harpenden NOW Jan 24 by wendy robertson

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NOW

January 2024

promoting local businesses, events and much more since 2006

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Happy New Year Whatever you fancy doing this New Year, from Art Classes, Skating, Birdwatching, Walking or Wassailing to a trip to the Theatre or catching a last minute Panto we’ve got it covered. And as always lots of local businesses to help you with whatever you need doing. To make sure you don’t miss out the magazines are always available to read online, and if you run your own business we’d love to include you it’s so easy, just book your space online today. Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Jane & Wendy

@theNOWmagazines

Advertising Rates 12 months £33 per edition £40 per edition £49 per edition £84 per edition

3 months £43 per edition 1/4 page £52 per edition 1/3 page £64 per edition 1/2 page £110 per edition Full page

other options are available

You can NOW book advertising online Deadline 8th Jan for Feb editions wendy@theNOWmagazines.com 07983 588313 www.theNOWmagazines.com

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Shed Loads of Fun!

At ArtShed we believe art is fun – that’s why our strapline is ‘shed loads of fun’! Over the last 20 years we’ve helped many children indulge their love of drawing and painting, enabling them to explore their own creativity and develop new skills. Sometimes this is at our afterschool classes run in a number of local schools or in our own ArtShed log cabin studio on London Road in St Albans. At other times, it’s at our popular holiday camps in various local primary schools. Our next ones are in the February half-term holiday at St Peter’s Primary School in St Albans and Roundwood Primary School in Harpenden. Of course, the ultimate fun is found at our ArtShed Parties, run on Friday evenings or Saturdays at ArtShed on London Road, St Albans. If you’re stuck for birthday party ideas, we can guarantee you a unique and fun experience as children get to paint a picture on canvas to take home, play in the garden (complete with ducks and chickens) and toast marshmallows around an open fire. Of course, not all the fun is for children, we also run art classes (and even parties) for adults. Whether you’re a complete beginner or wanting to pick up new skills we have something for you from Abstract Art Classes to Watercolour Art Classes or just one-off ‘Have a go at painting’ classes. To find out more about all our activities please visit www.shedloadsoffun.com 4

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Out & About

Wrest Park until 1st Jan 4pm - 8.30pm

A interactive light trail with a host of light installations designed to fit in with the natural surroundings. Please book Wrest Park, Silsoe, Beds MK45 4HR www.english-heritage.org.uk

Tring Natural History Museum

Polar Bear Trail until 3rd Jan Go on a polar expedition around the galleries to find 12 polar bears hiding among the displays, and discover what other animals live in the Arctic. Age 5+ £1 Museum Highlights Tour 11th Jan 3pm - 4pm Join this tour of key specimens, from bizarre cassowaries to a charismatic polar bear and a largerthan-life giant ground sloth, there will also be an opportunity to handle some specimens. Please book Rothschild Library Tour 25th Jan 2pm & 3.15pm Take the rare opportunity to look inside the aweinspiring Victorian Rothschild Library containing books dating back to the 1600s. £10 Tring Natural History Museum HP23 6AP www.nhm.ac.uk

St Albans Museum + Gallery

Shine a Light until 28th Feb A collaborative community display of selected artworks will be displayed on the museum railings, aiming to celebrate the different things that keep us positive and connected during the winter months. Drop-in Origami Making 13th, 20th & 27th Jan, 3rd, 10th & 17th Feb Experiment in the art of paper folding. Free Darning Workshop 18th Jan 11.30am Learn the basic principles of darning, and be inspired to have a go at home and help your clothes last a little longer! Suitable for beginners. £5 Linoprint Workshop 21st Jan 1.30pm Learn how to carve lino and make your own one-off print. No experience is necessary but remember to wear old clothes as printing can be messy! £10 Hands on History Café 24th Jan, 7th & 14th Feb 11am - 12.30pm Drop in, grab a cuppa and join this friendly group to look at and handle a changing set of museum objects Expressive Writing Workshop 28th Jan 1pm Writer Anna Reynolds guides you through this adult only workshop, no experience is necessary. £10 St Albans Museum + Gallery AL1 3DH 6 www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

