12 May 2020 - Over the Hill and Planters
Dear all,
I came across the attached purely by accident – yeah, right – which appears to be something called ‘Over the Hill’. If anyone can identify the source please let me know and I will take the appropriate action, or not , as the case may be.
Linda Kirkpatrick tells me (to be honest, she told me a while ago but I’ve been tardy in letting you know) that Ray Aggett made some planters for the Street Fayre. But as the Street Fayre isn’t happening this year, Linda has painted them to be sold now. When I last passed her house, Dunelm in Puddledock Lane, recently there was at least one planter still there, and some bird boxes – at least I think they were bird boxes, but it was difficult to tell as I pass at such a pace, as those of you have seen me walking will know – which are yours for a minimum suggested donation. All the money raised is going to Dorchester Hospital. So a beautiful hand crafted planter for you and the money goes to a great cause. Well done to Ray and Linda for this initiative.
Finally, remember the advice from BBB (Blonde Bombshell Boris) and stay a lert.
Those of you not yet lerts will have to practise to become one.
Regards
Chris
7 May 2020 - Scarecrows, flour and mud
Dear all,
In the short time since the last Newsbite with a suggestion from a villager about scarecrows, there have views on the subject from a number of concerned villagers and news that perhaps the holiday camps will re-open in about three weeks’ time. With that in mind the SP Committee have reconsidered their decision and now feel that it would be better to postpone the idea of scarecrows throughout the village until further notice. If you have already created an 18 foot tall by 8 feet wide representation of an old style hospital matron then store it in your garage until the next Village Vegetable show comes around. You will be sure of an honourable mention.
On a happier note Balfy’s bakers have raised well over £100 for local volunteer groups helping the vulnerable. Balfy managed to obtain a large bag of flour, and parcelled it up into 1 Kg bags for his bakers in return for a donation. So well done to Balfy and to everyone who donated.
And last but not least, those of you who have walked up through the field above what I still think of as Hunt’s Timber Yard - difficult because the footpath has been ploughed over - to the stile at the top will know how boggy that area has been. So full marks to whoever placed the various stepping stones to make passage a lot easier.
Regards
Chris
5 May 2020 - Scarecrows
Dear All,
Thoughts are turning to life after lock down, and one suggestion from Joyce Peel, enthusiastically received by the Committee, has been that life could a little more enjoyable if the scarecrows were to reappear. By scarecrows I don’t mean those scruffy walking souls like myself who amble through the village, but the type that in past years have graced gardens in the run-up to the Village Vegetable Show. The scarecrow event won’t be advertised of course – wouldn’t want lots of people arriving to tour the village – and it won’t be a competition, mainly for the same reason. But it should be great fun, and add a touch of humour to your daily hour of exercise as you view the artistic efforts of your neighbours. So put your thinking caps on, and no excuses about not having enough time. That’s one thing we are not short of at the moment! One theme could be homage to our hard working key workers, but if you have a good idea of your own, go for it. The start date will be on Monday 1 June (or about, it’s not cast on concrete, nor should your scarecrows be, as it makes them difficult to remove) and they could stay up for most of the summer Place them where they can be seen easily, and remember that if you are creating more than one then they must be two metres apart to meet the social distancing rules.
Let those creative juices flow and keep positive
Chris
28 April 2020 - More good news
Dear everyone,
Again some good news. Let’s hope that this is a pattern which will continue.
Firstly, Tony Ferrari tells me that once more you have come up trumps with your donations to the Sunday foodstuff box collection at the Telephone Box. As you know these foodstuffs will be used by Littlemoor and Preston volunteer support group to help those in need at this difficult time. Such was your generosity that by Sunday afternoon the box was overflowing, and then some of the more eagle eyed amongst you spotted a suspicious character emptying the box, and wisely reported that the food was being stolen. Well fear not, for after Sherlock Hubbard’s detailed forensic examination of the circumstances, I can tell you that the ‘thief’ was none other than young Louie O’Leary who organises the volunteers! He did not want to leave foodstuffs out overnight in case of foxes or other varmints damaging it. As a suggestion Louie, it would probably be better next time if you didn’t wear your mask? He returned on Monday to collect further donations, and would like to record his thanks for all the support you have provided. The food will all be put to very good use. Well done to everyone who is helping this worthwhile venture.
Secondly, a reminder that DCC garden waste collections resumed yesterday, so put out your bin on the usual day and they will whisk away all the detritus (you can see who has been passing the time by playing Scrabble) resulting from tidying up your garden.
Stay safe and positive.
