Don’t miss Tracy Baines’ The Seaside Girls Under Fire!

There’s nothing quite like getting a pie in the face to make the audience laugh, is there?

Many moons ago, in my other life, I was company assistant stage manager for the pantomime at the Fulcrum Theatre in Slough. Charlie Drake was topping the bill in Aladdin, and my husband and his brother were appearing as the policemen.

My main duties were setting the props, one of which was filling a shopping trolley full of sweets for Charlie’s first entrance. He would stride out on stage, utter his catchphrase ‘Hello, my darlings,’ and throw them out into the audience. Kids – and adults – would leap from their seats to catch them. It’s a great way to get the audience on your side!

Another of my tasks was to fill a large dresser with custard pies for the slosh scene. Stan Simmons who was appearing as the Grand Vizier came to give me and another member of the stage crew lessons in how it was to be done.

This is how many of the old variety tricks are passed on – not written down but shown – if you’re lucky.

We had a kettle, a pile of shaving sticks, paper plates, food colouring and a piping bag.

The soap sticks were grated into a bucket and boiling water, straight from the kettle, was poured over them. We added a little food colouring – and then whisked. The manual whisk was damned hard work and soon replaced by an electric drill with whisk attachment.

Once it reached the required consistency the ‘custard’ was piled onto plates and shaped to look like cakes and trifles. Red custard filled a piping bag, and cherries and berries were added. I often thought of the people who got the pies in the face. It was soap after all and stung the eyes, but it looked fantastic, and being the right consistency stuck to their faces, dramatic and comic effect achieved as they wiped it from their eyes. Those old pros really suffered for their art, I can tell you.

A few years later I effectively ‘retired’ when I had my son. Mr B was in panto in Croydon, and I stayed at home – until I got a phone call.

‘We’re making custard pies for the slosh scene and the crew can’t get it right. Can you come down and show them how it’s done?’

How could I ignore such an emergency call.

The next day I was on the train, headed for the Ashcroft Theatre in Croydon to demonstrate the art of making proper slosh!

The panto was Dick Whittington starring Pete Murray, Nicholas Parsons and Helen Shapiro and I used it as inspiration for the panto in The Seaside Girls Under Fire. It has a ship and lots of dirty rats – what more could you ask for!

You’ll love the antics of Morwenna and her family, and how they combine to solve the crimes. Meet them in The Seal Bay Series!

Morwenna is in her sixties. She lives in Seal Bay, Cornwall, in number 4, Harbour Cottages, with a splendid view of the ocean. Her ex, handsome fisherman Ruan Pascoe, lives across the road at number nine, but that’s a whole different story.

Morwenna works at the library in the mornings, and in her family business, the Proper Ansom Tearoom, in the afternoon. The library is haunted by Lady Elizabeth Pengellen, a ghost who full-time librarian Louise is convinced helps Morwenna solve crimes, although feisty Morwenna thinks she does it with the help of her family, friendly police officer Jane Choy and her cat Brenda.

She is often seen riding her electric bicycle; she goes wild swimming with the SWANS, and is very much at the heart of the Seal Bay community. Her romance with suave London surgeon Barnaby is progressing slowly. He’s a lovely man, but is he the right one? Morwenna cannot seem to forget Ruan, who always seems to turn up when she needs him.

In the third novel in the series, The Cream Tea Killer, Morwenna investigates the death of a dear friend. It appears to be an accident. But things are not at all what they seem…

Lamorna, Morwenna’s mother, is in her eighties. She adores men but seems to have no luck in love. In Bloodshed on the Boards, she fell for actor Daniel Kitto, and that ended badly. But she is a fiercely loyal Cornishwoman who defends her family and, despite complaining, isn’t afraid to do her stint in the family tearoom. She is very close to Elowen, and probably a bad influence.

Tamsin, in her late twenties, is Morwenna and Ruan’s daughter. As well as being a single mother, she runs the tearoom. She is just as feisty as her mother and grandmother. Tamsin wants nothing more than to be a good mother to Elowen. Since a romance in Foul Play at Seal Bay, Tamsin hasn’t had a boyfriend, although she and her friend Becca enjoy an occasional wild night on the town while Elowen has a sleepover with her grandmother.

Elowen, Morwenna’s granddaughter, is six years old and a handful, a ‘little heller.’ At this point in the series, no-one knows who her father is, although when Tamsin came back from a holiday pregnant, the new baby was welcomed without question. Elowen says,

‘Billy in my class said he’d heard that my mummy went to the carry out on holiday and she came back with me in her belly.’

Morwenna said, ‘She went to the Caribbean on holiday and came back with you in her belly.’ She ruffled Elowen’s hair. ‘That’s OK.’