North Herts Museum

Artist Rooms: Diane Arbus until 25th Feb A rare opportunity to see the work of one of the great figures of 20th century photography. Arbus built up relationships of trust with her subjects to produce powerful and intimate portraits. The Gruffalo 20th Jan 10.45am, 11.45am & 12.45pm Toddler music, story, sing-song and face painting sessions and you can even dress up! Please book, ages 2-5. £8 Talk: Strange Happenings in Hertfordshire: Over a Century of Unusual Stories 31st Jan 7.30pm Hera about some of the district’s most curious tales from the Museum’s collection of local newspapers, from an escaped wolf shot near Hitchin to a Baldock man’s plan to raise the Titanic! £6.50 North Hertfordshire Museum, Hitchin SG5 1JE www.northhertsmuseum.org

Bletchley Park

Open New Years Day 9.30am - 4pm Explore the restored codebreaking huts and historic buildings, discover the grounds, and learn about the major role Bletchley Park played in producing secret intelligence. Please book Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB www.bletchleypark.org.uk

Burston Knitters

2nd & 16th Jan & 6th & 20th Feb 10am - 12pm A knitting, crocheting and sewing group, where you can share ideas in a friendly setting, just turn up. Free Burston Garden Centre, St Albans, AL2 2DS www.burston.co.uk

Wassailing 6th Jan 4.30pm - 6pm

Join in and drink to the good health of the fruit trees and scare away any evil spirits. Decorate yourself with some ivy, leaves, tinsel and lights or bring something along to make a noise like a musical instrument or a pot and spoon to scare away the bad spirits and awaken the trees from their slumber. Highfield Park Trust, St Albans AL4 0RA www.highfieldparktrust.co.uk

Shuttleworth House Open Weekends

20th & 21st Jan / 27th & 28th Jan 10.30am - 3.30pm Visit the Grade II House set within the historic lakeside parkland, and learn about its rich history through the decades since it was built 149 years ago. Free entry, donations welcome Shuttleworth House, Biggleswade SG18 9DT www.shuttleworth.org

All Kinds of Everything 26th Jan 7.30pm

Harpenden Evening Floral Group floral demonstration by Lorraine Saunders. All welcome, £8 on the door. 07747 018620 All Saints Church Hall, Station Road AL5 4UU

Luton Hoo Estate Walled Garden

Friday Talks 11am 26th Jan Visitors to Luton Hoo - Kings to Convicts 23rd Feb Luton Hoo and Luton Town 1914 - 1919 Luton Hoo Walled Garden LU1 4LF www.lutonhooestate.co.uk

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The Alban Arena Danny Baker – At Last… The Sausage Sandwich Tour 10th Jan 7pm £29.50 A brand-new, full-tilt, non-stop thunderous performance of unstoppable anecdotes. Spirit of The Dance 13th Jan 7.30pm £31 Scottish, Flamenco, Latin, Salsa, Street Dance, Hip Hop, Techno Can Can and American Tap are all set to the same dynamic rhythms as the heart pounding thunder of Irish dance. This spectacular show takes you round the globe with the spellbinding world of dance. Jason Fox: Life At The Limit 18th Jan 7.30pm £30.50 A breath-taking story of Special Forces soldiering; a chronicle of operational bravery, adventure and courage on and off the battlefield. Legends of Snooker 24th Jan 7.30pm £34.50, VIP £71.50 Join Ken Doherty, John Virgo, Dennis Taylor, John Parrott and Steve Davis for an unmissable night, with tales from the crucible, world championship wins, the glory days of snooker and never before heard stories from on and off the table. Tommy Emmanuel 25th Jan 7.30pm £44.50, £39.50, £37 Tommy is a virtuoso guitarist whose exuberance and infectious joy illuminates everything he does. He is known for his ability to play three parts at once with pure heart and soul and magic in every performance. Get It On 26th Jan 7.30pm £31 Featuring the biggest hits from T.Rex, Mud, Slade, Bowie, Suzi Quatro, Wizzard, Sweet and many more. Come on feel the noise and dress to impress for this feel -good show of the year! T. Rextasy 27th Jan 7.30pm £28.50 Truly a rock’n’roll concert for all ages, If want to know exactly what a Marc Bolan concert was like in the 70s, this show is for you! Miles Jupp - On I Bang 30th Jan 7.30pm £26 Following the discovery of a tumour the size of a cherry tomato, one doesn’t wish to make a big deal of it, but the experience has left him with a story to tell, so that’s exactly what he’s doing in his new show, a tale about surprise, fear, luck, love and qualified medical practitioners. An Evening With Laurel & Hardy presented by Neil Brand 31st Jan 7.30pm £21.50 Fully illustrated with stills, clips and piano accompaniment, culminating in two of the Boys’ best silent short films, Big Business and Liberty, promising laughter throughout, as well as getting under the skin of two warm, funny men who still make the world laugh. St Albans AL1 3LD www.alban-arena.co.uk 8

