 Happy Friday everyone. I think I have just about recovered from my Mumcation, and what a fabulous weekend it was. The sun came out on Saturday, the sun cream was applied and then Sunday, the rain followed and we hid in jumpers, but it didn't stop the chat, the laughs, the wine and the eating. I would highly recommend doing this with your friends once a year. Start by putting a small amount of money aside each month and name a date, all you need is a house and a hot tub! What a sad week for Thomas Cook, all their crew and all their passengers. When a long standing company fails, it has a huge long term impact on people,. However if we look at the bigger picture, it is people's habits that ultimately have an impact on people. When we do everything online, big old fashion British institutions like Thomas Cook, BHS, Woolworths etc collapse. It's down to us. If these bigger companies are closing, then its worrying for our smaller businesses. It was sad to read on social media today that as of 5.00pm tomorrow, Neils Fruit and Veg shop will close. Unfortunately they have tried many things to make a go of it on Main Street, but have been unsuccessful. I know we have had a fair few Greengrocers take on this space but also, they have not been successful. Perhaps a change of use is needed, a bit more variety perhaps! We wish Neils staff, luck in whatever they do next. It also brings me onto this, if we don't use it, we lose it Whats On?
Coming up Friday 11th October 10am-4.00pm with Smarty Pants Art - Join me in the studio making these super cute needle felted toadstools in a terracotta pot. Learn a new skill, meet new friends and have fun in a relaxed, friendly environment. All materials, tea/ coffee and biscuits provided. Bring your own lunch. £15pp Booking essential Contact Kirsty; smartypants@artlover.com or contact her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/smartypantsart/ Saturday 12th October - Paint a Munch! At Few Gifts 11.30-1.30pm Learn to Paint - Edvard Munch a master of expressionism! In this session you will explore painting with flowing lines to create dramatic imagery. Juxtapose a dramatic piece with a happy piece. £20 includes all materials plus tea, coffee and cake! To book please contact Linda on 07834825134 or via email lindarodgersartist@gmail.com Planning I see in planning this week that Reeds Rains old premises have finally put in an application. Unfortunately, it's an application for ',Change of use of estate agent (A2) to coffee shop/drinking establishment (A4)' these are my comments on the planing application.
Rumour has it - As Precious Bridals at the top of Main Street has left! Predator Games in Crossgates will be taking over the premises. I can not see anything in planning as yet, but with it being retail, it may not not need, 'change of use' so we'll just have to see what happens here An application for EXPERT ORTHODONTICS LIMITED has been put forward to take over one of the units on Fusion Court, Aberford Road, which is just after the Toll Bar Garage on the left. Not sure yet if this will be NHS or Private Orthodontists As above, we will now see more empty premises where Thomas Cook used to be, as well as Shed (barbers) and Neils Fruit and Veg, there are a few premises up for rent, who will take them on? Until next week - look after the local
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This weekend is my annual, Mumcation – it’s one of the best things in life. As a Mum, a Wife and the person that, ‘holds it all together’, being just me, with my best friends is the best medicine I can give to myself. I am so lucky to have such a good relationship with the people I went to school with and who know me inside and out – here’s to another year of laughs, love, fun and making more memories. I have found so much more out on Ancestry this week, it appears a lot of my ancesstores on my Grandads (Mothers side) and both my grandparents down my father’s side all came from Yorkshire, So it’s clear, I’m in the right place. It was sad to receive an email from Sheila this week, who is one of the volunteer counsellors at, The DaySpring Counselling Centre. After many meetings, thoughts and many years, they are having to close the centre down. It is always sad to hear of a business closing, especially when it has been here so long and been instrumental in helping people - find out more https://www.dayspringchurch.co.uk/counselling-centre/ they will remain open until the end of the year. Do you know the excuses that people use to avoid shopping local? It’s raining It’s cold It’s windy I might not be able to park Its carnage getting down that road! Church Lane, you have to wait I can’t be bothered All of the above can be daily issues, wherever you go, don’t let these be the reasons why businesses close. This is why, we should try ..... What's on?
