Select Magazine North East - Winter 2022

Panto Season is Here!

Can you believe it’s nearly Christmas already? Oh no it isn’t! Oh yes it is! There are a number of things that get us in the festive spirit — seeing Christmas trees and decorations spring up, visiting a Christmas market, seeing the Christmas adverts appear on TV. But few things truly get us into the spirit of Christmas like a good old panto! Here are just a small selection of pantomimes in the local area sure to get us in the festive swing..

CINDERELLA

Theatre Royal Newcastle 29th November 2022 - 15th January 2023

You are invited to the most spectacular ball of them all! Panto superstar Danny Adams leads the cast in a brandnew production of Cinderella, with sets and costumes from The London Palladium. Joining Danny will be panto favourites Clive Webb and Chris Hayward, with Joe McElderry making a triumphant return as The Fairy Godfather following his acclaimed debut last Christmas.

Danny, Clive, Chris and Joe will be joined by street dance collective and Britain’s Got Talent finalists, Flawless, comedian Mick Potts, and Oonagh Cox in the title role of Cinderella.

Newcastle Theatre Royal’s pantomime is widely regarded as one of the most successful Christmas shows in the country. If you’ve been before, we can promise you the best one yet, and if you haven’t yet shared the magic of our panto with us, come and see what you’ve been missing! www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/cinderella

ALADDIN

Whitley Bay Playhouse

9th December 2022 - 7th January 2023

Following on from the smash hit Snow White, North Tyneside’s No.1 Pantomime team return this December with another Christmas cracker!

The classic adventure story of Aladdin and his magic lamp is brought to life as always in Blue Genie Entertainments own unique style. With special effects, flying carpets, fantastic scenery and dazzling costumes and all the usual mad comedy mayhem. This all-singing,

all-dancing, feel good family festive treat promises to be the highlight of your year! Starring Playhouse legend Steve Walls, your Favourite Dame Patsy Twankey and Chico as Aladdin, you don’t have to be a Genie-us to work out this is one pantomime not to be missed.

www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk/events/christmaspantomime-aladdin

BEAUTY & THE BEAST

Tyne Theatre & Opera House

9th December 2022 – 8th January 2023

Enchanted Entertainment return to the Tyne Theatre & Opera House in 2022 with another spellbinding Pantomime. Starring the hilarious North East panto comic Charlie Richmond, as well as Karen The Mam’s Lewis Denny’. The theatre are also excited to announce that Amelle Berrabah, who is best known as one of the members of Sugababes, will be the ‘Good Fairy’ in Beauty and the Beast this Christmas at Tyne Theatre and Opera House!

www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk/events/ enchanted-entertainment-presents-beauty-the-beast

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Gala Theatre - Durham 23rd November 2022 - 8th January 2023

Briar Rose is about to turn 16, and she has just found out that she is to be married to poetry-mad Prince Chad of Middles-boroughly. But she has a plan - she’ll run away and escape with the help of her best friend Sammie the Dog.

However, having not received an invite from King Archibald of Durham-ion to Briar Rose’s Christening years prior, the Evil Witch Karen has cast a curse which will see Briar Rose sleep for a hundred years and she’s got one more spell up her sleeve to make sure that happens.

Brought to life by the cast of new and familiar faces, this hilarious telling of the classic story mixes mayhem, music, laughter and some incredibly interesting ice cream. www.galadurham.co.uk/galapost/sleeping-beauty

Winter Wonderland returns to Gosforth

If you want to get in the festive spirit, we think we have found the perfect family experience.

Running from 17th November until Christmas Eve, Newcastle's biggest winter fair, Winter Wonderland, is back again for 2023.

Newcastle Racecourse will once again play host to a magical winter wonderland, complete with an ice rink, thrill-seeking rides, festive stalls, food and drink, and even an appearance from Santa Clause himself. There is something for all the family, from thrilling rides and attractions to tasty authentic street foods and warm glasses of mulled wine and German beers.

Winter Wonderland aims to please all ages, from tiny tots to thrill-seeking adults. Once inside the wonderland, as well as the thrilling rides, stalls and food and drink outlets, you will find the grinch, stilt walkers, face painters, a bungee, a zip liner and the fabulous roller coaster.

Rides start from £2 and can increase to £12.50 for the big thrill seeker rides. There are no age limits, all rides operate by height restriction, and each has a different height restriction.

A winter wonderland wouldn't be complete without an ice rink, and this year's event at the racecourse doesn't disappoint. Walk-ins are very limited, so it is recommended you book in advance, with prices ranging from £7.50 for children to £9.50 for adults (12 plus). Family tickets are also available.

The wonderland will again be home to Santa's Grotto this year, but only on certain days, so please check before you attend. When the grotto is open, there are no pre-booked slots; it is only walk-ups, and the cost is £6.99 per child. Two adults can accompany the children for free, and each child gets a soft teddy bear. Please also bear in mind that adults are asked not to take photos of their child with Santa but will be given the opportunity to purchase professional photographs.

There are a wide range of food stalls to cater to everyone's taste buds. The selection on offer includes everything from Oriental Chinese Noodles to Tasty Yorkshire Pudding Wraps, catering to those who love savoury. For those with a sweet tooth, they have Churros, Crepes, Donuts, Chocolate kisses, and much more.