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Let’s Get Active St Albans City Walks

Historic St Albans 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th Jan 11.15am Ghosts & Ghouls 11th & 25th Jan 7.30pm Walks cost £6, please book online www.stalbanstourguides.co.uk

Time for a Run

Chilterns Winter 10k 6th Jan 9am £21 Get 2024 off to a flying start with this trail running event. Covering 10k of the Chilterns countryside and led by an experienced running guide ready to offer lots of tips and guidance. Musette Cafe, Church Farm, Tring HP23 5RS Run the Sun 21st Jan 8am £2 Run as the sun rises on a crisp winter day. Being a timed event rather than a distance event, you can dictate how far, fast or slow you run or walk around the 5k route. The Cricketers Pub, Weston, Hitchin SG4 7DA www.letsdothis.com

them, there will also be a telescope that you can use. Wrap up warm and windproof, and wear sturdy footwear, wellies and thick socks are recommended. If you'd like to sit down bring an old cushion in a shopping bag! There will be a climb of about 100 steps up the dam wall with a hand rail. Hilfield Park Reservoir, on the A41 towards Barnet, between Bushey & Elstree WD25 8DA Winter Wildfowl Guided Walk: Stocker's Lake 11th Jan 10am - 12pm On this family friendly walk, learn about the winter wildlife around the Nature Reserve, including mammal tracks and signs, bird ID tips, where Water Voles live and diving and dabbling ducks. Use telescopes to spot herons, egrets, lapwings and hopefully kingfishers too. Please dress for the weather, there may be uneven, muddy/wet ground, so sturdy boots or wellies are advised. This event is weather dependent and may need to be cancelled at short notice. Free to attend, however, as a registered charity, donations are greatly appreciated. Rickmansworth Aquadrome WD3 1NB www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk

Health Walks Volunteering

If you enjoy walking and would like to support others to be more active, why not become a Health Walks volunteer. Training is free and nationally accredited. 16th Jan - Hatfield & 15th Feb - Bishop's Stortford For more information email: healthwalks.cms@hertfordshire.gov.uk www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/countryside

London Winter Walk 27th & 28th Jan

This is a great event to help walk off the Christmas and New Year celebrations, and maybe to kick start a new fitness regime! With Full Marathon, Half Marathon and Gulls Galore 8th Jan 3pm - 5pm 10K walking options, all starting and finishing at The As light begins to fade, the open water attracts Oval Cricket Ground and taking in highlights of the thousands of gulls of different species. Thames, its historic bridges, and many of the Capital’s Join Wildlife Officer Josh and local experts to learn landmarks. Sign up as a team or an individual. There why they come here and how to tell which gull is which will be rest stops with snacks, a medal, and hot food at (they are not all 'seagulls'!). Take a tour of part of the the finish. Sign up today for this fun and energising reserve, then settle down to watch the spectacle with a walk and raise money for the charity of your choice. cup of hot chocolate. Bring binoculars if you have www.ultrachallenge.com

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NOW for some Entertainment

Stephen K Amos - Oxymoron 31st Jan 7.30pm £19.50 An hour of solid jokes and guaranteed belly laughs. The Radlett Centre WD7 8HL www.radlettcentre.co.uk

