Columbia Community Association’s coffee morning was the usual blast and oh, how Frost Magazine enjoyed it.

Frost Magazine’s editor, Margaret Graham popped in with Dick for a catch-up with the CCA last Friday, and guess what, we were in time for the raffle, and Bingo. Not to mention a piece of Birthday cake. Just look at Linda spoiling Red Shoes Bob with a surprise birthday cake. A modest number of candles had to be blown out, and there were quite enough slices for us all to enjoy. Then it was onto the Bingo which was huge fun. We all had to stand, Bob told us a word. As your number was called, you yelled (and I mean yelled) the word and sat down. The last one standing won a prize. Then there was another round, another word… another prize… And always so much laughter and chat…

We had all bought raffle tickets, and the lucky winner was presented with a basket of goodies. How the time flew, but Margaret managed to catch up with wonderful Marion and Bob, who steer the ship. They filled her in on just a few of the CCA activities.

Everyone loves the Quiz night held every couple of months.(above) This involves a wheel, 14 prizes and if your number is called, you get to spin the wheel for another number. Honestly, the fun these wonderful people have is splendid.

Do you like music? Well, how about the Guitar group for senior citizens on Wednesday evenings 7 – 8. Here at Frost Magazine we long to hear they have written a rock number which has topped the charts. You can be sure there’d be another party with a massive cake. Margaret feels that the ladies should be considering producing a WI type calendar in good time for Christmas, complete with carefully placed fruit of course. The heating would have to be on high. Should she mention this? She will mull. And no, there will be no suggestion that Margaret should be involved, as, she, after all, is not actually a resident of Brady Square, so very there.

Yoga classes are held weekly, with the ‘armchair’ session in the morning and the more energetic session from 2-3 in the afternoon.

Aimee’s dancers are going from strength to strength with classes during the week from 4 – 6.30 and such is the size of Aimee’s following that there is also a larger class at a larger venue on a Saturday.

Of course, there are the war gamers, and the sitting room just for chilling… Heavens, Frost Magazine could go on and on for there is a cornucopia of sessions to choose from at the wonderfully renovated Columbia Community Centre. None of which would be happening without the efforts of Marion, Bob and all their wonderful friends. How proud Frost Magazine is to be associated with them, and it’s just so wonderful for Margaret Graham to be able to whizz up the road to Washington from Thirsk, and in particular Brady Square, where her mum was born, and grew up, and where Margaret often stayed during the summer holidays, in her Uncle Stan’s off licence, which had been his and Margaret’s Mum’s father’s, (Percy) called the Long Pole, or the Long Pull – recollections vary!

On the subject of recollections. Marion is hoping that people will get their memory hats on and jot down any memories they have of Brady Square, and memories they remember their parents’ talking about. So do just jot them down, let Marion have them, and they will all be kept at the CCA for anyone to read, and enjoy.

One morning Margaret will come to the CCA and make notes, and record anything that people remember over a coffee – oooh, yes, and cake please. Date to be advised.

Simply can’t wait to see you all again.

For more information: Columbia Community Association   Memories of Brady Square Columbia uk Community Forum

One In Eight Children’s First Read is The Gruffalo.

World Book Day is upon us and The Gruffalo a first read for 1 in 8 children.

The Gruffalo most popular first read for British children as nation prepares to celebrate World Book Day

  1. One in eight children have The Gruffalo read to them as their first book
  2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar and That’s Not My… series complete the top three
  3. 44% of parents read to children from birth
  4. However, those parents who were late to reading themselves could be stunting their own child’s progression

As the nation prepares to celebrate World Book Day on March 7, a new study has unveiled that The Gruffalo is the go-to book when it comes to reading to our children for the very first time.

The survey, commissioned by The Works, aimed to uncover reading habits among parents and children and whether our own experiences of reading influences how we read to our children, as well as the top books we read to children today.

And the results proved overwhelmingly favourable towards Julia Donaldson titles, with The Gruffalo taking the crown as the number one read book to children. Joining The Gruffalo among the most popular, but just outside the top 10 were the likes of Zog and Room on the Broom, meaning one in five children have a Donaldson book read to them as their very first story.