Elowen is loved and yet, despite her experiences in Foul Play at Seal Bay, Morwenna and her family are firm about how they raise her. She desperately wants a dog, but isn’t allowed one until she proves herself grown up enough, and that means consistent good behaviour.

Christmas in Paris with Rebecca Raisin

It’s always been my dream to spend Christmas in Paris when the City of Lights transforms into a festive winter wonderland. Christmas markets pop-up in every arrondissement selling a variety of gourmet food and festive offerings, such as vin chaud, spiced aromatic mulled wine to warm your hands as you peruse the stalls with the nutty scent of roasted chestnuts hanging heavy in the air. There are twinkling Christmas lights as far as the eye can see. Skaters swishing by on ice rinks. Musicians playing jaunty Christmas carols. The city is dressed in its best decorations.

There’s also the joie de vivre of visiting the most romantic city in the world as snowflakes dust the gargoyles who perch high above the city, keeping it safe. Paris is always a feast for the senses but more so at Christmastime when the city really comes alive, especially in the evenings. 

When I wrote Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel I spent a lot of time researching festive activities for my cast of characters to participate in. I became swept away by just how much there is to do in Paris to celebrate the holiday season. Here is a list of my favourite Christmas offerings if you’re travelling to Paris or plan to one day… 

Christmas Markets

La Marché de Noël Notre Dame on the Left Bank is one of my favourite pop-up Christmas markets. It’s central to everything and jam packed with vendors selling food, artisanal creations, regional gastronomy, including every type of French cheese you can imagine, sausages and comfort food that that will make your mouth water. There are drinks, gifts, Christmas decorations, cosy woolly scarfs and hats, chocolates, sweets and so much more. Even Pere Noël makes an appearance and there are lots of activities for kids, like storytelling and colouring in competitions. It is truly magical when coupled with the stunning back drop of the Notre Dame Cathedral and the lapping of the River Seine in the distance. 

If you’re feeling more adventurous then head to Tuileries Marché de Noël across from the Louvre. Don a pair of ice skates and glide around a Parisian rink. Every Christmas the Tuileries Garden is transformed into a festive market featuring Swiss-style wooden chalets, serving festive fare and warm drinks. Not only is there an ice-skating rink but there’s also a Ferris wheel that gives you a bird’s eye view of the stunning city below. As always, you’ll be assailed by the scent of French food so make sure you go when you’re hungry! 

If you’re prepared to explore a bit further out then I suggest you go to La Défense de Noël, a giant Christmas village and hidden gem in the business district. This is where the locals go! You’ll find food, gifts and festive scenes such as Maison de Pere Noël, Santa’s House. There are nativity scenes, performers and DJs in the village square as well as lots for kids. While it might be further to travel it’s definitely worth it for the quality on offer, the huge expanse of activities and the stunning view of the business district skyline. 

A Christmas Tree to Remember

A trip to Galeries Lafayette in the 9th arrondissement near Opera Garnier is a must. The upmarket French department store is famous for its Christmas tree and window displays. The beauty of this Christmas tree is the Byzantine Dome ceiling that sits above and almost steals the show. There are over 20,000 lights in their displays and customers are treated to a sound and light show every thirty minutes. It’s the perfect place to buy a Christmas ornament to take home as a keepsake to remember your holiday. 

A Light Stroll  

The Champs-Élysées, arguably the world’s most beautiful avenue, becomes even more enchanting at Christmas when the hundreds of horse chestnut trees that line both sides are adorned with millions of twinkling Christmas lights from The Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. There is plenty to do and see as you take a stroll down the avenue, including La Patiniore, an ice-skating rink, Christmas markets, cafés and restaurants including Ladurée, a patisserie famous for their macarons. 

Prisms of Light

A visit to Sainte-Chapelle royal chapel is good any time of year but particularly so at Christmas when they offer a classical music Christmas programme. Sink into the sounds as you’re bedazzled by the jewel-like beauty of the 13th century stained-glass windows. It’s like being inside a kaleidoscope; a breathtaking experience and one you won’t forget. 

A Jurassic Garden 

Every year there’s a new theme at the Jardin des Plantes, the botanical gardens in the Latin Quarter who offer the Winter Festival of Lights, running from November to January. This year they’re showing the Jurassique en voie d’Illumination where the open-air park comes alive with illuminated creatures from the Jurassic era in this immersive outdoor festival under the glittering stars of Paris. This epic display of illuminated art is a must-see for all ages. 

There is so much more to see and do in Paris during the festive season! If you’d like to read about the Christmas shenanigans my characters get up to in Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel you can find the book here.

Follow the Boldwood blog as I’ll be posting more Paris hidden gems soon! 

