Columbia Community Centre is now in its 40th week of refurbishment, believe it or not. How time flies.

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Great news: the wonderful Danni has made it through to the next round of “What’s on 4 Kids National Children’s Activities Awards 2023‘.

‘She is an unbelievable person and I am sure we all wish her well and that she comes out top in the ‘Most loved activity leader or business manager in the North’ ‘ says Marion. ‘You most definitely have our vote Danni.’

Congratulations to “Aimee Greens School of Dance”” who attended the West Ridings Championships at the weekend and only went out and smashed it, Frost Magazine have heard. Winners in all categories and some trophies were bigger than the little person who won it. Well done all of you. Your hard work is paying off.

How smart is this silver console table? Marion has popped a little table lamp on the top along with the signing in book and it certainly looks the business. She has also put
together a couple of food hampers to raffle, proceeds to their weekly Friday Coffee mornings.’Our community love a food hamper raffle and they are most certainly worth a quid’s worth of tickets,’ says our ever enthusiastic Marion.

Exciting news. A Belly Dancer is practicing her her dancing at the centre, and the team are ever hopeful that she might offer to train them in the art. Heaven help Brady Square!

It has been a quiet week for workmen, but dates are now agreed for the corridor flooring. For the first time since the commencement of the refurbishment the CCA will  have to close for business, but this will be the icing on the cake – nearly there, nearly there… The team have written letters to their users who fully understand the situation.  There was however, a visit from thge team’s surveyor Richard, which is always a great pleasure, but Marion is keen he doesn’t know that he is the team’s favourite (hence asking us to include him in this week’s news – sigh). Shut your eyes, Richard. Or don’t, as Marion will be cross and Margaret will be ticked off.

Some more excellent news:  Jane will be running a 10-week FREE course named, “Multiply” where you learn to Calculate, Cook and Achieve. This course is designed to show people how to cook nutritious, and reasonably priced meals. A slow cooker is provided along with a bag of ingredients to take home for their families. How amazing is this?

 

Wednesday brought Shake that Boogie,and Cultural Creatives were also working their magic with the art of screen printing. The lovely Paula gave the centre one as a gift which now has pride of place in the office. Azure Care had their staff meeting and Warm Spaces had its moment too. There was a phone call from Phil in Di’s Diner inviting the team  over to share in the buffet they had prepared for a wedding anniversary. Marion felt it would be rude not to accept, so off they toddled. Heavens, apparently the food was delicious, especially the chicken curry vol-au-vents. ‘Nowt like friends and neighbours in good old Brady Square.’

Lee from The Bargain Centre is always willing to give to the CCA  We know  someone will be grateful for a new duvet donated by Lee.   Andy Hayes popped in to collect the 200 plus hats for the seafarers, knitted with love by Belle Cummings and the knitters from Plain n Purl. Sister Mary will be ecstatic.

The CCA are now asking for donations of male toiletries for the Seafarers who come into the Port of Sunderland. The CCA weekly coffee morning is here again; lots of goodies, great food, prize bingo led by the amazing Bob and a lorra lorra laughs. Margaret of Frost Magazine, and Dick. absolutely love coming, as everyone puts the world to rights, and talk of thing as they once were, which helps along  the memories pages to be kept at the Centre.

Have an amazing Bank Holiday week-end no matter what you intend doing and let’s hope for some sunshine, please.

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

WRITERS ON THE ROAD: CHRISTINA COURTENAY

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I write stories about the Vikings, and being half Swedish, it would have been easy to just set all of them in Sweden as it’s a place I know well. But where would be the fun in that? The Vikings were intrepid travellers and explorers, and journeyed far and wide. I had a wealth of places to choose from, and as I’ve been working on a series, I decided early on that each book would feature a different location. That hopefully makes it more fun for both the readers and myself!

Book five, Promises of the Runes, (out this month) is set in Norway, and I’d previously used Sweden, Russia, Iceland and England. For book six, therefore, which I’m working on at the moment, I turned my sights on the Orkney Islands. It was a place Scandinavians had traded with for centuries, and no one really knows exactly when they began to settle there rather than just visit occasionally. By the 9th century, when my book takes place, they were well established and had integrated fully with the previous occupants, the Celts. Most of the islands have Norse names – any that end in ‘ey’, for example, as that means ‘island’.

