Stonemanor: for all your Burns Night Essentials

If you’re getting set to Celebrate Burns Night, Stonemanor may be worth a visit…

Stocking all sorts of Goodies, including Haggis, Neeps and Tatties and not forgetting the Scottish Staple IRN BRU, you can celebrate in Style this January.

See the Newsletter for more details.

SHAPE Language Centre New Courses commence February, Enrolling Now!

If you want to learn a new language or brush up on your existing language skills the SHAPE Language Centre is worth a visit. 

With courses on offer in daytime and evening and a range of course available at all levels, this is an awesome opportunity for some personal development.

This February also sees the start of the NEW Croatian Class!

Contact Shape Language Centre for more information.

Winter Walks And Hikes

Winter hiking…there’s a unique charm to exploring the snowy landscapes. If you like the crisp, cold breeze on your cheeks and the crunch of frosty ground (or squelch of soggy ground) underfoot then you will love these Wallonian Winter Walks

The High Fens region, can offer a serene winter wonderland experience with frozen ponds and frosted pine trees. Here are a selection of cosy winter hikes complete with hot chocolate breaks...and places to stop and admire the landscape.

• Top 10 winter hikes in Limburg | VVV Hart van Limburg
• An enchanting hike amid the magic of winter - Slow tourisme - Tourism in the Ardennes
• Best 20 winter walks and hikes in Belgium

If you have any hiking recommendations or favourite walking routes, please do drop me a line!

The Pantaloons present Snow White & the Seven Dwarves, 23rd to 25th January 2025

You can’t complete a festive season without a bit of Panto! Oh no you can’t!

Join the BSB based Panto company “Pantoloons” as they journey through an enchanted forest to meet Snow White and her unusual friends!

Guaranteed to make you laugh, this pantomime will have you looking "behind you" and checking dark corners for something a little... strange.

Meet a Prince who can't resist a song, a sparkling Mirror with a personality all of its own, and a cook with a serious sweet tooth. You’ll even get to help bake a cake—but be warned, don’t sit too close it’s a messy job!

This delightful collection of colourful characters will have you singing along the moment the curtains open, but don’t hang around with the fairies, book your tickets before they mysteriously disappear.

WHEN:    Thursday 23rd January 2025 @ 17.30
                 Friday 24th January 2025 @ 19.30
                 Saturday 25th January 2025 @ 14.00 and 19.30
WHERE:  Brel Theatre, British School of Brussels

Book your Tickets before its too late!

Meet Wallonia’s two National Parks…..

If you want to get out and blow away the cobwebs, there are some beautiful National Parks right on our doorstep.

Discover the two Walloon national parks, where untamed nature immerses you in stunning, breathtaking landscapes. Located in the emblematic regions of southern Belgium, these preserved spaces promise incredible memories.

Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse and Semois Valley, are dedicated to biodiversity and sustainable tourism. They are perfect for hiking, biking, or canoeing, and they offer the ultimate escape into nature.

For more information about the Wallonia Region, click Here

New Defence Survey for those in a Long Term Relationship

If you’re in a Long Term Relationship (LTR) with a Service person, Defence would like to hear your views and experiences about Service family life. 

Defence has launched a pilot survey to better understand the experiences of Long Term Relationship partners, including dual-serving partners, of serving personnel. This survey is anonymous and closes on Monday 3rd February 2025.

Please note that this survey is open to the entire LTR population, and is separate to the LTR Overseas pilot scheme survey that is also currently ongoing.

What do you like about Service life? What can be improved?

Your feedback will help Defence to deliver the UK Armed Forces Families Strategy (2022-32), which drives policy and initiatives in areas such as family healthcare, education and accommodation.

Your feedback will also help Defence to develop eligibility for support, allowances, and accommodation to those in couple relationships. 

How to complete the survey 

This survey can be completed using a Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge web browser: https://www.tools.mod.uk/surveys-ltr/.

To access the survey, please enter your partner’s Service number as the ‘token’ or 'access code'. Please be assured that Service numbers are not linked to responses and is only needed as a security precaution. Dual serving couples will also need to enter their partner's Service number.

