Friday 11th January - WOW 2019

Happy New Year.  Put your hands up if you have written 2018 and scribbled it out;  It takes a few week to get used to a new year : ) 

I hope you all had a great break,, if for some, it may have only been Christmas Day and Boxing Day.  Time spent with family and friends is precious; unless you have your mother in law with you for a week!  Only kidding, she’s lovely in every way. 

I was hosting all over the holidays, it's not too bad when you have great ingredients to cook with.  We had very a succulent Turkey from Firths that lasted several meals, and a gammon I cooked for our New Year ’s Eve party, with added spices and herbs, cooked in the slow cooker to make splendid sandwiches to help with the alcohol, saying that I rarely drank over the holidays; I’m just as surprised as you!     There was plenty on offer including good gin and good wine, as well as the compulsory bottle of Baileys and Prosescco, but it just wasn't flowing; maybe the delay will be at the end of January! 

As we’re now in January, some of you may now be wanting to make changes for your own health; not necessarily how many cheeses and biscuits you can offload, but a general feeling of fitness and well being.  We have so much on offer locally, joining our Choir on  Wednesday evenings at Garforth Academy, its fabulous for mental health.  Joining one of our Knit and Natter groups, one in the Library and one in Cielo, or going along to Nic Baker's crafting session she holds locally, getting your creative juices going. Try dancing, it's not only great for the body, but also, great for the mind, give Zumba a go or  perhaps adult ballet and tap classes with Caroline Atha School of Dance.  There is also a tea dance that is held every Tuesday afternoon at The Welfare Hall.  And we also have a ladies Gym with some great offers for newbies and our local personal trainers to set your own goals.  It could even be something like looking after your hair, skin or teeth this year, or getting help with slimming.  We have it all here in Garforth, just click on search at the top and find out where you can join. Or ask me more christine@themaindeal.co.uk 



The Main Deal at 5

This week I celebrated 5 years in business, it's thanks to you, I've reached a bit of a goal!

What's on?

• ​It started this evening - Helen O''Grady Yorkshire Drama Academy giving sessions at St Mary's Church Hall, in January, they are offering free sessions

FREE TRIAL SESSIONS EVERY FRIDAY IN JANUARY at St Mary's Church Hall, Garforth
The Helen O'Grady Drama Academy invites you to join them for an hour of fun-filled drama - including a short play!

Classes suitable for children aged 5 - 17 (not all in the same group!)
Friday 4pm - 5pm Lower Primary (aged 5 to school Year 3)
Friday 5pm - 6pm Upper Primary (School Years 4 - 6)
Friday 6pm - 7pm Youth Theatre (School Years 7 and over)

Please contact Caryn Walton-Binns to book on
york@helenogrady.co.uk or 01904 492 998

• Friday Gin Night - is back next week with Rebecca At Quirky's 
• Monday 14th January - Paper Craft Class on the Platform 9.30am - Station House Cafe  - n this class we will use Stampin' Up! stamps, ink, card, papers and tools to make three handmade items. You will get to learn new techniques and card designs. We will make a range of items in these classes, generally two cards and one 3D item which may be some form of gift packaging or home decor.  All materials are provided to make your projects along with as much support and guidance as you require. This class is suitable for people of all abilities, whether you are new to crafting or a seasoned crafter. The cost is £12 which includes a drink from the cafe.  To book please contact me at nicannbaker@gmail.com.
  
• Tuesday 15th Garforth Tigers are holding an OPEN AGE ARLFC  from 7.00pm - Glebelands The all new Garforth Tigers Open Age start pre- season training next Tuesday 7pm at Glebelands. Come on down for a little bit of fitness, a bit of ball work and some banter under the floodlights. Blow away the cobwebs, get that excess Xmas gut shifted and take dry January to the next level.
• Friday 18th Januart at 11.45am Baby/Toddler Signing Classes, Monkey Maze - Book in with Sam www.flutterbabies.co.uk 
• Friday 18th January A Friend of A Friend Coffee morning At Cielo 9.30-11.30   - Go along, pop in at any time, meet local people and business.  A very relaxed affair.
• Friday 18th Emergency First Aid at work with Tony Clough - This 1-day course covers Emergency Life-Saving First Aid that can make a real difference whilst waiting for an ambulance. It meets the requirements of the legislation implemented by the HSE on 1st October 2009.
  Contact Tony for Details Telephone: 0113 286 6023
  Mobile: 07766 066 415 or look on his website www.tcfirstaidtraining.co.uk

Back to it......
I will be attending a lot of meetings over the next few weeks, one with the library with a follow up meeting about the Repair Cafe.  We also have a meeting on Monday 28th January at 5.45pm and Clary from Leeds Repair Cafe is coming over to give us some hints and tips about how we go about getting this off the ground - this is an open meeting so if you couldn't make the one last year, please do come along and volunteer your time or advice.

I'm  going to be talking to Helen from The Jigsaw Tree.  Jigsaw Tree is an online community and resource for everyone involved with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC’s). Helen has some great ideas and we're going to see if we can implement them into our town.

I will also be involved with the first Feastival Meeting which will be happening in the next week or so, more great things to come #watchthsispace

And a couple of review meetings with my lovely members to see how they have been getting on in their initial 3 month membership.




Planning

Parking
As of the 1st February, the car park behind the parade of shops on Main Street will be decreasing its parking times from 1.5 hours to 1 hour.  The landlord feels this will help with shoppers and workers to make a quicker turnaround in order to help with parking!

In my opinion, this is only going to make people park elsewhere, ie. Residential areas. 1.5 hours were plenty and I always got a parking space, no problem, as the time was adequate.  However, decreasing this time will have an impact on how long people spend on Main Street, which is the worry.     The only positive is, it’s still free.  I have always found these landlords to be very short sighted when it comes to Garforth,  people who don’t live in Garforth make decisions that don’t ever suit the people that do.  If you look at these parade of shops alone, we only have Lee left at The Greengrocers as the only independent on the first floor.  #eyestotheceiling 


Keep an eye out on Sticks and Stones' Facebook page, they are playing locally in Swillington and Kippax over the next few months   https://www.facebook.com/GARFUFF/ 
 
Until next week....  Be kind