There is nothing better for an author than to actually visit a place we are writing about. It helps with descriptions, catching the essence of a place – its scents, sounds, nature and people. So I dragged my husband along on an epic road trip. A twelve hour drive up to Scrabster, followed by 90 minutes on a ferry, and suddenly there they were – the gorgeous Orkney Islands.

We were incredibly lucky with the weather and had beautiful sunshine and blue skies interspersed with fluffy clouds. The air is so clear and I found myself wishing I could paint the landscape just because the light was so brilliant. There’s a huge amount of history, going back to Neolithic times, but I was concentrating on anything remaining from the Viking era. We headed first to the Brough of Birsay, a tidal island that can only be reached by a causeway during low tide. Here are the remains of a large Viking settlement, the outlines of the houses clear on the grassy site. I could definitely see why they’d wanted to live in such a beautiful location! It was also perfect for use in my story.

We visited several other Viking sites – one at Orphir called Earl’s Bu and another at Deerness. To reach the latter, we had to walk along spectacular cliffs that were part of a nature reserve. The Vikings had a settlement on top of a 30 metre high sea stack on a promontory sticking out into the North Sea – an isolated place, but again, stunning. Nearby was a beach and cove, perfect for longships.

In Kirkwall, the main town, the historical museum had lots of Viking items, among them a bear tooth carved with runes. It might have been worn as protection against magic or to imbue the wearer with a bear’s strength.

The most poignant reminder of the Vikings, however, was in the Neolithic tomb at Maeshowe. Shaped sort of like a beehive buried inside a huge earth mound, it is reached via a 10 metre long tunnel only a metre high. A thousand years ago a group of Vikings had apparently taken shelter there and scratched graffiti all over the walls. There were more than 30 messages written in runes. It really made these people come alive for me and I could see them sitting in there, bored and restless. The connection was almost visceral and I was so pleased I got to experience this.

If you get the chance, do visit the Orkneys!

Buy link for Promises of the Runes – https://geni.us/ExsdDss 

 

 

JANE CABLE REVIEWS…

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Two research books, and two book club reads this time. My book of the month is Tracy Chevalier’s stunning story, The Last Runaway.

 

The Girl Who Left by Debra Gavranich

I read this book in the name of research, because I was fascinated by the opportunity to read a first hand account of the Second World War on the Croatian island of Korcula, and I wasn’t disappointed. Such gems in the English language are rare, and this family history is firmly rooted in the author’s mother’s memories, and well written.

As Marija’s story unfolds I found that I really cared about the outcome and her journey across the oceans as a proxy was fascinating. I must admit I only scanned the parts about her life in Australia, but my lack of interest was a personal thing and no reflection on the book.

 

The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier

Such a brilliant book, it took me straight to nineteenth century Ohio with all the harshness and iniquities of life there.

Honor Bright is a quaker from Dorset who accompanies her sister to America, where she is to be married. But the fates are cruel and the bride dies on the way, so Honor arrives in rural Ohio alone. The story revolves around her quest for friendship and happiness, but also her desire help escaped slaves in the Underground Railroad to Canada, which runs through the community where she lives.

Rich in description, strong in emotion, run through with tension, this is close to a perfect read. The characters became almost real to me and I was completely invested in Honor’s story and how her choices affected those around her. It was only the ending that left me feeling a tiny, tiny bit short-changed but I would still unreservedly recommend this very special novel.

 

Orlando by Virginia Woolf

If the author hadn’t explained in the foreword she’d started to write this as a bit of a joke, I don’t think I would have got it – and there were moments the author’s asides made me laugh out loud. I have to admit that I skimmed through much of it. but I did love the dreamlike elasticity of time, gender and sexuality and it was clearly a book ahead of its time.

Orlando is born a boy in the Elizabethan era and ages only a little and rather irregularly so in effect travels through time. But the real fascination for me was when he becomes a woman part way through the story and is therefore in a position to compare the two states.

If like a highly unusual read, rich in description and introspection, this is definitely worth a go.

 

The Sunrise by Victoria Hislop

I loved the premise of this book, set in the Cypriot resort of Famagusta, which was abandoned during the troubles in the 1970s which divided the island. However for me it didn’t completely deliver. For some reason I couldn’t buy into the love story between the nightclub manager and his boss, and although I appreciated the tensions which led to the arrival of the Turkish troops, for me it took far too long to happen.

What I did really love was the relationship between the neighbouring families of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and how that developed. And as ever with Victoria Hislop, the sense of place was phenomenal and the historical research extensive. I just didn’t fall in love with it as much as some of her other books.