This survey will take approximately 10 – 15 minutes to complete.

Every response counts

We want to hear from as many of you as possible, so we can make informed decisions that will have the most benefit for you, and the wider LTR community. Your responses will also be used to inform how we communicate with you in the future.

Rail Sale offers up to half price discounts on over 2 million tickets

Back and bigger than ever rail sale.

From 14th to 20th January 2025, selected advance and off-peak fares will go on sale at up to 50% off for travel between 17th January and 31st March 2025.

As part of this year’s rail sale, thousands of popular routes across almost all UK train operators, including Transport for Wales and ScotRail, will be offering discounted tickets with journeys spreading the length and breadth of Great Britain.

Discounted rail ticket prices will apply to journeys made between 17th January and 31st March 2025 across Great Britain.

The sale is now live with tickets available through the Rail Delivery Group’s microsite or through individual train operators until 20 January.

For further information: Back and bigger than ever: rail sale offers up to half price discounts on over 2 million tickets - GOV.UK

National Transition Event, Silverstone, 24th February 2025

‘Bringing together a community of communities’: Registration now open for the National Transition Event at Silverstone on 24 February!

Now in its 6th year, the National Transition Event (NTE) brings together Service Leavers, Veterans, Reservists, spouses & partners and family members to aid successful, sustainable transition & networking opportunities, recognising, demonstrating and celebrating the value of the Armed Forces. It uses the backdrop of the iconic GP racetrack to offer a unique event giving those attending a way to find out about careers and roles across different industry sectors while having a memorable day.

NEW for NTE25 is an invitation for 16–18-year-old Cadets to come along and hear about the opportunities open to them in the job market, apprenticeships and training.

This is the largest event of this kind in the UK and you are invited!

Within the five large Exhibitor Halls there will be exhibitors from sectors including Automotive, Renewable, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Professional Services, Construction, Engineering, Project Management, Cyber, Digital & AI, Facilities Management to name a few. In addition, there will be small business support, CV writing, interview techniques and LinkedIn advice; government and charity support services; a Family Zone and training & apprenticeship information.

Three reasons to attend:

1. The UK’s largest Armed Forces community event of its kind – feel welcome and have your valuable skills understood

2. Over 200 exhibitors wanting to share their knowledge and insight into the world of work – including meeting many veterans, reservists & family members working in industry

3. The Troops’ Track Day– run by Mission Motorsport on the GP Circuit 

To Register for free simply click this Eventbrite link here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-national-transition-event-2025-tickets-1086959307549?aff=oddtdtcreator

Little Troopers launches All Together family reconnection weekends

The military children’s charity, Little Troopers, has launched a series of free family reconnection weekends for forces families to spend quality-time together.

Funded by Team Forces, the four Little Troopers weekends invite young people and their parents to go away for an exciting few days of outdoor adventure and connection where they’ll be encouraged to put down their phones, meet people, do new things and spend quality time together.

NHS Better Health: Make 2025 the year you quit smoking

 

* Make 2025 the year you quit smoking for good. There’s lots of free support available to help you.

* Join thousands of other people preparing to quit smoking this New Year.

* Quitting smoking is best thing you can do for your health. Get ready to quit for good this New Year.

* You’re far more likely to quit smoking successfully with the right support. Discover what’s available at NHS Better Health and prepare to quit for good this New Year.

* Getting support from your local stop smoking service gives you the best chance of quitting smoking successfully. Visit NHS Better Health to find your nearest service and get ready to quit for good in 2025.

* It’s never too late to quit smoking and you will notice almost immediate improvements to your health when you stop. New Year is a great time to join others giving quitting a go.

* Did you know that the average smoker could save around £3000 per year by quitting? Track your savings with the free NHS quit smoking app.

* Want to quit smoking but not sure where to start? Get your free personal quit plan now.

* Want to know more about using a vape to quit smoking? There’s lots of information available on the NHS Better Health website.

NHS Better Health has a range of content and tools to help smokers make a successful quit attempt, all of which can be accessed at www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking