Struggling for ideas to make your Dad feel a bit special this Father’s Day? Well can I suggest Dolce and Gabbana’s classic ‘the one’ Eau de Toilette which just happens to be on special offer at the moment from Perfume Direct? At £46.99 for 50ml, or just £35.99 for 30 ml this is around a 30% off their normal price and I can tell you, if you haven’t already tried it, it’s rather good. Personally I just think the fragrance is gorgeous, but the great thing with buying from Perfume Direct is the expert details they provide on all their perfumes and aftershaves – making sure you get something you really like. So let’s see what their experts say about ‘the one’.

Well it has a warm and spicy fragrance with top notes of coriander, basil and grapefruit, middle notes of ginger, orange blossom and cardamom, and base notes of amber, cedar and tobacco. Just what your Dad likes perhaps?

But ‘Notes?’ I hear your puzzled mutter. Well briefly, Top Notes are the first fragrances you notice and tend to evaporate quickly; they’re followed by the Middle or Heart Notes – the main body of the perfume which lasts longer and is usually well-rounded. And finally the Base Notes – the longest-lasting fragrance which you remember most. But do check out the Perfume Direct Guide to Fragrances. It’s really fascinating and particularly useful if you have no idea what to choose.

The Fragrance Wheel explains all the perfume categories – Floral, Woody, Oriental etc – just choose the scent you like then search Perfume Direct by that category. The Strength Guide also explains how long each perfume will last – from eight hours for an Eau de Parfum to two hours for a lighter Eau Fraiche.

Perfume Direct are a UK company who have built an extensive network of suppliers to source the best price for their customers so you know you’re buying a genuine product at the best price. Well, what are you waiting for? Father’s Day, Mother’s Day or just simply ‘Indulge Yourself Day’ – there’s never a bad time to buy a good scent.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Book of the Week seems a good place to kick off:  a brand-new, utterly gripping crime mystery by Catherine Moloney — CRIME IN THE HIGH STREET is out now for just £0.99 | $0.99:     Welcome to The Copse. A sleepy little cul-de-sac where nothing ever happens, until . . . Sheila Crave, the widow at number 12, is found dead in her armchair.Then a second victim is found and Detective Markham and his team realize they have a serial killer on their hands…

CLICK HERE TO GET CRIME IN THE HIGH STREET BY CATHERINE MOLONEY FOR JUST £0.99 | $0.99.

         
A Bespoke Murder by Jean G. Goodhind   £0.99/$0.99    

BRAND-NEW COZY MURDER MYSTERY FROM A BESTSELLER.    There’s something decidedly sinister about the winner of Bath’s best window display . . . is it the hangman’s noose or the dead body?  Honey Driver and her detective fiancé Steve must crack the case of Nigel Tern’s murder — but not before investigating a puzzling family engagement

The David Callen Thrillers Box Set by James Mitchell   £0.99 | $0.99 

GET FIVE ABSOLUTELY GRIPPING CRIME THRILLERS IN ONE GREAT-VALUE BOX SET.    Featuring professional hitman David Callan, as portrayed by actor Edward Woodward in the immensely popular television series (1967-72).  Perfect for fans of Len Deighton, John le Carre, Ian Fleming and my hero, Frederick Forsyth, who actually offered to come to talk at a charity talk I arranged.

Choclit OUT NOW  The Little Museum of Hope by Sally Jenkins   £2.99 | $3.99

AN UPLIFTING FEEL-GOOD ROMANCE.   Inspired by the Museum of Broken Relationships, newly divorced Vanessa opens her shop to the broken-hearted, offering a cup of tea and a listening ear.  But can the teashop help Vanessa to heal her own heart and offer a second chance at love?  A lovely book. Read it, I beg you.

Simon McCleave is a million-selling crime novelist who lives in North Wales with his wife and two children.  Originally born in South London, when Simon left University he worked in television and film development. He was a Script Editor at the BBC, a producer at Channel 4 before working as a Story Analyst in Los Angeles. He worked on films such as The Full Monty and television series such as the BBC Crime Drama Between The Lines.

