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Wensum Diary The monthly magazine of Great Witchingham (Lenwade),
Little Witchingham, Morton-on-the-Hill and Weston Longville
Volume 41, issue 11, December 2013 Price 50p
A Happy Christmas time to all our readers.
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Alack for Paffy ? A couple of Saturdays ago, a nice tweedy looking young man appeared at my door and asked if he
could look round my garden. I was slightly surprised as it’s not that exciting - even in May when it’s
at its best - so I enquired further. The chap said that he was part of the shoot working the surround-
ing land and a pheasant had run into my garden so could he go and look for it. I said yes but if it was
OK he couldn’t have it as it was now on safe ground but he assured me it had been shot and that he
needed to find it. I left him to it and a short while later I saw him disappear up the garden carrying a
dead bird. I was rather upset to think that Paffy, after we had nutured him for so long, should have
been killed (even though I know that no doubt he had been bred and released for that very pur-
pose!). I did a bit of sniffling but there was now’t I could do about it so I carried on. Two hours later,
a large and handsome cock pheasant marched out from the hedge and started to eat the wild bird
seed. The question is, is it Paffy, or another entirely different bird ? Do I need to kid myself that he’s
survived., or is it a case that nature abhors a vacuum and and newly empty territory has now been
opened up to a new family. Either way the expense of wild bird seed continues !!!
Clare
The Editorial Team
Editor : Phil Hardy (01603 882002; [email protected]),
Ivy House, Weston Green Road, Weston Green, Wes-
ton Longville, NR9 5LB
Publisher: Clare Morton (01603 880645;
[email protected]), 2 The Cottages, Breck Rd,
Weston Green, Weston Longville, NR9 5LQ
Editorial Team: Phillip Goodall, Chris Gribble, Janet
Houlston, Sue Spoerer
Distribution : Judie Churcher, Chris Gribble, Dian Frost
Mailing List and advertising : Clare Morton
Wensum Diary direct email : [email protected]
Closing date for copy—10th of the month
HALL FOR ALL
100 Club Winners
Date of Draw: 31st October 2013 No Name
1st £45.00 2 Thomas Goodall 2nd £27.00 14 Sara Read 3rd £18.00 12 Dave Ettridge
Promoter: Ray Baker tel. 01603880164
Email: [email protected]
Reports and events Rector’s write-up Village cinema Food Bank Wordsearch and Sudoku Christmas Plants Gardening Wensum Valley Birds Quiz
This Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10
Issue Year in the Vineyard Alternatives to Christmas WL Parish Council A Christmas story Parson Woodforde’s Diary Game answers Classifieds Services
Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16/17 Page 16 to 23 Page 24
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Weekly diary
Monday
Weston Longville parish council – bi-monthly meeting 2nd Monday 7:30 pm - HFA - WL
Tai Chi - weekly 10:00 – 11:00 a.m, HFA WL Tel 01603 880931
Tuesday
Extend – weekly 9:30 to 10:45 am HFA WL
Yoga – weekly 6.30 – 8.00 pm – HFA WL Tel 01603 880 931
Wednesday
Zumba – weekly Junior 6:00 -6:45, adult 7:00 – 8:00 pm HFA WL
Men’s choir weekly from 19th September 7.30 – 9.30 pm Bawdeswell church
Tel James Lilwall 01362 688499
Perform 4 Fun for all children 4.30 – 5.30 pm Tel 01603 880705
Thursday
WI – monthly 1st Thursday 7:30 – 10 pm - HFA WL Tel 01603 880645 / 872885
Bell ringing – weekly 7:30 pm – All Saints Weston Longville
Wensum Valley Bird Society - monthly 3rd Thursday 7:30 – 10 pm HFA WL
Gt Witchingham parish council – quarterly meeting 3rd Thursday 7:30 pm - Gt Witchingham school
Friday
Choir – 4:00 pm Tel 01603 880962
Great Witchingham Playgroup - weekly 9:30 - 11:30 am - Gt Witchingham school hall, Tel Katie on
01603 880463 or Julie on 07775712979
Saturday
Weston Longville village cinema – 3rd Saturday in month – Hall for All 7.30 pm £5.00
Coming up
Sat 30 Nov – Quiz 7:30 pm in HFA Weston Longville for Wensum Diary funds contact Clare 880 645 for a table £7.50 per head incl supper.
Sat 7 Dec, Christmas coffee morning, St Peter’s church, Ringland 10-12 Sat 7 Dec, Christmas Fair, Gt Witchingham School, 12-2pm Sun 8th Dec, Icini Choir, Hunter's Hall Swanton Morley, 3.00p.m.
Sat 14 Dec Icini Choir "A Christmas Express", on the Mid Norfolk Railway, Dereham Station to Wymond-
ham
Sun 15 Dec, Icini Choir, Christmas Family Concert at All Saints Church Bawdeswell, With The Semitone
Singers Youth Choir, 4.00p.m.
Weds 1 Jan, New Year’s day walk, 10:30 am HFA, WL. Thurs 9 Jan, special meeting of WI, HFA, WL 7.30 pm Sat 18 Jan, Village Cinema, Blue Jasmine, HFA, WL 7.30 pm.
