Practical Cookery Website

Local mum Sinead Ferguson and her husband, Mark (pictured) are both qualified chefs. Sinead was keen on all things food related from the age of 15 and won a county cookery competition, going on to study professionally. Mark has worked as a senior chef in a number of places over the years. But Mark was furloughed during the first lockdown and like many the family ended up working from home and home schooling their son. With so many of us combining working from home with home schooling it’s difficult to find the time to properly plan healthy, family friendly meals whilst ensuring nobody is spending unnecessary amounts of time in the kitchen. Like many of us, the couple saw the initial panic buying in supermarkets so set out to create a range of recipes using up all the odds and ends in our cupboard and freezer. At the same time, Mark’s mum had an extended stay in hospital and so the family helped to manage her allotment plots. From this experience, the couple’s motto soon became ‘Grow It, Cook It, Eat It’. Sinead and Mark wanted to share their expertise with other families, providing hints and tips on how you can get ahead with meal planning by loving your freezer and batch cooking. So they launched a website; www.thymetocook.co.uk. Here you will find practical tips, money saving ideas and innovative recipes for the whole family. Whether it is overnight oats, Soda bread or smoothies, to easy to make tray bakes, casseroles and pies to easy and tasty soup (see photo above) to sticky toffee pudding or brownies. There is something for everyone, most of the recipes using ingredients you will have already in the cupboard or freezer. Get inspiration on recycling and store cupboard essentials and make life easier for yourself. They also have an Instagram page thymetocook2021 and there is a facebook page under the name Sinead Ferguson. The couple invites you to share any tips or recipes with them too, so this is very much a community affair.

Spiced Carrot and Lentil Soup with Coriander and Garlic Flatbreads

By Mike Bodnar By Mike Bodnar The impacts of Covid-19 on the mainstream But before you start you need to ask, 'How The impacts of Covid-19 on the mainstream book market are many, with closed But before you start you need to ask, 'How will I define success?' In the examples of sellbook market are many, with closed bookshops, cancelled book launches and pub- will I define success?' In the examples of sell-out self-published books above, success is in bookshops, cancelled book launches and publishers' plans in disarray. However, none of out self-published books above, success is in sales numbers, rave reviews, contracts and lishers' plans in disarray. However, none of this seems to have stopped writers. sales numbers, rave reviews, contracts and film deals. But success can be a lot more this seems to have stopped writers. With more time stuck at home due to the pan- film deals. But success can be a lot more modest than that. With more time stuck at home due to the pandemic, an increasing number of people are modest than that. For example, let's say you wish to write your demic, an increasing number of people are using the opportunity to write that novel, For example, let's say you wish to write your family history. Your 'market' is likely your using the opportunity to write that novel, memoir or history book, and submit it. In a family history. Your 'market' is likely your immediate and extended family. So, they get memoir or history book, and submit it. In a recent report, one publisher said that their immediate and extended family. So, they get to own a professionally-published record of recent report, one publisher said that their normal workload of four or five manuscripts a to own a professionally-published record of the family history, while you have the satisnormal workload of four or five manuscripts a day had increased since Covid to as many as the family history, while you have the satisfaction of being the originator of the work. day had increased since Covid to as many as 16 a day. faction of being the originator of the work. There's no financial reward and no film deal, 16 a day.So competition is intense, but you can bypass There's no financial reward and no film deal, but your market – small and intimate as it is –So competition is intense, but you can bypass mainstream publishing altogether by self- but your market – small and intimate as it is will be delighted with what you've created. –mainstream publishing altogether by selfpublishing, which an increasing number of will be delighted with what you've created. Or you might write a travel memoir, based on publishing, which an increasing number of indie authors are doing – and not necessarily Or you might write a travel memoir, based on your adventures riding a motorbike half way indie authors are doing – and not necessarily due to a fear of rejection. your adventures riding a motorbike half way round the world. Here you want to entertain due to a fear of rejection. Self-published books are finally breaking round the world. Here you want to entertain and inspire others, so your target market is the Self-published books are finally breaking through the decades-old stigma they've had, and inspire others, so your target market is the armchair traveller and would-be adventurer. through the decades-old stigma they've had, namely that if it's self-published then by defi- armchair traveller and would-be adventurer. Success therefore might be readers saying namely that if it's self-published then by definition it's inferior. (And yes, it has to be said Success therefore might be readers saying they enjoyed your book so much that they're nition it's inferior. (And yes, it has to be said that some books are sadly wanting.) On the they enjoyed your book so much that they're now planning their own adventure. that some books are sadly wanting.) On the upside, self-publishing has become the meth- now planning their own adventure. But success could also include that your pubupside, self-publishing has become the method of choice for many successful writers be- But success could also include that your publishing and promotional costs have been covod of choice for many successful writers because it generates a bigger share of sales reve- lishing and promotional costs have been covered by sales, to the point where the book cause it generates a bigger share of sales revenue, while offering more control over the ered by sales, to the point where the book doesn't owe you anything. Any subsequent nue, while offering more control over the work. doesn't owe you anything. Any subsequent sales are a bonus, (maybe enabling you to work.The Martian, Fifty Shades of Grey, Still Alice, sales are a bonus, (maybe enabling you to create an audio book version!). The Martian, Fifty Shades of Grey, Still Aliceand The Shack are all successful self, create an audio book version!). Success in self-publishing is what you make and The Shack are all successful selfpublished works, but what 'success' looks like Success in self-publishing is what you make it, and not just about rave reviews, getting on published works, but what 'success' looks like is important, as we'll see. it, and not just about rave reviews, getting on a best-seller list, or striking a movie deal. is important, as we'll see. Self-publishing options are many, largely a best-seller list, or striking a movie deal. So if you've been thinking of using lockdown Self-publishing options are many, largely thanks to the internet and digital publishing So if you've been thinking of using lockdown to finally turn that book idea into reality, go thanks to the internet and digital publishing opportunities; on-demand printing, eBooks, to finally turn that book idea into reality, go for it. But decide upfront what your success is opportunities; on-demand printing, eBooks, and audio books can be achieved easily, and for it. But decide upfront what your success is going to look like. Now, get on that keyboard! and audio books can be achieved easily, and with potentially much greater profits than going to look like. Now, get on that keyboard! with potentially much greater profits than traditional publishing. traditional publishing. Then there are self-publishing companies, Then there are self-publishing companies, providing everything from proofreading and providing everything from proofreading and editing through to cover design, printing, marediting through to cover design, printing, marketing and sales management. You choose keting and sales management. You choose how much of a package you want, or can afhow much of a package you want, or can afford. ford. Mike Bodnar is a local self-published author Mike Bodnar is a local self-published author and blogger. He is keen to start a Sunbury and blogger. He is keen to start a Sunbury writers' group once lockdown restrictions writers' group once lockdown restrictions allow. If you're interested, email Mike on allow. If you're interested, email Mike on mgbodnar@gmail.com mgbodnar@gmail.com