While the kids are having fun, why not treat yourself to a cup of warm mulled wine or a German beer? The wonderland plays host to a German bar so, if you are looking for something to keep the winter chill away, make sure you call in for a stein of German beer or a warm glass of mulled wine.

Entrance tickets are available to be purchased from the Newcastle Racecourse Website. You will need an admission ticket to gain entry to the Winter Wonderland. Remember, if you wish to take to the ice on the Real Ice Rink, as well as purchasing a skating ticket, you will also need to have bought entry tickets.

“ While the kids are having fun, why not treat yourself to a cup of warm mulled wine or a German beer?

The wonderland plays host to a German bar.

Open 4pm – 9pm Weekdays, 12pm – 9pm Weekends. 12pm – 9pm Monday to Sunday (Out of term times).

For more information, updates, bookings and further ticket information, please visit www.winterwonderlandnewcastleracecourse.co.uk

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The Biscuit Factory Gift Guide

While you may know The Biscuit Factory in Ouseburn as an art gallery, it’s also the ideal place to find special, original gifts this Christmas. You’ll find something for everyone among their collections - take inspiration below, and visit the gallery to see their full collections.

FOR THE INTERIORS ADDICT:

1. Large Serving Dish by Silvia K Ceramics £310.

You’ll find Silvia K Ceramics in some of the most discerning galleries and interior design stores in the UK, USA and beyond. Her colourful collections make bold statements for a contemporary and convivial table.

2. Osmosi Giallo Abstract Velvet Cushion by Susi Bellamy £110. Local textile designer Susi Bellamy is a household name for those seeking a luxury touch to their homes. Plush velvets and sumptuous palettes combine in a range of soft furnishings all created from original artwork conceived by Susi herself.

FOR THE DESIGN BUFFS :

3. Large Ash Trug by Jane Crisp £365.

For those who appreciate design and technical skill, Jane Crisp’s wooden trugs are a feat of artisan craftsmanship and engineering. Carefully constructed with steambent wood and copper finishes they are a contemporary, elegant

and award-winning reinvention.

4. Wishbone Rocking Chair by PLYable £850.

Local furniture designers PLYable crafted this original piece from birch plywood. With leather sling seat in a chocolate brown split hide and finished with grey metal studs it’s perfect for winter days warming by the fire.

FOR THE BUDGETBLOWERS:

5. Diamond and gold Strata ring by Clara Breen £1275. Looking to make a big statement on a big budget? Do it with diamonds and gold…

SPREAD THE COST OF CHRISTMAS:

6. Own Art Scheme. When buying original art and craft at The Biscuit Factory you can apply to spread the cost of your purchase with their Own Art scheme. Whether one statement gift, or several pieces together, when you spend £100 online or in the gallery you can use the interest-free finance scheme to

pay over 10 instalments, starting the month after your purchase!

The Biscuit Factory 16 Stoddart Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1AN. Open Daily 10 - 5. www.thebiscuitfactory.com Tel: 0191 261 1103

Cultural Tours of the North East

Tyne Idols Tours celebrate the wealth of local talent with their fantastic range of tours

To celebrate the enormous wealth of talent born in our region, Tyne Idols organise and host unforgettable experiences, promotions and tours throughout the North East.

Their hugely popular music and cultural tours take place aboard their classic double decker bus, and provide hours of local fact-finding fun. Most tours are hosted by Geordie legend Ray Laidlaw, the former drummer with the legendary folk-rock band Lindisfarne. Here is a small selection of the tours available….

THE DEFINITELY VERY LAST "HIM OFF THE VIZ" TOUR WITH SIMON DONALD

Wednesday, December 28, 2022. 15:00 18:00 Simon Donald and the Tyne Idols team would like to invite you on even yet another very special, one-off tour. This is now the squillionth tour he has done, so you know how it gans, but this tour will include a new venue visit, so you’ll have to be on it to find out where! Starts 3.00pm from Bewick Street, Newcastle to take advantage of the diminishing light. Tickets £25 per person.

NEWCASTLEGATESHEAD TOUR WITH RAY LAIDLAW

Wednesday, May 3, 2023. 19:00 22:00 Join the team for their famous music and film heritage tour departing Bewick Street, Newcastle (opposite Central Station) at 7.00pm and returning roughly three hours later — they’re usually a bit late returning because there’s so much to see and talk about!

The three hour tour of on-board chat and music, hosted by the legendary Mr Ray Laidlaw, includes two stop-offs at very popular watering holes, promising as always to be a fun-packed evening out! Departing from Bewick Street, Newcastle at 7.00pm. Tickets £20 per person.

NORTH TYNESIDE "COASTAL HEROES" TOUR WITH RAY LAIDLAW

Sunday, May 7, 2023. 15:00 18:00

The Coastal Heroes Tours celebrates local legends of TV, film and music. Hosted by the irresistible Mr Ray Laidlaw, the three hour tour will also include some very special guests, and there will be not one but two refreshment breaks throughout to whet your whistle in some carefully selected and interesting establishments. Leaving the Gibraltar Rock pub, Tynemouth at 3.00pm. Tickets £20 per person.

THE MOST CERTAINLY VERY LAST "HIM OFF THE VIZ" TOUR WITH SIMON DONALD

Thursday, May 11, 2023. 19:00 22:00

Simon Donald and the team would ONCE AGAIN like to invite you on yet another extremely special one-off tour. How many so-called “one-off” Viz tours has it been now? You can’t have too many!

