20 February 2021 - Books stolen from the Telephone Box
Hello everyone,
Sadly some upsetting news. Hilary was at the Telephone Box yesterday (Friday) lunch time tidying up as she does regularly. All then was normal but by lunch time today most of the books had disappeared together with a sturdy box used to store some of them. This means someone stole them in the 24 hours between the two lunchtimes. A vehicle would have been needed to take them away and a car was spotted parked adjacent to the Box this morning but there was nothing odd about this at the time. Also overnight there were some acts of mindless vandalism in the village which may or may not be connected. If you saw anything out of the ordinary – or even ordinary then but now possibly suspicious – email me or contact Hilary on 07707830846 or 832632.
Stay safe
Chris
9 February 2021 - Spud in a tub and carvery on a Sunday
Hello,
I have been reminded that although the Village Vegetable Show had to be cancelled last year Hilary, Shirley and Sue organised a socially distanced spud in a tub competition in the Mission Hall car park This was great fun and was won by Duncan Sleightholme with 36.95oz of potatoes . And before you ask, yes, the 0.05oz is important. In the hope that at least the same can be held this year, I am further reminded (because I am no gardener, just a gardener’s labourer) that now is the time to be planting your seed potato in a suitable tub. This gives you a chance to knock Duncan off his pedestal and become the proud holder of the Des Evans ‘Spud-in-a-tub’ trophy. This will ensure you the same year of fame and fortune that Duncan has enjoyed. Good luck.
Karen tells me that the Springhead Sunday carvery is available with free delivery to Sutton Poyntz and the close surrounding areas every Sunday. They are also laying on a Valentines breakfast treat if, as she says, you fancy treating your partner. Or as I would say, need the brownie points. Full details on their website or by ringing 832117
Last but not least, thank you to those who responded with news of what you are doing to combat the lockdown blues. A selection of these will appear in a later Newsbite.
Stay safe and smiling
Chris
5 February 2021 - Virtual Meetings and Welcome
Hi everyone,
In a recent Newsbite I asked if you would let me know what you or your club/society/organisation were doing to combat the lockdown blues, and that I would do my best to publish all replies, first names only, to bring a spot of good cheer. I would like to thank everyone who responded so generously to this appeal. Well, I’d like to thank them, but in fact nobody responded. This clearly demonstrates the power of advertising.
However, there was a virtual meeting of the SP Village WI last Wednesday afternoon when about 24 ladies gathered on-screen to conduct their business and enjoy one another’s company. It has been a very long time since they have been able to meet as a group so this was a welcome addition.
I can’t see virtual monthly Mission Hall Coffee Mornings taking off though. Partaking of refreshments on your own, even with other people on-screen, is definitely not the same as the real thing. Especially with no cheese scones on offer.
Last but not least a warm welcome to those who have recently moved into the village. It is not always this quiet, and we look forward to meeting you when the usual full calendar of events restarts hopefully in the near future.
Stay safe and smiling
Chris
31 January 2021 - Better news
Hello,
Some nice news. Ray Aggett has produced another book case for the Village Library and Information Centre aka the Telephone Box. Ray is the go-to man when items are needed around the village – you can see his efforts almost everywhere - and once again he has come up trumps. Thank you very much Ray, your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Whilst on the subject of the VLaIC, on Portland one of their Telephone Boxes is used, amongst other things, as a seed swap centre. This seemed like a very good idea, so Chairperson Hilary says that she will instal a tin in ours, probably labelled SEEDS. If you have any that might be of use to others then drop by the Box and put them in the tin. Might be an idea to label them, because to a very amateur gardener like me all seeds look the same. I wouldn’t want to plant some, expecting runner beans only to find out that a horse chestnut tree emerges.
A lot of the people I speak to – at a socially acceptable distance of course – are telling me that they have now had their (first) vaccination. This is good news indeed, and shows that they are rolling out well in this area. That first jab is effective in about three weeks, and maximum immunity only kicks in after the second jab. So if you have had one, don’t drop your guard but
Stay safe, Strong and Smiling
Best regards
Chris
28 January 2021 - Share things that are going on
Dear everyone,
Normally at this time of year I would be preparing my climbing gear for my annual end-of-January pilgrimage to North Wales. In 1971 four friends met in Snowdonia for a walking/climbing weekend and the group have met every year since. It has now grown to over 45 members, all sons, grandsons and friends of the original founders. This will be the first time in 50 years that our Dithw Walking Club has not been able to meet. We are sad but not downhearted, for we are organising a get together on Zoom for a quiz, chat and a speech or two.