Planning Nothing really to write on the blog about, a few changes requested for properties on the Redrow Estate, and extended section at the Mirchi restaurant in Swillington and The Podger looks to be getting some new signs. Until next week... when hopefully, I will have recovered Hug your boss day - did you hug yours? What a fabulous week, celebrating my wedding anniversary, and my husbands and my birthdays. We’ve made it an expensive week for when the Thomboys are older! Presents Galore. At the weekend we took the family to Temple Newsam and it was nice to see Garforth Arts Club exhibiting their work. My son bought a lovely pencil drawing of a parrot; he’s the Garforth bird whisperer! And it was lovely to be able to buy our 5th piece of local art too. Do you know that Garforth Art Club have been going since the 1970’s. They are such a lovely group with a real mix of ages and abilities. Find out more here, as they are keen to get new painters on board. They meet once a week at Halliday Court, just off Main Street. http://garforthartclub.co.uk/ Talking of Art, I attended a wonderful evening on Wednesday at Few Gifts, Garforth Art Hub with Kirsty from Smarty Pants Art along with my Zumba crew. We painted and drank, yes drank wine, whilst painting a picture by Frida Kahlo, a Mexican painter - it was so much fun and I released how much I missed being creative. I hadn’t picked up a paint brush since my GCSE art days, and now it’s given me the bug. We’re already looking into organising another session with Kirsty. – Have a look and book on, the next session with Kirsty will be at Freshly Made, next Wednesday, 20th September. It’s only £20 , all materials are provided and you just need to BYO. https://www.facebook.com/events/662415470928548/  This week I received my DNA results from Ancestry. I have always been keen to know my Fathers Blood line down his father’s side as he was never mentioned on his birth certificate and my father and his twin sister were separated and adopted at 3 months old. They found each other many years ago, and ironically, we also found out his mother (my grandmother) was from Penistone, had the twins in Liverpool, came back and married again, and had two more children, one who now lives in Swillington! Now isn’t that a strange thing. So not only have I received my DNA results, to which is tells me I’m 74% British, most of my DNA is in Yorkshire and Surrey! So now there’s so much more digging to do – what family secrets will I reveal? What’s on?
Whilst everyone arrives and settles hot drinks and cake are available. We welcome everyone with our 'Hello song' and then immerse ourselves in interactive story telling using scenery, messy play, textures, music, and scents to captivate your child's imagination. and inspire communication. We then take time for parent and child to connect through shared activities using themes from our story that are designed to develop the building blocks of talking. Information and handouts are provided to support this. Finally, we finish with songs about the story. Booking in advance online. Introductory offer of £35 per child and buy 1 get 1 free for twins (please email for the twin offer). Tickets (copy and paste) https://www.findyourvoiceslt.co.uk/sensory-storytime?fbclid=IwAR3VDWg0n1etFTJvRZREmfAUCmg4fOEmSzaH56WEUXO6NjbUNb6gVNkYugM
I have been asked by our ward counsellors, through Leeds City Council to take down the LCC council logo’s from my website, they were ‘adamant’ I do not use them. Even though permission was asked and granted several years ago, so we could put them, with the many others under ‘Working with’, as I share all the local information from our council pages and information sites and library for FREE, which in turn brings numbers and people to events and activities! I was a bit taken aback as to why they are adamant I take them down! Anyone’s guess as to why, but it doesn’t look like I’m going to get an explanation, how rude! Maybe they will return we when we look at making The Main Deal a social enterprise! Nothing new in Planning this week. Treat people with kindness, because being rude, makes ‘you’ miserable! Until Next week... Welcome back to the Blog, it’s been a while, but the time has flown! I hope you all managed to get away over the summer, even if it was just for a few days to change the scenery, and switch off. Grab yourself a drink, we have a lot to get through - happy reading The first week of the summer holidays, we managed a few days away in Whitby; and then this happened!  Meet Winston, he is a very funny, bitey little fluff ball. We picked up our new recruit on 9th August and have so have been stuck in for most of the holidays until it was safe to go out. Winston is a Cavapoochon; a what, I hear you say? A Cavapoo with a Bichon Friche basically, a posh mongrel! My family have wanted a dog for so long, and it was a long time before I was pressured , forced and won round! So here he is. So far, he’s been a great addition to our family and is great company in The Main Deal office. You will see us round and about Garforth, when his legs can walk more than 15 minutes! Anyway, a lot has happened in Garforth since the summer break, a new business opening, with Refill and Go, and what a great shop it is, not only does it have some wonderful things, but all the artwork was created by one of our fabulous