Make it a Voshie good Christmas this year with their online marketplace

Voshie is an online retailer that is dedicated to giving you the very best of independent businesses across the UK with a great variety of thousands of products, while being eminently affordable too.

Voshie was founded in 2019 by Faye who had a lightbulb moment whilst sat at her Northampton kitchen table! Over the past three years Voshie has come a long way and is continuing to develop and grow.

Faye's background was in online sales and she was becoming disillusioned and more than a little frustrated with the deductions of selling fees. Faye was still very passionate about selling online and keeping a strong presence, making a good profit was becoming harder and harder. Rather than struggle to work out selling fees, website costs and being left disappointed it made her realise there must be a more affordable way to sell online, which is when she launched Voshie.

With Voshie being remarkably cheaper than any website builder and with packages suitable for all budgets and business needs, Voshie makes selling online more profitable for you and your business. There are plenty of added features as a Voshie seller too.

Faye knows that footfall helps any business to make sales and that’s why Voshie advertises on and off social media. It's seen in magazine articles, Google ads, brochures or radio advertisements to showcase their retailers amazing products.

So, what's available on Voshie for people looking for Christmas gifts? There are retailers selling exclusive Christmas cards, Christmas clothing for adults and children, Christmas homeware, gifts for ladies, gifts for men, gifts for kids, gifts for pets, confectionary, personalised gifts and so much more, besides!

As well as Christmas-themed gifts there are small businesses selling a whole range of other products including bags, jewellery, candles, maternity wear, nightwear, etc, etc.

To check out their wide and growing online catalogue please visit https://www.voshie.com and take a look at their online marketplace. 

That's Food and Drink: Comic Relief launches "emergency" Christmas appeal

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Make your own book for Christmas

Several years ago I decided that I wanted to do something different for Christmas, so I wrote a short story that told the story of the first nativity from the perspective of the cat who lived at the Inn where Jesus was born.

I had it printed up at the newspaper and magazine publisher I worked at, which had a small but very busy jobbing printer attached to it and I collated and bound it myself, illustrating it with free to use images, giving it a hard cover and presenting it to my nieces and nephews.

It was very well received and is still talked of from time to time, although they are now all much older.

If you can't write a story or some poems to make your own book, why not think about making a photographic book using images that are relevant to the person or people you are making it for?

A company that I have used before (they make superb printed mugs, for example) is CEWE, who print very high quality photographic books at a cost that is cheaper than you would expect seeing how high the quality is.

Here's what they say: "Your memories matter and that’s what makes our TIPA award winning photo books perfect for preserving them. Make a photo book for yourself or create one to share with family and friends using our free software. It's easy and your personalised photo book will be professionally printed, quality checked and packed at our UK lab."

To learn more please visit them at https://www.cewe.co.uk. They also print mugs, calendars, wall art, etc. 

Things a bit tight this year? Then why not get crafting or baking for Christmas?

Apparently there's a cost of living crisis, though reports of record-breaking "Black Friday" sales throughout the UK might indicate that the cost of living crisis isn't as severe as some people are making out.

But if you are feeling the pinch this year, why not consider making some of your Christmas presents?

Years ago things were a bit tight financially for me (a promised pay rise never materialised) and I was a bit strapped for cash in the pre-Christmas period so I decided to make some Christmas presents.

I invested in some rather attractive but cheap large glass fruit bowls which were covered in various types of fruit in relief that I found in a discount shop that was sort of like a Pound shop and I invested in some good quality glass paints that I bought from a local art shop.

Although I am by no means an artist I did do a good job and I gave one to my fiancé (who is now my wife) to see what she thought of it. She said "leave it with me" and went to see a close friend of hers who lived next door.

An hour later she came back with a £20 note and an order for ten more as her friend was so impressed that she decided to order ten for her family members!

My fiancé kissed me, grinned, and said: "You'd better get busy!"  Which I did. I painted some for my family members as Christmas presents, another one for my fiancé and a number of others as she made more sales for me!

So, if someone like me can get crafting, why not you, too? I suggest that you check out craft shops, Amazon, Poundland, The bookshop called The Works (which now has an excellent craft section) Hobbycraft,  haberdashers, etc. Just hit Google to find out what's available locally, you might be surprised.

If you are a skilled crafter, unlike me, who isn't, get cracking, utilising your skills to create some memorable Christmas gifts for friends and family members. 

Or if you have someone to buy for who is artistic or into crafting why not look at buying them a craft kit or some art/craft supplies?

Maybe you are good at baking or cooking? Why not make everyone some Christmas biscuits or some Christmas fudge, for example? 

 (Image courtesy of L Gould and Pixabay)

Final tickets to be released for London’s New Year’s Eve celebrations

The last tickets to see the return of the capital’s famous New Year fireworks will go on sale at noon on Friday 2 December. However, anyone wishing to purchase tickets are reminded that the first batch of tickets for the world-famed celebration sold out in just over five hours.

Over 100,000 ticket-holders will again be able to gather on the banks of the Thames to watch London welcome in the new year

Last month the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced over 100,000 ticket-holders will be able to gather near the lastminute.com London Eye for the first time since 2019 to welcome in the new year.

The first batch of tickets sold out in just over five hours, and the final batch of around 50,000 are also expected to sell out quickly.