Simon then became a script writer for television and film. He wrote on series such as Silent Witness, Murder In Suburbia, Teachers, Attachments, The Bill, Eastenders and many more.  His first book, The Snowdonia Killings, was released in January 2020 and soon became an Amazon Bestseller, reaching No 1 in the UK Chart and selling over 400,000 copies. His thirteen subsequent novels in the DI Ruth Hunter Snowdonia Series have all ranked in the Amazon Top 10, with many hitting the top of the digital charts. He has sold 1.5 million books to date. His highly successful London based DC Ruth Hunter Murder Case books, set in the late 1990s, was snapped up for an audiobook series by market leader WF Howes.

The Dark Tide, Simon’s first book in an Anglesey based crime series for publishing giant Harper Collins (Avon), was a major hit in 2022. Reaching Amazon’s UK top ten, it became the highest selling Waterstone’s Book of the Month ever. In Too Deep, the second book on the series was released in January 2023 to critical acclaim.   The Snowdonia-based DI Ruth Hunter books are now set to be filmed as a major new television series, with shooting to begin in North Wales in 2023.

The first two instalments in Simon’s bestselling DI Ruth Hunter series are completely FREE this weekend and books 3 and 4 are on sale  here: CLICK HERE TO GET THE FIRST 4 BOOKS IN THIS BESTSELLING SERIES FOR JUST £2.98

So let’s find out more about Simon:

How would you describe your main protagonist, Ruth Hunter?

DI Ruth Hunter is an intuitive, sensitive police officer who cares deeply about getting justice for the victims and their families in the cases that she works on. In contrast, Ruth’s private life has been at times chaotic and tragic over the course of the series. I like the contrast of Ruth’s professionalism at work and her more flawed traits outside of work.

Your debut novel, The Snowdonia Killings, was published in January 2020 and now you’re about to release the 15^th instalment in the DI Ruth Hunter series; how do you write so fast?

I spent many years writing television and film scripts. Working on series such as The Bill and Silent Witness involves a lot of speedy writing and re-writing, sometimes having to turn new drafts of scripts around overnight for filming the next day. I think I’ve taken that ability to write quickly into my novel writing.

What do readers like most about your books?

The main comments I get from readers is that they like the central characters of Ruth and Nick in my Snowdonia series. They are both flawed but very likeable people and readers want to find out what is going on in their lives. I also know that readers are drawn to the series because of the landscape of Snowdonia, which has become a character in itself.

Which writers would you say influence and inspire you the most?

Although I like UK writers such as Ian Rankin, Peter James and Lynda La Plante, my main inspiration has come from US crime writers such as James Ellroy, George Pelecanos and Michael Connelly. I’m also hugely influenced by television writers on series such as The Wire and Line of Duty.

How important are the Welsh locations to you?

The Welsh locations are an integral part of my series. Snowdonia is one of the most beautiful places on earth with its mountains, lakes, valleys and beaches. It also has such powerful historic significance with folk tales, myths of monsters and dragons and Arthurian legends, as well as the Roman invasion. It’s such a rich landscape to write about and adds so much to the atmosphere of the books.

The series is about to start filming for TV (congrats!). Can you tell us anything about the casting?

It is very exciting BUT I really can’t tell you about the casting until the production company give me the go-ahead. Sorry. We do have a very well-known actress attached to play Ruth Hunter and she’s going to be brilliant. The scripts are being written so fingers crossed that it will be shooting in North Wales very soon.

What has been your biggest career highlight so far?

I guess it’s little things like seeing my books displayed in the window of Waterstones in Cardiff when The Dark Tide was their Book of The Month. Or when I walked into Tesco in Wrexham and saw In Too Deep on the shelves in there. Generally, I feel very lucky to make a living from doing something that I love, and that’s enough for me.

How can our readers reach you?

Readers can join my VIP email club, get a FREE crime thriller novella featuring DI Ruth Hunter by going to www.simonmccleave.com, as well as updates, new releases and competitions. I’m happy to receive any emails on contact@simonmccleave.com. I love to hear from readers, even if it’s just to say hi, and I reply personally to all my emails.

Now more exciting NEWS:  The wonderful and much missed Gretta Mulrooney longlisted for a Dagger

Joffe are madly truly deeply delighted to announce that their beloved bestselling author, the late Gretta Mulrooney, has been longlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger award with the gripping historical murder mystery Death at the Dolphin.

The shortlist will be announced at a reception at CrimeFest in Bristol on Friday 12 May and winners on Thursday 6 July.

Frost Magazine wishes the best of luck to all the talented authors nominated.

