HEREFORD & WORCESTER IT’S COMPETITION TIME P30 & 31 WHAT’S ON UNTIL APRIL P12 - 15 PARTY TIME P10 & 11 MAGAZINE & WEBSITE THE GO-TO GUIDE FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD raring2go.co.uk WINTER 2022/23 This is our interactive digital edition, with working links. If you would like a printed copy, please email us here.
2 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! WINTER
3 Raring2go! WELCOME Welcome to 2023 and the winter edition of Raring2go! Hereford and Worcester. I hope you enjoyed the Christmas break, and finally know what day of the week it is. I wrote this in the run up to Christmas - you know how that is! A huge THANK YOU to all the advertisers in this edition - keeping the magazine and website going as free resources for all the lovely readers and families is only possible with their support. So please, when you visit them, try their class, or buy from them, do let them know you saw them in here. Inside this edition you’ll find lots of ideas to chase away any winter blues, and help fill the next 3 months with fun for you and the family. So grab yourself a cuppa, get cosy, and enjoy this latest edition. Don’t forget to head over to our website for even more local events, news, and competitions. While you’re there, why not sign up for the newsletter too. I hope you all have a wonderful winter! Pauline x Pauline Clark, Editor Advertise your business in 2023 with Raring2go! Hereford & Worcester Call 01981 550939 Mobile 07810 349590 or email me herefordandworcester@raring2go.co.uk Copyright © 2023 Mojo Publishing Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage & retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission or further information should be addressed to the publishers. All information in this magazine is published in good faith and cannot be reproduced without prior written permission. The publisher makes every effort to ensure that the businesses which are featured in this magazine are of the highest quality, we do not guarantee the services and products from any businesses featured. Printed by Gemini Print Group. Website Member E-newsletter emailed monthly with latest offers and events Download vouchers and save £££’s Access all our online competitions with great prizes to be won Become a Join today by visiting www.raring2go.co.uk
4 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! 01432 358070 wyesidenursery@gmail.com www.wyesidedaynursery.co.uk Wyeside Day Nursery & Out of School Care Ltd 26 Eign Road, Hereford, HR1 2RY “Where children enjoy their learning adventure” Handy hints and hacks for 2023 We could all use some hints and tips to help save us a little time, money or better still, both! We are Raring2go! to help make the new year a little easier for us all, and have been gathering hints and tips to share. Why not send us in yours? In the kitchen: • Push a metal skewer through jacket potatoes before popping them in the oven - it helps them cook faster. • A clippy coat hanger hooked over a cupboard door handle makes a handy cookbook holder. • Frozen mashed bananas make a great alternative to ice cream. • Pizza cutters are perfect for chopping herbs. • Left over fresh herbs can be frozen! Chop them up, then pop them into ice cube trays, pour over olive oil and freeze - just add a frozen cube to your next dish while it cooks. • Left over ginger root can be frozen too! • Apple slicers make perfect potato wedges. • Placing a damp tea towel under your mixing bowl will keep it from sliding around while you mix. • Rubber bands are a must have in the kitchen. Not only can you use them to seal open packets, but simply wrap them around that hard to open lid and hey presto - twist and it’s off! • Hate cleaning the cheese grater? Spray a little cooking spray on it before you use it, to stop the cheese sticking. • Keep a go-bag inside your empty coolbox. Fill it with games, bug hunt sheets, pencils, sun screen, picnic plates and paper towels - just grab it when you fill the cool box. Ready to go! • Cupcake liners make great finger food holders / separators for lunch boxes. • Lemon water is perfect for cleaning your microwave. Add a couple of slices of lemon (or some lemon juice) to water in a microwaveable bowl and heat it uncovered for a few minutes in the microwave. Keep the door closed once the water has boiled and let the steam loosen any stuck on food for a few minutes before scrubbing - it smells great too! There are LOADS more cleaning hacks using lemons and baking soda on the internet! Well, so are tens of thousands of local Mums and Dads every quarter… be sure to feature your business with Raring2go! ARE YOU READING THIS?