local artists and creators, Penny Rowe; you know how much I like keeping it local and cross marketing businesses. If you haven’t yet paid it a visit, please do drop in. We are very lucky to have this great independent business in Garforth. The old premises at Shake it up, also has a new tenant! This is not food related, and it something that we’ve never had in Garforth before. To give you a little heads-up, a lot of her customers will be so glad to HEAR she is here, so wait and LISTEN and see what comes along. Everyone keeps asking me about the Cocktail Bar/Lounge. I have recently spoken with Dan, one of the owners, they are just finalising some paperwork and then we should hear more details, in the not too distant future. There are rumours they were unable to get a license, I can happily confirm, this is not true. As mentioned in one of our previous blogs, planning was approved for the bar and bistro in the Hydroponics building, things have been quiet here and I haven't yet been able to connect with the new owner! Another planning application has also gone in for this on 29th August; I think it’s for some changes to the building itself, doors, windows, access etc, it’s looking good though, a bar downstairs and a bistro upstairs! Reed Rains old premises have been under offer for a while, yet, still no sign of movement. Lilypops Boutique will soon be on our doorstep. Vanessa the owner is a lovely lady and really knows her stuff, which is really great when opening a new shop. The shop will be situated upstairs next to Gymophobics where you will also find lots of other great businesses, this area is really full of businesses now, so go and have a look. You can access the upstairs by the front door next to Lee The Greengrocers/Co-op. In the meantime, follow Vanessa’s shop on Facebook until she’s opens on Main Street, as you are able to purchase items now, and she delivers in Garforth for free. - https://www.facebook.com/lilypopsboutiquex/ WOW GFest was just brilliant? Such a good day and so glad to hear they have raised £37,775 ‘in a day’. Well done to all our local community for supporting this brilliant event and to the fabulous team who work so hard. I feel it’s now nicely taken over Garforth Arts, and the fact it’s all for a brilliant cause, is even better. A big thank you to all who voted for Sticks and Stones, winners of battle of the bands! Not biased at all! The Repair Café I have learnt over the holidays that our application for insurance cover to enable us to hold the repair café in the library, has been declined. I would love to say it was down to, too many other applications, being put forward, but unfortunately, as I am quite well connected, it is apparent there was more to it, and it was declined for other reasons – some people truly have no understanding of The Main Deal or why I would want to do great things, voluntarily - But all is not lost, we will now be applying for private funding which will not need to be seen by anyone who isn’t involved! Onwards and Upwards What’s on:
Friday 6th September, 6pm-8.30pm Saturday 7th September, 9am-10.45am. Open to the public, Saturday 7th September, from 2pm. Official presentation of prizes at 2.45pm, and auction at 3.15pm. See you then. An event for all the family! Lots of classes for you to enter - just have a go! Classes include:- Photography Handicrafts Home Produce Flowers Fruit & Vegetable Children's Classes Official opening of the show and prize giving at 2pm by Revd Jane Brown, Rector of Garforth (St Mary's church) Auction of produce after prize giving at approx. 3:15pm Cakes and drinks available For more info contact - garforthshow@gmail.com. Look us up on Facebook - Garforth Show SCHEDULES will be available in the library, Welfare Hall, Allotment Hut, St Mary's Church and local garden centres 
This is our toddler and pre-schooler movement to music class. The sessions are action packed and full of fun! Classes are suitable for both boys and girls aged from 2 to 4 years old Every session provides little ones with the opportunity to release all of their pent up energy, dance, sing, stamp, roll, jump, stretch, balance, play, imagine and so much more all in a safe environment. Got another baby? You are very welcome to bring them along to class and of course wear them in a sling or carrier whilst you join in the Funky Jives session with your child! Older siblings can join in (for half price) or just watch from the side (free). Each half term has a different theme and all sessions include parachute fun, bubbles and stickers. There is also the option to stay for 10 minutes for stories and songs which allows children to refocus and calm their body and mind. Planning I see the shop on Church Lane has planning to: Change of use of ground floor retail shop (A1) and first floor flat to form a single dwelling (C3) and internal and external alterations. I think this makes sense as I’m never sure if the shop is actually open or not! Planning applications(s) in for the land on Lidgett Lane/Beech Grove Avenue for dwellings. I think this has been in planning thoughts for some years to change the garage to flats/shops – not yet sure what their full plans are as yet though – will keep an eye on it. I would love to see another planning application for a place to be, eat, drink on Main Street. I think then, with what’s coming, we will have a great night time vibe; it’s about if I can influence it happening – fingers crossed How great would it be if we had more of a reason to walk to main street and enjoy being local. More options can make this happen, we already have some great restaurants, let's make it a place people really want to choose to be. My motto for The Main Deal has always been, "don’t sit back and let things happen, go out and happen to things”. I can, I try and I will Until next week. News in
