BISHOP'S HULL PARISH MAGAZINE JULY 2020 - A THRIVING VILLAGE COMMUNITY IN THE HEART OF SOMERSET PRICE - 60 PENCE - St Peter ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
BISHOP’S HULL PARISH MAGAZINE
JULY 2020
A THRIVING VILLAGE COMMUNITY
IN THE HEART OF SOMERSET
PRICE - 60 PENCE
1
Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
Will Osmond and friends discuss the possibility of cricket this year
(see page 21)
The Editor (and I am sure
all our subscribers) would
like to thank Dilys Millard for
all her monthly
s articles over the
past five years
I, for one, have been
fascinated by all the detail
and descriptions - it was as
if one was actually on the
walks with her.
The question now is, is
there anyone out there who
are willing to fill the empty
pages left by Dilys?
2
Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
EDITOR TREASURER & ADVERTISING
Bob Coombs MANAGER
2 Waterfield Close John Chidgey
Bishop’s Hull 26 Shutewater Close,
Taunton, Bishop’s Hull
TA1 5HB Taunton.
01823-253697 01823-972908
Email: robertcoombs@talktalk.net E-mail: jcchidgey@hotmail.com
MAGAZINE SUPPORT TEAM
Regular Helpers: Clem & Val Pryer and Margaret Coombs
Magazine Cover: Photographs by Bob Coombs & Bob Winn
Magazine Distributors
:
Margaret Baker 274542 Christine Chidgey 972908
Margaret Coombs 253697 Jane Gurr 272415
Pam Lloyd 251599 Kath Mogford 461735
Rosemary Lockley 275867 Jo Yeandle
John Prinsep 253740 Clem & Val Pryer 282390
Janet Reed Mary Trevelyan 256406
Roger Farthing (Reserve)
Articles relating to all aspects of our village and community are welcome.
Final date for acceptance: Mid-day on 12th of the month.
Please help to make the magazine interesting by contributing material.
Magazines are delivered monthly to subscribers at a cost of £6.00 per annum.
(Please note: Individual copies are now priced at 60p)
Copies posted will attract a stamp fee (2nd class large) per copy .
Our magazine year starts on (TO BE DECIDED). Annual subscriptions
are due on this date or may be prepaid following delivery of the next
magazine. Complimentary copies are sent to the LMG, Hospices and the
local nursing and residential homes.
ADVERTISERS: Without the support of our advertisers this magazine
would not be financially viable. Please try to support them whenever
possible, and mention this magazine when doing so.
It is emphasised that the views expressed in this magazine are not
necessarily those of the the magazine editorial team,unless attributable,
or those sent in by identifiable contributors.
COVER PICTURE: Roses @ 2 Waterfield Close
3
Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
The Frank Bond Centre
84 Mountway Road, Bishop’s Hull
Is currently closed following Government guidelines
The Trustees are reviewing this information monthly and
will open the centre/gardens as soon as it is deemed safe to
do so.
Thank you for your support
Over 50? Come and join us for fun, friendship & activities
Annual membership £22 (£20 if paid before 31st Jan)
Contact Carolyn 01823 283941
Find on on facebook (& ‘Like’ us)
Activities for July 2020
Every Monday The Painting Group 10.00-12.00
Whist Club 1.30-4.00pm
Bridge Club 2.00-4.00pm (except first Monday in the month)
Every Tuesday Croquet 10.00-12.00 Games 2.00-4.00pm
Every Thursday Bridge Club 10.00-12.00
German conversation 10.00-12.00
Croquet 2.00-4.00pm
Every Friday Frank’s Café 10-00-12.00
Non members warmly welcomed
Monthly Activities
1st Monday in month Family History 2.00-4.00pm
2nd & 4th Tuesday. Parchment club for members 1.30-4.30pm
1st Wednesday Just for Singles social club 2.00-4.00pm
4th Wednesday Music Circle 2.00-4.00pm
3rd Thursday Monthly lunch-Please write name on list in foyer
NB The centre is closed until further notice from the
Government
Plus many more exciting activities…Table tennis, Boules, Coach trips….
The centre is available to hire
For All enquires about bookings, please contact Nadia 01823 338242 Mob
07989 970165
4
Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
Vicar:
Reverend Philip Hughes ,
The Vicarage, Bishop's Hull Hill,
Bishop's Hull, TA1 5EB
01823-336102
Church Wardens:
Mr Will Osmond, 01823-461820
Mrs Jo George, 01823-331432
T his is the third ‘electronic only’ copy of the Parish Magazine produced this
year. Regrettably, there is no news yet as to when it will once again be
printed. As editor I do hope that most of our subscribers know that there is an
electronic copy available and why they have not been receiving their monthly
hard copy. (See www.bishopshull.org.uk or www.stpeterandstpaul.org.uk)
The main reason for not producing the normal hard copy is because our Bishop
advised strongly that it would be unwise to circulate anything which just might
spread the corona virus. The second reason is because, in May, we would have
been sending out the ‘little brown envelopes’ for another year’s subscription.
As these would have had to be delivered and collected by a mixture of the most
vulnerable and senior amongst us we decided to concur. Another point we had
to consider was the fact that many of the magazines were picked up from the
church which, of course, has been closed (to date) for communal gatherings.
Because all of our lives have been disrupted and we now live in an entirely new
world, I find it difficult not to write about how things have affected Margaret
and me. We all have a story to tell, from the youngest to the eldest, and no
doubt many stories will be written once life returns to some sort of normal. I
have never heard/read so many points of view from so may people telling all
and sundry the whys and wherefores of the way we are living at the moment.
There are so many negative opinions and enough hindsight to last a lifetime.
Oh for the simple life! Getting up in the morning and going to work on the
farm; making sure the children are ‘scrubbed up’ and off to school; eating only
seasonal vegetables; enjoying a quick pint in the local pub or maybe doing a bit
of weeding in the allotment. Getting paid with real money at the weekend, and
passing it on to ‘the wife’ (she knows best how to manage it) before retiring to
bed with a good book. Maybe this all sounds a bit Dickensian to you but it just
might help us to realise just how complex the world has become.
