There is nothing quite like a comfortable slipper during Christmas time. We spend so much time at home and comfort is paramount. Simba are a great brand when it comes to sleeping. My bed is made by them and I love it. I trialled the Rok slipper and loved it. It looks great and is comfortable. The only downside is that I have wide feet and they were a little tight so I would go up a size if you also have weird feet like me. My Christmas style game has definitely been upped and my feet are happy. Simba has taken its expertise in sleep technology to a new level with the launch of the YLUR (£79), ROK (£89), and STORMUR (£69) slippers. These aren’t just any slippers—they’re crafted using high-performance materials like Merino wool, leather, and suede, offering comfort and style in equal measure, for men and women alike.
ROK Slipper: A classic moccasin design with durable suede and Simba’s 9-Zone Reflexology technology, providing all-day support and relief.
Designed with 9-Zone Reflexology technology, simba slippers gently massage the feet, improving circulation and relieving pressure in key areas. Whether it’s for a quick dash outside or for lounging by the fire, these slippers will bring holiday joy and year-round comfort to anyone on your gift list.
Simba Slippers: YLUR, ROK, and STORMUR, £69 to £89
Our loft was a mess, hardly surprising as it is old, rather like me, but moving on quickly. There was old fibre glass insulation, some remnants of spray foam sort of removed, but much more we couldn’t see with all our packages, abandoned furniture, etc. etc. So, after casting around we arranged a free survey from H&J Energy Solutions who explained what they would do and how much it would cost. The reviews said they would do a good job. So off we went and a day was chosen, well three days to be strictly accurate, as bungalows tend to have big lofts.
We explained to the dogs that there were be ‘strangers in the house’ and their noise would outbid the dogs’ so very there. We emptied the loft – well – Dick emptied the loft, I ferried stuff to the garage, or the end of the sitting room, or the bedrooms, or any free space, and glory be, some went to the tip. ‘We really must get rid of more of it,’ we said. Will we? Time will tell. It is then we saw what our loft actually really truly looked like. Thank heavens H&J Energy Solutions had rooted around as they put the survey together.
On the day the dogs watched aliens arrive, in white suits and face masks. No, not the Covid masks, the really McCoy. ‘Don’t panic. Bark bark.’ ‘Aliens invading.’ ‘Help, help.’
Heavens, there were seven in all. Then in bustled the bosses, James and Harry. They were all coming from the other side of the country, so we expected them at about 10. They caught us on the hop at 8.0 am having risen at 4 am. They would be staying in the area until the job was finished. ‘No, no tea, no coffee, thanks. Work to do.’ ‘Morning.’ ‘Morning.’ ‘Morning.’ said all nine as they streamed past us.
First all the hall runners carpets were lifted. Oh the shame at what lay beneath. ‘To stop it being spoiled, and not to worry, all will be spotless before we leave each day,’ Harry said. I wanted him to stay forever. Really? Spotless? Meanwhile, the rest of the team were pounding up the loft ladder and starting work.
Thump as boards were laid so no-one came through the ceiling, but only once the old floor level foam and fibre glass rubbish was out. Grind, as the sanding machines cleaned up the rafters. Full bin bags were taken to the garden full of unwanted foam insulation and old insulation. A mountain grew between two rose beds. The dogs guarded their home, loudly, so were enticed away for a walk. A long walk. On and on it went. Hard work was the order of the day.
Before they left they cleaned wherever they’d been. Heavens, the lavatory was spotless. The tiles on the floor spotless. The wooden hall floor spotless. Live with us …
The next day was all bustle too, but this time, it was the eco wool insulation being laid. This sustainable material is crafted from natural and renewable materials. It is derived from recycled fibres, and natural sheep wool, which minimizes environmental impact while maximizing performance. It also traps pockets of air, providing exceptional thermal resistance and minimizing heat transfer. It is also excellent for protection against moisture related issues , and absorbs sound and dampens sound waves, minimizing external noise pollution. So very there, dogs.
Again not a moment was lost. The mountain of bags was removed, a porous lining was installed between the rafters, the porous insulation was laid at the required depth. Suddenly it was over, all done. Whaat? But you have only been here two days?
