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| The Word About Town |
| Issue 28, October 2019 |
| Welcome |
| Half term is here! Some of your little ones will be lucky enough to already be on half term, but for the rest of us - it's finally arrived! In some ways this first half term of the academic year flies by, but on the other hand it can feel like it is never-ending, and is actually quite often the longest half term in the school year! Either way it's now time to try and allow the kids to relax, recharge and get ready for the hectic, but very exciting, Christmas (yes I said it!) term ahead of us! As always we're very lucky in Harpenden and have loads going on over the school holidays to keep everyone entertained. Keep reading for lots of inspiring ideas! (And don't forget to change your clocks on Saturday night.) |
| Why we love Autumn |
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Admittedly it is always tricky to let go of the idea of summer when September arrives, but once you do you can start to embrace the simple pleasures of Autumn - Halloween, fireworks, conkers and any excuse for a cosy night in with a hot chocolate and marshmallows! Here are a few of our favourite Autumn activities to keep you and your little ones happy. 1. Go and kick leaves in the Highfield Oval woods off Ambrose Lane, Rothamsted Park, Chute Wood in Dunstable Downs, the Ashridge Estate, or Wendover Woods and take in the breath-taking views on a crisp Autumn day. You're never too old for a lovely Autumnal walk. 2. Get the crayons out and try bark and leaf rubbing pictures in Heartwood Forest, Stockwood Park or any of the local woods. 3. Search for the largest conker along Leyton Road, on the common, Lydekker Park or Clarence Park in St Albans (a great excuse for a little train trip to entertain the kids as well). Then of course traditionally you’d tie them on an old lace and battle it out for the winning conker! 4. Carve out Jack O’Lanterns in your pumpkins and do the same with oranges which can then be filled with jelly for that beheaded effect. 5. Eat warm flapjacks. (100g demerera sugar, 100g golden syrup, 100g butter melted together and add 220g rolled oats. Pour into an ovenproof dish and bake for 20 minutes at 160o.) 6. Have a crafty afternoon and make some home made Halloween decorations to put in the window or on the doorstep to welcome Trick or Treaters. Then turn your attention to firework pictures - so much fun to paint. And once your little ones (or not so little ones) are covered from head to toe in paint and glitter, pop them in the bath before having a snuggly evening in admiring your artistic abilities! 7. Bake goodies or go to the pound shop and give non-edible treats like stickers or pencils. 8. If you’re the Trick or Treaters, ask the neighbours when they’ll be in and go with your friends. 9. To save your children from the sugar rush hold a Sweet Exchange afterwards - swap some of their sweets for money and let them spend it on pocket money treasures ... then quietly munch your way through the treats at your own midnight feast! (Or save them for those sweet jars you need to donate to the school Christmas Fayre!) 10. If you're feeling really generous and want a full day out head to one of our local country parks, farms, zoos, wildlife parks or National Trust venues which all host special Halloween events. Check our What's On page for all your half-term Halloween-themed events. |
| Fantastic Fireworks |
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| Once Halloween is over, it's time to remember, remember the 5th of November. As always we are spoilt for choice when it comes to dazzling firework displays. On 2 November there will be the Redbourn Common Fireworks and St Albans Cathedral Fireworks Spectacular, then on 9 November the Crabtree Fireworks Spectacular, swiftly followed by the Harpenden Rugby Club Fireworks and Wheathampstead Fireworks on 10 November.