Most of us surely have much to be thankful for and, one thing, for me. was the
arrival of the rain at the beginning of June. It didn’t help my in-full-bloom
roses too much but finally my runner beans are on the way up the canes and
maybe the courgettes will be ready by Sunday.
Do you remember the Monty Python‘ song ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of
Life ? Maybe it’s not entirely appropriate but hard to beat at this time of worry
and stress. Stay safe.
5
Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
The Vicar writes …..
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I recently had an email from the Diocese and
thought it would be good to share (with some
minor editing) in this section of our magazine:
“The UK's 1997 winning song, 'Love Shine A
Light', united the nations of Europe as the
Eurovision song contest was cancelled. This
year's contestants joined together in a new
rendition of the song which speaks of bringing
light to every corner of our hearts, to every corner
of our world. [Churches and disciples] have
embodied this over the past months and continue to do so [as we ease out
of lockdown.] The light of care and concern, the light of connection, the
lights of [discipleship] have continued to burn brightly despite the
challenges of distance, isolation and fear.
2000 years ago, a group of people worked together. They wanted to do their
best for their friend, they knew what they wanted, they had a plan but they
had no idea what the future held! The Bible tells us they were digging away
at the roof of a house in which Jesus was teaching. They really let light
shine in as the hole in the roof grew larger and larger! They lowered their
friend, landing him in front of Jesus. Their love and efforts were rewarded
as Jesus cured him. As the light flooded in because of the hole, Jesus also
used words which began to shine a light on his true identity and purpose.
(bonus points if you know the Bible reference!)
How great that we can 'Take Heart the darkness loses the fight, That the
light never ever fails to put an end to the dark, Thank God that the darkness
loses the fight.' Enjoy this video:” https://youtu.be/e1nFVaeHmyU
I wonder what it will be like to join together again in worship? I wonder
how I have changed as a result of this time of isolation? And how you have
changed? Hopefully for all of us there will be things that are positive and
remain with us for whatever the future looks like. Hopefully we will be
brave enough to leave behind the things that are negative.
But whatever tomorrow holds, let us trust in the one who holds all our
tomorrows. Thank God that His light shines and the darkness loses the
fight.
God bless,
Rev Phil
6
Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
BISHOP’S HULL IN TIMES PAST
1829
T he death was announced of Mrs Stephenson, in her
82nd year, widow of the late Rev Christopher
Stephenson, vicar of Olney, Buckinghamshire.
It was reported that 5 men, whose faces were disguised
with crape, entered the gardens of R K Marsh at Barr, in
which they committed ‘considerable depredations’. They
then proceeded to the residences of Mr Snowden, Mr
Gunstone and Mrs Vanzandt (Netherclay House), where
they also did much damage. One of the party impeached
his companions, for the apprehension of whom ‘vigilant measures have been
adopted’.
1867
At the Taunton Petty Sessions, before Captain Deveton, Captain Allen and VJ
George Esq, George Priddle pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a wagon with
three horses, belonging to Mr Job Scott of North Curry, without reins on the
Bishop’s Hull Road. The defendant was fined 6d, and costs 9s 6d. Mr Hunt
kindly paid half the amount, as the defendant pleaded poverty.
A rather serious fire broke out in the machine-house adjoining Trott’s flour
mills (now the Old Mill). The mill stream afforded a plentiful supply of water
and fortunately the fire was brought under control before any extensive
damage was done.
1907
The Somerset Compensation Authority met to consider the licences of five
public houses, one of which was the Boot Inn down Shutewater Hill (now
Shute Cottage). It was owned by Taunton brewers Hanbury and Cotching and
tenanted by George Henry Windle. Mr Philip Everard appeared for the
renewal authority and Mr CP Clarke for the owners and licensee. Mr Everard
said the tenant was a pensioner. There were seven licensed houses in the
parish, giving an average of 141 inhabitants to each house. PS Whitehead of
Bishop’s Hull, Superintendent Durham of Taunton and Mr FH Price, architect,
of Taunton gave evidence in support of the refusal. Mr Windle gave evidence
in favour of the renewal of the licence, but the Authority decided to refuse it.
Following the closure of the public house, George Windle and his wife, Selina,
moved around the corner to School Cottages.
The Coroner for West Somerset, Mr T Foster Barham, held an inquiry at
Bishop’s Hull relating to the death of Thomas Webber, aged 69, who had died
in a wheat field. Mr Webber was employed as a labourer by MR EP Peters of
Parsonage Farm and while leading some horses with a wagon filled with wheat
through one of the fields of the farm, he in some way stumbled. The jury
returned a verdict of death from misadventure. Mr Webber left a widow,
Elizabeth Fanny, and two children, Fred and Harry. ##
7
Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
BISHOP’S HULL FLOWER SHOW
SCARECROW COMPETITION
Theme: East meets West
1st Prize: £15
2nd Prize: £10
3rd Prize: £5
Please tick to enter the scarecrow
class (no fee)
HANGING BASKET COMPETITION
1st Prize: £5
2nd Prize: £3
3rd Prize: £1
Please tick to enter the hanging basket competition
(no fee)
Name: …………………………………….
Address: …………………………………….
…………………………………….
Closing date for entries is Friday 17th July 2020 and
judging will take place on Sunday 19th July 2020
All entries must be visible from the road and remain
on display until Saturday 25th July
A Scarecrow trail will be advertised prior to the Show and
the winning entries will be displayed at the Flower Show
Please send entries to Amanda Gallacher, Shute Cottage,
Shutewater Hill, Bishops Hull or hand in to Bishops Hull
Post Office & Stores
8
Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
John Silcock considers the beneficial impact of computers with regard
to the current pandemic.
M onday 1 June was the first day of meteorological Summer. As Aristotle said
(in a different context) "One swallow does not make a summer" but I saw a
swallow on Tuesday so immediately hope sprang eternal that, following the warm,
dry and sunny weather we'd been enjoying for weeks and weeks, more was to
come. But, true to form for an English summer, Wednesday dawned cool, windy
and wet and looks set to stay that way for at least a week. Oh well, at least we
won't have to pay for all that water we've been having to pour on the garden to
keep the vegetables and flowers alive!