By Chloe-May Cuthill (pictured)

2020 was one of the toughest years ever and it took it’s toll on so many. With problems arising because of the pandemic; people losing their jobs or being furloughed and schools closing, this led to the highest numbers of children feeling lost, alone and scared. The NSPCC saw their helpline numbers dramatically increase due to children being confined to home and subjected to abuse. I know all too well what it’s like to feel alone and scared, I was a victim of child abuse from the age of 9 up until the age of 12. But in 2017 I came forward to the police with the help of the NSPCC and after 3 long years of investigations justice was finally served. I had kept what happened to me quiet for 17 years so it was now time to speak up and share my story. At the beginning of 2020 I decided to share what had happened to me on social media and the response I received was overwhelming. I knew I now wanted to do something positive out of a massive negative. I sat down and started to write a book. I wasn’t sure what direction I was going to go at first but after drafting lots of ideas I knew I wanted to write a children’s book. The main aim of my book ‘The Ring of Dark Shadows’ is to get more people, young and old, to talk openly about abuse and to eradicate the stigma around it as well as the shame. If we can bring the subject into everyday life then it will encourage children and adults to speak up and come forward. I want children to know they always have a voice and that their voice will always be heard. ‘The Ring of Dark Shadows’ has six realistic stories with a powerful message about different types of child abuse. The stories reflect on friendship, bravery and speaking up. My book isn’t scary and it doesn’t ever mention actual abuse. I have written it carefully and safely so children will understand. I realise parents will be scared and wary about discussing topics of abuse with their children, it’s a conversation that’s difficult to address and knowing how or when is sometimes the toughest part and then normally ignored. This is why I wanted to write a book that can be a conversation starter between children and their parents. My main character Avie doesn’t experience abuse, she sees the danger and then helps her friends and family. If my book can educate children recognise danger and the different types of abuse out there and how to stop it by speaking up then I have succeeded. I have also added relevant information for children to report abuse if they need to at the end of the book and 10% goes towards the NSPCC and 10% goes towards RASASC. I am currently writing my memoirs which I hope to publish sometime this year and I’m hoping my story will encourage others out there to come forward and know they are not alone. Child abuse still carries huge stigma and is not talked about enough. People who have suffered abuse need to know they will be believed. Let’s silence the shame not the subject. To keep up with my story please head to my Facebook page Let’s Talk About Abuse. On there I discuss problems and issues that I have overcome with the hope of helping others speak up and not feel alone or isolated.

My book ‘The Ring of Dark Shadows’ is available on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/RINGDARK-SHADOWS-Chloe-May-Cuthill/ dp/1912821788 or you can order directly from my website www.chloemaycuthill.com

If you have concerns about child abuse, relating to yourself or someone you know, support is always available online or by telephone from the NSPCC: www.nspcc.org.uk or you can call 0808 800 5000.