 

The Columbia Community Association have just put Week 39 to bed – such a busy few days

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Dave                                                                                  John Kelly

‘Come the Spring,‘ Annie Newsome, who started life at the Long Pole back in 1914, (or is it Long Pull) used to say, ‘time to clean all the windows.’ Margaret, her daughter, now Editor of Frost Magazine, would groan as the window spring cleaning was her job. At the CCA the windows were cleaned but not by Marion, who had the sense not to on call Margaret either, but by Dave of Clean Master on Wednesday, to prepare for the blinds – roll of drums… tra la la – from Cosmic Blinds, which John Kelly put up. Such excitement at the centre, for it seems much of what’s happening comes under the heading: finishing touches.

Of course, to achieve window cleaning and so on, scaffolding had to be dismantled, which it duly was, and new glass then arrived for the swing doors and Carl is going to do the honours. The external wall has been washed and brushed by the pointers.

At this point, Craig and Melanie from Cultural Springs visited to plan the organisation of the room for the Red Coat Show scheduled for next month. Time to draw a breath… But hurry hurry:  Equans came for their weekly session and the team were delighted to see Jodie again; they feel  she  brings sunshine into people’s lives and they want her back in the  community, and quickly.  Then, more good news, quite wonderful news actually in relation to Sister Mary Scholastica, who is going to be honoured with a new song celebrating her charity work, fund raising and powerful force within the city. This song will be produced by Sunderland Male Voice Choir.

Her achievements have worldwide recognition in relation to the retention of the Seafarers Mission. ‘We, along with Plain n Purl are so proud that the seafarers from various countries are wearing the hats knitted by our own community. The song’s title is “Sunderland’s Angel of Mercy “ and we cannot wait to hear it. In addition, we have posted on our Brady Square site the exciting news that we would like our lovely community to share their thoughts of growing up in the area so we, with the help of Margaret Graham,  can create a Brady Square Memoir. those memories will last forever for future generations.’ says Marion.

Margaret adds that they already have one amazing offering, recapturing the writer’s childhood, including the games she played. It made Margaret and Marion recollect their own childhood. Or fragments of it, for that’s how we all remember really. So, come on, let’s get these memories into the centre, so that they are there for others to understand the community ‘back then.’


Praise indeed for a very special volunteer Ray Turnbull, who in January 2021 took on a three-year challenge to walk and pedal 20,000,000 steps. Ray has completed this challenge and on Thursday 20th April  a celebration event was held for him at at the CCA. His challenge has raised a staggering £4,000 for the Mesothelioma Charity, a disease to which Ray lost his beloved wife Jean.

It seems to have been a week of hustle and bustle, what with Warm spaces, shake that Boogie, Aimee’s school of Dance, Cultural Creations, workmen inside and outside, which is just how the CCA should be, thinks Marion.

Just to add to the excitement Dave Munneke, from Washington Community Furnishings has donated an array of picture frames.. Red Shoes Bob reckons the centre could end up like the Louvre Museum. ‘ Cheeky Monkey,’ says Marion. ‘A Rouges Gallery omes to mind, but on second thoughts we are all so wonderful in good old Brady Square so yes, the Louvre is more apt.’


As always, it was a fabulous coffee morning on Friday, great food, lorra lorra laughs, prize bingo with chocolates for the winners. This was followed by the Flower arranging class with the lovely Tina, beautiful floral creations made by everyone.

So, all Frost Magazine can report is that it has been another exciting week where progress has been made and as Marion says, on behalf of all at Columbia Community Assocation,  ‘We wish everyone near and far a great week-end. Remember, it’s always a good day to have a good day.’

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

EVA GLYN’S HIDDEN CROATIA: EATING WITHIN DUBROVNIK’S WALLS

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First let me say that I am one lucky, lucky writer. Long have I dreamt of eating at Dubrovnik’s only Michelin starred restaurant, and on my last visit, I did it. It’s a very special place (with prices to match) but I had cause for celebration – it was publication day for The Collaborator’s Daughter, my novel set in the city.

I had visited Restaurant 360 before, but only through the pages of The Olive Grove. Where else would wealthy businessman Josip Beros take Damir to impress him?

‘The design of the place alone took Damir’s breath away, the cubed rattan furniture in turquoise and grey in the lower courtyard contrasting in both colour and style with the honeyed stone of the old fort into which it was built.’

