I’m old enough to remember when Advent Calendars were two small sheets of cardboard stuck together. Every day my brother and I would open a numbered window in the glitter-covered top cardboard to reveal a small picture on the cardboard below – a star, an angel, and, on 24^th December, the nativity scene and the promise of Christmas presents just one sleep away.

Now my grandkids enjoy chocolate versions of the stars and angels – a yummy treat each day before going off to school. However Insight Editions have taken advent calendars to a fabulous new level.

Whatever your child’s passion, Insight Editions probably have a themed advent calendar to suit, including Harry Potter and Disney’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Books Are Magic is perfect for junior bookworms and adults haven’t been forgotten either – I was rather drawn to the Gilmore Girls calendar.

Each calendar looks like a beautifully illustrated A3-sized book, but when you open it, instead of pages, you discover 25 different-sized pockets inside, each displaying an attractive themed picture and a number. You know the rules – you open the correctly-numbered pocket each day from 1^st December onwards. Some of the prizes are really great. I road-tested Christmas Town, based on The Nightmare Before Christmas, and in the interests of the review I broke all the rules and opened every single pocket at once (which was a lot of fun by the way). I’m now the proud owner of skeleton key rings, pencils, miniature themed cards, coasters, Christmas decorations and more. Some of the gifts were quite substantial, others were smaller, but that all adds to the excitement of the surprise.

At £26.72 from the Insight Editions website, these are very entertaining, and the gifts will last significantly longer than a small chocolate – and won’t damage your waistline either. Check out the large selection of different themes. Available from 3^rd September 2024. Great for your kids, your friends (and you – treat yourself).

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

“I think we were all as exhausted as the performers!”

Based on the 1733 La Serva Padrona (The Maid Turned Mistress) by Giovanni Pergolesi, Mr Punch at the Opera is a mash-up of opera, Punch & Judy, audience participation and pantomime.

Aimed at children as an introduction to live opera, it hits its mark from the off. The children are involved straight away – the adults are given party blowers, too – all of us are encouraged to join in with the action. 45-minutes later, I think we were all as exhausted as the performers!

(rehearsal photo)

In the Arcola’s intimate Studio space, the live music (piano and cello) and superb opera singing create an exciting atmosphere. The fun and jollity that Matthew Kellett (as Hubert) and Grace Nyandoro (as his maid Serena) bring is infectious. The icing on the cake are the Punch and Judy characters brought to life by Professor James.

The production is from The Opera Makers and they have quite a task but make it look easy. The performers are obviously enjoying themselves as well and that helps as we all as one agree the whole thing is absurd – but it’s escapism of high quality.

[rehearsal photo]

The show is a part of the venue’s Grimeborn Opera Festival. Live opera still to come has productions of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Burke & Gonzalez’s 555: Verlaine En Prison, Jessen’s Plantation A and Verdi’s La Traviata. Stunning stuff. Contact the Arcola for details.

Paul Vates.

Photography Becca Marriott Adaptation Becca Marriott and the company

Director /Libretto Becca Marriott Musical Director/Piano Panaretos Kyriatzidis

Cello Alison Holford Puppetry Director Professor James

Running Time 45 minutes – no interval Dates until Saturday 24th August 2024

Check with the theatre for show time Venue Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL

Ages 4+Box Office Tickets are available from: https:///www.arcolatheatre.com/whats-on

Website https://www.theoperamakers.com Socials @mrpunchattheopera #mrpunchattheopera

I had always associated Incense sticks with a particular time in my student youth. So, imagine my delight when I rediscovered that there was no reason not to have them in my home today.

I love the way these incense sticks fill the room with a headily sensuous and sweet-smelling aroma that almost instantly relaxes one.

Capturing the raw, earthy elements that keep you connected and grounded, Earth will bring the outside in. Whether you’re meditating, practicing yoga, looking to sync your body to the natural rhythms of the earth, or just want to create a chilled atmosphere, Earth Incense Sticks are the gateway to peace and tranquillity.

