The List Frome - October 2022

Artists

with Jenna Herman

Rose Langley

October is, by far, my most beloved month (not only because of a childish delight that it is the month of my birth). October is when I feel the pace of life starting to slow. The busy, sociable summer gives way to sleepy evenings and crisp mornings. I often feel as though my senses become sharper too. I notice more: the smell of wood fires, the crunching of fallen leaves, the changes of colour and light. We are given confusing messages about slowing down; on one hand we should all be as productive and busy as possible, otherwise we are being lazy, missing opportunities and squandering the chances given to us. On the other hand, to avoid burn-out we need to take time out for ourselves, unplug, create a self-care routine (unless you are me and routine means literally nothing to you) and learn to meditate. So, when Autumn creaks slowly into action, I rejoice in the natural slowing down, with no effort required from me. I gain an even greater disrespect for time, and find that dawdling in fields becomes a regular pastime.

Pootling along, picking berries from the hedgerows is our usual family activity for this time of year; a glorious hobby that has no need for speed. We make comforting crumbles, drop sloes into bottles to be smothered with gin and sugar, and gather rosehips and elderberries for syrups (which almost always ferment and turn alcoholic – a pleasing accident).

This year will be extra cosy for me as I am expecting our second child (in January) and I’ve been looking forward to an excuse to get into my old woolly jumpers and start to nest. I’m pretty set on knitting some tiny clothes which, as everyone in my family knows, will never quite get finished. As is the way with my annual uptake of the knitting needles, what was going to be a jumper is destined to become a scarf. A very unwearable scarf. But hey, I’m not going to stress about it, I’m going to enjoy the process in a way that only seems possible to me at this time of year.

So enjoy the slowing down that this season offers, for it is short lived, perfectly timed and much needed.

Published by Rose Langley, trading as Make a List Publishing, Sole Proprietor Editor Rose Langley 07957878717 rose@thelistfrome.co.uk . thelistfrome.co.uk

We make comforting crumbles, drop sloes into bottles to be smothered with gin and sugar, and gather rosehips and elderberries for syrups

» the list recommends « Moscow Drug Club

Cheese & Grain, October 6th, 8pm, £14

Combining their original material with songs by the likes of Jacques Brel, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Eartha Kitt, Moscow Drug Club provides an intoxicating and intimate musical experience. You are cordially invited to share a wry smile with them as you enter the darkly comic world of Moscow Drug Club…..this way please and mind the stairs!

TEATIME CONCERTS

Rook Lane, 2:15pm

Ensemble Unmeasured, October 23rd

These leading performers from Britain’s early music scene will perform classic Renaissance and early Baroque gems for voice, recorder and lute, by composers such as Castello, Dowland, Monteverdi and Corelli, with their programme “Timeless Treasures”.

Darach Ensemble, October 30th

Bass clarinet, oboe and cor-anglais is a combination you may not have encountered before, but these performers certainly employ the timbres of their instruments to conjure a rich, compelling sound world. The programme includes works by Karg-Elert, Bach and Beethoven.

Rhythm of the 90s

Cheese & Grain, October 14th, 8pm, £20

Since forming in 2012, Rhythm of the 90s has taken the UK and Europe by storm. It’s not your typical covers band: this group, made up of some of the top session players in the industry with over 120 years of experience between them, has created something special and unique.

Rhythm of the 90s has spent years taking tunes that were never intended to be played live and honing them into a show like no other. This attention to detail and passion is why the band sells out large venues around the UK and Europe and has been invited to play at some of the largest festivals around, including Glastonbury Festival, Isle of Wight Festival, Victorious Festival and Latitude Festival.

It’s harvest time at the Frome Independent!

Sunday October 2nd, 10am - 3pm.

The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is upon us. To celebrate the incredible edible bounty available on our doorstep, the Frome Independent is hosting the Frome Food Network outside the library. Visitors can press apples, inoculate logs with mushroom spores and discover how the Frome Food Network is helping make Frome a more sustainable food town. The inimitable Boss Morris all-female Morris Dancing side will perform a special Autumnal Hop at locations throughout the market, and Frome College is taking over the Market Place stage with a special tribute to Fin Scholefield with The BÆRFÜT DJ project. Admission is always free!

