August draft v2

In a vicarage garden ... (see page 54)

ASHLEY PARISH MAGAZINE August 2020 1

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AUGUST 2020 CLERGY LETTER from The Rev. Sara

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"Nar they cost reyde aw abite Jabez" * Roger Bloor

Wilfred Bloor, the author of the Jabez North Staffordshire dialect stories in the Sentinel who wrote under the pen name of A Scott also published three books of his stories in North Staffordshire Dialect.

A centenary compendium edition has been produced by the author’s sons to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Wilf. The book has been compiled from the original three Jabez books published in the 1970’s. The compendium contains many original photographs taken by the author which portray many of the events and scenes which he used as a background for his stories.

In addition the book has links to audio files of the author reading phrases from the stories. The photographs and stories provide a unique social record of life in a North Staffordshire rural mining village in the period between the two World Wars.

All profits from the book go to Keele University Archives Special Collection for the maintenance of the W.A. Bloor collection of North Staffs Dialect documents.

Copies are available from the author’s number 3 son – Roger Bloor. £11 with free personal delivery to Ashley and Loggerheads residents 07777662442 or email to bloor.world@btinternet.com Also available on Amazon UK £11 plus postage.

• “Now you can read all about Jabez”

This article first appeared in the August 2015 issue of the Magazine.

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Letter to the Editor from Barbara Dent GOSSIP Recently there has been a tragic accident in Ashley village. The distress caused by this was compounded by untrue, evil gossip posted on the local website.

Do these gossip-mongers realise that activities like theirs have caused young, vulnerable adults to commit suicide. If they do, do they care?

If you must gossip: 1)

Make sure your facts are correct;

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Think twice and ask God’s guidance.

I’m sure the answer is written in the second great Commandment: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR. Therefore, don’t spread evil gossip.

MARKET DRAYTON FOOD BANK desperately requires donations to help some of the most needy in our society and can be delivered to The Parish Rooms Church St Market Drayton TF9 1AF Tues 09:00 - 11:00 / Fri 10:00 - 13:00 or leave donations at Loggerheads Co-op especially: UHT milk, long-life fruit juice, tinned fruit & potatoes, pasta &sauce, coffee, biscuits, jam, sponge puddings, custard & rice pudding, tinned meat, fish & vegetables, cereals, nappies sizes 5&6 only, laundry washing powder/liquid, washing up liquid.

Alternatively, a monetary donation can be made via BACS or cheque. See details here: https://marketdrayton.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-money/ More information on their website https://marketdrayton.foodbank.org.uk/

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This article first appeared in 2015 when Charlotte was in Year 3 at Hugo and it’s great that she’s given permission for it to be reprinted this month.

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“I’ve got Peter Shone on the line…”

I was 7 when I made my first phone call. Out of view from my mum I lifted the enormous black bakerlite telephone from its cradle and shouted into the mouthpiece, “ I want Daddy to bring some biscuits home”. In those days the telephone operator answered from the local Melbourne exchange at the top of Potter Street. “It’s Mr Shone’s son” I heard one of them saying before a second lady came on the phone, “Is that you Peter? Is your mummy there?” at which point my red faced mum appeared, took the phone out of my hand and apologised to Mary, the operator, for my mischief.

Last Wednesday, daughter Olwen asked me to help her with three ‘online’ concerts which she had arranged for pupils of Your Space Music Lessons. At 1pm four students appeared on screen and we kicked off with a piano piece called ‘Rain’ performed by Rose in North Uist, a place with the best internet connection in the UK, and the most rain. Next Eric performed ‘Greensleeves’. “Where are you from Eric?”. “Kunming in China, it means Spring City” he showed me the spectacular view from the window of his flat which overlooked this great and beautiful Chinese city with its all year round springlike climate. Then Anthony played Barcarolle from South Uist and Olumade played a Beethoven piece. Olumade lives in Lagos Nigeria. He said their temperature was a cool 28C and just like Ashley, they were in the middle of their rainy season.

The 3.30 concert started in Welwyn Garden City and then Adetoke played ‘Polly Wolly Doodle’ from her home in Stavanger which is in ………?.

After a song from Huddersfield we moved back to Lagos where Olumade’s sister was performing a violin piece.

At 5.30pm the adult performers kicked off with a burst of jazz saxophone from Nick on the M25, then Roy strummed and sang Alan Jackson’s ‘Remember When’ (worth looking up). from his conservatory in Walsall.