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Paris during the festive season and found it hard to leave, knowing I’d be returning home to hot weather and food that was definitely not French. When I wrote my latest book, Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel, it felt like a bit of an ode to that time, that feeling of being in a city that really puts on a show at Christmas. Like me, my characters spend a lot of time meandering around the Christmas markets because there is so much on offer with activities like ice skating and rides on Ferris Wheels, which I duly participated in, knowing the food would come next…

There is an abundance of Christmas markets in Paris, and it should be no surprise they’re packed with gastronomic delights that are a feast for the senses and have the added bonus of being kind on the budget. It’s almost impossible to choose what to eat so make sure you go when you’re hungry as you’ll be spoilt for choice. Here’s a selection of my favourite delectable morsels you’re likely to encounter…

1. 1. Vin Chaud. Aromatic spicy mulled wine that also serves to warm the hands as you wander the market. 
   2. Châtaignes grillées. Roasted chestnuts. The smoky, nutty snack are a must and you’ll find them everywhere during the festive season. 
   3. Tartiflette, originating from the French Alps, is essentially a potato bake on steroids. It’s layered with reblochon cheese, salty lardons, onions and creamy potatoes. 
   4. Choucroute Garnie, an Alsatian sausage dish served with sauerkraut, salted meat and potatoes.  
   5. Chocolat chaud, hot chocolate is next level in Paris! 
   6. Crêpes au sucre, thin and delicate, served simply with sugar and butter.
   7. Galettes, oh so good! Crispier than a crepe and filled with sweet or savoury delights.
   8. Raclette, ooey gooey melted cheese served over charcuterie, cornichons, or potatoes. A must for any food lover. 
   9. Beignets, deep fried donut-like balls of goodness. One is never enough. 
   10. Canelés, a small pastry filled with rum custard and has a crunchy sweet caramelised outer shell. They might look unassuming but they’re a taste explosion. 
   11. Bretzels, another Alsatian classic, hot soft and buttery, best enjoyed when still warm. 
   12. Pain d’épices, spiced bread that is so comforting it conjures the very essence of Christmas.

Parisian Christmas markets are an experience in themselves. There’s so much to see and do and taste! If you’re holidaying there I recommend trying to visit as many markets as you can. The food on offer is high quality and you’re truly spoiled for choice. Bonne Journée! 

Get your copy of Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel 🇫🇷❤️

Get your copy of Catherine Law’s latest release, The Artist’s Daughter, an irresistibly haunting love story spanning two generations, perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley!

Every evening at the Menin Gate in the town of Ypres, Belgium, at the going down of the sun, a large crowd gathers. Every evening, without fail, buglers march out, people fall silent as the proud and mournful Last Post is sounded.

But pride can slip easily into bitterness among the fields of Flanders and the valleys of the Somme. For here the inhumanity of war is uncovered, just as farmers’ ploughs today churn up a chip of backbone, a stick of rib and a curved piece of skull. More than one hundred years on, shells and bullets, many still live, are another perpetual harvest. I toured the Western Front to try to understand our nation’s degradation of its youth during the First World War, but could only scratch the surface. I could only stand and stare.

Their names are listed row upon row on the Menin Gate, utterly shocking in their thousands but a drop in the ocean among the endless cemeteries and battlegrounds scattered over this huge area spanning the French-Belgium border. The Tommies gave their theatre of war a human and humorous edge, naming places Hellfire Corner, Suicide Road and Blood Alley. They called their tanks Fritz Flatteners. They laughed, of course, or they died. (After all, it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.)

Stand on the Messines Ridge with binoculars and you can see almost the whole of the Line, stretching from Loos in the south to Passchendaele in the north. And in this benign landscape, force yourself to imagine the filth and the noise of war: the firestorm at Hooge where burning oil was jettisoned over trenches; the poisonous quagmire of Ploegsteert; the violent slaughter in the wire at Beaumont Hammel. In Sanctuary Wood, you can still touch bullet holes in the blasted, ragged trees. Watch the river Somme make its peaceful wide sweep through rolling countryside further south and learn of the revolting carnage at Serre, where the mowing down of a generation occurred in approximately ten minutes.

The enormity of the numbers of the dead is beyond belief; the staggering amount who were simply “lost” and unaccounted for driven home by the single word on missing French soldiers’ headstones: Inconnu. The monument at Thiepval will leave you gaping and speechless. All these place names, notorious, stagnant and cold in our collective psyche, should be carved onto every school curriculum.

As the sun goes down over the Western Front, the wind picks up and the grasses rustle but the earth remains silent. And, in the morning, people rebuild their lives. With nonchalant shrugs, farmers erect barns over mine chambers still packed with explosives, they use former dug-outs as wine cellars, they plough up the bones of century-old youth while birds continue to sing from the hedgerows. Life goes on here because that is what the soldiers ceased living for. And they remain in the cemeteries, legions of them, lying perfectly still, perfectly regimented, under pristine headstones.

All seems peaceful on the Western Front. All quiet… apart from, of course, the bird song.