It is, indeed a stunning location, and in the summer open air tables grace the tops of the walls giving stunning views of the harbour, but on a breezy evening right at the beginning of April I was pleased we would be eating inside.

Everything about Restaurant 360 is precise, except for the service which is as friendly as it is knowledgeable about the food and wine they serve. As well as a la carte choices, there are two tasting menus; Antalogica, which showcases the chef’s latest signature dishes, and Republika, a modern take on heritage dishes from the time of Dubrovnik’s Ragusa republic.

We were delighted when the sommelier was able to match a different Croatian wine with each course. Croatian wines are hugely underrated (and my husband knows a thing or two about wine, having worked in the industry) and we were able to enjoy a selection of the best with our meal. We were especially impressed with a Grk from Lumbarda on Korcula. All the more delicious to me because that’s where The Olive Grove is set.

All the food was wonderful, but it was with fish that Restaurant 360 excelled. We do sometimes treat ourselves to Michelin starred food, and some of the dishes bettered anything we have eaten. Anywhere. The absolute star of the show was what sounded an unlikely combination of smoked eel, foie gras, melon, and date cream. The man who thought that one up, and then delivered it, is some sort of genius.

A great deal of time goes into perfecting the dishes. Our waiter told us that the ‘fish soup’ accompanying the brodet (a very traditional Croatian dish) of grouper and clams had gone through almost forty iterations before it was deemed worthy of serving. And I would imagine it was the same with everything else; the sea bass with leek and langoustine was one of the most amazing things I have ever tasted. And the scallop tartar with kohlrabi and yuzu gel was as delightful as it was refreshing.

Great care was taken with my gluten free diet and I felt very safe all evening. The bread was delicious and plentiful, accompanied by a colourful array of butters, and where a dish could not be adapted, (as with one of the amuse bouche) the chef made something specially for me. Nothing was too much trouble for kitchen or staff, which made dining at 360 a wonderful experience.

I couldn’t resist taking a copy of The Olive Grove with me, and gave it to our fabulous sommelier when we left. He was delighted to hear it was set on Korcula, where he and his wife had honeymooned. It seemed such a small thank you for a night we will never forget.

Frost Magazine’s Spotlight shines on… Thirsk’s new arrivals: Frank Family Butchers and A M Gardening, both tried and tested by Margaret Graham who doesn’t even try to pretend it was a hardship

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Frank Family Butchers have not long been in Thirsk but have certainly made their mark, and not just because the doorway ‘dangles’ makes one feel that you  simply should make an entrance as though about to do a ‘turn’ on stage. The dangles are actually, to keep out flies and all flying beasts. Frankly, a very good idea, Mr Frank.

                             

So sorry for the simply awful joke,  but, you see, I have tested one of their pork pies, which Simon Frank kindly pressed on me to try: crisp melt in the mouth pastry and simply stuffed with locally sourced pork, which has put me in a very good mood. They have a huge range of pies, indeed, a delicatessen of pies, a cornucopia even.

I also oven baked the  tempting Mozzella,Pickle and Beef Truffle. Had I been cooking for someone other than Dick, who I can’t hoodwink, I would have said I’d been slaving for hours in the kitchen, and I did hope he enjoyed it. Dick did enjoy it, knowing full well it was from Frank’s  range of prepared foods. At Christmas we had a rib of beef which  had the flavour that one remembers from long ago; well kept, high quality. The sausages… Well, go and have a look.

So who are Frank Family Butchers and where have they been all this time when they could have been in Thirsk for heavens sake? Seven generations ago John Mallory Frank decided to open a butcher’s shop that placed sustainability and animal welfare at the forefront of the business. With farming in the family this was something they could control. Soon the family were running 2 successful shops in Harrogate.

       

Steadily the succeeding generations continued the thread until thankfully Simon Frank set up in Thirsk. He runs the shop with his business partner Anna, and apprentice Tom. There is a huge choice in pies, sourced from a local baker, the usual cuts one expects at a butcher, but also prepared dishes, which one only needs to cook and pretend they are our own work. Dishes can also be prepared to order if a customer is having a ‘do’ or just wants a meal without effort. The quality of everything is superb, with all  produce obtained locally, including from Anna’s family farm.

Simon’s young sons are already helping in the background where they can, and loving it,  so Thirsk can be assured of a long running relationship. Frankly, (sorry again Simon) aren’t we lucky.