Opera student, Ravi, sang Vaughan Williams’s ‘Vagabond’ with lyrics by Robert Louis Stevenson describing an English tramp living under the stars. He sang in full English character from his very un-English home in India . The party was in full swing when Benny sang from her beautiful city of Florence and then impulsively invited us all to Italy. The finale came from Ally on the piano with Chopin’s famous Nocturn in C sharp minor. A lilting ‘go to sleep’ Nocturne from her home in Iceland under the brightness of the midnight sun.

Continued on page 37

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Hymns that mean a lot to us. No 99 God be in my head (attributed to Pynson’s Horae)

God be in my head, and in my understanding; God be in mine eyes, and in my looking; God be in my mouth, and in my speaking; God be in my heart, and in my thinking; God be at mine end, and at my departing.

If you were looking for the perfect hymn, this could be a prime contender. Usually sung to the eponymous tune “God be in my head” by Sir Henry Walford Davies (1869-1941), this is one of the shortest (and oldest) hymns in “Ancient and Modern”. It is reminiscent of an “affirmation”, instructions or commands that one might give to oneself on how you want things to be. There are five, one-line verses, each in the same format - eyes/looking; mouth/speaking and so on: a masterpiece of brevity.

According to the website “Hymntime”, its source is the Sarum Primer (1538), a “Book of Hours” or psalter frequently designed for lay people. Our hymnbook, Ancient and Modern New Standard gives the source as Pynson’s Horae, 1514.

Richard Pynson was one of the first printers and produced many influential books (according to Wikipedia). The actual author is unknown.

Walford Davies was born locally - in Oswestry - and studied under Hubert Parry and C.V. Stanford after winning a choral scholarship to St George’s Chapel Windsor. After the death of Elgar, he was Master of the King’s Music. He wrote many pieces of church and orchestral music.

This is a prayer suitable for all occasions - weddings, funerals - or just for everyday.

Sung, it has majesty, depth and spiritual power. What more can one want?

There are lots of versions of the hymn on YouTube, including this one from the choir of Trinity College, Cambridge which shows the musical score as it is being sung. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ5GF3gVlbc

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Old church photo

A Collect for Peace (Book of Common Prayer)

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MARKET DRAYTON METHODIST CIRCUIT Looking back on our recent services: Sunday 5th July After a warm welcome from Rev. Ruth Jeffries we sang “Blessed assurance” led by the Mark Savill family from their garden room. Paul Savill and family sang “King of Kings.” After prayers of praise and thanksgiving we asked for forgiveness for our shortcomings.

The MDMC puppets acted Matthew 25, sorting the sheep from the goats.

By serving others we serve Jesus himself. Graham Russell read to us from Acts 2 – Peter addresses the crowd. Rev. Ashley Cooper from Cliffe College gave us his thoughts on this passage. The disciples were in lock down, living, praying and waiting together for the help that Jesus had promised to send them. All around them the world went on its way. They were scared but they knew they had seen the living Christ. With Jesus’ gift they would be empowered to communicate their faith as God wanted them to. As we wait for release from lock down we should be praying for a new Pentecost so that we too can step out with the ability to explain our belief in our Saviour to a world that is longing to hear. God is expecting a people ready to share their faith. We must use this time to prepare to spread the word of God for a better world.

Jessica sang to us: “If faith can move the mountains… we wait for you.”

With ukelele and guitar accompaniment the Faul family sang “You are here.”

We prayed for concerns worldwide and personal concluding with a prayer from Rev. Richard Teale, President of the Methodist Conference, asking for grace to enter the new life that is coming. After we had sung “Love divine” Ruth asked us to pray for our leaders as decisions are made about the safe reopening of our churches for worship.

All our worship songs and services are on You Tube. (Search for Market Drayton Methodist Church). There is also a link from our websites: www.mdmc.org.uk and www.ashleymethodist.co.uk.

We hope you will join our online service next Sunday at 10.30am or at a time to suit you.

If you are struggling with being alone or need help please leave a message on 01630 6655957 and someone will contact you. .

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The Benefice Prayer Chain For someone needing prayer it can be very comforting to know that there are other people praying and thinking about them. Many people get a feeling of love and strength. They also feel they are not travelling their journey on their own but someone else is there to support them.

A prayer in a way is a relationship in itself; it allows us to have constant awareness of God. A relationship can promote a feeling of strength, encouragement, and a feeling of love and well being. The prayer chain too is a type of relationship or prayer circle. The prayer chain, the people who pray for others, and those people who need prayer, form a circular relationship.