But what a blessing the past few weeks' weather has been during the Covid-19
epidemic. Perhaps not for those poor souls isolating and having to stare out of
their windows at the sunshine and blossoming spring, or for those cocooned in
Personal Protective Equipment as they care for the sick and vulnerable. But for
those able to sit in their gardens and take their permitted daily exercise in warm
sunshine, it was balm to the soul. Imagine what things would have been like if the
epidemic had occurred in the depths of winter -- dark, cold, wet or perhaps even
snowing..........
Perhaps because I was born before the first electronic computer was created and
it's beyond my comprehension how the presence or absence of an electric current
can be stored and restored to produce words and figures, I've always regarded the
Internet as something to be feared and mistrusted. Yes, so long as it is used as a
tool, it has value in communicating, doing banking transactions, ordering goods
and services, and seeking information and knowledge. But let it become your
master, then it can become a curse, an addiction and a vehicle for spreading hurt,
hatred and misinformation.
Which led me to think a bit about how the present epidemic might have been
handled if there were no Internet. In the 1918-19 so-called Spanish flu epidemic,
when my parents were teenagers, over 50 million people died of it world wide
and 228,000 people died in Britain, in what was a much smaller population. That
was five times the number of deaths so far from the present Covid-19
epidemic. More people died of influenza in a single year than in the four years of
the "Black Death" in the Fourteenth Century. What would the present numbers
be if we didn't have the benefit of the Internet and its offspring, the "smart"
phone? Without the ability to confer electronically, most if not all of the senior
levels of Government would have been laid low for weeks, if not permanently in
coffins. Communication between the nations of Britain would have had to be via
telegram or telegraph or by the unreliable and quite rare telephone -- calls placed
through an operator in a manual exchange. And the general population would
have been left ill informed, scared and left to their own devices to look after their
sick and deceased.
There were of course no public hospitals in the sense we understand today: there
9
Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
were "community hospitals" largely staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses but
totally unequipped to cope with major outbreaks of disease. We do tend to take
advances in medicine (and other things) for granted and moan about perceived
inabilities to cope with whatever demands are placed on them and no doubt that's
just the way of things. But perhaps, just perhaps, we can develop the habit of
putting things into context and perspective, and thank the stars (or whatever) that
we live today, not as our grandparents did. Fingers crossed!
ODE TO CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN 2020
I look out of the window and watch the rain
Nothing else happening through my window pane
I can see no bugs floating by in the air
No sign of the enemy - is it really there?
Told to stay inside by the Tory Gov.
Not allowed to visit the people we love
This virus has got us under lock and key
Stuck in for months with nothing different to see.
My hair needs attention - I’ve got two inch roots
No footie to watch - they have hung up their boots
Mostly reruns on telly, didn’t like them first time
So I turn down the sound, it’s more fun when they
mime.
My crosswords are solved and I’ve read my books twice
All that’s left on the shelf is a packet of rice
I tell bed-time stories to my unwalked mutt
How much longer must we stay in this rut?
The news tells me our economy is shot
All businesses closed and going to pot
It seems nothing will ever be the same again
So I may as well sit here and count drops of rain.
Lin Hughes
Bishop’s Hull Flower Show
Did you know that the Bishop’s Hull Flower show is on Facebook?
Here’s the address - https://www.facebook.com/BishopsHullFlowerShow
PLEASE DO ENTER THE SCARECROW COMPETITION THIS YEAR
AND, IF YOU HAVE ONE, THE HANGING BASKETS
CASH PRIZES FOR THE WINNERS.
10Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
New Archbishop of York to be confirmed
B ishop Stephen Geoffrey Cottrell will be confirmed
as the 98th Archbishop of York this month.
The service, at 11am on Thursday 9th July, will be
broadcast entirely via video conference due to the
Coronavirus restrictions.
The service, which had been due to take place in
York Minster, will be in two parts. A legal ceremony
with readings, prayers and music, will be followed by
a film marking the start of Bishop Stephen’s ministry
as Archbishop of York.
Bishop Stephen Cottrell says: “I am looking forward
to beginning my ministry as the 98th Archbishop of
York. This isn’t quite how I imagined it would begin. It
is certainly the first time an Archbishop’s election will
have been confirmed via video conference. But
we’re all having to re-imagine how we live our lives
and how we inhabit the world.
“These are difficult times. My hope is that through this service the love of God
that is given us in Jesus Christ will shine out, perhaps even to those who while
never attending a service in York Minster, might have a look online
Following in the footsteps of my many predecessors, I look forward to serving
our nation and bringing the love and peace of Christ to our world, especially
here in the north.”
The service will be available on the Church of England website. Arrangements
for Bishop Stephen’s enthronement service will be announced later in the year.
Annual Report for 2019 published by Church Commissioners
T he Church Commissioners for England, the endowment fund of the
Church of England, have published their Annual Report for 2019.
Key results include:
The Church Commissioners made a positive return of 10% in 2019
Value of Commissioners’ investment fund stood at £8.7bn (year end 2019)
Church Commissioners post eleventh successive year of positive returns
The total return averaged over the past 30 years at 8.5% per annum.
The Church Commissioners contributed approximately 15% of the
Church’s annual running costs.
In 2019 £19.4m was awards in SDF to 11 projects in 11 dioceses.
11Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
SOMERSET POLICE REPORTS
29/05/20 9788 Somerset Loft Insulation Scam Warning
N umerous residents in the Somerset area have reported that they have
received telephone calls from individuals who claim to be from
government funded companies and that they needed to make an appointment
so they could inspect their loft insulation.
A check online reveals that there have been reports from residents all over the
country who have had similar calls, so it is highly likely that this is a scam and
your area could be approached soon.
Always be wary of any cold callers, whether in person, by email or by phone.
Never give out any personal details, especially financial information. If you
have any concerns, hang up and contact the company or business the caller
claims to represent using a telephone number from a phone book or old
invoice or letter. You should always wait at least five minutes before making
this call as the fraudster may still be on the line. If possible, use a different
phone such as a mobile.
If you have any information regarding this incident contact the Police on 101.
Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111
26/05/20 9788 AW047 Theft from a Garden Shed.
A garden shed has been broken into in Park Lane, Kingston St Mary,
between 10:30pm on the 22nd and 1:30am on the 23rd. The offender has
gained entry via a hedge in a neighbouring field and upon arrival at the shed
has prised off the lock. Once inside a selection of hand and power tools have
been stolen together with Surf Boards.
