Category: Columns

The vanilla plant only flowers for one day, which makes harvesting it challenging. The average human being consumes 45kg of sugar a year compared to 1.5kg fifty years ago, and the World Health Organisation is urging us to cut back… These are just some of the facts we learn at the Eden Project during our […]

Night driving is an excellent way of putting a car through its paces because the roads are clearer – it also tests a driver’s abilities. I get to do this with the third-generation Kia Sportage as I return from GuilFest’25 late at night. The roads are clear, and it’s so much more fun than the […]

Time: 2½ hours 5 miles Nunburnholme and Kilnwick Percy After a walk along a quiet country lane at the bottom of the Wolds, this route follows a little-used right of way into the parkland of Kilnwick Percy Hall to reach its oddly truncated house, now home to a Buddhist community. Ascending onto the Wolds, the […]

Dear Daphne, Halloween planning has begun and the mums’ WhatsApp is feral. One parent wants “no cheap sweets,” another wants a sugar-free table, and someone suggested a ticketing system for trick-or-treat. Can I stage a tasteful digital walk-out — or do I bring a fog machine and lean in? Ruth, Tang Hall. Dear Ruth, The […]

Keen on grabbing a great gadget this month? We’ve rounded up a selection of glorious gizmos, from phone grips and pepper grinders to keyboards and gaming headsets!      Curve Nano, £29.99 from Twelve South. This pocket-sized magnetic phone stand is compatible with all Qi2 and MagSafe-enabled devices, offering versatile hands-free support. Lightweight and compact, the […]

This month, we’ve put together a selection of the finest health and beauty essentials we could get our mitts on – whether you’re looking for a much-needed vitamin boost, beautifying supplements, extra-luscious lashes or even a cheeky under-desk workout, we’ve got you covered…  Cubii Move, £199 from Cubii. It’s easy to lose track of your […]

Seeing as it’s nearly October, it seems only right for Your Local Link to provide you with the spookiest, scariest desk toys we could find ahead of Halloween. If you’re keen on creeping out your colleagues in the office this month, our eerie Executoy selection could be just what’s needed… Haunted House Memory Game, £6.95 […]

The yuletide season is the most exciting time of the year for many of us, and nothing exemplifies festive fun more than a good old-fashioned Christmas dinner.  This month, Pat and I were lucky enough to head down to York’s beautiful Hotel Du Vin to sample our first Christmas meal of the season, and one […]

First founded in 2011, The Hut York is a local members-led charity that’s dedicated to providing both short and long-term support for adults struggling with their mental health and/or learning disabilities. The charity was initially established as Clarence Gardens Association, and designed   to meet the increasing demand for day facilities in and around York. […]

“As soon as the nights draw in, I start to get nervous about bonfire night. My dog is so scared, and where I live, the bangs go on all week. Is there anything I can do?” Claire, Huntingdon As Bonfire Night approaches, many of our clients feel a sense of dread, aware that their pets […]

As the leaves turn and the evenings draw in, October brings with it a sense of reflection. It is a month of storytelling, family gatherings, and cherished memories. For elderly people, especially those receiving care at home or living with dementia, reminiscing can be far more than just a pleasant pastime. It can be a […]

By Ben Robinson As October rolls around once again and the autumn days begin, a lot of us are slipping back into routine after the joys of summer. I know I spend a lot of time reminiscing on the warmth summer brought. In the spirit of this, I thought that perhaps this month, I could share some of my favourite reads […]

If you’re thinking of joining a club in York this month, you’ll be spoilt for choice! We’ve narrowed down five of the best clubs currently meeting in and around the city, centred around everything from combat robotics to reading and gaming… ROBODOJO Readers! Remember Robot Wars? Based in Sutton-on-the-Forest, this local Combat Robotics club meets […]

By Tony Chalcraft Many gardeners will be acquainted with Equisetum arvense, even if they don’t know its fancy scientific title. As with many botanical names, the Latin hints at the plant’s characteristics: ‘Equisetum’ links the Latin for horse (equu) with the word for hair or bristle (seta), while ‘arvense’ loosely translates as ‘of the field’. […]

Walking Football The old men on the indoor pitch surge forward tortoise-like, pass, dribble, feint, attempt a header now and then. Sometimes the ball rolls to a stop. There’s no-one on the touchline singing or cheering  and the ref’s a PE teacher from the Tech. The score hardly matters: we’re talking fitness, getting out, improving […]