Update Jan 13 2024

 Hello Everybody,

Welcome to this week's Know Your Neighbours newsletter. Apologies to those of you who had problems with last week's newsletter. I can only assume the copy and paste facility had become very fed up with me!

Christmas Lights.

Firstly, a massive thank you to those of you that came out in force last Saturday, and helped us to get the Christmas lights and tree down in the village. They are now all safely stowed away and ready for Christmas 2024!

To make sure we have a smooth transition for next year, it would be very helpful if we could have a very quick get together, of those people who would be willing to help in one of the following ways next year:-

Admin

Help with storage (in a public area)

Gather volunteers together.

There are other areas, but a short meeting with willing folk, would be very useful, so please let me know if you could be part of this team. Remember, it isn't many hours of work - it's just to facilitate a little light for a few weeks each year.

REGULAR VILLAGE ACTIVITIES AND INFO (This section is repeated every week, so please feel free to skip if you don't need it this week).
St Peter and St Paul Church Seal

The Church Events Team have been busy planning events for the first part of 2024. 

HERE ARE THE PLANS SO FAR:-

ECO CHURCH EVENTS INCLUDING VEGANUARY LUNCH AND WALKS ON ALTERNATE SATURDAYS THROUGHOUT LENT(MORE DETAILS BELOW).

MOTHERING SUNDAY CAKE SALE

QUIZ NIGHT MARCH 23RD

ZAMBRA WAY GARDEN PARTY AND SALE JUNE 22ND

PATRONAL FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS JUNE 30TH

TEA FOR 2 IN VILLAGE GARDEN BETWEEN AUG 5TH AND 12TH

RETURN OF THE GLORIOUS LITTLE GARDEN TEAS/LUNCHES

THANKSGIVING SUPPER IN OCTOBER

HARVEST ECO ACTIVITIES FOR HARVEST.

Please watch this space for more detailed information nearer the time.

SEAL LIBRARY TEA SET

Frances is also working on her programme for 2024, which looks to be presenting with an interesting array of speakers each month. Again, please watch out here for more information.

SEAL ECO CHURCH

Bring & Share lunch: 

 All are warmly invited to a Bring & Share Candlemas plant-based lunch at 12 noon on Sunday 28th January, in St P&P’s Seal church hall.

 As it’s Veganuary, we’re planning to share and enjoy vegan foods together. We know everyone will be making meat & dairy-free dishes sometimes, or even often, but if any recipe ideas are welcomed, there are a selection of books for loan, & some recommended recipes, on the EcoChurch table at the back of Seal church. By freely subscribing to veganuary.com, an online recipe book can also be yours at no cost!

There’s a sign-up sheet at the bank of church, in order to plan a balance of dishes & give us some idea of numbers for table setting, but anyone not managing to sign up will still be very warmly welcomed on the day, of course! 

Swap Table in December:

Thank you so much to all of you who supported our first “Help yourself/ Swap table” in Church early last month in any way. It was superb to receive so many donations, welcome new faces and hear from a few visitors about enjoying some new articles of clothing! 

    The household, toys and clothing left over, were received most enthusiastically by Kent Relief centre in Tunbridge Wells, which has an incredible team of volunteers sorting donations and providing both a huge area for refugees to choose items to freely take, and a crating up service for trucks taking vital goods to various points in Ukraine, funded by the organisation. They welcome all sorts of items, especially seasonally required clothes and bedding. They’re always short of volunteers, too, of course: www.kentrelief.org.uk.

TALKING VILLAGE
Monday afternoons between 2pm and 3.30 in Deniz's on the High Street. Buy a cup of tea or coffee and join us on the Talking Village table, for a chat and to make new friends, or catch up with old ones!

Saturdays - First Saturday of each month in Seal Library from 10.15am-11.15am. Join us for a coffee whilst out browsing for your library books.
At both these venues, there will always be two hosts to welcome you, and we look forward to meeting with you and getting to know each other better.

FRIDAY GROUP
Meets each Friday morning in the Church Hall between 10.30 and 12.30   Coffee, chat, by all means, bring your crafting with you but mostly, enjoy the company.

MESSY CHURCH CHURCH HALL - 3rd SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH (EXCEPT AUG & DEC) 3pm-4.30


SEAL TIDDLERS
 In Seal Church Hall £2 per session pre schoolers and parents/Carers Monday mornings 9.30-11.30 tea drinks snacks for children art activities singing. Term time only.

JESSIE'S YOGITRIBE
Seal Village Hall Saturday mornings plus much more - see www.yogitribe.com or call Jess 07976 522726

PILATES IN SEAL

Village Hall Wednesdays at 10.30am You can contact Sarah on 07963 618226, or s.ratcliffe2620@gmail.com

QIGONG IN SEAL
Seal Village Hall Wednesdays 7pm and Fridays 9.15am. www.bewellwithannabel.co.uk or 07784 181151

SEAL ALLOTMENTS
Please contact sealvillageallotments@gmail.com

SEAL CHURCH CHOIRS
Adult and junior choirs looking for new members - practice Wednesday evenings -sealpandp@gmail.com

SEAL CHURCH BELLRINGERS
Have you ever had the urge to ring the church bells? If you are interested, we are always looking for new ringers, so please contact Paul Thompson paul.h.thompson@hotmail.co.uk

SEAL OVER 60s
2nd Saturday of each month 2.30-4pm.Seal Village Hall. £4 per head, for a delicious tea, interesting speakers and great company. Call Chris 01732 763585 or 07759 808814
.
SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB
Thursday evenings Seal Village Hall contact Alan Davies jandadavies@hotmail.co.uk

SEAL SEQUENCE DANCING -
Village Hall Tuesdays 8pm -10pm contact awatts@talktalk.net

SEAL SCOUTS, CUBS  AND BEAVERS.
Please contact 9thgslsevenoaks.scouts.org.uk for current information.

DANCE FOR FUN FOR OVER 50's
- Village Hall - Tuesday mornings -10.30am - contact Luci 07748 008431.

SEAL LIBRARY-
Opening hours - Tuedays 2-5pm, Thursdays 10am - 1pm, Fridays 10am - 3pm and Saturdays 10am-2pm.
Thursdays -Derek - the IT Guru/Buddy, is available for appointments on Thursday mornings from 10.15. If you would like some help with your computer skills, please book an appointment through the library.
Fridays 10.30-11am  Story Time with Jenni  
Book Club first Tuesday of each month 2.30-3.30
Tea Set - Fourth Tuesday of each month - 2.30-3.45 - An interesting speaker at each session, with tea, cakes and great company!
Free Drop-in Crafts for children -  first Saturday of each month.

CHURCH HALL BOOKINGS - Maggie Fox - 01732 762840
VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS - Gerry Froggat - 01959 522545
SEAL PAVILION HALL FOR CHILDRENS' PARTIES - 01732 833360Christingle Service -  Sunday December 10th at 10am - a Christmas service not to be missed -all welcome as always, and an opportunity to stock up on cakes and small Christmas gifts after the service.