5 Raring2go! PRE-SCHOOL Calling all toddlers and their grown-ups! Join us each Monday morning to play and pray in Hereford Cathedral. Listen to a Bible story, take part in a craft activity and have fun in our weekly drop-in. Come along to meet other families, make new friends and discover the cathedral. The group is free to attend and everyone is welcome! Mondays in term time | 9.30am - 10.30am H E R E F O R D C AT H E D R A L TODDLER GROUP herefordcathedral.org
6 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! CLUBS AND CLASSES Learning the FUNdamentals of Football www.LittleKickers.co.uk facebook.com/LittleKickers Twitter: @LittleKickers Football fun for children aged 18months - 7 years. Visit ourwebsite:
7 Raring2go! CLUBS & CLASSES Test your skills at creating crazy constructions and super structures with Lego in the inspiring surroundings of Hereford Cathedral. Enjoy our freestyle Lego sessions with thousands of bricks and hundreds of mini figures, learn building techniques and make new friends. This after-school session lasts 1 hour and is free to attend. Spaces are limited so find our next session and book your space here: herefordcathedral.org/events While we are using Lego equipment, this club is not affiliated with Lego® in any official capacity. Once a month on Wednesdays 3.30 pm - 4.30 pm H E R E F O R D C AT H E D R A L LEGO CLUB herefordcathedral.org Suitable for young people aged 8 - 14
8 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! FREE 30-DAY TRIAL readingeggs.co.uk/r2gowinter Scan QR code for 30-Day FREE trial *This 30-day free trial offer allows you to add up to 4 children. You will be charged at the end of the trial period unless you cancel before this time. You can cancel any time by selecting the ‘Cancel Subscription’ option located on the ‘Manage My Subscription’ page in your family dashboard. Offer is valid for new UK customers only. Ages 3–9 Learning Maths Nurture an early love of maths with structured lessons and activities that build essential maths skills. Ages 7–13 Building Confidence Older children can continue building key literacy skills that will help them succeed in school. Ages 3–7 Learning to Read Children follow structured, one-on-one lessons that teach phonics, sight words and reading skills. Ages 2–4 First Steps Delight your toddler with fun games and activities that build alphabet knowledge and ready-to-read skills. Ages 5–10 Mastering Phonics Fast-paced lessons cover key phonics skills, perfect for both emergent and struggling readers. Try the multi-award winning online reading programme for kids aged 2–13. Reading Eggs makes learning to read easy and fun for young kids, and it’s proven to work in just 15 minutes a day. Perfect for supporting school learning and cleverly designed to grow with your child, 91% of parents see an improvement within just a few short weeks.
9 Raring2go! GOOD OLD VITAMIN C Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that helps the body resist infection and plays a vital role in wound healing. It’s found in fresh fruits, particularly citrus, and also berries and fresh vegetables. The vitamin C from one orange is enough to saturate your child’s cells. RAID THE FRUIT BOWL All fruit is good fruit when you’re trying to reduce the number of visits to the doctor. Aim for two pieces of fresh fruit daily, preferably with skin (apples, strawberries, grapes and pears), as most vitamins and minerals are found a few millimetres under the fruit skin. RESTORE THE GOOD BACTERIA A gut full of healthy bacteria is the best way to fight nasty bugs in little tummies. A poor diet and antibiotic medication can reduce the levels of healthy bacteria found in the gut. Probiotic drinks such as fermented milks (Yakult) and most of the yoghurts available in supermarkets contain large amounts of these. SUNSHINE Vitamin D is produced when UV light comes into contact with the skin, so our levels naturally tend to peak in summer and become lower in winter. This important vitamin helps our bodies fight illness. Aim for a few minutes in the sun every day and, if that’s not possible, remember that milk, non-dairy spread and oily fish are also excellent sources of Vitamin D. ZINC AND IRON These are the two most important minerals involved in the immune system, helping to resist infection and heal wounds. The main food sources are liver and red meat, egg yolks, wholegrains and fortified cereals. EAT A RAINBOW Serve vegies or salad at lunch and dinner, or as a snack in between meal times with low-fat dips or cheese. Include a few different colours: reds and oranges (carrot, pumpkin, capsicum and tomatoes) are high in beta-carotene, and dark-green leafy vegetables (broccoli, baby spinach) are high in iron. These foods are also high in antioxidants, which help little ones fight whatever nasties are around. BEAT THOSE GERMS Help reduce the stress on the immune system by fighting germs. Teach your children to wash their hands well with soap, especially before they eat. And always rinse fruit and raw vegies before serving them to your family. GIVE THEM THE RUN AROUND Exercise is good for everybody! Not only does it help maintain healthy weight and a healthy heart but it has also been shown to boost immunity. The T-cells in the body, which roam around the bloodstream helping fight off infection, have been shown to increase in numbers through exercise. Encourage your little ones to run around in the fresh air a few times a day. TOSS THE TOOTHBRUSH Replace your little one’s toothbrush regularly, as this is one place where bacteria can build up. Put a star on the calendar every three months to remind you. If your child has had a cold it’s also a good idea to replace his toothbrush in order to prevent reinfection. Ideas for you to avoid the Winter colds and bugs… It’s that time of the year again, when your little ones catch every cold and flu bug that’s going, and then they spread like wildfire through the whole family… Here’s a few things to help you keep the bugs at bay this Winter…