Even a brief burn of 10 minutes will renew your energy and enhance your vibe with the natural world. Temple of Incense masterfully creates fresh and diverse vegan and cruelty-free, temple-grade incense sticks, resins, Oudh, and oils for every occasion and every room.

Each box contains 20 luxury incense sticks, ethically hand-crafted with love and consciousness, masterfully created from the best quality oils and resins, sourced locally, and from around the world.

The Temple of Incense story began in 2012 on a little market stall on Portobello Road, when two sisters from London – Simi and Sam Aydee – brought their expertise and passion for incense stick artistry to life, creating and marketing world-class natural incense, along with traditional and contemporary sculptural stick holders and bowls to complement every home décor. They are dedicated to bringing magic into every home. The ritual of burning incense is engrained in their lives

View and buy the full range at :-templeofincense.com @templeofincense | #templeofincense

Vincent, A Graphic Biography by Simon Elliott is published by Frances Lincoln, an imprint of The Quarto Group, to coincide with the National Gallery’s Van Gogh exhibition in September 2024. This Graphic Biography is a portrayal of Van Gogh’s life as you’ve never seen it before, so we are told. But is it really?

Oh, yes, indeed it is. I confess I am a newby where graphic works are concerned and initially the small bites of text amongst relevant illustrations made me wonder just who this was aimed at? I tend to nip into the Golden Fleece in Thirsk to slurp coffee while reviewing a book, and once there cornered Kirsten, young enough to be familiar with the graphic concept I thought, as she rushed about with coffees and heaven knows what. Indeed she was, and is clearly an authority! She felt that graphic books are for any age, and work successfully to bring situations to life. Though Vincent by Simon Elliott would, I feel, start with the older teenager and on into adults. I say this in view of the moving, sometimes troubling, often heart-rending, but always fascinating study.

So, on with the content: this graphic novel – for that’s what it is when all is said and done, is ‘told’ by Vincent’s sister-in-law Jo van Gogh-Bonger – and covers the entirety of Vincent’s short but agitated life. Jo was the wife – soon to be widow – of Vincent’s loyal younger brother, Theo. By page 2 and the first Malteser consumed – of three that the Golden Fleece provides in a small spirit glass with every coffee – I was captivated, because I ‘got it’.

Digitally illustrated on an iPad by author Simon Elliot, the format of this novel ably tells the story of Vincent, his agitated personna, his route to perfecting his style, with the illustrations reflecting the stages of his progress. For instance, at the start the illustrations have a flat tonal colouring, changing until they finally reflect the raw primary colours and style of Vincent’s later works. So… so… clever of Elliot. It was not only effective but also affective in that it stirred my emotions. Heavens I had almost forgotten my Maltesers, something that never happens. So another was popped into mouth.

Poor Vincent, so unhappy, so tormented, a genius. Poor Theo, so supportive, so drained by Vincent’s torment and who understood his brother’s work when others couldn’t or wouldn’t. Wonderful Jo … who was determined to promote Vincent’s art on the death of them both and who continued to do so until the stuffy critics, having read Vincent’s letters she had kept, began to understood at last the import, sheer genius and originality of his work, and even then she continued.

At the Golden Fleece I turned the pages, ruminated, had another coffee, (another three Maltesers) read and read. I learned a great deal about the family Van Gogh, about painting, about the torments of genius, about the graphic novel. I think I’m in love…Final Maltesers eaten, and now I beg you to read Vincent, A Graphic Biography: £14.99 HB and eBook/9780711294967. I really I do.

Kate Atkinson – image credit: Helen Clyne

A plethora of poets, novelists, chefs, historians, politicians, children’s authors, biographers, journalists, and even the odd national treasure, descend on the spa town this autumn. Kate Atkinson, one of the world’s foremost novelists, launches her new Jackson Brodie book, Death at the Sign of the Rook, in an exclusive event in partnership with Grove Bookshop on 18 September. Then, from 4 to 20 October, over 90 events will take place across 17 days at the King’s Hall and venues across the town.