The prayer chain we have in the benefice consists of a number of people, currently fifteen, from different churches in the area. The prayer chain tends to be used for those who are ill, it can be used for emergency situations, for example if someone has just had an accident or is taken seriously ill. We can and do continue to pray for those with long term problems, whether they be due to illness or other situations, for example unemployment.

If you know someone who would benefit from having prayers said for them, where possible please check with them first before contacting the prayer chain.

We do all remember that confidentiality is a must; on the other hand we do not have to have any details of the person to be prayed for if that is their wish.

I would, very much, like to have other people join the chain or eventually form other chains. If you feel you would like to be involved or would like to know more, or would like to use the chain for yourself or someone you know, please contact me on 01630672804 or 07866455768 Anna Mortimer, Reader

COLLECT

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JASMINE gets excited and has quiet time with Mum Well have I got news for you! Primrose has had a ramp to help her get in and out of the car due to the fact her “springs” have gone (that`s what Mum* says).

She is becoming more confident and puts her front paws on while mum assists with the back ones then up she goes such a clever girl mum says and it has only been a week. She has a biscuit as a reward and we have one too as it would not be fair otherwise. I have tried it I can run up and down at speed but I don`t get another biscuit.

My sisters are virtually 10 and 11 which means they are getting older still fit to walk The Downs in the morning not the steep hills though so, in the afternoon we have a new walk we go across a field and walk by the quiet side of the canal. It is such fun we get so excited and bounce up and down out we go of the secret gate in the laurels. Dad has put tree bark on the rose garden as occasionally I have been known to run over it and that is a “No Jasmine”. Both mum and dad took us the other afternoon it was so hot I clearly forgot where I was and jumped into the canal Mum nearly had a heart attack! I was shocked ‘cos my feet didn`t touch the bottom - good job I have learned doggy paddle. Mum pulled me out but then in jumped Honey and Primrose! Honey has the biggest feet, like paddles,: she was born to swim and Primrose is quite good. I get a bit panicky although we have all swam before in the Lake District, Grasmere. Now we smell of Eau de Canal - it is a new fragrance for the élite!

That is so funny don`t you think. We had a bath in Dogsbody shampoo and I think we smell far better now.

I tell Mum to leave the radio on for Dad when we go walking in the morning because we always have it left on for us. You mums and dads have to be” pawsitive” by ensuring pavements are not too hot for our paws - test them with your hand.

During our quiet time when mum and I discuss whatever happens to be on my mind I said humans say “in the doghouse” but humans live in there as well. How about a “dog-eared book”? Well, a poor dog would get a very sore neck if their ear was used as a bookmark so that’s quite impractical. Barking up the wrong tree how do you know which the right tree is. All important to us dogs.

Bye for now.

Jasmine * “Mum” is Sue Lea

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(Clockwise) Frog(let) Marsh thistles Elder flowers Ragwort

August photos by SUE LEA

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Charity No. 1179850

Befriender Lifeline Loggerheads Befrienders might have had to stop meeting for coffee and exercise but we are continuing to support our community during this challenging time by helping with shopping, collecting prescriptions etc and keeping in contact with people by phone.

If you need any assistance or would just like a chat please contact us on: 07523512934.

If you are able to volunteer to help us to help others in isolation please also contact us. This might be shopping for them or just giving them a call to make sure they are O.K. We have some top tips for those who are volunteering to keep you and those you are in contact with safe and healthy.

The other place to go for help at the moment if you are NOT one of the people who received the “at high risk” letter is the Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council website (and if you don’t have access to the internet just ring the number above and we can help you do it). Go to www.newcastlestaffs.gov.uk and click on the red button in the top left corner that says “Coronavirus (Covid 19) Assistance For residents who are in need of support”.

Please remember that there are still those about who are not what they seem and will try to scam you, by phone, on your doorstep and on your computer. If in any doubt the simple message is DON’T DO IT and ask someone else first. Only give money to someone you know or have been put in contact with through your family, a neighbour or the Befrienders.

Remember your Neighbours – look out for those who can’t go out.

Phone: 07523512934 Email: loggerheadsbefrienders@gmail.com Web: loggerheadsbefrienders.org.uk

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OUR PASTORAL CO-ORDINATOR During our time of lock down, with all live church services and meetings suspended, probably one of the hardest working members of our team at Ashley Methodist Church is our pastoral co-ordinator, Jill Harrison. Having served pastorally for many years Jill took on this voluntary work in 2018 to assist our minister, Rev. Ruth Jeffries. She has enhanced DBS certification.