Donaldson books were joined by some old favourites, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which is still the second most read book to children as a first read despite being over 50-years-old, while the That’s Not My… series, written by Fiona Watt, is the third most common set of books read to children as their first reads.

The full top 10 first books parents read to their children:

  1. The Gruffalo
  2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
  3. That’s Not My… 
  4. Guess How Much I Love You
  5. Peppa Pig
  6. Spot 
  7. The Tale of Peter Rabbit
  8. Dear Zoo
  9. Winnie the Pooh
  10. Harry Potter

When it comes to the age in which we’re reading to our children, book lovers will be pleased to see that 44% of parents pick up a book to engage their children in storytime from birth, while a further 27% of parents do so from under the age of two.

However, the study also revealed that 10% of adults today don’t remember reading their first book until they were in secondary school, resulting in parents 20% less likely to read to their child under the age of two. Alongside this, less than one in five parents that don’t recall reading until after the age of 12 will introduce reading to their own children from birth.

You can view the full study at: https://www.theworks.co.uk/theworks-blog/book-inspiration/the-first-book-we-remember.html

World Book Day takes place on Thursday March 7, 2024. The Works are supporting the charity and are encouraging children and parents to bring their £1 book token into stores between February 15 and March 31 to exchange their token for a book from the World Book Day 2024 range.

You can find out further information here: https://www.theworks.co.uk/page/world-book-day.html

Music Profiles: Bad Habits – Hotel Hell | Great New Music

We love bringing music to people’s attention that they might not have come across. Bad Habits have a wonderful gritty punk-rock feeling and I’m a huge fan. Bad Habits consist of a husband and wife, alongside their son. Their new album, Hotel Hell is out now. Here is the band in the own words:

“Music saved my life but it was also my cover and nearly took it.” – Bad Habits’ Martin Red Butane. He writes dreamlike songs often with a nightmare reference. Creating landscapes and images with his lazy vocals and guitars. You are drawn into his stories and you really feel you are in the plot of the characters, you can touch danger but escape. Accompanied by his family on occasion (3 piece/duo/solo) his wife Glo Butane produces, engineers and plays bass/guitar/keyboards and their son Dakota Red is on cajon/drums. A family of music under his owned trademarked brand Bad Habits (since first used in the 70s). Martin Red was medically retired from his undercover job with PTSD, now with health conditions and injuries from his past life; So he has to sit/use support to perform. However it was not always like this, ” Back in ’78 I was going to give it up while playing a blues jam at the Onslow pub, Southampton when a grubby man came up and asked to jam.” he continues, “he asked if we knew Black Magic Woman? We started to play and it was @Peter Green. After I asked him where he lived he said Salisbury. I asked him how he got here? He said he walked so I took him home to his sister’s house; Pete told me, “Play music for yourself and if other people like it its a bonus.” since 12 yo music was always my centre but life took me to a very different world where I could not be in the limelight. Finally I am free and making music to help my mental health and hopefully other’s as well” 

This is a very organic process. I play live and drive my wife the producer/engineer up the wall as I see every song as a story that I have to emote immediately. We don’t overdub except on the electric guitar parts. I play and sing completely live. My wife uses 3 microphones on me because I can’t double myself every take is different as every gig I play will also be; first one 20 July at Bush Hall, London W12  more dates to follow in support of Mens Health Charities as I’m a disabled musician. 

https://www.facebook.com/BadHabitsMusic

ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1725930821

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/0jXS9zNxMviC7f3echmd4t 

Deezer https://www.deezer.com/album/535391092

 Ecoegg x SpongeBob: Operation Sea Change! Make Your Laundry More Sustainable

I love the Ecoegg. I am always trying to cut down on plastic and be more sustainable. This laundry egg has a guarantee of ten years. All you do is replace the pellets. The new Ecoegg x SpongeBob: Operation Sea Change! smells amazing and is a gorgeous yellow colour.

Dive into a tidal wave of excitement as Ecoegg, the sustainable laundry brand, announces their partnership with Paramount and Nickelodeon for SpongeBob SquarePants: SpongeBob SquarePants: Operation Sea Change!

With a staggering 11 million tonnes of ocean plastic harming marine life each year, this collaboration, launching on 2 January 2024, reflects an alliance of values and a shared mission to help reduce the amount of single use plastic making its way into the oceans.  Inspired by none other than SpongeBob SquarePants, the beloved undersea character. 

To kickstart the collaboration, Ecoegg will be releasing two new products to celebrate SpongeBob SquarePants: Operation Sea Change.

Ecoegg SpongeBob Laundry Egg and Refill Packs: This Tropical Burst fragranced Laundry Egg transports you into a paradise of sweet pineapple tones. There are two versions of the Laundry Egg: the new bio (which includes plant-based enzymes) and the non-bio. Then ‘Sensitive’ and ‘Universal’ formats will be delivered for outside of the UK. The Refill Pellets will encourage consumers to take a stance against single use plastic detergent bottles and embrace the art of reusing. The entire range of ecoegg Laundry Egg’s come with a 10 year guarantee and armoured with a durable eggcase.

Ecoegg Dryer Eggs – Gary and Mary SpongeBob’s pals: The ultimate sidekick to your Laundry Egg, the energy and money saving SpongeBob Dryer Eggs. These help to separate your laundry so that more air can circulate, proven to dry each item up to 28% more quickly. The patented nodules on the eggs are designed to help soften your clothes naturally, providing an additional softener on top of the Laundry Egg’s 2 in 1 formula. 

Ecoegg’s Plastic Saving Mission parnering with SpongeBob:

This partnership is particularly exciting for Ecoegg, as the mission of SpongeBob SquarePants: Operation Sea Change aligns perfectly with Ecoegg’s environmental mission whilst also connecting us with broad audience and other supportive brands. “Educating the next generation on the importance of protecting our oceans is not just a mission; it’s our shared commitment to creating a sustainable future.” says Dawn White, Founder of Ecoegg.

So, mark your calendars, set your alarms, and get ready to make a splash in the laundry room with Ecoegg and SpongeBob SquarePants: Operation Sea Change. Helping make laundry a fun and inspiring journey for the whole family. 

The recommended retail price for the SpongeBob Ecoegg Laundry Egg and Dryer Egg is £10, with a recommended retail price for refills of £6 and the products will be available on Ecoegg’s website (Ecoegg.com) and Amazon.co.uk.

Mark McCrum is really cooking, as they say, with Murder on Tour.

Twenty books and counting, and this is, arguably, the best so far. Yes, it even tops, in my opinion, the Number One bestseller Somebody Someday with Robbie Williams which was a huge success. After all, there aren’t many authors who can claim that their debut crime novel was longlisted for the Independent on Sunday’s 2014 Alternative Booker prize and also selected as the Mail on Sunday’s Thriller of the Week, I particularly love this quote from Mail on Sunday Thriller of the Week ‘A marvellous set of unsavoury suspects… good, nasty fun with a ring of truth.’

Well, how about this from Frost Magazine for Murder on Tour ‘Worthy coach tours pale into insignificance when compared with a rock star’s crazy sex, drugs, rock n roll tour, liberally sprinkled with a good dose of suspicious deaths. Fun it certainly is, page turning too. Come on, live a little…’

Wanna hear more (well, one does get influenced by these crazy musicians).

Crime Writer, Francis Meadowes, has been offered his first paid detective gig, and goes on the road with a gender-fluid rock star, Jonni K, tagging along as the musician’s entourage travels from Copenhagen to Berlin and on round Europe. What could possibly go wrong?

Jonni’s manager is already troubled by a fatal overdose on a tour bus, but then the star is attacked on stage. Then, guess what, the lead guitarist is electrocuted by his own instrument.

It is when another band-member drowns in a hotel bath Francis realises he must earn his money and find out what exactly is going on. Well, yes… I should say so. Does he do his job?

Oh come on… You know me better than that. Read, enjoy, worry, snigger, and see if you can guess who dun it. You’ll love it.

Murder on Tour by Mark McCrum pub Bloodhound Books 9.99 and ebook.