10 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! PARTIES www.raring2go.co.uk “T LOO FOR Go-Ka • Indo • Sho • Birt • Afte • Fun Party Call info www Throwing a children's party? Some top tips! We all want our children to have a birthday to remember and that includes a memorable and fun party. It does take a lot of planning and preparation though and you want to be as stress free as possible too so you can enjoy the party with them. So here are 5 simple tips to try and help you get the planning started � and don’t forget the cake! INVITATIONS: It’s always tough deciding who to invite, but whether you invite the whole class or just a few friends remember your child will be as happy with a small group as a large one if it feels special to them. The older they get the easier it is to invite just their best friends and you can also invite close family along too to help make the occasion easier and avoid having to hold multiple events. Or you could put the whole thing into the hands of a party planner which takes the pressure off and allow you to enjoy the experience too. THEMES: It’s great to let the children pick their own party theme but a little guidance is useful so that you don’t end up with an unattainable concept! It’s also useful to make it quite broad – so maybe fairy tales, animals, wizards or film characters rather than Frozen, Harry Potter or Minions. Easier on other parents too for costumes and it doesn’t stop your child being their favourite character and you theming the food and decorations with them. SENSORY: Not just for the younger ones, the more interactive everything is, the more engaged the children will be and the easier the party will be to manage for you! So play sounds and music to match the theme. Treasure hunts for a pirate party, or a princess in a tower hunt for a fairy tale party, you get the gist. Make it an indoor and outdoor hunt if you can or use sand, jelly, pasta for them to hunt through, using the theme again to help you. Pass the parcel can have wrapping in the theme – parchment for the pirates, sparkly for princesses. Using all the senses really will help to fire the children’s imaginations and keep them involved. FOOD: Use the theme on the party food too. Fairy wand iced biscuits and toadstool cupcakes for a princess party; breadstick wands and potions dips and drinks for a wizard party; hot dog pirate boats and treasure map pizzas and cakes. You might even enjoy coming up with the ideas! GROWN-UPS: Make sure you have enough grown-ups staying – enjoyable for them and helpful for you! However, don’t just use them as washers up or mediators, they need to enjoy the party too. Make sure there is food and drink for them too and get them involved in the games and activities. Most of all – have fun!
11 Raring2go! PARTIES Little Kickers Fun-filled football themed parties, for children aged 4-8. For enquiries or bookings, please email lkworcester@littlekickers.co.uk or call 07932 590502. www.littlekickers.co.uk Flip Out, Hereford For the flippin’ best party ever, book your child’s party at Flip Out. What’s included: Fabulous food. Party room. Dedicated party host. An hour of bouncy fun for all. flipout.co.uk/locations/hereford/parties Little Play World Fill your child’s party with worlds of fun, where all your younger guests can become anything - from Rockstars to vets. Contact Nikki on 07753 393289 or email nikkis@littleplayworld.co.uk Popcat’s Music, singing, games and fun with a party from Popcat’s. Contact Cherie at Popcatshereford@gmail.com or message Cherie on Facebook facebook.com/popcatshereford Nature-Makers Droitwich & Worcester Fun, arty bespoke parties with a nature theme. Book before March ‘23 quoting R2G for a 10% discount. For details and bookings, call 07975711291 or email shelley@nature-makers.co.uk The Courtyard Enjoy activities, live shows and films along with a tasty buffet including pizza, curly fries, chicken goujons & veggie sticks with children’s parties at The Courtyard. You, your child and their guests could be enjoying one of these amazing shows at their party in 2023: Stars in the Sky. Matlida The Musical (sing-along). Breathe. Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs. An Introduction to Stage Combat. Pinocchio. Milkshake Live! Dr Dolittle and many more! For details & bookings go to courtyard.org.uk/childrens-party-bookings Looking to throw the perfect party, you’ll find it here in your go-to guide for you and your child Party providers - advertise in our spring edition. Call Pauline on 01981 550939
12 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! WHAT’S ON What's on this winter? ......................................................................... We add more events to our online what's on guide all the time, just scan the code below with your phone. Listings correct at time of going to press. Please check details and booking information with the venues before setting out. ......................................................................... 12th January Escape Room at Hereford Cathedral. An immersive clue-cracking and decoding game lasting an hour, for groups of up to 6 people. Be transported back to 1890, where you have been accused of embezzling money. Can you crack the clues to prove who really did it, to ensure you are set free? www.herefordcathedral.org 12th & 13th January Ludwig Theatre Arts present: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at The Courtyard. The famous highflying car is ready to land on stage and save the day in this Broadway Junior adaptation of the blockbuster musical and beloved classic film. Take a fantastic musical adventure with an out-of-thisworld car that flies through the air and sails the seas. Featuring an unforgettable score by the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang JR. is one blockbuster that audiences will find Truly Scrumptious! www.courtyard.org.uk ......................................................................... 13th - 19th January Film: Avatar: The Way of Water (12A) at The Courtyard. After 13 long years of waiting, the sequel to James Cameron’s sci-fi epic is here! With groundbreaking visuals and a stunning soundtrack, we can’t wait to transport you back to Pandora. Jake Sully lives with his newfound family formed on the planet of Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the army of the Na'vi race to protect their planet. Audio Description and Subtitled Screenings available. www.courtyard.org.uk ........................................................................
