Openings Everywhere

January is nearly done, tomorrow it's February! And snowdrops and primroses are appearing, hazel catkins exploding and even daffodil bulbs pushing up; whatever the vagaries of our weather, nature is opening up towards spring. 

It's also the time of year for local independent school Open Days, including today Ballard School, 28 February Moyles Court School and 21 March Walhampton School (pictured).  Open Days are a great way to see a school on show plus all including Durlston School which had one recently, will also be pleased to offer a private tour!

Tomorrow and Sunday it's Open Weekend at Palais des Vaches - with a number of further open weekends (including caterers to provide yummy sustenance while you gaze at the views without and the art within) to follow over the next few weeks, all listed in the Diary section below.

Have you visited any of our local hotels and hostelries lately? They too are gearing up towards the new season and many are hosting special events for the upcoming weekend of Valentine's Day (see Diary below for a plethora including at Stanwell House, Le Blaireau, Cambium (both at Careys Manor), Balmer Lawn and Rhinefield House, and again in March for Mother's Day. There are also top notch cookery classes like Japanese Otsumami Street Food and Knife Skills - Meat at Chewton Glen, fascinating workshops and special events, for example at Rhinefield House tomorrow night there's a Murder Mystery Weekend, on 22 February a Sound Meditation Workshop with Afternoon Tea and on 29 March a Yoga Workshop with Afternoon Tea.

A mention too for the Thatched Cottage Hotel in the heart of Brockenhurst Village, in whose cosy interior Esme's Tea Room serves delicious breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea; perfect for a well earned stop if you're finishing a forest walk or bike ride! (See Diary below and book now for Mother’s Day Bike Ride in the New Forest: Mum Rides Free!)

Our New Forest hospitality sector works incredibly hard to keep things going through the leaner seasons as well as in the more obvious peak holiday times. Stating the obvious, they also work the hours when we wouldn't want to. Do click the links for detailed information about the individual events listed in the Diary below, support our local hospitality businesses and have a great time doing so!

And now drawing your attention to some upcoming events at Lymington Community Centre:

• Tomorrow the Lymington Players will present a special Parkinson & Dementia Friendly Performance of 'Steel Magnolias'. Attendees are invited to a pre-performance lunch at 12.30 of sandwiches & cake with tea, coffee or juice. Curtain up at 2pm. 
• Next Thursday there's a free taster session for the new Chicago Bridge Club.
• And next Friday an Illustrated Talk, one of the Lymington Society's regular social gatherings: 'Major Armed Confrontation with Smugglers at Naish'.

An amusing item to conclude. Following last Sunday's BBC Countryfile  which featured the 'commoners' of the New Forest, people apparently leapt onto social media in consternation about the use of such a derogatory term! In the programme Commoner Jake had appeared with his horse Jimmy and explained how with their equine partners they all watch out for each others' livestock as well as their own and feel privileged to be commoners: "Once you're a forest person, always a forest person - it's the best way of life ever." Read here

And 'pinch punch' and 'white rabbits' for tomorrow! (Here's some history about why we say these ridiculous things.)

Best wishes Jane
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Read the rest of this week's newsletter here

And check out What's On in the Diary of Upcoming Events!

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