9th Harpenden Scouts will be holding their fireworks at Kinsbourne Green, but currently tickets are only available to families of 9th Harpenden and select local community groups. If we hear that any are released to the wider public we will let you know via Social Media. And unfortunately the “Low Bang” Fireworks event at Willows Farm on 1st November is sold out. And once you've found your perfect display, don't forget to ooo and ahhh! |
| A Day in the Life of Bim Afolami MP |
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| Mum’s guide to Harpenden recently interviewed our local MP for Harpenden & Hitchin, Bim Afolami, to get to know him a little better and to find out what his role entails. We first met Bim at the Harpenden Carnival with his wife, Hetti, and their 3 sons. As a local father he was keen to know more about family provisions in the area and as a young MP he wants to explain his role to us, his constituents, and how we can get in touch with him when issues arise. What a great place to start then with an interview with Mum’s guide to Harpenden – an information site for families! Take a look at our website to see our full interview. But in the meantime see below for the concluding MGTH Quick Fire Round! Rugby or football? Pop or classical? Invisibility or super strength? If you could travel back in time, what period would you go to? How many press-ups can you do in a row? What's the best piece advice you've received? How many hours of sleep do you need? Do you know how to salsa (dance, not the sauce)? How would you rate your karaoke skills on a scale of 1 to Mariah Carey? Who’s your favourite Harry Potter character? You can get in touch with Bim to discuss a local or national issue... By email: bim.afolami.mp@parliament.uk By letter: House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA In person at one of his surgeries, details of which are on his website. You can also follow Bim on social media: |
| Open Days: Nursery, School, Sixth Form & Further Education |
| For those of you choosing secondary schools you can almost relax, for a while at least, until allocation day gets closer. You'll have no doubt visited many a school in the last few weeks and your brain will be exploding from all the information on offer and decisions to make. However, if you have a little one about to start school for the first time the decision process is just beginning. Do have a look at our Open Days page of our website as it has all the state and private schools and dates listed to make the process just a little bit easier. Similarly, if yours are a bit older now we also have the Sixth Form Open Dates, Independent Schools Open Days, University Technical Colleges Information Events and Further Education 16+ listed. We've not quite got to that stage at MGTH, but we have no doubt the decision process is just as hard and stressful as it is with the younger children. So, whatever stage you are at - good luck! |
| Special Offer - The Circus is Coming To Town! |
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| If you're looking for something a little bit different in half term, and something you can walk to, the circus is coming to town! From the producers of the Moscow State Circus and Circus Extreme comes the incredible and jaw dropping Continental Circus Berlin. With an array of brilliant Circus acts, music & real youthful energy, enjoy an international Production packed full of comedy, foot-juggling, daredevils, magic & aerial acts, including the Motorbikes inside the Globe of Death! The show brings together some of the greatest circus performers ever seen in the UK and the EEC is delighted to bring it to these shores as part of it's current European Tour. Housed in one of Europe's largest Circus Big Tops this ALL NEW show will delight young and old alike and promises to be a Family treat like no other. TICKET OFFER: 2 for 1, any seat, any day. Call the box office in advance 0749 4774008 and quote "BERLIN241' to receive the deal. This offer MUST be used 24 hours before showtime and is not valid past this. |
| The Hygiene Bank |
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| Do you have any unwanted Christmas Jumpers? |
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| The Final Word |
| And now that we have finished with a Christmas jumper request, it seems only appropriate that we turn our attention to Christmas, which is only just around the corner. Eeeek! But don't panic, we have our ultimate guide to all the Santa's Grottoes and Father Christmas Experiences taking place in the local area this year. From train rides to winter wonderlands you can find them all on our website. So don't delay and get booking, as some of the most popular ones get booked up very quickly!
Finally, don't forget the Harpenden Christmas Carnival and Farmers Market is on Sunday 24th November this year, and for the first time it is also joined by the Christmas Emergency Services Open Day at Harpenden Fire Station. Triple the fun! Enjoy. |
| Alison, Angela, Carol & Katie Mum's guide to Harpenden |
  
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| Please note that the articles in this newsletter are written by third party businesses as specified at the end of each article. Any opinions are the article writer's opinions and not Mum's Guide To Limited's opinions. Mum's Guide To Limited do not represent or guarantee the truthfulness, accuracy or reliability of any article by any of the Businesses in this newsletter or endorse any opinions expressed by them, or products or services provided by them. |
| Mum's Guide To Ltd, Registered in England & Wales No.8045592 www.mumsguideto.co.uk mums@mumsguideto.co.uk |