Joffe Books Prize for Crime Writers of Colours 2022 winner announced:

Sam Genever has won the second Joffe Books Prize for Crime Writers of Colour with the ‘thoroughly gripping’ first instalment in a brand-new psychological thriller series.  The annual competition aims to champion authors from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, who are particularly underrepresented in crime fiction publishing, and is open to debut, previously published or self-published writers.

Ten writers were longlisted, judged by award-winning author of My Sister, the Serial Killer, Oyinkan Braithwaite, literary agent Ella Diamond Kahn, Joffe editorial director Emma Grundy Haigh and press founder Jasper Joffe. Genever’s book, which has the working title Savage Terrority, is set in Johannesburg and follows detective Segert Berger as he tries to find a woman and her son who have gone missing. But all is not as it seems . . .

Emma Grundy Haigh, editorial director at Joffe Books, says: ‘I’m delighted that Sam has joined Joffe Books as our second prize winner! From the moment I picked up Sam Genever’s South Africa-set thriller I couldn’t put it down. The opening scene took my breath away. The cat-and-mouse between Augustine — desperate, on the run and not afraid to pack a knife if it means protecting her son — and detective Segert Berger is so tantalising. And then there’s ruthless, vicious Teddy . . . The novel tackles some of the most deep-seated issues that remain pervasive in South African society with depth and nuance.’

Notes from the judges: ‘Such an intriguing work, raw and lyrical in one. The opening scene is powerfully dramatic. The excellent setting and tense atmosphere combine with an ambitious plot to create a novel with massive potential.’

From Sam Genever: ‘I never thought I would win — never in a million years, I was really happy to be shortlisted and told my friends and family that’s good news to get to this stage, but not to get too excited about winning, please! It’s great to be recognised for my craft and it’s great to introduce myself as an author. I stopped writing for a while when I was in the corporate world, but I always felt writing is my calling and I’m glad I’ve made my way back home to it.’

CLICK HERE TO READ SAM’S Q&A WITH THE BOOKSELLER

Launch prices are available for a limited time only.   Do remember, there are many more new books available from Joffe Books for this May Bank holiday.

Yoga is more than just a physical practice. It’s more than just sweat & stretch. It’s an holistic practice that supports physical, mental & emotional wellbeing & it can be a valuable support during the life changing transition of menopause.

There is literally something for everyone. There are so many different styles of yoga ranging from powerful, flowing practices like Ashtanga & Vinyasa to Yin & Restorative yoga which are slower, with poses held for longer. Then there are more spiritual practices like Kundalini yoga which is all about energy.

Yoga in Sanskrit means union – union of body, mind & breath.

When we’re starting out, we tend to focus & concentrate on the pose which has a calming effect as we think of nothing else but practicing the pose.

As we become more experienced, we start to combine the pose with the breath & this helps to clear space in both the body and mind.

This is when yoga moves onto a whole different level: it starts to become a powerful, holistic practice for mental and emotional health as well as physical wellbeing.

This is why I believe it’s an important part of our self-care toolkit during the menopause: it’s more than just a physical exercise.

But let’s start with the physical benefits of practicing yoga: holding poses builds muscle tone, bone density, strength & resilience; gentle stretches improve mobility & flexibility which helps to ward off injuries & relieve aches & pains.

At some level all asanas (yoga speak for poses) benefit both the external body and cleanse internally – the organs, the hormones, the nervous system, flushing out toxins, slowing down the ageing process even.

Did you know that there are breath techniques & yoga poses which can relieve symptoms like hot flushes, menorage, brain fog, anxiety & overwhelm?  Yoga helps relieve & manage stress, improve sleep & eases digestive issues.

Discovering different poses & breath techniques which ease a variety of menopause symptoms enables us to develop our self-care toolkit . We can use these tips when our menopause symptoms start to whisper to us rather than waiting until they are screaming at us.

And this is where the cultivation of awareness is so key in navigating our menopause journey & is another benefit of yoga. As Amit Ray, one of yoga’s great spiritual masters says, “Yoga is the artwork of awareness on the canvas of the body, mind and soul.” Once we’re aware of how our body is ‘talking’ to us through our symptoms we can start to do something about it.