13 Raring2go! WHAT’S ON BOX OFFICE 01432 340555 courtyard.org.uk In partnership with Saturday 4 March, 11.30am & 2.30pm Join Paddington, Daisy & Ollie, Milo, Noddy, Pip and Posy, Blue’s Clues & You! and of course Milkshake! Monkey for an unforgettable family time at Milkshake Monkey’s Musical! Tickets £18.50, Under 16’s £17.50 Family of four £68 MILKSHAKE LIVE! Milkshake 2023 half page.indd 1 28/11/2022 11:54:00 14th January Little Play World 'Family Saturday' 11 am - 12 noon at The Courtyard (bookings through The Courtyard). Little worlds of fun, where children can play at being anything from Rockstars to vets, and everything in between! Play sessions are aimed at children aged 0 - 7 years. www.courtyard.org.uk ......................................................................... 19th - 29th January Alice in Wonderland at Swan Theatre. Join Alice and your favourite characters, including the White Rabbit, Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts in this family pantomime from Kays. www.worcestertheatres.co.uk ......................................................................... 20th January Sing-along-a The Greatest Showman at The Courtyard. From the producers of Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music and Sing-a-long-a Grease, the smash hit film musical that everyone can’t stop singing. Experience The Greatest Showman in the greatest way possible – with lyrics on the screen so you can join in as loud as you want. Our live host will teach you a unique set of dance moves as they show you how to use our interactive prop bags. It couldn’t be easier or more fun! The first rule of Singa-long-a is THERE ARE NO RULES! Fancy dress is strongly encouraged and full audience participation essential. Please note this is a screening of the movie, not a live stage show. www.courtyard.org.uk ........................................................................ 21st January Stars in the Sky at The Courtyard. 11 am with free children’s pre-activity from 10.30 am. A shadow show in a box! The light comes on, the stars glow and as the doors open the scenery starts to scroll before your eyes. ‘There was once an old lady who wanted to play with the stars…’ so begins the traditional tale which then takes off on an adventurous romp amongst the wild beasts of the stars. Fantastical shadow puppets leap across the scrolling background and even fly out of the box onto a large paper screen. Afterwards the audience are invited to stay and play with the puppets inventing their own adventures among the stars. www.courtyard.org.uk What's on contines on page 14
14 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! WHAT’S ON What's on this winter? continued ......................................................................... Listings correct at time of going to press. Please check details and booking information with the venues before setting out. ......................................................................... 21st January Little Play World 'Winter Warmer' 10 am - 11.30 am at Withington Village Hall. Little worlds of fun, where children can play at being anything from Rockstars to vets, and everything in between! Play sessions are aimed at children aged 0 - 7 years. FREE hot drink for every parent/carer. For full details and bookings, please visit www.littleplayworld.co.uk/play-sessions ......................................................................... 21st January Escape Room at Hereford Cathedral. An immersive clue-cracking and decoding game lasting an hour, for groups of up to 6 people. Be transported back to 1890, where you have been accused of embezzling money. Can you crack the clues to prove who really did it, to ensure you are set free? www.herefordcathedral.org ......................................................................... 23rd January Nature Makers Droitwiich & Worcester - our new term starts today! Check out the website for full details of all our sessions, and to book. www.nature-makers.co.uk/droitwich-and-worcester ......................................................................... 28th January New Year, New You! Focus on your well-being in 2023 and join us at Maylord Shopping Centre for a day of fun, fitness, and pampering! 11am - 3pm. www.maylordorchards.co.uk ......................................................................... 28th January Matilda: The Musical (PG) - sing along at The Courtyard. We know you were itching to sing-along in the cinema the first time around, so why not come back and let loose. With follow along subtitling during the songs, you and the whole family can get involved! It’s no longer ‘Naughty’ to shout out at the cinema. www.courtyard.org.uk ......................................................................... 31st January The Smartest Giant in Town at Swan Theatre. This heart-warming tale is brought to life in a musical, puppet-filled adventure, following on from Little Angel Theatre’s bestselling adaptations of Julia Donaldson’s picture books including The Singing Mermaid and The Everywhere Bear. www.worcestertheatres.co.uk ......................................................................... 11th February Spread the Love at Maylord Shopping Centre. With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, pop along to Maylord Shopping Centre for unique and unusual gift ideas. With crafts, stalls, cakes, flowers and more. 11am - 4pm. www.maylordorchards.co.uk ......................................................................... 11th February Little Play World. Little worlds of fun, where children can play at being anything from Rockstars to vets, and everything in between! Play sessions are aimed at children aged 0 - 7 years. FREE hot drink for every parent/carer. For full details and bookings, please visit www.littleplayworld.co.uk/play-sessions ......................................................................... 11th February Breathe. Breathe is a theatre show about the ways trees work and finding space in a busy community. Through the use of intricate puppetry and live camera work, the audience is immersed in a story that captures the imagination of the whole family. At The Courtyard www.courtyard.org.uk ......................................................................... 14th February Valentines Day ......................................................................... 18th - 26th February Dinosaur Breakout at Drayton Manor Resort – a DINOmite experience you won’t want to miss. Visit www.draytonmanor.co.uk for details and to book your tickets. ......................................................................... 21st February Pancake Day - head to our website for some pancake recipe ideas raring2go.co.uk/area/hereford-and-worcester/ recipes ......................................................................... 22nd - 25th February Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs at The Courtyard. Hereford Amatuer Pantomime Society bring you Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by Garry Bailey. www.courtyard.org.uk ......................................................................... 24th February Little Play World 'Half Term Special'.