Clip and Climb have their planning application approved Rumour is Heron Foods is moving to Garforth - no sign of anything in planning nor space they could go Cocktail lounge will be going ahead and it maybe September before we see movement Refill and Go will open on Saturday 24th August Aren't we doing great things!  Choose run Teachers, Run ............... What a great weekend last weekend was! . Feastival was the best in it's 3 years, so thank you for all of you who came along, it also means we are growing in the right way and the way we had planned. Even when the Feastival's stalls are stored away, we are still working on ideas, projects and plans for the next year, and as our team grows, the ideas that flow are amazing! If we get to do the things we are planning, the Feastival name will be seen as fabulous, for a very long time to come. As volunteers with very little funding, we work to a budget, and this year's budget was very tight. . So we would like your help for 2020 - we want to keep growing, and these are the things we would like to be able to buy and do next year: Funds raised will help us: - Produce promotional materials to advertise the event and support all the local & independent businesses that are involved - Advertising the event in local publications - Liability insurance and associated costs - We would like to purchase our own PA and Sound System to be used each year - Pay for more musicians to grace Main Street and entertain visitors - We would like to organise other events and pop-ups throughout the year - Anything left over goes right into the fund for the 2021 Garforth Feastival To do all these things, we have created a go fund me page https://www.gofundme.com/f/garforth-feastival-2020 Every £ received goes into Feastival - this runs purely by volunteers wanting to do great things in our community for our community New Business Have you seen the new shop window next to Cohens chemist on Main Street? Mmm, keep an eye on the hashtags - what could they mean? It's all good, eco-friendly and brilliant for our high street As well as the cocktail lounge coming, the shop above, and planning permit for a new bar and bistro, we could have a new business in the old shake it up premises, something new, and this one could be my new favourite; a vintage interiors showroom!! Now come on, who's excited now? We're truly moving and shaking in Garforth - Unsung hero competition Now, I'm not trying to blow my own trumpet here and beg you to vote, but the prize money could be worth something great - if you decide to give me a vote and I win, the prize money of £2,500 will be spent on usable art in Garforth, which is a project I have wanted to get involved in for a long, long time - so it all has benefits and put Garforth on the map even more! Tell us who is your High Street Hero? Nominations for the High Street Hero Award are now open, click the link below for a chance to win £2,500 for your hero! https://thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/high-street-of-the-year-awards/high-street-hero-award?fbclid=IwAR3_yuLFBx0wckn3TlyS_RRtBRg5lP6fUMNT5s4mrAJ8UhQFNuE2DcbicUkT&C's apply 18+ Ends 22nd July In case you're wondering, these are the things I have got involved in over the years, I've been instrumental in : Giving local businesses a platform, Connecting and finding them new businesses Helping new businesses come to Garforth Putting together a community choir Part of The Garforth Feastival team bringing the love of food, drink and music to our high street Organised training with schools for parents to be trained in Paediatric first aid by a great local first aid trainer, who did it for FREE Getting parking outside shops in order people could park more efficiently Currently, in the middle of starting a Repair Cafe in our library in order, it can roll out to more across our area Helping organise our town to be Autism Friendly Working with our schools to start a campaign together with a plan for lowering emissions, waste and less plastic with our town team With this money, it would be great if I could buy some usable art for our town, pretty with a purpose Well, it's our last blog of the summer, we're now officially on school summer holidays. However, The Main Deal doesn't just top sharing and caring over these next 6 weeks, it doesn't even stop on Christmas day, we keep sharing and working throughout, but the time spent in the actual office is minimal, as my job works around the #thomboys and we have lots on this summer, including a new addition to The Main Deal ! Watch this space, mid-August. What's on Friday - From 5.30pm - Gin Friday of course with The Gin Shack at Quirky from 12.30pm - Gaping Goose with hit great Friday nights offer and burger buys after 5pm Cielo from 7-11pm - Friday nights just got better and the second to last weekend before they finish this great Friday night offering, and