22/05/20 9788 Somerset Wide: Alert over thefts from vans –
North Somerset and Bristol
W e’re investigating after the occupants of a dark-coloured BMW car were
reported as being involved in thefts and attempted thefts from vans in
North Somerset and South Bristol.
There were four incidents on Saturday night, 16 May:
•the first happened at about 10.13pm in Aspen Park, Weston-super-Mare. A
witness reported disturbing men who made off in a car. Officers attended and
found that three Vauxhall Vivaro vans in the street had been tampered with.
Two were damaged but nothing had been stolen.
•in Wrington Lane, Congresbury, another Vauxhall Vivaro was broken into and
tools were stolen. These included Hilti batteries and impact guns and a number
of cordless Makita tools. This wasn’t witnessed and was reported on Sunday
afternoon but CCTV shows the incident happened at 10.36pm on Saturday
night.
•just before 11pm officers were called to Chescombe Road, Yatton. A Peugeot
van was damaged but had nothing stolen after the men were disturbed by
witness. •finally at 11.30pm a Vauxhall Vivaro parked in Westward Road,
Bishopsworth, was damaged in an attempt to break into it. Again a witness
called officers after seeing someone interfering with the vehicle.
12Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
We responded to each report on Saturday night. The area was searched for the
suspect vehicle with no trace. House-to-house enquiries have been carried out
and an alert issued through Neighbourhood Watch.
Neighbourhood Sergeant Mark Raby said: “These witnesses did exactly the
right thing by calling us immediately to report this suspicious behaviour. We
understand the significant impact of this sort of crime on tradespeople’s
livelihoods. We’d be keen to hear from anyone with information which could
help, especially who recognises the men in the image above, quoting reference
5220106973.”
He added: “We know it’s not always possible to empty a work van overnight,
but we’d recommend it if you can.”
Other vehicle security advice:
•permanently mark tools with your business name or postcode
•keep a record of the serial numbers
•keep tools inside a secure storage cage or box anchored within the vehicle
•set the alarm as well as locking the van whenever you leave it
•park it in a secure garage, or with the doors against a wall or another vehicle,
to make access more difficult
•fit secondary locks
•use a tracking device
Don’t help to create a market for stolen goods – we’d also like to hear from you
if you see tools offered for sale, online or in person, at a suspiciously cheap
price.
If you can help, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number
5220106973
18/05/20 9788 Somerset Potential Scam Calls, (Be Aware)
T rading Standards have told us that some residents have been receiving
phone calls from a company that are offering “virus ventilation and
sanitation due to lockdown” on behalf of Bath & North East Somerset Council.
The Council wishes it be known that the company, Pro Day UK, do not
represent them so any calls from them should be considered as a scam.
Although this offence happened in the Bath area, similar attempts have been
made in other parts of the country, so they may well start to try other regions
of the Avon and Somerset police area including ours.
If you have any information regarding these incidents contact the Police on
101. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111
15/05/20 9788 Somerset: Keeping Children Safe Online.
Dear Members
Avon and Somerset Police are helping to keep young people safe online
during the Coronavirus pandemic, by promoting a new online safety
campaign which supports parents to keep their children safe on their devices.
Please see the attached document for more information.
Kind regards, Paul Johnson, NHW Admin (Somerset)
13Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
14/05/20 9788 AW044/45/46/47/48/49
Useful information regarding Bonfires.
D ear Members, I do hope you are all keeping well. Many of you of late
have posed questions regarding bonfires, so to address these questions I
attach a PDF document that will hopefully give you a little more information.
Do please take a few moment to have a look through this information and
save it for future reference, with the onset of the Summer months we all want
to spend more time outside in our gardens.
There is also a link below to the Somerset West and Taunton Council website,
this will take you directly to their page dedicated to bonfires.
https://www.somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk/environmental-
health/environmental-protection/laws-and-rules-surrounding-bonfires/
Wed. 3rd June - What is going on with Somerset County Cricket
A letter sent to Taunton Castle PROBUS by a member.
"A s one of a number of Probus Members who are also Members of
Somerset County Cricket I have been asked to give a general update
as to the state of Somerset cricket with regard to the Covid 19 pandemic.
It is hard to believe that the Championship Season should have started on
the 12 April, with a number of friendlies before that, and indeed the white-
ball T20 should have commenced on the 31 May. However not a ball has
been bowled !!
The England and Wales Cricket Board have confirmed a further delay to the
start of the professional domestic season with no domestic cricket being
played before 1st August. This is, of course, subject to ongoing advice from
the UK Government and health experts.
Various options are being explored for both red-ball and white-ball cricket ,
the use of a regional game model as well as consideration for matches being
played behind closed doors, or with a limited number of Members and
supporters.
The recreational game currently remains suspended until further notice -
with the sole exception of the use of cricket facilities (nets and pitches) for the
purpose of undertaking exercise.
Six Somerset players have been named in the England Back to Training
Group - Craig and Jamie Overton, Lewis Gregory, Dom Bess, Jack Leach
and Tom Banton. The bowlers are already back in training but only 2 at
any one time, and only to bowl at the stumps ! Tom Banton to follow
shortly.
It is also worth noting that although the Club has had to furlough 67 of the
76 staff members, together with a large proportion of the casual staff, the
Club are continuing to help the NHS and Musgrove Park Hospital in many
ways "
Richard
14Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
MODERATE This leg Total
Distance 7.6 miles 632.1 miles
Ascent 150m 35,024 m
DAY 64 SWANAGE to SOUTH HAVEN POINT 29th July 2017
Well, here I was, preparing for the last day. The forecast was dire, I have to
say, but we had to choose a date for this one to enable family to share with
us. Awaking to sunshine seemed hopeful, and we set off in sunglasses. I shall
not miss these two-hour journeys, as I’m sure Sam will agree.
We met Mike on Swanage sea front and took a photo in the dry – we weren’t
sure how many dry moments there would be today. Starting a little later than
planned at about 10.30, we ambled along the front and were able to walk
along the beach to reach the steps up to Ballard Down. This was the only hill
of the day, and was soon achieved, stopping to take a shot of Swanage below.
Quite a few people were taking the air early, presumably to grab the best of
the day.
