So off we went, into Thirsk Market Place, to our favourite, The Golden Fleece hotel. It seemed an enormous treat after looking at one another over the kitchen table for more meals than I care to mention, or remember. Oh,  to be out…

We pottered to reception, masks on. First we signed in with the NHS app. And why not,  for heaven’s sake, it’s no great pressure to show one’s phone to the  thingy. Then through to the dining room. We chose the armchairs near the door. Phew, weight off our feet. No, no, let’s not talk about weight. This weight issue is to be remedied – is being remedied. But it was my birthday, so a treat was in order. Yes, indeed, you are right, 42 again.

‘A large glass of Pinot Grigio,’ I decided. And waved back to the deputy manager who had poked her head round the door to check I was behaving. Wonderful Gabriel. How I’ve missed her. Dick chose a Pinot Grigio too, large, as mine was.

Then to the menu. I chose the above image; Roast Hake Fillet and Crab Ravioli with crushed new potoates, samphire and watercress veloute. Dick hesitated over the Sausage & Mash Cumberland Ring, and instead chose Teeside Parmo, in a gesture of solidarity with that area.

Our beautifully presented meals came… We saw, we tasted, it conquered. The ravioli was not as one might imagine, but had a glorious portion of dressed crab on top lying on a strip of pasta, with crushed potaotoes beneath and  the veloute peeping out from beneath the potatoes. And the hake… Fresh, two fillets, positioned either side of the crab.  As well, I had a side salad. Ladies and gentlemen, I call this a triumph, though admittedly I am an open door where crab is concerned. It was truly sublime.

Dick tucked into his Teesside Parmo. Chomp chomp, much as Montalbano devours his lunch in the series to which we are addicted. Crumbed chicken breast, bechamel, coachman’s cheddar, pickled cabbage salad and fries.At length, knife and fork were put together neatly. He was replete. ‘First class,’ said our Thirsk Montalbano. ‘And nothing left for Mr Manners.’

So, to pudding.

‘Shall we?’

‘Yes, why not’

‘The diet?’

‘Not today.’

So we chose Creme Brulee. Margaret threw herself to the floor, kicking and screaming such was the disappointment because it had gone, all gone, into mouths that had no right.  ‘A coffee then?’

A coffee indeed, and with it Maltesers which we felt more than entitled to crunch, because we had been forced to be good re pudding. But next time, we promised one another, we would check first re the creme brulee. And change to another day? Well, no. Not if it’s a meal at The Golden Fleece, because everything is wonderful, and what’s more we have a voucher from the children, so very there.

At The Golden Fleece, once a coaching inn, which could stable 70 horses, there are outside tables where the horses and coaches once were. Some tables are  in shade, some not, some under umbrellas.  We like the armchairs in the dining room, but I meet my pals for coffee outside. Everytime we all say, it feels  like being on holiday – after Lockdown. The pandemic has made us reconsider our lives.. A coffee, or a meal is something to cherish. So too friends, family. What’s more, we  are all alive, vaccinated, still distanced, still masked. But alive and kicking, as is The Golden Fleece. Hoorah. Hoorah.

And they are open for staying guests too. Say hello to wonderful Gabriel, and Jim, and Steve when you go. Say Margaret will be in again soon, and see them run, but they can’t hide… I will hunt ’em down.

The Golden Fleece, Market Place, Thirsk YO7 1LL  01845 623108.

Find out more HERE

Image: James Craxton

Sea Change Wine launched in 2018, has been supporting marine conservation and the fight against plastic pollution through its partnerships with charities such as Plastic Oceans UK (now Ocean Generation), Sea Changers and the Olive Ridley Project.

I cannot recall ever beginning a review, by mentioning the packaging but here it is, Sea Change is an eco-conscious wine brand, leading by example. The wines arrived with minimal packaging, with the unnecessary plastic wrap covering removed from the neck of the bottle and its label, made from plant based ‘Natureflex, clear’ which is fully biodegradable and compostable.

The bottle labels feature a unique sea animal illustration, hand drawn, to demonstrate the impact of marine plastic pollution. Sea Change is working hard to help turn the tide on plastic pollution by donating a percentage of each purchase to marine conservation charities, which personally, I find commendable.

As we head into Summer, my tastes change, and I feel less drawn to the heavier reds that I demand in autumn and winter, in favour of something lighter and refreshing.

Now in the interest of full disclosure, I should state that I am something of a Johnny Come Lately, where Rosé wines are concerned. However, over the last 12 months, I have had a complete ‘volte face’ and now for picnics, barbeques, and those rare trips to the beach, I am more likely to reach for a finely nuanced Rosé.