Yoga calms the nervous system. This gets kicked out of kilter thanks to wildly fluctuating & plummeting hormones levels during the menopause. This is interpreted by the body & mind as a stress, initiating the fight or flight response.

This is why stress makes menopause symptoms worse & menopause makes our stress levels worse.

Balancing & aligning our autonomic nervous system by practicing yoga is not only important for longer term health but really helps manage & relieve menopause symptoms.

Apart from the enormous physical, mental, emotional – spiritual even,  benefits of yoga, (for some people) the other great thing is you don’t need expensive equipment & you can do it at home.

Yoga is also accessible to everyone. You don’t need to be bendy. As we say in yoga: yoga isn’t about touching your toes, it’s about what you learn on the way down to touching your toes.

Alex is a yoga teacher, mindfulness coach & menopause mentor & you can find out more:

Website: alexbannard.com

For free resources check out:

Facebook group: Mindfulness & Yoga for Self-Care: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MindfulnessYoga4Relationships

YouTube channel: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexbannard/

Great news: the wonderful Danni has made it through to the next round of “What’s on 4 Kids National Children’s Activities Awards 2023‘.

‘She is an unbelievable person and I am sure we all wish her well and that she comes out top in the ‘Most loved activity leader or business manager in the North’ ‘ says Marion. ‘You most definitely have our vote Danni.’

Congratulations to “Aimee Greens School of Dance”” who attended the West Ridings Championships at the weekend and only went out and smashed it, Frost Magazine have heard. Winners in all categories and some trophies were bigger than the little person who won it. Well done all of you. Your hard work is paying off.

How smart is this silver console table? Marion has popped a little table lamp on the top along with the signing in book and it certainly looks the business. She has also put
together a couple of food hampers to raffle, proceeds to their weekly Friday Coffee mornings.’Our community love a food hamper raffle and they are most certainly worth a quid’s worth of tickets,’ says our ever enthusiastic Marion.

Exciting news. A Belly Dancer is practicing her her dancing at the centre, and the team are ever hopeful that she might offer to train them in the art. Heaven help Brady Square!

It has been a quiet week for workmen, but dates are now agreed for the corridor flooring. For the first time since the commencement of the refurbishment the CCA will  have to close for business, but this will be the icing on the cake – nearly there, nearly there… The team have written letters to their users who fully understand the situation.  There was however, a visit from thge team’s surveyor Richard, which is always a great pleasure, but Marion is keen he doesn’t know that he is the team’s favourite (hence asking us to include him in this week’s news – sigh). Shut your eyes, Richard. Or don’t, as Marion will be cross and Margaret will be ticked off.

Some more excellent news:  Jane will be running a 10-week FREE course named, “Multiply” where you learn to Calculate, Cook and Achieve. This course is designed to show people how to cook nutritious, and reasonably priced meals. A slow cooker is provided along with a bag of ingredients to take home for their families. How amazing is this?

Wednesday brought Shake that Boogie,and Cultural Creatives were also working their magic with the art of screen printing. The lovely Paula gave the centre one as a gift which now has pride of place in the office. Azure Care had their staff meeting and Warm Spaces had its moment too. There was a phone call from Phil in Di’s Diner inviting the team  over to share in the buffet they had prepared for a wedding anniversary. Marion felt it would be rude not to accept, so off they toddled. Heavens, apparently the food was delicious, especially the chicken curry vol-au-vents. ‘Nowt like friends and neighbours in good old Brady Square.’

Lee from The Bargain Centre is always willing to give to the CCA  We know  someone will be grateful for a new duvet donated by Lee.   Andy Hayes popped in to collect the 200 plus hats for the seafarers, knitted with love by Belle Cummings and the knitters from Plain n Purl. Sister Mary will be ecstatic.

The CCA are now asking for donations of male toiletries for the Seafarers who come into the Port of Sunderland. The CCA weekly coffee morning is here again; lots of goodies, great food, prize bingo led by the amazing Bob and a lorra lorra laughs. Margaret of Frost Magazine, and Dick. absolutely love coming, as everyone puts the world to rights, and talk of thing as they once were, which helps along  the memories pages to be kept at the Centre.

Have an amazing Bank Holiday week-end no matter what you intend doing and let’s hope for some sunshine, please.