Children Of The Revolution

Merlin Theatre, October 8th, 7pm

The Children of the Seventies saw life change radically and now you can too. From Space Invaders to Star Wars, glam rock to punk, flares to safety pins, Wilson to Thatcher, Apollo to Skylab & The Shuttle, OPEC to queues at petrol stations. From Bloody Sunday to Power Sharing, power cuts to three day weeks, disco to the winter of discontent. From main frames to Apples, post strikes to email. Old money

to decimal, past VAT, into the EU and up the butter mountains.

With Space Invaders, the first mobile phone, the first email, the first CD, the first McDonald’s, the Sony Walkman and the first test-tube baby, a whole cultural and technological revolution unfurled, opening up new minds, and new possibilities. This production features music, soundscapes and platform shoes to remind you of good times and bad. Enjoy this highly dynamic and energetic theatre collage of the stories, the time, the people and the music from award- winning theatre company Something Underground.

the list recommends «

It Shoulda Been You

Merlin Theatre, October 27th – 29th, 7.30pm

In a world where nothing is what it seems, religions collide, Machiavellian plots are revealed, promises broken, secrets exposed and hope springs from the most unlikely of places.

Kairos Theatre Company invites you to the Steinberg wedding in this charming, funny, and original musical. “It Shoulda Been You” promises an evening you will never forget, where anything that can go wrong does, and where love can pop up in mysterious places.

The Vintage Bazaar

Cheese & Grain, October 22nd, 9am – 2pm, £2

Saturday October 22nd the Vintage Bazaar returns to the Cheese & Grain. This wonderful fair has been established for more than ten years, showcasing a veritable cornucopia of delights from some of the very best vintage sellers from across the UK. It’s a favourite with well-known designers, makers and wardrobe curators, and you’re guaranteed to find something special. Expect to find wonderful French brocante, decorative antiques, beautiful period clothing, textile treasures from France, shoes and accessories from the 1920s to the 1970s,

wonderfully faded antique fabric and textiles, lace, linen, jewellery, homewares and collectables. This is a really friendly fair with a relaxed atmosphere and knowledgeable sellers who are always ready to help. Entrance £2. Refreshments available.

AUTUMN EXHIBITION

Round Tower Gallery, Black Swan Arts, Frome

October 22 – November 6 2022

An exhibition of small paintings.

Website: fromeartsociety.co.uk Instagram.com/fromeartsociety Facebook.com/fromeartsociety

6 x 6

The Silk Mill, 14th - 16th October

The 6x6 annual fundraising exhibition for We Hear You returns to the Silk Mill! Each year, over 100 donated artworks measuring 6x6 inches are available to buy for £40 each, with the proceeds going to local cancer counselling charity We Hear You. We Hear You provides free, specialist counselling and emotional support for children and adults affected or bereaved by cancer or a life threatening condition.

Artists exhibiting at 6x6 range from established professional artists to emerging artists working in print, ceramics, textiles, paint and mixed media. It’s a truly democratic exhibition, with established South West artists such as Chris Pig, Jamie Gallagher and Amanda Bee exhibiting alongside emerging artists of all ages. It’s first come first served, so be sure to turn up early on the opening night to get first pick of the wonderful artwork on offer. Come along and find your own piece of affordable art to fall in love with and support an incredible local charity.

Remaining 6x6 pieces will be exhibited at The Why Gallery on Stony Street from  October 29th to November 19th

www.whygallery.org.uk    www.wehearyou.org.uk

The Annual fundraising art exhibition ‘6x6’ returns for 2022! Over 100 pieces of artwork donated by artists, each measuring 6x6 inches will be avilable to buy for £40 each. The proceeds of all work sold will go to local cancer counselling charityWe Hear You.

Submission Deadline: Saturday 8th October

The Silk Mill, Merchants Barton, Frome, BA11 1PT Fri 14 Oct 6-9pm | Sat 15 Oct 10-5pm | Sun 16 Oct 10-12pm

the list recommends

Quilting workshop with Lucy Strawson

Millie Moon, October 16th, 11am – 4pm, £80

Quilting expert Lucy Strawson will cover the basics of quilting and patchwork, and you will leave with the confidence to carry on at home. You will be taught the principles of patchwork, hand quilting, ties and how to master the skill of binding. Each participant will spend the day making their own miniature quilt, as Lucy guides you through each stage. She uses all natural materials and naturally dyes her fabrics.

