Counting down to Christmas

christmas lanterns

The seasonal ads are everywhere, it won’t be long before the first cards start dropping through the letterbox and if you haven’t even started shopping for presents yet, it’s time to get a move on…

With the lights going on in Newark this weekend, the official countdown to Christmas has begun and the Girls Around Town are feeling festive!

Tune in or listen online from 10am to 12 noon on Sunday for news of what’s in store over the next few weeks – whether you’re looking for late night shopping, Christmas markets, concerts or carol services, there’s plenty to choose from.

Just before 11am, Honor Dunkley will be joining June, Tina and Sue in the studio to talk about some of the special events taking place in Southwell. Find out about music at The MinsterWillow Lantern Making Workshops, the Victorian Workhouse Christmas and the ever-popular Lantern Walk, to name just a few…

And if all that puts you in the mood for some festive fun, after the show why not head over to the Market Place for the Newark Christmas Lights Switch-On?

Pins and needles

facial acupunctureJune‘s been on pins for months, waiting for the new book by Rebecca Bradley to be published – but it looks as if she won’t have to wait much longer.

One of the authors appearing at the second Books in the Castle festival next month, Rebecca will be chatting to the Girls Around Town shortly after 10.15am on Sunday.

A former police officer, she’ll be explaining why she turned to writing about crime instead of helping to solve it and the inspiration behind her first DI Hannah Robbins novel Shallow Waters. She might even be persuaded to drop a few hints about the storyline in the next one!

Then if you’re a bit squeamish about needles, you might want to look away in the second hour of the show! Oh no, wait – it’s radio so there’ll be nothing for you to see… And besides, the needles in question are so fine they’re hardly scary at all.

Hannah Townsend will be joining the girls after 11am to talk about the history of acupuncture and some of the conditions she uses this ancient therapy for when treating patients in her Southwell clinic.

She’ll also be explaining what made her decide to add facial acupuncture to the treatments she now offers, how it works, why it works and the kind of results it can achieve.

Make sure you tune in or listen online between 10am and 12 noon to find out more from Hannah and Rebecca – two very different guests but two equally fascinating interviews…

A tasty tale

tasty-tale-heroHere’s something for anyone with kids aged seven and over – a very special show that’s coming to your local library next month…

Written by Noel Greig and packed with plenty of music, laughter and scary bits, A Tasty Tale is an exciting re-working of the much-loved fairy story, Hansel and Gretel.

Two hungry children abandoned in the woods. A delicious house made of gingerbread. Hansel is not as brave as he boasts he is. Gretel is bolder than she thought she could be. The witch has a scheme that doesn’t quite work out. And the duck learns just how wise he can be…

You’ll find performances at

  • Mansfield Central Library (01623 651337) at 2pm on Saturday 5 December
  • Newark Library (01636 703966) at 11am on Saturday 12 December
  • Beeston Library (0115 9255168) at 4.30pm on Saturday 12 December
  • Workop Library (01909 535353) at 11.30am on Sunday 13 December

Tickets for library members are £2 for children and free for accompanying adults (£4 each for children and adults who are non-library members). Advance booking is essential – call or visit the library (each library only stocks tickets or its own date/venue) or book online.