To hire venues
Ringland village hall – Lisa Colman 01603 260857 [email protected]
Hall for All, Weston Longville – Tracy Keen 07827 016420 [email protected]
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RECTOR’S WRITE UP
SELWYN TILLETT
First I ought to explain that Swannington’s services throughout the winter will not after all be transferred down the road to Attlebridge church, as previously advertised. All regular services in Swannington church will go on being celebrated there just as usual. Secondly – when you read this it will probably be round about Advent Sunday, the beginning of the annual month of preparation for celebrating Christmas, howev-er you decide to do that. Nevertheless Christmas will probably be dominating your thoughts, and very soon your lives, until the big day actually arrives. That’s impossible to escape. And I wouldn’t be the first parish priest to wonder how to treat the problem that so many people have, whether they are practising Christians or not – namely the thought that somehow the ‘real meaning’ of Christmas has been more and more eroded by other factors. But once again I’ll find myself reflecting on the wise words written some years ago by Andrew Greeley, an American Roman Catholic priest and author, who to me seems to have summed up the problem and its answer more simply and more profoundly than almost anyone else. To paraphrase; he wrote that if anyone was so inclined it might be easy to run away to a monastery, away from all the commercialization, the hectic bustle, and the demanding family responsibilities of Christmas time. Then we might have a ‘holy’ Christmas. But we would forget the lesson of Jesus being made fully hu-man and coming into the world in the most natural way, as a baby to an ordinary mother — the lesson that those who are followers of Jesus do not run away from the ordinary world and all that it does; rather they try to transform it. It is part of the mission of Christians to make holy every aspect of Christmas, in every way that it is celebrated by everyone. And they do this by being genuinely holy people — kind, patient, generous, loving, laughing people — no matter how maddening is the Christmas rush. So, to repeat the message that many of you will receive inside the flyer advertising all the Christmas events and services in each of our churches this year: If you are spending Christmas away from home, may you travel safely and return refreshed. If you are spending Christmas here this year, you will find a warm welcome at any of the services that celebrate Jesus’s coming into our ordinary world. And wherever you are, and however you celebrate his birth, may the love of the Christ child be with you, your families and friends. A very happy and blessed Christmas to everyone.
WHAT IS A CHRISTINGLE ? A glance at the list of services shows that Christingles are most frequent but what are they and what are their origins ? Well, according to Wikipedia …... A Christingle is a symbolic object, related to the pomander, used in the advent services of many Christian denominations. It consists of an orange representing the world; a red rib-bon around it representing the blood of Christ; dried fruits skewered on cocktail sticks pushed into the orange, representing the fruits of the earth and the four seasons; and a lit candle pushed into the centre of the orange, representing Jesus Christ as the light of the world. The base of the candle is commonly wrapped in tinfoil. This is purely functional. The Christingle has its origins in the Moravian Church, but the representation of the four seasons was a later addition. At Christmas 1747 in Germany, Bishop Johannes de Watteville thought about how he could explain the love of Jesus and what Christmas really means to the children in the church. He gave each child a lighted candle wrapped in a red ribbon. In 1968, John Pensom of The Children's Society introduced Christingle ser-vices to the Church of England, where the custom spread quickly. The story of the Christingle is that there were three children, who were very poor, but wanted to give a gift to Jesus, like the other families at church were doing. The only nice thing they had was an orange, so they decid-ed to give him that. The top was going slightly green, so the eldest cut it out and put a candle in the hole. They thought it looked dull, so the youngest girl took her best red ribbon from her hair and attached it round the middle with toothpicks. The middle child had the idea to put a few pieces of dried fruit on the ends of the sticks. They took it to the church for the Christmas mass, and whereas the other children sneered at their meagre gift, the priest took their gift and showed it as an example of true understanding of the meaning of Christmas.
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Weston Longville Village Cinema
The Spring season begins on Saturday January 18 at the Hall for All Weston Longville at 7.30 p.m. Listed below are the films we have scheduled for the next three months.
We look forward to seeing you all again and will be pleased to see new faces. Tickets are for sale on the door at £5 which includes a luxury ice cream.
Saturday January 18th Blue Jasmine 12A Saturday February 15 Captain Phillips 12A
Saturday March 15th Philomena 12A
Don't forget it’s warm and there are free wine gums!!
Mid-Norfolk food bank
The Mid-Norfolk food bank is part of the Trussell Trust, a charity which works to empower local communities to
combat poverty and exclusion in the UK and Bulgaria. The food bank is based in East Dereham and started in 2012
and expected to help around 400 families by providing a three day emergency food supply. It currently helps
around 1200 people.
The drop off point at the Wellspring Family Church, 35 Neatherd Road, Dereham, NR19 2AE is open on a Monday
and a Friday, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm but collections will also be made from both Swannington and Attlebridge
churches. Items such as those listed below would be most gratefully received.
Any tinned goods – soups, meat, fish, puddings etc, Milk (UHT), Sugar (500g), Fruit Juice (carton), Pasta/rice, Pasta
sauces, Breakfast cereals, Tea bags/instant coffee, Biscuits or snack bars, Baby Milk and Nappies.
More info: [email protected], Tel: 01362 850624 or Mob: 07542106107
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A WENSUM DIARY AREA WORDSEARCH
ALL SAINTS FISH AND CHIPS GREAT WITCHINGHAM HALL FOR ALL HALL WALK LENWADE LENWADE MILL
LENWADE NEWS LITTLE WITCHINGHAM MAXIMS MORTON ON THE HILL PARISH COUNCIL PARSON WOODFORDE PARSONS FROLIC
POST OFFICE LANE
RECTORY SELWYN TILLETT ST FAITHS CLOSE ST PETERS STYLISTIC THE BRIDGE
THE STREET
VILLAGE CINEMA WENSUM BENEFICE WENSUM VALLEY WESTON LONGVILLE WESTON PARK WOODFORDE CLOSE
Have a go at the Wensum Diary
wordsearch or Sudoku. The wordsearch
answers are on page 14 and the Sudoku
on Page 17
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House plants for Christmas
A colourful houseplant is often both given and received as a gift. Two of the most common are the Christmas cactus, and the Poinsettia so here are a couple of ideas for their care, to keep their colour for Christmas.