All materials will be provided, but please feel free to bring fabrics along to incorporate from home.

The shop will be closed to customers for the event so you will have space and a quiet but creative atmosphere to work within. Refreshments and snacks will be provided during the day.

To book go to: milliemoonshop.co.uk

Frome Drink & Draw

River House at Black Swan Arts, last Thursday of each month, 7 - 9.30pm,

Get your creative juices flowing with a night of sketching and socialising. No experience is required for this wonderfully informal evening, just turn up and enjoy a relaxed night in creative company. Participants often use the current Black Swan Arts exhibition as their theme (for those wanting a prompt) and there will be opportunities to go and sketch in the gallery.

Frome Drink & Draw is a chance for people to get together for a fun night of sketching and socialising. You may be a professional looking to hone your drawing skills; an amateur artist looking for likeminded creatives or a complete beginner wanting to take up a new hobby. This night is for everyone! You choose your own subject matter and bring your own supplies; pens, paints, iPad, paper ad/or sketchbooks. There is no teaching and no pressure to create a

stunning piece of artwork. What you will find is a fun and supportive environment where you can relax into your sketching with a drink (BYO).

The Art of Fermentation

with Paula Neubauer from Get Pickled

For Paula Neubauer, her love affair with fermentation began when a friend gave her some water kefir grains when she moved to Somerset four years ago, and this Brazilian globetrotter and food aficionado was immediately hooked, fascinated by the chemical and alchemical aspect of cooking. “I was hooked,” says Paula. “Water kefir was my gateway to fermentation techniques, which can transform all kinds of foodstuffs.”

Her friend also introduced Paula to the works of Sandor Katz - “He is like the godfather of fermentation. His book Wild Fermentation started me off. From then onwards, I started doing fermentation experiments.”

Paula was very keen to learn all about preserves, conserves and pickles. Like many wannabe fermenters, she started with favourites such as kimchi and sauerkraut.

“In Brazil, we have native fermented drinks that are usually made with cassava or pineapple in very traditional ways.”

What started as a hobby quickly became a full blown obsession, and Paula launched Get Pickled in October 2020 “Lockdown and Brexit happened, and I could see that there was so much surplus and waste in our food systems. And right now, everyone is feeling the pinch but I believe it is all part of seeing surplus as an opportunity, it’s not just about getting rid of unwanted stuff” Paula, who is a member of the Fermenters’ Guild, works closely with the Frome Food Network and Avalon Gleaning to make the most of any surplus from local producers.

Paula was also drawn to the universality of fermentation and other food preservation techniques. Almost all cultures have their own methods of preserving food. In North America they use corn fermentation and in West Africa about 40%

of food staples are fermented. She is particularly interested to discover more about Chinese and Japanese fermentation, using koji. Even in her native Brazil, people have been fermenting food for generations in ways of which she was, until recently, unaware. “Fermentation is present in all your foodstuffs, much more than you realise. For example, coffee beans are fermented; milk, cheese, yoghurt are all produced through fermentation.

“In Brazil, we have native fermented drinks that are usually made with cassava or pineapple in very traditional ways. My family is from the Amazon, and I have started looking at how they use indigenous ingredients, in particular cassava by products, which are still a very important food.”

Cassava comes in two forms, “brava” or “mansa”, the former being highly toxic if consumed. Paula discovered that native Brazilians put cassava in traps in the river, where they were left for at least a week, to break down hydrochloric acid. “This makes dangerous food far less dangerous,” she says. Paula is particularly interested in the anthropological roots of fermentation, and is conscious of the irony of developing her expertise in Europe - with all the various techniques that entails - and then returning to her culinary roots. “It’s crazy, because it took me doing fermentation and thinking about food here to go back and ask all the questions about fermentation in Brazil. What attracts me to fermentation is that the more you understand, the more there is to know. You can be doing fermentation for almost ten years, but you are still just scratching the surface.”

Scratching the surface or not, Get Pickled is attracting loyal customers, particularly for her Alt Kimchi and Spicy Banana Ketchup. Her products are also receiving accolades, with Alt Kimchi winning a Silver Award in the 2022 Taste of the West Product Awards and a 1-star Great Taste Award. She also received a 1-star Great Taste Award for the Spicy Banana Ketchup.

