Award winning Bliss Cafe in Thirsk North Yorkshire – home to the Yorkshire Vets and the unforgettable late James Herriot – has earned yet another accolade: Frost Magazine’s Most Friendly café Award 2019

Recommendations were received not just from Thirsk, but nationwide, including High Wycombe (near London) Exeter and Lytham St Anne’s.

So – why?

As one of those who recommended Bliss Café said – It’s a sanctuary, not just for people but their dogs and children. Just like stepping into a friend’s house. There’s great food, good coffee and lots of laughter, or tranquility, if that’s what you need.

Another: There is such a sense of companionship – come into my house, and let’s chat.

And yet another: Jacqui Collyns and her staff greeted us as though we were friends who’d dropped in for a chat and a coffee. Food is brilliant too: scones, cakes, breakfast and each day a different lunch menu.

And so it went on.

Bliss Café is set in Millgate, Thirsk. In the morning, if a tourist, you can visit the James Herriot Museum and then head across the market square to Millgate, and Bliss. Once there, take the weight off your feet, and collapse on one of the leather sofas, or sit up round a table. If you have your phone, there is wifi. If you have dogs they will be served first, with sliced sausage.

If you have children they will loved the relaxed ambiance. Around you locals will be chatting to one another, and probably you. Jacqui her daughters and staff will definitely be chatting to everyone.

We asked Jacqui how Bliss Café came into being?

My life changed ten years ago, and there I was, a single parent with two children, five and ten, Madeline and Isabel, and dogs, and I had to start again. But what to do?

I was travelling through Thirsk on my motorbike (yes, you heard Jacqui correctly) and saw this rather sad empty shop. A friend travelling with me, said. ‘That’s could be a café. Your café. You love having friends dropping in, with their dogs and kids, and cooking, baking, making coffee, tea. Do it for a living. Make your cafe a home from home.’

It appealed to me: somewhere to put down roots, a way of adding to the community, and being in the hub of things. But could I make it work?

And has it for you, as well as your customers, or should we say friends?

Oh yes, it’s absurd to love earning a living so much. Bliss has enhanced my life, given me a grounding, enveloped me in friendship.

Frost Magazine listened to, and chatted with customers. One mentioned Bliss as a sanctuary, before he went on his way home. He comes in most mornings, as do several others it seems. Another talked of the fun which swirls around the café. Another mentioned the sense of belonging.

So, bravo Bliss, bravo Jacqui. Long may you continue to  create a home from home for your customers – oops sorry, friends, old and new.

Bliss Café: 12 Millgate, Thirsk YO7 1AA Open 7 days a week. 01845 868163

Images courtesy of Bliss Cafe

Did I mention I liked Hape toys? Yes I believe I have ‘hape’d on about them rather a lot.  Well their Einstein range is something else and I was quite taken aback by their Color Mixer Bead Maze.  Whilst retaining the simplicity of a good old-fashioned toy, Hape have introduced some really clever features, which will hold a child’s attention and keep them learning well into their toddler years.

At first sight it is the tried and tested bead maze – where the child can move different colored beads along a wire, all set attractively in an eye-catching wooden frame. But, hello, what is that white disc at the bottom? Well it’s the first clue that this is not a simple mechanical toy, although it certainly does help develop fine-motor skills.

As your child moves the beads along, the white disc flashes a different colour, and a voice says the colour name – in English, then Spanish, then French – how cool is that? There are so many initiatives for introducing children to foreign languages at a very early age, and this toy really complements these – and maybe the parents can learn a few words too? Who knew that amarillo meant yellow, in Spanish? Yes, OK, quite a high percentage of the world’s population I suppose…

And to keep the younger kids interested, the toy also plays attractive tunes and flashes rainbow sequences.  This novel and yet robust toy will maintain a toddler’s interest for a long time.  At £19.99 from Amazon it is well worth considering for Christmas.

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.

Is it just me who struggles to handle a hairdryer AND a brush AND sections of hair – all at the same time? I mean, how do hairdressers do it?  If I’m not dropping either dryer, or brush, or both just as I’m poised to tackle a selected section of hair, I’m catching stray clumps in the brush which then tangle to it so tightly that it ends up riveted to my head – not a great look. Not only this, but, unlike most hairdressers, my wrists don’t appear to have a swivel function, so how am I supposed to keep turning the brush round and round using my one free hand, to get even a faint wave in my straight-as-a-die locks?

