Category Archives: Hot Blog

This is where we share our news and views on things in general, review the arts, entertainment and music worlds, describe some of the things we stock, announce our own publications and events and so on.
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Apr30

Beryl’s blog – Not sure how this will work out, so wish me luck!

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I’m currently trying to add a second blog (for my own use) to the one I already manage for Guru Boutique. It’s driving me even more bonkers than I already am. Fortunately, I have a brilliant friend who with a bit of luck might help me to get it up and running.

This second blog will deal with things I personally find to be important,  interesting, enlightening, worthwhile, beautiful or amusing.

In it, I hope to include a few of my own (and other people’s) scribbles, sketches, songs and snaps. I also hope to link it to Guru’s little publishing and events sideline and include some of those things and also include posts about the arts, personal history, the importance of our sense of place and society in general.

I’ve called it Honesty (hence the header image showing the old fashioned plant of that name). If I do get this personal blog going I’d love a few friends to join it and follow its progress. Here’s the link just in case you want to take me up on that… https://wordpress.com/view/berylmaughanhankin.blog

 

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Apr25

Vernon (master of pies and so much more)

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Three years ago today, we sadly had to say our last goodbyes to this amazing man and true friend, Vernon Levy. I may add more about him one day (as there is so much to add), but right now I just want to say how much all of us at Guru miss him. He was a true friend and a great teacher to so many. We (and I suspect all who had the pleasure of meeting him), think of him often and always will.

Apr24

Stunning Crystals & Minerals

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I’m inclined to drool over some of the stunning examples of natural crystals that we stock and so I’m sharing some of them here so that our friends can see what I mean. What a wonderful artist Mother Nature is. I think she is beyond compare… The image speaks for itself but if anyone needs some more information just add your comments or questions to this entry in our blog…

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Some larger pieces of crystals, mineral and agate slices which were in Guru Boutique a few days ago at the time this snap was taken. I don’t think it will be long before some of them have gone to new homes so if you get the chance pop down to have a look for yourself. The rainbow light was sourced from Kelly’s Smellies, a lovely Facebook shop.

 

 

Apr22

Wonderful Whitby on Easter Bank Holiday…

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Well, it was definitely not busy with shoppers in our lovely Darlington today but, who can blame people for bypassing towns for once and getting away from it all for the Easter Bank Holiday. There is one local town that bucked the trend, though. Just look at Whitby in the photo that goes with this post!
I can totally understand the attraction of that place. So many interesting features to find out about and explore. It’s a real gem on the North Yorkshire coast. The place where Captain Cook the great explorer served his apprenticeship, the spiritual home of the good ship Endeavour. Famous whaling port in the days when that was a huge industry (although I don’t really dwell on that). The Dracula/Bram Stoker connection, the 199 steps. Whitby Abbey, the place where the great Synod of Whitby took place and holy men from all over the world travelled great distances over long lengths of time to converge there in order to form the laws of Christianity. Whitby jet (made famous by Queen Victoria when she insisted on it for her mourning jewellery after the death of her beloved Albert). A history of smugglers and smuggling. Folk festivals. Regattas. Home to Sutcliffe, a pioneering photographer. Scenic views, fine harbour, beaches, pier, the setting for many movies and TV series. Museums, the world-renowned Goth Festivals, fabulous fish’n’chips, olde worlde taverns, interesting shops, amusement galleries, lots to see and do on a great day, or longer, out and I’m sure there is more. No wonder it’s a popular destination, no wonder it is so successful and no wonder we all love it so much.

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Apr17

Lily Love: One of Guru Boutique’s faces of 2019 (to be revealed soon)!!! xx

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Last time Lily popped into Guru we instantly knew she was our kind of girl. When she popped in again today I didn’t even realise it was her as she had changed her hair and added more piercings – but I did get the feeling, once again, that this was ‘our kind of girl’ – so imagine the delight when I realised it was actually her. Not only that but the young man that was with her has a talent for photography and will do a much better job of photographing her in our fair trade clothing if/when they do a session for us. I do hope this can happen during the next few weeks and I can guarantee that working together as a model and photographer they will produce some stunning images for us… SO, watch this space! 🙂 P.S. THANKS, Lily. xx

Apr13

A T-shirt fit for the Guru Tribe…

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A few years ago we ran a competition to design a T-Shirt suitable for the Guru Tribe. Here’s a bit about how it went…

“…after a lot of deliberation Joanna Morris (Northern Echo), our chief judge who I really do have to thank for doing a very difficult job so well, has picked Glenn Wigham’s handpainted T-shirt as the winner of our CUSTOMISE A GURU T-SHIRT COMPETITION. Joanna said: “Glenn’s entry was bold, colourful and provocative. Along with its touch of rebellion and non-conformity, it beautifully embodies the spirit of Guru and those who flock to the tiny shop that keeps Darlington’s counter-culture thriving and well-dressed”.