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

Dave                                                                                  John Kelly

‘Come the Spring,‘ Annie Newsome, who started life at the Long Pole back in 1914, (or is it Long Pull) used to say, ‘time to clean all the windows.’ Margaret, her daughter, now Editor of Frost Magazine, would groan as the window spring cleaning was her job. At the CCA the windows were cleaned but not by Marion, who had the sense not to on call Margaret either, but by Dave of Clean Master on Wednesday, to prepare for the blinds – roll of drums… tra la la – from Cosmic Blinds, which John Kelly put up. Such excitement at the centre, for it seems much of what’s happening comes under the heading: finishing touches.

Of course, to achieve window cleaning and so on, scaffolding had to be dismantled, which it duly was, and new glass then arrived for the swing doors and Carl is going to do the honours. The external wall has been washed and brushed by the pointers.

At this point, Craig and Melanie from Cultural Springs visited to plan the organisation of the room for the Red Coat Show scheduled for next month. Time to draw a breath… But hurry hurry:  Equans came for their weekly session and the team were delighted to see Jodie again; they feel  she  brings sunshine into people’s lives and they want her back in the  community, and quickly.  Then, more good news, quite wonderful news actually in relation to Sister Mary Scholastica, who is going to be honoured with a new song celebrating her charity work, fund raising and powerful force within the city. This song will be produced by Sunderland Male Voice Choir.

Her achievements have worldwide recognition in relation to the retention of the Seafarers Mission. ‘We, along with Plain n Purl are so proud that the seafarers from various countries are wearing the hats knitted by our own community. The song’s title is “Sunderland’s Angel of Mercy “ and we cannot wait to hear it. In addition, we have posted on our Brady Square site the exciting news that we would like our lovely community to share their thoughts of growing up in the area so we, with the help of Margaret Graham,  can create a Brady Square Memoir. those memories will last forever for future generations.’ says Marion.

Margaret adds that they already have one amazing offering, recapturing the writer’s childhood, including the games she played. It made Margaret and Marion recollect their own childhood. Or fragments of it, for that’s how we all remember really. So, come on, let’s get these memories into the centre, so that they are there for others to understand the community ‘back then.’

Praise indeed for a very special volunteer Ray Turnbull, who in January 2021 took on a three-year challenge to walk and pedal 20,000,000 steps. Ray has completed this challenge and on Thursday 20th April  a celebration event was held for him at at the CCA. His challenge has raised a staggering £4,000 for the Mesothelioma Charity, a disease to which Ray lost his beloved wife Jean.

It seems to have been a week of hustle and bustle, what with Warm spaces, shake that Boogie, Aimee’s school of Dance, Cultural Creations, workmen inside and outside, which is just how the CCA should be, thinks Marion.

Just to add to the excitement Dave Munneke, from Washington Community Furnishings has donated an array of picture frames.. Red Shoes Bob reckons the centre could end up like the Louvre Museum. ‘ Cheeky Monkey,’ says Marion. ‘A Rouges Gallery omes to mind, but on second thoughts we are all so wonderful in good old Brady Square so yes, the Louvre is more apt.’

As always, it was a fabulous coffee morning on Friday, great food, lorra lorra laughs, prize bingo with chocolates for the winners. This was followed by the Flower arranging class with the lovely Tina, beautiful floral creations made by everyone.

So, all Frost Magazine can report is that it has been another exciting week where progress has been made and as Marion says, on behalf of all at Columbia Community Assocation,  ‘We wish everyone near and far a great week-end. Remember, it’s always a good day to have a good day.’

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

Frank Family Butchers have not long been in Thirsk but have certainly made their mark, and not just because the doorway ‘dangles’ makes one feel that you  simply should make an entrance as though about to do a ‘turn’ on stage. The dangles are actually, to keep out flies and all flying beasts. Frankly, a very good idea, Mr Frank.

So sorry for the simply awful joke,  but, you see, I have tested one of their pork pies, which Simon Frank kindly pressed on me to try: crisp melt in the mouth pastry and simply stuffed with locally sourced pork, which has put me in a very good mood. They have a huge range of pies, indeed, a delicatessen of pies, a cornucopia even.

I also oven baked the  tempting Mozzella,Pickle and Beef Truffle. Had I been cooking for someone other than Dick, who I can’t hoodwink, I would have said I’d been slaving for hours in the kitchen, and I did hope he enjoyed it. Dick did enjoy it, knowing full well it was from Frank’s  range of prepared foods. At Christmas we had a rib of beef which  had the flavour that one remembers from long ago; well kept, high quality. The sausages… Well, go and have a look.

