The Brancepeth UpdateIssue Three 2 April 2020

Message from the Editor

We managed to get the second issue out toover 70 households, and I understand it hasbeen read as far away as New Zealand (ourdaughter in lockdown at Otago University inDunedin) and the States (I don't knowwho thatis but hello from Brancepeth!)If you know anybody who would like a copyplease give them my email address and askthem to email me their request to be on themailing list.Thank you for all your contributions andsuggestions. Please keep them coming.

Go well, stay well.Love Gillian0191373 9420 gillian@smellie.com

Village Support Network

If you would like help with errands,shopping, picking up prescriptions, walkingyour dog any one of the people listed belowwould be delighted to help you.This is inaddition to the formal support which will beoffered by the government to thoseextremely vulnerable people who are beingshielded.

Jessie Brown 0191 378 2748Sheila Chapman 0191 378 4408Ian Stoker 0191 378 4986James & Jo Dalton 0191 378 0771Dave Armstrong 07843 343 846Josie Armstrong 07882 233118Geoff & Margot Harrison 0191 378 9908Bea Basu 07714 764203Vivienne Lowe 0191 378 0974Deborah Hodge 01388 745455Anna& Nick Brooker 0191 378 0578Jayne Gardarsson 0191 378 1483Gillian Smellie 0191 373 9420Stephanie Snowball 07761 089183Claire Staines 0191 378 0858Cheryl McEwan 07795 440016.Janiesse Spence 0191 435 6357Paul Spence 0770 703949Hester & Mike Higton 0191 597 4675Amy Gooding 07753 606115Richard Gooding 0191 386 9651Carol Beeby 07592 975002Sue Morgan 0191 378 1172Caroline Middleditch 07729 277072

Message from St Brandon'sI do hope you’ll join us for the Palm Sundayservice on Sunday shared online via Zoom.We won’t be able to carry a cross through thevillage this year, but we will be welcomed intoBrancepeth Castle, to sing our favourite PalmSunday hymns and, thanks to Richard Hird’spilgrimages, share photos of the very routethat Jesus took as he entered Jerusalem.Please contact Hester (0191 597 4675) if youwould like an invitation.

In preparation, why not make your own cross,in place of the palm crosses we usuallyreceive, using whatever materials you have tohand- paper, wool, string, ribbon, cardboard.There will be services throughout HolyWeek at 7.30pm on Zoom, with opportunities

for reflection and prayer beautiful music andhomilies from members of the congregation.There will be two services on Good Friday: at10.15am for families and at 1.30pm a moretraditional Good Friday service, all online viazoom.We continue to pray daily for our communityplease send any prayer requests to DeborahHodge (01388 745455).Best wishes to all, and please keep in touch.Anna

Warning for Dog WalkersPlease be aware that somebody has left asubstance similar to granular fertiliser allaround the gate to the field in the village.Richard Jackson and Philip Pickles havecleared it away and sluiced the area downwith hot water but please take care whenwalking your dogs in the area.Even if your dog does not ingest it, it cancan cause very unpleasant burns on a dog's

The Leatitia Cropley CookeryChallenge

In honour of one of myfavourite charactersfrom the Vicar of Dibley,Laetitia Cropley, aka theCordon Bleugh Chef, weare instigating theLaetitia Cropley CookeryChallenge.Each week one brave

villager will open their fridge and reveal threevaguely related ingredients found therein.The challenge, open to all, wherever you are,and children and adults alike, is to create anedible meal for two adults using only thosethree fridge ingredients and basic storecupboard ingredients.We will publish the most inventive, the tastiestsounding and possibly the ones that we thinkwould make Laetitia proud but we don't everwant to have to eat!This week Josie Armstrong would like you toget creative with:½ large jar of roasted red peppers in oil1 tub of crème fraiche2 free range chicken breasts

Crows (not sure which)Blackbirds

Wood PigeonStarlingsGreenfinch

We have heard:Barn owlsTawny owls

What have you spotted in your garden or flyingoverhead? Do you know any goodwebsites orbooks for the beginner birdspotter? Pleaseshare them with us.