Headline acts include household names such as Julian Clary, lexicographer Susie Dent, and Strictly’s Shirley Ballas, with their debut murder mystery novels, Curtain Call to Murder, Guilty by Definition, and Dance to the Death. The acclaimed American novelist Jodi Picoult brings her latest novel By Any Other Name, and Booker-prize winning novelist Alan Hollinghurst celebrates his first book in over a decade, Our Evenings.

Giles Brandreth – image credit: Joe Fenna ILF 2022

National treasures Prue Leith and Gyles Brandreth return. Prue with her latest cookbook, Life’s Too Short to Stuff a Mushroom and Gyles delves into the secrets of happiness and the joys of the English language, with Happiness in Just a Minute. I have a huge soft spot for Giles, after his kindness more years ago than I care to remember, when introducing me and my novel at some Literary Dinner. He, of course, had been hilarious. A hard act to follow, but somehow I began, and realised I was by inclination a dreadful show-off and had to be hooked off (almost). I was not nearly as hilarious, but managed to enjoy myself, and gained applause. But of course, because no-one was rude enough not to.

John Suchet promises a candid talk on his part memoir, part biography In Search of Beethoven: A Personal Journey, which explores how music became the great passion of his life. Bringing political clout are Alan Johnson’s biography of Harold Wilson and Sir Graham Brady’s explosive new memoir from the heart of Westminster, Kingmaker: Secrets, Lies and the Truth about Five Prime Ministers.  

Looking beyond politics let’s go up to space with Maggie Aderin-Pocock and her book, Webb’s Universe: The Space Telescope Images That Reveal Our Cosmic History, and philosopher AC Grayling, with his exploration of the new space race, as he asks the galactic question, Who Owns the Moon?

Architect, and star of BBC’s Your Home Made Perfect Laura Jane Clarke gives her tips on interior design, while clothier and judge on The Great British Sewing Bee Patrick Grant discusses overconsumption in fashion and how we can make ourselves happier by rediscovering the joy of living with fewer, better-quality things. Comedy and life lessons come in the form of Paul Sinha and Helen Lederer, who’ll both be discussing their new memoirs.

Carol Ann Duffy & John Samson – credit: Michael Woods

In Verse plays homage to the festival’s 50-year legacy of promoting poetry as they remember that the inaugural festival was opened by poet W.H. Auden in 1973. Audiences can discover the power of poetry at a reading with poets including Peter Sansom of The Poetry Business and Ted Hughes Award winner Raymond Antrobus, or find their own voice on one of the festival workshops. Headline poets include the former Makar of Scotland, Jackie Kay and former poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, who will discuss her beautifully curated book, Earth Prayers. There’s also a chance to catch the up-and-coming stars of the future, including this year’s cohort of New Northern Poets.

Democracies in Danger acknowledges 2024 as the ultimate election year, with almost half the global population taking to the polls, and features talks from journalists, politicians and experts on the state of politics and democracy. Murder, They Wrote celebrates the nation’s bestselling genre, as arresting debut authors to masterminds of the genre discuss why crime fiction pays.

Ilkley welcomes crime authors including Janice Hallett and Saima Mir, as well as a host of celebrities-turned-crime writers, and on… and on… All of which sounds like a pretty good crack to me. To view the full programme and book tickets https://www.ilkleylitfest.org.uk

Hurrah, hurrah, Durham’s annual book festival returns, celebrating the power of the written word. Produced by New Writing North, the Durham County Council event features an exclusive dramatic reading of Pat Barker’s new novel The Voyage Home in association with Live Theatre. The Booker Prize winning Durham novelist will also be in conversation with writer Adelle Stripe.

Sunderland-born Terry Deary is behind the global-hit Horrible Histories, selling over 38 million books in 45 languages. He’ll be presenting his first book for adults, A History of Britain in Ten Enemies. This home-grown talent stars alongside blockbuster American authors Jodi Picoult and Rebecca F. Kuang.

Jodi Picoult has written 30 books and sold 40 million copies. She’ll discuss her latest historical novel, By Any Other Name. On to Yellowface which was an instant #1 Sunday Times bestseller and Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick. Rebecca F. Kuang discusses her page-turning phenomenon that follows the misadventures of failed novelist June Hayward.

