Acts of Love and War by Maggie Brookes

1936 – Civil War in Spain – a world teetering towards – well what? War? Chaos?

21 year old Lucy feels content with her Herfordshire existence probably because she lives next door to Tom and Jamie, two very different brothers both of whom she is inordinately fond.

Then Tom decides to travel to the Spanish warzone, only to be followed by Jamie who supports General Franco, much to Lucy’s horror..

Her irascible father is similarly horrified when she decides to follow them. So is she too going to pick a side? No, her intention is to persuade them both to return, but instead she  becomes immersed in the war, but in a different way, preferring to  join with the Quakers to help the civilians, many of whom are refugees.

Her experiences make her realise that far from bringing the two men back, hopefully to settle with the one she chooses, the three of them will be lucky  to survive at all. If they do, how changed will they be? What common ground will exist for any of them to go forward as friends at the very least, and for Lucy – who will she choose to live her life with?

War and so too the vicisitudes of love can hone endurance to a point where acceptance of things as they now are is achieved, and the possibility on onward and upwards is a reality.  Is this the case for our three characters?

Surely you don’t expect me to tell you? I insist you read this intelligent empathetic novel. You won’t regret it.

In Hardback, ebook and audio. Published by Century

 August  is here and Frost Magazine is clinging onto the CCA’s coat-tails as they career helter skelter along their refurbishment road as Marion Taylor and the committee balance the needs of  users and workers.

3rd August was deemed ‘takeoff’ for the sanding of the wooden front door, its frame, and the glass panel.The lads from  Complete Outdoor Cleaning & Maintenance assured Marion:  ‘It will be a thing of beauty coveted by all!’

Ah, so Is this why Marion is thinking of an Edwardian Door Knocker? ‘The committee might have different ideas’ she says, ‘but I think it will look fabulous and what about a door handle to match the Edwardian door knocker? (Hyacinth Bouquet what have you started?)’ Marion’s words, not Margaret’s. 

So is this all that has been happening? Silly me.

On Mondays,  Equans who are so generously providing and funding the new kitchen, have their weekly meetings at the CCA. Fortunately there is always an ample supply of biscuits, tea and coffee but recently it is  Adams Ale that has been requested. Margaret Graham assumes this is actually water. Gloom. 

Later Cosmic Blinds, of good old Brady Square, arrived at 9.am to measure the windows, The young man’s first words, Marion tells me, were:“I will do what I can to help as I have great memories of this centre. My children had their birthday parties here and what fun we had, and, I would like to help the community in any way I can.’

Marion’s resonse?  “There is no blood like Brady blood, it’s a delicious melting pot of sincerity, love and pride that runs through the veins. Thank you, John Kelly your Cosmic blinds are out of this world.‘

The gas cooker was removed during the week, ‘And collected  by the local scrap man as we are starting to make preparations for the new kitchen, I really don’t know how Bob manages to do these tasks flying solo,’ says Marion. 

All this as the classes bustled in and out. With the dancers came music  laughter, and all the little people dancing their hearts out led by the wonderfully talented Aimee. ‘Who bends her body into shapes I have only read about in magazines (Frost I think)‘ says Marion. 

‘So, is that it?’ I ask, again. ‘Oh, Margaret, when will you learn,‘ I can hear my mum, Annie Newsome say, knowing full well how  the community would continue to rally round… as the CCA accepting donations of School Uniforms on behalf of Equans and Spectacles for the Cambodian appeal.

Marion has also used social media to request that  food is donated  for hampers to be raffled in aid of the Ukrainian appeal. The Family Tree Florist is sadly closing down at the end of the week and Rachel, the owner, has donated  various types of cellophane wrapping along with an array of ribbons.

Off you go then, Marion. Get working on the bows.  

Towards the end of the week the doors were collected to be stripped, which would take a week. Alongside the refurbishment activity The  Forever young bingo ladies made their appearance. Three welcome and utterly calorie free orange cakes had also appeared. Poof! courtesy of fairy Linda, who was   off to Scarbrough   but didn’t want the ladies to be denied their treats. Marion naturally had to test the cake, just a slice you understand, but how big a slice was not disclosed.

Then it was the Fat Quarters sewing group’s turn to take their place, and work on their wonderful quilts. Finally, it was Friday, and – bells and whistles –  Marion’s birthday. Apparently she is 21+VAT +VAT. Yeah. Yeah. Not only that, but Graham and Christine Thirlaway of the local shop donated lots of hamper goodies. Sister Mary Scholastica also congratulated the community on its achievements, and mentioned she had enough toiletries to last the Seamen 5 months. Hurrah hurrah for the  community – again.

‘So what progress on the hampers?’ Margaret asked.’Six hampers all ready’ Marion says, ‘and taken over to Phil at Di’s Diner who bless him has agreed to sell our raffle tickets at a £1.00 a strip.’

Honestly, Margaret needs a cuppa just thinking about it all, or hang on, let’s make it a glass of wine – onlly to celebrate Marion’s birthday, you understand.

