2006 Newsletter

A new year, a new start in sunny Somerset. In February we took up temporary residence in Ilminster, then in mid-May we collected the keys for 20 Heron Way. Moving house in three stages is definitely not recommended and we are unanimously of the opinion that we are never doing it again - until next time!

Ilminster is a very pleasant place to live, not least because of its proximity to the so called Jurassic Coast; Charmouth, Lyme Regis, and Sidmouth all being within easy reach. Perhaps this explains why the main roads suddenly fill up as soon as the summer holidays start?

Lyme Regis has provided much entertainment through the year. Mainly in the form of concerts at the Marine Theatre, but also the chance to watch the reconstruction of the beach, and to witness the national news making “Conga Eel Cuddling”. The latter is an ancient tradition practiced by the lifeboat men where they try and knock each other over with a swinging, deceased Conga Eel. This year though, due to a complaint by a lone animal rights campaigner that it was “disrespectful to dead Conga Eels”, a dead lifebuoy had to be used instead!

Continuing the theme of concerts. Rachel and Emma had a jolly time at Glastonbury when they went to see Jools Holland et al - a trial run for the real Glastonbury festival next year?? And later in the year we all went to see an Abba tribute band whilst on holiday in Hexham. If ever you get the chance to go and see “Voulez Vous” - don’t!We can however recommend the “real” people we saw at the Marine Theatre: Midge Ure, and The Blues Band. On both occasions we met by chance one of Emma’s teachers. The second time it was Emma’s music teacher but she was so unimpressed with the lack of seating that she went home early!

Well, I’ve managed four paragraphs without mentioning ringing yet, so what news on that subject? The Crewkerne branch seems to be something of a ringing wilderness but a group of Emma’s school friends are learning to ring at Shepton Beauchamp so Emma has joined them. The bells at Ilminster are a magnificent ring of eight but the band has withered to only ringing 4 or 5 for the occasional Sunday service. There is a notable character among the select little band though, one Jervais Bellamy - the brother of David Bellamy.The most interesting tower visited award probably goes to Lundy Island. I had heard that the waters of the Bristol Channel can be somewhat choppy so it was a relief when the day dawned clear and calm. Even so the voyage aboard the good ship Oldenburg was quite lively. After ringing the bells, there was chance to walk the island in search of Puffins. They proved entirely elusive though - perhaps they didn’t appreciate the quarter peal of Grandsire Triples we treated them to?

One of many other trips has been to Chudleigh in Devon. This was prompted by some researching of family trees which revealed that part of Rachel’s family lived here for a time.We have found a number of gardens nearby including Forde Abbey, Montacute, and East Lambrooke. Apparantly Forde Abbey boasts the highest water fountain of any garden in the UK - it is certainly quite impressive and seems to do a pretty good job of watering the surrounding area too!

Sampling the local cuisine has been another enjoyable pastime. We must confess that we indulged somewhat in clotted cream, but have got the craving under control now. Somerset is of course renown for it’s cider and we have felt obliged to support some of the local producers! Perry’s Cider Mill is just a couple of fields away, and a cider farm at East Lambrooke has a particularly fine offering called Kingston Black - an apple aperitif with a warming 19% alcohol… Inspired by this, and the bumper crop of Sloes this autumn a batch of Sloe Gin seemed in order. The question is will it survive untouched for the next 6 months as recommended by the recipe?

Rachel has tested the local preaching waters now, and survived to tell the tale. In September and after some serious thought Emma was confirmed at Taunton Methodist Church. We have maintained this link with Taunton mostly because Emma enjoys the So Faithful Crew group so much. Emma’s Flute playing has been put to use at a number of services, including meetings of the Chard Northumbria Community Group which now takes place chez Hope.

Another regular occupant of 20 Heron Way this year has been my brother Paul. He has been working 3 days a week at Debenhams as a temporary contractor for almost 12 months now. It has been great having him around but clearly it will be better for the girls when he can find a permanent job back home.

Still haven’t quite got used to locating “home” so far south, but in time… We have missed the old place and our old friends, but we haven’t forgotten how to get back to the Midlands, and places north, so we’ll be back!

2005 Newsletter

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2004 Newsletter

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2003 Newsletter

Emma
This year in Brownies I have just got my disability awareness badge.

I have changed into an elf because there were too many imps, now I am working on my Seasons badge. Unfortunately there are no badges in piano, I am getting on well with it and I have just got a flute but I haven’t quite got the hang of blowing across the hole. Luckily I didn’t have to play the flute when I was a fairy on the float (there is a picture at the top of the page).

This year Emma had a starring role in the School Christmas Play – ‘The North Pole Goes Rock & Roll’ – where she played (the real) Santa. In addition to learning the lines she had to practise skate-boarding, and steel herself for singing a solo!

Rachel
On the hottest day of the summer, with no sign of an end to the drought conditions in sight, what did we do? Dig in the iron hard soil, and transplant a bed full of azaleas from our friend Anita’s garden to ours. By some miracle all the plants seem to have survived!
There was also the small matter of relocating a 7 foot tall garden seat between the same two gardens. For the latter we are indebted to friends and neighbours for muscle power and the loan of a horse box!

The highlight of the year though was, obviously, our week’s holiday in a cottage on the island of Lindisfarne. This was immediately after our week in the Western Highlands, where admittedly we did have some notable trips, such as the day we went to Tobermory and discovered, to Emma’s delight, that they were filming an episode of Balamory.