before most go away on holiday - let's hope they continue it on in September From 8pm - at Bird in The Hand - Luke Flear will be playing live from Saturday - Well it's GFest of Course from 11-9pm Battle of the bands need your vote after 11 am they will open facebook which is where you will be able to vote for your favourite Please put your local vote to our local musicians Sticks and Stones, Connor Vee and Molly Rymer - it would be great if a local musician/band won The winner gets to play on the main stage before Bulsara and his Queenies and the runner up get to play in The Podger, at Later Live after Gfest has closed. Sunday - At Lotherton Summer Sports Cars in the park - New home for our Summer event Sports cars in the park is a casual gathering of sports/supercars. It's more of a social gathering of like-minded car enthusiasts than a traditional car event. Cars range from TVR, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Renault, Lotus, Maserati, MX-5, Smart Roadsters, mini, hot hatch the list grows every time. It Brings together large and small car clubs as well as individuals. It doesn't matter if it's new, old, kit or modified. The variety always keeps the event interesting. There are no SCITP show and shines. Only ones run by the clubs. It's Held in a very nice family-friendly location with lots of other things to do when you tire of cars! Commercial organisations contact sales@sportscarsinthepark.co.uk to arrange stands/advertisements. No advertising is allowed without approval and must be posted through CITP. Otherwise, your advert will be removed and you may be removed from the facebook group. As Garforth Train Station is going be closed for refurbing the car park - here is a solution - I have mentioned this a few years ago, but not everybody thought it was a good idea, in that time, this has been invented https://www.justpark.com/ Imagine being able to rent out your drive, getting money and donating it to a local good cause or Garforth charity - everyone is a winner - just planting a seed! It is better to come up with a solution rather than moaning about a problem Monday 22nd From 10 -11-00am At Garforth Methodist Church - - Holiday fun for all (under 8's with Katherine from Funky Jives - This is our family movement to music and dance class. The sessions are action-packed and full of fun! This class is aimed at Under 8’s suitable for both boys and girls aged from walking to 8 years old. The session provides little ones with the opportunity to release all of their pent up energy, dance, sing, stamp, roll, jump, stretch, balance, play, imagine and so much more all in a safe environment. Got another baby? You are very welcome to bring them along to class and of course, wear them in a sling or carrier whilst you join in the Funky Jives session with your child! Older siblings can join in (for half price) or just watch from the side (free). None walkers are free. The session will be based around a theme and include parachute fun, bubbles and stickers. At the end of the session, there will be story and song time whilst your little ones enjoy a well-deserved drink and snack. (Light refreshments available but if you prefer to bring your own your more than welcome to). Tuesday 23rd - 8.00 - 9.00 pm with Garforth WI at Firthfields Community Centre - July Book Club - Reviewing Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley and All Among The Barley by Melissa Harrison. Thursday 25th July 7.00-9.00pm Craft and Bingo at South Milford WI Hall - South Milford High Street -Back by popular demand, you are invited to join me for a really fun evening of Bingo and some simple crafting on Thursday 25th July. We will play three games of Bingo and in-between games make three handmade items. The cost for the evening is £20 which includes light refreshments, a goody bag of products to make your projects ( you will have some left over) and three games of Bingo. There will be a prize for each game, prizes are craft supplies from the current Stampin' Up! Catalogues. Booking is required for this event, the closing date is Monday 22nd July. To book your place please contact me via my page. Thank you. Saturday 27th - 8.30pm At The Gaping Goose Live Music - a band called Riff Raff an amazing acoustic band, Singing from 60's to now, go along and enjoy the night Sundays at Few Gifts - Penny Rowe at St. Roberts will be running a Sunday pottery session - connect to Few Gifts to find out more - www.fewgifts.co.uk - contact them to find out when these sessions start - good local fun and learning a new craft An earlier thought As I said back in a post a fair few years ago, if you keep shopping local, more of what you want will come, you create the buzz in our town and more people will want to be part of it - a couple of years down the line and we're growing in a really great way - Good towns are created by good people Until Friday 6th September (my wedding anniversary) have a good summer, enjoy your time away, if you're going on holiday and enjoy local when you can get there - it's one of our quietest months in Garforth - so don't forget them when you can visit Batte of the Boyne