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Harpenden Gang Show

Rabbi Santa’s 12th Night Comedy Night 6th Jan 7.30pm Bringing Yuletide and Jewltide Joy. £22 Strictly Nashville 7th Jan 7.30pm £26 Bob Drury heads up an amazing cast of musicians to a deliver classic from the likes of Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers and more. The Rat Pack 25th Anniversary Tour 10th Jan 7.30pm £29.50 Bringing the style and excitement of the Las Vegas heyday to vivid life. Including all the great hits, My Way, Mr Bojangles, New York New York, Amore and Come Fly With Me! The Elvis Years 11th Jan 7.30pm £28.50 A cast of West End talent deliver over 50 golden greats from the early hits That’s Alright Mama, Don’t Be Cruel and I Got Stung through to the legendary Las Vegas concerts with In the Ghetto, The Wonder of You and of course Suspicious Minds. Upbeat Beatles 13th Jan 7.30pm £27 Taking you through the Beatles’ career; from the early days of Beatlemania with She Loves You and I Want To Hold Your Hand, to the final live performance as a group with songs including Get Back and Come Together. Soccer Saturday Legends: Phil Thompson & Matthew Le Tissier 26th Jan 8pm from £35 Join these football Legends as they discuss some of the funniest topics in world football and look back at some of the best moments on and off the field. Viva Radlett Music Theatre Company Gala 27th Jan 2pm & 7.45pm £18, £22 A vibrant, energetic production filled with well known songs from traditional and modern day musicals to songs from the big screen and the charts, leaving you dancing in the aisles. The Clare Teal Four 28th Jan 7.30pm £28 Expect exhilarating swing from this award winning jazz vocalist and Radio 2 and Jazz FM broadcaster, with her band who return with a fabulous new show with hits of the Great American and British Songbooks, plus contemporary covers and originals. 20

9th - 13th Jan 7.15pm & 13th Jan 2.15pm For 74 years the Scouts of Harpenden have been wowing audiences with their unique and awardwinning blend of song, dance and comedy, all from a cast of 150 young people aged 9 to 18. This promises to be a fun-packed family show, the best antidote to the January blues you could imagine! £12 - £25 Eric Morcambe Centre, Harpenden AL5 2FR www.the-emc.co.uk

Abbey Theatre

STAJE in Concert 11th Jan 8pm St Albans Jazz Ensemble, a collective of local musicians and vocalists, showcases the incredible diversity that the world of Jazz has to offer, from Big Band Swing to Latin, Jazz-Funk and Soul. £15, child £12.50 She Kills Monsters 26th Jan - 3rd Feb 8pm & 28th Jan 2.30pm After Agnes loses her parents and sister Tilly in a tragic car accident, she finds Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook. Through playing the game she enters her sister’s world of fantasy roleplay, which was Tilly’s refuge from struggles with bullying and sexual identity. This action-packed dramatic comedy deals with grief, sexuality, diversity and acceptance as Agnes battles homicidal faeries, erotic ogres and bloodthirsty cheerleaders, to reach the truth about her sister - and about herself. Westminster Lodge, St Albans AL1 2D www.abbeytheatre.org.uk

The Old Town Hall

Punt & Dennis 13th Jan 8pm Hugh Dennis and Steve Punt are back for the first time in 10 years. Older but not really much wiser, they are returning to what they do best; sitting in traffic jams wondering if a different route would have been better, and then in the evening, presenting their new live show. £14, £12 Can Bears Ski? 14th Jan 11.30am & 2pm Little Bear can’t hear Dad Bear calling, but feels the floor vibrate with heavy footsteps...Little Bear can’t catch the funny joke at school when friends are

laughing, but feels the crunch of snow on frozen pavements. Join Little Bear and Dad Bear as they learn how there are many ways to communicate love, and to find your place in the world. Based on the book by poet Raymond Antrobus, who draws on his own experience as a deaf child in a hearing world. £12, £10 The Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE www.oldtownhall.co.uk

Watford Palace Theatre

The Ronnie Scott's Story 13th Jan 3pm & 7.30pm Direct from London’s world-famous jazz club and combining world-class live jazz, narration, rare archive photos and video footage, The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars take to the stage. £24 - £104 Chris McCausland: Yonks! 19th Jan 8pm £22.50 - £90 Chris is hitting the road again with another masterclass in stand-up comedy that has literally been yonks in the making! Bring Your Own Baby Comedy 24th Jan 11.30am £12 - £17 The award-winning lunchtime comedy show for parents… and you can bring your baby! These shows feature the funniest comedians from TV and the circuit telling their grown up jokes in a totally babyfriendly environment. Clarendon Road, Watford WD17 1JZ www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Barn Theatre

Comedy at the Barn 13th Jan 8pm With a talented line up of great comedians, you’re guaranteed to have a night of non-stop laughter. £8 War and Peace 18th - 27th Jan 8pm & 20th Jan 2.30pm Adapted from one of the greatest novels of all time. Presented in two-parts on different evenings with both parts showing on 20th Jan. £12 - £15 Barn Theatre, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6ST www.barntheatre.co.uk

hope of finding true love in a new world – a world that does not love her back. £19.50, £22.60 National Theatre: Dear England 25th & 27th Jan 7pm Joseph Fiennes plays Gareth Southgate in this gripping examination of nation and game. The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game? With the worst track record for penalties in the world, Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt, to take team and country back to the promised land. Filmed live on stage Rupert Goold directs this spectacular new play. £14.50, £15.50 Campus West, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6BX www.campuswest.co.uk

