Ministry of Historical Defence

There always seem to be lots of exciting things going on in Exeter. I went for a meeting at The Bike Shed on Monday and hear murmuring about The Ministry of Historical Defence. Keep your eyes peeled in town as this is going to tun for a while and it's most puzzling. 

February half term (February 18th - 23rd) is Animated Exeter. The Hub on the Green is one of the venues for the very exciting Time Winders. Lottie and I are going to go and take part. From what I have heard it is going to be an incredibly exciting, interactive game played in venues around the city centre. We are really excited to be a part of the whole event. 

Time Winders

Venue: Exeter Phoenix
Dates:
21st February, 2pm–5pm
22nd February, 2pm–5pm
23rd February, 2pm–5pm

£12/ £8 suitable 8 years+ under 18s must be accompanied

Inspired by a specially commissioned short story from multi award-winning author Philip Reeve, Time Winders is a street game that immerses players in an Exeter where time is fractured. Past, present and future collide with surprising consequences, seeming to place the modern day city on the edge of oblivion.

Exeter's city centre will be subtly transformed, with a series of 'retro-futuristic' locations. Players are given an object that will trigger different actions or animatedprojections offering challenges andclues that will take the players on to their next exciting destination.

A family game suitable for 8 years +, Time Winders uses the latest in pervasive gaming technology, combined with animation and theatre to create a unique story telling experience where the player controls the action. Time Winders is the brain child of the critically and commercially acclaimed Slingshot, creators of the smash hit street game 2.8 Hours Later.

Time Winders has been inspired by award-winning author Philip Reeve’s short story,The Exeter Riddles; both projects have been commissioned by Animated Exeter 2013 with support from Arts Council England through the National Lottery

Wednesday 23rd January

Today at the hub...Gentle Hatha YOGA at 9:45am, Women's Network YOGA at 10:55am, COFFEE TIME at noon-1:30 and Liz's KNITTNIG GROUP too. It's Little Penny's birthday week and there are rumours of cake and Liz will be continuing her crochet workshop. BAKING CLUB's bake-in from 1:30-3pm and they are making biscuits. CAPOEIRA is from 4-5pm and you are welcome to come along for your first session (it started last week but there are new families coming this week for the first time and James is happy with that). TAI CHI from 6:30-7:45pm and TAI CHI BEGINNERS from 8-9:15pm and your first session is free (you can just turn up).

Magic Carpet Friday Crafting Group

The Magic Carpet Crafting Group on Friday was looking like a no-goer as the weather had scuppered lots of people's plans. But three of us settled down to some raggy heart making in the company of the baby massage group. It was such a lovely session. If anyone is interested in finding out more about the group, come along on Friday at noon.

I'm a Devon Grapevine Champion

I had a lovely meeting with Sonia today about all things crafty. She has some great ideas including glass painting. Ros is also starting a Magic Carpet crafting group starting on a Friday with the sole purpose of crafting together to make things to sell for Magic Carpet.

I got an award today which made my day. Thank you Tat and The Devon Grapeviners

Happy New Year!

We opened again yesterday after a lovely break. I took down the tree and the decorations. Packed away our raggy wreaths and hoovered up the pine needles. The hub looks a little bit bare now. I mentioned this to Liz at knitting group and she asked what the next project is. I have a list of artists wanted to exhibit in 2013 so I need to get my hooks up. I did buy them but I put them somewhere safe! I need to find them again and ask Sparkly Sonia to bring a bit of 2013 sparkle to our hub with some of her spectacular artwork.

Clare who organises the new Gingerbread Group for single parents which meets at the hub on a monthly basis and is supported by the city councillors is also an artist and would like to exhibit her angel artwork at the hub. I don't think it's going to look bare for long.

Knitting group yesterday was a real joy. On the first day back, after a morning spent battling with a naked Christmas tree and my Henry Hoover I wasn't feeling much love for the day. Then noon came, my Lottie emerged from the practice rooms where she had made a den entertain herself, Liz came to run knitting group with her family and people just kept turning up and with them lots of hugs, endless tea and biscuits, games of dominoes, oodles of stories, donkey rides, lots of squeals and the hub was back to how it should be. Phew!

I am now getting to grips with a new timetable at the hub. 

We have Capoeira starting on Wednesday 16th January from 4-5pm (poster below)

We have monthly Gingerbread meetings...the next one is on Tuesday 15th January 3:30-5:30pm (just turn up with your children)

We have the Mass Charity Lampshade Make Saturday 26th January (afternoon session still available)

We have a second Tai Chi class starting Wednesday 9th January 8:00-9:15pm (poster below)

There is a new Olive Tree English Class starting on Thursday 10th January from 6:30-7:30pm 

Capoeira, Winter Food Fair & Finger Puppets

We had a crazy weekend at the hub. On Friday night Colourburn turned the hub into the coolest venue in town for their Christmas bash. It looked amazing with multiple light projections. On Saturday Love Local Food filled the hub full of fabulous food, wonderful smells, facepainting tents, music from Rob Wynne, storytelling and lots of smiling faces. On Sunday Simon minded the hub for the Chanukah party with Emma.