Yes, they had been such beavers it was all over. Harry and James decided a price reduction was in order. The house was clean, the loft fully insulated. The dogs were bereft as they had no aliens to guard against and therefore no excuse for barking. We were ecstatic at the job which had been done.
‘Goodbye.’ ‘Goodbye.’ ‘Goodbye.’ They called as they trooped off. They would be heading for their new job first thing in the morning.H&J Energy Solutions are phenominally busy, which says all you need to know, but we are such fans, that honestly, if you need a team that knows what it’s doing, and does it, (see the images) while in addition keeping you up to date with where they are, what they are doing, what they have uncovered, – give them a ring, or drop an email through their website. Do remember, your dogs will want a medal for protecting you so valiantly and… and … here’s the icing on the cake… your house will be spotless wherever they have been. H&J Energy Solutions
Our little market town, Thirsk, is the best place in the whole wide world, and as it is Christmas it is all lit up and spirits are high. So as per usual I will get the 9.40 bus into town and have a whizz around – have I really enough for the grands? After five minutes, yes, I have, so quick, into The Golden Fleece Hotel which overlooks the Market Place and is, at this time of day, the meeting place for many of us.
‘Hi Jim, (or Louise, or Holly)’ I call having pushed open the doors, not sure who is behind the Christmas tree. ‘How are you,’ they call back.Then into the lounge heading for Table 23, to the right of the picture below. This table is MINE. I like the armchair, you see and from here I can check through the window, which opens onto the hall, just who is coming into the Fleece. I bagsy my table with my hessian bag. Sometimes I am a bit late and Sue grabs it as it is fine for dogs under the table and she has Tilly.
‘Whaat?’ say I, horror stricken (but not really for I can head instead for the other lounge). We hiss at one another, then laugh and laugh:
‘Hello, hello,’ to everyone and into the bar to order coffee and have the loyalty card stamped. There is no looking at the cake stall, especially today, for Maltesers have been changed to little mince pies – it is Christmas month after all. Oh yes it is.
Our lounge has been decorated with foliage and lights. Oh lovely. Yesterday Dick and the dogs came. Polly and Rosie know that Meghan, Kim, Izzy, Jordan or Holly, will bring them a treat along with our coffee. The lounge has comfortable chairs, lovely jubbly carpets, a sense of people sitting here, like all of us, for decades and decades, and there are pictures of sheeps on the wall, because sheeps have Fleeces. The food is pretty fabulous too. Try the Brunch, or… Oh okey doke – have a look at everything.
Yesterday when Dick came, I took a photo of our coffees and mince pies. Then Carol came and gave the dogs extra treats. Carol comes for coffee and loves dogs, and they love her. Anyway, back to me… I drink my coffee, eat my mince pie, chat to others, the time flies, then it is time for the bus. So off I head: ‘Bye, bye.’ Lots of goodbyes back, and as it is a hotel there are strangers who have chatted too, and have needed to be told to have a nice day, once one of us has told them where to walk their dogs, and perhaps nip to the Herriot Museum, or Thirsk Museum, or a toddle to the beck… Safe journey home, too.
Quick quick to the bus, not a lot of shopping done, there never seems to be time… Too much shopping does get in the way of chat chat in the Fleece, and there is, you see, only an hour before the bus comes to take me, well us, back home. I know, I know, I am talking too much. On the way to the Market Place bus stop I pass the Christmas Yarn Bombers’ offerings in the market place. Wonderful wondeful.
Tomorrow I might be strong and not go for a coffee, and mince pie, but instead do a bit more shopping, but I know I won’t be strong, because life is short, and a trip to Thirsk and The Golden Fleece is just a moment of sheer pleasure, so calm, and – well – all right,,, chatty. All that remains is to wish you all a Merry Merry Christmas from all of us in Thirsk. If you are staying at The Golden Fleece for Christmas, or any time we might see you there. Best not to sit at Table 23 – just saying. https://goldenfleecehotel.com/
As soon as this penguin arrived at Frost HQ it was adopted by my daughter who now sleeps with it. It’s cute, smells great, is weighted AND it can be heated up. Love it.