Image: Clare James

Which is where Sea Change comes in, with its exquisite Provence Rosé, packed full of zesty grapefruit, delicate white peach, and tropical pineapple flavours, and if that doesn’t scream picnic to you, I don’t know what will. Serve it chilled with summer salads, other light dishes and summer salads.

 The Sea Change Provence Rosé is available to buy online at www.seachangewine.com at £16.99 RRP. The Provence Rose

No matter how evangelical my conversion to Rosé wine, I could never forsake my first love that is red wine, in these summer months, I crave a lighter red. Step forward Negroamaro 2019, a real hidden gem of a wine, hailing from Pugila in Italy and blending the taste of fruit led Merlot and a flavoursome Malbec.

Versatile, easy-drinking, Sea Change Negroamaro is medium bodied with a velvety mouth feel, well balanced, with flavours of berry fruits, especially red and black cherry at the forefront. A lovely lingering finish is one to savour. Medium bodied with soft tannins, the initial burst of bright fruit is followed by a smooth, lingering finish.

This wine is the perfect accompaniment to any Italian dish, like a wholesome tomato-based pasta or crispy stone baked pizza – both taste great alongside a glass of Sea Change Negroamaro

Best drunk when youthful and fresh (the wine not the drinker), at room temperature, or just below. Sea Change Negroamaro 2019 RRP £10.49 www.seachangewine.com

HAIRPIN BRIDGE by Taylor Adams, is, say Joffe Books, the must-read thriller of summer 2021 Only 99p/99c (half price for a limited time) 

Three months ago, Cambry drove out to Hairpin Bridge in Montana, and jumped two hundred feet to her death. She left behind a vague suicide note and no answers.  Lena, her estranged twin sister, is convinced Cambry was murdered. Lena heads to Montana to get answers from the highway patrolman who was the last person to see her sister alive — but she already knows he’s a liar.
Now Lena is trapped in the middle of nowhere with no one around and no phone signal . . . And an angry armed highway patrolmen.

Murder as predicted. by Linda Mather @ 99p/99c

 Sounds interesting, so if you are you looking to discover your next favourite mystery series…
Wait no longer – meet your new favorite private detective and astrologer, Jo Hughes

Along with perenial favourite:

Helen H Durrant with Dead Sorry, a classic novel, with endless twists and turns @ £2 / $3.99

The past comes back to haunt them.

Twenty-five years ago, a schoolgirl was attacked. Now, the mother of one of the girl’s attackers is found murdered on the Hobfield housing estate. Written on the wall in the victim’s blood is the word “sorry”.  Crikey. 

And now for even more exciting news from Joffe Books – and it’s every author’s dream.

THE SILENT LISTENER by Lyn Yeowart has been optioned for screen by Deanne Weir of WeirAnderson Films. Deanne Weir is a former media lawyer and executive turned producer, investor and company director. She is passionate about storytelling, change-making and gender equality.

Deanne is very excited about about Yeowart’s work to the screen: ‘First and foremost, The Silent Listener is a cracking read, a complex multi-layered story that leaves the reader thinking well beyond the last page.

‘By bringing the story to screen, we can make it accessible not just for those who have loved the book, but for a whole new audience who may then turn back to the book to go even deeper into Joy’s world. ‘

THE SILENT LISTENER by Lyn Yeowart is available on Kindle and paperback next week.

For more information about the huge range of Joffe Books available, go to here

Early days when just created

I think most of us are all well aware by now of the importance of setting aside land for wildlife, or at least, including wildlife in our own plans for the garden, with a special nod to bees.  Hambleton District Council developed land for recreational purposes  in 2016 as part of the Sowerby Gateway masterplan. Consequently,  not only does the Sports Village play host to several football teams at once, there is a cycling and running track, with a mountain biking pathway running alongside and…

So importantly in this day and age, this forward thinking council decided on planting not just for humans, but for wildlife. Therefore along one edge of this sports and recreational area  are posts with birdhouses.                .       

and throughout the village there are trees galore, hedges, and  so so importantly wild plants and grasses carefully planted along the periphery. These are left to flourish  until the autumn, then cut back, to return  bigger and better the following year.

As I walked along the mountain bike trail, all I could hear were birds and bees, but no cottonwood trees! The  hawthorn, dog roses and other hedging shrubs were fit and  healthy and the wild flowers had bloomed in abundance.   Frost Magazine applauds this careful use of land which balances the mown grass required by the middle section for  the team sports, with the needs of the wildlife. And let’s face it, for our wellbeing too.

Mountain bike trail guarded by wild flowers, daisies and cow parsley.

