I remember as a child being gifted a pen for special achievements – passing my school exams, getting into university, winning a competition. A beautiful pen is so special, don’t you think? Light and balanced in your hand, that moment when you first write with it, the thrill of dark ink appearing like magic on pristine white paper – a beautiful signature, a squiggle, it doesn’t matter – so satisfying. And every time one picks up the pen, it conveys the happy memories of someone special, a special occasion – timeless.

So I’m genuinely delighted that, despite this era of index finger-tapped messages, autocorrect and emojis, great pens are still being lovingly sold at Pen Heaven.

Pen Heaven sells all the big names in pens, but with over a hundred years experience, Caran D’Ache are pretty hard to beat if you’re looking for a distinctive gift. The Caran d’Ache 849 Colourmat-X Ballpoint Pen comes in a streamline metal gift box. Even before you open it you know it’s a bit special. The ballpoint itself is light and easy to use, the matt finish really stands out and the sleek space-age design blends tradition with modern. I love it. At just £32 from Pen Heaven it’s perfect, whether as a Mother’s Day gift, birthday or just a treat for yourself. Cheer yourself with a bright colour, maybe yellow, violet, red or blue, or special edition black.

Do check out the Pen Heaven website – they have an amazing choice of top-quality ballpoint and fountain pens, writing paper and journals, in fact everything to do with good old-fashioned writing. They also offer an in-house engraving and embossing service – how brilliant is that?

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.

The Columbia Community Association team had a welcome surprise last Saturday when the scaffolders arrived in force. Happy to work round the centre’s buzzing day the blokes got down to it and in no time the scaffolding was secure with all H & S aspects adhered to. Without a pause the team were then up and at it, delivering letters to their neighbours apprising them of the up coming situation.

Of course, within the four walls  the business of the week continued without pause, with the MBC amazing everyone as usual with their fantastic ceramic creations; bird feeders. Most appropriate as Spring is ‘just around the corner.’ Margaret was tempted to sing it for you, but how unkind that would be. Not content with MBC, Cultural Creatives were also strutting their stuff. The team is in awe of all this talent operating under their roof. Frost Magazine is pretty impressed too. Even the dads joined in!

Jim Benson, Principal Designer (H & S) nipped in to see how things are progressing, and the lovely Pam Telfer popped in to collect some computer cartridges. Meanwhile the bloke with the Red Shoes, Bob, shredded paper for the hampers Marion intends to make and raffle for the Ukrainian appeal. She has posted on social media asking for food donations, knowing that her community never lets them down, and sure enough, donations are coming in. But more very very welcome.

Marion was thrilled to see the roofer here at the crack of dawn during the week, and work was well under way on the Air Raid shelter roof. All the while, within the centre, the good fun continued, with a birthday pary and disco, not to mention the quizzes and laughter on Wednesday. Lord, so many eggheads, and clearly thinking is thirsty work. Tea! I mean. No gin in sight.

The Warm Spaces users were all eager to take part in the anonymous Sunderland City Council surveys, the results of which will be analysed, responses identified and future WS projects developed accordingly to meet all needs.

Aimee and her dancers were using the school holidays to get some extra tuition time and Marion can’t get over how they invent new shapes with their bodies.

On Thursday, morning meetings filled all rooms, though the afternoon belonged to the Forever Young ladies, with their homemade scrumptious cakes, and Bingo. Linda told Marion she was going to give the standup bingo a try. More the merrier, and each of these events are certainly merry and fun filled.

Meanwhile, Red Shoes Bob was still shredding, and Marion was filling boxes, seven finished so far, but there is a real problem sourcing boxes. Melanie, who has just taken delivery of her Scentsy order provided a few, and to Marion’s utter delight, even it must be said, hysterical delight (pull yourself together, pet) Christine Thirlaway from the local store sent hubby Graham to deliver a massive donation of gorgeous food. ‘Another Brady Square lass who never lets the community down,’ says Marion.

As always, there was the food to order for the Friday coffee morning: mince pie, quiche, double cream… and Phil told Marion his cook Claire has a big surprise for us. Di’s Diner is really so good to the CCA and it is VERY much appreciated.  Phil has even promised to sell some raffle tickets for the CCA – ‘Now that’s what community is all about,’ says Marion who wanted Frost Magazine to make clear that the Apple turnovers were delicious and barely saw the light of day.

Frost Magazine thought it interesting that Chris Todd, of Sunderland College, slipped in during the week to explain that he would like to offer a variety of training to the community. Marion, of course, bit off his hand, and asked for more details. When she has them you will be told.

Equans have just delivered a new 600 wall unit for the office; ‘Thank you so much we are delighted, Liam,’ said Marion, explaining to Margaret that Liam is the easy on the eye joiner though Margaret remembers that fact very well. After today the team can store their files away. Well, let’s rephrase that: they can once the decorating is done, the new flooring down, blinds are up… But the important thing is that the CCA is definitely ‘getting there’.

It sounds as though it was a manic week, but as Marion says again and again,  it is great fun, and she’ll be back on Monday, batteries charged, and ready for the fray.

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

Are you looking for a fabulous perfume to celebrate Spring, Easter and New Beginnings? Look no further – I’ve just discovered Clinique’s Happy, currently in fabulous limited edition packaging. I love it. Like me, you may equate Clinique with their amazing skin products – however ignore their lovely fragrances at your peril.