Paula runs regular workshops for those wanting to start their journey in to the world of fermentation. Upcoming workshops are:

‘Festive Ferments’ workshop dates:

At the Festive Ferments workshop, you will learn how to make a seasonal sauerkraut and a sugar-based maceration. These will make beautiful and delicious Christmas presents!

Date: 16th November, from 6pm to 8pm

Venue: Home, Market Place, Frome

Date: 22nd November from 11-1am (a light lunch included)

Venue: Get Pickled HQ, Redford House, Frome

From December, Get Pickled will be at Frome Farmers Market, every second Saturday of the month at Boyle’s Cross, offering package-free ferments by weight.

Take your own jars and get your good bacteria at a discounted rate!

To learn more about the fab world of fermentation, plus Paula’s products, workshops and free recipe downloads, go to getpickledsomerset.com

Hibi Botanics, based right here in Frome, create low waste, plastic free alternatives to everyday skin & haircare products. Our soap free, palm free botanical bars are professionally formulated, made by hand and designed to leave skin and hair soft, smooth and happy.

“I absolutely love your products. You’ve restored my faith in shampoo bars. I don’t even need a conditioner as my hair is all smooth and silky”

“Really impressed with the Ultra Glow Facial Oil. My lifeless 55 year old skin feels soft, smooth, tighter and fuller. I’m a convert”

Secret Garden Bramble Stacking Rings

FROM Christina Oswin Jewellery £75 each

Rose gold plate Acorn & Silver oakleaf pendant on sterling silver chain.

FROM Marchbank Jewellery £56

Velvet pumpkins and toadstools handmade by Emma Linnett. Available in a selection of sizes and colours.

FROM Millie Moon £4.50 - £16.50

AUTUMN Gift GUIDE

Shop Local

Alex Axoliti” Jellycat cuddly toy.

FROM Judes of Frome £26

Crinkly Cloth sensory newspapers.

FROM Studio 1 at Black Swan Arts, Hunting Raven AND Judes of Frome £14 each

Warmlii Cherry Stone thermal pillow.

FROM The Why Gallery £15 - £25

6 Cheap Street, Frome, Somerset, BA11 1BN 01373 455332

ARTISTS & MAKERS OF FROME

With JENNA HERMAN

publishing because I thought it would land me a regular salary (unlike illustration?!) but eventually the yearning to put pencil to paper became way too much. I’ve always had a craving to create, and was itching to do my own thing. My good friend Lucy Reynolds approached me with a beautiful kids’ story, and my maternity leave felt like the perfect opportunity to pull together all my experience in traditional drawing, along with page design, production and printing.

What is your artistic background?

I studied at the Ruskin School of Art - the really tiny Fine Art department of the University of Oxford. The degree course allowed us to work closely with other university departments - teaching us how art intersects with politics, psychology, philosophy, history, science and medicine. I was really drawn to anatomy, and weekly dissection lessons enabled us to fully understand the human form and to study traditional drawing methods.

From there I went into a 15-year career in magazine publishing - mainly enjoying photoshoot production. Then I had a major career crisis (and a baby!), and decided to try an evening course in children’s book illustration at RACC, which inspired me to focus solely on my design and illustration.

What made you follow this path?

My first job was doing admin for the Dictionary of National Biography at Oxford University Press. This led to me feeling torn between pursuing medical and botanical illustration or publishing. I chose

Lucy and I mocked up our ideas, and we only approached one publisher before we realised we’d probably never hear back from anyone. So we had this mad idea to pool all our skills and launch our own publishing company. Looking back, we were extremely naïve, but the timings were perfect for us to dedicate the required time and energy. Now we have three children’s books distributed across the UK and beyond - all selling consistently and competitively within the industry. Our most recent title is We Are Family (hardcover) which has received wonderful reviews for its empathy and inclusivity, and we’re delighted that it will be launching in paperback in February 2023.

What is your physical creative process? What materials and techniques do you use? I’m obsessed with taking photos of all kinds of surfaces - natural or man-made. It could be tree bark or a gravelly path or some rusty metal. I’ve curated such a huge library of textures that I should probably launch a downloadable image library. I draw (in pencil or on the ipad) and then pull everything together on my Mac.