The main task is to keep in contact with all who attend Ashley Methodist Church. Normally much of this takes place around our Sunday worship. Jill makes home visits to those not able to come to church and enquires after anyone missed at services. She enlists help from church members with hospital visits, organising rotas for visiting, lifts etc. Ruth and Jill take communion to the home bound if they desire it. Those who move into a care home are visited regularly.

The current social distancing situation means Jill has to rely on telephone calls offering help with shopping, collecting prescriptions etc. We all try to share some of this and Jill follows up any problems as far as possible.

Our isolated members very much appreciate her regular calls, Rev. Ruth is kept up to date with regular reports. All this takes a considerable amount of Jill’s time to say nothing of the phone bill! But Jill is a people person and full of Christian care. Getting to know people, sharing in their joys as well as their sorrows, is very rewarding, she says.

Jill grew up in Stoke-on-Trent and worked as a legal secretary. She met Keith in 1967 at St Paul’s Methodist Church, Bentilee, where they were married in 1974. Three years later they moved to the Cotswolds where Keith set up a new branch for his company. Daughter Aimee was born in 1987. They moved back in 1989, first to the Ashbourne area, but a year later they settled in Ashley and started to worship at AMC. Aimee joined the thriving Junior Church.

The Harrison family has served our church in countless ways over the years. Currently, besides tackling various maintenance tasks, Keith is circuit treasurer and a church steward, Jill is communion steward, gift aid secretary and a leader of the Fun Club and Aimee is our circuit administrator. We are very grateful indeed for all their cheerful and efficient Christian service. Jill is a bright light in the darkness of Covid 19. Thank you, Jill!

Margaret Maxwell

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God does not change so the Church must! Some thoughts…*

by Doug Heming, (former Curate, Ashley Church)

Most people in the Church would argue that God and His purposes don’t change. I agree with this sentiment. The Bible refers to God as ‘the Father of lights in whom there is no change or shifting’. So how does the fact that the Church might need to change if it is to stay relevant and have a future fit with this idea?

Whilst the Bible communicates the idea of God’s unchanging nature I believe its wider message suggests that the ways in which we interact with God must change. We must change because He doesn’t! Over time I think we must expect God’s ageless message of love and inclusion to be communicated in new and different ways. It is because the person and purpose of God do not change that the Church must find new and innovative expressions of His unchanging love.

In fact an unchanging message demands to be expressed in different and changing ways if it is to remain clear and authentic. It is perhaps a bit like a marriage, or a relationship between child and parent, where love must find new expressions in order that its strength and meaning is kept alive. To me the fact that God might speak not in a once for all set of traditions and commands, but through a growing relationship with the world, is a more believable basis for faith communities. His unchanging love must be expressed in new and innovative ways with each generation!

So perhaps the way in which the Church must see change is in the context that innovation and transformation are vital to the established message of Divine love. I do not believe the Church of England is the sole vehicle of God’s interaction with the world. It has had a valuable part to play and it has the potential for a vibrant future. But if a certain tradition or institution no longer communicates the true purposes of God, then God is by no means beholden to that tradition or institution!

The survival of the Church of England is not God’s main agenda! But I think a clear message of love and acceptance to the world is! *This article first appeared in the July Magazine, 2013. It seems particularly appropriate for the current situation, with churches worldwide closed for communal worship and many using Web applications to share the Christian message. {Ed.}

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A description of the properties of windes all the times of the yeere.

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Hot, mindful walk with Sue Lea Sue walks every day in the woods with her dogs and it’s great to join her.

It is 19 degrees at 7am this is hot! I have got the sunscreen on and a straw hat as well as sunglasses, so I am prepared. We are walking beneath the shade of the trees and the birds are singing. What a lovely time of year with a cloudless blue sky and the sun beaming down. The dew remains on the grass which must be divine for the dogs’ paws.There are train tracks not foot prints for as I lift my foot it still catches the grass. Once in the sunlight the dew sparkles and never fails to make me happy.

Have you ever noticed how many different types of grass there are - it’s amazing and there is a blackbird singing, its orange beak such a striking contrast to its shiny black feathers. A large branch with alder flowers has fallen blocking the path requiring a detour for me while the dogs run beneath. We have had some strong winds in previous weeks.