Warmies bring a new level of comfort and relaxation with their collection of fully heatable, scented plush toys, designed to provide gentle warmth and a soothing experience. Each Warmies plush is made with soft, premium fabrics and infused with French lavender, known for its calming properties that help ease stress and promote relaxation. With a gentle weight that adds to the cosy feel, these cuddly companions are perfect for kids, teens, and adults alike. Ideal for chilly nights, comforting routines, or simply unwinding after a long day, Warmies make a thoughtful gift that brings warmth and cheer to any occasion. From whimsical animals to festive designs, there is a Warmies for everyone.
The Warmies Baby Penguin is a soft, huggable plush inspired by nature’s cutest cold-weather creatures! This fully microwavable penguin provides cosy warmth and relaxation, infused with soothing French lavender to create a calm, comforting experience. Designed with a gentle weight, it’s perfect for cuddling on chilly days or anytime you need extra comfort. Penguins symbolise warmth and togetherness, making this plush an ideal companion for all ages. Just heat it up for lasting warmth and enjoy this adorable baby penguin as a heartwarming gift or a snuggly treat for yourself!
Every so often a little gem lands on a reviewer’s desk, and here it is – roll of drums – my 2024 little gem: Flying Poets & Other Storytellers – F.L. Ying, in which we have a range of authors, from nine year old twins through to published authors, including F. L. Ying who is author of the fascinating The Ancestral Quest (writing as F.G. Kwong – yes do read it, it’s riveting) and a YA novel ‘A Dangerous Riddle of Chance‘ ( you will note that some of F. L Ying’s poems in the anthology relate to this novel).
In Flying Poets and other Storytellers as F. L. Ying tells Frost Magazine, the topics covered are Love Lost, Love Regained, Grief, Regret, Despair and Hope Restored. I found it unputdownable, and, cat lovers or not, you will all enjoy the odes to the family cat.
And then, oh lord, so many, but tell me, did you know there is the correct way of ordering in a Chinese takeaway? No? Read he Ultimate Takeaway. And then The Mad Hatter’s Tea Rooms both by F. L. Ying.
What about Computers by Simon Holder, which made me laugh. Ian Stuart’s Sculpting with Words which resonated, oh yes it did. Then to the twins: Sweet Music from Saskia, then Aleskia’s Diary – Samson. Oh but what happened? I so want to know. Did Samson really go to a breeder, or was he saved at the last moment?
Emotions were explored with, on the one hand delicacy and on the other robustly, but it was the addition of the illustrations that in my view makes this book especially memorable, they are glorious in their vibrancy, and the photography is ethereal – oh, the image of the magnolia. These illustrations and images are by Tanya Ying, Alexia Young, Saskia Young and Caroline Stuart.
F. L. Ying explained: ‘Alexia and Saskia Young, aged nine, not only illustrated their own work, but also that of the other contributors in this anthology, such as on pages 12, “Roses”: 69, “Temptress”: 83, “Butterfly Whisperers”: 103 -104, “A New Beginning”: 249, “Galapagos”. Alexia (then aged eight) also contributed copies of her paintings of the “Bouquet of Flowers” to welcome potential readers and the abstract, “ The Magical Art of Words” as well as the logo, “Boodles the Flying Cat”.
He also touched on the children’s inspirational teachers at their State School, Hampton Junior School. Now, that’s really wonderful as is the collection – one to keep, to dip into again and again. Flying Poets & Other storytellers – £10.99 ISBN
It’s ski season and our skin will bear the brunt of the cold weather. Skiing exposes our skin to harsh conditions like cold winds, low humidity, and intense sun, which can strip it of moisture and damage its protective barrier. We’ve rounded up the best products from Teoxane, the creators of RHA resilient hyaluronic acid.
To maintain healthy, resilient ski skin, hydration is crucial, and hyaluronic acid plays a vital role as it helps to retain moisture in the skin, keeping it plump, smooth, and protected against the drying effects of the elements.
Teoxane (Teosyal) RHA Serum, £85 Teoxane (Teosyal) RHA Serum contains a potent blend of resilient hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and amino acids, which help to perfect the tone and texture of dull, tired skin within 14 days.
Teoxane 3D Lip, £35 This rich, hydrating and reparative daily lip care treatment features densifying and nutritive ingredients that work together to smooth, nourish, and achieve a plumping effect for the lips.