15 Raring2go! WHAT’S ON Little worlds of fun, where children can play at being anything from Rockstars to vets, and everything in between! Play sessions are aimed at children aged 0 - 7 years. 10 am – 11.30 am at Ledbury Rugby Club. For full details and bookings, please visit www.littleplayworld.co.uk/play-sessions ......................................................................... 26th February Sing-along-a Encanto at Swan Theatre. www.worcestertheatres.co.uk ......................................................................... 2nd March Pinocchio at The Courtyard. Puppetry, shadows, illusion and specially composed music combine to create a show for all the family. Pinocchio is carved live on stage, brushes become a fox and the shadow of two saws transform into a giant shark as Geppetto uses objects from a carpenter’s workshop to tell the tale of the puppet that wants to be a real boy. www.courtyard.org.uk ......................................................................... 4th March Milkshake Live! at The Courtyard. Join Paddington, Daisy & Ollie, Milo, Noddy, Pip and Posy, Blue’s Clues & You, and of course, Milkshake! Monkey for an unforgettable family time at Milkshake Monkey’s Musical! www.courtyard.org.uk ......................................................................... 4th March World Book Day event at Maylord Shopping Centre. Dress up as your favourite book character and come along for some book-themed fun. There will be reading, poetry, book swaps, crafts and loads of fun activities for the kids. 11am – 3pm. www.maylordorchards.co.uk ......................................................................... 4th March Little Play World. Little worlds of fun, where children can play at being anything from Rockstars to vets, and everything in between! Play sessions are aimed at children aged 0 - 7 years. FREE hot drink for every parent/carer. For full details and bookings, please visit www.littleplayworld.co.uk/play-sessions ......................................................................... 10th - 31st March March of the Dinosaurs at Drayton Manor Resort (on selected days only). The Dinosaurs are OUT! This is an absolute must for all dino-fans out there. For full details and bookings, please visit www.draytonmanor.co.uk ......................................................................... 19th March Mothers Day- head to our website ‘activities at home’ pages for some great card making and gift ideas. ......................................................................... 25th March Dr. Dolittle at The Courtyard. Barking Dog’s two talented actors present this wonderful adventure. With original music and audience participation as well as the use of puppetry and mime. Suitable for children aged 5-10. www.courtyard.org.uk ......................................................................... 6th April Funtastic Countrytastic at The Three Counties Showground. This is THE show kids of all ages (and their grown ups) will absoultely love. Discover the Countryside at Countrytastic. Get involved with plenty of outdoor andf indoor activities, meet the animals, and Ask The Farmer. Book now for the perfect Easter treat! www.threecounties.co.uk
16 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! GO GREEN IN 2023 ɖȸ ɮǣɀǣȒȇ ǣɀ ǔȒ ȸ ƺɵ ȸ XȇɎȸȒƳɖƬǣȇǕ Ȓɖȸ z0á ƺƬȒ ɀɖ ƫɀƬȸǣȵɎǣȒȇ ƫȒɴ ȵǼƏȇƺɎ ɎȒ ȵȸȒɎƺƬɎ Ȓɖȸ ǝƏɮƺ Ɏǝƺ ȵȒɯƺ ƫƺǼǣƺɮƺ ɎǝƏɎ Ɏǝ ƺɮƺȸɵ ƬǝǣǼƳ ɎȒ ƏȇƳ ǣȇǔȒȅƏɎǣȒȇ RȒɖȸɀ Ȓǔ ǔɖȇ ƏƬɎǣɮǣɎǣƺɀً ȇƺɯɀ ɀɎȸƏǣǕǝɎ ɎȒ ɵȒɖȸ ǼƺɎɎƺȸƫȒɴ ÁǝƺȅƺƳ ȅȒȇɎǝǼɵ ǸǣɎɀ ƳƺǼǣɮƺȸƺƳ ƏȇƳ ǣȇɀȵǣȸǣȇǕ Ɏǝƺȅ ɎȒ ȵȸȒɎƺƬɎ ǣɎ !ȒȇȇƺƬɎǣȇǕ ƬǝǣǼƳȸƺȇ ɯǣɎǝ Ȓɖȸ ȵǼƏȇƺɎ ƳǣɀƬȒɖȇɎ ɯǣɎǝ ƬȒƳƺ J ۏ Ȓɖȸ ȵȸȒǔǣɎ ǕȒƺɀ ɎȒ ǕȒȒƳ ƬƏɖɀƺɀ Ȓǔ ۏ ד ɀ Ə ɀȒƬǣƏǼ ƺȇɎƺȸȵȸǣɀƺً ȵǼƏɀɎǣƬ ǔȸƺƺ ɀɖɀɎƏǣȇƏƫǼƺ ƏȇƳ ۏ ƺȅȵȒɯƺȸ ȵƏȸƺȇɎɀ ȇ ƺƏɀɵ Ƭȸǣƫ ɀǝƺƺɎ ɎȒ ɯɯɯِǣɎɀȒɖȸȵǼƏȇƺɎɎȒȒِƬȒِɖǸ
Raring2go! PLACES TO GO 17 SAY HELLO TO ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIVING IN FOWNHOPE & ST WEONARDS TALK TO OUR FRIENDLY TEAM TODAY 01594 543 354 www.freemanhomes.co.uk FOWNHOPE , HERE FORDSH I RE fownhope@freemanhomes.co.uk FUTURE PHAS E COM I NG SOON 2, 3, 4 & 5 Bedroom homes | From £207,400 Spacious, low-carbon homes with a view Viridian low-profile integrated solar PV roof panels NIBE compact air source heat pumps Project EV electric car charging points Optional battery pack to store generated energy Water reduction features and energy-efficient appliances Market-leading, low-maintenance renewable features, and A-rated energy assessments. LOW CARBON HOME S stweonards@freemanhomes.co.uk 2, 3 & 4 Bedroom homes | From £285,000 Lower energy bills & reduced environmental impact
