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My free-range hen party is nearly upon us, and I have just been getting the last details organised.

My creative friends Lucie and Jo are all prepared to give us a fun jewellery workshop and have come up with loads of special pieces they can demonstrate and help us to make.

I have ordered all the beads and tools I need for thirty people, and booked a room to hold it in from the lovely green people at RISC (Reading International Solidarity Centre).

Madam Tutu, the talented chef of RISC’s global café, is making our Ethiopian buffet dinner. Many of my hen friends have never tried Ethiopian food before, but I have tried it and loved it! Ethiopian cuisine seems to be a mixture of really hearty stews and rice dishes all served on a yummy flat bread, with plenty of flavour and not too much spice.

With the RISC policies of local, Fairtrade and organic ingredients where possible, I am hoping that it will be an ethical feast to make even the most nervous eaters in my hen coop go back for second helpings.

Some of us will then venture off into town as well for a few drinks and a night of dancing. I’m most looking forward to the jewellery. I love learning new things and I’m hoping that maybe I can even make something to wear with my wedding dress (which I collect from the dressmaker next week – that too is nearly finished).

I’m also glad that my hens and I have found something close to home that’s not too extravagant.  All my girlfriends have been able to afford the £5 contribution to the jewellery and the £7 dinner and everyone, from my Gran to the most party-mad of my friends, is coming along to at least a part of the day. I ‘m hoping it will work out fairly green to book a local room and learn a new craft, too!

But of course I won’t know how successful my idea is until after we all get together on Saturday. I’ll be back on the blog next week to let you know how it goes….