Category: Columns

This month, Kerry Lakey from Savannah Travel, gives us the low down on Mauritius. In October 2021, just days after they re-opened their borders, I travelled to the Indian Ocean Island of Mauritius. Like many travelling since the pandemic, I was apprehensive, but as soon as I arrived all my concerns faded and I was […]

I’ve just dined on homegrown quince. Not in slices with mince and not aboard a pea-green boat (like the owl and the pussycat in Edward Lear’s nonsense poem) but buttered and lightly cooked as a dessert in the comfort of the dining room. It says a lot about quince that many people know of it […]

Itching to get back in the garden? There are plenty of seeds to be sown. Sweet Peas  Sow sweet pea seeds in cardboard tubes or biodegradable pots in a cold frame, a cool room in the house or an unheated greenhouse.  When ready to plant, keep them in their containers to keep root disturbance to […]

Resident sports writer and York City F. C. fan, Simon Pattinson, is cautiously optimistic about the future. So far, as we get into 2022, it feels like John Askey is starting to put his stamp on a side that seemed to be struggling to get its act together when he took over. You cannot deny […]

AROUND AND ABOUT ALLERTHORPE COMMON This is an easy walk, ideal for a short winter stroll. The first half traverses Allerthorpe Common, a mix of mainly coniferous woodland and more open areas managed by Forestry England. The woodland has a network of paths which can also be explored if you want to extend or vary […]

Horoscopes by James Christie… For details of private readings phone 01423 339770 or email: jcp@magepublishing.co.uk ARIES March 21 – April 19 It’s an awkward month for Arians who need to untangle a few strings (a) just to make life easier, and (b) to define a few priorities. Other people aren’t much help at this time because they’re […]

Mindful Chef’s free-range British pork burgers are anything but boring – they stuff them with grated apple, smoky paprika and garlic, and pair with a fresh slaw, drizzled with tahini and lemon. On the side? Crisp parsnip fries. Cook time: 30 mins Allergens: Eggs, Sesame INGREDIENTS •1 apple•2 x carrot•1 baby cucumber•1 egg •1 tsp dried garlic• 1 […]

Distance: 6 Miles | Time: 23/4 Hours Starting by the Nidd, this easy walk follows the river upstream for a short distance before taking tracks and field paths to reach the hamlet of Knox on the edge of Harrogate. It then follows the Harrogate Ringway footpath to reach the recently opened Nidderdale Greenway cycle route […]

For details of private readings phone James on 01423 339770 or email jcp@magepublishing.co.uk. ARIES March 21 – April 19 A new year with new resolutions and the formation of one or two new ambitions! As far as January is concerned it’s a relatively uneventful month, perhaps with some health concerns for someone close to you. Emotional […]

This easy peasy sausage roll recipe is sure to impress guests. Ingredients •1 x 400g pack of Powters Chef’s Pig Sausage Meat•250 g ready-made puff pastry•1 free-range egg•A splash of milk Method Preheat the oven to180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. On a floured work surface,roll the pastry out into a large rectangle roughly as thick as a pound […]

Local vineyard and brewery, Yorkshire Heart at Nun Monkton has launched a whopping four new products in time for Christmas.  The launch, which took place in early November, saw the family-run business put on an evening of tasting and nibbles, with Harrogate Borough Mayor and the Mayor of Ripon in attendance. The new wines include a […]

Local expert, Tony Chalcraft fills us in. It’s been a poor year for pears. Some of my trees have produced next to no fruit, while others have cropped but with many of the pears misshapen or small-sized. Even the usually reliable Conference has carried only a token crop. Interestingly, most of the few trees yielding […]

Make Christmas twinkle  Twinkly Flex | Starting from £80, available from  John Lewis, Festive Lights and Lights.UK. Visit www.twinkly.com   Create your own custom light display by bending the Twinkly Flex lights to shape and setting up custom colours and effects from an app on your phone. The lights can even follow the beat of […]

Alloy Wheel refurbishment gift cards Looking for the perfect gift for the petrol head in your life? Maybe you did the alloys dirty when you borrowed your partner’s car? Local business Raw Wheels in York are offering gift cards for car enthusiasts. They specialise in alloy wheel repair, part painting, hydrographics, media painting and powder […]

Volkswagen has unveiled its latest electric vehicle offering for 2022. The ID.5, which is VW’s first-ever electric SUV coupé, retails at £47,000, has a 323-mile range and will be available to order early next year.  The ID.5 has a sleeker roofline compared to the ID.4 whilst retaining its dual-motor all-wheel drive. Like previous ID. models, […]