Durham Wildlife TrustMeanwhile The Durham Wildlife Trust have arange of activity packs called Wild@Home(new ones released every Monday) availablehere. This week's theme is Signs of Spring.

Bird watchDespite the snow over the weekend, it isdefinitely spring. David Jackson's lambs offera welcome wake up call each morning, thegeese have arrived on our pond and thevariety of birds at the bird table is increasingdaily.So far here at Morley Farm we have spotted:

Greylag geese nesting on our pond.BuzzardsA heronPheasants

On the bird table:Coal titsBlue titsRobinsSparrowsNuthatchMagpies

Local Farm ShopsIn addition to the list ofshops offering deliveryto DH7 several farmshops are offering pickup services. You ringyour order through andthey will have it readyfor you to pick up at thegate/carpark with minimal contact. Somecan offer delivery, particularly for those whoare vulnerable and/or are working in theNHS. Please ring to check.Perhaps if you are placing an order youcould check if your neighbours would like toplace one too and then only one person hasto do the pick up.Broom House FarmCross Lanes FarmHomer HIll FarmBroom Mill FarmAldin Grange Farm Shop

Donna's Fruit and Vegetables in Spennymooris alsodelivering toBrancepeth07485043568

Go to the theatre in your ownhomeYouget thebest seats inthe house, your ownchoice of snacks and noqueues at the bar!The National Theatre is

streaming a different play every Thursday at7pm on its Youtube Channel starting on 2ndApril.The Hampstead Theatre has three showsavailable to watch here.Cheek by Jowl's 2017 production of AWinter'sTale performed at the Barbican is available towatch here until 27 April.The West End production of The Wind in theWillows is available here.PentabusRuralTouringCompany toursvillagehalls throughout thecountryandyoucanwatchtheir latest production Here I am here.Maya Arad Yasur's award winning playAmsterdam performed at the Orange TreeTheatre is available to watch here.Greenwich Theatre is launching FlashbackFridays and will be live streaming previousproductions on Facebook at 7.30pm everyFriday. Watchwith friendsand familywhereverthey are. More details here.The hit Fringe production Timpson theMusicalhas put its best foot forward and released a fullrecording online! Watch it hereMore theatre listings, opera and ballet andnews of the BBC's Culture in QuarantineFestival in next week's issue.

Get Experimental with the RoyalInstitution and The ScienceMuseumFrom a recipe for(apparently) delicious butdisgusting fake poo tosoap powered boats andhomemade lava lamps. Aseries of short films aimedat children, but bound torouse the curiosity of theslightly bored, houseboundchild in all of us!

ExpeRImentalMeanwhile, over at The ScienceMuseum theyare designing their own planes and wonderingwhat happens to marshmallows in space ..

The Science Museum at home

Quiz NightA pandemic does not keep thequizzers of Brancepeth down andthere are several quizzes in various

formats currently available and in the offing.A taster GCSE Quiz - are you as bright asyour children?Brain of Brancepeth - how well do you knowyour village history?Both on the Community Association WebsiteStill to come ....an interactive on-line quiza quiz for the U18s with prizes

Book ClubVal Gibbons is contactingbook club members tosee if people would likethe next meeting viaZoom on the scheduleddate (this Friday, 3 April). If anyone else isinterested, the current book is ‘Emma’ byJane Austen. Please contact Val on 3784200 if you would like the Zoom meeting ID.

Limerick ChallengeI was challenged to write a limerick with thefirst line "the trouble with self-isolation" Hereis my woolly response. Now I challenge you!

The trouble with self-isolationis the time that I have for creation.I spend my time sittingand doing my knitting,in Fair Isle and lace hibernation.Send in your limericks and we will publish asmany as we can in future issues.