Happy Publication Day to Vivienne Bolton! Her brilliant Homemaking and Housekeeping: Forgotten Wisdom for Modern Times is out today with @octopus_books_ It celebrates the rites and rituals that for centuries have marked the seasons around the world, from natural spring cleaning to the planting of seeds, through the summer months where home and garden can be enriched with floral and edible bounty, from rose petal pot pourri to fresh herb cheeses; in the autumn, harvest time offers an abundance of preserving, pickling and drying, while winter brings remedies for sore throats, recipes for steamed puddings and instructions on how to make candles.

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Philip Palmer’s drama airs on @bbcradio4 Saturday Feb 28th. Paul lives a quiet, tightly controlled life, dividing his time between the gym and his local pub. A former boxer, he keeps his distance from the world. Then he meets Duncan.
Charismatic, reckless and impossible to ignore, Duncan draws Paul into an unlikely friendship that begins to change everything.
As their bond deepens, Paul finds himself pulled towards excitement, risk and a sense of belonging he thought he’d lost. But beneath the humour and warmth of their connection lies a growing unease, as trust is tested and lines begin to blur. Told through shifting perspectives, Like A Brother is a tense psychological crime drama about friendship, loyalty and the danger of letting the wrong person too close. Directed by Tracey Neale @philippalmerreadsbooks66 @bbcsounds

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