Best regards
Chris
18 April 2020 - Garden Waste collection and other things
Dear everyone,
Nice to be the bearer of a little good news for a change. Dorset Council have announced that it will be resuming its garden waste kerbside collections as from Monday 27 April. I think that they are to be congratulated not only for this move, but also for keeping the normal recycling collections going in very difficult circumstances. Rightly we are very grateful to the NHS staff for taking care of us so well, but there are other essential workers out there who also deserve praise for keeping vital services running. Well done.
Talking of NHS staff, we were outside our front door at 8pm on Thursday evening clapping in support of the efforts they are making to keep us safe. Some more ebullient neighbours were banging kitchen utensils together, but being a quiet restrained character I refrained from this noise making.
You might have noticed in the Echo that the Weymouth and Portland Police gave Easter eggs to their colleagues in the Ambulance Service as a small thank you for their work in the front line. I mention this because it was my Paramedic Grandson George in the picture receiving an egg, and I can say without bias that he looks very handsome. A chip off the old block in fact.
Only 12,102 more Newsbites to my free coffee at a Winter coffee morning. Soon be there.
Stay safe and positive
Best regards
Chris
16 April 2020 - News on the Telephone Box Donations
Dear everyone,
Tony Ferrari has sent us news of the response last Sunday to the appeal for donations to the Littlemoor and Preston volunteer support operation, which you can read about in the attachment. This was magnificent effort from everyone concerned, organisers and donors alike. Keep up the good work. Tony will be putting out the food box at the Telephone Box again this Sunday 19 April, so if you contribute again, or for the first time, he would be very grateful. You can also donate money to purchase items; see the attachment for details. If you need food or other items yourself, or you know anybody who does, give Louie a call 07809 905412
When I sent out Over the Hill I was a bit previous with the location of the online version of the combined Register and Wyke Register. It is now on the website at www.registermagazine.co.uk
As I walked down Puddledock Lane I came across some more ‘freebies’ put out as a result of garage/house tidying work. This was behind what I think is Jez’s house, and was a large wine rack, free to a good home. According to Jez(?) it was surplus to requirements as he has bought a larger one. Personally I think he should have kept it, as you can never have too much space to store wine.
Stay safe and positive
Chris
13 April 2020 - Not the conservatory
Dear everyone,
Another note about neither the conservatory nor the greenhouse but the Telephone Box, this time in its role as the village library. Hilary says that people are obviously reading more at the moment and borrowing lots of books from the Box, which is great. She does ask however that you return them when read, and/or donate some more paperbacks, as stocks are running a bit low. Out of consideration for the social distancing procedures, there should be no more than one person in the Telephone Box at any one time – as if! But more seriously, if you are worried about accessing the books, wear gloves and put the books into a cloth bag. On getting home put the bag somewhere out of the way and don’t touch it for five days. This should be long enough for any germs to die off, and of course you can wash your gloves.
One or two of you have wondered about the rate at which the number of Newsbites still needed for my free coffee morning has been dropping. It’s a little more rapid than you might expect because I am taking advantage of a two for one offer plus a special discount for those who come from Wales, which means that there are only 14,467 more needed. Roll on.
Stay safe and positive.
Chris
11 April 2020 - Three items for your delectation
Firstly, an apology for being a little misleading in the last missive. Tony Ferrari will be putting out a food collection box tomorrow at the Telephone Box opposite the Cartshed. The mention of ‘a conservatory’ caused some confusion, as some of you were expecting something altogether more imposing. So that’s donations of food for the Littlemoor volunteer network to distribute in Preston and Littlemoor in the box by the TELEPHONE BOX tomorrow.
Secondly, there is on-going discussion as to how the Village Vegetable show might take place in virtual space. While this might not prove practical, Jez Cunningham points out that this weekend is the traditional time to plant your spud-in-a-tub entry. If you don’t start it off now you definitely won’t win, so give it a go. For anyone not familiar with the concept, the competition is for the heaviest quantity of potatoes grown in a tub, from just one seed potato. There has been debate in the past over what size of tub is allowed, but this has proved inconclusive. In my view, if you can’t lift it you wouldn’t be able to deliver it, so that should be the limit.
Thirdly, the free Register magazine is not being printed this month. There is an on-line version at http://www.registermagazine.co.uk/distribution.html?LMCL=yeEYYk
But just in case you share my computer skills, the May version of ‘Over the Hill’ is included above as an attachment.
Only 15,001 more Newsbites to my free coffee morning.
Stay safe and positive
Best regards
Chris