Rebecca Wilkie, Durham Book Festival Director at New Writing North, said: “Our flagship book festival builds on a remarkable legacy. 2024 features a new commission to tell new narratives of our region, and welcomes a local literary icon, Pat Barker, with the premiere of a commission inspired by her new book. Durham is leading on a new era of creativity for the North East.”

The author of The Damned Utd, Yorkshire-born David Peace, will talk about Munichs: A Novel. The New York Times praised Peace for writing “the boldest and most original British fiction of his generation.” Here, he tells the story of the crash and aftermath of Flight 609 carrying the young Manchester United team.

The festival also showcases a new commission, North East Now, which tasked 12 northern writers to pen new narratives for the North East to mark devolution. Three of the writers – Arlen Pettitt, Louise Powell, and Richard Benson – will take part in a discussion exploring their themes that challenge northern stereotypes.

Another Booker Prize-winning author, Alan Hollinghurst, will discuss his astonishing first novel in over a decade – Our Evenings, a dark, luminous, and wickedly funny portrait of modern England. And Tracy Chevalier, of Girl with a Pearl Earring fame, brings her Venetian historical novel, The Glassmaker.

For the first time, Durham Book Festival will host the renowned Forward Prizes for Poetry. An unmissable fixture on the literary calendar, twenty outstanding poets will perform their work at an awards ceremony hosted by poet and performer Joelle Taylor, featuring BBC Radio 6 Music’s Craig Charles. Poetry lovers can also enjoy an evening with the former National Poet for Scotland, Jackie Kay, with her new poetry collection, May Day. The poet-turned-novelist Andrew McMillan will explore the theme ‘writing the north’ with fellow novelist Tawseef Khan.

The above is just a short taster, there are ‘many and varied’ authors at the Durham Book Festival, indeed, a feast, and also a screening of a documentary on the life of the working-class photographer, Tish Murtha, and a talk on capturing working-class lives with writer Tom Newlands and documentarian Jen Corcoran. And yes, I am slightly out of breath as I list so many treats, when, frankly, I am merely skimming the surface. Do go, it all sounds fabulous.

Founded in 1990, Durham Book Festival is a Durham County Council event produced by New Writing North, with support from Durham University and Arts Council England. To book, visit www.durhambookfestival.com

I’m constantly looking out for games to occupy my young grandkids. My challenge is finding ones they’ll enjoy but which I still have at least a chance of winning. Frankly this rules out most video games and quite a few board games these days. However I’ve just struck lucky with Skullduggery from Cheatwell.

The first big bonus is it comes in a small box – easy to pack for holiday trips and only contributes minimally to the growing toy mountain which used to be my lounge.

It’s basically a card and tokens game which has elements of poker or rummy but is a lot more fun. You probably guessed from the title, it’s based on pirates and the object is to display the highest number, using your four number cards, by the end of the game, either by rearranging your own cards or helping yourself to your neighbours’ cards. A photographic memory is definitely an advantage.

You each have four cards with a single number, arranged in a row. The numbers, 3, 5, 2 and 9, for example, are counted as 3,529. So you can see that having the largest number on your far left card gives the best chance of winning.

To win, you must peek at your own and your opponents’ cards, but only when allowed, and memorise them. Then you must try to swap the positions of your own cards, or swap your cards with your opponents’ cards. All these actions require picking up a card from the central pile and either keeping it or discarding it. Discarding a card triggers the ‘swap’ or ‘peek’ actions named on each card. Just to make things even more interesting each player also has two tokens which display more actions, and the players can use these strategically to get the cards they want.

Recommended age range is 8+ years. Having road-tested this with my 8-year old grandson, he struggled a little at first, but with help from me and his father, he soon picked up the rules. I wouldn’t recommend it for younger children. I enjoyed it (and not just because I won) – it really keeps you on your toes and is actually a good game for older adults who are keen to exercise their memory.