18 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! PLACES TO GO
19 Raring2go! PLACES TO GO saturday 11th &sunday 12th february 2023 Come face to face with the past! See military displays, living history encampments, traditional crafts, dance and music… living history For more information visit our website: www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk Open Thursday - Saturday 10am - 4pm. Admission Adults £4, Children aged 4 - 17 £2 Stourbridge Glass Museum, High Street, Wordsley DY8 4FB stourbridgeglassmuseum.org.uk Fire your imagination in the depths of winter Experience exciting activities and thrilling demonstrations at Stourbridge’s fastest growing visitor attraction. With a packed programme of events for the new year, Stourbridge Glass Musuem guarantees a warm welcome for all the family during the coldest months. Popular and accessible, it’s time to get creative with glass. Followus@glassmuseumuk
afternoon or have a meeting with my publishers. In the evening I try to catch up with my children and go out for a meal or watch a film, but I tend to work quite late, as this is the only time I can catch up on my emails. If you could meet anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be and what would you say to them? Owen Wilson, I absolutely love him in all his films, he looks like he would be fun to hang out with. If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you take with you? My three gorgeous dogs to keep my company, they are also pretty greedy, so I am sure they could find food for me. What did you learn about parenting from your own parents? The importance of working hard. My mother worked when we were young and instilled in us a very strong work ethic. My mum is still working, and looks incredible, so I hope I am still going as strong as her when I am her age! What is your earliest childhood memory? We had pet tortoises in the garden..I remember my brother and I trying to organize tortoise races but they never went in a straight line ! Describe a favourite family day out when you were a child? I used to love to go to Brighton Pier. Walk on the beach and eat Fish and Chips. Is this still a favourite family day out with your own young family? Yes I remember taking my daughter and some friends to Brighton for a Birthday Party treat and I got a car to pick us up at the station filled with pink balloons. You have achieved so much and continue to do so, How do you relax? I find it quite hard to switch off from work. I like to go out for meals in the evening or go to the cinema as I love films. I also love spending time with my 3 dogs and taking them for walks. Do your children show the same passion towards food as you do? They love eating it, but they haven’t really picked up the same love of cooking, but they certainly like the sociable side of food! Which of your many achievements in business and your personal life are you proudest of? Receiving the MBE from the Queen was very special. If you could give one piece of advice to a new parent, what would it be? Take the huge amount of advice that is out there, with a pinch of salt. It can be incredibly overwhelming hearing about all the different ways you should do something. Go to reliable sources and rely on your instincts. Every child is different and you will probably know better than anyone else what is right for your child. www.annabelkarmel.com Photo© Ruth Crafer What was your first choice for your career? I trained from a young age to be a professional harpist, which I was until my children were born. As a musician you have to spend a huge amount of your time on practicing, it is a massive commitment. Having said that I got to play in some amazing places and with incredible musicians. What made you decide a different path? The death of my first daughter Natasha was such a shattering loss to me that I just didn’t want to play anymore. When I had my son Nicholas, he was an incredibly fussy eater, and I was so aware of the importance of him being healthy, so I was trying all sorts of recipes to try and make him eat. I would share these recipes with the other mums in the playgroup I ran, and they all persuaded