Back in the real world, Local Preacher duties continue, and at College I am going to take a short course which will enable me to do some part-time teaching as and when the opportunities arise.

Phil
The highlight of the year, obviously, was visiting Inveraray and ringing on the best ring of ten in the universe! What a stroke of luck that our journey to Scotland just happened to pass through on the weekend of their Ringing Festival…

The New Year resolution of taking more exercise in the form of walking has met with reasonable success. The Peaks have been an obvious choice, but I have also tramped the footpaths closer to home, many for the first time.

Ringing at Breedon went into deep decline during the summer when our number dwindled to four regular ringers. There is the prospect of a new learner starting in January though so maybe all is not lost!

2002 Newsletter

Hopes

2002

Emma
I made a coaster, at the top of the page. I started Brownies and I’m an Imp. I also started to play the piano. We went to see Jools Holland, and Frankenstein. I’m now in class 3, Mr. Arkle is teaching me. I slept in a caravan, with my cousins, Louise and Amy. My mum and dad gave me a new bike, I was a bit wobbly at first but I‘ve got the hang of it now. I’ve just turned 8 on the 19th of October, I had a big surprise I didn’t know we were going on holiday until I guessed we were. Another holiday I knew about was when we went to Scotland to see Bob, Fiona and the cattery, one ate cardboard, one ate a feather, they were both sick, one had a cute little nose. While I was there I went to holy Island. Back here in England, I made a bell ring, hand out books, said a good reading all in our church.

Rachel
Local Preacher training continues, though the light at the end of the tunnel is now in sight! Preaching appointments have been sprinkled throughout the year, including – in the spirit of Methodist / Anglican cooperation - an invitation to lead a service at Worthington C of E.
The role of School Governor has grown, with the promotion to Chair of Governors. This was something of a baptism of fire with, in quick succession, the start of the process of finding a new headmaster, and the announcement of an OFSTED inspection.

More palatable (and paid!) work has also come along as a member of a tasting panel at Sutton Bonington Agricultural College; an interesting way to spend a few hours each month.If all goes to plan by this time next year I will have qualified as a Local Preacher, otherwise the main hope for 2003 is that it will be a quiet one!

Phil
Well, you’ll be pleased to hear that the trips to Dixons came to an end at Easter, when I resigned the old job and started a new one. I must have started something, as the week I left four others were made redundant, and two further departures have happened since… Of all of us I think my colleague Alan made the best move – to a job in New Zealand!

Two new ringers have joined the band at Breedon this year, one a former ringer, the other starting from scratch. We hosted the District AGM in November, at which I slightly over-catered. With luck the excess bread should be finished before Christmas!
Not quite sure how it happened, but I have acquired the role of secretary for Castle Donington Methodists, and also Newsletter editor…

Next year I share with Mr. Brown, and others no doubt, the hope that the economy will recover… also, with a bit of luck I’ll achieve the ambition of ringing at Inveraray!

2001 Newsletter

Emma has now reached the grand old age of 7, progressed to Class 2, and receives the hardest homework!

Sports Day earlier in the year saw Emma on the Blue Team
who came in first after a nail-biting relay race.

Achievements in the swimming pool recently culminated in
the award of Grade I Duckling.

Rehearsals are underway for a starring role in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves; a first step in village amateur dramatics? Emma is also establishing herself as a Local Preacher’s assistant, having read out her own prayers at one of the services lead by Mummy. The qualification of ‘Loudest Voice in School’ (awarded at the December School Disco) ensured that even the hard of hearing had nothing to worry about! Amongst other things next year sees the start of Piano Lessons, and enrolment in the Brownies.

Rachel is now On Trial as a Methodist Local Preacher and has passed the first of the four ’Faith & Worship’ examinations.

Qualifications were also obtained in Embroidery and Upholstery; though on an unrelated course!

The role of School Governor continues, which makes for a busy meetings diary...

The paint brush has been wielded in the lounge and Emma’s bedroom, and a colour scheme has been identified for the hall.

The Summer holidays were a welcome break, a week at Cliff College, followed by 9 days in Roker. The latter ended up as a house swap; we borrowed the flat of Rob & Katie Hawkins, while their future in-laws (from Poland) stayed in our house.

Whilst in the top right hand of the country we took the opportunity of springing a visit on Ivanlea Cattery to renew friendships with Fiona, Bob and the cats.

Next year sees more exams, more meetings, more upholstery, more sermons to write… but before then there are some tiles to grout!

Phil has continued to deepen the ruts in the M1 working on the seemingly endless Dixons project.

Ringing activities have not been particularly numerous. Managed not to make too big a hash of ringing in the Guild Striking contest, but no trophies this year! The Worthington trainees have been manning their 3 bells unaided. Visits to the Coleorton practice have more often than not been with the accompaniment of Emma.

The highlight of the gardening year was the acquisition of a shiny yellow JCB shredder! The back hedge is now receding, to be replaced by an expanding mulch pile. The monster clematis in the front was also decimated; much to the displeasure of the head gardener. But it’s growing rampantly again now; threatening to colonise the lovely new shed next door!

The old PC was finally pensioned off this year. The replacement being put to good use in building a website for Castle Donington Methodist Church (www.cd-mc.co.uk).

The bathroom has also been replaced, though the job of tiling seems to have saved itself for the Christmas holiday...