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

There will be a CCA Newsletter available in the main corridor

Margaret Graham is an author,  but she prefers to chat to friends over lunch and a glass of wine. Buns and a cuppa are also good.

Joffe Books’  book of the week is a tempting offer: THREE completely gripping crime mysteries from  bestselling author — Biba Pearce. DETECTIVE ROB MILLER BOOKS 1-3 BOX SET is out now for the special launch price of just 99p | 99c.

Readers adore Biba Pearce’s fast-paced, gritty series of London-based police procedurals, featuring ambitious young detective DI Rob Miller and a fascinating cast of supporting characters.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE DETECTIVE ROB MILLER BOOKS 1-3 BOX SET FOR JUST 99P | 99C.

Let’s have a look at  two new books published this week.

A Dirty Death by Rebecca Tope99p/99c

Meet Lilah Beardon: the amateur sleuth loved by readers.

When Lilah finds her father, local farmer Guy, dead, she is the only one who doesn’t believe it was a tragic accident. Everyone from his wife to the vicar hated Guy, but which of his enemies wanted him dead?

Together with handsome Detective Constable Den Cooper, Lilah is determined to uncover the truth.

Evan Can Wait by Rhys Bowen

Please note that Joffe’s edition of this title is only available in the UK and Australia.

Constable Evan Evans has his work cut out in this charming cozy Welsh village mystery. Ever onwards to some interesting news.

Joffe Books aquires TWO NOVELS BY MĀORI WRITER RENÉE

Otaki-based Renée is a much-loved and prolific writer of novels, memoir, poetry and plays in her native New Zealand. She published The Wild Card, her first foray into crime fiction, in 2018 at age 90.

Renée says: “It’s fabulous to know the rights for The Wild Card and Blood Matters to publish in English around the world have been bought by the amazing Joffe Books. Thank you Mary McCallum and Sarah Bolland (The Cuba Press) and Nadine Rubin Nathan of High Spot Literary for making it happen. I’m totally chuffed.”

Joffe Books Editorial Director Emma Grundy Haigh says:

“I’m utterly delighted to be publishing The Wild Card by Renée. I think I fell in love as much with the novel as I did with the author: one of New Zealand’s literary legends, Renée’s boundless energy, compassion and sheer sagacity are infectious. And her first foray into crime fiction is a brilliantly twisty, darkly witty and completely addictive page-turner that I simply couldn’t put down. I can’t wait to introduce her to a world of new readers!”

Mary McCallum, co-director of The Cuba Press, says:

“Renée is one of New Zealand’s most esteemed writers and has come late to crime fiction, writing her first crime novel in her 90s, after four decades writing plays, other fiction and poetry. It was worth the wait — The Wild Card was shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Awards, and Blood Matters, to be released later this year in New Zealand, goes back to the same fictional town with another crime to solve.”

The Wild Card and Blood Matters will publish in eBook and paperback in autumn 2022.

The good news keeps coming. Attention all readers: A new Nikki Galena mystery by bestselling author Joy Ellis is en route. Joffe Books CEO Jasper Joffe has signed book 14 in Joy’s bestselling Nikki Galena series, to be published in eBook and paperback in winter 2022.

Jasper Joffe says:

“I am delighted to sign Nikki Galena book 14 from Joy. It’s the series we started with and I, along with millions of readers, have a huge soft spot for Nikki. I couldn’t be prouder to publish another Joy Ellis novel.”

Joy Ellis, who’s been with Joffe Books since 2016, says:

“Totally thrilled, as always, that Joffe Books have signed for the fourteenth book in the Fens Series. I cannot believe that our Nikki Galena is still up to her neck in murder and mayhem! Big thank you to everyone involved in getting this one out to our lovely readers.”

Watch this space to be among the first to read Joy’s new novel later this year.

More information here

Come with Frost Magazine on an escorted tour of just some of Thirsk’s hanging baskets, but first, to set us off in the right mood, how about a beer at the Black Lion.

Properly refreshed, we’ll nip across the road to the hardware store, perhaps a tin of gloss paint? Or on a few steps to the travel agent and ah reminder of the Ukraine, and also how life goes on, with planes to holiday places.

On we go  towards the Market Square, So many baskets your editor has lost the plot, and can”t remember exactly where these actually hang. Below, clearly another prestaurant, is it Bianco? Not sure, but taken by a daughter after a fine meal we had there an evening ago. There’s the fine gentleman too, swinging above our heads as we toddled home, a mere mile and a half.

If you head towards an estate agent you can see the house, how clever are our Thirsk knitters. Next see the the prawns, yes, this must be near the Thai Bistro.

And still in the Market Sqare the bollards are dressed in yellow and blue for Ukraine. And on the other side, red white and blue, for the Jubilee The Queen is gone, but soon that particular little square will have …? We don’t know what, until it’s there. Will it be Harvest time? Oh I hope so.

But how I miss the Queen, her foot on the top tier of the cake stand, viewing her subjects as they walk by while she enjoys a cuppa with her corgi slipping off her knee.