What inspires your work?  I’m inspired by the beauty of nature all around us, and I imagine looking through the eyes of my kids when we’re exploring the great outdoors.

How did lockdown affect the way you work and create?

I became way more active on Instagram, which was really useful. I got involved with various 30-day challenges, or marketing exercises (like actually showing my face and introducing myself!). This was super helpful as it enabled me to pick up some work, and personal commissions like pet portraits which I love doing. I also really needed these challenges for my own mental health - to give me focus when I was otherwise homeschooling or making mud-pies.

Where do you work from? Tell us about your studio.

I have a studio at the back of our house - it’s the only room that’s consistently a total mess. I’m surrounded by paints, paper, boxes, crafty stuff for kids, and display shelves of mounts, frames and artwork. The kids sometimes break in to look for my stash of favourite pens. I practise my window displays on the windows, and have a stunning view of the garden from my drawing table.

What is your favourite place to be for artistic inspiration?

Out for a run by myself, or on walks with my family - always collecting images in my head or on my camera (I am very annoying to walk with). I tend to make notes rather than sketch them out, but my 2023 resolution will be to sketch these ideas more!

What artists inspire you, and why?

I’m inspired by kid’s book illustrators - faves include Coralie Bickford-Smith for the darker elements in her creations, the late Eric Carle for his textures

and layering, and I admire Rob Biddulph for his absolute precision design and the clever humour of his illustrations.

If you hadn’t become an artist, what would you have done? Perhaps be an architect - it was something I seriously considered during my A-Levels, but I didn’t have the patience for so many years of study!

How do you find the Frome area, in terms of creativity and artistic community?

It’s inspiring to live in such a creative community, where artists and small business owners love to collaborate. People genuinely want to support each other with their ideas / events / photography / marketing / printing / websites / proof-reading / babysitting!

Are there any artistic processes/disciplines which you haven’t worked in/with, but would like to?

Well funnily enough (!), myself and local supertalented artists/illustrators Tamsyn Gill and Louise Boulter are collaborating to launch the Naff Art Club. This is the brainchild of Jess Francombe, who’s really keen to help people rid any inhibitions they have around making their own art - and just to have fun creating. We’re planning to have guest artists show us their processes - so I’m personally hoping to get stuck into lino-cutting since I have zero experience. Our new monthly club will be supported by the wonderful Emergence Festival, and you don’t need to have any arty background whatsoever.

How can people see and buy your work?

I’m @jennadoodles on Instagram, and my website is www.jennadoodles.co.uk . You can also find me with a suitcase stall at the Frome Independent Market.

For all things booky, we’re at www.doodlesandscribbles.co.uk and our books are available at all good bookshops.

For the Naff Art Club, follow us at @thenaffartclub

cook - eat

BY OUR RESIDENT FOODIE KATIE FRASER

TERRY’S

Bear with me here. Terry was an expat living in Toulouse when I was there. I never met him, but over the years I heard people speak of him and his food regularly. Friends of all nationalities served up his recipes at dinner parties. Terry was somewhat of a legend.

Terry’s pasta sauce is one of the recipes I still make frequently. It’s super easy, and made with just 5 store cupboard ingredients that everyone’s likely to have. Cheap to make, packs a punch, perfect for Monday night comfort or Saturday lunch with friends. Give it a go, it won’t disappoint.

Terry’s Pasta Sauce

. Glug of oil (olive preferably but veg fine)

. 6 fat cloves (30g ish) garlic, minced

. Good pinch of dried chilli flakes

. 400g tin of chopped tomatoes

. Salt to taste

Heat oil in a large, non-stick pan over low heat. Very slowly fry garlic till light caramel in colour; it looks like you could spread it and it smells like the best garlic bread. Be really careful not to burn it. Add more oil if it catches.

Add your good pinch of chilli flakes and stir for a minute.

Pour in tomatoes and another half tin of water to rinse out juice. Add a healthy pinch of salt, stir well and bring to a simmer.

Slowly reduce to a thick, dry sauce - not too different to the consistency of tomato purée. This could take 45 mins. Do not be tempted to turn it off until the edges start to caramelise and you have to use a spatula to scrape your Terry’s into a small bowl for when your pasta is ready. Terry’s pasta loves a liberal dousing of mature, salty cheddar or parmesan. Who doesn’t!?