Walking across Ballard Down the rain started so we donned our waterproofs,
but it proved to be just a shower this time. We kept them on, just in case. The
air was warm and humid, the cliff top covered in grassland, the views out to
sea amazing. We could see the Isle of Wight in the low cloud, and the
spectacular rocks of Old Harry soon came into view. It was very busy around
there, both at the top and on the water. We looked down the sheer white
cliffs to see kayakers below.
The route from there was busy until we turned off the path to descend to
South Beach. A campsite beside the path had about 50 cream coloured bell
tents, which apparently belonged to a Christian group called the Crusaders.
They were all trooping back from the beach. It had started raining a bit more
now, and not many were heading to the beach as we were. Roland led me to
believe that I could walk along the beach from here, but I should have looked
more closely at the SWCP notes, which indicated that a diversion was in
place. We walked along to have a look. We asked another couple who looked
as if they had tried it, and they informed us that you couldn’t get round as
the water was too deep at what was almost high tide now. We had a little look
but decided that they were right. There’s paddling and then there’s
swimming – and we didn’t fancy that. So we returned to the path and headed
up to the road until we were able to get back to the beach at Knoll.
This was where the fun began, as it was now just a short stroll along the
beach till the end. We met up with Sam, Carole, Pip and all his family, plus
15Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
our young grand-daughter Freya (aged 9), fresh from her Brownie sleepover,
in her uniform to show it! Her wellies didn’t last long; she had soon divested
herself of those, giving them to Pop to carry, and was paddling in the waves –
as she continued to do for the next 2 miles, getting in deeper and deeper
until her trousers were sodden. Dillon soon joined her, running backwards
and forwards, even racing the ferry boat! His brothers plodded along, heads
together, probably discussing tactics for Dungeons and Dragons. Pip and
Becky were enjoying a stroll hand in hand; Carole, Mike and Sam bringing
up the rear. I savoured the moments and will keep the memory in my mind
of this amazing family I have who have given up their Sunday to join with me
for a walk along the beach in the pouring rain, on one of the worst days of the
year weatherwise.
As we neared the end Ruth, Dan (second son) and his 4-year-old daughter
Kara appeared, and then I could see that famous blue sculpture that I had
been heading towards for the last 64 days and 632 miles! There was a little
bit of emotion of course, but mostly it was just joy. Ruth and Becky had made
me a banner of congratulations (which will go up on my craft room wall);
Sam had organised cakes and
bubbly, which were sheltering
under a brolly with 5-year-old
granddaughter Megan, as it was
raining harder by now. He had
also sent off for a finisher’s
certificate which had,
apparently only arrived that
morning, so excellent timing. I
was most humbled that all of
my family had come to see me
finish. All had been given the
choice to duck out, given the
weather forecast and that they
mostly had 2-hour journeys to
get there at least. But they
hadn’t. Ruth had even sneaked
out from the Beaver camp she
was running to be there!
I felt most blessed and thanked
God indeed: for my health, for
my family, for staving off the
weather till almost the end. But
Done it! most of all, for Sam, without
whom this would all have been a very different story.
16Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
We were all quite wet by now, so Ruth took us back to our car at Knoll, where
Sam and I joined Dan and Kara for a hot drink in the café (well, Kara had the
ice cream she had been promised) before heading for home – in the pouring
rain, which didn’t stop.
I have enjoyed this walk immensely. There have, of course, been both
highlights and lowlights. Sam and I have had to come to terms with our
differing capabilities, and how to manage it. We have had a lot of laughs. I
have knitted an awful lot of things on those long car journeys. I have lost my
dear big sister Suzanne, and my ex brother-in-law John. I have met some
amazing people, some of whom have raised a huge amount of money for
various charities and seen some fabulous parts of our countryside. I will have
bored Bishop’s Hull
Parish magazine
readers silly over the 5
years during which
this write up has been
published! (You can
blame Pauline Meakin
for that – she said ‘You
should write about it).
Thank you to all the
loyal readers who tell
me they enjoy the
articles. The magazine
will be three pages
shorter from now on!
So I am blessed indeed
that I have been
privileged enough to
be able to do it. I
would recommend it.
Sam may be a little
more hesitant before
he asks me another
time ‘What would you
like to do on your
birthday …. ‘
Church pot £8.00
Total £753.00 +Sponsorship £330 .00= £1,083.00
Thank you, God, thank you indeed.
17Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
Letter from the Right Reverend Peter Hancock, Bishop of Bath and Wells
For Parish Newsletters – July 2020
Building a sustainable and hopeful future
O ne impact of the Coronavirus pandemic
is there is now a lot of talk about the
need to change and to re-imagine society, in
order to build a sustainable and hopeful
future. This is to be welcomed. However,
change is something that we always have to
live with. The Greek philosopher,
Heraclitus, writing some 500 years before
Christ, was a great proponent of this. He is
known for saying: ‘There is nothing
permanent except change’ and that you
cannot step into the same river twice. By
this he meant that just as the river flows so
that you cannot touch the same water twice,
so no two situations are exactly the same
and that the world is constantly changing.
We live in a time of extraordinary change.
Self-driving transport is now practical, not
just for cars, but also perhaps more
alarmingly for ships and aircraft. Artificial
Intelligence is opening amazing new possibilities and medicine is advancing
rapidly as the decoding of the human genome increases our understanding of
many diseases. At the same time our world groans under the weight of
lifestyles and exploitation of resources which are not sustainable. I am
writing this on World Environment Day and it is becoming increasingly clear
that we need to change the way we live before we wreak even more havoc on
the world which God has given us to steward and care for.
But in looking for change we need perhaps to look in rather than out. I
remember once reading someone saying: ‘You can’t change what is going on
around you, until you start changing what’s going on within you’. Or as
Tolstoy put it: ‘Everyone thinks of changing the world. But no one thinks of
changing themself.’ It is sometimes said that if ‘we change the way we look at
things, the things we look at change.’ There may be so truth in that and
perhaps we need to use this time of lockdown to continue to reflect on what it
means to look at the world through God’s eyes and to live faithfully in God’s
world so that we all play our part in building a sustainable and hopeful
future.