So why am I telling you all this? Well partially to boast about being a member of such a longstanding and prestigious organisation, but mainly to use the club and its members as examples of the ways in which we are fighting back against the appalling events that have befallen everyone over the last year. I find it encouraging that despite not being able to get together we will be enjoying one another’s company at the usual time and in an appropriate way – with humour, conversation and concern for one another.
This is being mirrored in so many ways nationally and locally. One of our local book groups is continuing its activities. Books are collected from the library, distributed from a greenhouse then read and discussed by email. Other book groups are meeting over Zoom. On the afternoon that my archery club would normally gather we exchange a flurry of emails. Not quite the same as shooting, but welcome contact nonetheless. The Village WI has just taken part in an on-line quiz – hopefully more of this in a later Newsbite.
So how about letting me know what you personally or your club/society/organisation are doing to combat the lockdown blues? I’ll do my best to publish all replies, first names only, and hopefully they will bring a touch of colour to an otherwise drab world
Stay strong, safe and well
Chris
17 January 2021 - 1. Victorian Street Fayre 2. Vandalism
Hello everyone,
David Langridge, Chairman of the Victorian Street Fayre Committee, has announced that although vaccinations are progressing the current restrictions are likely to continue for a while so there will not be time to organise the Street Fayre for June. Therefore with a heavy heart they are postponing the event until Sunday 26 June 2022. This is especially sad as it has always been an excellent community event run by a dedicated committee and helped by over 200 villagers raising a lot of money for local charities. He would like to thank everyone who has assisted the organising team in the past and looks forward to your continued support to hold the event next year.
It seems that when things are bad, some mindless people go out of their way to make them worse. Tony reports that vandals went through Sutton Poyntz at some time between 4pm and 11pm on Saturday 16 January. They threw a bench into the stream in Silver Street and did the same to the planter beneath the Plaisters Lane road sign. Books from the telephone box were also strewn all over the road. Tony has returned all the items to their rightful locations – thanks to him for that - but he is be keen to know who might be responsible. Did you witness any of these stupidities, or do you know anything about what happened?
After all that I promise that I’ll try and find something cheerful for the next Newsbite.
Until then, stay safe, remain well and keep smiling
Best regards
Chris
12 January 2021 - Update on the Okhle Village Trust
Hello everyone,
Richard Backwell has sent me an email with some good news. He says
“In February 2019 a film and supper evening was held in the Mission hall to raise money for a water project at Samjur Village, the school there having been totally destroyed in the April 2015 earthquake. The Okhle Village Trust supplied the funds to rebuild the school but at the time were unable to help with their damaged Water Supply. I am pleased to say that thanks to the generosity of our villagers, the 2 newly built tanks now supply water to both the village and the school. Due to the corona virus which brought delays to the project, the money raised was shared between 3 Water Projects at Aru Bott, Gorkhalichap and Samjur and all 3 projects have now been completed, Progress was slower than usual because of a lockdown in the town of Dumre but I am pleased to say that the villagers themselves have been little affected by the virus. Thus far there has only been one case of the virus in the villages and the person in question was quickly isolated.”
This is a heart-warming report when there aren’t too many of those about. I well remember the supper evening Richard mentions. A splendid occasion which was one of the last to take place before lockdown. Richard works very hard for the Okhle Village Trust and the village has supported him a lot. So well done everyone and Richard in particular.
Best regards
Chris
1 January 2021 - Dogs and the Telephone Box
Hello everyone,
Firstly local resident Graeme reminds us that “a dog recently died as a consequence of eating palm oil washed up on Weymouth beach. Apparently, palm oil causes kidney failure in dogs and appears on the beach as small, innocuous white ‘blobs’”. Bill looked into this and found it very difficult to find anything authoritative on the subject. From what he discovered it seems that palm oil itself is no worse than a laxative, but while at sea it acts as a detergent, absorbing chemicals which can cause real damage to dogs. So the message is to keep an eye on your dog on the seashore.
Secondly, on the subject of feeding dogs, our own Mother Christmas, Maureen the Mill, was spotted just before Christmas delivering a delicious tasty treat that she had cooked up in her kitchen – no palm oil in sight – to selected village dogs via their owners. You can see that my sources are everywhere!
Thirdly, our hard working chairperson Hilary helped by Sue has tidied up the telephone box - sorry, the Village Library and Information Centre. They sorted out the books and ended up with a lot that Sue had to take down to the Household Recycling Centre, and Ray Aggett has kindly offered make another bookcase to create more space. It is marvellous that lots of people enjoy the books, but please limit any donations to paperbacks. Hardbacks take up a lot of room, and there is no demand for old reference books, their function having been overtaken by the Internet. One they found dealt with a medical condition that hopefully few Sutton Poyntz residents suffer from. So please, paperbacks only.
And finally, a very happy New Year to you all. May it bring everything that you wish.
Best regards
Chris