Katie runs hēt – a Frome-based takeaway serving up tasty food with heat.

Follow on Instagram @het_frome or email hetfrome@gmail.com to order.

THE LIST FROME Artists and Makers of Frome

THE LIST FROME

ALL HALLOWS

Preparatory School

Nestled in the heart of rural Somerset, in a stunning location just 15 minutes from Frome, All Hallows is a day and boarding prep school for children aged 3 to 13.

A school with pupils’ happiness and well-being at the heart of all decision-making, an Educational Psychologist leading the way as Head, a creative and dynamic curriculum, which is producing outstanding results .

Last Year, 69% of our Year 8’s received a scholarship to their chosen Senior School.

Over the past 5 years, our Year 8s have been awared 224 scholarships covering all aspects of school life.

Part of the Monkton Family of Schools, All Hallows is an independent school with children moving on to their chosen senior school confident in who they are and ready to make the most of the opportunities that await.

www.allhallowsschool.co.uk

Is your child starting school in September 2023?

If so, why not see what Trinity First School has to offer? Our school is set in beautiful grounds, with our own Forest School on site too.

To book a place on one of our tours, or for you and your child to come and ‘Stay & Play’ please ring the school office on 01373 461949 or email us office@trinityfirstfrome.co.uk

We have lots of information on our website to give you a feel for our wonderful school. www.trinityfirstfrome.co.uk

We are looking forward to meeting you!

KNELL DESPERANDUM

The Frome Fossil

“V

olunteers needed to help ring the church bell in honour of the late Queen. Meet up at 11.45. PS Does anybody know how to ring a bell?” Thus ran the slightly desperate message to villagers. I pitched up – as I thought - on the dot, lugging my own share of campanological ignorance, but the church was empty and the bell rope hung limp and forlorn. Well, we are largely a community of heathens and pagans here, so the lack of attendance wasn’t surprising. What’s more, the vicar has just resigned and the churchwarden was away on a (much-needed) silent retreat.

I pottered out into the churchyard to look for life in any form. And there in the distance was the lone Hardyesque figure of Glyn, raking up grass around the tombs. No, he hadn’t seen anyone either, and knew nothing at all about bell ringing. Not having a watch, I asked him the time. He waved his bare wrist at me. There was no choice but to go and have a toll myself. It all turned out to be pretty simple. After a few cautious tugs of the rope, I got into the swing, and clanged away solemnly for five minutes. Then I stopped and listened: still not a soul about. So I tiptoed out, feeling slightly guilty.

And there, marching up the path, was a gaggle of eager ringers. I had been early; they were on time. Back in we went. But now there was a whole new problem – should the bell be muffled to mark the weighty occasion? If so, how did you go about it? Someone had brought along a pair of thick woolly socks for the job, but uncertainty still reigned. Then we found that the tower door was locked anyway. We rummaged about for the key, but it wasn’t in the vestry or under the organist’s seat. So the muffling idea was dropped.

This meant we could at last get on with the job of ringing. We took turns, sitting in the choir stalls, bathed in blue and red sunbeams from the windows, and nattering while we waited. Others rolled up as the hour went on – so many in fact that the final ringer got barely thirty seconds before the stint was up (at least someone knew the time). Then we all went home, chuffed with our performance and yearning for more. What a pity that our church, like Hitler, has only got one bell.

S t o n a r h a s a h i s t o r y o f e x c e p t i o n a l p u p i l a c h i e v e m e n t s e n a b l e d b y a r e m a r k a b l e , s u p p o r t i v e e d u c a t i o n a l e n v i r o n m e n t t h a t e n g e n d e r s h a r d w o r k a n d t h e d e s i r e t o g e t i n v o l v e d . P u p i l s o f a l l a g e s f e e l f r e e t o b e t h e m s e l v e s , w h i l e f l o u r i s h i n g a c a d e m i c a l l y , a n d a s i n d i v i d u a l s .

F a m i l i e s a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o a r r a n g e a n i n d i v i d u a l v i s i t t o m e e t o u r H e a d m a s t e r , t e a c h e r s a n d p u p i l s a n d t o s e e t h e s c h o o l i n a c t i o n .