Category: Columns

Each month we sample some of the finest products that Yorkshire has to offer. This month we’ve travelled from the Howardian Hills to Bedale. The Castle Howard Gin£39.99 from www.castlehoward.co.uk.Castle Howard has teamed up with Sloemotion Distillery to create a classic gin flavoured with locally foraged botanicals.The juniper led, dry spirit features aromatic extracts of […]

This mini suburban adventure is perfect for energetic little ones. Pass calm water, take on the dirt bike track and tackle a climbing boulder.  This is a lovely route for kids that are using balance bikes. There will need to be careful roadside supervision while you travel from Rawcliffe Lake to Rawcliffe Park.  Start at […]

Basil may be one of the most commonly used herbs in the kitchen but, compared with the Scarborough Fair quartet of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, it’s not the easiest to grow. The reason for this, of course, is that basil needs warmth not just to thrive but to survive. As it’s not winter, hardy basil has […]

Induction cooking – is it time to change your hob? Many of you reading this will regularly cook on a gas hob at home or maybe an electric ceramic hob, each have their own idiosyncrasies, so let’s have a look at these vs the modern induction electric hob. To make it easy we can break […]

Feel like your home could be smarter? We’re always looking at ways to make life easier and these new home gadgets do just that. Fully charged Groov-e Artemis | £34.99 from Currys and groov.e.co.uk/artemis   Working from home never looked so good with this stylish two in one desk lamp and phone charger. It charges any […]

This month, our resident sports writer and York City F. C. fan, Simon Pattinson, is happy with the new signings. It’s been a busy month as preparations for the brand new season at the new stadium get underway this summer, with a host of new signings coming to the club. The most notable of those […]

Introducing York Wordsmiths… The local group formed over ten years ago through an evening class taught by Pat Borthwick but continued long after the lessons finished. Now the group meet for tea and cake, and more recently over Zoom, to set writing tasks and critique each others’ work. Each month we’ll be sharing a short […]

Horoscopes by James Christie. For details of private readings phone 01423 339770. Email: jcp@magepublishing.co.uk ARIES March 21 – April 19 A lovely month for lazing around and doing absolutely nothing… Unless it’s something you’ve absolutely got to do… but even then you’ll try to put things off. Now, this attitude may not go down too […]

The chief feature of this easy and almost totally flat route is the usually tranquil River Derwent, the banks of which are followed for about four of the seven miles. Route finding is simple, and the paths good. Cattle may be grazing in the riverside fields north of Kexby. The walk will be impassable when […]

Each month we sample some of the finest products that Yorkshire has to offer. This month we’ve travelled from the Yorkshire Dales to Filey.  Filey Bay Tasting Experience  £27.50 from spiritofyorkshire.com  Yorkshire’s first single malt whisky, Filey Bay, is made by the ambitious Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery in Hunmanby, North Yorkshire. This forward-thinking whisky is […]

This month, our resident sports writer and York City F.C. fan, Simon Pattinson, is looking forward to the summer season.  At the time of writing, I am gearing up for finally being able to see England perform in Euro 2020 (or Euro 2021 as we are now in).  A tournament in which we will hopefully […]

Walk your way through Welburn, Bulmer and the woods in-between.. With one exception, (underlined in the Directions), the walk is easy to follow with mainly well-waymarked paths and good surfaces underfoot. Getting there The recommended starting point is the centre of Welburn. Welburn is 14 miles from York just off the A64. There’s ample roadside […]

For details of private readings phone 01423 339770 or email: jcp@magepublishing.co.uk. ARIES 21st March – 19th April A breathe-easy month as more restrictions are lifted, and you’re able to get out and about a bit more. Inevitably some major improvement in your social life, but with some high spending on entertainment and other diversions. Favourable […]

For details of private readings phone 01423 339770 Email: jcp@magepublishing.co.uk ARIES  21st March – 19th April  So many plans and ideas depend upon what other people want, and although it might be awkward for you, perhaps you have to decide whether you are going to postpone a few plans – or do those things on […]

Time 6½ miles 2¾hours After a rather unpromising start across some stark open fields, this walk improves as it ventures into the undulating hills that fringe the western edge of the Vale of York. The gentle ups and downs that follow provide frequent views, including a glimpse of far off York Minster. Most of the […]