It’s Still Panto Time! Robin Hood until 3rd Jan

With song, dance, archery and adventure, it’s sure to delight the whole family. Campus West, WGC AL8 6BX www.campuswest.co.uk

Cinderella until 14th Jan

Join Cinders as she goes from rags to riches, with laugh-out-loud comedy and plenty of boos and hisses. Milton Keynes Theatre MK9 3NZ www.atgtickets.com

Sleeping Beauty until 21st Jan

Enjoy a mesmerising blend of music, laughter, breathtaking special effects and a treasure trove of surprises. Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage SG1 1LZ www.gordon-craig.co.uk

Snow White

Westminster Lodge, St Albans AL1 2D 13th Jan 2.30pm & 7.15pm 14th Jan 12.30pm & 6pm Eric Morcambe Centre, Harpenden AL5 2FR 25th - 28th Jan various times Live Cinema It’s off to work we go with The Hurst Children’s Royal Opera House: Rusalka Theatre Group and their spin on the old yarn, not 24th Jan 6.45pm & 28th Jan 2pm least with Princess Ana from Frozen who keeps A water spirit lives with her family in the pure waters of the forest lake. When she falls in love with a Prince, turning up in the wrong story. £15, child £9 www.hurstchildrenstheatregroup.com she sacrifices her voice and leaves her home in the

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All About the Birds Big Garden Birdwatch

26th - 28th Jan This event provides a vital snapshot, taken over one weekend of how well the UK’s garden birds are doing. Shockingly, we’ve lost 38 million birds from the UK’s skies in the last 50 years, so it’s crucial we all do what we can to look after our bird life. People taking part in Big Garden Birdwatch for the first time often find it sparks a passion for nature, so hopefully they will start giving nature a helping hand by feeding garden birds, putting up nest-boxes, and gardening in a wildlifefriendly way. It’s easy to take part, simply watch the birds in your garden or local park for one hour, and record what you see. Only include birds that land, not those flying over. Count the highest number of each species you see at any one time. Then go online and tell the RSPB what you’ve seen. Even if you didn’t see anything at all, please let them know as its all useful information. www.rspb.org.uk

Herrings Green Activity Farm & Bird of Prey Centre

Home to one of the largest collections of Birds of Prey in the UK, with owls, hawks, eagles, falcons, kites and even pelicans. See many of the birds in action or have the thrill of holding one of them yourself. A Hawk on the Wild Side 7th Jan 9.30am - 4pm Spend the day in the company of the hawks, with the chance to learn a little about the art of falconry and to handle and fly some different species of owls and eagles. £60 Herrings Green Farm, Wilstead MK45 3DT www.birdsofpreycentre.co.uk 26

The Secret Life of Birds of Prey

by Chloé Valerie Harmsworth Enter the fascinating world of the UK’s birds of prey. These noble hunters, with their remarkable flying skills, good looks and mysterious ways, are amongst our most attractive and interesting wildlife. Learn about the falcons, hawks, kites, osprey, and eagles that grace our skies and landscape, from their impact on our culture in past and recent times, their value and uses in falconry, the history of their persecution and decline at the hands of humans, to their return to the UK through our reintroduction and conservation efforts. Admire their beauty up close with gorgeous photography and take an extraordinary peek into their secretive world. Be inspired by the moving words of people across the UK, who have described their thrilling, first-hand encounters, and discover where you can experience these birds for yourself. This accessible and inspiring guide will help you uncover details of the habits, habitat, behaviour, diet and much more, of our UK birds of prey, and show you how they bring delight and magic into our lives. About the Author Chloé Valerie Harmsworth is a nature writer, artist, editor and photographer from Hertfordshire. In her work she aims to show the beauty of the natural world and encourage people to protect it. She keeps a nature diary, with photos and illustrations of her local green spaces, and shares her nature-inspired content on her website and Instagram www.chloevalerienatureart.wordpress.com @chloevalerienatureart

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NOW at the Cathedral

New Year Concert 1st Jan 7pm St Albans Symphony Orchestra perform a packed programme of traditional joyful waltzes, polkas and Hungarian dances, including Shostakovich’s Jazz Suite No. 2 with an extended orchestra of saxophones, accordion, guitar, pianos, harp and percussion instruments. £18 - £30, child / student £5 Peace Doves 3rd Jan - 13th Feb This large-scale art installation created by Sculptor, Peter Walker, made from 10,000 hanging paper doves and designed to involve mass community participation will be lit and set to music by Composer David Harper. An Introduction to the Old Testament starting 9th Jan 7.30pm A 10 week course introducing the theology, structure, themes and history of the Old Testament. £130 The Gospel according to Mark 15th Jan 7.30pm The New Testament gives us four gospels, each with its unique perspective on Jesus, and this year’s church lectionary is looking at Mark’s gospel. £10 Psalter: Themes for Peace 20th Jan 7.30pm A stunning night of jazz, led by musician and composer Tim Boniface, alongside James Pearson, Malcolm Creese and Jon Ormston. £10 - £30 Hebrew 1 starting 24th Jan A 6 week beginners course on the Hebrew language. £85 The Story of St Alban See the story of St Alban and the rich history of the Cathedral brought to life in new displays and stunning audio visuals. Learn about the monastic Abbey and how the monks created beautiful manuscripts, take a digital tour of the Cathedral today, and experience a year in the life at St Albans Cathedral. Free St Albans Cathedral AL1 1BY www.stalbanscathedral.org 30

Winter can leave us feeling a little blue during the long dark evenings so why not take part in this reading challenge for all ages. You just need to be a member of the library, it's free to join and you can then collect your free challenge card. All the books you read as part of the challenge must be from Hertfordshire Libraries, this includes audio and eBooks from BorrowBox . The challenge is flexible, so if you're not a big reader, one book can complete multiple challenges or you can make it more difficult and complete one book per challenge - it's up to you! It’s recommended that you complete the challenge within a minimum of 4 visits to the library. Finishing certificates for children are available from your local library, while stock lasts. You can only enter the prize draw once. Harpenden Library, High Street AL5 2RT St Albans Library, The Maltings AL1 3JQ

St Albans Library

Knit & Natter Fridays 2pm - 3.30pm A chance to chat, knit, stitch, sew and craft over a tea or coffee. Reading Group First Friday of the month 4pm - 5pm Book group for young people aged 14 - 20. Signed Storytime 31st Jan 10.15am An interactive story session for pre-school deaf and hearing children and their parent/carer. The Maltings AL1 3JQ

Hitchin Library

An Evening with Elodie Harper & Jennifer Saint 18th Jan 7pm Join bestselling authors Elodie Harper (The Wolf Den trilogy) and Jennifer Saint (Ariadne, Elektra, Atalanta) as they discuss all things Roman, Greek and mythological and classical retellings from the perspective of female leading characters. £10 Paynes Park SG5 1EW www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

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Caring & Sharing Christmas Tree Collection

Over the past 6 years a wonderful team of volunteers from The Hospice of St Francis has helped raise a truly tree-mendous £112k by collecting Christmas trees to be recycled for a voluntary contribution. Just visit the website to book your tree collection. The funds raised have helped fund Community Nursing services, ensuring that no one dies alone and no carer is left isolated. www.stfrancis.org.uk

RED January provides everyone with a free and inclusive way to boost their activity levels and wellbeing. By taking part, not only will you be supporting your own wellbeing, you can support others too by fundraising for local movement and mental health projects. Whether you run, swim, cycle or choose your favourite fitness activity, the choice is yours. Set a fundraising target and go the extra mile for anyone experiencing mental health challenges and sign up to RED January today. www.join.redjanuary.com

Building Greener Street Communities

9th Jan 7.30pm An evening of talks and discussion with Sustainable St Albans about organising street activities, find out more about Playing Out, Street Parties and Wilderhood Watch. The Plough and Harrow, Harpenden AL5 1PR www.sustainablestalbans.org