THEATRE REVIEW: Wish You Weren’t Here at Soho Theatre, London “It’s an hour very well-spent” says reviewer Paul Vates – Drama Critic

As we all know, sometimes less is more – and this little play falls into this category. I usually bemoan the fact that sixty-minute (or one-act) plays haven’t been fleshed out and can leave an audience yearning for more … but Wish You Weren’t Here is an accomplished piece of writing by Katie Redford.

Mum Lorna (played by Eleanor Henderson) and daughter Mila (Olivia Pentelow) are on a weekend break to Scarborough, where they used to come when Mila was a child and Nan was still alive. But Mila is now 16, has just received her GCSE results and would rather be partying with her friends back in Sheffield than hanging about arcades, Wetherspoons and the hotel room with her embarrassing mother. However, Lorna just wants to have fun – she is only 32-years-old – and longing for her lost twenties. Mila shows classic signs of teenage angst.

They love each other but somehow can’t connect no matter how they try. Two generations breathing the same air but unable to articulate their differences. So much frustration about the world, about each other, about the loss of Nan. But this isn’t a sad piece – there is a lot to enjoy and laugh at. Genuinely real performances, full of tenderness and detail, come from both actresses. It’s an hour very well-spent.

A simple and effective set, designed by Bethany Wells, allows a surprising amount of movement from a small show that has been touring the UK, with Brighton and Guildford still on the horizon after this London sojourn. Director Rob Watt has created a piece that is full of warmth, leaving just the right amount of breathing space for the two performers to fill.

Photography Chris Saunders Writer Katie Redford Director Rob Watt

Movement Director Kiren Virdee Designer Bethany Wells Musical Director Ellie Verkerk

Running Time 60 minutes Age Restrictions 12+ Until Saturday 2nd March 2024

Check with the theatre for show times . Venue Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE vhttps://sohotheatre.com/events/wish-you-werent-here

Website https://www.theatre-centre.co.uk/shows/wish-you-werent-here

Instagram @sheffieldtheatres @theatrecentre Facebook @shefftheatres

@TheatreCentreU Twitter @crucibletheatre @TCLive #WishYouWerentHere

Future Tour Dates 7th-8th March 2024 Brighton Dome

https://brightondome.org/whats_on/

14th-15th March 2024 Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford

https://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/whats-on/wish-you-werent-here

A Woman of Pleasure by Kiyoko Murata – translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter and reviewed by Kate Hutchinson

Most of us are familiar with Memoirs of Geisha. Is there more we need to know about sexworkers In early 20th C Japan? It turns out there is and it’s quite a tale. Based on real life events, this is a different story with the same beginning – a girl from a poor family sold to a brothel. 

In 1903 fifteen year old Aci Ichi, daughter of a female sea diver, is taken to the most exclusive brothel in Kumamoto, Japan where she becomes the protegee of the highest ranking courtesan. As she is educated in the ways of the work, she comes to understand the power of sex and money intertwined. But the new recruits are also taught to read and write, and encouraged by her tutor, Ichi learns to think clearly and express herself in writing. Gradually the women of the brothel begin to work together to take control of their lives and, influenced by the local shipyard workers, they take decisive action and go on strike.

Really interesting, and key to the story, is the use of literacy. Ichi expresses herself through the poetry she writes in class, full of vivid ideas and emotion, which contrasts with the smooth, over-complimentary letters the courtesans write to their clients.

Possibly a little long, but well-worth reading to the end, whilst appreciating our ability to do so.

A Woman of Pleasure by Kiyoko Murata Translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter 

ISBN 978-1-804-44101-5 Pub: FOOTNOTE Press £12.99

Estella’s Revenge by Barbara Havelocke Book Review

When Estella’s Revenge arrived at Frost HQ I made an audible gasp. The gorgeous cover, the fact it’s a retelling of Great Expectations, Miss Havisham’s daughter is the main character…, I mean, come on. what is there not to love? Was I let down? Not even a little. The writing is exceptional and the story is dark and delicious.

It is obvious that a huge amount of research went into this novel, but also a very deep love for Great Expectations and the characters. The love and knowledge is obvious in every single page. This book is original, gothic and completely unforgettable. It belongs on the shelf next to Great Expectations itself. When reading the novel it feels like not much has changed for women, yet there is hope in this novel. Of women saving themselves and enduring. Of survival. A must-read.