Category Archives: What’s On

Poetry and printing for Christmas

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rural-antics-workshop

If you fancy having a go at making unique Christmas cards featuring your own poem and hand-printed design, here’s an event that’s sure to appeal…

Regular listeners to the show will already know Fiona Theokritoff as a Newark-based homeopath and the Girls Around Town‘s wellbeing guru. But did you know that’s she’s a poet too?

Or that, on Saturday 29 October, she’ll be presenting a Christmas Poetry and Printing Workshop at the Hanwell Wine Estate in Kinoulton?

Join Fiona between 10am and 4pm as she helps you ‘mine’ your memories of Christmas and find your inner poet, guiding you through the creation of your poem with a series of simple writing exercises. Then, after you’ve typed up your work on a vintage typewriter, she’ll show you how to design and decorate up to six cards.

Choose between making simple print blocks, using original printer’s letter blocks or creating a design with stamps and cutters – all materials and resources for the day will be provided, although you’re welcome to bring along a special item that represents Christmas for you.

No previous experience is necessary so the workshop is perfect for beginners. Places are £70 each, including a homemade two-course lunch served with local wine, but they’re limited so don’t leave it too long to make your booking. Register online here or email fiona@fionatheokritoff.co.uk for more details…

Can you imagine a better way to start your preparations for a memorable Christmas than by creating your very own hand-printed keepsakes?

Exploring some of Flintham’s hidden treasures

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tina's open garden

A dozen glorious gardens, plants, paintings and poetry, homemade cakes and opportunities for a little retail therapy – there’s something for everyone to enjoy in Flintham this weekend!

From 12 noon to 5pm on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June, 12 gardens in the village will be open to the public, many of them normally hidden from view due to Flintham’s unique design with its houses facing straight onto the street.

For the first time, the Girls Around Town‘s very own Tina Bettison will be showing off her artist’s garden. A Greek goddess, modern sculpture, the Stumpery and stone cairns sit among cottage garden borders and a long rectangular pond, a mix of formality and wilderness in equal measure.

Tina will also be hosting the plant sale, while a selection of artworks from her Cosmos collection will be on display in the Diva Den and, weather permitting, in the garden itself.

New member of the Girls Around Town team Fiona Theokritoff will be there too. With her poet’s hat on, she’ll be sharing some of her work and may even be writing some new poems during the weekend.

Elsewhere in the village, Anthea Chalmers will be opening both her garden and her jewellery studio – local artist Sally Anne Morten will be showing and selling her work – and botanical artist Barbara Munro’s work will be on display in her garden.

The village community shop will be open on both days, as will Flintham’s award-winning village museum.  The current museum shop window display, described by volunteer curator Sue Clayton as ‘a riot of colour with unexpected quirky touches of humour’, features the four seasons of the English garden through unsold shop stock and advertising material.

Parking will be available in the paddock behind the village hall – just follow the signs – and admission to the 12 open gardens is £5 per person (under 12s free). Teas and homemade cakes will be on sale in the village hall and all proceeds from the weekend will go to village good causes.

Let there be lights

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Totally Locally Newark's tree for 2015

Totally Locally Newark’s tree for 2015

Newark’s magnificent Parish Church will be ablaze with fairy lights and glittering decorations from Saturday 5 to Sunday 13 December, as it hosts its eighth annual Christmas Tree Festival.

Over 100 trees are being dressed ready for the opening of the festival at 9.30am tomorrow. Local schools, charities organisations and businesses are all taking part in the event, which is sponsored by solicitors Larken & Co and Tallents.

There’ll be seasonal music, Christmas carols, stalls and a raffle, as well as refreshments throughout the nine days – admission is £2 for adults and 20p for children, with opening hours

  • 9.30am – 5pm Saturdays
  • 11am – 4.30pm Sundays
  • 10am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday

The festival will be brought to a close with Carols of Praise at 6pm on Sunday 13 December.