At just £10 RRP (on special offer at £8.39 from Toystreet.co.uk at the moment) this is a fun holiday game.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

We all squashed into St Mary’s on Friday evening, 2nd of August to enjoy perhaps our last Thirsk concert by Matthew Atherton as he is transferring to Lancashire and a Head of Music position, so it was a bitter sweet evening. Tears were shed at the music, and emotion, at least by me, though I saw many tissues mopping faces, and trust me, it wasn’t just the somewhat sweaty (sorry to be basic) heat. Like true pusher and shovers Dick and I had threaded through the crowds to join a friend in a pew in a direct line with the open Church doors. Ah, sweet draught. I sat next to the aisle as I needed to be popping up and down to take photos throughout.

Matthew introduced the evening as only he can, and had us all doubled up laughing. He looked extremely natty in evening suit (Lord, he must have been hot) and was to divide his time between organ and piano, with the fabulous Will Hill turning the pages for him on each instrument. How on earth Will could follow the often complex music I do not know, but our Will, who is Grade 5 on piano, didn’t put a foot wrong.

What’s more the St Mary’s ‘set’ would give any theatre a good run for its money, for it has monitors attached to the upright of the arches, so everyone can see close ups, and the actual arches have colour changes throughout, all of which added to a simply wonderful concert.

So, the scene set, introductions done, laughter abating, let’s get on with the concert.

Matthew alternated between the newly cleaned and polished organ with pipes just longing to give forth, and the piano. So off we went, with Serenade for Organ, and the ever popular All Creatures Great and Small. The piano was gagging for a go and so the programme continued, piece after piece, all brilliantly played, tissues out at such excellence, and perhaps the thought: would Matthew come again to Thirsk, and would honey still be for tea. To totally misquote Rupert Brooke.

Interspersed with Matthew’s witty explanations, we reached Fantasie in F Minor K608 which sped us into the interval with cool, oh yes, cool drinks and light refreshments, and much talk. We were told a little about Holy Rood House, which offers residential stays and day visits, pastoral support, counselling and pyschotherapy and much more. By the way, next door to Holy Rood House, is Mrs Pumfrey’s house (All Creatures Great and Small – remember Tricky Woo and his digestive problems?!) Well, was, as it is now part of Holy Rood House’s spiritual and creative community. In fact ‘Mrs Pumfrey’ was Mrs Warner but whisper it.

So on we went, with absolutely no digestive problems after our repast, and Matthew at last jacketless, ( He must have been baking), with the Finale from Sonata No 1 in D Minor, then Impromptu in Gb, Op 90, and then… oh yes, indeedy… the piece that Matthew he told me he would put in for me (bet he says that to all the girls) Promenade (Walking the dog) by George Gershwin which I absolutely love, and which always makes me laugh, because it seems to me that the little bit at the end emulates a whoopsie. Yes, OK, I know that’s not funny or nice, as my mother would have said. But … it’s what I think, so very there.

The Organist Entertains arranged by Matthew was a wonder to behold. How can he get his feet and hands to do something independently of the others, or so it seems to me? I can’t even pat my head and rub my stomach as we were told to do at schoo though why, I can’t remember, but there is our wonder boy, flashing about with the hands and feet and producing miracles. Finally as the evening passed we sang a hymn together We sing a Love that Sets all People Free. Voices quavering somewhat with the emotion of the evening. Surely it couldn’t all end here? Then, Matthew told us, he had one more treat for us.

“Kiss the Rain” by Yiruma (Lee Ru-Ma) on piano. ‘I was introduced to the piece around 2016 by one of my former pupils at Aysgarth. This boy (he was 13 at the time and is probably 20 now) has Nystagmus condition, which effects the vision. He was unable to see the music notes so I helped teach him to play this piece from memory, which he did and he performed it beautifully to the whole school and parents.‘ Matthew also told us that this boy went on to play piano by memory from that moment on. Now, that’s what I call an amazing teacher.

Of course, I was in tears listening to Kiss the Rain. It is so exquisite, and beautifully played. Oh heavens, we will miss Matthew so much. He has transformed Thirsk into a centre for music, and with it, St Mary’s Church. Thank you, thank you, not only for an amazingly eclectic concert, but all you have given us: your time, talent, laughter and enthusiasm.