So who are Frank Family Butchers and where have they been all this time when they could have been in Thirsk for heavens sake? Seven generations ago John Mallory Frank decided to open a butcher’s shop that placed sustainability and animal welfare at the forefront of the business. With farming in the family this was something they could control. Soon the family were running 2 successful shops in Harrogate.

Steadily the succeeding generations continued the thread until thankfully Simon Frank set up in Thirsk. He runs the shop with his business partner Anna, and apprentice Tom. There is a huge choice in pies, sourced from a local baker, the usual cuts one expects at a butcher, but also prepared dishes, which one only needs to cook and pretend they are our own work. Dishes can also be prepared to order if a customer is having a ‘do’ or just wants a meal without effort. The quality of everything is superb, with all  produce obtained locally, including from Anna’s family farm.

Simon’s young sons are already helping in the background where they can, and loving it,  so Thirsk can be assured of a long running relationship. Frankly, (sorry again Simon) aren’t we lucky.

Frankfamilybutchers@outlook.com

Now Frost Magazine’s  Spotlight picks out A M Gardening

Long ago I had the pleasure of meeting a civil engineer whose work entailed designing roads. He maintained that the beauty of a road lies in its curves.  This of course, can be applied to quite a few things, but for me, as a passionate gardener it certainly transfers to flower beds. So I had great plans to extend my flower beds into curves, plant more cottage  garden plants, and Old English Roses, my passion. (Dick’s preserve is in the vegetable garden, which, he declared firmly, gives him more than enough to do with spring well into its stride, and ground to prepare). So, understanding that a nod’s as good as a wink,  I knew I had to remove the turf and then dig the bed extensions myself which was a step too far. What to do, what to do?

I always share my problems willy-nilly, and everyone I inflicted myself on suggested I try A M Gardening, a newbie on the block in Thirsk, but reasonably priced, pleasant and efficient. So along came Adam Maloney to suss out my needs. Apparently none of it was a problem. I explained that it was spring, and I needed it yesterday if I was to be able to get plants in, whinge, whinge, and lots of hand wringing.

Adam Maloney gave up his Bank Holiday Monday. First the turfs were removed, poste haste…  How can people do that back breaking work so quickly?  I just poke the spade at it, and feel my back is breaking, and have to go in for a rest. All turfs were off within 4 hours and taken to the tip, the pavement and paths swept.  Then the digging began, and oh, the roots …  for there had been old old hedges along my straight beds originally. So those had to be dealt with. Not a whinge or complaint from Adam.

Within another four hours it was finished.  Just like that, as Tommy Cooper used to say. All done, all cleaned up, ready for my part – the planting. The bill? Extraordinarily reasonable. For a newbie on the block you can’t beat A M Gardening, really you can’t.

Adam Maloney: 07470 363741

Polly, Margaret and Dick Graham’s Cavachon, was operated on recently by the wonderful Thirsk Veterinary Centre. She has a heart murmur and Margaret was tizzying because she just knew there was something else amiss with Polly. Lovely vet Isabella de Berardinis saw her and agreed.

‘Teeth’, was the verdict. Margaret secretly felt indignant because she diligently cleans Polly’s teeth, and also ashamed to have obviously failed in the brush brush brushetty brush procedure. But the plain fact was that there was at least one loose one at the front. Vet Anne Norton came into the consultation room to check Polly’s heart murmur. The two vets decided to take bloods on the day to check that she had the best chance possible. Gulp.

The day arrived. Polly was left with the team of vets and nurses, who were by now Margaret’s best friends, or so she felt. Polly was accompanied by Margaret’s sock, which goes with her if she has to separate from her pal, Rosie, and the grown ups, Margaret and Dick. Glory be, all went well but Polly lost more than one tooth, in fact rather a lot of the little rascals had to come out but in herself was fine.

Poor Isabella had been so worried – these vets and their team care, you see; their empathy, and committment is obvious and comforting, and we also have continuity of care; our pets see the same vets and nurses which is not always the case in other veterinary clinics. The receptionists are also ever helpful, especially Cathy who sorts out the insurance claims.

