144 Villa courses

Sacred Sound Gong Evening at Barnwell Village Hall, Nr Oundle, Peterborough. Join Edwin and Harshani of Mind Body Wellbeing to relax, restore and feel replenished deep inside. www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk

Read and discuss Jane Austen's first novel - a most amusing satirical classic!  Highlights Join this book club and gain extra motivation to read in English 6 hours of live classes to help you develop fluent speaking in English Study this classic Austen novel and increase your knowledge of the gothic Be corrected by an expert English teacher to remove errors and mistakes Practise and develop your English online in this 6 week advanced book club course using the classic Jane Austen novel Northanger Abbey. Each week you read some chapters, discuss them in class and improve specific areas of vocabulary or grammar while also examining literary aspects of the novel. Personalised feedback improves your grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. The Book Club book Northanger Abbey is the first novel by Jane Austen, one of Britain's most loved novelists. Catherine Morland, seventeen, has left her village for the first time and is living in the town of Bath. She goes to dances, the theatre, and talks to her new friends Isabella Thorpe and Eleanor Tilney, who lives at Northanger Abbey and has a rather attractive brother... Catherine learns some lessons about life - about friends, about money, and of course, about love. Geoff says: "This is Jane Austen's first novel. Our heroine loves books and is always reading the scary popular "gothic" stories of the time - which makes for many funny moments. We read the original text of Northanger Abbey, which is relatively short (approx 77000 words)."

When we come together to make SoulCollage® in community, amazing things happen. There is a magic in this creative journey that only requires you coming along with your curiosity and imagination. No artistic genius recquired whatsoever. Just your presence! Images have things to say to us. They can call us through our hearts, our instinctual knowing, and our open intuitive minds. Images offer us portals and openings into a deep wisdom stream. All you need to do is be open to the images that are asking for your attention. Then you make a collage, then you listen to what it wants you to know. It is simple, and profound. This is an in place event in a creative studio in the delightful village of Hartley Wintney. You might like to linger after we close and take a look at the local crafts and antique shops, or take a stroll around the village green just outside of where we will be for the day. It is really quite unique. Getting there: Esiliy accessible by the M4 and M3. There is free weekend parking close to the venue. The nearest train station is Winchfield. Here are some things people have said about a SoulCollage® session at The Soul Shed: "Loved this workshop, from start to finish it made my heart sing.  It was a feast for the soul with words and images that were crafted into something rich and deep for me" -J.E "What stood out for me was how it just happened ....one thing alchemised into another thing” - L.B "I'd describe it as a good way to reconnect with your creative side, relax and maybe gain insight into what is happening inside you" - D.F.

LOOKING FOR: YA/NA FANTASY, SFF, HORROR, ADULT FICTION John Baker (he/him) joined the Bell Lomax Moreton agency in 2019, cultivating a list shaped around his passion for science fiction, fantasy, and horror, though has lately also branched out into action/adventure fiction. John focuses on authors writing in the Adult, New Adult, and YA spaces. John leads the wider agency's film & TV desk, is the Secretary of the Association of Author’s Agents, and the co-chair of the AAA’s Bridge Committee. He also serves on the Kingston University MA Publishing Advisory Board. Under the umbrella of speculative fiction, John is looking for fantasy, science fiction, horror, romantasy, or literary speculative fiction. He has built a reputation as a champion of underrepresented voices and stories, be it from creators hailing from the global majority and their diasporas or neurodiverse authors, and naturally gravitates towards this kind of storytelling. In short, if he’s never read a story like yours before, he wants to see it. Adult fantasy: John loves beefy epic fantasy, especially non-Anglo Christian-inspired. Give him an immersive world, a fresh magical or mythic system, and an exciting cast of characters and he’ll be happy. He is a broad church in the genre so loves a political fantasy, swords and sorcery, courtly intrigue, monster hunting and dastardly villains. John is keen to find an urban fantasy that feels fresh and fun and he’s a sucker for a heroic quest narrative. He’s also very open to fantasy that isn’t easily categorised, but it is playing in that world. John is keenly hunting for more historical fantasy, especially inspired by modern history. He’s had fun with mythological retellings in the past, but as ever, let’s make sure it’s shining the spotlight on new stories. He would also love fantasy that centres on types of relationships less celebrated in fantasy, such as established and secure married couples, or siblings. NA/YA fantasy: In this genre, most importantly, John wants to have a good time, whether it’s swoon-worthy kisses in lush ball gowns, or gruesome gore and monsters, so send him pacy, plot-filled adventures. He’d love more books that teenage boys would love: Skullduggery Pleasant forever! Romantasy: The thriving new romantasy genre comes with its own set of challenges, so John wants to know what makes your romantasy different; what will set it out from the (very crowded!) market. Give it completely barmy stakes, cool and unique new settings, or a love story that will make your jaw drop. To be clear, he’s happily sorted for a human person meets a fae creature in the spooky woods. Also, cosmic romance is the genre of the future. Give him romantasy in space. Easy. Horror: John and horror are old friends. He loves horror inspired by myth and folklore, subversive weird horror that leaves your eyebrows in your hairline, historical horror that pulls from ghastly true stories, and anything that you’ll be reading with the light on. He also loves a gothic element and is particularly looking for horror with a strong romantic throughline, fun YA horror, and female & NB horror authors. Science fiction: SF is coming back! And John has been shouting about that. He loves to see an adventurous found-family romp through space or an epic, crunchy space opera. Speculative near-future is fun too, in the vein of Black Mirror’s more uplifting episodes, (e.g. San Junipero). He loves YA science fiction as well; the more creative the better. Literary: John is open to finding more rich magical realism or something character-led yet supernatural and would love a high-concept mystery, in the vein of Stuart Turton. He also loves spec fic that uses the speculative lightly as a way of confronting a deeper truth in society today. Weird stuff: John wants books that will blow people’s minds and defy categorisation. This is hard to describe, but think Gideon The Ninth, The Library At Mount Char, This Is How You Lose The Time War. John loves a pitch that leaves the editors baffled but intrigued. Action/Adventure, Historical Adventure, Espionage: John is branching out into non-speculative adventures, such as John Le Carré, Lee Child, Ian Flemming, and Mick Herron. More as his taste develops, but the hunt is on! Not looking for: military sci-fi or hard SF, or anything with biblical “character wakes up in purgatory/heaven/hell” narratives. The right comedic fantasy has yet to hit his inbox, but please don’t comp Douglas Adams or Sir Terry. John would like you to submit a covering letter, 1-2 page synopsis and the first two chapters of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, John is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Tuesday 16th September 2025

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Training Academy in Manchester and the North West

Make this beautiful sunhat from English rush. Rush is soft on your hands to work with and has a multitude of different shades of green, brown and yellow making your hat very individual. During the day you will learn how the rush is grown, harvested and processed. No experience necessary, refreshments provided please bring your own lunch.

This tour comprises of 5 nights and 5 full days visiting and photographing some of the most iconic locations used in the Outlander television series.

A slab-building pottery workshop, using stoneware clay to create your own Northumberland Castle! Suitable for all ages and ideal for families.

Make this unusual Ying Yang with an integrated rustic handle. During the course you will use several different natural coloured willows and apply different weaving techniques to make your basket completely individual. Enjoy a day of craft with refreshments provided. Please bring your own lunch.

Learn to assess, design, and monitor solar PV power plants with EnergyEdge's comprehensive training. Master PVsyst software for bankable system simulations.