me that I should write a recipe book. It was really without realizing it that I came into the career I am in today. You are a professional parenting author and a busy mum of 3 grown up children; which of your ‘jobs’ Mum or business woman is the hardest both physically and mentally? I think it is the combination of the two that can make it so hard. Running your own business can be incredibly stressful as the buck stops with you. Because of who I am I am not very good at delegating and like to know exactly what is going on in my business. However I am also constantly feeling guilty, even now, that I don’t spend enough time with my children and that does add a huge amount of pressure. The fact that my children are now grown up means there is less running around after them, but you don’t stop looking after them or worrying about their happiness and what they are up to. Has becoming a mum changed your attitude to life? Having been a professional harpist meant a lot of travelling and only having to fend for myself, the biggest shock was have someone else relying on you and not being able to go and do things at the drop of a hat. Describe a typical day from waking up to last thing at night. I am definitely a night rather than a morning person, so I tend to work at home in the morning, normally recipe testing. We have just had the kitchen re-done so it is a great place to work. Late morning I tend to go into the office where I normally have a couple of meetings with the team, at the moment we are planning our launches this year and signing off the packaging of our new BBQ Smokey chicken chilled toddler’s meal. I either have meetings at lunch at some of the fantastic restaurants in central London, or bring in a salad or sandwich to eat at my desk. I might go out to see a food buyer in the Annabel Karmel
21 Raring2go! RECIPE Bake the rolls for 16–18 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown. Use a fish slice or palette knife to transfer the rolls to a cooling rack. Most delicious when served warm, but can be served cold. The rolls will keep in the fridge for up to 2 days. Can be reheated gently in an oven pre-heated to 100ºC /215ºF /Gas 1/4/Fan 80ºC for 8–10 minutes. Based on her delicious homecooked recipes, you can now nd even more varieties of Annabel Karmel’s chilled toddler meals at Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Ocado (rrp £2.75). Sausage rolls make great picnic and party finger foods as they are ready-wrapped in pastry. To add a slight twist I like to use beef, but minced pork would also be good. From ‘Kids in the Kitchen’ from the series of book Annabel’s Favourites, exclusively available in Sainsbury’s. Winter Beefy Sausage Rolls Annabel Karmel Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 23 minutes Makes: 8 sausage rolls Ingredients ½ tbsp olive oil ½ small red onion, chopped ¼ tsp fresh thyme leaves 1 slice bread, crusts removed 110g (4oz) minced beef 1 ½ tbsp tomato chutney 2 tbsp grated Parmesan 225g (8oz) shortcrust pastry 1 egg, beaten with a pinch of salt salt and pepper, to season Put the oil in a small frying pan, add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes, until soft. Stir in the thyme and set aside. Put the bread in a food processor and whiz to crumbs. Add the onion, beef, chutney and Parmesan plus salt and pepper, and whiz again to combine. Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC/ 400ºF/Gas 6/ Fan 180ºC. Roll out the pastry into two rectangles 12 cm x 18 cm (5 in x 7 in) and about 2 mm (1/16 in) thick. Halve the meat mixture and roll into two sausages each 18 cm (7 in) long. Put one in the centre of each piece of pastry and brush the edges of the pastry with egg. Fold the edges over to enclose the meat. Cut each roll into four with a sharp knife (wipe knife between each cut) and put the rolls on to a baking sheet, seam side down. Brush the rolls with egg and cut two small slits in the top of each roll.
22 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go!
23 Raring2go! Volunteer Come along to our events Take on a challenge Have a charity collection tin Charity of the year partnership Sponsor an event Follow us on social media Could you do something amazing & support the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust this year? www.gkcct.org T: 01905 885 777 E: fundraising@gkcct.org Scan to donate Thank you! !