One more week to go before the summer holidays are here, let's hope the weather is kind for the whole 6 weeks! But more importantly, let's hope the weather is kind tomorrow for Feastival www.garforthfeastival.co.uk - see what's on, for the love of food, drink, and music - come and enjoy being local If you haven't already, pop down to Few Gifts near Tesco, they have some amazing and unique gifts and they are open 7 days a week. I have bought a fair few things including birthday cards and pressies for me and others. I did a poll this week on Facebook to see who reads the blog and who just don't bother, I was happy to say 75% of people do like to read it : ) Thank you. Friday - At The Gaping Goose - Weekend Speical Drinks from 12.00 Saturday is busy, busy, busy Well it's the first of the Big Events in Garforth this week Come down to Main Street, as from Tudor Properties all the way down to Genix Dental Practise; we're making the most of space this year, you can shop, eat, listen, drink and stay local and have a great time. See you there from 10 am, we're there until 3.00pm - And the weather looks a lovely 21 degrees; the forecasted showers come later..... Station House will also be having their own little 'shindig' as part of Feastival, from 10 -12 Birds oF prey and then in the afternoon through to the evening, they will have some local singers. ahh, lovely stuff. Also, Z-Fest is on, at The Gasgoine raising money for a great charity, with lots of good music, so when you have finished mooching around Feastival, you can pop up there as it's only until later into the evening. Then Quirky will be open to carry on the day, so you can head down there from late afternoon and listen to Sticks and Stones playing too - I will see you there. Tuesday 16th July - 8-10pm WI Meeting at Firthfields Community Centre and it's a belly dancing taster sessions, wear comfortable clothing and sensible shoes, £4 charge for non-members including refreshments - go and find out more about our local WI group Next Weekend GFest - Saturday 20th - tickets still available at St Gemma's and online Summer Sports Car in the park - Sunday 21st at Lotherton Hall Planning Excited to read that thew new proposed Bar and Bistro to replace Garforth's Hydroponics, has been approved. - I hope planning will take into consideration residential parking areas as there were a few concerns. Looking at planing, it will also create 8 new jobs! Excited that we have created a buzz in our town that others want to be part of - we're growing in a great way; move over Chapel Allerton, we're bringing Garforth up in the Leeds towns of places people will want to be, eat and drink. As a Mum, we juggle so much, work, family, friends, life! Yet we never seem to have much time for one's health and well being, I know it feels like a buzz word at the minute, but without being spoken, in the media, in the workplace or between friends and family, perhaps we wouldn't think about! So now we do and so we should. Everybody's well being is important in the order you can have the kinda life to yourself. Today, as most Friday's I went to an exercise class, it's an hour that takes too much time, it's not the best day for me, a Friday as its one of, my busiest days, but I need to do it, it makes me feel better, healthier and fitter not just for my body but for my mind so I can juggle all the other things in life. Women, Mum's out there, stop feeling guilty about a bit of 'you time' as it makes time for other people then, so much easier. Come and say hello to me and the team tomorrow, we will be wearing our Feastival T-shirts, so we are easy to spot and we will have out own stall this year, you can buy a lovely Totebag and help towards Feastival 2020. Until next week, our last one before the summer holidays xx What a lovely week – weather has been good; summer clothes have been on and I’ve actually put the winter ones away! As mentioned in last week’s blog, as part of the traders Town Team, I have volunteered to take on the task of lowering emissions, helping our environment and reducing plastic waste. So this week, I had a lovely visit to Strawberry Fields Primary, my aim in schools is to start with our smallest influencers, what are they doing in schools, what could they be doing on the way to and from school to help our environment? I was blown away by their eco-council team, not only are they so sweet, but their ideas, thoughts and feelings towards their environment and what they could do was amazing – I have taken some great tips away and hope, over the course of the next few months, I can pop into all the other schools and see what they are doing too – on average, each of our primary schools have 300-430 pupils, that’s a lot of children, parents, brothers, sister and grandparents who could help in making our town a better place to live – lots of ideas already in place. On visiting Strawberry Fields, I came across this fantastic growing tower of lush greens, which was a massive talking point - This has been lent to Strawberry fields, and it's at 66 days growth, so the children have seen it grow from seed to luscious healthy food. Soon, a chef will be coming into their school to show them how to prep it and then they can take it home! Look at what Nathan, the co founder of Rethink food is doing, and what he’s wanting to do in schools. To get these into Garforth schools would be amazing www.rethinkfood.co.uk it's all about removing hunger as a barrier to learning – some of you may recognise Nathan, being a Garfonian and an ex local teacher! - Since my visit and talks with Nathan, you will be able to meet him and his growing tower at Feastival – go and look, smell and ask him lots of questions.  