Every blessing
Bishop Peter
18Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
BOOK REVIEWS
The Selfish Gene If Animals Kissed Good Night
by Richard Dawkins
I nheriting the
mantle of
revolutionary
biologist from
Darwin, Watson, and
Crick, Richard
Dawkins forced an
enormous change in
the way we see ourselves and the
world with the publication of The
Selfish Gene. Suppose, instead of
thinking about organisms using genes
to reproduce themselves, as we had
since Mendel's work was by Ann Whitford Paul (Goodreads
rediscovered, we turn it around and Author),
imagine that "our" genes build and David Walker (Illustrator)
maintain us in order to make more
genes. That simple reversal seems to If animals kissed
answer many puzzlers which had like we kiss good night,
stumped scientists for years, and we Giraffe and his calf
haven't thought of evolution in the would stretch their necks high
same way since. and kiss just beneath
the top of the sky.
Why are there miles and miles of
"unused" DNA within each of our
bodies? Why should a bee give up its
own chance to reproduce to help raise
I n a cozy bedtime chat with her
mother a young girl wonders how
animal families might say good night.
her sisters and brothers? With a
prophet's clarity, Dawkins told us the Would Wolf and his pup “kiss and
answers from the perspective of then HOWL”?
molecules competing for limited Would Bear and her cub “kiss and
space and resources to produce more then GROWL”?
of their own kind. Drawing But what about Sloth and her baby?
fascinating examples from every field They move soooo slooowwwww . . .
of biology, he paved the way for a they’re sure to be kissing from early
serious re-evaluation of evolution. He evening until long after everyone else
also introduced the concept of self- is fast asleep!
reproducing ideas, or memes, which
(seemingly) use humans exclusively With its whimsical art and playful
for their propagation. If we are rhymed verse, this affectionate
puppets, he says, at least we can try to picture book is bound to become a
understand our strings. bedtime favourite.##
19Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
EAT WELL FOR LESS
Healthy tuna lettuce wraps capers. To eat, roll up into little
wraps.
******
Lighter Creamy vanilla rice
pudding
Ingredients
¼ tsp butter, for greasing
85g short-grain (pudding) rice
1 tbsp light muscovado sugar
2 tsp golden caster sugar
Ingredients 700ml semi-skimmed milk, plus
2 drops rapeseed oil 50ml
Rapeseed oil , for brushing ½ vanilla pod
2 x 140g fresh tuna Tuna fillets, 3 tbsp half-fat crème fraîche
defrosted fresh raspberries
1 ripe avocado to serve (optional)
½ tsp English mustard powder
1 tsp cider vinegar Method
1 tbsp capers Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2.
Capers in bowl Grease a 1.2-litre (about 5cm deep)
8 romaine lettuce leaves ovenproof baking dish (see tip, below
16 cherry tomatoes, preferably on left) and stand it on a baking tray. Tip
the vine, halved the rice into a pan with both the
Method sugars and all the milk. Split the ½
Brush the tuna with a little oil. vanilla pod horizontally, scrape out
Heat a non-stick pan, add the tuna the seeds into the pan and drop in the
and cook for 1 min each side, or a min pod. Heat the milk, whisking. As it is
or so longer for a thicker fillet. about to come to the boil,
Transfer to a plate to rest. immediately remove from the heat.
Pour the mixture into the dish,
Halve and stone the avocado and scraping out all the rice and seeds
scoop the flesh into a small bowl. Add from the bottom of the pan.
the mustard powder and vinegar, Bake for 30 mins, then remove and
then mash well so that the mixture is stir. Return the pudding to the oven
smooth like mayonnaise. Stir in the for another 30 mins. Stir again and
capers. Spoon into two small dishes return for a further 25-30 mins until
and put on serving plates with the the rice is cooked and has absorbed
lettuce leaves, and tomatoes. enough of the milk to give the
Slice the tuna (it should be slightly mixture a creamy consistency.
pink inside) and arrange on the Remove the pudding, let it sit for
plates. Spoon some ‘mayo’ on the 1-2 mins, then stir in the crème
lettuce leaves and top with tuna and fraîche to make it extra creamy.
cherry tomatoes and a few extra Serve with raspberries, if you like.
20Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
A further extract from E W Hendy’s book (1943)
Somerset Birds and some other folk.
SPRING MIGRATION OF SWALLOWS IN SOUTH WEST ENGLAND
M r. Richard Perry, who stayed on Lundy Island during the spring and
summer of 1939, states in his book Lundy, Isle of Puffins, that in that year
the migration of swallows on Lundy was from S. and S.S.E., i.e. from the
direction of Hartland and the north-west coast of Devon and Cornwall, and that
they invariably passed on to N.N.W., or N.N.E. There were rushes on various
dates in April and May which usually coincided with the waves noted on the
mainland. The migration on Lundy in 1939 reached its maximum intensity at
noon on 20th May, when Mr. Perry estimated that swallows were travelling
north at the rate of 5000 an hour. The total number of swallows traversing
Lundy during the spring migration he thinks may have reached sixty thousand.
Rushes took place mainly on fine, calm days. Migration began to diminish at the
end of May, though occasional birds departed northwards till June 29th. A few
were seen flying south in July and north even in September ; these late
movements are difficult to explain; perhaps they were flights by non-breeding
birds or birds of the year, or possibly were caused by bad weather. In 1938 and
1939 attempts were made to trace to south and west Wales the routes taken by
the swallows flying northwards from the north and north-west coasts of Devon
and Somerset and from Lundy, but the results were inconclusive. Some arrivals
of swallows at various places on the south and west coasts of Wales coincided
with their passage north-west up the Exe Estuary, northwards along the river
valleys from south Devon, and along the west coasts of Devon and in West
Somerset.
Since the war few Welsh records have been available. The reports for all the
nine years again reveal that there is a passage of swallows both east and west all
along the southern shores of the Bristol Channel from Porlock to Morte Point,
west of Ilfracombe. Many of those flying east along this route are continuing
their journey by the West Coast Route, but others, and also many of
those proceeding westward, must have come overland, some by river routes
from the south Devon coast, mentioned later, and others directly across
Dartmoor, Exmoor and east Devon. There are in some years definite records of
swallows flying north and north-west and from east to west at Black Torrington
in the Torridge valley towards the north-west and west Devon coast, and from
the Yealm and the Erme valleys in south Devon round the west side of
Dartmoor; some have been seen passing over Dartmoor and Exmoor at
altitudes of I1,000 to 1,500 feet and others going north-west up the Teign Valley
and near Wiveliscombe.
