Category: Columns

Have you ever wondered why St Mary’s Tower, you know the building with pointy roof at the edge of Museum Gardens, looks as though some great monster has taken a bite out of it?  Well, to answer that question, allow me to take you back to the world of 17th Century Britain — and the […]

By James Christie STAR SIGN OF THE MONTH: CAPRICORN 22ND DEC – 19TH JAN A bit of a breathing space now that the Christmas thingy is behind you, a chance to get your breath back and return to normal and familiar routines. A calm period where relationships and domestic matters are concerned, and even if […]

This is a walk of two halves. The first section from Tadcaster follows the River Wharfe upstream to the small village of Newton Kyme. It then leaves the river using quiet roads to ascend to higher ground before following bridleways through farmland to return to the town. Time 3 hours, Distance 6¼ miles. Is This […]

Game Changer! That was the title of this years Euronics Conference which was held last month in Windsor. A bit of a journey for a Yorkshireman but well worth the effort as I have never attended such a positive event. For those yet to experience what Euronics is all about I’ll quickly explain – it’s […]

By James Christie STAR SIGN OF THE MONTH SCORPIOLooks like there might be a few challenges ahead in November and you’re going to feel under some pressure to be the person that someone else wants or needs you to be…. And this is when you have to do a reality check and tell yourself that […]

I nearly got into a fight once at school. I was around 12 years old, and I had stuck up for a friend who was being picked on. The bully didn’t like it, so picked a fight with me and scheduled it for the end of the school day! I was really scared and managed […]

If you want to travel incognito the KGM Torres EVX is probably not for you. You see, it announces your arrival by playing a little theme tune when you lock the car. When you unlock it, it does the same thing. No good for bank robbers or for those of us who don’t like to […]

Offering a mix of riverside walking, field paths and a long stretch along an old railway line, this walk explores the pleasant countryside east of Wetherby. It also provides an opportunity to see some of the sights of this prosperous market town, including the riverside. Is This Walk For Me?This is a generally unchallenging route, […]

I remember in my primary teaching days, supporting yawning children whose heads would be resting on the table by the afternoon, too tired to concentrate. As a parent coach and mother, I’ve seen firsthand how challenging bedtime can be. Children can get quite anxious and dysregulated in the countdown to lights out. Creating a consistent […]

No sooner has the KGM Torres arrived and an Asian hornet…. scary…. decides to perch itself on the bumper, for quite some time. We discover they eat bees and the car is parked next to a beautiful lavender bush full of them. It’s enough to make my son Henry (8) rush inside and shut the […]

York’s Volunteer Centre is here to help with all aspects of volunteering in the city. You can explore a variety of volunteer roles on their easy-to-use website. You can even filter opportunities based on the cause and skills you care about! Volunteering is a fantastic way to learn new skills, socialise and meet new people, […]

We recently had the pleasure of attending training events hosted by Tourism Tropical North Queensland. From the beaches of Palm Cove & Port Douglas to Daintree & Cape Tribulation where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites meet, this stunning area of Australia has something to offer everyone. The 180-million-year-old Wet Tropics rainforest meets the coast right […]

By Ben Robinson Whether it is a gripping Agatha Christie Novel, or a darker novel which dives into the world of crime – mystery books always manage to keep me on the edge of my seat. This month I thought I’d suggest to you a few of the best mystery books I have read this […]

A few years ago, we nearly cut short a family holiday in north Wales. The campervan we hired didn’t suit everyone, the weather wasn’t great, and it all felt like hard work. We talked it though as a family, acknowledged everyone’s feelings and struggles and decided to give it one more day. Something shifted in […]

Time: 3½ hours   Distance: 7 and 1/4 miles This is a walk with several options. The recommended full route starts at Sheriff Hutton and continues to Terrington where there are refreshment opportunities. However, it is possible to shorten the walk by about a mile if the leg into Terrington is omitted. Another option is […]