THISMONTH …
THISMONTH
We ’ re reading …
A MAN CALLED OVE BY FREDERIK BACKMAN
A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door . Meet Ove . He ' s a curmudgeon , the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window . He has staunch principles , strict routines , and a short fuse . People call him ‘ the bitter neighbour from hell ’, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn ' t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time ? Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness … A Man Called Ove is a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats , unexpected friendship , and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul .
From £ 6 , www . amazon . co . uk
We ’ re picnicking with …
OLLY ’ S OLIVES
Olly ’ s Olives are naturally vegan and gluten-free , all under 95 calories per packet , and made delicious by mouthwatering marinades . Packaged in handy pouches with no stones , no messy oils and no artificial preservatives , they are the brainchild of lifelong olive fanatic , Olly Hiscocks , who grew tired of poor quality snacks so much so that he turned down medical school in order to change how we eat olives . After a year of research and tasting , Olly decided to source his jumbo green olives from Halkidiki , Greece and the key to the taste and texture of Olly ’ s Olives is the fact that they are not pasteurised , a process that adversely affects flavour , consistency and nutritional content .
By not heat-treating their juicy Halkidiki olives , they retain their crunchy texture , full flavour and excellent nutritional value . Dee-lish .
Snack Pouch Taster Pack £ 9 , https :// shop . ollysolives . com
We ’ re sipping ...
STOPHAM ESTATE PINOT BLANC
One beer too many at a barbecue and you ’ ll leave yourself with little space for all of the delicious food , which is where this brilliant alternative tipple comes in . Ideal for a hot day , Stopham Estate Pinot Blanc is full of fresh acidity and tropical flavours of melon , grapefruit , citrus and pear and is particularly great with seafood fresh off the grill . If you want to pick up this glorious , crisp white personally , you ’ ll have to nip to our neighbouring county and visit Stopham Vineyard ’ s winery in West Sussex ’ s South Downs National Park , where you can try then buy a fantastic range of quality still and sparkling wines .
£ 14.95 , www . stophamvineyard . co . uk
WE ’ RE KEEPING COOL WITH …
We ’ re eating …
MIIRO VEGAN ICE CREAMS
Made with frozen coconut milk , these delicious vegan ice creams are nutritionally bolstered by tasty nuts , sweetened with coconut sugar and Italian grapes , balanced by Himalayan pink salt and fortified with pea protein . Each luxurious gluten-free treat is coated in a thick layer of nutrient-dense raw cacao and contains no refined sugar , no preservatives , and no artificial flavourings . Available in three innovative flavour combinations : salted caramel , peanut butter , and chocolate hazelnut , each variety has been thoughtfully designed for the ultimate rich taste and creamy texture , but with nutrition firmly in mind . The handy on-the-go bars contain a careful balance of protein , carbohydrates and good fats , and they ’ re also rich in fibre .
From £ 6.49 ( pack of 3 ), www . miiro . co . uk
We ’ re listening to …
LORDE – MELODRAMA
Singled out by the late , great David Bowie as “ the future of music ”, Lorde first piqued the attention of music lovers with her debut album , Pure Heroine , back in 2013 . A New Zealander , she lacked the ruthlessness and over-polished ‘ in your face ’ attitude of America ’ s pop princesses , which , ironically , only served to heighten the interest surrounding her . Ironically again , she now resides in New York , the growling belly of the overinflated world of superstardom she so beautifully eye-rolled in her debut hit , ‘ Royals ’… That said , this second album , though clearly more influenced by the industry at large , is still as husky , observant and , well , pleasingly weird , as one would expect from Lorde and it doesn ’ t disappoint .
From £ 5 , www . amazon . co . uk
15