Hooray for the Thirsk Yarnbombers. If only every town, big or small (like Thirsk) had such a group, all 100 or so,  in their midst, what a sight wouold ensue.

Picture walking on soft silver sand, past basking sea otters. To your left a dolphin glides beyond the waves, on your right the beautiful machair grassland is a picture of wild flowers, rare orchids and iris beds, and the air is filled with birds calling.

Some far-off exotic island? Actually closer than you think, this is Kildonan, on the Isle of Arran.

Not surprising perhaps that ARRAN Sense Of Scotland, a family company based on Arran (off the west coast of Scotland if you weren’t sure), are passionate about bringing pure, natural products from this beautiful wilderness into your home. Their stated purpose is ‘To help the world connect with nature’ and I can vouch that they do this with their amazing products.

I’ve written about ‘After The Rain’ before in Frost but how excited was I to learn of their new fragrance called, of course, ‘Kildonan’, after that beautiful sea cove. It really captures the Kildonan machair (rare habitats in western Scotland and Ireland, renowned for wildflowers and birds), with a blend of sweet, delicate violet warmed with the glow of velvety orris (iris roots) and lily of the valley. The result is gentle and floral and makes me yearn for warm sand between my toes and a soothing sea breeze.

The Kildonan hand wash, a lovely blue-green colour, makes washing your hands a hedonistic pleasure, and how can you not follow up with the soothing hand cream, gently formulated with shea butter, vitamin E, beeswax and actives of aloe vera leaf juice.

At £16 each for 300mls these are luxurious high quality products at a great price. I simply can’t stop smelling my hands.  ARRAN Sense Of Scotland – check out this link for a whole range of fabulous products – you owe it to yourself.

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.

Pauline – Treasurer, Marion – Secretary and Janet – a welcome visitor –  studying plans

The Association bustled into  PRE-START PREPARATIONS a few weeks ago determined to rush headlong towards D Day 28thJuly

First, a skip, the pre-requisite for any great, spectacular, much needed, and any other adjective you can come up with re: a make-over. It was a skip that actually  proved to be a self-emptying marvel. as  into it went things to be chucked, and by morning – it was, empty again. 

So Marion Taylor hopes someone is enjoying the large wall unit especially, which is to be replaced by a new one from Equans – thank you, thank you Equans. This will house: Policies and Precedures, fire records, manuals and service record checks. Faltec Europe of Sunderland are disposing of essential office furniture FOC to good causes and Lee has been enormously helpful. Marion, sharp as a tack, spied a TV that she snaffled too. Of course she did.. ‘It will look grand on CCA’s newly decorated wall… As  my grandma used to say “Shy bairns get nowt” Quite Marion. 

Books have been packed away, the bookcase has recycled from the skip. Crockery has been packed, though business is as usual for classes and groups and will remain so throughout the make-over. 

D-Dayat last: the centre was not short of helpers, groups are adapting to available accomodation. The committee is more than grateful to all and for the gift of biscuits.

‘The “Shake that Boogey “ladies are queuing to sign the photo release form for Frost Magazine,’ says Marion.’They take pride in their association  (but personally I think they want to appear in the Frost Magazine’  – BAD Marion says Margaret, but on flowed Marion reminding readers that: ‘Edition two of the digital magazine went viral 27^th July and we are very grateful to  renowned author Margaret Graham (who just happens to be the editor of the magazine) for her interest in our beloved community centre. Margaret has fond memories of her childhood days when visiting here and her mam Annie Newsome was a native so that makes Margaret a Brady Square lass at heart.’ Indeed it does. 

The make-over is beginning with the restoration of the doors, all 15 (without the swing doors and the front door). 

On inspection of the doors the lovely and wonderful lads thought it would be better to remove them and send them off to be dipped to remove all traces of the numerous coats of paint added over the years; no mess, no fumes and dust.  ‘No doors for a couple of days’ said Marion, ‘ but what the heck as long as the loo door stays where it is…’

‘After completion of an Asbestos check of the community room flooring,‘ Marion told Frost Magazine, ‘we can start to replace our present flooring, which at the moment is half carpet and half lino . This, however, is to be replaced with beautiful Oak LVT flooring (posh or what)

Next on the agenda will be the 31-metre corridor; no mean task.  The current brick-coloured tiles are dull and worn and it is believed they have been down quite some time (perhaps as old as the building) Come September there will be splendid Edwardian style black and white tyles, ‘Fit for a King. ‘ grinned Marion.

 There you have it – at last the Columbia Community Associations centre make-over is underway – hooray.

Next time Frost Magazine will be having a closer look at the Fat Quarters Sewing Group and their craft,. At last Frost Magazine can get to the bottom of their name. (if one might be indelicate)

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

Margaret Graham is the author of 30 books, + articles/short stories, a tutor of creative writing and has researched a TV documentary arising from A Canopy of Silence. She has a spepcial interest in military veterans, is patron of various charities and is Annie Newsome’s daughter (of which she is proudest).