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Moda House News

By Jo MacArthur 25 Mar, 2024

Hooray! – Spring is on the way with longer and brighter days resulting in a dose of natural light,

Which is so important for health and happiness and making us feel a bit better than just alright!

We can open up the windows, give everything a good airing and begin a ‘de clutter’ campaign

To re charge the batteries, lift our mood and make us feel refreshed, renewed and almost humane!

We can enjoy the infectiously cheery songs by the birds and watch the plants and trees bounce back,

And finally pack away the heavy overcoat, scarves and gloves for a colourful lightweight anorak!

Here in Chipping Sodbury, we have more concerts, a Carpenters Experience and an 80’s Rock Show,

Plus the very first Sodbury Yarn Over Festival with a chance to see demonstrations and to say ‘hello’!

Badminton House is opening its gardens for all to explore and to see the Spring colour palette show

As we prepare for the unpredictable April weather of mini heatwaves, sharp winds, rain and even snow!

 

 

By Jo MacArthur 25 Feb, 2024

 

Hopefully the grip of Winter is firmly behind us as the days slowly get longer and lighter,

With the birds sing louder and louder, and we can finally get the feeling of all things brighter!

The earth pulls at us all to stir and move, and to start making plans and prepare for new goals

As we can begin to think about putting the boots away in readiness for the shorts and plimsolls!

We have the long Easter weekend to enjoy, plus St David’s and St Patricks day, and Mothering Sunday

And a chance to spoil her rotten with perhaps a meal more gourmet, and a stunning floral display!

In Chipping Sodbury we have concerts, a gala dinner for the RNLI, plays and the spring MOP Funfair,

Plus further afield The Gold Cup, and bread making at the Badminton Estate complete with crafty cookware!

So let’s enjoy the clocks going forward and the arrival of the glorious daffodils to make us all smile,

And plan a trip to our lovely town to explore, plus a visit at The Moda House and stay for a wee while!

 

 

By Jo MacArthur 25 Jan, 2024

 

Now that January is out the way we can begin to look forward to the arrival of longer days,

With the merest hint that the winter months are gradually going, and we can anticipate some warming rays!

But there is still Pancake and Valentine’s Day to enjoy with sugar, lemon juice and roses all round,

With the usual frying and flipping, and the romantic and commercial celebration merry go round!

In Chipping Sodbury there are concerts taking place plus a tribute to ELO and Lionel Richie,

And the Fawlty Towers dining experience, with Basil and Sybil causing chaotic mayhem and being bitchy!

More Moda marmalade has been made and the new dining room table has gone down a storm,

And the heating has been on full blast to cope with the arctic air, keeping the house all toasty and warm!

So let’s begin to await some early occasional sunshine and to all those women who are in love and carefree,

It is time to bite the bullet, buy a sparkling ring, chose a special location and get down on one knee!

 

 

By Jo MacArthur 27 Dec, 2023

 

The month of January is the doorway to the New Year, and the straddling of one year into 2024

That allows us to reflect, and then to look forward in anticipation of what might be in store!

Twixtmas represents those strange few days when it can be hard not to get down in the dumps,

But we should not let resolutions fall by the wayside and just think of things that will give us goosebumps!

It can be a depressing and bleak month with the lack of daylight and the bracing, blustery weather,

Plus brisk and bitter temperatures that can affect us all and bring us almost to the end of our tether!

In Chipping Sodbury we have Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood to cheer us up with a pantomime

With everyone on stage making sure we are fully entertained and having a grand old merry time!

At The Moda House the marmalade making will be in full swing with pans and pots bubbling away,

With the addition of a good glug of whisky which is surely enough of a reason to come for a stay!

So let’s embrace the New Year and look forward to some days out, little treats and a trip to the shops,

And we can enjoy the arrival of the sunshine yellow winter aconites, and the glorious snow drops!

 

By Jo MacArthur 27 Nov, 2023

It’s that time once again when we put up the sparkly tree, stick a Christmas wreath on the front door,

And get ready for the lights in the High Street to start twinkling with joy and wonder, and colours galore!

The déjà vu that goes hand in hand with Christmas and all that it brings is generally rather hard to avoid,

But we usually end up sticking to tradition rather than doing it differently and getting paranoid!

Here in Chipping Sodbury the Lemon Jelly Pantos returns with The Three Bears and Goldilocks,

  Featuring colourful characters, hilarious comedy, circus acts, lavish costumes and a jack in the box!

Why elbow your way around a busy shopping mall when you can visit the Vintage Handmade Fayre

With designers and artists displaying their unique gifts alongside tea and coffee and treats to share!

The Filton Brass Band are presenting a Christmas Spectacular just prior to our famous Victorian Day,

Where the streets will be lined with stalls offering gifts and food, plus a visit from Santa and his sleigh!

Camerata are also performing an eclectic mix of heart-warming music to get us in the festive mood,

And at nearby Badminton House a Scotch whisky tasting takes place with pairings of carefully selected food.