I am quickening my pace to avoid the swamp as the dogs love to walk through it - they emerge with black legs. Just walking by the meandering stream makes me feel cool as I can`t walk through it. The sun bounces off the water making it look like liquid gold and creating many shadows. I have taken a photograph it looks like a jigsaw puzzle. There is a cluster of tiny white flowers hanging over the edge, skimming the water. Wood pigeons coo overhead while a couple of rabbits dart across the field. Over the field dotted with white clover and up the slope back into the shade of the trees it is so quiet and peaceful. And what a find - another small honeysuckle with such beautifully-perfumed flowers. I nearly missed it due to the brambles that are stretching out as if relaxing while bees enjoy the nectar from the white flowers.

I stride down the steep incline of the field and the gate clangs shut behind me. The dogs are ahead and we are being eagerly watched by “my” large inquisitive crow that sits in the middle on a wooden post directing walkers. It has hopped off and is following me which it does every day.

The field is dotted with common ragwort. It has yellow flowers - this one has lovely a ladybird on while the next a brown slug! There are also many wild flowers: clover predominately white, herb Robert, meadow sweet, plenty of marsh thistles over the far side and here at the bottom a lilac cuckoo flower. As I approach the stream I can see something small moving in the grass they are tiny frogs so beautiful. Now is my time to sit on the bank to watch and listen to the water whilst surrounded by bird song. The ground is dry and it feels good to sit on the earth rather than walk on it making me positive and energised. : Lockdown has been good for me it has given me time to reflect and appreciate nature. I have welcomed every day with gratitude. Every light begins with darkness.

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MARKET DRAYTON METHODIST CIRCUIT LOOKING BACK ON OUR SERVICES

Sunday 12th July 2020

Welcoming all to worship, Rev. Ruth Jeffries began with some words of praise from the Psalms.

As families can now meet the Savill and Cooper families led our songs together: “The strong will rise” and “There is a redeemer.”

Puppet Ralph “sang” “The Lord set me free”, along with Freddie Mercury.

Ruth asked us to give thanks in prayer for all our blessings, most of all for life and freedom through Jesus Christ, and we shared the Lord’s Prayer.

Our musicians then led us in singing “I’m gonna jump up & down” while the children danced in the garden with great gusto. Mark Savill junior read to us from Romans 8: through Christ Jesus we are set free from condemnation.

Mark Savill senior considered what this freedom means. In first century Palestine people were restricted on all sides by Roman rule and the Jewish law. We too are longing for release from current limiting rules.

The ten commandments give us a code to live by. In the Old Testament people failed repeatedly so God sent Jesus to resolve this. His crucifixion paid for our sins, overcame death and gave us a way to obey God’s law through the Holy Spirit. The commands become promises as we are given a new start. Everything is turned round within us. The Holy Spirit fills us with an all pervading desire to follow God’s ways. We can never be separated from God’s love. Whatever we do he loves us. Anguish, despair, sorrow, hate, death are replaced by peace, hope, joy, love, life. Will you choose to accept this freedom and be released into a new way of life?

Pete & Kat Williams led more worship songs and we prayed individually for the matters that lie heavily on our hearts. The service concluded with a great hymn: “And can it be?” In her blessing Ruth prayed that we be held in the palm of God’s hand.

All our worship songs and services are on You Tube. (Search for Market Drayton Methodist Church). There are also links from our websites: www.mdmc.org.uk and www.ashleymethodist.co.uk. We hope you will join our online service next Sunday at 10.30am or at any time. If you are struggling with being alone or need help please leave a message on 01630 6655957 and someone will contact you..

Our services can be viewed again at https://www.youtube.com/ marketdraytonmethodist Margaret Maxwell 34

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“I’ve got Peter Shone on the line…” (continued from page 11) Here in Doctors Bank Ashley I contributed an extract from Grieg’s piano concerto to go with Adetoke’s location (got it yet?) and also ‘Gypsy Dance’ by John Ireland with our friends in Blackbrook very much in mind.

To talk and listen live to so many enthusiastic musicians performing with crystal clear internet from all over the world into my music room here in Ashley, in the company of my daughter in North Uist, was exhilarating.

No-one at our Ashley Telephone Exchange would have been listening in, I know, but Mary in the long gone telephone exchange at the top of Potter St in Melbourne, would have loved to have had Peter Shone on the line for this particular call.

Prayer for a summer’s day Mary Oliver

I don't know exactly what a prayer is.

I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day.

Tell me, what else should I have done?

Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? excerpt from: The Summer Day by Mary Oliver New and Selected Poems, 1992, Beacon Press, Boston, MA For full poem see www.loc.gov/poetry/180/133.html

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The rollercoaster of life by Ellie Hegarty Life is like a rollercoaster Rolling down the track Always moving forward And never looking back.

We go through life’s ups and downs Laughs and cries, smiles and frowns But let’s not dwell upon the past Otherwise life will come whizzing past.

The Collect for Trinity Sunday (Book of Common Prayer) Reflection Continued from page 11 It is that in our daily lives we receive from so many people. We rely on others for our food, electricity, roads, post, refuse-clearance, water, health care – the list seems endless and we could all add more categories. We grasp that our sense of independence is a myth. We do of course make individual choices, but our lives are in fact utterly interdependent. This is a moving recognition on Trinity Sunday when we are reminded that at the heart of our faith is a God within whom there is a relationship – a loving interdependence - between three Persons. Today, in addition to

asking God to keep us steadfast in this beautiful and dynamic faith, we ask him to help us hold fast to our appreciation of other peoples’ contribution to our lives.

We will value and respect what habitually we took for granted, and we will accord a dignity to those whom we once barely noticed..

James Graham

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Media Watch: Coal’s becoming a thing of the past “Coal is currently generating 0% of Britain's power. The coal-free run has lasted 62 days and 11 hours so far.” Source: Drax Electric Insights. Last updated at 11:30am on 11 June

This statistic is a major milestone in the decarbonisation of the UK’s energy industry. It’s the longest period of not using coal to generate electricity since the 1880s. In fact, the aim is to close all coalpowered stations by 2025. Some have already been demolished—you can watch this happening online—just Google “blowing up power stations”. Strangely satisfying to watch!

The COVID lockdown has partly helped by reducing the demand for electricity from manufacturing, but also there has been a massive increase in renewable energy sources.

Biomass contributes 14%, with wood pellets replacing coal in power stations such as Drax.

Solar contributed a modest but important 4% in 2019, whilst wind farms gave us nearly 20%. Just one turn of one of the giant turbine blades in the North Sea farms (picture) provides enough power for one home for a day.

Then there’s other kinds of waste that can be used to generate heat and electricity in combined heat and power units. Bruichladdich (pron. brew-laddie) -- one of eight distilleries to be found on the Scottish isle of Islay -- and other distilleries are using anaerobic digesters to turn whisky waste into electricity. “That’s the spirit!”

In remoter parts of the world you can cook on stoves powered by biogas. I like the idea of this: collect up your poultry droppings and hey presto, the kettle’s on. (I am sure I have seen this on TV).

But it is probably a lot more complicated—see this report for a serious and detailed appraisal of biogas technology for domestic cooking in different parts of the world.

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“Cousin Betty from Cornwall” sent this poem for the Magazine. She was having a clear-out and found this poem (there’s no author given). Betty has been locked down at her McCartney and Stone residence in Falmouth but baking cakes like mad for everyone having celebrations. She tells me that she does her twice a day exercise by going up and down the stairs. Thanks Betty!

I MISS MY MIND Just a line to say I’m living, that I’m not among the dead.

Tho’ I’m getting more forgetful and mixed up in the head!

I’m used to my arthritis, to my dentures I’m resigned, I can cope with my bifocals but, ye gods, I miss my mind ~

Sometimes I can’t remember when I’m standing by the stair Should I be going up for something or have I just come down from there?

Beside the ‘fridge so often, my mind is full of doubt:: Did I just put some food in or just come to take it out? ~ If it’s not my turn to write dear, I hope you won’t be sore, I may think that I’ve not written but don’t want to be a bore. ~ So, remember, I do love you and wish that you lived near But not it’s time to mail this and say “Goodbye my dear”.

Tons of love xxxxxx

~

P.S. When I stood beside the mail box, oh boy, was my face red.

Instead of posting this to you, I opened it instead!

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Do you wigwam? Gardening Notes by The Editor I’m writing this in the middle of June and beans are very much in my mind.

Every year I ask myself the same question—what is the best way to put up a support for the runner beans? A Google search (and nosing over the fence at other people’s gardens) gives lots of ideas. One of them is the wigwam method.

Well, I say “method” but there are all sorts of variations. The basic idea is to put canes (or some other thinnish pole) into the ground at an angle and tie them together near the top.

Plant the beans underneath each and they twine themselves round and round (mine go clockwise, looking down the cane from above, I wonder why not the other way? Do all pole-type beans grow like this?). (Another method is in the background.)

