Emmaus Village Christmas Craft Fair- Saturday 29th November

There seems to be Christmas events, fairs and shopping nights coming out of our ears at the moment, but the more the merrier, so we've got another to share with you today.

Emmaus Village Carlton is a homelessness charity which offers active support to formerly homeless people. They provide a workable alternative to homelessness, where people are offered a home as well as meaningful work in a social enterprise with Emmaus.

The community has a furniture shop, bric-a-brac store, boutique and a bistro, which offers homemade meals, cakes and snacks, and it's a great place to find some unusual and quirky items as well as enjoying a bite to eat.

This Saturday they are holding a Christmas craft fair, with a variety of stalls selling quality, hand-produced gifts. Get in the mood for Christmas (if you haven't already!) with Christmas themed activities for the kids, including a lucky dip and raffle. Delicious seasonal refreshments including mince pies will be available in the Bistro. Proceeds from the raffle will be going to the Kings Arms Nightshelter project.

For more information and directions, visit the Facebook event page.

The Phonebox Walk of the month

Fancy a walk this November? Why not flick through to pages 48-49 of the Phonebox magazine this month to follow a gentle walk starting in the village of Paulerspury. Approximately 6 miles long, this walk will take you around 2 1/2 hours, and will allow you to explore and enjoy a nearby village which you may not have been round before, try and pick a dry day and enjoy a crisp walk in the country.

Fireworks- What's on nearby this November?

There are plenty of events to choose from in and around Milton Keynes this November, don't miss out on some fireworks and bonfires!

Turvey Village Firework Display, Saturday 1st November @ Turvey Village, free parking off Carlton Road. Tickets cost £3.50 for adults and £1.50 for children. Food and refreshments available and will include a BBQ. Gates open at 5.30pm, the bonfire will be lit at 6pm and the firework display will start at 6.30pm.

Fireworks Frenzy, Saturday 1st November @ Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough, Northants.
Fireworks Frenzy is a great day out for all the family. open from 4-7pm, it's a spectacular afternoon and evening of fireworks, live action including 'Podzilla' the monster truck and a great stunt display, a hinge bonfire, fun fair, refreshments and bar, as well as family entertainment. See the website for more details.

Thornborough Bonfire night with torchlit procession, Saturday 1st November @ Thornborough Village.
Everyone is invited to join in the traditional village Torchlit procession which starts at 6.30pm from the Two Brewers, High Street, Thornborough. the procession leads directly up the Nash Road to the venue on the outskirts of the village. Tickets are available from the Two Brewers and outside on the night from 6pm. Parking is available along the High Street and Village Green. Gates for the bonfire and Fireworks open at 7pm.

Spectacular Fun Fair and Fireworks display @ Campbell Park, Milton Keynes
The Fun fair is in town from 30th October- 9th November, and the firework display will be on Sunday 2nd November, at approximately 7.30pm. A great night of fun fair and fireworks!

Olney Town Fireworks, Sunday 2nd November @ The Recreation Ground, off East Street, Olney.
This fantastic fireworks event has added a live one-man fire show, featuring fire eating, music and comedy, ending with a spectacular finale. Gates open at 5pm and the display starts at 6.30pm. Refreshments will be available, including burgers, a licenced bar, hot chocolate, stone baked pizza and real coffee. There will also be activities for the kids, including face painting and a small fair. Tickets are £5 on the gate or £4 if bought in advance, and family tickets are £11 on the gate or £9 if bought in advance.Tickets can be purchased from the Phonebox magazine, Olney Library, C.T Wilson, McColls Newsagents and Stephen Oakley Estate Agents.

Bozeat Annual Fireworks display, Wednesday 5th November @ Bozeat Playing Fields on Harrold Road by Dychurch Lane.
Gates open at 6pm and the display begins at 7.30pm to end no alter than 8pm. Admission charges are £5 per adult and £2 per child.

Ampthill Fireworks, Friday 7th November @ Ampthill Park, Woburn Road, Bedfordshire.
Ampthill Fireworks is an annual community fireworks display, featuring a pre-show of live acts, fairground and various food outlets. The event has something for all the family, with no alcohol or sparklers allowed within the park. Gates open at 6pm, pre-show at 6.45pm, lighting of the Ampthill Beacon at 7.30pm and fireworks at 8pm. Tickets are £6 in advance for adults, £7 on the gate and £3 in advance for children, £4 on the gate. Car parking is £2.

Join Tickford Abbey on Thursday 6th November at 6.00 pm. 

Hot food and drinks to enjoy while watching a spectacular display.  Fireworks will be at 6.30 pm.Address: Tickford Abbey, Priory Street, Newport Pagnell, MK16 9AJ.

One month today in Olney...

Olney Post Office is located inside McColl's newsagent in the market place, and has for many years offered a great service with typical opening times of 9.30am-5.30pm Monday- Friday, and 9am-12.30pm on Saturdays.

One month today, the Post Office will be re-opening following a 10-day refurbishment, which will improve the services offered to customers and also add an extra 59 hours a week of opening times. This is particularly good news if you're working 9-5 and need to post a parcel, as it looks like Olney Post office will be open until around 9pm every night, with increased hours over the weekend. The improved services will include bill payment, banking, benefits, travel money, home shopping returns and local collections. The refurbishment of the shop will feature a new open-plan layout, all aiming to help make life easier for Post Office customers, meaning you can use all of the Post Office services without having to go into the city.

This does mean that the Post Office will be shut from 5.30pm on 27th October until November 12th, but during this time, your nearest Post Office's are Lavendon and Newport Pagnell.

Sunday in Milton Keynes

Don't get those post-Monday blues today, there's still a whole day of the weekend left to be enjoyed! As always, Milton Keynes is home to a variety of different events, and we've rounded up just a few of them to give you an idea of how you could spend the day...

HULA animal rescue are holding a fete and dog show at South Midlands animal sanctuary, Glebe farm, Aspley Guise, from 12-4pm. There will be a fun dog show (entries from 11.30am), doggie games, car boot and assorted stalls, pet photo competition (bring your best photos), bargains in the bazaar and pet bed shed. Come and meet some of the animals in search of a new home, there'll also be fun games for the children and delicious refreshments. Admission is £2 per adult and £1 for children. All proceeds to the care and welfare of HULA's animals.

Hackleton and District WI plant sale is being held at Hackleton village hall, from 10am-1pm. If you're sorting out your garden or just need a few extras to go in it, head over to the plant sale where you'll find a variety of shrubs, perennials and bedding for your borders, tubs and baskets. Homemade cakes and tea will also be available.

Lawnmower day. Milton Keynes museum have a selection of old mowers and their machines and are open from 11am-4.30pm. Family tickets cost £22 for 2 adults and up to 4 children.

Aspley Guise Open Gardens. Gardens will be open around the village from 12.30-5.30pm. The gardens range from those tucked behind small Victorian terraces to larger modern landscaped vistas and some classic gardens with period houses. The amazing gardens at Flaxbourne farm are also included. £4 admission. Light lunches, teas and plants for sale in the village hall where there is also plenty of free parking.

Olney Pancake Race

We're counting down to the big event in March, the Olney Pancake race. One month to go as of yesterday, excitement is building as advertising gets out and people start practicing for the big race… I assume they'll be practicing anyway, with such great prizes on offer! Prizes this year range from Six Nations rugby tickets, to football tickets and vouchers. With such a limited number of spaces available, 25 to be precise, we're guessing most of them have already been snatched up by the Olney ladies wanting to compete and catch a moment of fame. The highly famous event attracts numerous reporters and onlookers every year, and so this year is set to be no different. We're looking forward to it!

Find out more here