On Tuesday evening of this week, I took part in the aabw’s Ladie Pamper Evening held at the Barceló Troon Marine Hotel, by creating a table display to promote Sarah’s Creative Occasions services.

Considering the short notice I had to create an attractive exhibit, I was really pleased with the results and the response from our guests.  My thanks go to Jo and Lisa again, for their help in providing me with their flowers and balloons.

Many other businesses were there on Tuesday evening , exhibiting a selection of their products, including:

• Beauticians providing therapies and massages
• Jewellers
• Hampers including teddy bears and chocolates
• Belly dancing demonstrations
• Pilates class

On Sunday 23rd November the annual event of Wintertainment will take place in Troon.  Being the 10th Anniversary, this year the event is being called WinterTENment!

It’s a full and fun packed afternoon of festivities including:

• traditional parade
• fancy dress
• switching on of the Christmas lights
• lighting of the Beacon

For a full listing of activities and timings, please refer to Troon Online.

As mentioned earlier in the month, the Ayrshire Association of Business Women (aabw) now has a new look to their website and also their logo.

The modernised website now includes:

• a member’s gallery
• a news blog
• functionality to book your place at any of the monthly meetings on-line

I have been a member of the aabw since May 2008, and as well as finding it enjoyable to mix with the ladies and learn from the guest speakers each month, it’s invaluable to me as I grow my business by developing strong contacts and picking up tips from those who have been there before.

This coming Tuesday, 18th November, is the aabw’s ladies pamper evening.  Sarah’s Creative Occasions will have a display, and goodies available to all those who attend.

With Christmas and the Winter fast approaching and the threat of the ’credit crunch’, there is all the more reason to spend time exploring the variety of ways to de-stress and get ready to face the Winter ….. and the Christmas shopping (if you haven’t already started like me!).

There will be an opportunity to sample a range of holistic therapies, makeup, jewellery and much more ….. you may also be able to pick up some Christmas presents while you browse.

Tickets cost just £6 and can be booked on-line at aabw.

Hopefully it is not a surprise to hear that it is the BBC Children in Need appeal today.  If like me, you will have been surrounded by different groups of people fundraising in many ways to help raise money for the disdvantaged children throughout the UK.

I have donated some money this week, in return for going into a lucky draw to win a local caterer coming to my home to prepare, cook and serve a 3-course meal for 6 persons!

Children in Need is actually a charity that operates all-year-round, and they can always do with your help as the money raised never exceeds the thousands of applications received for funding.

So if you haven’t yet donated through a local fundraising event, please donate now.  There are many ways to donate and by far the simplest, is on-line.

Air Image Design is a photography and graphics business based in Prestwick, who can tailor a design package to suit you and your occasion, be it for a Wedding, event or party.  Brian, who runs Air Image Photography, is a very warm and friendly individual who will make any occasion that bit more special, ensuring your needs are well catered for.

Air Image Design can provide:

• Wedding stationery
• Invitations
• CD artwork
• Audio or video production
• Photographic gallerys and albums
• Web design
• Portraits
• Wedding photography
• Posters
• Flags

InDispense are a business based in Dumfries where you can hire the trendiest bar units and creative equipment for your Occasion, such as:

• Plasma screens
• Champagne fountains
• Bubble machines
• Confetti cannons
• Lighting

Each bar can come fully staffed with a licensed service, and can be assembled in any location.  The equipment can be branded with a logo or image, and can be coloured to match your colour scheme.

In November there tends to be a limit on the variety of garden flowers still in bloom as the weather turns colder, but there are a few and don’t forget the beauty of the autumn foliage too such as the Acer (Japanese Maple).

• Passionflower
• Autumn Clematis
• Hyacinth
• Autumn Crocus
• Michaelmus Daisy
• Hypericum Berries

If you prefer you can always consider a selection from the all-year-around favourites such as .

I should be upfront and advise that I am not a football fan in anyway, apart from, I do remember following the World Cup when I was a teenager with the likes of John Barnes, Gary Linekar and Paul Gascoigne to name but a few.

I’d never been to a football match and so it had always been on mind to try and go along to one at some point in my life.  Well I was at a charity evening a couple of months back, for the Ayrshire based Hansel Foundation, and during the auction a chance arose to bid for a pair of tickets for hospitality and a private box at Ibrox Stadium, the home of Glasgow Rangers Football Club.  I won!

So last weekend my husband and I went along to Ibrox, to watch the Rangers and Inverness Caledonian Thistle match which ended 5-0 to Rangers.  If you have never been to Ibrox, it’s an immense venue with a variety of private functions suites to suit all types, from a casual and contemporary lounge with a buffet area, to a plush dining and meeting room with waiter service.

While we were at Ibrox enjoying pre-dinner drinks and a lunch, Bert Konterman came over to join us at our table.  Bert is a former professional footballer, from the Netherlands, and he played for Glasgow Rangers between 2000 and 2003.  We had a lovely chat with him about his time in Scotland, and his family back home.

After the match we were taken around the famous Rangers Trophy Room.

It is important to me and my business, that I understand from my Clients what their opinion is of the services I have provided and what aspects may be improved.

Therefore upon completion of my Clients’ occasions, I ask them to fill in a 1-page feedback form.

I have received some wonderful feedback from a Client, which concludes “The whole service from start to finish was fantastic - could not have been better.”.