Frankfamilybutchers@outlook.com

Now Frost Magazine’s  Spotlight picks out A M Gardening

Long ago I had the pleasure of meeting a civil engineer whose work entailed designing roads. He maintained that the beauty of a road lies in its curves.  This of course, can be applied to quite a few things, but for me, as a passionate gardener it certainly transfers to flower beds. So I had great plans to extend my flower beds into curves, plant more cottage  garden plants, and Old English Roses, my passion. (Dick’s preserve is in the vegetable garden, which, he declared firmly, gives him more than enough to do with spring well into its stride, and ground to prepare). So, understanding that a nod’s as good as a wink,  I knew I had to remove the turf and then dig the bed extensions myself which was a step too far. What to do, what to do?

I always share my problems willy-nilly, and everyone I inflicted myself on suggested I try A M Gardening, a newbie on the block in Thirsk, but reasonably priced, pleasant and efficient. So along came Adam Maloney to suss out my needs. Apparently none of it was a problem. I explained that it was spring, and I needed it yesterday if I was to be able to get plants in, whinge, whinge, and lots of hand wringing.

Adam Maloney gave up his Bank Holiday Monday. First the turfs were removed, poste haste…  How can people do that back breaking work so quickly?  I just poke the spade at it, and feel my back is breaking, and have to go in for a rest. All turfs were off within 4 hours and taken to the tip, the pavement and paths swept.  Then the digging began, and oh, the roots …  for there had been old old hedges along my straight beds originally. So those had to be dealt with. Not a whinge or complaint from Adam.

Within another four hours it was finished.  Just like that, as Tommy Cooper used to say. All done, all cleaned up, ready for my part – the planting. The bill? Extraordinarily reasonable. For a newbie on the block you can’t beat A M Gardening, really you can’t.

Adam Maloney: 07470 363741

Spotlight … on Thirsk this week, starting with the wonderful Thirsk Veterinary Centre

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Polly, Margaret and Dick Graham’s Cavachon, was operated on recently by the wonderful Thirsk Veterinary Centre. She has a heart murmur and Margaret was tizzying because she just knew there was something else amiss with Polly. Lovely vet Isabella de Berardinis saw her and agreed.

‘Teeth’, was the verdict. Margaret secretly felt indignant because she diligently cleans Polly’s teeth, and also ashamed to have obviously failed in the brush brush brushetty brush procedure. But the plain fact was that there was at least one loose one at the front. Vet Anne Norton came into the consultation room to check Polly’s heart murmur. The two vets decided to take bloods on the day to check that she had the best chance possible. Gulp.

The day arrived. Polly was left with the team of vets and nurses, who were by now Margaret’s best friends, or so she felt. Polly was accompanied by Margaret’s sock, which goes with her if she has to separate from her pal, Rosie, and the grown ups, Margaret and Dick. Glory be, all went well but Polly lost more than one tooth, in fact rather a lot of the little rascals had to come out but in herself was fine.

Poor Isabella had been so worried – these vets and their team care, you see; their empathy, and committment is obvious and comforting, and we also have continuity of care; our pets see the same vets and nurses which is not always the case in other veterinary clinics. The receptionists are also ever helpful, especially Cathy who sorts out the insurance claims.

Off we toddled home, with Polly and her sock. Within days she was her old self, and tucking into her food, seemingly managing beautifully with fewer teeth. So much so,  and I whisper it in case she hears, I fear she must go on a diet.

But hang on, yet more exciting  news  just in from Thirsk Veterinary Centre:

Matt Smith, the vet, is joining Thirsk Veterinary Centre. Matt features on The Yorkshire Vet alongside Julian Norton – whose latest book  Adventures with a Yorkshire Vet: Lambing Time and Other Animal Tales  is delighting children everywhere – these are the winter tales. The summer tales are out soon, and Frost will report on this.

Matt seems to exude energy and has the same empathy that is inherent in ‘our’ vets (we animal parents are very possessive ) so everyone is absolutely delighted and excited.

Matt  will bring a wide experience and knowledge to the team, along with a passion for exotics. Steady, steady… not that sort of exotic, I mean exotic animals, birds and so on. It also seems Matt, and this is extremely important news, has another passion alongside  helping  our pets; he  LOVES custard creams everyone – just saying.

They will now be brought in by the sackful.

Lucky lucky Thirsk and surroundings. We so love our Thirsk Veterinary Centre and all the wonderful team.

Incidentally, Frost Magazine will be shining the Spotlight on another newbie to Thirsk in a day or two.

For more information:   Thirsk Veterinary Centre

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