Due to the impact of COVID restrictions for the last two years, the capital has welcomed in the new year with a multi-site spectacular show only available to watch on TV.

This year ticket holders will again be able to watch the fireworks in person, while a global television audience tunes in to see the celebrations and hear the traditional sounds of Big Ben’s chimes marking the start of the new year.

Tickets must be bought in advance and cost £15, with every penny used to pay for the costs associated with the ticketing scheme. This year, there is also the opportunity to donate to London-based rough sleeping charities when buying tickets, with donations going to akt, Centrepoint, Depaul UK, and New Horizon Youth Centre via TAP London.

Those without a ticket are encouraged to watch the display live on BBC One or via BBC iPlayer alongside millions of viewers or to celebrate the new year at the capital’s fantastic range of bars, restaurants, pubs and clubs.

City Hall is working with a wide range of partner agencies including the Met Police, TfL, local authorities and the emergency services to safely deliver the event.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m incredibly excited that Londoners and visitors to our capital can once again unite on the banks of the Thames to welcome in the new year by watching our world-famous fireworks. We are building a better London for everyone and New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest nights of the year for our hospitality industry with our fireworks providing an incredible moment to send a message of love and celebration to the world. This year will be our best ever and with the first batch of tickets selling out in just over five hours, I urge anyone wanting to attend to book as early as possible.”

Imran Tauqir, General Manager of The lastminute.com London Eye, said: “We are thrilled to have seen such an overwhelmingly positive response to the news that the world famous New Year’s Eve celebrations are returning to The lastminute.com London Eye. 

"As an established part of the capital’s iconic skyline, we are delighted that once again people are able to come back together and celebrate the start of another year in this amazing city. Working closely with the Mayor of London’s office it’s an honour to once again to play our part in putting on a show for thousands of people here on London’s South Bank and around the world to enjoy.”

To learn more please visit https://www.london.gov.uk/nye

(Image courtesy of McLee and Pixabay)

Christmastime holiday fun in Shropshire with Holiday Activities and Food: bookings open

Bookings are now open for the winter/Christmas Shropshire HAF (Holiday Activities and  Food) programme.

Shropshire Council is working with local schools, voluntary groups and community organisations, and childcare providers to run an exciting holiday programme this winter, Shropshire HAF (Holiday Activities and Food).

There are free places available on the programme for children and young people aged 4 (reception class age) to 16, who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals and for those who were referred to HAF by a professional. Places are also available for Ukrainian families, currently living in Shropshire with host families.

From Monday 19 December to Friday 23 December 2022 children and young people are invited to participate in a wide range of fun activities, taking place at 43 venues across the county.

There's something for all, including sports, arts, cooking, forest schools and other exciting opportunities. Free nutritious meals will be provided at each session, plus information on nutrition to designed to benefit the whole family.

The Winter What’s On Guide and details of how to book are available online here https://tinyurl.com/mt7m3cuz.

Some of the holiday programmes also include spaces for children and young people who are not in receipt of free school meals.

Kirstie Hurst-Knight, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children and education, said:- “Over the summer 3,500 eligible children and young people aged 4 to 16 took part in a wide range of exciting, engaging activities at 60 venues across Shropshire.

"Again, providers have created a fantastic offering for the winter provision, and I’d like to encourage all eligible families to book onto HAF and have fun this winter. There's a massive range of activities, with free meals provided at each session.”

For more information on HAF in Shropshire, for a copy of the What’s On Guide, and to sign up to the HAF enews, click here https://tinyurl.com/mt2dh3xj.

Please contact the HAF programme co-ordinators – email: haf.programme@shropshire.gov.uk.

Merry Christmas for visitors to Father Christmas in Shrewsbury museum workshop

The elves at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery are busy helping Father Christmas and his workshop. 

The festive magic is happening at the Shropshire Council-run venue, where bookings are now being taken for visitors to meet Father Christmas in his traditional museum workshop.

People are invited to follow the special flagstones, through the tree-lined shut and enchanted stone archway, and up the original sweeping staircase.

Children are welcome to post a letter to Father Christmas in the special festive post office, and a cheerful elf guide will lead the tour through to a wonderous workshop, crammed full of history and magic, to meet Father Christmas himself.

Rob Gittins, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture and digital, said:- “Father Christmas must know we have all been very, very good to ask us to let him set up a workshop in the museum in Shrewsbury.

“It's very exciting he and the elves are going to be with us right up to 23 December when he will be preparing for the busiest day of his year, and I’m sure they'll be given a warm welcome from our museum team and by all the visitors who book to come along.

“As well as experiencing our lovely museum guests at Father Christmas’ workshop, you will be able to enjoy some Christmas themed arts and crafts at stations scattered around the museum; and Father Christmas has also promised a gift for every child who comes to see him.”

Tickets cost £15 per child aged 1–17, and £5 per accompanying adult, and can be booked here https://tinyurl.com/365ev2m6.

Parents or guardians should be aware that time slots are bookable for mornings, afternoons and early evenings during late night shopping on Wednesdays. Friday afternoons, and all day on Saturdays and Sundays, through to Friday 23 December 2022. Tickets are non-refundable, and late arrivals can't be guaranteed to meet Father Christmas.