So thank you Revlon for creating a hairdryer and brush combined – oh, and which volumises too – something beyond my wildest hopes.

The whole thing resembles a large but light oval hairbrush. A flick of a switch and air blows through vents within the brush at a choice of temperatures, so all you have to cope with is the brush itself. With simple manoeuvring you can straighten your hair, or, in my case, give it a lovely neat wave.  So easy, even for someone with my total lack of coordination.

But it isn’t just a hairbrush emitting hot air. Oh no, it uses ionic technology too. Ionic technology simply means that the hot air contains lots of negatively-charged ions. These have several benefits – they break down the water molecules, promoting evaporation and hence they speed up drying. Apparently they also tighten the hair cuticles, creating smooth and shiny hair and reduced frizziness – a big help in creating that I’ve-just-been-to-the-hairdresser look which we all crave but usually find so hard to achieve.

And now to my pet-hate – tangles. Well Revlon have thought of this too. The hairdryer-brush has special bristles – short, tufted, natural bristles and longer bobbled ones, which both prevent tangling and also help volumise.

And finally – it has a ceramic coating to protect from heat damage, and the cord has a swivel function (unlike my wrists).

For such a neat product there are a lot of well-thought out features, which pretty much cover every base for someone with limited hairdressing skills. You too can achieve a professional-looking hair-style quickly and stress-free, at home. I even astounded myself with the results.

And at just £59.99 it’s not much more than the price of just one professional blow-dry.  Available at Amazon or Boots.

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.

Never judge a book by its cover, is an adage that has stood me in good stead for many years, so why am I to be found stroking the frosted black bottle and label of Jaisalmer Gin, like some James Bond villain, stroking his cat?

Normally immune to artistic labels on bottles of alcohol, I am in awe of this design. The bottle is tactile, demanding to be admired and at the base, a small but pleasing punt. The label is ridged with embossed gold lettering on a black label and then a dramatic splash of turquoise that screams sophistication.

With expectations raised this high I fear that the gin will not be able to compete, despite the bold claim that it is ‘The whole of India in one bottle.’

Gin & Tonic was invented in India, when in the 1820’s, officers from the British Army, in an attempt to ward off malaria, mixed quinine with sugar and water creating the first Indian Tonic Water.  The addition of gin made the drink more palatable.

Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin harks back to the imperial age of the Maharajas, named after the historic Golden City of the same name and pronounced ‘Jessalmeer,’ it is located in the North West of India in the state of Rajasthan.

Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin is a triple-distilled spirit, handcrafted in one of India’s oldest distilleries, located in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The use of botanicals is a time-honoured tradition in India and Jaisalmer’s gin recipe is derived from the ancient Indian knowledge of herbs. Seven of the 11 botanicals used in the distillation come from India; Coriander and Vetiver grown in the fields around Jaisalmer, sweet Orange peel from Central India, whilst the Cubeb Berries and Lemongrass are from Southern India. The Darjeeling Green tea leaves come from Eastern India and the Lemon Peel from Western India.

Truly the whole of India in one bottle.

The Master Distiller wanted to retain the classic gin flavour using juniper berries whilst adding a refreshing twist with the Indian botanicals.

So, with Copa glass filled with ice and a fat piece of orange peel, twisted to release its oil, it was with much trepidation that I poured my very first Jaisalmer Gin. (Tip – before twisting the peel run it around the rim of the glass)

With nose set as close to the ice cubes as I dare without risking frostbite, I am hit by an initial crisp aroma of zesty Lemon and Coriander.

This gin does not disappoint, with Pine notes from the Juniper, woody and earthy notes from the Angelica Root and Liquorice whilst the spicy definitive notes from Cubeb Pepper keep this gin medium to full-bodied.

Finally, there is the elegant and refreshing finish, that lingers long after the first sip and which in my case, left me smacking my lips with satisfaction.

Please don’t worry if you miss the Indian summer, this is a gin to be savoured on a mellow autumn afternoon or a dark winter evening and is so beautifully packaged that it would make a most welcome gift come Christmas.

There is also a very helpful list of recipes for cocktails and for the purposes of this review I made the

THE G&T Signature Serve and the Indian Negroni, both of which I can thoroughly recommend and I am looking forward to trying the others very soon. (Purely in the name of science you understand)

Images courtesy of Rob Lawson.

STOCKISTS -The Whisky Exchange www.thewhiskyexchange.com RSP: £34.95 for a 70cl bottle ABV: 43%