We're going greener.... A great meeting was had on Monday with a local couple, who are bringing a new business to Garforth in August – this is so super exciting and you will truly love what they are going to do – watch the space grow, next to Cohens Chemist on Main Street Collaborating with Garforth Security – We are currently having a spike in burglaries in our area, which seems to happen when the sun comes out! As well as our great local Locksmith, David from http://www.mistersmithlocks.com/ who has some fabulous options for making your home and sheds more secure, this month, we have a great offer just for our Main Deal viewers – You can choose one offer or all three as a bundle.
Contact christine@themaindeal.co.uk Quoting #TMDGS and we can put you in touch with Dean to talk more about how you can get you your very own CCTV at home – iOffer is only available until the 26th July Just a thought - If your excess on your home insurance is the same, if not greater than the above prices, it may well be worth chatting through these options to see if this is a better way of securing your home first.  What’s on?
Tickets for all www.funky-jives.class4kids.co.uk
Planning Some of you may have already seen the new yellow lines down Church Lane? What do you think, do they have it right? It was going to be very hard to please everyone, usage by people and the people who live there – I think there is one major snagging point, they have put two allocated parking spaces right opposite each other at the narrowest part of the road, near to the Doctors, allowing only 1 car at a time to get through, I think cars may just about fit, a bus or a lorry might have a problem! We will find out at the end of July whether another new Bistro will get the go ahead on planning for a food and drinking establishment (the current hydroponics premises on barleyhill road) I say, fingers crossed as long as they can help out local residents on Lyndon Avenue with their possible parking issues Until next week – enjoy the sun whilst it lasts  A lovely start to the morning, trying my hand at Archery with my #thomboy at school. I knew 3 out of the 4 people who run the local bowman’s club too, my son asked if there was anybody I didn’t know in Garforth! It was such good fun, and if you didn’t know, we do have a local club in Garforth for kids and adults – have a look http://www.bowmen-of-leeds.co.uk/index.php Last Friday, had a wonderful evening catch up with my old work colleagues – some I hadn’t seen for quite some time. My old boss was so excited to hear all about The Main Deal, and he said, this was definitely up my street and agreed I was terrible at being managed! I always wanted to do more than what could be done and always wanted to go against the grain. I don’t like the word no and I don’t like to be told what I can and can’t do. I know, it has its strengths and weaknesses! This week.... I had a first meeting with Garforth Town Team this week, lots of great people from our local traders both independent and larger companies, we now need to assign roles and tasks. I have volunteered to take on, the task of lowering emissions, helping our environment and reducing plastic waste. As I have already been making connections on these matters, I thought it would be a good idea to take more of a grasp of it. Since then I have been speaking to our primary schools about the possibility of working together on a lowering emission project, such as asking parents to turn off their engines when dropping and picking up their children – it’s a start. I have lot of ideas which can work off the back of the Repair Cafe project A few months ago you would have read about the Repair Café; no it’s not gone away, I’m still working hard on it, but as mentioned, with me wanting to hold it in the library, there is a bit of red tape, frustrating as it may be, if I am able to pull this off in our library, I'm hoping it can be rolled out across other libraries in our city! We now have 6 volunteers/fixers – so if you feel you have some skills that can help and be shown to teach others whilst making something work again, get in touch christine@themaindeal.co.uk – it will only be 1 Saturday every other month for 3-4 hours! Not much time required at all and your input could be so great. I have another great meeting on Monday – reusable news…. I may be able to tell you more next week #waronplastics If you follow on social media, you will have seen my ugly mug along with some of my beautiful team who work on Garforth Feastival, volunteers, giving their time to bring Garforth another fantastic street fun. As there are only 6 of us, we are wanting help from you the community on Friday the 12th July and Saturday 13th July to erect and take down stalls – we have a special trailer which will really help this year, but we would love some more volunteers to give us a hand – every little helps! If you can help, please email us on admin@garforthfeastival.co.uk or message us on our FB page. Do you miss Strawberry picking at Breck’s Farm? Do you know the nearest place is, Berts Barrow in Hillam, they are no open all weekend for Strawberry picking – we got some lovely ones last year - https://www.facebook.com/BertsBarrow/ What’s on?