Christmas Cactus A beautiful holiday plant,(botanically known as Schlumbergera or Zygocac-tus) which blooms at Christmas. A Christmas Cactus will appreciate bright but indirect light. It may seem difficult to find the best spot for it since it likes a well-lit location (like near a window) away from direct sunlight (which can stunt growth and burn the leaves), but away from draughts, heat vents, fireplaces or other sources of hot air. Water a Christmas Cactus with care. Caring for this plant can be a bit tricky as you need to take care not to overwater or underwater it, it is a tropical cactus not a desert cactus so, unlike most desert cacti, this variety cannot tolerate completely dry soil. If the soil gets too dry, the flower’s buds will drop, and the plant will wilt. Feel the soil with your fingers; if it feels dry, it's time to water. Flowering for Christmas. As it’s now the end of November, if you were hoping to get last year’s plant to flower, it may be too late as you will have had to balance day and night length since the plant is thermo-photoperiodic, it will set buds when day length is about equal to night length and when the temperature drops to 10 – 15°C or (50 - 60°F) for several weeks. Of course, you might be lucky and the natural conditions might have given the required balance during the autumn (October and November) – it will have wanted indirect, bright light during the daylight hours but total darkness at night (absolutely no artificial light).
Poinsettias Botanically, the plant is known as Euphorbia pulcherrima and is a native of southern Mexico. The colours comes from leaf bracts rather than flowers. Lighting If you obtain a Poinsettia, place it near a sunny window where it will have the most available sunlight. A window that faces south, east or west is better than one facing north. Do not let any part of the plant touch the cold windowpane because this may injure it. Watering Examine the soil daily, and when the surface is dry to the touch, water the soil until it runs freely out the drainage hole in the container. When watering, ensure that enough water is applied so that some will run out the drainage hole. If a saucer is used, discard the water that collects in it. Do not leave the plant standing in water. Overly wet soil lacks sufficient air, which results in root injury. A wilted Poinsettia plant may drop its leaves prematurely, so check the soil frequently. Plants exposed to high light and low humidity require more frequent watering. If wilting does occur, immediately water and 5 minutes later water again. Temperature To keep the plant in colour, maintain it at a temperature of 10 to 20°C during the daylight hours and, if possible, move it to a cooler place at night. Because root rot disease is more prevalent at temperatures below 10°C, do not put the poinsettia in a room colder than this. Avoid exposing the plant to draughts, which may cause premature leaf drop. Clare
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This year started off cold and it took a while to get the vegetables to germinate but when they finally got going they cropped very well, much better than I thought they would. We have had one or two cold nights with a touch of ground frost so remember to wrap insulation around outside taps and roll up the hosepipe and put it away for the winter. If you have planted leeks and parsnips now it the time to enjoy these after the first few frosts, also sprouts and some early sprouting purple broccoli will taste all the better. If you have a pond to prevent it from freezing over float a rubber ball on the surface so that should ice form you can lift it out and leave a ready- made hole for fish. Never crack the ice with a hammer as the shockwaves are too much for semi-dormant fish. Do not walk on lawns if you can avoid doing so but you do need to rake up leaves, if possible use them to make leafmould. If you do not clear them the grass is starved of light and quickly becomes a martyr to fungal diseases. Carry out any repairs to your lawn if needed. Check all your trees and tall shrubs to make sure that they are secure and survived the strong winds last month, they may look safe but any more winds like the last ones and they may not stand up to it. A little tip, when pruning your apples and pears, why not save the prunings to use for plant supports or as pea sticks for the next year. Now is the time for new ideas. So if something you thought was simple looks as if it is not going to work, admit it, look at it afresh, and come up with a new idea or a solution to your problem. If for example there’s a patch of grass that’s too shaded and only grows weeds and moss dig it up and plant a shade-loving plant. You can work in the greenhouse, having a general tidy up, sort out the dahlia tubers and picking dead leaves off plants. Check bulbs in store and remove any going soft or mouldy before the rot spreads to other bulbs. Water your plants sparingly at this time. If you have managed to store any fruit now is the time to make in-roads into this over Christmas as it will not keep for a lot longer. When buying pot plants choose wisely, make sure they have been kept under cover and that the plants with flowers look fresh. Make sure you protect them on the way home as a sudden drop in temper-ature can wreck the flowers very quickly. Keep them away from bowls of ripe fruit. Ripe fruit gives off ethylene gas and this will short-en the life of anything in bloom. A quick check list for winter- prune roses by half to prevent wind rocking if you have not already done so, Cover Christmas roses with cloches to protect the opening flower buds. Take hardwood cuttings of shrubs and fruit bushes, clear moss from paths as they can become dangerously slippery. Repair fences and other structures while climbing plants are dormant. Feed flowers houseplants weekly, clean pots and seed rays and service tools and tidy the garden shed. Now is also the time to sow broad beans and peas outside or under cloches. Gardening can be very rewarding and relaxing so long as you do not make it a chore, do what you feel comfortable with and enjoy. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year and let’s look forward to a good 2014.
YOUR GARDENING MONTH
WITH SUE STAVELEY
Gt Witchingham, Weston Longville and District WI
There will be a special meeting of the WI on January 9th at 7.30pm in the Hall for All, Weston Longville. The
meeting will be to decide the future of this WI following the AGM where we were unable to form a committee.
For further details, contact Sue on 260562 or Mollie on 872885.
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Wensum Valley Birdwatching Society
On 17th September Mike Toms, of the British Trust for Ornithology, gave us an insight into the research carried out by that organisation on the life of garden birds. We learned how important our gardens are, however small, to the survival of the species we have all grown familiar with. Added together our gardens cover a larger area than all the nature reserves in the country. Data collected from an army of over 14,000 volunteers, who report weekly on the sightings in their garden, has helped to establish a wealth of information.