But what makes a good perfume? Let me share what I know with you (it won’t take long).

Perfumers blend different fragrances, making use of their different volatilities to control how long the fragrance lasts and how the scent evolves. The component perfumes are chosen to hit the air at different times, and these are what is known as the top, heart and base notes in perfume descriptions. 

Spring and summer scents tend to be fruity and lighter, they last longer and are less overwhelming and Happy ticks all these boxes. It’s absolutely packed with different floral scents:

Top notes: Vibrant citrus including Ruby Red Grapefruit & Bergamot.

Heart: Exotic Morning Dew Orchid and Boysenberry Bush Flower.

Base notes: Tropical, sensual ingredients like Hawaiian Wedding Flower, White Crinium Lily, Chinese Golden Magnolia and Spring Mimosa.

Are you starting to see why I’m blown away by it? The scent lasted all evening on me and frankly, made me feel good. When I first sprayed, the clean fresh citrus hit me, but after an hour the fragrance was much gentler and rounder – lily and magnolia mainly – beautiful.

If you’re looking to buy for someone special (Mother’s Day is around the corner) do grab the limited edition bottle. It’s signed ‘You are enough‘ by Global Ambassador Emilia Clarke. And guess what? Clinique is making a 30% donation to Emilia’s charity SameYou for brain injury recovery survivors. Emilia herself survived two life-threatening brain haemorrhages and a stroke in her twenties.

So do check out the Clinique website. The 50ml perfume limited edition bottle is £50. Make your mum Happy – she deserves it.

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.

February 24th 2023: Vilnius, recognized as the UNESCO City of Literature, has bestowed the title of Honorary Citizen on one of the country’s most distinguished authors, Kristina Sabaliauskaitė.

Lithuanian, Latvian, Polish, Estonian, and Dutch audiences, among others, have praised her literary work, while the author’s bestselling series Silva Rerum, depicting the 16th-18th century Vilnius, made it to the top lists in numerous European countries. The author is also collaborating  on a musical piece for the city’s 700th anniversary.

The title, awarded since 1996, marks the exceptional accomplishments and merits of various Vilnius ambassadors—creators, authors, public and political figures, and others. Valdas Adamkus, former president of Lithuania, Ronald Reagan, former president of the USA, and Czesław Miłosz, the Nobel prize winner, writer, and poet, are some of Vilnius Honorary Citizens.

Ms. Sabaliauskaitė, a Vilnius native, is an art historian, art research PhD, Honorary PhD of Vilnius Art Academy, and one of Lithuania’s most famous modern authors.  Her historical series Silva Rerum, which follows the life of the 16th-18th century Lithuanian noble family, was published in 2008 and became an instant bestseller, scoring another 13 republications. The novel’s rich, multilayered narrative depicting Vilnius’ landscape of that age was found to be utterly compelling by readers, literary critics, and cultural historians. The novel quickly gained widespread recognition among the international readership in numerous European countries like Latvia, Estonia, Poland, the Netherlands, and others.

The novel was translated into the Latvian language and made it to the top 100 most popular books in Latvia of all time. Later it was translated into Polish, and the translation was listed among the 30 most important books in Poland in 2015.

Another widely recognized novel by Ms. Sabaliauskaitė Peter’s Empress, published in 2019, tells a story of a Lithuanian noblewoman who was the wife of Peter the Great and the first empress of Russia, Catherine I. The book has won the Estonian “Book of the Year” award and has been among the most-read lists in the Netherlands.

“The greatness of Vilnius is the combination of the notion of beauty developed by many cultures that lived and created in it,” Ms. Sabaliauskaitė said. “Vilnius reflects Europe. Therefore it cannot be recreated to serve one nation. If you want to learn the history of Vilnius, you need to know Polish, Russian, and Yiddish languages,” added Ms. Sabaliauskaitė, attributing her inspiration for the novels to Vilnius’ multicultural spirit, fueled by its rich history and the co-existence of different nations.

City of Literature

Vilnius has been recognized as the UNESCO City of Literature, therefore naming the author as an Honorary Citizen carries a significant meaning to the city. Upon bestowing the title, Remigijus Šimašius, Mayor of Vilnius, said that the author initiated the wave of Vilnius culture and depicted the city’s historical layers, as well as its prosperity periods.

“Vilnius has experienced its golden age twice throughout its 700 years of existence—the first time 400 years ago and the second one right now. It is very important that Vilnius is rediscovering things it used to be all those centuries ago, thanks to Kristina Sabaliauskaitė’s novels and Silva Rerum. It is a huge lesson about why Vilnius prospered then—because it stuck to its code and its genes: the city was respectful, lively, open to the world, collaborative, and even had the most robust protective alliances like the Union of Lublin then, and NATO now,” the Mayor added. “Therefore, if we want to prosper now, we have to draw experience from our past and present, and Kristina is a person who cannot only show it but inspire us to do that.”

As 2023 is the 700th anniversary year for Vilnius, the prominent author is also collaborating with a modern music composer, Gediminas Gelgotas, to create a piece of symphonic music, The Sarabande of Vilnius, which will be performed by the Lithuanian Symphonic Orchestra and Vilnius Municipality choir later this year. According to the project’s authors, the symphony will be a compelling minimalistic musical piece that will convey Vilnius’ essence and its survivalist spirit.