We would like to add, “A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ENTERED SUCH A HIGH STANDARD OF WORK  – WE LOVE YOU!!!”

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The image is of Glenn Wigham wearing his winning design. He wrote that his design is both a protest at the way the 1st world often exploits other cultures and a celebration of how the life, colour and vibrancy which the respectful appreciation of the art of those cultures provides, enhances and enriches all of our lives.

Apr13

The Legend of Guru Tribe (just for fun)…

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MANY, MANY MOONS AGO, BACK IN THE TIME OF ALL THINGS ‘70’s A SMALL SHOP WAS BORN IN A BRAVE ATTEMPT TO OFFER TO THE WORLD, AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE UNEXCITING AND PREDICTABLE.

The name of this shop was GURU BOUTIQUE, and thus the legend began… (cue Native American tribal drums)

As recorded in the annals of the tribe, after a brief trial attempt by Bery’s parents in 1971 which whetted their appetites, it was in 1972 when Irene and Beryl (mother and daughter), properly set out on their adventure into the unknown.

To get more braves and squaws to aid and abet them, they searched the world (well mainly Darlington where the shop was located, actually). Here below is a list of some of those first brave comrades, and some others who have swelled the ranks since. This following record shows both their given and tribal names and in a few cases the reasons why they got those tribal names.

The Chiefess of our tribe…

Irene – (Wise Owl). So named because she was the most beautiful, placid, loving, funny, mischievous, caring, level headed and determined one of us all. In times of crisis, she knew how to calm us down, not only with her delicious cups of soothing tea but also with her wisdom, good nature and unfailing common sense… Irene is much loved and greatly missed, and her legacy lives on.

The rest of the tribe…

Beryl – (She who stands by till). So named because since 1972 until at least the time of writing this, she has been there, behind the till for all to return to, talk to and see.

Tony – (The Darlo Lama). So named for his simple uncomplicated lifestyle, wisdom, quick wit and dogged perseverance. Quite simply he is our hero.

Colin – Fog maker. So named because when he had to operate a dry ice machine at a fashion show we once put on, he was so interested in the beautiful squaws on the stage, that he forgot to turn it off. That resulted in all the models ending up walking around waist-deep in a haze of dry ice. Which was OK as it gave the whole thing an air of mystery.

Kelly – (Little sky). So named because although not tall in stature, she is as tall as the sky in spirit. She is always looking up and thinking of new and better ways to enhance and improve things.

Now follows a list of some of the first wave of people (and a couple of newbies), who were given their tribal names and thus became members of our tribe…

Ray (big chief gets things done). Joe (builder brave). Uppinder (Pinny of the smiling eyes). Libby (walks in moccasins). Rachal (moonflower- aka the girl with the storm-cloud eyes). Heather (the kind one – aka gerbil girl). Julie (broken hanger). Rosalie (dream catcher). Angelica (firewater girl). Caitlin (little many treasures). Paddy (he of many voices). Mark (friend to many). Caroline (rainbow child). Nicola (helpful one). Peter (bold adventurer). Stephanie (image-maker). Amy (arrow and fire). Sarah (little beaver – don’t ask). Linda (horse whisperer). Nicola (helpful friend), Nichola (shining star), Bridie (running girl). Andy (drum warrior). Stuart (runs with the pack), Gary (music guide). Tracy (life guide). Nellie (aka The Phant). Hugh (Mort). Nick (biker brave). Haggis (toot toots)Karen (Pathfinder). Tracey (bright light). Phil (fffooking brilliant). Sandra (caring squaw). Vanessa (best gig girl). Tracy (life guide). Paula (creative soul), Krissy (swift messenger). Toyah (little treasure). Sarah (little star). Mel (big chief do’em’books). Christina (princess Chrissie laughs a lot). Georgina (princess Georgie jumps a lot). Claire (gentle song). Kamay (music girl). Kayeung (watching girl). Princess Ebi (graceful one). Princess Zoe (little chef). Chloe (the fair one). Hope (watchful one). Beth (retro girl). Karl (fixer brave). Kendall (Mac shaman). Terry (web warrior). Darby (medicine man) et al…

Many more people should be mentioned here, and I could go on for so much longer adding names of worthy tribe members who feature in our long history (you know who you are), but sadly space does not allow me to do that!

NOW IT HAS COME TO PASS THAT THE TRIBE HAS MIGRATED ONTO THE VAST TEEPEE KNOWN AS THE INTERNET AND HAS SET UP CAMP THERE. IN ORDER TO LEARN WHAT THE TRIBE IS DOING NEXT, THAT IS WHERE YOU NEED TO JOURNEY…

As mentioned elsewhere we are on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, as Guru Boutique – plus if you type in #gurutribe that will take you to our Instagram account where we post lots of lovely images and details of the things we stock

Apart from our business pages listed above, we have a special non-commercial Facebook group, created especially for our lovely tribe members to hang out in without fear of hassle, which is aptly called Guru Boutique (Guru Tribe).