Perhaps we were not too surprised to learn that larger numbers of birds are reported from rural gar-dens than from urban ones, but the seasonal fluctuations in numbers follow the same pattern in each.
Even with a large amount of data, it is not always easy to interpret the results. Initially it appeared that feeding fat to birds in our gardens might be a bad idea, as research showed that after a winter of feeding on fat balls the average clutch size was smaller than for birds not fed on fat. Further examina-tion, however, suggested that the lower average was due to larger numbers of birds surviving to breed when fat was fed, so that the less successful birds contributed to that average. So the total number of chicks would be greater, even though the average was less. What we don’t yet know is whether this sort of help contributes to the long term health of a species. Such issues make the importance of this sort of survey very obvious.
For our September field trip our first port of call was the Norfolk Ornithological Association (NOA) site at Holme next the Sea. The day was sunny and warm so there were many Small White butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies up in the air. Birds sighted on the bright oranged berried Sea Buckthorn were female Blackcap and Dunnock. A Sparrowhawk was hassled by Meadow Pipits. Reaching the sea wall we were greeted by Sandwich Terns fishing and Gannets flying by. A group of Scoters flew past and landed. Great Crested Grebes were sitting quietly on the sea and an Arctic Skua was flying around. We were really well looked after by the NOA.
After lunch at Titchwell our leader for the day, Colin Fenn, led us down the path towards the sea. Gad-wall and Little Grebe were on the pool on the left-hand side, and in the lagoons on the right were Spoonbills, Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwits as well as many Ruff in the water and on the edges, Gold-en Plover on an island and a lone Common Sandpiper. But then, a sight we were privileged to see: 10 minutes of Raptor Bliss! 3 Red Kites high in the sky, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and then a Hobby (see pic-ture) veered away and over the path. A Peregrine suddenly came from nowhere. To cap it all, the Spoonbills took off and flew past in strict formation. We were entranced. Suddenly it was all quiet again and the waders and others settle back down on the water and on the islands. Now on to the sea
which was a long way out. Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, some Knot on the rocks and a Red Breasted Merganser on the sea. Finally, a trip to the Parrinder hide, spotting a migrant Wheatear on the way, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover and lots of Curlews, which refused to become Whimbrel! A Curlew Sandpiper was seen stand-ing amongst a group of Teal and a Little Stint doing its own thing along the water’s edge. A Greenshank was just visible in the far corner of the water. A really good day was rounded off by the sighting of 3 Snipe as we wandered back for a well-earned cup of tea.
Coming up: Thursday 12th December – ‘An Evening with Mark Cocker’ – ticket only Thursday 16th January 2014 - Talk by Richard Porter Field trips :- Sunday 5th January 2014 – Winter bird count (teams) Sunday 26th January – venue to be confirmed For more details and information contact Sue Gale – [email protected]
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COFFEE AND MINCE PIE QUIZ
The theme is CHRISTMAS and all the answers contain words related tothe Christmas season. 1. What connects the son of Rex Harrison and an English playwright, director and actor -Private Lives etc. 2. What connects the heroine of 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' and an American rock and roll musician, who died in a plane crash in 1959. 3. An all-girl dance band of the 1950a; a group of American colleges. 4. A good friend of Pooh,Piglet and Tigger; a BeeGees brother. 5. A TV cook and food writer; an American guitarist - Johnny B. Goode etc. 6. A person's lineage; an English actor and theatre manager of the late 1800s. 7. A 1954 Judy Garland movie directed by George Cukor; an epic space opera franchise created by George Lucas in 1977. 8. A footballer's notification to leave the field; a 1911 novel by Arnold Bennet. 9. Thomas Hardy character also name of an Art Garfunkel album; a person who finances theatrical ven-tures. 10.The model for Sherlock Holmes; an English painter,designer,sister of Virginia Woolf. 11.American lawyer,former mayor of New York; Italian/American film star of the 1920s -The Great Lov-er. 12.The wood that killed Balder,son of Odin; the Number 1 Christmas single in 1988.
The Friends of Great Witchingham School
CHRISTMAS FAIR Saturday 7 th December 12pm to 2 pm
G r a n d R a ffl e , T o m b o l a , C r a ft A c ti v i ti e s & G a m e s
F e s ti v e F o o d & R e f r e s h m e n t s , S a n t a ’ s G r o tt o
Come and join us at
Great Witchingham Primary School,
The Street,
Lenwade, NR9 5SD
A l l p r o c e e d s t o S c h o o l b u i l d i n g w o r k s
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More Tales From a Small Vineyard As I write this, there is a distinct tinge of autumn in the air and no doubt by the time you read this it will already be here …or perhaps even passed! Late September/ early October marks for us the end of the vineyard year, when the grapes are gathered in and the wine making begins. This year we harvested on 28th September thanks to a great growing season and the many friends who came to help us. The picture shows the relieved smiles (but not the backache!) that come when the last grapes have been picked and wine making is underway. We managed to harvest all the Solaris grapes in a day and these gave us just over 300l of juice once we had crushed and destemed the bunches and squeezed the grapes in the press. We set ourselves the target this year of making significantly more wine than last year. This may sound ambitious but as last year’s heavy rains (that came, you will recall, just after the hosepipe ban was announced!) wiped out the en-tire crop it was not such a difficult challenge. The varieties we grow are also grown in northern Germany and southern Denmark so they are pretty well suited to our East Anglian climate. They tend to be early ripening, so on the plus side this means that gen-erally we will get something of a crop even if the summer isn’t exactly spectacular. The downside is that they are vulnerable to frosts when the buds are bursting and the leaves are young and very tender. So what does a year in the vineyard look like? Certainly not the vision I once had of sitting under the oak tree with a glass of wine in hand watching the vines grow! The year really starts in December with the winter pruning. This prepares the vines for the coming season by cutting out the old wood and selecting the new stems that will bear the grapes. The next step comes in January when the selected stems are tied down onto the lowest of the wires; the fruiting wire. (The other twin sets of wires are used to tuck in the new stems as they grow, but more about that later) About late February we put the winter fleeces on the rows. This helps to keep the frost at bay when the