Starts 7.00pm from Bewick Street, Newcastle for three (and-a-bit maybe) hours of hearty laughter and uproarious mirth. Tickets £25 per person.

For all ticket information please call Julie Clay on 07944 338026 or 0191 257 9427 or email Julie at julieclay23@gmail.com. For general enquiries please email info@tyneidols.com.

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www.stevensopticians.co.uk

Dial up the Christmas Cheer

Step into Christmas and celebrate!

Whether you’re an early bird decorator, with the tree up weeks before the 1st of December, or if you need inspi ration to weave some festive magic into your home, our expert guide is here to help.

Putting unique finds at your fingertips, Wayfair is the destina tion for all things home. Whatever your Christmas style, space size, or budget, Wayfair’s Resident Style Advisor, Nadia McCowan Hill, has shared her top tips and tricks to give you plenty of decorating ideas, indoors and out.

As the countdown begins to the most wonderful time of the year, read on for the ultimate guide to give every corner of your home some festive TLC.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Before you begin, making a general decorating plan can help to avoid a space looking busy and Christmas décor not complimenting your de sired festive look. Choosing a colour scheme or design style can help you to shape the space, with a consistent and cohesive look and feel.

There’s an abundance of choice and even if you opt for a more traditional red and white scheme, you can still give it a contemporary feeling with plenty of crisp whites and clean lines.

From pretty lilac and sugar plum, forest woodland green to berrylicious reds, there's no right or wrong way to decorate for Christmas. Just go with your gut!

ZONE IN

If you’re only planning to decorate one area or room of your home, the best space to do this is where you will be spending most of your time. That way you get maximum usage and enjoyment from your styling efforts and can soak up the festive feel.

In any room, start with deciding where to place the larger items, such as the Christmas tree and garlands, and go from there with wider acces sories. A taller tree, over 5ft, will be the natural star of the show, so you want to ensure its placement allows it to shine.

DAZZLING DISPLAYS

Creating an Instagrammable display doesn’t have to involve huge amounts of hooks, wire and DIY, with one of my favourite decorating hacks – introducing the backdrop arch! Traditionally used for events and weddings, the addition of one of these to your home decorating tool kit is sure to become your go-to wow factor for every seasonal celebration beyond Christmas, from birthdays to garden parties. Simple to put up and down, they come in assortment of shapes and styles and are light weight, making them easy to move around. One idea would be to dress with faux garlands, mixing in real eu calyptus and trailing ivy, tying hang ing decorations at various heights to match the rest of your décor.

FAUX AND FABULOUS

The beauty of an artificial tree is the variety of styles there are to choose from. Find the perfect height, shape and colour to match your scheme, with a Christmas tree that you can unbox and decorate year after year. Easy to assemble with minimal mess and no chance of falling pine needles, the focal point of your

celebrations can look just as good as the real thing.

Before settling on your tree, a few practical pointers to ensure it’s a purchase you’ll enjoy for many Christmases to come, and you get exactly what you want: For some general inspiration, Pinterest and Instagram are a brilliant source to spark ideas. The colour of the tree can change the overall look of the room. Think about where you plan to place the tree, how much space you have and check the ceiling height.

SPRUCE UP YOUR STAIRWAY

Spruced stairwell décor offers festive impact without busting the budget. While florists would charge a small fortune to set up your stairwell in style, you can decorate yours your self, easily and affordably.

Why choose between real and faux when both go together so well? Recreate the look with a base layer green garland layered up with an abundance of dried hydrangea heads, sprayed metallic, and pops of jewel-coloured foliage, finished with a dusting of micro-LED fairy lights. This luxe look works perfectly in a hallway setting, totally transforming a staircase with an Instagrammable display.

SIMPLE SWAPS

There are lots of smaller changes you can make in other rooms of your home, making them feel extra special for the festivities. A Christmas door mat will set the scene, cute mugs for hot chocolate in the kitchen and, in the living room, cushions and throws will change up everyday look.

Upstairs, use bedding and sheets in festive colours and patterns to bring the holiday cheer to bedrooms, a lovely way to get little ones excited for the impending big day! Even the bathroom can be given a nod to the season, swapping your hand towels for some Christmas-themed designs.

OUTSIDE IN

Outdoor decorations and window displays will give your guests a warm welcome, whilst spreading some Christmas cheer to the local neigh bourhood and passersby.

Lights will add instant sparkle, whilst being an easy and effortless addition to add some ambience. There are several styles of Christmas lights meant to be used specifically to decorate your outdoor spaces, in cluding icicle lights, solar string lights and lights meant for lining pathways.

For a bigger, statement outdoor display, choose oversized decora tions for maximum impact. Inflatable characters, oversized nutcrackers, outdoor nativity scenes and life-size sleighs are just some of the options –you can really have some fun and get creative in your outdoor space for your very own magical, and memora ble garden grotto.

For your one stop shop of Christ mas decorating ideas and inspira tion for every room in your home, shop online at Wayfair.co.uk.

Film Releases

SHE SAID

Genres: Drama Age Rating: 15 Release date: 25th November

THE MENU

Genres: Comedy, Horror Age Rating: 18

Release date: 18th November

Young couple Margot and Tyler travel to a remote island to eat at Hawthorne, an exclusive restaurant run by celebrity chef Slowik, who has prepared a lavish molecular gastronomy menu where food is treated as conceptual art, but his approach to cuisine has some shocking surprises for the wealthy guests. Starring Mark Mylod; Anya Taylor-Joy; Nicholas Hoult and Ralph Fiennes.