Have a look at Capoeira...James will be running four classes at the hub in January. They are for families so parents/grandparents can come and join in with their children/grandchildren.

Mavis popped in today to drop off three finger puppets for us. She was telling knitting group all about them when she dropped off her tea cosy months ago. She promised she would drop some in. Today she did exactly that. What a lovely lady. So I have an octopus. a mouse and a cat for someone who promises to love them and take care of them.

Gloss Gallery 20x20 exhibition

A few months ago Sparkly Sonia came to her crafting group and told us about Gloss Gallery's 20 x 20 exhibition and how she was going to get the crafting group at the hub involved. Now we are in December and the group's artwork is hanging in Gloss Gallery waiting for the auction on Tuesday 18th December http://www.glossgallery.co.uk/events/.

Gloss Gallery is an amazing place. It is a beautiful gallery and one with an ethos that makes them extra special. They support many charities, organisations and community initiatives. My first visit was a year ago when I waved my paddle at the Magic Carpet auction. It was my first auction.

So if you are around in central Exeter, pop in and see the exhibition before 29th December. The auction is on 18th December and although I would love to go, I have a social enterprise meeting that evening.

Phoning the Winners

The best phone call to a tea cosy raffle winner yesterday went something like this...
Joey: Hi is that Alan? 
Alan: Yes
Joey: My name's Joey and I am ringing from The Hub on the Green. You entered the tea cosy raffle and I am thrilled to te

ll you you have won the pineapple tea cosy.
Alan: (laughs) Joey, this is only the third raffle prize I have won in life. I have a beard and the first was aftershave. Then I won ladies tights and now a pineapple tea cosy. I think I will wear it as a hat.
Joey: Your ears might stick out the holes but that's a great idea.

I think we made Alan's day!

A few photos to show what we have been up to...

Jo and Lottie at The Christmas Sing

The Christmas Sing

The Christmas Sing was too much for my poorly Lottie

Fia's birthday party bouncy castle on Sunday

Clare studding oranges with cloves at Sonia's Crafting Group

Sparkly Sonia's gift to the hub

Studding oranges with cloves at Sonia's Crafting Group

 

I loved doing the puzzle with all the children at
our first Gingerbread Meeting (for single parents)

The still life at art class

All the pastels at Art Class

This Saturday - Love Local's Winter Food Fair

The Christmas Sing - there is one more tomorrow on Dec 13th
5:30-7:30pm

The Christmas Sing - there is one more tomorrow on Dec 13th
5:30-7:30pm

She perked up bit! 

Picking the winners of the Tea Cosy Competition

Picking the winners of the Tea Cosy Competition

Picking the winners of the Tea Cosy Competition

Cat celebrated winning the first prize cosy by wearing it!

Last chance to try on cosies until next year's competition

Lauren's incredible reindeer cake pops 

Lauren's incredible reindeer cake pops 

Baking Club: Jen's Christmas Shortbread

Baking Club: Geraldine's fabulous Christmas tree meringues 

Monkey Music is coming to the Hub

Monkey Music Exeter

Tel: Daniele 0845 017 8766

Email: exeter@monkeymusic.co.uk

www.monkeymusic.com

MONKEY MUSIC FREE OPEN DAY AND FAB FRIDAY CLASSES AT ‘THE HUB’!!!!!

Monkey Music is the award winning, premium music class for babies and toddlers educating thousands of children all over the country. 

The hugely popular Exeter and surrounding area classes were recently featured on BBC radio Devon with Judy Spiers. Judy had a go at drumming and chatted about the benefits of music for children and had a good gossip with its principle Daniele Coombe, all about her west end career and the famous names she has worked with.

These included, most recently, Jason Donovan in ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’, Victoria Wood, in Acorn Antiques, Robert Lindsay in Oliver and John Barrowman in Sunset Boulevard.

Monkey Music has been a popular face in the community for 5 years now and Due to popular demand Monkey Music is finally opening classes on a FRIDAY! Daniele has had lots of enquiries for Friday classes and has spent a long time looking for the right venue.

She loves ‘the Hub’ but it had been occupied with other things until recently. Daniele is now thrilled that such a fab building in a wonderful location will be the home of Monkey Music on Fridays from February 2013.

To celebrate the new classes she will be holding open day for all interested monkeys. 

The sessions will be hosted by Daniele herself and will be a chance to sample the delights of Monkey Music and learn about the developmental benefits of music for small children.  You will have the chance to grab some tips of how to introduce music to your little ones at home from a true professional.

 There will also be a fabulous special offer if you then decide to join for the term on the day.

Places are, limited and must be booked in advance due to numbers and age grouping. Spaces are already going so do contact Daniele if you would like a place.

The FREE open day will be held on....

 Friday 22nd February (Morning) at The Hub On The Green, 8 Cathedral Close, Exeter, EX1 1EZ

To book this or receive details on regular classes please call Daniele on 0845 017 8766, exeter@monkeymusic.co.uk 

 www.monkeymusic.com