The wild flowers  are numerous, including cow parsley, comfrey, dog roses, herb-robert, oxe-eye daisies. I saw campion, vetch, a multitude of grasses, clumps of clover, purple and white, and poppies, of course. Much like some babies, the wild areas were a bit bald in their first year, but now, here  they are, strong, determined.

They say patience is a virtue and never more so with gardening, even wildlife gardening. The hum of the bees along the track,  alternates with the cheers of the spectators as the school teams battle away.  Much like our wildlife  has to battle these days. For them, though, it is a battle for their very existence as more and more  land is taken for development.

So what can be done? I note that many councils are turning mown verges into wildflower areas – hooray. I have already shown how Hambleton District Council have created an oasis of enlightenment and common sense at the Sports Village, so onto us, as individuals. Let’s face it, even if we are restricted to pots on a balcony, we can, each, still  grow plants with bees, butterflies and wildlife in mind.

 Remember that bees are crucial to our existence, so preferably no pesticides, create ground level holes in fences –  if possible – so that hedgehogs can travel through.  Bees need pollen and nectar. They love cowslips, herbs, plus campion, comfrey which can be grown at the back of a bed,  nepeta, honeysuckle, herbs, lavender, digitalis, pussy willow, hawthorn,  forget-me-not and on and on. Buddleia is such a useful shrub, beloved of bees and butterflies alike, and so easy to grow. But listen, you can find out more from the internet or library.

Ah, don’t forget bees also need water. Make sure the birdbath is kept replenished.

We all know of, or have experienced  some organisations,  housing developments and indeed people, who are lagging behind in their understanding of the need to create a balance between human and wildlife needs. In a new development I visited, I was therfore delighted to find that many residents are growing bee and wildlife friendly plants in their gardens. Frost Magazine was invited to ‘come in, have a look’, and here are some  images.

Sage, rosemary and Old English roses.   Nepeta, poppies, roses.                                      Honeysuckle.

Most had birdbaths, bird feeders,and forget-me-nots in spring, along with the usual bulbs. Honeysuckle, nepeta, Old English Roses, digitalis, buddleia, lavender and herbs all flourished. The  murmur of bees, and the flight of the butterflies, not to mention birds at the feeders was a sight and sound to behold, even in the smallest garden.

Frost Magazine sounds a huge hooray for  Hambleton District Council and the owners of the gardens we visited, and would give them a medal, (if there was such a one) for their thoughtful and balanced  designs, and would urge our readers to consider nature in their own planting schemes. There is not a moment to lose. And let’s have more verges, and set aside spaces for wild flowers, shrubs. It’s not too much to ask, I feel for the world our children are growing up into.

Imagine the wind on your face, waves splashing over your bare feet on the sand, the gush of waterfalls cascading down heather-covered mountains, or the smell of meadow flowers as you walk through long wet grass. There’s something so special about raw nature isn’t there? It calms the spirit and raises our happiness levels just by being. So how fabulous that ARRAN Sense Of Scotland’s mission is to transport this into our homes?

Based on the beautiful and unspoilt Isle of Arran, Scotland, its senior management appreciate the physical and emotional healing powers of nature and are passionate about bottling it. They have created a range of luxurious products – for bath, body and hair plus fragrances for yourself and for the home.

Now imagine you’re returning from a walk in the rain. You can smell the wet rose petals, musk and floral citrus of the cottage garden and the woody aroma of the logs piled ready for the open fire inside. Put that experience in a bottle and you have ARRAN Sense Of Scotland’s new range After The Rain. I was delighted to test the shampoo and conditioner and it really was a pleasure. The subtle woody fragrance takes you to the wilds of Scotland and both the shampoo and conditioner were gentle and nourishing. My hair was very smooth afterwards, even while still wet. In fact I keep stroking it as I write because it feels so soft and silky, and I can still smell that haunting fragrance. Just £16 each for a very generous 300 ml bottle is extremely reasonable for such a beautifully presented top quality gift and for the same price you can also buy a matching shower gel.

ARRAN Sense Of Scotland boast that their products contain highest quality ingredients and the hair and skin products have moisture-retaining pro-vitamin B5 (pantheon) to maximise shiny hair and soft skin – and you really do feel the benefit.

If you need a lovely gift for someone special – ARRAN Sense Of Scotland have a fabulous and diverse choice, including the most beautiful large candles, all available in After the Rain and attractively presented and wrapped with signature tissue and ribbon. You get a free hand cream with orders over £40, so you can always keep this for yourself (after all, you deserve some luxury too).

Check out the ARRAN Sense Of Scotland website. Being outside in nature is so good for the soul, but if your busy life won’t let you get away, this is an enjoyable way to give yourself a reset.

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning 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.

