Tag Archives: workshops

Getting crafty for Christmas

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It’s all about crafts and Christmas in the second of this week’s interviews, when Michelle Baker and Sally Harrison join the Girls Around Town to talk about The Bestest, Craftiest Christmas Weekend Ever!

With demonstrations, children’s activities, goodie bags and a gift-wrapping service all on offer throughout the weekend, you’ll find plenty to see and do at the Newark Craft Hub in London Road Car Park on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December..

Michelle and Sally will have news too of craft workshops taking place both days. If you fancy sewing a Santa sack, Christmas bunting or a stocking, making a Christmas crystal star with The Bead Queen, a Christmas jumper with The Great British Sewing Bee‘s Tracey Symonds or a felted Santa Claus with Kim from The Tinkering Faeries, they’ve got it covered!

Visit the website to book places on any of the workshops – and tune in or listen online from 11am on Sunday when June and Tina find out more what’s in store…

The journey of a lifetime starts with the turning of a page

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Is there anything better than a good book?

OK, chocolate maybe – but who’s to say you can’t share the love? They both feed the soul and let’s face it, at least with a book you’re more likely to expand your horizons than your waistline!

Crime thrillers or children’s tales, romance or riddles, history or heroes – whatever your pleasure, you’ll find all the inspiration you need to start (or continue!) your own journey of a lifetime when the Newark Book Festival comes to town next week…

From 6.30pm to 9pm on Friday 14 July, 9.30am to 7.45pm on Saturday 15 July and 10am to 4.15pm on Sunday 16 July, Newark will be buzzing with book-related activities for all the family and, as you’d expect, the Girls Around Town will be in the thick of it!

Getting the weekend off to a great start, Fiona will be joined by fellow poet Jane Wyles for an evening of Wine and Words at Gannets Bistrot on Friday, then bringing it to a close when she talks to best-selling author Natasha Pulley about her new novel, The Bedlam Stacks on Sunday.

On Saturday, you’ll find Tina in the chair for two events, interviewing members of the Women’s Fiction Panel from 1.45pm and uncovering the story behind Centaur when she chats to Declan Murphy and Ami Rao from 3.30pm.

Back in the studio on Sunday morning, she’ll be holding the fort with Sue as June takes a quick tour of some of the Festival venues. Tune in or listen online from 10am to 12 noon for live updates and interviews throughout the show – and don’t forget to check out the programme for full details of what to see, do and hear in Newark next weekend…

Grape expectations

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sparkling wine

With around six million bottles sold in the UK every year, English sparkling wines are fast becoming fashionable.

The industry may have a long way to go before it catches up with the 130 million bottles of Champagne sold annually in Britain but consumer demand already outstrips supply.

Which is surely good news for next Sunday’s Girls Around Town guest, Helenka Brown!

As English Wine Week gets underway, she’ll be in the studio to talk about growing up on Eglantine Vineyard in Costock, which is still owned and managed by her parents. And about how, since setting up Hanwell Wine Estate in 2012, she and husband William have been working hard to create a ‘destination’ vineyard in the rolling countryside of South Nottinghamshire…

They’re looking forward to early 2018 when their first sparkling white wine, made from traditional Champagne grape varieties grown in the Hickling Patures vineyard and harvested in 2015, is ready for tasting.

Find out what happens between grape and glass and how the vagaries of the English weather impact on the journey. There’ll be news too of the regular events and activities on offer, from tours, tastings and hen parties to the varied range of arts and crafts workshops which make up Hanwell’s Rural Antics programme.

Tune in or listen online between 10am and 12 noon as June, Tina and Sue raise a glass – metaphorically at least! – to Helenka, William and the success of English wine-making…