buds are at their most vulnerable. Last year we tried this for the first time and found it very effective in preventing frost damage. When the threat of frost has receded and the vines are showing their new shoots and leaves the fleeces are removed and the vineyard takes on its more elegant and green spring mantle. Throughout the summer the vines continue to grow and new buds, which will eventually become the bunches of grapes, begin to form and flower. It’s at this time that we need to make sure the new growth is always tucked into the upper wires so that each vines gets the best sunlight possible and to prevent the vine-yard turning into a leafy jungle. Pruning continues to be done throughout the
summer to take off side shoots and keep the main shoots at a reasonable height. This pruning is done both to optimise the grape yields and to make sure the shoots that will be tied down next year develop well. So, in pruning, an eye is kept not just on this harvest but the next one too! And so it goes on throughout the summer, spraying, fertilising, keeping the weeds down, the rabbits and moles at bay, and, when the grapes are formed, putting on netting to keep the birds off. Then comes the great moment when the rising sugar levels and falling acidity of the grapes reaches just the right balance. The nets come off and the harvesting begins. It’s a magical moment and the culmina-tion, as in all agricultural activities, of a lot of hard work …..and very little sitting under the oak tree with a glass of wine. Next time in Tales from a Small Vineyard I’ll tell you what happens once the grapes have been harvested and the wine making begins. In the meantime I see the sun is over the yardarm so it’s time to pop into the winery and just check that’s all is well! Cheers! Peter Ross
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ALTERNATIVES TO CHRISTMAS
If Christmas is not your thing in December, then there are many other celebrations around the same
time. There is plenty to choose from but they all seem much the same—a holiday to celebrate a birth-
day, with gifts and feasting !
Yule is a pagan festival around the same time, many aspects of which have been incorporated into the
present Christmas festival. It was celebrated largely by the Germanic and Scandanavian peoples and
seemed to centre on feasting and sacrifice and lasted 3 days from midwinter.
Yalda is a Persian celebration on the 21st December and marked the birth of Mithra, the Persian angel of
truth and light. The cult of Mithras was a popular choice with the Romans, as well as those from the Mid-
dle East.
Pancha Ganapati is a modern five-day Hindu festival celebrated from December 21 through 25 in honour
of Lord Ganesha, Patron of Arts and Guardian of Culture. This is a very family focused festival where each
day a tray of sweets, fruits and incense is offered to Lord Ganapati, often prepared and presented by the
children who receive gifts which are placed before Pancha Ganapati to open only on the fifth day.
Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honour of the deity Saturn held on December 17 of the Julian
calendar and later expanded with festivities through December 23. The holiday was celebrated with a
sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum and a public banquet, followed by private gift-
giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was
permitted, and masters provided table service for their slaves.
Malkh is a festival gifted to the Deela-Malkh in Vainakh mythology. 25 December was the birthday and
the festival of the Sun.
THE ANNUAL NEW YEAR’S DAY WALK.
In keeping with tradition the New Years's Day walk,organised as usual by Anthony Thomas, will set off from Hall for All, Weston Longville at 10.30am on 1st January 2014. All are welcome and this year the wearing of a prize winning costume is encour-aged ( to keep Anthony company). Donations of £1 will go towards the prize and the soup and mince pies which will be provided at the Hall for All at the end of the walk. The route has not yet been worked out but since it may cross land preserved for shooting we are sorry but dogs cannot come. Looking forward to an even bigger turnout in 2014.
WANTED
Are you in the Weston Longville area and do you have a couple of
acres to rent out, on which I can keep two horses ? I am happy to
carry water, repair fences, and put up a shelter if you have a suita-
ble field. If you can help, please call Becky on 01603 928 038
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WESTON LONGVILLE PARISH COUNCIL
The Parish Council met on the 12th of November and started off with a
report from our PCSO, Paul Webb. He reported that there had been some
speed checks on the Honingham Rd approach to the village which showed
good compliance actually at the chicanes but very poor compliance on the
approach to them from the restriction signs, with speeds of 50 mph being
recorded. Tasks for the Highway Rangers, including reinstatement of the
white lines at the Paddy’s Lane junction, the 7.5t restriction sign at Rectory
Road and the on-going battle with vegetation at the so-called Woodyard Corner, were all to be put for-
ward.
The Council then went on to hear an explanation of the Parish Partnership Scheme whereby eligible
schemes may be 50% funded by the Parish and 50% by Norfolk County Council. Whilst this may be a
good idea in principle, the money available to the Parish Council is restricted so very few ideas were
affordable. The Council also agreed that as the NDR is back under discussion, that the concerns and in-
terests of Weston Longville should be put forward for consideration as early as possible..
The update of the Hall for All and playgroup indicated that funding is holding up well with increased
bookings for childrens parties and community events. Greener Weston reported that there was to be a
litter pick on 17th November, and the possibility of further plantings as specimens became available.
With regard to planning, the council decided to object to the variation in planning conditions that wished
to reduce the visual screening around the photovoltaic farm near Loke Farm, and also to request that a
proper environmental survey be carried out as part of any application for further PVs on the airfield. The
airfield itself will be subject to a ‘drive-by’ visit from the English Heritage inspectors in the near future
and would also be reviewed as part of a regional project called ‘8th in the East’. A parish committee has
been formed to look at what maintenance will be required for the war memorial and this has been ad-
vised to consult the War Memorials Trust for practical advice.
