Christmas Eve Stirring, stirring, stirring. The wooden spoon turns and folds The rich creamy mixture. Pouring, pouring, pouring. Was it brandy or thick sweet sherry My mother slowly added? Dropping, dropping, dropping. Sultanas, mixed peel, glace cherries sprinkled gently, Floating on the sticky surface. Mixing, mixing, mixing. The wooden spoon now slowed by thick resistance Of the Christmas Pudding texture. Sinking, sinking, sinking. The silver sixpence hides in dark richness. Whose plate will receive the luck this year? The massive china mixing bowl, Now emptied of its contents is ripe For my sticky fingers to scoop and lick. Sweetness tingles in my glands. Our old scratched kitchen table Is now scrubbed, wooden bare. The pudding quietly steaming On the ‘black lead’ kitchen range. Just a few more tasks to do. Brilliant paper to be cut In narrow strips, and cut again across the width, Glued together end to end Then threaded through each other, To make a dancing chain to stretch across the ceiling, Corner to corner, side to side. We tuck holly behind the picture frames, Hang mistletoe from the middle light. I’m too young to have a love To kiss beneath its fruity smile. But do Mum and Dad, quietly, when I’m asleep? Stirring, stirring, stirring. Memories turning up from childhood. Christmas Eve, the old ‘Homestead’ cottage home. Yvonne Chamberlain. 2016
Library – LAP (Local Access Point) Library opening times Monday 2.30 to 4.30 pm Tuesday 2.30 to 4.30 pm Wednesday 2.30 to 4.30 pm Thursday 2.30 to 6.30 pm Friday 2.30 to 4.30 pm Saturday 10.00 to 12.00 am 6
www.melbourncambridge.co.uk
Library Report It seems a long time ago now since the children’s Summer Reading Campaign, but the library is still feeling the effects from this as our young borrowers continue to use the library. Susan van de Ven, who presented the awards, was also delighted to find that as in past years the enthusiasm of the readers is undimmed. We adults need to be sure to hang on to the joy of reading too. Melbourn is so well set up to encourage that, with the library, Bloomsday and groups for poetry, writing and for reading short stories amongst others. If anyone is interested in a Reading Club where readers might meet once a month to discuss books they have read please get in touch with Mike Stapleton through the library. The stock of new books is constantly being replenished. It would be interesting to know our readers’ likes and dislikes as this would help our buyer make her choices. This applies not only to adult fiction but also to junior and young adult books. Finally, remember that anyone with a Cambridgeshire Libraries card can borrow from Melbourn library and also browse the full catalogue on the web (cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries), reserve a book or books (or CD or DVD) and then pick it up from our library. Jane Stevens
Royal British Legion
Women’s Section Melbourn & Meldreth I have recently taken over as Chairman of the Branch from Una Cleminson who had to stand down in order to take up a post at National level. We meet on the fourth Wednesday afternoon of the month in the Community Room at Vicarage Close and, when possible, arrange for a speaker, the last one being the volunteer handler of a beautiful young Labrador which was being trained to work with sight impaired patients. We celebrated Harvest Thanksgiving and had the opportunity to welcome the Reverend Elizabeth Shipp who addressed the group with hymns and a short prayer. Several members will be attending the County Conference at March G.E.R. Club on 22nd October. On November 13th our President, Mrs Molly Chamberlain, will lay a wreath at the Services of Remembrance in Melbourn and Meldreth. Our standard bearer, Mrs Pauline Parkinson will be in attendance. Also in November, we hope to have our Christmas lunch at one of the local hostelries. On December 3rd we shall be holding coffee morning in the Community Room in Meldreth including a raffle and Tombola. We look forward to seeing as many people as possible. Val Barrett, Chair Tel.01763 261227, Elizabeth Murphy, Secretary 01763 220841
Police & Crime Commissioner On 13th January 2017, Jason Ablewhite the Police & Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire will be holding a public surgery at South Cambridgeshire District Council. You can find more details by following the following link: www. cambridgeshire-pcc.gov.uk/event/surgery-south-cambridgeshire/ To visit Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s website please follow this link: www.cambs-police.co.uk/index.asp