Frot Magazine is so grateful to Alex Bannard for her Mindfulnes series and delighted that when time permits she will be joining us for a Menopause Series and probably Yoga too.

When I first started practicing mindfulness & meditation it was in a very self-led, self-taught fashion. When we moved to Bangkok I was blessed to meet a wonderful French woman, Violaine, who is a practicing Buddhist & taught meditation.

It was a fantastic experience. I relished our time together & learnt so much. One day we were talking about the concept that thoughts are just thoughts, they aren’t necessarily fact & they don’t define us.

I found this to be immensely liberating because for years I had been plagued by way too many unhelpful, unhealthy & unpleasant thoughts. Finally, I felt free – they were just thoughts, not real & they didn’t define me, hurrah! What a relief!

Mindfulness encourages us to take on the role of the observer to our thoughts instead of getting swept away in the narrative & down the rabbit hole with a train of thought before we even know it, a bit like Alice down the rabbit hole.

Becoming more aware & paying attention to what we are thinking, how we are feeling & behaving we can start to question the truth in thoughts that pop up. After all, most of us wouldn’t entertain the thought that we are a multi-coloured flying elephant dancing around in a glittery tutu, the thought is ridiculous enough for us to discount.

But many of us will happily indulge the I’m not good enough, I can’t do this, it’s not fair, I’m unlovable, I’m useless dialogue that arises in our mind without questioning it. But they are just thoughts. They aren’t fact. Mindfulness gives us the space & time to question such thoughts.

Our mind often catastrophizes a situation – a bad day becoming a bad life when it is in fact just a bad day, which is a perfectly normal & acceptable part of life. Mindfulness helps to remind ourselves that pain is a normal part of life, suffering is optional.

Both approaches are simply a choice, choosing to recognize unhelpful, unhealthy thoughts & then choosing not to accept them as fact. But it’s a practice too – being mindfully aware of these kind of thoughts & not acting on them but recognizing them as just thoughts.

Meditation helps us to gain this distance from our thoughts by observing the nature of our mind. Even people who have been practicing meditation for a while will happily acknowledge that thoughts are always arising in our mind no matter how much meditation we do. We can’t stop our mind from thinking thoughts, it’s what our mind does but we can stop those thoughts from controlling us.

The thoughts aren’t going to stop but we can choose to change our relationship to them. Freedom isn’t not having thoughts, freedom is changing our relationship to them, seeing them as just thoughts & not reality. You may still get the thoughts but you no longer believe them because you know your reality is right here right now in the present moment, not in the string of thoughts. Over time as you question the validity of unhelpful thoughts they eventually quieten down – this is one of the beautiful benefits of meditation & mindfulness: that inner critical voice starts to quieten.

Let me demonstrate all this by sharing an experience. Last summer I was in the midst of the menopause & really struggling with extreme anxiety & panic attacks. Initially I had no idea that anxiety & panic attacks were linked to the menopause (when oestrogen levels drop it can spike adrenalin which can causes anxiety & panic attacks.) The first panic attack I experienced I thought I was having a heart attack & it was terrifying.

Once I understood what was going on I was able to use my mindfulness practice to help me. One day out on a dog walk I could feel another panic attack brewing. So I literally stopped & talked myself down saying things like: this is just anxiety it’s not real, this is just menopause, this isn’t real & eventually I calmed myself…  & have never had a panic attack since. It was as simple as acknowledging that no matter how terrifying the experience felt, it wasn’t real.

This idea that our thoughts are simply that – thoughts & they don’t define us was incredibly liberating for me & so it was easy to grasp as a concept.  But not for some people, who feel that they are intrinsically their thoughts. A useful analogy I find is the mirror: our thoughts are like our reflection in the mirror – what we see in the mirror isn’t us, it’s just our reflection, so it is with our thoughts.

Sometimes it is hard to settle our mind in meditation especially if we have a lot going on, our mind can feel really scattered (apparently we have more than 6,000 thoughts a day so it’s not surprising!). This week’s meditation is the letting go free-flow meditation. Allowing our mind to go wherever it wants to helps it to settle quicker than if we try to control it. To get your free copy of this meditation simply email Alex at Alex@alexbannard.com quoting FROSTFREE.

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for almost a decade, not just in the UK but also around the world. Her mission is to help everyone discover a more mindful way of living & to encourage them to embrace regular self-care practices for a happier & healthier way of being.

If you would like more information on how to practice mindfulness, meditation & yoga message her at alex@alexbannard.com.

For free resources check out her Facebook group: Mindfulness & Yoga for Self-Care, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MindfulnessYoga4Relationships

Alternatively please check out her website: alexbannard.com