The Parish Council then looked at the budget for 2014-15 year. The precept —the money that the parish
council receives from each household —is currently £4,500 per year, equivalent to £35 per household per
year. From this money, the Council must fund it’s administration, insurance, subscriptions etc, which
takes up approximately £3,500, leaving aounf £1,000 to be spent for the benefit of the parishioners, for
example donating to local groups and maintaining the appearance of the village and its amenities. De-
spite the on-going rise in costs, it was agreed to leave the precept at its current level of £4,500 although
the BDC grant of £175 which makes up part of this is no-longer available and will form part of the council
tax bill.
Litter and Dog waste
The issues of litter and dog mess are perennial ones and ‘dog’ (if you’ll excuse the pun) any open space
to which everyone has access. The Weston Longville playing field and area around the village hall are no
exception. Please, please, if your dog makes a mess, please clear up, bag up and dispose of the bag
properly. Likewise if you, or your child, drop sweet wrappers, drinks bottles or cans, or other litter,
please pick them up and dispose of them properly. If there’s no local bin, please take your waste home.
The field is everyone’s space and it needs to be shared responsibly.
14
A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MYSTERY VISITOR
With apologies to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle After rapping sharply on the door and stepping into the room in his usual brusque manner, Holmes wasted no time but strode over to the fireplace. I followed but remained in the background, trying to be observant. 'As I thought', he murmured,' there has been an intruder.' Looking round the room, I myself could see nothing of significance, so I waited for Holmes to enlighten me. 'Look here, Watson', he continued, 'these tiny specks of soot on the carpet, and over here ....biscuit crumbs, and one empty tea cup.' 'I'm sorry old fellow' I ventured, but would, a burglar come down the chimney and then drink tea?' 'And what burglar would leave all this behind?' he replied pointing to a side table piled high with gifts. And stockings by the fireplace, bulging with more presents and fruit and nuts. And yet take noth-ing but tea and biscuits? Holmes stroked his chin thoughtfully. 'A singular case', he murmured. I nodded again,annoyed with myself for having missed something so obvious as a pile of brightly wrapped presents. 'This is a very baffling case,Watson, I shall have to give it a great deal of thought',. Holmes said,surveying the room. Later, back at Baker Street I began wondering what I, as friend and chronicler of the great detective, would make of this case in my writings. I observed Holmes in his armchair, puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, a frown creasing his brow. He had not spoken for over an hour. As cheery Christmas bells rang out in the streets beyond, and no comments about our recent visit were forth-coming, I fully believed the world's greatest detective to be stumped at last. Shirley Ryan
15
Parson Woodforde’s Diary
Extracts chosen by Katharine Solomon
December 2nd, 1779 “About 2 o’clock took a ride to Norwich with my Man Will Coleman – got there about 4 o’clock and supped & slept at the Kings Head. Be-fore supper took a Walk and called on my Wine Merchant Mr Priest and pd him a Bill of £13.13.0. For a small Vial of Goulards Tincture £0.1.0. … To a letter from Bill Woodforde pd £0.0.7. … Bill Woodforde is now on board the Ariadne Frigate of 32 [guns] & now at Sheerness. The Captain (whose name is Squire) is exceed-ing civil to him. Bill [is sending] me in a box a present of a Sword – pd for the Carriage of £0.1.2.” [Goulard’s Tincture was an anti-inflammatory lotion based on lead.
Captain Matthew Squire, later Admiral Squire, has a memorial in Chelsea Old Church.]
December 3rd, 1779 “Nancy begun trying Goulards Tincture tonight [on her painful knee]. I hope it will be of service to her with Gods Blessings.”
December 4th, 1779 “This evening by Mr Cary came Bill’s Present to me, viz a large Moorish Sword and a curious Moors Purse made of Morocco Leather with some coins in it. He also sent me two Curious Shells and a Quill that came from Falklands Island. It is some gratitude in him I must confess – but he ex-pects something in return as he complains in his Letter to me of being very low in Pocket.” [Nephew Bill had probably bought these souvenirs on the East coast of North America, the furthest point of his naval service. Parson Woodforde retained his jaundiced opinion of Bill’s motives.]
December 6th, 1779 “At Quadrille this evening, won £0.1.0. Gave Nancy for Cards, as she has very bad luck £0.5.0. Nancy thinks the Goulard does her good already.”
December 15th, 1779 “My Squire [Mr Custance] sent me over a note this morning to let me know that his Lady was brought to bed of a son in the afternoon yesterday … I dressed myself and rode over to Ringland upon my Mare by myself about 12 and privately baptised the Child by name George. Mrs Cus-tance was as well as could be expected.” [It was only 10 months since the birth of her previous baby.]
December 18th, 1779 “Very busy all the morning in putting up a hand Pump into the Dyke by my great Pond to endeavour to raise the water in my Pond higher – after many alterations of the Pump, we at last made it answer. Mr Pyle was here most of the day, employed on it. Mr Pyle dined here, etc, and I paid him a long Bill respecting my Chancel etc of £28.12.0. In the Norwich Paper this evening I saw my name put down to preach a Charity Sermon at St. Stephens, Norwich, the 16th of April next.” [The “great Pond” may still be seen from Rectory Road. Mr Pyle, a carpenter, had worked on the Chancel after the storm of 1st January.]
MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING
While some weeks have passed since the Coffee Morning held in Weston Longville on 27th September, as there have been further donations it does mean we are able to relay the final amount raised, a magnificent £1,337.10.
To everyone who worked so hard preparing items, taking charge in the kitchen, running the stalls and the com-petitions, for donations, raffle and tombola prizes, and most importantly everyone who came along to support this very worthwhile cause, we thank you all for your tremendous generosity.
Thanks and regards,
Judie Churcher, Julia Hurst & Margaret Briggs.
16
Coffee quiz answers from P10
1. NOEL Noel Harrison,Noel Coward. 2. HOLLY Holly Golightly, Buddy Holly. 3. IVY Ivy Benson, Ivy League. 4.ROBIN Christopher Robin, Robin Gibb. 5. BERRY Mary Berry, Chuck Berry. 6. TREE Family tree, Herbert Beerbohm Tree 7. STAR A Star is Born, Star Wars.
8. CARD Red card, The Card. 9. ANGEL Angel Clare, An Angel . 10. BELL Dr Joseph Bell, Vanessa Bell 11. RUDOLPH Rudolph Giuliani, Rudolph Valentino. 12. MISTLETOE a mistletoe arrow, Mistletoe and Wine - Cliff Richard
17
ATTLEBRIDGE CONCRETE PRODUCTS LTD
Church Farm Attlebridge Norwich Norfolk NR9 5ST
Tel 01603 860852 Fax 01603 261093 Vat Reg 832117459
www.attlebridgeconcrete.co.uk, e-mail: [email protected]
Specialists in all types of precast concrete work. Maufacturers of Paving Slabs, Concrete Fencing Posts, Gravel Boards, Path Edging,Wall Copings, Pier Caps, Coal bunkers, etc.
Also suppliers of precast Cills, Lintels, Plaques and bespoke items.
Stockists of Fence Panels, Bradstone Products, Pond Liner and Ground Cover.
For quality pre-cast concrete products visit Attlebridge Concrete Products
Open Monday-Friday 8:00-5:30, Saturday 9:00-12.30.
BOB BANKS
For LAWNMOWER, CHAINSAW AND STRIMMER REPAIRS.
Chains made up for chainsaws.
Sales & Service
Orchard House
Weston Longville
Norwich NR9 5JU
01603 881 080
07966438781
ICENI CHOIR Sunday 8th December
Hunter's Hall Swanton Morley, 3.00p.m.
Saturday 14th December "A Christmas Express"
on the Mid Norfolk Railway Dereham Station to Wymondham
Sunday 15th December
Christmas Family Concert at All Saints Church Bawdeswell
With The Semitone Singers Youth Choir 4.00p.m.
Contact Jim Stebbings 01362 693277
Beverley Cooper 01362 858185 / 07710 722149 [email protected]
18
8 Coles Way
Reepham
NR10 4LW
SOOTS
CHIMNEY SWEEP
A member of the Institute of Chimney Sweeps
Certificates issued
John Wadey
CITY DOMESTICS 78 THE SHRUBLANDS, HORSFORD, NORWICH, NR10 3EL
Repairs to most makes of Washing Ma-chines, Tumble Dryers, Vacuum Cleaners,
Dishwashers etc. Evening work undertaken
David Ward T: (01603) 891787 M: 07765491630
S T Y L I S T I C LENWADE
Unisex
Hairdressing Salon
Tuesday and Wednesday 9 — late,
Thursday and Friday 9 — 5 Saturday 9 — 4
TEL: 01603 873107
Care, Commitment & Continuity.
Affordable, preventive dental care On-Site parking
A gentle approach Emergency appointments
Hygienist services Private or plan treatment
Cosmetic treatments
w: www.reephamdentalcentre.co.uk
Tel: 01603 871771
LYNG GARAGE
Lyng, Norwich NR9 5RP
Petrol & Diesel, Mots, 24Hr Recovery, Free courtesy car,
Accident Repairs, Servicing and Car Sales
VINTAGE LIMOUSINES
Vintage Rolls Royce & Mercedes wedding cars for hire
Tel. 01603 872229
After hours 01603 872888 / 871828
M. G. MYHILL
All types of Chimneys swept
Bird and Rain Cowls fitted
Clean Professional Service
— Fully Insured —
Over 25 years’ experience
Tel: 01263 860559
19
Hendry & Sons Funeral Directors
Private Chapels of Rest Station Road, Foulsham, Dereham,
RICHARD HENDRY, DIP.F.D. Tel. Foulsham (01362) 683249
G. A. EGMORE & PARTNERS of Sparham
For Coal, Smokeless Fuels,
Pre-packed and Barbecue Fuels
Also Parts for Solid Fuel Fires
Regular Deliveries Six Days a Week in All Areas
For Quality, Service and Reliability PHONE Bawdeswell (01362) 688270
OIL BURNER SERVICES Servicing & breakdowns of oil fired boilers
Heating & plumbing work advice given free
John Adcock
TEL 01603 870615 MOBILE 07788473490
Hill Barn – Residential Care Home
Church Lane, Sparham, Norfolk
Tel : (01362) 688702
email : [email protected]
We are a family-run Home for the elderly with a rep-utation for providing good quality care in a friendly
and homely atmosphere.
The Home offers :
Attractive, landscaped gardens with open
countryside views.
24hr individually tailored care.
Highly trained, dedicated staff.
Visiting hairdresser, chiropodist, optician etc.
Ground floor accommodation, most with en-
suite facilities.
Breckland Good Food Hygiene Award since
1997
Day Care provided.
Pets considered.
For further information please contact: Mrs T. Woolnough or
Mrs M. Smart
Window Cleaner Local, regular and reliable, est 1989
Providing a personal service, pole fed and traditional
Virtually any window cleaned and frames included in the
price.
Able to reach dormers or windows above
conservatories.
Will do fascias, gutters and / or UPVC or glass.
Reasonable rates, no obligation quote,
references available on request
Martin Page
01603 262514
07789 111583
20
Experienced team of Chartered Physiotherapists,
Registered with the Health Professions Council
Spinal pain, Headaches, Neck and arm pain,
Muscle strains, Sports injuries,
Neurological conditions, Low back pain,
Womens’ Health, continence for men & women.
Improve your core strength with our
Clinical Pilates Classes.
Clinic at Leys Farm, Hockering
NR20 3JE
01603 881184
www.parkphysiotherapy.co.uk
SCRAP NEEDED
FREE PICK UP ON IRON AND
METALS SUCH AS,
WASHING MASHINES, TUMBLE-DRYERS, COOKERS,
DISHWASHERS, SINKS BIKES, LAWNMOW-ERS, ETC.
CASH PAID FOR COPPER, BRASS, LEAD, ALUMINIUM, WIRE, AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF ALL THE ABOVE.
PRICE GIVEN ON GARAGE AND
SHED CLEARANCES.
PLEASE CALL JUSTIN ON, 07789450317
21
Garden Maintenance Service John L. Seamons - local professional Gardener
Offers a quality maintenance service all year
Grass cutting * Pruning * Hedge cutting * Lawn Treatment * Fencing * And more!
New - General Property Maintenance Established 30 years * Fully insured * Client references
Reliable and Trustworthy
Tel: 01603 879437 Mobile: 07979 871999
CTC Hire Building, DIY, Gardening Equipment
and Tools
JCB Mini Digger, Industrial Carpet Cleaner, Chipper/Shredder, Mixers, Access Towers, Ladders, Water Pump, Welders, Pres-sure Washer, Plate Compactor, Hedge Trimmers + Hi-Reach, Sprayers, Generators, Rotovators, Lawn-Scarifier, Mowers,
Disc Cutter/Grinder, Breakers, Wall Paper Stripper, etc.
Trees, Shrubs, Hedge Plants, Perennials etc. for sale.
The Old Post Office Mattishall Road East Tuddenham Dereham NR20 3LT – Tel: 01603 880062
Paul E. Soanes
TV ENGINEER & AERIAL INSTALLER
Est 1974
Having difficulty setting up your TV, DVD, Digital?
Tel 01603 871251
For HELP
WINDOW CLEANER Local family run business
Any window cleaned using either traditional
method or Reach and Wash.
We also clean Gutters & Fascias
& conservatory roofs.
Great rates on carpet cleaning.
(You will be amazed at the results and our prices)
Call for a free no obligation quote.
Most quotes can be done over the telephone.
(01603) 868014 S. Nye.
Nicky P . Hair Design
Freelance Hairdresser
Covering all aspects in hairdressing
Highly professionally trained
with 10 years experience
For appointments Tel@ 07799298020
22
PHILIP COOKE CARPETS Established 1981
Your Local Home Selection Service Carpets, Vinyl, Laminates and Wood flooring supplied and expertly fitted
Competitive prices and Free Estimates Tel: 01603 867513, Mobile: 07885 304671, email: [email protected]
www.LyngNurserySchool.co.uk
Your local Pre-School Nursery for 2, 3 and 4 year olds
Sessions Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri 9am – 12 pm & 12pm to 3pm
£9 per session (funding available for 2 and 3 year olds
High ratio of staff to children (staff NVQ/QCF qualified) Large outside play area
OFSTED rated: Good “with OUTSTANDING features”
Baby and Toddler group 1pm to 2.45 pm on Tuesdays
Wensum Valley Nursery School
Wensum Road Lyng
NR9 5RJ Tel: 01603 872252
Charity no: 1028912
Lenwade News
OPEN 5.00am EVERY DAY. CLOSED 6.00pm Monday to Friday – 3pm Saturdays – 12.00pm Sundays and Bank Holidays. We deliver all national and local Newspapers, Magazines and Periodicals.
National Lottery and Instants Agents 3 Norwich Road, Lenwade, NR9 5SH.
Tel: 01603 872307 www.lenwadenews.co.uk
23
Likely to face the press, radio or television?
Look and sound professional – no matter what the situation
Mediapro
Dedicated to quality Media Training
[email protected] Tel 01603 879969
www.mediapro-training.co.uk Mob 07967 972519
P.J. CANHAM
Specialist Vermin Control
MOLES – RABBITS – RATS – MICE – BIRDS
For a complete service Safe to children, pets and other wildlife.
Tel: Philip Canham 01328 822197
NORFOLK COUNTRY MAIDS Domestic Cleaning & Ironing services
At competitive rates!
For all your household chores
Packages available to suit your needs All cleaners experienced & fully insured
Weekly, Fortnightly or Monthly Whatever your requirements
We can help! Check out our website: www.norfolkcountrymaids.co.uk
Or call 07880 605180
Charles Seaman
Interior/Exterior Painter and Decorator
Domestic & Small Business Work Undertaken
Highly Competitive Rates
Telephone 2 BELL CLOSE, BAWDESWELL
(01362) 688309 DEREHAM NR20 4SL
24
Our sympathy and continuing prayers for the families of those whose funerals have taken place recently: Michael Thomas Moore, aged 73, Weston Longville, 25th October, Norman George Payne, aged 91, Weston Longville, 5th November, Beryl Stella Seaman, aged 94, Ringland, 8th November Our congratulations and prayers for those who have been baptised: Rémy Mark Peter Watts, Attlebridge, 27th October, Rufus Carl Dack, Weston Longville, 23rd November This week we pray for those who live and work in Dec 1 Kett’s Lane (Little Witchingham and Swannington) Dec 8 King’s Head Terrace and Lady’s Row (Great Witchingham) Dec 15 Lake View Close and along Lenwade House Drive (Great Witchingham), Dec 22 Low Farm (Ringland) Dec 29 Mark’s Close Lane (Little Witchingham) and along Marl Hill (Morton-on-the-Hill) Jan 5th Mill Lane and Mill Road (Great Witchingham), Jan 12th Morse Close (Great Witchingham) Jan 19th Morton Hall and along Morton Lane Jan 26th Norwich Road and Nowhere Lane (Great Witchingham)