There are potential issues to consider. Once the beans grow, they offer quite a lot of wind resistance, not to mention the added weight of the runner bean pods. So, it is possible for the structure to collapse in a high wind during August or September. If you are flush with canes (or, even better, metal poles that might have been left over (in our case) from gazebos bought for Battle of Blore Heath re-enactments) then it’s a good idea to put a centre pole in first, and have a minimum of 5 poles fairly well spaced out for greater rigidity. We have loose, sandy soil so I like to drive an old spike into the ground first to make a deep hole to put the canes/poles into. Another issue is where to tie them! I used to tie them together near the top, but now I tie them half way or 2/3. This gives a lower centre of gravity for the structure and the beans that grow to the top of their pole are more easily harvested.

Wigwams are good for dotting runner beans around the garden in vacant little spots. But I always like (we have a big garden) some substantial “ridge tent” structures for the main runner bean crop. I put two poles in, two feet apart, at either end, tie them near the top and put a long “ridge pole” between the two. Again, wind resistance needs to be guarded against so I put a pole (on the inside of the structure) at each end at 45 degree angle to brace the uprights. Then you can lightly insert canes or poles along both sides and tie them to the ridge pole, before sowing your beans just underneath each one. I also drop a length of netting (again suspended from the recycled tent poles) either side whilst they are young to protect against birds / free-ranging hens.

There is something satisfying about seeing sturdy runner bean edifices around the vegetable garden!

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Book Review A Farmer's Year: Being His Commonplace Book for 1898

By H Rider Haggard (1856-1925) I loved “King Solomon’s Mines”, as indeed have many lovers of adventure fiction. This book, however, is true. It is a fascinating account of a year in his life as the owner of farms in Lincolnshire. It originally appeared as a serial—I suppose the then equivalent of a “blog” today. The book was reprinted in the 1980s, and you can still buy it (although it is pricey, at least from Amazon.) At one point in the book he bemoans the fact that, whilst one can read accounts of births, marriages and deaths from years gone by in the Parish Registers, you can’t find out much about people’s everyday lives.

So he hopes that “one hundred years on, this book will be of interest for that very reason. And indeed it is.

For farmers, it is interesting to read about vicissitudes of farming, and he rails in particular about “Free Trade” which must have been a hot political issue then. What is free about it, he asks when shiploads of grain come from the US and are sold at rock-bottom prices in England. Not only is the local farmer not making much, if anything, on his own grain, but the imported product has not contributed anything to the UK in taxes?

The book is not only about farming. We also hear of his frustration at the poor attendance and support for Parish Council meetings, and a lot about the weather.

I could quote many passages that amused me, but I will just quote the following: “It is certain that people, before the invention of these Heaven-sent machines, who were devoted to walking, now walk no more...and I believe it will be difficult to induce children who are growing up today to put one foot in front of another.” Echoes of today’s children perhaps and “screens” of one kind or another? But he is talking about bicycles.

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Bible Readings for Sunday 5 July The Fourth Sunday after Trinity From: The Book of Common Prayer The Collect O God, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal: Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake our Lord.

Amen.

The Epistle Romans 8.18-23 I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope: because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

The Gospel St. Luke 6.36-42 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again. And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master; but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

Alternative versions of Bible readings are available online at BibleGateway.com

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The Fab Five

By Jessica Simpson The fab five is who we are, Ava , Ava , Emma , Charlotte and Jessica.

We started singing in year two, Now we all know what to do.

We love to sing because it’s fun, Maybe one day we will be number one.

Peter Shone is a great teacher, Kindness, perseverance and patience are his best features.

He never gives up, he keeps on going, Jeepers Creepers. Oh What a Beautiful Morning,

This Little Light of Mine, Dove of Peace, Peter helped us to learn them with ease.

All Creatures of our God and King, This is one of my favourite songs to sing.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Is another one we all know.

The Woody Woodpecker song,

How could that possibly go wrong?

With Peter guiding us through, We even know the Chattanooga Choo Choo!

Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree, A big ‘’THANKYOU’’ from us and me!

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Diary of a Grandad August 2020. Black chalk and kites Grandad likes to browse YouTube videos on farming, gardening and DIY. Most of them are from the US where enthusiastic (often bearded) blokes demonstrate their skills, or cunning tricks for getting thorny problems solved.

Such as how to pull out a tree root, or extract the remains of a rotten fence post. Quite a few are on the subject of making charcoal. The attraction of home charcoal making is not easily apparent, I must say. The videos show that to produce enough lumpwood charcoal for a barbeque requires quite a lot of wood and time and apparatus. As one comment said, “All that, when you can buy the stuff at a garage!” Anyhow, the idea appeals, especially when you have lots of wood and space to experiment, so I had a go on a very small scale.

The principle of charcoal making is to burn wood without oxygen. It ends up as charred wood that has several properties. You can draw with it if you are artistic. Or if you set it alight (as for a BBQ) it burns without much smoke and with a lot of heat. What I did was to get an old biscuit tin, bash four holes in the lid with a nail, put in some pieces of willow of different thicknesses, and then put it in a small bonfire. If you watch, steam comes out of the holes and then flame. This flame is woodgas, which has been produced commercially to power cars for example. After not very long, I let the can cool down and— hey presto—the wood had turned to charcoal! Quite satisfying.

I went to share my success with the grandchildren. “What is it Grandad?” They wanted to know. Mum Becky said, “It’s like black chalk, you can draw with it.” This must have fired up their imagination for, a short time later, they were all sitting cross-legged on our yard drawing on the flagstones with said “black chalk”. They had decided to play an outdoor version of “Pictionary”.

Grandad had a birthday the other week and of course had to have a party just like the Grandchildren get. I said I would like a cake with Cadbury’s Flakes on (my fav. chocolate) [“only the crumbliest, flakeyist chocolate tastes like chocolate never tasted before”, who says advertising doesn’t work?] as well as some home-made blackcurrant ice cream. I wanted some games and Rosie suggested buying the children some kites. Ordering online got them here in a couple of days and making them occupied the youngsters for quite a while.

We could not fly them there and then because it was far too windy but the following two nights kite flying was very successful. Callum decided he needed to go inside so he got the tractor to fly his kite for him whilst he was away (pic).

Must end now but next month I will tell you about an amazing photo that our new wildlife camera-trap took. You really won’t believe it!

PS One of my presents was a dustbin to make a much larger quantity of charcoal so I’ll tell you how I got on with that as well.

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The Loggerheads Benefice ASHLEY St John the Baptist CHURCH RECTOR Post being advertised.

CHURCHWARDENS: Barry Ellis: barryellis458@btinternet.com 01630 673331 Jill Cheadle 01630 673968 e-mail : jillclogg@aol.com CURATE: The Reverend Sara Humphries rev.sara.humphries@gmail.com 01630 673740.

BENEFICE WORKER: Denise Keen loggerheadsbeneficeinfo@gmail.com 07761446753 CHURCH VERGER: Linda Watson 01630 673140 LAY READERS: Anna Mortimer 01630 672804 Dr Roger Pooley 01630 673292 Professor Emeritus Dr Helen Dent 01630 673292 ORGANIST/CHOIRMASTER: Peter Shone: 01630 672538 . p.shone@btinternet.com 01630 673331 CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CHOIR: Peter Shone (contact details above) YOUNG PEOPLE: Chair of Management Committee: Jill Cheadle (see above) MAGAZINE EDITOR: John Hegarty 01630 653912 j.r.hegarty@gmail.com MAGAZINE ADVERTISING: Anthony Deere: anthony@loggerheads.me.uk 01630 672820

MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTION: Carole Shone: 01630 672538 caroleshone21@gmail.com BAPTISMS, WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS : Please contact Churchwardens RETIRED PRIEST: Reverend Roger Legg.

RECTOR’S ADMINISTRATOR: Denise Keen (details above)

****************************************************************** COVER PICTURE: FROM THE REV’D PHILIP SWAN. For the last three years I have left two circles unmown in our front lawn at Cobridge Vicarage. You know the location – urban , post-industrial, run-down, a centre for drug dealing, litter-strewn. Imagine my excitement the other day when I saw that a wild purple orchid had colonised / appeared in one the circles! An encouraging example of how easy it is to promote diversity and reintroduce species by being a bit less tidy when it comes to gardening….. ************************************************************************** PARISH MAGAZINE This is YOUR magazine! Short articles of interest to Magazine readers are always welcome, as well as news items about your group or organisation. We also like letters to the Editor. Send contributions to me, Dr John Hegarty, before the end of the month of the month prior to publication, as an email attachment j.r.hegarty@gmail.com. Telephone enquiries to 01630 653912.

Ideally a maximum of 300 words to fill one, A5 page (less if picture included). During the COVID 19 crisis the Magazine is available online only, via the Church/Benefice Website www.theloggerheadsbenefice.org/

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