Royal British Legion encourages celebrations for VE Day 70

The Royal British Legion and Her Majesty’s Government is calling on everyone to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) with a weekend of celebrations from the 8-10 May.   Local communities are being asked to come together and place the Second World War generation at the heart of the party.

Communities across the UK are being encouraged to organise or take part in celebrations which recognise and salute an extraordinary generation who played such an important part in our history. The Legion is working in partnership with the Government to mark the anniversary and hopes that community halls, public spaces and homes will be decked with bunting and playing music to recreate the celebrations of 70 years ago.

Below, The Royal British Legion shares some top tips and ideas for hosting a VE Day celebration:

1)      Organise a 1940s style tea dance, decorated with bunting and encourage vintage dress

2)      Organise a community singalong of wartime songs to take everyone back to the era

3)      Eat for Victory! Use ration recipes to create the food for your celebration: www.veday.org.uk has lots of recipes on offer

4)      Invite local face painters to paint Union flags on children’s (and adults!) faces

5)      Hold a fancy dress competition with 1940s theme

6)      Have a go at trying to recreate some hairstyles from the 1940s

Community celebrations will reflect the national events taking place in London where Second World War veterans are invited to attend as the nation’s VIPs.  On Sunday 10 May, there will a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, followed by a parade from the Abbey to Horse Guards Parade and into St James’s Park, where the Legion will host a lunch reception for the veterans.

Veterans such as Eric Goldrein will experience the VE Day celebration on UK soil that he never had.  Eric, 94, from Hale Village, Liverpool, served with the Royal Artillery during the Second World War and was in Italy when the news came through that the war in Europe was over.

“We celebrated in a field, the Signallers set up speakers playing music and the locals came out and joined in too, happy that the war was finally over. I heard about the street parties back home and I’m looking forward to being part of these 70th Anniversary celebrations.”

Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson CB CVO, National President of The Royal British Legion, said: “We are honoured to play our part in helping the nation mark 70 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe. The Legion has a responsibility to help the memories of those of who have fought and died in our nation’s Armed Forces live on for future generations. The commemoration of this conflict, still in living memory, gives us the opportunity to salute the Second World War generation.

“We hope all communities will use the VE Day 70 commemorations to thank them and celebrate the role they played in our nation’s history.”

If you don’t plan on organising an event yourself, you can find out what is happening in your local area at www.veday.org.uk or on local government websites www.gov.uk/veday70 .  The Legion’s microsite will also contain ideas and tips on event planning with décor and recipe inspiration.

It Always Rains on Sundays

It Always Rains on Sundays is a new novel by Roger Johnson.

It's a amusing read that has the ability to make you laugh. A lot.

Colin Quirke is 40, he is a poetry lover and works as a librarian.

He has been happily wed to Cynthia for 13 years, they have two children and everything is wonderful at their home in swanky De Lacey Street.

That's Roger's take on his marriage. But if you were to ask Cynthia, she would have a different opinion. For Cynthia is bored. Dangerously bored.

A new couple move in to the house next door, Eddie and Avril, who have a motto that "life is for living!" and this involves hosting wild, noisy parties.

Avril decides to take Cynthia under her wing and the two women begin enjoying girlie nights out on the town.

But then, Eddie finds out that life is for living only until the moment you get killed in an unfortunate micro-light mishap.

Cynthia decides to help Avril get through her pain by taking her over the Atlantic to Miami.

But then along comes a chap called Kevin Ranker who is a bit of a Lothario with a reputation for wrecking marriages.

Will Cyn and Col go their separate ways? Does Colin even care? After all, love amongst the stacks could beckon with the new librarian colleague. Plus there's the delightful Alison at the local Poetry Society.

What on earth will happen next?

It's published by Matador, is a jolly good read of over 600 pages and is £8.99 in paperback.

ISBN 978 1 78462 1 803

And as an E-book at £2.99

ISBN 978 1 78462 8 383

www.troubador.co.uk

Ultimate Justice by Trevor Stubbs

In his latest novel, Ultimate Justice, author Terry Stubbs continues to bring his readers the stories of his characters from his first novel, the Kicking Tree, another White Gates adventure.

You will rejoin Jack, Jalli, Momori and Matlida. How are their children doing as they grow up and progress through life on the planet Joh?

Where will they travel as they leave their planet and, once more, traverse the great universe to visit undiscovered, new worlds via the mysterious portals, the White Gates?

Follow them as they embark upon remarkable journeys where they will meet people for the very first time. And some who they will meet again.

But each journey is more than just a journey. for they are being employed by a higher power who wishes their visits to bring hope and succour to these people.

Trevor Stubbs has an interesting philosophy of life: "I hate injustice and oppression, especially against the weak and the vulnerable and want to speak out."

Trevor uses his undoubted skills as a master storyteller and a magical weaver of tales to bring about such justice.

Ultimate Justice is published by Matador in paperback at £8.99.

The ISBN is 978-1-78462-212-1.

www.troubador.co.uk/matador.

Child of the Covenant

Child of the covenant is another book by author Kim Gravell.

It is Book Two of her Dark Places novels.

It continues where her first book leaves off.

It tells the continuing story of Aidan, Gwen and Eldritch, three very real and very fallible human beings who face a terrible dilemma.

A demon, kept bound for 100 years solely due to the sacrifice of one incredibly brave man, is breaking free again.

How can our three heroes and heroines hope to defeat the demonic force?

Will they succeed? If so, how?

Will one of them also have to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the whole of humanity? If so, who?