Off we toddled home, with Polly and her sock. Within days she was her old self, and tucking into her food, seemingly managing beautifully with fewer teeth. So much so,  and I whisper it in case she hears, I fear she must go on a diet.

But hang on, yet more exciting  news  just in from Thirsk Veterinary Centre:

Matt Smith, the vet, is joining Thirsk Veterinary Centre. Matt features on The Yorkshire Vet alongside Julian Norton – whose latest book  Adventures with a Yorkshire Vet: Lambing Time and Other Animal Tales  is delighting children everywhere – these are the winter tales. The summer tales are out soon, and Frost will report on this.

Matt seems to exude energy and has the same empathy that is inherent in ‘our’ vets (we animal parents are very possessive ) so everyone is absolutely delighted and excited.

Matt  will bring a wide experience and knowledge to the team, along with a passion for exotics. Steady, steady… not that sort of exotic, I mean exotic animals, birds and so on. It also seems Matt, and this is extremely important news, has another passion alongside  helping  our pets; he  LOVES custard creams everyone – just saying.

They will now be brought in by the sackful.

Lucky lucky Thirsk and surroundings. We so love our Thirsk Veterinary Centre and all the wonderful team.

Incidentally, Frost Magazine will be shining the Spotlight on another newbie to Thirsk in a day or two.

For more information:   Thirsk Veterinary Centre

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Joffe’s book of the week is a cracker, a  brand-new crime thriller from bestselling author David Hodges — WATCHER ON THE LEVELS, the latest thriller featuring detective Kate Hamblin, which is out now for the special launch price of just £0.99 | $0.99*.

Sunbathing on the beach in Mexico, detective Kate Hamblin receives a disturbing text message. Is someone watching her? Kate is relieved to escape the unwelcome attention and return home. But back in Somerset, she reaches into her coat pocket and finds a scrawled message: See You Soon, Kate.  Has her stalker followed her home . . . ? Now we chew our nails, get ready to turn the pages, quickly.

OUT NOW — JUST £0.99 | $0.99

Detective Matt Ballard FENLAND MYSTERIES books 1-3 by Joy Ellis

A GREAT-VALUE BOX SET OF BESTSELLING CRIME FICTION. Discover the author who’s sold over three million books globally. Nominated for Crime and Thriller Book of the Year at the British Book Awards.

OUT NOW — JUST £0.99 | $0.99

Detective Jack Dawes by Frances Lloyd

A FANTASTIC-VALUE BOX SET OF FIVE GIRPPING MYSTERIES.   Detective Inspector Jack Dawes, tall and handsome, looks like the fuzz even when he’s off-duty.

OUT NOW — JUST £0.99 | $0.99

The Rose Bowl by Judy Gardiner JUST £0.99 | $0.99 

A SPELLBINDING HISTORICAL SAGA FROM A BELOVED AUTHOR. 

Set among the willows and water meadows of Suffolk, this historical tale tells the story of perseverance and finding the courage to love unreservedly.

Fans of Lucinda Riley, Rhys Bowen, Tania Crosse and Chrissie Walsh will be captivated.

NEWS

Don’t know about you, but I’d like to learn more about David Hodges …

So, let’s see if he can describe his novel in just three words. 

Game of death.

Which author would you most like to have dinner with?

Lee Child (for his Jack Reacher novels) or my old friend, the late Colin Dexter.

Who would you pick to play the main characters from your novels?

Rose Leslie (from Game of Thrones) as Kate Hamblin/Lewis and Brendan Gleeson (from Banshees of Inisherin) as Hayden Lewis.

I first watched Rose Leslie in Game of Thrones and immediately saw her as my key character, Kate, in the way she played the dynamic, sexy and forceful wilding, Ygritte. As such, she is the perfect fit for Kate.

Brendan Gleeson for the way he looked in Banshees of Inisherin — his untidy appearance and his moody, brooding nature — was Hayden to a T. The only slight issue would be his Irish accent, as Hayden is a posh, articulate character like Boris Johnson (on whom I originally based him).

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve had to research for a book?

Research into poisonous spiders (which I hate) for the novel Venom On The Levels. In particular, the Brazilian Wandering Spider was certainly interesting!

What are you currently reading and watching?

Reading = Agatha Christie’s Dead Man’s Folly.

Watching = Poirot on ITV3.

Of course there are many more wonderful novels available from Joffe Books. Find out more HERE