Hurrah for Gin

A rare night off from children, responsibilities and partners, meet a fantastic group of like-minded people and an author and mother whose very witty and honest account of parenthood will make you laugh out loud.

Her book is not a how-to-guide. It won’t tell you how to get your baby to sleep, how to deal with toddler tantrums, how to be a good parent, a cool parent or even a renegade parent. It is a book about parenting that contains absolutely no useful advice whatsoever. Instead it shares beautifully honest anecdotes and illustrations from the parenting frontline that demonstrate it is perfectly possible to love your children with the whole of your heart whilst finding them incredibly irritating at the same time.

Sarratt Village Hall, The Green, Sarratt, Rickmansworth, Wednesday, November 23, 7.30pm. Details: 01923 283566, chilternbookshops.co.uk

The Vivo Awards

The second annual awards’ night to be held at the Frogmore Paper Mill - Visitor Centre (this is the nice heated part of the Paper Mill!). Price of ticket includes some top class Vivo D’Arte entertainment, bar, disco and opportunity to vote for a number of awards.

Frogmore Paper Mill, Fourdrinier Way, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead, Saturday, November 26. Details: vivodarte.co.uk

St Albans & Harpenden Review:

Aida

Opera & Ballet International presents an Ellen Kent production with international soloists, highly-praised chorus and full orchestra. Aida, the grandest of all Ellen Kent’s operas, returns to the UK with a stunning new traditional production.

In Aida, the splendour of Egypt is set against the grandeur of the Coliseum of Rome with Ellen Kent’s direction influenced by the ancient Greek dramas of Euripides and symbolising the powerful religious hold of the priests of Egypt. This tragic story of war, jealousy and revenge at whose heart is the doomed love of the beautiful Ethiopian slave girl, Aida, and the Egyptian hero, Radames, is brought to life in a production set against one of the greatest pieces of music Verdi ever wrote with the well-known arias Celeste Aida, Ritorna Vincitor and the classic Triumphal March featuring a temple dance, cascades of glittering gold and amazing fire performers.

Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, Sunday, December 4, 7.30pm. Details: 02036 598914