The text reads:

"Thanks to the thriving fancy dress industry we can all be a witch for the day - or can we?

    A Skipton woman gives short shrift to the idea and, with a knowing smile on her face, dismisses what she calls "Disney witches" as harmless "wannabes".

You won't catch mum of two Izzy Shaw dressed in stripy tights sparkly red stilettos and a black and green floaty frock, but then she's an authentic witch.

    Witching became a way of life for 51-year-old Izzy after she was given her first glimpse into the spiritual world when she was just five years old. She says its a gift passed down through generations.

    " It was my grandmother who took me under her wing and taught me the old ways." said Izzy.

       Magic is about manipulating energy. I can see things that many other people can't see. When I was about 5 years old I saw a man in the corner of the back bedroom who no-one else could see. My Grandmother asked me to describe him and it turned out to be my deaf-mute Great Uncle Horace who had died when I was a baby and that had been his bedroom."

     Izzy believes everyone has the power to heal, but as a white witch she has honed her talents and developed a specialist knowledge of the healing power of herbs.

     " People think that what I do is spooky or scary, but to me it's just a way of life." she said. From the outside of Izzy's home in Sharphaw Avenue Skipton, you would never guess at the wonders that lay within.

       Dominating the chimney breast in Izzy's living room is a huge picture of a friendly Dragon which she painted herself, and on a recent visit there was an altar beneath it containing an assortment of symbolic objects to mark and give thanks for 'Lammas' the seasons first harvest.

        Izzy was putting her feet up having just returned from an unconventional job interview at a major tourist attraction in Somerset.

      She was among the final 300 witches - out of a total of 3,000 applicants from allover the world - who were each given just one minute each to persuade the judges they had what it takes to be the next witch at Wookey Hole Caves. Competition was stiff, given that the job came with a £50,000 annual salary, but for Izzy dressed in her Dark Ages Peasant costume, most of her rivals seemed like fake wannabes.

      "I looked around and my heart sank! Everywhere I looked I could see Disney Witches. All black pointed hats, sparkly eyeshadow and stripy tights." said Izzy "The woman who got the job was an estate agent with long blonde hair."

 

 

Since then I've been pictured in 'The Craven Herald' again, after I was invited to a filming of The Hairy Bikers new series "Mother Knows Best" (to be shown in January 2010). They had asked, on their website, for family recipes and I had sent one off to them that had come from, at least, my Great-Grandma. When I got the invite to be on the programme I decided to make them a character doll each. I make these to order of both famous and less famous people (see my other website for details www.izzyscubs.com). The result is below.

 

They were thrilled-to-bits with them and I was cheeky enough to ask if they would like to swap one of their tubular biking-scarves (The ones emblazoned with The Hairy Bikers Logo) for them. They said of course they would but hadn't got one on them at the moment as they has been specially made for them and they didn't have many left. They told me that when they got home one of them would find one out and send it to me.

A week later and a little parcel came through the letterbox and YEAH!!! There was my scarf!!! I never doubted them the little loves. Mind you I did threaten (jokingly) to make another set of dolls and stick pins in them if I didn't get one. Tee Hee. A smashing day was had by everyone.Thanks Lads. 

 

Since then the "Mums Know Best" series has been aired on the BBC during January and February. The episode I attended the filming of, Simple Suppers, was shown on Tuesday January 19th.

 

I was filmed with The Hairy Bikers explaining my recipe 'Impossible Pie'. Great Fun! The recipe appears below:-

 

 

This recipe was given to me by my Nan Lucy. It had been passed down through the family, but I don't know for how long.

All the ingredients are mixed together in one bowl, making a runny sloppy mess. This is poured into a greased oven proof bowl ( I would recommend a clear glass pyrex as then the sides of the pie can be seen), and baked in the oven. When it is cooked it Magically seperates into a pastry base, a custard middle and a coconutty sponge topping. Hence the name Impossible Pie.YUM!

 

4 eggs

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup self-raising flour

pinch salt

2 cups milk

1 cup coconut

1 teaspoon vanilla esscence

 

As stated before, beat it all together, Gran would say "Beat it like a galloping horse!" and pour into a greased 8"-9" dish.

Gook for 1 hour at gas mark 4, 180°c. And wait to be amazed.

Si King's comment on seeing the completed dish was "Wow. I think we are in the presence of genius dude."