This week we’re getting into the Christmas spirit, and there are a couple of festive things that have caught the eye…

 

Eastside Projects Christmas quiz

This Thursday (15th December), Eastside Projects are holding a Christmas quiz. For just £1 per member, teams will get the chance to take on reigning champions Coventry School of Art and Design.  There will be mince pies, mulled wine and some festive banter. Winner takes all! The quiz runs from 6.30pm-8.30pm.

 

Ideal bobbles are back

The majority of body heat escapes from your head, so keep it warm skater-style with Ideal Skateboard Supply’s bobble hats, available on line and in store now.

 

 

 

 

Twixtmas

This has nothing to do with the Custard Factory, but it has a lot to do with creativity and we think it is great.

The festive season can be a very excessive time of year - eating too much, drinking too much and lying around too much. It can all take its toll and more often than not, we end up feeling groggy and horrible once the new year rolls in.  Twixtmas is a way of making us feel a little bit better about ourselves whilst helping others, and it doesn’t take much.

Twixtmas involves doing something every day between the 27th-31st December to either help yourself, help someone else or help the planet. The aim of the whole exercise is to make the most of the five days of the year when we tend to do very little, and use it as a time to improve our lives and start the new year with a smile! Here is what they suggest:

  • Day 1 (Dec 27th) – Do something selfish
    The first day is for you. Do something for yourself such as have a good laugh, paint a picture, do a dance or scoff that triple chocolate cake.   
  • Day 2 (Dec 28th) – Do something unselfish
    This can be as simple as giving something up for the day (like a mini-lent), giving to charity or helping a neighbour.
  • Day 3 (Dec 29th) – Do something for a friend
    Get in touch with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while,  share an old photograph, or smile at a stranger (not for too long though, they’ll think you’re weird).
  • Day 4 (Dec 30th) – Do something for the planet
    Plant something, pick up a piece of litter, save an insect or turn off the TV when you’re not watching it.
  • Day 5 (Dec 31st) – Do something for your future
    Count your blessings, aim to be more creative, make a list of things you want to do in 2012.

These are just suggestions of course…so what are you going to do? We would love to know and you can tell us via Twitter (@custardfactory). We haven’t quite decided what we’re doing yet but when we do, we’ll tweet it.

For more ideas and for the full story behind Twixtmas, visit their website.

 

Shelanu of Craftspace featured in BVSC

Shelanu is a collective of migrant and refugee women currrently working with Craftspace to produce craft pieces that are inspired by Birmingham. Their efforts have been featured in the December/January edition of the BVSC Centre for Voluntary Action’s newsletter on pages 8-9.  The women are working with Craftspace to develop Shelanu into a sustainable craft social enterprise. To find out more visit http://www.shelanucollective.co.uk/.

 

Digbeth Residents meeting with MP Mahmood

This Friday (16th December) the Digbeth Residents Association is hosting a question and answer session with local MP Shabana Mahmood at the Bay Leaf cafe and restaurant at 5.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and there will be a particular focus on Digbeth, the Birmingham Wholesale Markets and the Enterprise Zone.  

 

That’s it for this week, looking forward to hearing your plans for Twixtmas!