Brew Monday 15th Jan

Samaritans is reminding everyone to reach out for a cuppa and a catch-up with the people you Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care is launching care about. The third Monday in January is a new Compassionate Café, run in partnership sometimes known as ‘the most difficult day of the with Harpenden Trust at its Well Bean Café, year’ but this is a myth. At Samaritans they know above the Co-op, Southdown Road. The Café is there’s no such thing as ‘Blue Monday’ we all now open on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the have our good days and our bad days, and those month, for residents from the AL5 area, providing aren’t for the calendar to decide. So it's time to a space for local people affected by bereavement stop this myth and instead start a conversation or any kind of loss to meet others by coming over a brew! together for a cuppa and a chat. Any time can be a Brew Monday, whether it’s a www.renniegrovepeace.org Monday morning or Saturday night, if you’re drinking green tea, black coffee or orange juice. Help the RNIB If you’re sharing a cuppa and listening, you’re Your old stamps and foreign currency can make doing it right. a difference to blind and partially sighted people. Host your own event, virtually or in person by When you receive cards and letters through the holding a tea party, hosting an online event at post, save the stamps and send them to the work, or simply picking up the phone and RNIB to recycle them, all stamps are sold by checking in with someone you care about. And if weight, whether new, used, foreign, first day you can, use your get-together to raise money for covers, presentation packs or albums, and they Samaritans and help those having a tough time raise £20 per kilo of stamps received. to have somewhere to turn when they need to You can also donate any surplus foreign or talk. unusable British currency hiding at the back of Every 90 minutes, someone in the UK or Ireland the drawer! takes their own life. In the next hour, we'll Just request a pre-paid collection envelope respond to almost 400 calls for help. online, by calling 0330 002 0051 or Just £5 will enable a call to be answered from Emailing fundraising@rnib.org.uk. someone struggling. www.rnib.org.uk www.samaritans.org

Compassionate Café

RED January

Let's beat those winter blues, as a nation we're less active in the winter, something that's often linked with lower mood, lower energy and increased depressive symptoms.

Firewalk 8th Feb 7pm

Can you conquer the path of blazing embers See page 12 Rennie Grove Peace www.renniegrovepeace.org

www.theNOWmagazines.com 07983 588313 wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

NOW for some Music The Horn

New Years Eve 80’s Party 31st Dec 8pm With ultimate 80s party band Six Go Mad. In advance £12, on the door £15 Green Haze 6th Jan 9pm Tribute to rock band Green Day. In advance £12, on the door £14 Big Love UK 20th Jan 8pm A 5 piece Fleetwood Mac tribute band, delivering a live, high energy show, with the stunning voice of Lynn Clare, a tight rhythm section and rich vocal harmonies combining to perfectly capture the distinctive Fleetwood Mac sound. In advance £12, on the door £15 Whole Lotta DC 27th Jan 8pm One of the UK's finest AC/DC Tribute Bands with a thundering rhythm section, the unmistakable vocals and charisma of Brian and Angus's searing lead work recreate a live show in stunning fashion. In advance £12, on the door £15 Steve Mason (Betta Band) 29th Jan 8pm This Scottish singer, songwriter rose to widespread critical acclaim in the '90s as a member of indie darlings the Beta Band. With their creative songscrap approach and maverick attitude, they earned a notorious reputation among fans during the post-Brit-pop era. In advance £25, on the door £28 Personal Trainer 30th Jan 8pm Amsterdam-based collective Personal Trainer seek out sharp-witted ways to prolong the innate joy of being a band just plugging in and playing. Front man Smit embraces his role as jester in court, performing his own songs like a lost tourist on a karaoke bender. In advance £15, on the door £18 The Horn, Victoria Street, St Albans AL1 3TE www.thehorn.co.uk

Amadeus Chamber Orchestra Concert

27th Jan 7.30pm Dvorak - Legends No 3 and No 4 Mozart - Horn Concerto No. 4, K.495 with Chloë Harrison (horn) Mendelssohn - Symphony No. 3 £18, child £1 St Saviour’s Church, St Albans AL1 4DF www.amadeuschamberorchestra.org.uk 34

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Get Your Skates On

Skate West End until 1st Jan

A new ice rink in Hanover Square. £12.50 London W1S 1JW www.skatewestend.com

Winter Wonderland until 1st Jan

An ice rink inside the Wonderland fair, said to be the UK’s largest outdoor ice rink. Adult from £11.50, child from £8.50, plus £5 £7.50 entry fee, waived if you spend over £25 Hyde Park www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

Battersea Power Station until 7th Jan

A large ice-rink outside the power station, by the riverside. Adult from £12.50, child from £8.50 London SW8 5BN www.batterseapowerstation.co.uk

ExCel London until 7th Jan

Part of a new indoor winter festival, Kingdom of Winter, will be inside the ExCel exhibition centre. From £.5.50 London E16 1XL www.excel.london

JW3 until 7th Jan

This outdoor ice rink has glimmering lights, vibrant music and an electric atmosphere. Adult £15, child £10, plus £2 booking fee London NW3 6ET www.jw3.org.uk/ice-rink

Hampton Court Palace until 7th Jan

Large outdoor ice-rink in the courtyard in front of the palace. Adult from £19, child from £14 London KT8 9AU www.hamptoncourtpalaceicerink.co.uk

Queen’s House until 7th Jan 36

The rink is surrounded by iconic architecture, with views of Greenwich Park and Canary Wharf.

