Category: Columns

Go the extra smile OCLEAN X Pro Elite | £74 from www.oclean.com This is by far the quietest and fastest electric toothbrush we’ve ever got our hands-on. The motor brushes at the speed of sound (42,000 rpm) and reduces noise to below 45dB. The X Pro Elite also analyses the way you brush your teeth […]

Is your car insurance valid? While car insurance is generally cheaper than it was before the pandemic, it’s still common knowledge that many people ‘tweak’ details on their insurance policies to make them more cost-effective. But did you know doing so could actually invalidate your whole car insurance policy? UK car part retailer, CarParts4Less, has […]

This month, our resident sports writer and York City F. C. fan, Simon Pattinson, has enjoyed the pre-season success. It’s been an intriguing start to life in the new LNER Community Stadium for York City. As I write this, the Minstermen have had a brilliant pre-season: unbeaten and building up nicely. But the one overwhelming […]

This is our second instalment from York Wordsmiths… 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 story or poem by one of their writers. Thursday Morning By Moira Davis  It was just another Thursday morning […]

8 miles – 3¾ hours This walk explores the undulating countryside west of Wetherby. Apart from one steep climb, gradients are modest. Most of the route is well surfaced, but the tracks at direction points 5 and 6 can be muddy. There are a couple of places where care is needed in following the directions […]

Horoscopes by James Christie. For details of private readings phone 01423 339770. Email: jcp@magepublishing.co.uk ARIES March 21 – April 19 You make carefully thought out decisions this month which will affect your future for a number of years to come. No impulsiveness here: You’re acting on a combination of common sense, logical necessity, and clearly defined […]

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 […]