five sixteen year olds, a young, antisocial vampire and Charlie stand between the Balance and chaos. Nothing on Earth could have prepared Charlie for his destiny and in choosing him, he is sure the Spirits have to be insane.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Every day during this giveaway, we are also posting a letter, collect the letters and at the end of Advent, you'll have a message 24 letters long. Tell us what that message in from Christmas Day to New Year and you are in for the chance of winning all 24 eBooks from the giveaway!


Today's letter is R.

Tuesday 17 December 2013

Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway 2013 - Day #17 - Half of Everything by Natasha Duncan-Drake

Welcome to the Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway Day #17
To celebrate this festive season we at Wittegen Press are giving away an eBook a day up until
Christmas!



Today we are giving away 

Half of Everything by Natasha Duncan-Drake Front Cover
Half of Everything

by Natasha Duncan-Drake

Many genres, 14 exciting stories in this anthology of shorts and novellettes by Natasha Duncan-Drake. Whether you're looking for horror, Sci-Fi or something else, you'll find what you're looking for in this collection.
In July 2012, Wittegen Press gave away a short story, or story part every day to their readers. Each story was only available for one day, but now the 14 stories by Natasha Duncan-Drake from The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games have been gathered here into 1 volume.

Queen of Heaven (Sci-Fi)
Sleep Of The Damned (Horror)
To Life Reborn (Fantasy)
Cleave To Until Forever (M/M Paranormal Romance)
Lost Kitty (YA Sci-Fi)
The Machine (Contemporary Fantasy with M/M Romance)
The Vampire Who Loved Me (Paranormal Espionage, M/M/F) 
God of Love (M/M Erotica Fantasy)
All That Glitters (M/M Romance)
Connections (M/M/F Erotic Sci-Fi)
The Crosses We Bear (Horror)
Timothy (M/F Paranormal Romance)
Dead Not Dying (Horror)
The Beginning (YA Urban Horror)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Every day during this giveaway, we are also posting a letter, collect the letters and at the end of Advent, you'll have a message 24 letters long. Tell us what that message in from Christmas Day to New Year and you are in for the chance of winning all 24 eBooks from the giveaway!


Today's letter is H.

Monday 16 December 2013

Review: Cockneys vs Zombies - it's brilliant

Title: Cockneys vs Zombies
Rating: 15
Cast:
Rasmus Hardiker ... Terry
Harry Treadaway ... Andy
Michelle Ryan ... Katy
Jack Doolan ... Davey Tuppence
Georgia King ... Emma
Ashley Thomas ... Mental Mickey (as Ashley Bashy Thomas)
Tony Gardner ... Clive
Alan Ford ... Ray
Honor Blackman ... Peggy
Writers:
Matthias Hoene ... (original idea)
James Moran ... (screenplay)
Lucas Roche ... (screenplay)
Summary: Terry and Andy are brothers and their usual line of work is delivering meals on wheels. However, their Granddad's care home is about to be knocked down by some nasty developers, and they tried to go about helping in a normal way, but they need too much money. Hence the obvious answer is a bank job, right? Given how well the bank job goes it's probably a good thing that the East End of London is overtaken by a zombie infestation at the same time.

This film has sass, comedy, brilliant timing and Honor Blackman with a machine gun; what more could anyone want in a movie?

If you haven't already guessed, I loved this film. I saw it last night after a lovely friend bought it for me off my wishlist for my birthday. It is a comedy horror along the lines of Shaun of the Dead, but (my husband would probably disown me for this) I think it's even better than that and I like Shaun a whole lot too.

This film has everything:
  • great, fast moving plot
  • brilliant characters
  • a hilarious script
  • a superb cast
I laughed a lot, out loud while watching this movie. There are some truly funny moments as well as keeping it exciting and action packed. There is an irreverence when dealing with the zombies that is simply brilliant, right from the first moment when one of the characters announces 'Zombies' to the final showdown in a bid for escape. Frankly if I get stuck in a zombie apocalypse, I'd want these guys at my back.

Which brings me smoothly onto the characters. The big problem I have with some films these days is I just don't like any of the characters at all. Not an issue with this movie. Yes brothers Terry and Andy are somewhat inept and Andy definitely comes under the heading of plonker and jammy git, but they are fantastic characters and their flaws just made me like them more. Katy, their cousin, is totally in control and brings all the sass to the situation and plays off against them brilliantly. I had the feeling they had been having the same arguments for years. They really felt like family.

Then there is Mental Mickey who, as his name suggests, is mental and a brilliant foil for his less ruthless compatriots. His name alone had me sniggering, especially since he has a metal plate in his head and my brain went straight to 1980s children's TV (Metal Mickey). I won't spoil what happens, but there was one scene with Mickey and a zombie that had me all but falling off my seat laughing.

Every single one of the pensioners in the care home was different and interesting and the way they were put together as a group was fantastic. They didn't suddenly turn into action heroes, but boy could they hold their own, walkers, wheelchairs and all.

Some of the other characters are stereotypes, tried and tested by British comedy, but they were so well done they were perfect. There wasn't one character I thought was surplus to requirements.

They whole cast gave wonderful performances and their comic timing was spot on. The youngsters were fantastic, but I have to admit it was the cast of greats playing the oldies in the care home that had me entranced. Alan Ford, Honor Blackman, the late, great Richard Briers and more, at least three of whom I recognised from Sylvester McCoy era Doctor Who, all fantastic.

I was entertained from beginning to end when watching this film.  It's the kind of movie I can watch again and again and I suspect I shall :). I cannot recommend it more.


Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway 2013 - Day #16 - Cat's Confidence by Natasha Duncan-Drake

Welcome to the Wittegen Press Advent Giveaway Day #16
To celebrate this festive season we at Wittegen Press are giving away an eBook a day up until
Christmas!



Today we are giving away 

Cat's Confidence by Natasha Duncan-Drake Front Cover
Cat's Confidence

by Natasha Duncan-Drake

The Seer says that a Questor is always prepared for the Task for which they are chosen and Charlie has been a Questor long enough to know the Seer is always right. Still, it never occurred to him that being ready would mean specific training for a specific Task. Charlie, Kaelyn and Alexander are given six weeks to become a Dragon Warrior team: all they need to do is master magical telepathy, archery, flying and, the trickiest of all, how to put on a dragon-harness in under five minutes!

Once through the portal in the land of Snijela, they must pass as veterans, make friends with other dragons and figure out why they've actually been sent on their Task in the first place. Add in a volatile young queen, two feuding nations either on the verge of peace or all out war, as well as spies, sexism and an alarming acceleration in Charlie's premonitions, and nothing is ever going to be straightforward.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Every day during this giveaway, we are also posting a letter, collect the letters and at the end of Advent, you'll have a message 24 letters long. Tell us what that message in from Christmas Day to New Year and you are in for the chance of winning all 24 eBooks from the giveaway!


Today's letter is C.