Mini Concerts are proud to announce the return of their annual ‘Countdown to Christmas’ show,

As they take you on a magical sleigh ride from Christmas past to Christmas present with a ‘ho ho ho’!

So let’s embrace the jolly season and spend some time to reflect and rejoice with those that we adore,

As we enjoy the festive holidays, hunker down for a few magical days and prepare to welcome in 2024!

 

By Jo MacArthur 25 Oct, 2023

 

We are firmly moving headlong into Autumn and whilst we might not relish the shorter days,

This season does offer the opportunity to press reset and shake things up a bit for the next phase.

It is time to put on some warner layers and to tuck into ‘hunker-down’ food such as piping hot pies,

As the ground is covered with the golds and reds of nature’s confetti which never fails to memorise.

There is still lots going on in Chipping Sodbury with shows from Phillip Douche and Fleetwood Shack,

Plus the chance on Remembrance Sunday to look back with thanks and to wave the union jack.

We also have a musical to celebrate Cameron Mackintosh’s incredible and stunning career,

Alongside an 80’s night and tribute duo, plus a recital and choral concert for all to enjoy and hear!

Here at The Moda we look forward to welcoming some Sodbury Slog runners for the annual crazy race,

As they tackle the mud, rivers and fields covering the 10 country miles in their own style and pace!

So let’s focus on the vivid colours as the swish of wellies stirs up a distinctive autumn perfume,

And embrace the chillier temperatures, the sometimes-dreary grey skies, and try not to feel the gloom!

By Jo MacArthur 24 Sep, 2023

As Autumn slowly creeps in, it is time for a change and to be in a somewhat reflective mood,

With the thought of stews and casseroles to come instead of the food we have enjoyed barbequed!

In Chipping Sodbury we have another wonderful tribute band with Coldplace playing at the Town Hall,

Capturing the feeling of a live Coldplay performance with the music and visuals to entertain and enthral!

There is also the Mind, Body and Spirit Fayre with the hustle and bustle of various stalls and workshops,

Plus tarot card readings and the chance to explore the worlds of Spirits, angels, fairies and crystal drops!

The pianist Angelo Villani is also on stage at the Town Hall playing Dante’s Inferno, and soon after that

Shaun Williams takes to the stage bringing his Barrioke to music lovers alongside his banter and chat!

Here at The Moda House our amazing Arabic door has been made into a dining room table extraordinaire,

To create a spectacular setting for The Full Moda experience making breakfast a very sociable affair!

So let’s prepare ourselves for the clocks to go back, and the trick and treating that comes with Halloween,

And get ready for the leaves to change colour creating quite a different feel and a stunning vibrant scene!

By Jo MacArthur 23 Aug, 2023

 

Despite the height of summer being over, there is still plenty going on in this busy little town

To make a visit well worthwhile, as events and concerts are certainly not slowing down!

The gardens of Badminton House are open for the last time this year with a final chance

For a fun a day out to visit the varied stallholders, and to see all the flowers in bloom with a last glance.

The eat: Festival also takes place with a one-day celebration of local and regional food and drink,

And the opportunity to try and buy lots of goodies, and to raise a glass or two with a welcome chink chink!

Buckle up for yet another Crazy Comedy Ride as the West Country’s Andy Ford brings his unique style

To the Town Hall, alongside vocalist Francesca Carly, plus a variety of dancers to ensure a Gurt Lush smile!

The Sodbury Players are back in action with a performance of Steel Magnolias, a play that must be seen,

And another tribute act is also on the stage with Take@That, one of the most popular acts on the scene.

An evening with Tommy Cannon is also taking place with an on-stage conversation and him revealing

The hilarity behind the success of a beloved comedy team, and a show of laughter with a nostalgic feeling.

And finally another chance to visit the famous Badminton House for a day of Sicilian cooking and nosh

With Valentina Harris creating traditional Italian dishes before sitting down to a feast in a setting rather posh!

By Jo MacArthur 24 Jul, 2023

Hard to believe that we are at the height of summer and the year is over halfway through,

As we continue to enjoy lazy warm afternoons, hammocks in the shade and the unique smell of the BBQ.

In Chipping Sodbury the Summer Search is well under way with this year’s theme being the Great Big Quiz,

Which is open to everyone to enjoy and take part in, from young and old, local or not, and from her to his!

There is also the Sausage and Cider Fest presented by the Football Club with lots of food and ciders on tap,

And local bands are also playing so hopefully the weather will behave and there will be a nice dry snap!

There is the South Gloucestershire Show taking place with an unforgettable weekend of more food and fun,

Welcoming live music, tractor displays, classic cars and a dog show, so fingers crossed again for some sun!

On the night of the glorious 12th get out the deck chairs and if the skies are bright and clear,

Spend an hour in the dark looking upwards stargazing, and the Perseid meteor shower might appear!

So let’s all enjoy the last of the summer weeks before we feel the creeping in of the autumn haze,

And make the most of walks along the beach, the days of spontaneity and the all-important holidays!

 

 

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