A possible explanation of the origin of the West Coast Route suggests itself to
me. Any physical map of the British Isles and north- west France shows that the
fifty Fathom line runs in a broad curve to the east and then to the west from the
Isles of Scilly to Ushant on the west coast of Brittany. Within comparatively
recent geological time this must have formed the coastline of south Britain and
west France.
21Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
We do not know when bird migration began, but it is probable that in those
days migrants followed that coastline. Do they still unconsciously do so ?
It is significant that such a route would guide them to the Isles of Scilly and
thence to the present West Coast Route. Turning to the south and south~east
coasts of Cornwall and Devon, there is evidence of swallows migrating
northwards up the St. Erth valley from Mount’s Bay to St. Ives, up the Fal
valley, and overland near Grampound in Cornwall. The five rivers~Lynher,
Tamar, Tavy, Plym and Meavy—which eventually debouch into Plymouth
Sound—are all popular swallow highways: two swallows at sea on April 2nd,
1937, twenty miles south of the Eddystone, flying north, would reach land at
Plymouth. Small parties that flew in from the sea at Stoke Point, east of
Plymouth Sound, in May 1938 and 1939, and another arriving east of Prawle
Point in April 1939, passed north, a direction which would take them up the
Tamar, Yealm and Erme Valleys, and across Dartmoor. In fact, those are the
general directions of flight here, and of swallows following the Dart River or
reaching the coast near Torquay. Others came in from the sea in 1939 and 1940
at Paignton and at Start Point. Those passing up the Exe estuary and valley (a
very crowded highway) and up the Otter and Sid also fly north. Two were seen
separately at sea off Budleigh Salterton in April 1935, flying north-west. Others
flew in from the sea at the same place and near Exmouth, Torquay and Dawlish
in 1939 and 1940. A glance at the map of Western Europe shows that the coast
between Plymouth and Torquay juts out into the English Channel and would
therefore naturally form the first landing place of many northward bound birds
which had followed the well-known fly-line along the west coast of France.
In the spring of 1939 I was able through the kindness of M. Jacques Delamain,
to get in touch with ornithological correspondents in western and south-
western France. Their records, extending over seventeen years in some cases,
show that swallows arrive in Charente Inferieure (La Rochelle, Rochefort,
Marennes) about March 15th, and continue their Passage till the end of April
or mid May. There are occasional arrivals at the end of February. In Vendée
(Aiguillon-sur-Mer, St. jean de Monts, Bourgeneuf, Fontenay le Comte)
advance swallows appear as early as 9th-12th March, but the main body comes
ten days or more later. The route taken is along the west coast of France, but
there is a parallel flight inland. In northern Brittany the dates of fist arrivals
vary from March 2 5th to April 17th, the average being the end of March or first
week in April. There is a flight line from Pte de Primel to the N.E., I.e. towards
the Channel Islands and Cape de la Hague (Manche). M. Baal (Conservateur
du Museum de Jersey) informs me that there are three flight lines from
Brittany across the English Channel: (1) The strongest, entering England on
the S.E. Coast. (2) From Cape de la Hague N.E. to the Isle of Wight. (3) A
weaker and later flight, from Cape Frehel in N. Brittany, N.W. to Start Point in
Devon. The third would be the route taken by swallows arriving over the sea
on the south Devon coast, as above mentioned.
After their arrival in Devon the river valleys must provide plentiful shelter and
sustenance for some of those whose bourne is not yet reached.
(To be continued)
22Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
David Pickup, a solicitor, considers some legal problems caused by lockdown.
Lawyers in Lockdown
T he last few months has proved a busy time for many solicitors. Sadly, the
added stress, uncertainty, isolation, and changes to daily life brought on by
coronavirus has led to many disputes. People have ended up fighting their
business contacts, colleagues, neighbours and even family members,
Strangers may also prove a threat. There are increasing numbers of scam
emails, as crooks try to hack into your computer or try to get you to invest in
some get-rich-quick scheme. Then there are those advertisements for gambling
on television. They are disguised as ‘fun’, but in reality, they are anything but
fun: gambling during lockdown can escalate very quickly.
The lockdown has thrown up some questions: what to do if the post office is
prevented from delivering mail to tenants on an estate and whether you still
have to pay rent for a student accommodation if the student has gone home.
The tenants have a right to receive mail and the answer to the other question is
probably ‘yes’, because student lets are often for a fixed period without an
option to end the letting early.
People are spending more time close together, although in isolation. This can
lead to domestic violence and anti-social behaviour. Neighbours, tenants and
landlords can get on each other’s nerves. Anti-social behaviour indoors or
outdoors is always taken seriously by the authorities.
Some of us are spending more time in the garden and this can lead to noticing
problems about that tree which overhangs your house and the branches that
bang on the roof in a high wind or the fence that needs a repair.
Being a good neighbour/colleague/family member is more important now than
ever. It is always best to first talk to people - at a safe distance! ##
SMILE
T o bring a smile or laugh to someone’s face is the best thing you can do.
These days social media has taken that responsibility. There are many
jokes and trolls that make you lol. But a recent one that caught my attention
is the below one. Mediocre but very relevant. It goes like this.
A cute sentence written by a small boy in his maths book.
‘Dear Maths!
Please grow up and start solving your problems yourself... I have my own
problems!’
*****
Danny: Why are you taking a bath with the bathroom door open?
David: I’m making sure no one is looking at me through keyhole!
*********
Jumbo Elephant: Why did the computer go to the doctor?
Foxy Fox: It had a virus!
23Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
POINTS TO PONDER Chiropractors are also warning that
Over-65s go shopping online working from home means a lot less
exercise: with no commuting or
walking around the office at all.
They urge taking breaks to get
regular exercise throughout the day.
Good tips to help you avoid the virus
I f you receive a package in the
post, it is a good idea to leave it
alone for 72 hours before opening it,
in order to reduce the risk of
infection.
W hen you can’t go out, go
shopping. That seems to be
the decision of many people over 65.