Two-time Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan star as New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, who together broke a story that helped launch the #Metoo move ment, shattered decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault in Hollywood.

The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the army of the Na’vi race to protect their planet.

STRANGE WORLD

Genres: Animation, Action Age Rating: PG

Release date: 23rd November

Journey to a place where nothing is as it appears! Walt Disney Animation Studios’ orig inal action-adventure ‘Strange World’ journeys deep into an uncharted and treacherous land where fantastical creatures await the legendary Clades, a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their lat est - and by far - most crucial mission. With voice acting from Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal and Lucy Liu.

VIOLENT NIGHT

Genres: Action, Comedy Age Rating: TBC Release date: 2nd December

A coal-dark holiday action-com edy that says you should always bet on red. When a team of merce naries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage, the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (David Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.

I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY

Genres: Biography, Drama Age Rating: PG Release date: 26th December

The joyous, emotional and heartbreaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston, the greatest female R&B pop vocalist of all time. Tracking her journey from obscurity to musical super stardom.

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER

Genres: Action, Fantasy Age Rating: TBC Release date: 16rd December

Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar:

A MAN CALLED OTTO

Genres: Comedy, Drama Age Rating: 18 Release date: 6th January

Otto (Tom Hanks) is a grumpy isolated widower with staunch principles, strict routines and a short fuse, who gives everyone in his neighborhood a hard time as he watches over it like a hawk. Just as it seems like he’s finally given up on life, an unlikely and reluctant friendship develops with his new neighbors. Little by little, Otto undergoes a subtle transformation…but is he really capable of change?

Sudoku

Each letter has a different numerical value between one and nine. Find out what each letter represents to reach the added totals by reading across and down. Two values have been filled in for you.

Glorious Gingerbread

Gingerbread is strongly associated with Christmas, but how did that happen?

BY SARAH DAVEY

Ginger root originally came to Europe via the Silk Road, which was an ancient trade route, and in the Middle Ages it was used for medicinal purposes and in the preserving of meats.

By the late Middle Ages, Europeans had begun to bake sweet gingerbread biscuits. These were shaped like animals, kings, and queens, and were sometimes gilded with gold leaf. They were a staple at Medieval fairs across Europe, particularly in England, France, Holland, and Germany. Queen Elizabeth I is even said to have had some made to resemble the dignitaries visiting her court.

So popular was gingerbread that the fairs became known as Gingerbread Fairs, and the gingerbread biscuits were named ‘fairings.’ As the fairs took place throughout the year the shapes of the gingerbread changed with the seasons: flowers in the spring and leaves in the autumn.

The gingerbread houses we know today originated in Germany during the 16th century. Bakers created elaborate buildings were decorated with foil and white icing in addition to gold leaf. The Brothers Grimm penned the story of Hansel and Gretel, who discover a house made entirely of sweet treats, deep in the forest, but it's unclear whether the

popularity of gingerbread houses were a result of the fairy tale, or whether the fairy tale borrowed from an already established tradition.

Quite why gingerbread became associated with Christmas is also unclear but is probably due to a number of factors. Christmas markets were big 'whole town' events, and gingerbread is easy to make, and keeps well, so it’s ideal for selling on a stall. It's likely that the combination of white icing and foil decoration was easily adaptable to create miniature snow-covered dwellings which provided pretty centrepieces for the festive dinner tables of middle-class households. The longevity and structural integrity of gingerbread also lends itself well to creating edible decorations for hanging on trees or giving as gifts. Historically diets of ordinary people were simple and bland because sugar was an expensive luxury. People could only afford to splash out on ingredients for cakes, biscuits, and sweets occasionally, and Christmas was the time when even less well-off people spent a little extra on fancy food and drink.

Whatever its history, gingerbread is now firmly entwined with the festive season, from sweet little gingerbread reindeer to gingerbread lattes, the sight, smell, and taste of gingerbread is synonymous with Christmas.

INGREDIENTS

75g unsalted butter

100g light brown soft sugar

100g golden syrup

225g plain flour, plus extra to dust

2tsp ground ginger

1tsp bicarbonate of soda

8cm gingerbread man cutter

Coloured icing pens

METHOD

1. In a small pan, heat the butter, sugar and golden syrup over a low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes.

2. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, ginger and bicarbonate of soda. Make a well in the centre and pour in the butter mixture. Stir to combine. Using your hands, bring together to form a soft dough and knead briefly until smooth. Wrap and chill for 15min to firm up slightly.

3. Line 2 large baking sheets with baking parchment. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 3mm thick. Using a gingerbread man cutter, stamp out shapes, re-rolling trimmings as needed. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, spacing apart. You should have about 20 biscuits. Chill for 30min.