Adult from £17, child from £10 London SE10 9NF www.rmg.co.uk/queens-house

Westfield until 7th Jan

An outdoor ice rink next to the Westfield shopping centre. Adult from £16.30, child from £12.30 London W12 7GF www.icerinkatwestfieldlondon.co.uk

Somerset House until 14th Jan

The spectacular courtyard will be transformed into a uniquely Swiss festive destination. Adult from £15, child from £9 London WC2R 1LA www.somersethouse.org.uk

Canary Wharf until 24th Feb

Large ice rink above the main shopping centre and surrounded by skyscrapers, with a transparent roof so you can skate in the rain! Adult from £17.95, child from £13.50 London E14 5AB www.icerinkcanarywharf.co.uk

Permanent Skating Rinks Alexandra Palace

Perfect for friends, families, fitness or a day out, where skating has been described as the closest you can get to the feeling of flying, without the leaving the ground! Adults from £9.50, child from £6.50 London N22 7AY www.alexandrapalace.com

Queens

Iconic ice-skating rink and bowling alley. From £8 London W2 4QP www.queens.london

Lee Valley Ice Centre

Offering public, learn to skate and disco sessions. From £10 London E10 7QL www.better.org.uk

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Index of Businesses Accountants

Hicks

Architects

Rock Architects

Bicycle Repairs Ride St Albans

3 18

Ken Hodson

8 9

Penny Waterman School of Dance Stagecoach

DTS Electrical Solutions St Albans Sparks

Flooring

Building

AJR Building Services Complete Garden Rooms Eco Tiffin Kingsholme Open Plan Solutions

Car Body Repairs

Prestige Paint Shop Ltd

Car Servicing / Repairs RTI Auto Services Ltd

11 28 15 13 14

Children’s Art Classes ArtShed!

Chimney Sweep

Home Sweep Home

Feet First Nicole Pyne Podiatry Austin’s

7 7 9

Home Counties Loft Ladders

Painters & Decorators CB Decorators M & M Decorators

Plumber

DJ&M Plumbing Services Ltd

11 & 39

Roofing

Clover Singing Club Lighter Life

Back Cover

Solicitors

Oxona Healthcare Front Cover Spire Harpenden Hospital 22 & 23

Abbey Law Rayden Solicitors

Tree Surgeons 24

Fircroft Tree Surgery Ltd

Windows

Cloud 9 Glazing

Ken Hodson

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07974 156743 / 01582 794723 enquiries@kenhodsoncomputerservices.co.uk www.kenhodsoncomputerservices.co.uk

8 33

GJ Smith Roofing

Slimming 19

Healthcare

Hearing Healthcare Practice

The Verminator

Property Maintenance

10 35 34

Pest Control 19 19

Singing Club

Hearing Services

34 35

Loft Ladders 15 15

Gas & Heating Engineer

Image Mobile Hairdressing 7

Lock Around the Clock Locksmith Services

The 50 Plus

Hairdressing

16 17

Abbots Care Caring Connections

AR Landscapes Ltd 29 Detail Gardening & Maintenance 27 Lanwarne Landscapes Ltd 29 Woburn Heating

Cleaning

A&R Roof & Hard Surface Cleaning & Restoration Ltd Merrivac Molly Maid

Footcare

Home Care

Locksmiths 3 4

Gardening / Landscaping 31

Charity

Rennie Grove Peace - Firewalk

KC Flooring Specialists Ltd

Funeral Directors 31

Dance & Drama

Electrician

Blinds & Shutters Harpenden Blinds Shuttercraft

Computer Repairs

We have made every effort to ensure that any material published in harpenden NOW is correct and can accept no liability for any errors or delays in publication or distribution, harpenden NOW accepts no responsibility for its advertisers.

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