That is just one of a number of tips
which the website
www.germdefence.org is offering to
Record numbers of over-65s have anyone who wants to reduce their
signed up for online banking, risk of infection transmission.
according to recent data from Germdefence.org is run by
Halifax. And they are now shopping researchers from the universities of
online twice as much as a year ago, Bath, Bristol and Southampton, who
after being forced to stay home are working closely with Public
during lockdown. Health England.
Overall, the proportion of *****
transactions being made online by Desperate to get away on holiday
those over the age of 65 has doubled, this summer?
climbing from 20 per cent to 40 per
cent.
*****
Perils of your makeshift home office
H ow about going camping?
Bookings for campsites are
H ave you found that working
from home is a pain in the
neck? You are not alone.
Many chiropractors have seen a rise
in clients seeking help for neck and
back-related pains. The blame has
fallen on makeshift office set-ups,
which can put our muscles under
strain. reportedly on the rise, as it seems
Many of us working from home end that caravans and tents are at least a
up at our kitchen table or on the feasible solution to the problem of
sofa. And, unlike the specially social distancing.
designed furniture in many of our Nick Lomas, the director general of
offices, a kitchen table or sofa is not the Caravan and Motorhome Club,
designed for computer work, day says: “The fundamental desire to be
after day.
24Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
out in Britain’s great outdoors is as Now too frightened to go out
strong as it’s ever been.”
*****
The new absolutely-must-have item
A goraphobia, the fear of open or
crowded places, is on the rise.
That is the warning from two
for your kitchen charities who work to help those
with anxiety problems.
Calls to mental health organisations
such as Sane and Anxiety UK have
rocketed in recent weeks. Both have
extended their helpline hours in
order to offer support.
Sane has reported a 200 per cent
rise in calls for help, and warns that
residents of tower blocks and
substandard housing are going to
experience ‘more and more’ fear of
going outside.
Anxiety UK has reported more than
double its normal calls and has
H ere is a curious winner in the
coronavirus crisis: the humble
egg cup. It has been flying off the
recruited a large number of new
volunteers to cope with the
increased demand.
shelves in recent months, as more of If you would like to contact either,
us find solace in a cooked breakfast. go to: http://www.sane.org.uk or
At one point, John Lewis had sold https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk
out of most of its egg cups, with even *****
the most expensive lines selling out. Coronavirus and mental health
(Such as Le Creuset’s set of six egg
cups for £45, or Emma
Bridgewater’s set of six for £27.95.)
T he mental health impact of the
lockdown could be felt for years
to come, in similar ways to the
As Nicola Hattersley, tableware Grenfell Tower disaster and the
buyer for John Lewis, explained: Manchester Arena bomb.
“One positive from being at home So says a health chief, Claire
more is taking the time to make Murdoch, who is the NHS England
mealtimes more of an occasion. mental health director. She has said
“The humble egg cup – something that the service is preparing for a
many of us haven’t used since surge in referrals for conditions such
childhood – is gracing tables once as anxiety and depression.
again and hopefully we’ll see a new “We know from our Grenfell
generation becoming familiar with experience that not all need for
‘soldiers’ and debating the best way clinical services materialises at the
to smash open a boiled egg.” time and, indeed, there’s a very long
***** tail and demand in trauma.”
*****
25Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
Your garden is good for you
S pending time in your garden will
do your wellbeing as much good
as if you were living in a wealthy
neighbourhood.
So says a recent study by the
University of Exeter and the Royal
Horticultural Society (RHS). It has
found that 71 per cent of people who
used their garden went on to report
good general health, as compared to
61 per cent who did not use their intake, and keep your portions of
outdoor space. A similar difference food modest. Drinking water is also
in wellbeing was seen between the a good way to reduce hunger.
highest and lowest income groups. * Daily Telegraph 6th May 2020,
The study also found that those of us page 21
who love our gardens are far more *****
likely to have greater levels of What will your office life be like?
physical activity and much higher
psychological wellbeing.
*****
T he days of ‘hot desking’, sitting
opposite one another, lending
your colleagues a pen, or chatting
Should you diet during lockdown? while making tea together are over.
Instead, when we get back to work,
W hile being excessively
overweight can cause health
issues, this is probably not the time
desks will be spaced out, and
factory-style shift times may be
for drastic measures, advises Joel introduced.
Snape, Editor-at-Large on Men’s “Coronavirus has turned everything
Fitness for the Daily Telegraph*. He upside down,” says Janet Pogue
says that while the effects of dieting McLaurin, a Gensler workplace
on the immune systems are not fully expert. “Before we can ask people to
understood, research on Olympic return to the office, we’ve got to
athletes has found that severe make sure they feel safe, healthy and
calorie restriction can impact both valued in their workplace.”
immunity to and recovery from And – vitally important: “Employees
illness. must not assume that now they have
This means that if you want to lose returned to work, they no longer
weight just now, don’t cut your need to keep away from people.
calories too drastically. Also, pay Unless people are wearing face
attention to what is called ‘nutrient masks, the 6ft social distancing rule
density’: choose foods that are high should apply in the physical
in vitamins and minerals, rather workspace until there is a vaccine
than ones that just fill you up. and the coronavirus is no longer a
Good habits bring long-term health threat.”
benefits: try to eat only when you are *****
hungry, reduce your fat and sugar
26Bishop's Hull Parish Magazine Edition 35/02 July 2020
High point of the day
T he Royal Mail reports that
45 per cent of us have been
receiving more parcels since
lockdown began. 53 per cent of
us say that receiving parcels has
become more important to us,
while just over a third of us even
admit that receiving our parcels
has become a highlight of our
day.
There is a downside, however.
Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of the British Independent Retailers
Association, recently warned MPs that one in five high-street shops could
close permanently as a result of the pandemic.
*****
And here is a little more humour to keep us all going.
A tough old sheep farmer from Scotland gave some good advice to his
granddaughter.
He told her that the secret to a long life was to sprinkle a pinch of gunpowder
onto her porridge every morning. The granddaughter followed this dictum
religiously until her death at the venerable age of 103.
She left behind 14 children, 30 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren, 25
great-great grandchildren and a forty foot hole where the crematorium used
to be.
27You can also read