4. Preheat oven to 190°C (170°C fan) mark 5. Bake the biscuits for 10min, or until sandy to the touch. Leave to cool for 5min on the sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

5. Decorate with icing pens.

Baked Camembert with Roasted Grapes

Whether you’re sitting down as a family to watch your favourite Christmas movie, or having friends over for a festive tipple, this heavenly baked camembert recipe is a must-try. Perfect for sharing, this classic Christmas dish takes less than half an hour from start to finish and is a great way to get in the yuletide spirit. Serves 4 as a sharing starter

INGREDIENTS

· 250g whole camembert

· 2 sprigs of rosemary

· 2 sprigs of thyme

· 1 clove of garlic, finely sliced

· 100g red grapes, vine on · 1 tbsp olive oil · 1 tbsp white wine · 1 tsp runny honey · 1 ciabatta, sliced

METHOD

1. Preheat your oven to 200C/180C fan.

2. Remove the camembert from the box and remove the wrapper, then put it back in the box and place it on a baking tray.

3. Using a small sharp knife make diagonal cuts on top of the cheese. Push a few sprigs of Rosemary and Thyme and a few slices of garlic in the grooves. Arrange the grapes on the tray next to the cheese and scatter

over the remaining herbs and garlic.

4. In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, white wine, and honey until well combined. Drizzle the mixture over the cheese and grapes and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is runny and the grapes have softened.

5. Warm the ciabatta in the oven for the last 5 minutes of cooking, then top the cheese with the grapes and serve with warmed ciabatta slices on the side.

Cheat’s Cherry Trifle

We guarantee everyone will have room for dessert when you delight them with this cheat’s cherry trifle. This sweet recipe utilises canned cherry pie filling and shop bought custard for quickness and ease, but your guests will never know!

Serves 10

INGREDIENTS

• 5 sheets of leaf gelatine

• 2 x 410g cans of cherry pie filling

• 400g of Madeira cake or madeleines

• 6 tbsp cherry jam

• 3tbs amaretto liquor

• 800ml good-quality shop bought custard

• 400ml double cream

• 1 tsp corn flour

• 1 tbsp icing sugar

• 15g flaked almonds, toasted

• Edible glitter or gold sprinkle dust and gold edible balls to decorate

METHOD

1. To make the jelly layer, soften the gelatine in a small bowl of water. Tip the cherry pie filling into a saucepan with 100ml of water and gently cook on a low heat on the hob, being careful not to boil.

2. Add the softened gelatine sheets to the cherry pie filling and stir until dissolved. Allow the mixture to cool slightly before transferring to a 20cm trifle dish. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until the mixture has set.

3. Cut the Madeira cake or madeleines in half, length ways. Spread with the cherry jam and sandwich back together before cutting into large chunks. Arrange the chunks in a layer on top of

Ideal for glittering festive soirees, these delicious mocktails are simple to make. Makes 2

· 100ml grapefruit juice

· 100ml cold strong Earl Grey tea

· 40ml lemon juice

· 25ml honey

· A few drops of Angostura or orange bitters

· 1 free range egg white

· Ice to shake

· Twist of grapefruit zest to garnish

METHOD

1. Place two martini glasses in the freezer to chill, preferably an hour in advance.

2

. Fill a cocktail shaker (or flask) with ice and add all the ingredients. Shake vigorously for 1-2 minutes or until the shaker feels icy cold and the mixture is frothy.

3. Strain into your chilled glasses and garnish with a twist of grapefruit zest. Serve immediately and enjoy!

the jelly and then drizzle over the amaretto. Gently pour over the custard and level over with a palette knife. Refrigerate for a further 30 minutes - 1 hour.

4. Meanwhile, place the cream in a large bowl and sieve in the icing sugar and corn flour (this will help stabilize the cream if you are making this in advance). Whisk the cream mixture until soft peaks form, then spoon the cream on top of the custard and scatter over the flaked almonds, glitter, and gold balls. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Recipe’s courtesy of Dobbies. For more festive food inspiration, and to browse Dobbies’ seasonal ranges visit www.dobbies.com.

Get on Board in 2023

United Group Travel are taking bookings now for their popular coach tours.

Local coach tourism expert Graham Wright of United Group Travel has worked in the industry as a driver for many years, the last few spent as a tour driver for a local North East coach holiday company, until the pandemic had a catastrophic effect on the industry, with many companies going out of business.

Over the years, on his numerous tours both abroad and in the UK, Graham built up a fantastic relationship with many of his passengers, and he is lucky to call many of them friends. They really appreciated Graham’s vast experience and knowledge of the places he visited, to the extent that a lot of passengers started asking who the driver would be before they actually booked a tour with the company. It was during a conversation with one of his friends that the question was asked about starting his own company and running his own holidays.

Graham has put all his years’ experience and knowledge to good use while planning his exclusive tours. All the tours are exceptional value for money, and he only selects the best-established quality hotels, that are generally either known to him, or he has previously used them before. The specific day trips on each tour are also carefully created, all based on Graham’s knowledge, as well as any relevant previous customer feedback and suggestions to ensure they are always enjoyed. The trips do not leave the hotel too early, or return too late, so as to allow everyone to make full

use of the facilities. Guaranteed free time, as well as entertainment, are also key factors that he takes into account to try and make a tour as pleasurable an experience as possible.

It’s nice to have something to look forward to, so why not book yourself on a coach tour. The advert on the opposite page shows you what’s on offer.

Give yourself something to look forwrad to in the New Year with a selction of spring tours, including an adventure in the Welsh countryside, an all incluive drinks trip to Blackpool and Harrogate and an all inclusive party at the excellent Winnock Hotel in Perth.

Rest assured that you can book with confidence with United Travel. They have been granted a COVID-19 Industry Standard Certificate, which shows that government and industry COVID-19 guidelines are followed. Plus, if your tour is cancelled due to COVID restrictions, you will receive a full refund.