24 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! Raring2grow! https://www.facebook.com/groups/raring2grow Raring2grow! HOME GARDENING IDEAS FOR FAMILIES ‘My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece’ Claude Monet www.raring2go.co.uk For more great tips make sure you visit facebook.com/groups/raring2grow 6 wonderfully simple ways to ‘Winterise’ your garden A good old clean up Gathering up the leaves, cleaning down the patio and clearing the garden of any rubbish that has gathered over time. Don’t throw the leaves in a recycling bin. Why not put them in a pile and make them into a perfect winter nest for Hedgehogs and other wildlife that visits throughout the winter? Raking your Lawn Doing this will encourage growth and help prevent moss growing. Raking helps break up any thatch that you have and is generally considered to be really good for your lawn. Pruning Now’s the time to prune your trees, shrubs and roses. What you do now will help prevent disease and will encourage better growth for next year. Tidy up bedding areas Clear any foliage from your plant beds and pots. Think about adding a top layer to your soil, an organic mulch is ideal to protect from the frosts and snowfall… Pots & hanging baskets There are some lovely plants that will still offer you colour during the Winter months such as Cyclamens, pansies & polyanthus to name a few, so plant out your pots and keep enjoying their splendour, Winter doesn’t have to be dull! Wildlife Feeders Making your garden Wildlife friendly all year around is important, but it offers so much more… By putting food and water out for the birds & other visitors, is so satisfying and educational. The RSBP Big Garden Bird Watch in January is a lovely family affair, an hour of your time enjoying the different species coming into your garden and recording their numbers is a lovely thing to do with the kids! For details see our full page for the RSPB! Preparing your Garden for the Winter can be an enjoyable experience, especially so as you see the fruits of your labours which should give you great satisfaction. Here are a few ideas to help you prepare and get everything in order for the months ahead.
25 Raring2go! PUZZLE SCATTERGORRIES
26 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! QUIZ THE ANIMAL RIDDLES - WHO AM I? ANSWERS: 1. An Elephant • 2. A Cat • 3. A Snake 4. A Dog • 5. Sea Turtle • 6. Fish • 7. Parrot Answers at the bottom of the page. No cheating. 2 I AM A PET I LIKE MICE I HAVE NINE LIVES I PURR AND MEOW 1 I HAVE FOUR LEGS I LIVE IN AFRICA AND INDIA I AM BIG AND GREY I CLEAN IN THE RIVER 3 I HISS I CAN BE POISONOUS I AM LONG I HAVE A FORKED TONGUE 4 I HAVE FOUR LEGS I CAN LIVE IN A KENNEL I HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF SMELL I BARK 5 I CAN LIVE TO A VERY OLD AGE I AM VERY SLOW I LIVE IN THE SEA I HAVE A SHELL 6 I LIVE IN A TANK I EAT PROTEIN FLAKES I HAVE SCALES I SWIM 7 I STAND ON A PERCH I HAVE A BILL I HAVE FEATHERS I CAN FLY
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28 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! READING Night Bus Hero By Onjali Q. Raúf. Reviewed by Max Thornton, age 9 from Roslington Raring2Read! BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FAMILIES Does your family enjoy reading? Then join our Facebook group, to share ideas, tips and recommendations. www.facebook.com/groups/raring2read The book I chose is called The Night Bus Hero By Onjali Q. Raúf. It is about a homeless man, a bully and a kind girl. The bully (Hector) tries to take the homeless man’s trolley but it ends up in a lake. Hector is in trouble. Can the nice girl, Hector and the homeless man find the trolley and stop some thieves of London? Find out in this funny and tragic tale. This book is for people who like a serious story that’s related to nasty people getting better. I highly recommend this book, extremely brilliant it hooked me in on the first chapter. Get this book! Raring2go! would like to thank Max Thornton for his brilliant review of this award winning book by Onjali Q. Raúf We really were thrilled when we received Max’s review especially in light of his young years and the nature of the story the book told. Max’s review (pictured above) was well rounded and to the point. We look forward to keeping up with Max and his reading list in future.
29 Raring2go! READING Some of the best new titles for children this Winter
30 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! OFFERS AND COMPETITIONS
31 Raring2go! COMPETITIONS
raring2go.co.uk Together, let’s make it count Play your part at rspb.org.uk/birdwatch The RSPB is a registered charity in England and Wales 207076, in Scotland SC037654. Blue tit by Alamy BGBW-23 Every birdwatch matters Join hundreds of thousands of others and take part in Big Garden Birdwatch - the UK’s largest citizen science wildlife survey. Sign up, connect with nature and make your birdwatch count. 27–29 January 2023 Big Garden Birdwatch
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