I do think smell is the least appreciated sense, and yet, how it can change our mood or even our physical state. An unpleasant whiff can ruin our day, whereas an unexpected waft of sweet flowers can raise our spirits and bring us joy. An aroma can conjure up a childhood memory, or the image of a loved one in a flash. Not surprising that fragrances have been used since ancient times.

I was blown away by ARRAN Sense Of Scotland beauty products, so I didn’t need much persuasion to road-test their home fragrances.

ARRAN Sense Of Scotland is a family-run company, which began as a small soap-making business in an old dairy farm for Brodick Castle and has created vibrant, evocative scents for three generations. Despite having grown significantly, it’s held true to its island heritage.

What I love about ARRAN Sense Of Scotland is that somehow they bottle the wildness and beauty of the Isles. Their fragrances are quite different and distinctive, with depth and bite. As their hair products make your hair smell of a walk in the mountains, their home products bring those mountains right into your home.

I chose to try Jasmine and Philadelphus (I remember my mother calling it Mock-Orange Blossom – as a child I’d bury my nose in it for hours just to inhale the sweet smell). Both pack a surprising punch for such delicate white flowers.

I was not disappointed. Even as I opened the beautiful presentation tube of the Reed Diffuser, the fragrance hit me, as if I’d walked past a flowering bush.

Everything about ARRAN Sense Of Scotland exudes quality and thoughtful design. The glass bottle and extra long reeds create elegance and style – staying fresh for up to six months.

For a burst of aroma, the Room Spray, also beautifully presented in matching glass bottle is perfect when unexpected guests arrive.

And after a trying day you can enjoy real hedonistic pleasure, with a good book, a glass of wine and an ARRAN Sense Of Scotland beautiful pure white candle within a pretty glass holder – calm and comforting.

ARRAN Sense Of Scotland bring you the whole experience and I love their idea of using different fragrances in different rooms.

Just Grapefruit – mood-boosting citrus for any room, it uplifts, refreshes and rejuvenates.

Bergamot And Geranium – brings the outdoors in, for open plan areas and hallways. Keeping you motivated and energised, it’s great for a home office too.

After The Rain – as featured previously in Frost, a fresh, floral scent reconnects you with nature. Rose and sandalwood are soothing and stress-relieving, thus it works well in your lounge or bathroom.

So experience different moods in different rooms with a combination of ARRAN Sense Of Scotland reed diffusers, room sprays and candles – a novel way to enjoy a staycation in your own home perhaps?

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.

A vegetarian for over thirty years, I must confess to suffering from FOMO (FEAR OF MISSING OUT).

Back in the old days, the only place to get a burger, was a Wimpey Bar and they did not offer takeaway.

Then along came McDonalds and Burger King, to join Kentucky Fried Chicken (now better known as KFC,) and soon no high street was complete without one, or all three. Friends would wax lyrical and have long conversations about the relative merits of each. Everyone it seemed had their favourite. I would listen in silence because there was nothing for me, the lone vegetarian, and even the advent of the Beanburger felt like an after-thought.

How times have changed, Vegans and Vegetarians are now so mainstream that most food outlets are clamouring for our attention, so I was delighted to be invited to taste the menu of Ready Burger, based in London’s Crouch End.

Fortuitously, I took along a younger colleague, who is exactly the market that Ready Burger is seeking to attract, and an aficionado of all things Burger.

Ready Burger opened in Park Road, Crouch End in May 2021, and if the constant queue of eager customers on the night I visited is anything to go by, this will be the first of many. Already plans are advanced to open in Finchley Road, followed by other venues in London and beyond.

Ready Burger presents a 100% plant-based menu offering a compilation of the world’s most popular burger favourites and classic sides at everyday prices, with inclusivity at the core. It is this inclusivity that appeals to vegetarians and vegans, people who care for the environment, and people who only eat Halal or Kosher meat.

The staff at Ready Burger are warm, friendly, and clearly passionate about their menu. Customers seeking advice are given time and as much information as they need to order, but from my tasting of the entire menu (I know, I know, I suffer for my art, but you’re worth it.) You really can’t make a bad choice, as it was all delicious. My colleague assured me that the food on this menu more than matched the more well known high street offering and we both raved over the careful seasoning of the fries and the chicken nuggets. Special mention to the vegan bacon and ‘cheese’ in my Cheeseburger, vegan cheese is notoriously difficult to get right, but Ready Burger have done it and then some.

Oreo Swirlee, is a tasty soft whip, providing a welcome desert and an utter steal at £0.99p. I can see why Ready Burger is so popular.

The brand is believed to be the first value driven, fully plant-based, quick service restaurant on the UK high street and Ready Burger’s signature ‘The Ready Burger’ (£1.99), is thought to be the only plant-based burger of its kind on the market for under £2.

A Ready Burger uses 70% less water to make than its beef burger counterpart. It also emits 92% less greenhouse gas emissions than a beef burger and requires 93% less land to produce.

The Crouch End Ready Burger is now open for collection via a hatch and digital order point kiosk, with a full menu of flavoursome plant-based burgers alongside classic sides, with premium and saver choices, as well as a range of premium value meals. Options range from; The Saver Menu Ready Burger (£1.99), to The Big Ready (£3.59), to The Chicken Challenger (£4.29), to the Saver Menu Double Cheeseburger (£3.39)

Ready Burger serves 100% plant-based fast food at affordable prices, using high quality proteins to create great tasting versions of the world’s favourite fast food, burgers and classic sides.

FOMO no more for yours truly, I will be heading back to Ready Burger whenever I need my fix of fast environmentally friendly, vegan food.

Ready Burger is now open at 16 Park Road, London, N8 8TD, open Monday – Sunday, 12 noon – 12am.

https://www.readyburger.co.uk/

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