Graham would like to thank all of his wonderful customers that continued to support him throughout 2021 and 2022 and he’s looking forward to welcoming you onboard!

Tel: 01670 632460 / 07957 141654 www.unitedgrouptravel.com

Facebook: United Group Travel Ltd

Email: graham.john.unitedgrouptravel@gmail.com

The Winnock, Loch Lomond

Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa

Countdown to Christmas

The Origins of the Advent Calendar

BY KATE MCCARTHY

I loved the arrival of the Advent Calendar when I was growing up. Every year we had a cardboard one from Woolworths, printed with a Christmas scene, each little door opening to reveal a tiny picture such as a teddy, a reindeer or a bauble.

My brother and I would take it turns to be 'odds' or 'evens'. I always wanted to be 'evens' so I could open the Christmas Eve door which was always slightly larger and had a picture of the Nativity or Santa on the roof of a snow-covered house. When some of the kids at school started boasting about their 'chocolate' Advent Calendars we begged my dad for one and eventually he gave in. We were disappointed when we realised that once the chocolate was removed there was no picture, just an empty space where the chocolate had been. The 'open' chocolate Advent calendar had all the charm of a mouth with missing teeth. We never asked for another one.

The Advent calendar originates from Germany. It began with German Protestants marking the days of Advent either by burning a candle or marking a wall with chalk. This morphed into the practice of hanging a devotional image every day and ultimately to the creation of the first known wooden Advent calendar in 1851. The first printed calendars appeared just after 1900. Small doors were added in the 1920s. Often short bible verses were hidden behind the doors alongside the picture. During the World War ll cardboard rationing put a stop to advent calendars but when hostilities ceased Richard Sellmar of Stuttgart obtained a permit from the US officials to begin printing and selling them again. He designed a calendar based on a German winter town scene. By the 1950s, they were mass-produced and affordable and exported across the world.

Chocolate Advent Calendars might seem like the new kids on the block but they have been around longer than you might think. Fry and Son produced the first chocolate Advent calendar as early as 1958 and Cadbury popularised them in the Seventies. Lego got in

on the action in 1998 with a set that contained a Santa Claus minifigure and simple brick-made structures, which could be finally reassembled into a bigger model or scene. They've produced at least one every year since. My oldest teen begs me for their Harry Potter one every year.

Over the past decade Advent calendars have gone 'luxury’ and become a key marketing strategy for many companies. This started around 2010 when Selfridges department store launched a beauty-themed Advent calendar with the cosmetics giant L’Oréal. It was filled with product samples from fragrances to body creams. There is now a advent calendar catering for pretty much every taste, most of them marketed at adults rather than children. There are advent calendars for gin-lovers, tea-lovers, and nailpolish addicts; there is even one for pets, and they are not cheap! Some cost upwards of £150!

“The first printed calendars appeared just after 1900. Small doors were added in the 1920s.

It's all a worlds away from Sellmar-Verlag, now run by Richard's grandchildren, which still produces traditional card Advent calendars to this day. The company’s most popular advent calendar is still Richard's original design, called Little Town.

A few years ago my husband (knowing my love of traditional Advent Calendars) bought me a wooden one which is reusable and is a beautiful Christmas decoration in its own right...in fact my teens actually argue over which one of them will inherit it when I die (that's the festive spirit guys!).

However you choose to mark the occasion...Happy Advent!

The Photographer’s Eye

As part of a series of articles designed to help you take better images, Anne Watson, a member of Whitley Bay Photographic Society, discusses composition.

Composition is one of the key elements of photography, and in its most basic sense, it’s how you, the photographer, create visual impact through what appears in your picture and where. It’s your decision when to take a photo of your subject, but ‘composition’ is what separates a welltaken image from a snap-shot. Millions of photographs are uploaded to the internet every day, and this article is designed to help your photos stand out from the crowd.

Whilst ‘rules’ are meant to be broken, there are some tried and tested techniques that photographers employ to guide the viewer's eye through an image. When looking through the viewfinder or on your smartphone, the first decision to make is which orientation best suits your subject. Landscape is where the longest sides of the frame are top and bottom and Portrait is where the longest sides are on the left and right. There’s a clue in their names, but it’s your creative decision as to which to employ. Are you looking for a wide scenic shot, or is the subject you’re interested in showing the star of the show?

Tip: Take both orientations and see which one grabs your attention.

Placing your subject in the centre of the image doesn’t always give the viewer a sense of visual impact and can lead to an image that gets only a second or two of the viewers’ attention. An alternative approach is to use a technique dating back to the 18th century called the Rule of Thirds.

Almost all cameras and most smartphones I’ve come across will let you put a ‘grid’ up on the screen

or viewfinder. This divides the view into 3 equal parts, both horizontally and vertically. In a scenic landscape, it helps to place the horizon on either the top or bottom horizontal line to emphasize the sky or the ground.

The 4 points where the vertical and horizontal lines intersect are great for positioning the focal point(s) of the image, as in this Kingfisher, where the grid lines meet at the bird’s head.

Composition is such an important subject in creating images with impact that in the next edition, we’ll look at more creative ideas, such as the Rule of odds, leading lines and central subjects, amongst others, to help you improve your Photographer’s Eye and to get your images noticed.

If you’re interested in joining the Whitley Bay Photographic Society, please visit www.wbphoto.org

Landscape or Portrait: The first decision to make is which orientation best suits your subject.