Teoxane (Teosyal) UVA Shield SPF50+, £55 This very high UVA and UVB protective sunscreen works to prevent UV-induced photoaging and the appearance of dark spots.
I’m obsessed with sunscreen and this one is brilliant.
I admit to a serious coffee addiction and the coffee must be good. A cup of instant just won’t cut it and the more I learn the more I yearn for that perfect coffee experience.
It’s undisputed that for optimal flavour you need freshly ground beans. Simply, flavour begins to fade from within half an hour of grinding, so a home grinder is a must.
There are whole theses on coffee grinder attributes and if you’re regularly grinding coffee for a large family, then perhaps an electric burr grinder would make a good investment, but for one or two coffees at a time, and for travelling, the Peugeot Presto Coffee Mill is hard to beat. It’s neat, attractive and compact, with a removable handle and lid, making it very easy to store or pack. Despite its small size, the bean reservoir can accommodate 30-35g of beans – enough for 0.5 litre of coffee. It’s very simple to use – once the beans are added and the lid firmly attached, just turn the adjustable grind setting ring to whatever you require, whether for espresso machine, cafetière, moka, ibrik, filter or cold brew infusion. To make life easy for the novice, or myopic users such as myself, there are pictures on the grind setting ring which denote the correct setting for each preparation method, and, for experts, the grind sizes in microns are also marked. After that just turn the handle and grind. You’ll see the grounds as they appear in the detachable transparent base. After that, well, make your coffee, sit back and enjoy.
At £84.99 from Peugeot it’s a quality gift and Christmas is indeed coming. I love it and I can’t wait to take it on my next trip. And if you’re looking for more great, quality gifts, do check out the Peugeot website.
By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
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.
Lying about your age can cause problems, especially if you’re no good at maths and lying doesn’t come naturally. At the age of fifty-six, and thinking about the Big Six-0, I decided to knock ten years off my age. When my daughter was informed, she said she’d knock ten years off too, making her twenty-six. My grandson looked up in horror. He was better at maths than me and declared, ‘But that would make me minus one. I don’t want to be minus one.’
We decided dropping ten years was not such a good idea so why did I do it again when approaching a publisher? The submission form asked for date of birth. I hovered over the keyboard before typing in 6.2.1960. My thought was that the publisher would think I had more mileage in me.
I’d been selling my writing for over forty years by then.
When asked what I’ve written it’s easier to respond with, ‘I’ve not covered poetry or pornography.’ I’ve written rude greeting cards, silly advertisements, flirted with journalism, sold articles and interviews, had hundreds of short stories published, a children’s book and several non-fiction books. I’ve also been a ghostwriter.
It wasn’t until the first lockdown that I decided it was time to get a novel published. There was an unpublished one, written around the turn of the century but it had never found a home. I dug it out, read it, and could see why. I had twenty more years of experience so set out to do a rewrite.
That was in 2020. I was 70 years old and ready to prove that you are never too old to have a new dream.
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In 2023, Gail Lockwood and Her Imaginary Agony Aunt was published by Cahill Davis Publishing. Now the follow-up to that, Dilys Lloyd’s Dilemmas is out. If there was such a genre they would be classed as ‘mature romantic-comedy’.
The books have working class characters, the important ones all being over fifty. They have problems with jobs, weight, and lack of love lives, but they work hard, remain cheerful most of the time, have adventures and hide in Fred’s Fries for a decent meal when they come out of Flabfighters after being weighed.
My publisher arranged an interview for me with a media company. I was delighted and apprehensive. I’d interviewed many people during my time working for a local newspaper and one of the first questions asked is, ‘How old are you?’
That’s what happened with the media company. ‘I’m sixty-three,’ I lied and, once that hurdle was over, went on to discuss my debut novel and my life. Then came the question that tripped me up. ‘How long have you been married?’
I wasn’t expecting it. Out slipped the truth. ‘Fifty-six years,’ I said.
‘Married at seven?’ My interviewer was more than surprised.
I came clean. Then confessed to my publisher who was lovely, telling me that older people have more experience and therefore their writing is richer. Phew!
