It was a nice day, so togo for a walk seemed like a good idea, particularly as I was stuck on a difficult chapter. I must write a difficult chapter many times if a walk brings us as  great a treat as The Kings Arms.

Yes, they could squeeze us in, walking boots and all. so there we sat at a table for two, while conversation buzzed all around. We barely looked at the menu for it would be the usual fabulouspub fare:  North Yorkshire pies too large for us but how could we not finish them, and chips too delicious to be left. But no or rather yes, because there was everything from sandwiches to pub food … Oh, crikey, there was also food more commonly guzzled in rather special restaurants.

It seems that  Alex Boynton and his father Raymond plus some of the family  re-opened The King’s Arms in 2006 as a new venture,  Both Alex and Raymond have extensive experience of hotels and restaurants, and importantly, in creating fantastic food.

Raymond after all, was in the hotel and restaurant business for more than 50 years, including owning, with his brother,  a successful country inn and restaurant. This is where Alex pitched into the hospitality business, and over the years developed his individual cuisine and hospitality which is now, thank heavens, offered at The Kings Arms.

I kid you not, Alex creates quite superb meals, and thankfully his interest is in producing not airey fairy little bits of Nouvelle Cuisine, though I admit it is all beautifully presented, but his aim is to put before you simple well cooked meals from excellent locally sourced produce, (not hard in North Yorkshire). If that is his intention, then my friends, my waistline says he succeeds.

Whatever your taste, be it meat, fish or vegetarian then walk, cycle or drive – just go, feast.   Gluten free, dairy free and vegan – no problem. During the winter season pheasant, venison and duck is on the menu.

The only celebrity involved with The Butterfly Cannon Tequila is the incredible Monarch Butterfly – whose migration each year from the US to Mexico is magnificent feat of nature.

As the days become cooler in North America, the Monarch Butterflies begin their annual migration to their overwintering sites in Mexico. Even though each year, the migrating generation has never made this journey before, the butterflies all merge into a single flyway cannon in Central Texas and cross the border into Mexico.

Once the Monarch Butterflies have arrived in Mexico, they overwinter in the beautiful forests of south western Mexico. However, these precious forests are being lost to deforestation meaning that the Monarch Butterflies are in danger of loosing their natural habitat.

Once the temperature rises and the days get longer, the Monarch Butterflies begin their journey back to North America where they breed the new generation of Monarch Butterflies, which will take on the responsibility of this crucial migration the following winter.

The Butterfly Cannon Tequila has been donating money to the Monarch Butterfly Fund in the US which does important work helping rebuild the habitat for the Monarchs in Mexico and raising awareness about this incredible natural phenomenon.

The Butterfly Cannon Blue expression is infused with prickly pear and clementine, with an unusual natural blue colour which changes colour when a mixer such as tonic or lime is added. Designed for mixability, The Butterfly Cannon Rosa is made by infusing Mexican pink grapefruit peel in silver Tequila. The Silver Cristalino is a clean, crisp silver Tequila, aged for up to 30 days in barrels before being charcoal filtered to produce a perfectly clear tequila. The Butterfly Cannon expressions are made from 7-8 year old agave, sustainably grown, harvested by hand and baked in traditional steam ovens before being mashed, fermented and

RRP: £33 for a 50cl bottle ABV: 40%. Available from Amazon

Will the truth be buried with the dead?
When DS Joe Romano first meets Ana Dobrescu she’s nervous, in serious danger and clearly in need of help. The next time Romano sees her, she’s dead.
There was nothing more that could have been done, but that’s cold comfort for Romano. He’s determined to catch Ana’s killer. Although the prime suspect, her millionaire boyfriend, is in a coma.

With the help of his larger-than-life partner, Rita Scannon-Aktar, Romano begins to piece together a puzzle that places Ana at the centre of something much bigger than they could have imagined.

But while they’re hunting a murderer, those higher up are more concerned about the money. So it’s up to Romano to get justice for Ana. And whatever she knew, he’ll just have to pray that she didn’t take her secrets to the grave.

To the Grave is the second book in the DS Joe Romano series but the first one I have read. It is a strong book that can be read as a stand alone or as part of the series. Barlow brings to life a complex and gritty case for the dynamic duo. To the Grave possess a brilliantly written police procedure for the Yorkshire based detective. Full of determination and gut instinct Romano tries to solve this case. I loved this book, it is gripping and overflowing with action and suspense with a surprising twist that will leave you coming back for more.

I highly recommend for fans of T.M. Logan and Adam Croft.

Thirsk, as you may know from the Yorkshire Vet series is a ‘quaint’ Yorkshire Market Town. Well, indeed it is, but it is also quirky, or so I feel, which is probably why I absolutely adore it.

You see, amongst other things we have a shadowy organisation, no no, not a Mafia type of one, but a good hearted talented, group of about 100 women who beaver away with knitting and stuffing, then  come out at night, and yarn bomb the town, draping the bollards, post boxes, even hanging baskets with scenes appropriate to the date. Yes, out they come, tip toeing about, and there, and in the morning we see the town transformed.

I am showing you a very few of the bollard toppers, the post box toppers, and above, the wonderul tea party the Queen is having, and frankly, she has every right to rest her weary foot on the top tier of cakes as she surveys a small square a bit away from the main market place. Below you can see some of the bollard toppers around the market place.

You can see how the yarn bombers have excelled themselves for the  70th year of our Queen’s reign. And what a reign. I remember as a tiddler we all crammed into the village hall to see the Coronation on the black and white TV rented for the occasion, as heavens, to own a TV was beyond expectation.  Such excitedment, mixed with real grief on the death of King George 6th. I remember we wore black armbands. He had rallied the nation in the war, overcome his stutter, and not lived as long as he should.  I remember that Prince Charles looked away just as his mother was crowned.

Here is the Queen looking from her castle, perched on top of a post box,  and then we have the behind the scenes, as the Queen clings on, complete with her black bag and shoes, and a guard in case she unclings.

And yes, before our Frost Magazine readers ask: any donations are passed on to various good causes. For instance over £4000 has been given to the Herriot Hospice Project, yes, that Herriot, James as he called himself for his hugely successful books. He was Thirsk’s local vet and long time resident.

Latterly Thirsk Yarn Bombers have raised about £1.500 for Ukraine.

So thank you, Yarn Bombers for all the heart warming pleasure you give us and Frost Magazine hopes that you, and all its readers enjoy their Jubilee celebrations – we most certainly will in Thirsk.