Winter Gardening

As temperatures drop, taking care of our gardens might not be at the forefront of our minds. However, Dobbies Garden Cen tre says that winter shouldn’t be a time of gardening shut down and, in fact, there are jobs to be done that will prep our outdoor spaces for the new year.

INDOORS

Pot up Amaryllis bulbs for flowering over the festive period, moving bowls of earlier planted fragrant Hyacinths or Narcissus Paper Whites to a brighter position to grow on for Christmas flower colour.

TUBS AND BASKETS

November is a great time to plant winter bedding. Pansies, Violas and winter flowering Heathers are all proven winners.

Plant with ruby red Skimmia, Hellebore (Christmas Rose), winter flowering Viburnum and trailing Ivy for a seasonal look.

Protect any prized outdoor plants and containers by lifting them off the ground with pot-feet to help prevent waterlogging during the winter months.

BEDS AND BORDERS

Tulip bulbs are best planted in November, so get them in now for a great display during May & June. Combine with drifts of winter

MAGICAL POINSETTIAS

hardy bedding plants for a colour ful spring display.

Cut back summer-flowering shrubs such as Buddleia and Lav atera by half to prevent wind rock and give evergreen hedges their final trim for a neat, crisp finish.

Plant new hedges, such as Beech, Hawthorn and Privet. It’s also the best time to fill gaps and rejuvenate a hedge with fresh plants.

GARDEN TIDY UP

Clean, oil and sharpen garden tools, and book the lawn mower in for its winter service.

Cover garden furniture with winter covers to protect from heavy rain.

Clear fallen leaves from the gar den pond to protect wildlife and from paths and patios to reduce slippery algae forming.

For the benefit of garden wildlife, leave some areas of the garden untouched as a winter sanctuary for insects and hibernat ing hedgehogs.

LAWN

Rake up fallen leaves to prevent them smothering and eventually killing off your grass. Mix into your compost heap, or store in a separate pen for rotting down into leaf-mould.

Scarify established lawns to re move dead thatch, which can stifle

growth in the winter months. Spike the surface with a fork or lawn aerator and apply lawn dressing to help improve drainage.

GARDEN BIRDS

One of the joys of winter is watch ing our colourful garden birds, so reliant on the food and fresh water we put out to sustain them through the winter months.

Position feeders as close to the house as possible, using a variety of seeds and nuts to attract a wide range of birds to your garden. Once they find you, they will be come daily visitors, sheltering from the worst of the weather in your trees, shrubs and hedges.

Put up nest boxes to entice them to stay in readiness for the new spring season.

For more gardening tips visit www.dobbies.com

In the UK, poinsettias have become as entwined with Christmas as holly and mistletoe. Yet poinsettias are actually sub-tropical plants, native to Central America and Mexico, requiring temperatures of between 10 and 21 degrees centigrade to survive.

The bright red ‘flowers’ are really bracts, surrounding the real flowers, which are tiny and insignificant. They are notoriously difficult to persuade to flower again but it is possible!

If you want to try this, fertilize the plant once a month then cut back the stems in February to promote new growth. In May repot it to a larger container.

From late September to 1st December cover the plant between 6pm and 8am as poinsettias need long periods of darkness in order to persuade the bracts to turn red. Around December 1st you should have a beautiful flowering poinsettia. But if this sounds too much like hard work...well, you can always buy another one!

Newcastle in all its Glory

New Book offers a stunning collection of images which capture the essence of the city.

Newcastle has been a major city in the North East of England since the Middle Ages. The stone castle, from which it derives its name, still stands and the city first became prosperous because of its coal trade, later developing as a centre for shipbuilding and other heavy engineering.

Newcastle has retained much of its 18th and 19th century fabric while developing itself as a modern city in recent decades. Heavy industry has declined but the city has regenerated many areas as well as building exciting new developments, attracting many to this thriving city.

For those who are proud to live in Newcastle, as well as those visiting, Newcastle in Photographs is a must. Look through these photographs and you will quickly see why this city in the North East has such enduring appeal.

Author Simon Mccabe is a photographer based in

the North East specialising in landscape, nature and wildlife.

This beautifully captured insight around Newcastle contains approximately 126 stunning images and is the perfect souvenir for tourists and gift for residents.

Newcastle in Photographs is available now from 15th November from www.amberley-books.com and all good bookshops. To buy this book online while supporting your local independent bookshop, visit: uk.bookshop.org/shop/abcmagazines

Help Reduce Energy Costs with Thermos Roof

Conservatories are a great space to enjoy whilst looking out onto your garden. They are bright, spacious and give you a great sense of closeness to the outdoors. However, as most conservatory owners will know, whilst they bring all of those benefits, it is usually shortlived and can only be enjoyed for two or three months of the year, the rest of those months being either freezing cold or blisteringly hot.

At Thermos Roof, we have been insulating conservatory roofs since 2005 for two main reasons: to increase its insulating performance and enhance its internal aesthetic appearance.

Experience will have shown you that in winter, heat is sucked out of your room and into the conservatory as soon as you open the door. During the summer, it becomes a dazzling sauna that’s so hot you need a fan to cool you down. At Thermos Roof, we can transform your conservatory from a room you barely use, into a space you can enjoy all year round as the temperature is comfortable and constant. You will even be able to watch TV or use a computer without sunglasses.