ENJOY LOCAL............ Planning So great to see that our new Cocktail lounge has got full planning permission – here’s to enjoying local with a drink or two - check out these guys as they are at Leeds Food Festival this weekend. https://www.instagram.com/p/BzP_9vphzNP/?igshid=xbmoqvq6ms29&fbclid=IwAR3toQVtkmHis5jvgToV-IP3n4tv-U_0P6bueq7Psm7IO-Dy07epAM9Cnoo Some of you may have received a letter in the post form LCC regarding the local SAP's inspectors reports (Site Allocation Plan) if you did, here is a further report that's now available online https://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=191763 - some interesting reading! 3 more weeks until the summer holidays – I cannot wait for my children to be at home, I love the summer holidays, I love the WE time. Until next week. Smile, the sun is out  Where you able to take your Dog to work today? Is this something your workplace would allow? I was on dog sitting duty this week, whilst my brother went away #lanathelab she's a very cute labrador, but boy hard work, my brother kindly forget to tell me her first morning movement would be at 1.00AM, oh, and she can't walk on a lead! My brother has tetraplegia so takes the dog in the car and lets her off in a field - great for the dog, but not for the person taking care of them for a week!
I had ‘ladies what lunch’ this week with a few of Garforth’s Ladies in business. We discussed some great ideas about a potential Christmas, people in business charity event…. We had lots of great food at Pride and Produce and lots of discussion about how we can go about helping local charities – it’s amazing how many people we all know between us – now let’s get that Trello board organised I’ve been having lots of great conversations with some great local people who want to set up in Garforth with their new business Ideas, and as they’re independent, keen and wanting to bring their ideas and passions into Garforth, I’m all over it, helping out where I can. Having the knowledge, I have built over the past 6 years, I can easily find out and be efficient saving people time and putting them i touch with some great people. FEASTIVAL - its nearly upon us, look out for the The Very Hungry Caterpillar story across our schools over the next coming weeks, leading up to our event on the 13th July – Get it in your diary, and then the week after follows Gfest – Garforth, what a great place to live Congratulations to all the school leavers, enjoy your Prom tonight. Parents, if you’re wanting to stay close by, here’s what's on locally, tonight! What’s on? - ENJOY LOCAL TONIGHT
Planning – Wetherspoons requested this extension to their premises Variation of conditions 4 (use of beer garden) and 8 (hours of delivery and refuse collection) of approval 15/02492/FU to extend the use of the front beer garden by 2 hours to 00.00hrs on any day and to allow deliveries to commence from 0700 hrs Monday to Fridays (no change to other days) . The proposed extension of delivery hours earlier in the morning and increased hours of opening for the beer garden into the late evening is likely to result in additional activity, noise and disturbance in and around the site at a time when neighbouring residents can reasonably expect a greater degree of protection from such impacts ‘Rumour’ has it that the old Reeds Rains premises is to be a high end Estate Agent; I’ve not found any evidence of this yet, so it may, or may not be true. Nothing is moving in there and I have my spies out in force. I’ll keep you posted04 I’m off out on a work reunion this evening, with all the blokes I used to work with at Chubb Insurance, I haven’t seen some of them in nearly 14 years, I’m so looking forward to a good catch up, good wine and nice food More news – We will be getting a new addition to The Main Deal in August – watch this space Weekend weather looks better too – humid and muggy and a few thunder storms next week, but its better than rain! Until next week |
AuthorMy name is Christine Thom, I came to live in Garforth nearly 22 years ago; you may have seen me around ? Categories |
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