Set in the Wales that Kim Gravell knows so very well it is a clear winner of a book for those who like to dip their toes into the unseen realms.

It is published by Matador in paperback at £12.99.

ISBN 978-1-98462 -099-8.

www.troubador.co.uk/matador

By the Knife by Steve Partridge

is subtitled Love, Hate and Madness..."

It tells the appalling story of the life of John Carter.

Born in the worst of the slums of the London of the eighteen century, to a prostitute mother who sold him into male prostitution at the age of nine, John Carter never had a chance.

An attack by a drunkard who was attempting to rape him led John Carter to kill him with the knife that he always carried about his person.

This simple act of self-defence brought a change to John Carter.
Soo after his first murder he had murdered a client, a wealthy magistrate, and he discovered within him a love for torturing his victims to death with his knife.

He flees London with the Dutch captain of a ship and sets off for a life of maritime adventures and ruthless, psychopathic murders.

David Fletcher is a somewhat different person. He is the son of a rural school teacher. Upon the death of his father, David Fletcher is sent to join the Royal Navy, in which he is to become a member of the Royal Navy officer class.

Eventually he is promoted to the position of Lieutenant.

Eventually, the paths of these two very different young men cross and John Carter attacks David Fletcher, opening a terrible wound across his chest.

But that is not the end of the matter. Does John Carter succeed in his attempts to murder Lieutenant David Fletcher? Or does Lieutenant David Fletcher get the best of John Carter?

Resd this truly engrossing book to find out!

The book touches on many issues such as the dreadful treatment of sailors, the iniquitous slave trade and takes a look at eighteenth century life that is gritty and realistic.

It is very well researched and it is a very worthwhile book by Steve Partridge.

It is published by Matador in paperback at the very reasonable price of £12.99.

The ISBN is 978-1-78462-163-6.

www.troubador.co.uk/matador

Charming! Over 66,800 Cinderella products available on eBay!

As Cinderella hits the cinemas og the UK, it seems people who can’t have access to a Fairy Godmother of their own are flocking to online marketplace eBay.co.uk instead.

There are in excess of 66,800 ‘Cinderella’ related products from tutu-style dresses to blonde wigs. And what's more, www.eBay.co.uk has sold over 550 glass slippers and 1,000 Prince Charming costumes in the past three months.

And shoe listings on eBay seemingly to match the "real life" Cinderella story, as eBay.co.uk has over 260 “left shoes” 4,100 “right shoes” on sale.

As eBay Spokesperson, Laura Wilkinson-Rea says, “It seems you don’t have to be Lily James to star in your own Cinderella story. Far from turning mice into horses, a simple click could help you live happily eBay after.”

MUM’S THE BOSS: Lady Robinson (and her daughter Kate) share the secrets on keeping it in the family

LA based novelist Therese (aka Lady Robinson) manages her husband’s speaking and writing career across the globe.

Her daughter Kate, a consultant to her parents’ business and an events producer, works closely with her on events for her dad (top TED speaker Sir Ken Robinson) and also promotes her mother’s books and blog. With Mother’s Day approaching, they both discuss tips on their working relationship.

Says Therese “ The mother daughter relationship is a complex one but like any other, when the chemistry is right, it can make for a great partnership. We might be divided by the Atlantic Ocean (I’m in LA and Kate is in London) but we have some clear rules of engagement that make for a powerful dynamic.”

Therese:

1.     Dress for success.  At home I’ll be at the computer writing in my pyjamas, but I do my best to look pulled together when I’m at meetings. Kate always looks polished and professional. This helps set the tone for both of us when we’re in public mode.

2.     Work out your respective strengths and weaknesses. We’re lucky that we’re both good about deadlines and that’s a deal breaker for me. I’ve taught her that if you say you’re going to do something, do it to the best of your ability and deliver on time and she does. We also have very clearly designated areas of responsibility. Kate is in charge of specific aspects of a project. I really enjoy the creativity she brings to our planning sessions. While I have years of experience, she brings a fresh perspective and a youthful energy. She’s savvy about social media, and a great networker. We learn a lot from each other.

3.     Agree a cut-off point. We are both good at putting work to bed when we chat on the phone long distance over the weekends. Work happens in working hours unless it’s urgent. When I’m in London we enjoy having dinner and sharing a bottle of Sancerre but we have an embargo on discussing projects when it’s downtime.

4.      Agree the terms of engagement. Kate is paid a consultancy rate that is comparable with her other clients. This may be more difficult as you set out on a new venture, but in the spirit of things I think it’s important to agree the financial terms so that there are incentives and independence on both sides.

Kate:
1.        Make it fun.  There's a lot of trust between us. We have conversations that are honest and know that we can throw out any ideas, no matter how ridiculous without judgment. We don't get self conscious about it.

2.        Try to keep the balance between work and other things. There are times especially at the start of a project when we run things by each other casually and have long 'work' chats, but what’s great is that we can leave things and move on, come back later when we’ve let thoughts and ideas develop organically.

3.        Use your gut instincts. I feel that I know what’s in my mum’s best interests and she allows me to make decisions on her behalf. She isn’t breathing over my shoulder. Sometimes I don’t bother mentioning to people that we’re related. It really isn’t relevant a lot of the time.

4.        Listening to each other is important. I value mum’s opinion even if I don’t always agree with it. We’re lucky that we’ve always had a great relationship and been very close (with a slight hiatus during my teenage years, but we won’t go there!)


Read more about Thérèse’s adventures at www.thereseblogs and pick up her latest novel ‘Letter from Paris’, published by The Story Plant and available from Amazon $11.71, as well as Kindle.