Pinch punch, last day of the month...?!

Welcome to the last day of March! April sounds so much more spring like, I'm beginning to get excited for summer...because April means spring, and spring means it's nearly summer, you see the logic?!

Regardless, it should hopefully be a sunny month coming up, I know we often get a bit of a cold and snowy spell in this month, but also we can get heatwaves, that's what we're hoping for this year, it's been far too long and cold a winter to keep it going into April! The blossom has been out a while now, and as long as the frost stays away we can expect to be seeing more flowers and blossom...and all things summery around outside.

Time to did into the Phonebox magazine and follow our latest walk (have a look at the online copy here) and enjoy some real spring-time scenery!

Happy Mothers day!

We at the Phonebox would like to wish all Mothers out there a very happy Mothers Day! Whatever you may be doing today, we hope that you feel valued and appreciated for all that you do every day!

Mothers day is celebrated across the world on different days, and is all about showing respect and acknowledging the hard work mothers do each day, and remembering those mothers who are no longer with us.

Mothers day is an opportunity which it would be nice to continue throughout the year, of showing appreciation to those who care for and gave birth to us, or for those who have played mother-like roles in our lives.

Mothering Sunday in the Christian church was originally (as early as the 16th century) where people returned to their mother church for a service on the fourth Sunday of Lent. As children would also be returning to their 'mother church' with their parents, they would often pick flowers for their mothers. Eventually, the tradition evolved into the modern, secular Mothering Sunday where children traditionally give cards and gifts to their mothers.

Whatever you do today, have a great Sunday!

What's on in MK?

There are a couple of events we can tell you about on today in the Milton Keynes area...

There's the open day at the Newport Pagnell tennis club, Willen Sports ground, from 10am-12pm. It's the opportunity for anyone to come and have a go for free as the start of the season kicks off, and also the day for adult registration.

In the evening in Sharnbrook, is the Ouse Valley Singers, hosted by the Sharnbrook Bowls Club at the Sharnbrook Village Hall. Set to be a great night, tickets are £5 and are available from Sharnbrook Post Office.

In the centre:MK, the kids club is all set for Mothers day, with the option of having their photographs taken for their Mothers day cards and then being able to decorate them with their own special touches.

The Newport Pagnell Lions Club are hosting a Spring Artisian food festival, held in the United Reformed Church between 10am and 4pm. Free entry fro all, so check out some yummy food!

This is just a selection of what's going on around MK today, make the most of and enjoy a (hopefully sunny) weekend whatever you do!

SuBo comes to MK!

It's been a sell-out tour, but if you were a fan of Susan Boyle when she first appeared on Britain's got Talent, you may already be planning on going to see her UK tour.

She will be singing at the MK theatre tomorrow (Thursday 27th March), performing a variety of tracks, including those songs she is most well known for: 'I dreamed a dream' and 'wild horses', as well as some other classics not seen by Susan before. If you've missed out on this one, she'll be performing in Northampton on the 17th April, you might still have a chance of getting some tickets if you're quick!

International waffle day

Happy international waffle day! Waffles are a great invention, most commonly eaten as desserts here in the UK, but also popular for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks... you name it, the waffle is a pretty versatile food!

Waffle day began in Sweden. The day historically (apparently) marks the beginning of spring and is celebrated by eating (lots of) waffles. I'm not entirely sure how these two are linked, but like many of these national, or international, days, the reasoning often seems irrelevant- it's just an excuse to eat waffles isn't it!

So why not make or buy some waffles this evening, try them savoury for dinner or do what I'll be doing as a dessert with some maple syrup and maybe a bit of banana... my stomach's rumbling, time to get home I think! Enjoy!

Bletchley artwork unveiling

Artist David Appleyard is well-known for producing artwork to be displayed in the public realm. Tomorrow, a piece of his work is being unveiled by the mayor of Milton Keynes, Brian White, at the roundabout at the entrance of Bletchley station. The piece of art is titled: "NURP 40 TW 194" and takes it's name from a carrier pigeon found in the area during WW2, believed to be on it's way to Bletchley Park... a title which appears to fit well with the code-breaking themes surrounding Bletchley Park!

The artwork takes the form of a hut, which is in reference to Bletchley Park. It has been commissioned by Milton Keynes and West Bletchley councils, and was initiated in 2012 following extensive community research into the West Bletchley area.

Head to the roundabout outside Bletchley station, tomorrow (26th March) at 2pm, to see the unveiling.

World Water Day

World Water Day has been a National day since 1993, when it was initiated by the UN. The day is set apart to focus on water issues across the world. This year, the key aims are to raise awareness of the links between energy and water through a variety of ways. The day focusses on water, sanitation and improving water and electricity efficiencies, to name a few. The focus on energy and water has been especially outlined by the findings from the World Water Development Report, which found that it is often the same people who lack access to improved water sources and sanitation who also lack access to electricity.

Events will be happening all over the world today, all with the aim of coming together to think about and work on ways of improving peoples' health and lifestyle through their ability to get clean and safe water. Around 780 million people lack access to clean water, that's one in nine of the whole population, and more than 3.4 million die each year from issues linked to water, sanitation and hygiene. This proves the need for action, and this is what World Water Day aims to do, in raising awareness and coming up with action plans to help people have access to the most basic of human needs.