What is most impressive is that we can do this all in one day! With no mess!

We retain your existing polycarbonate or glass roof and insulate it from the inside, finishing it in an attractive gloss white tongue and groove PVC cladding that matches the rest of your conservatory construction. The materials we use are lightweight;

therefore, no roof strengthening is required, no planning application is necessary and no long periods of mess and upheaval in your home. In addition to this, the look and finish of your Thermos Roof will be as fresh in 10 years as it is today.

The performance of the lightweight insulation system will equal that of vastly more expensive options, with less mess and waste and less time to install, saving you thousands of pounds and allowing you to enjoy your conservatory immediately.

We can install a Thermos Roof to conservatories of any size or shape, transforming them into a flowing extension of your living space wherein the external weather conditions do not dictate its use; it will become warm in winter and cool in summer.

In addition to the above benefits, our team will eliminate mould and condensation, reduce rain, noise and serve to cover up an unsightly dirty roof. The gloss white finish will make it brighter

in the evenings by reflecting light and will give your conservatory that WOW factor, making it a great place to relax or work.

All installations come with a five-year warranty. We guarantee that you will be amazed by both the improved appearance and the insulating performance of your new roof.

We offer a free quotation service for the installation of your Thermos Roof and, should you require it, we can also undertake maintenance works to repair or replace gutters, fascias, soffits, window sills, roof panels and leaking roofs.

■ Please give us a call today on 01670 828 695 to start the ball rolling to making full use of your Conservatory!

www.thermosroof.co.uk

A Good Read

THE INK BLACK HEART

by Robert Galbraith

When frantic, dishevelled Edie Ledwell appears in the office begging to speak to her, private detective, Robin Ellacott doesn’t know quite what to make of the situation. The co-creator of a popular cartoon, The Ink Black Heart, Edie is being persecuted by a mysterious online figure who goes by the pseudonym of Anomie. Edie is desperate to uncover Anomie’s true identity.

Robin decides that the agency can’t help with thisand thinks nothing more of it until a few days later, when she reads the shocking news that Edie has been tasered and then murdered in Highgate Cemetery, the location of The Ink Black Heart.

Robin and her business partner Cormoran Strike become drawn into the quest to uncover Anomie’s true identity. But with a complex web of online aliases, business interests and family conflicts to navigate, Strike and Robin find themselves embroiled in a case that stretches their powers of deduction to the limitsand which threatens them in new and horrifying ways.

A gripping, fiendishly clever mystery.

One Day in December

by Josie Silver

It’s the time of year for a feel-good romantic novel, one that can be enjoyed curled up under a blanket with a nutmeg-spiced hot chocolate.

Laurie is unlucky in love and stuck in a career rut. One day she is sitting on a bus when she spots a man reading at the bus stop. He looks up, their eyes meet and somewhere there is a spark. Laurie can’t stop thinking about him, wondering if they will ever meet. Her best friend and roommate Sarah is Laurie’s opposite. She introduces Jack, her new boyfriend to Laurie, anxious that they will hit it off except... her boyfriend is the man from the bus, the guy that Laurie has been dreaming about. No surprises here...classic romantic chick-lit so far.

Cue heartbreak and hiccups, and the quest not to hurt a friend while pursuing your own ‘happily ever after’. It’s not a typical love story. It’s told both from Laurie and Jack’s perspectives, with the reader privy to their thoughts and feelings. It has all the nostalgia (and a few of the cliches) of a Richard Curtis film, but the trio of central characters clearly care deeply about each other and this gives the story its heart.

ACT OF OBLIVION

by Robert Harris

1660. Colonel Edward Whalley and his son-in-law, Colonel William Goffe, cross the Atlantic. They are on the run and wanted for the murder of Charles I. Under the provisions of the Act of Oblivion, they have been found guilty in absentia of high treason.

In London, Richard Nayler, secretary of the regicide committee of the Privy Council, is tasked with tracking down the fugitives. He’ll stop at nothing until the two men are brought to justice. A reward hangs over their headsfor their capture, dead or alive.

Act of Oblivion is an epic journey across continents, and a chase like no other. It is the thrilling new novel by Robert Harris.

A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig

This enthralling tale tells the story of Father Christmas as a boy. It’s touching, funny and packed with memorable characters

Nikolas and his lumberjack father Joel are poor. Miika (a mouse) is his Nikolas’ only friend. In his whole life Nikolas has only received two Christmas presents: a sleigh and a turnip doll.

Then Anders the Hunter comes to recruit Joel to work on a mission for the King. If they can prove the existence of Elves they will be rewarded handsomely.

Keen to improve their circumstances, Joel heads off, leaving Nikolas to be looked after by his horrible Aunt Carlotta.

When Joel doesn’t return Nikolas begins to worry and eventually sets out with Miika on the long and treacherous journey to find his father.

Along the way there is Elf Village, a kidnapped elf, a naughty Truth Pixie that likes to watch people’s heads explode, and an unpleasant Troll named Sebastian. There is also of course, a flying reindeer. Haig does not disappoint with the ending, explaining how Nikolas finally finds his purpose, by becoming Father Christmas.

A Boy Called Christmas is the perfect festive story to read to children on the run-up to Christmas. As a bonus it is beautifully illustrated by Chris Mould. One you will return to each Christmas.

To buy these books online while supporting your local independent bookshop, visit: www.bit.ly/selectbookshop