Rain…it arrived!! Looking outside now it’s so hard to remember how all you could see was endless brown everywhere. It is just incredible how a little rain can transform everywhere looking so very stunning and vibrant, sheer joy. September has also been another relatively quiet month with many lucky people being on holiday. All of us finding shade wherever one could. We were moving our chairs all around outside following the shade from up the top to the back then the side of the house, quite funny now when I think of it!
Friday morning of the 11th of September, book group met at Rachel’s where we had a marvellous welcome from the gorgeous Griffin. Thank you so much for hosting Rachel and providing your delicious cheese scones, coffee and to Rosina and Valerie for providing equally delicious cakes. The book under discussion was “A Year of Marmalade Ways” by Sarah Winman. Definitely a ‘marmite’ book, rather a lyrical, dreamlike odyssey of healing. Marmalade lives in a fictional hamlet in Cornwall, descriptions rather lovely. An overall score of 6.2. Great morning.
The following morning, the village hall was the venue of an exclusive end-of-dig summary delivered brilliantly by Debbie Charlton. Many photos were shown up on the screen from start to finish, ending with an overall picture of the outline of the house and rooms, quite amazing. Unwavering dedication of all the volunteers, who braved the elements daily!! Huge community spirit, well done to all those involved. Two extra wells were found, which was quite astonishing. A selection of beautiful, coloured pieces of pottery, knives, cutlery, plus a lot more. The lower jawbone of a cow! The wonderful find of a culvert, which is of course a tunnel-like structure that keeps water moving safely beneath infrastructure to prevent flooding and erosion. Can’t wait for the next update whenever that will be, sure to be a sell out once again. Even coffee and delicious cakes were served, thank you all. Also, we saw the newly refurbished toilets in the village hall, funded by monies raised throughout last year’s Jane Austen 250 celebrations, brilliant. A huge Thank you to James & Sarah Haynes, who are the owners of Pump field. We were all very sorry you were unable to attend to thank you in person.
Singing is now back in full flow; Panto rehearsals are imminent!! Don’t forget folks to save the date, 11th-13th March 2027. We have the Macmillan Coffee Morning on 21st September, Harvest Brunch on 26th and Harvest Church service on 27th to look forward to, all before October.
We still have the hedgehogs turning up each evening. The most amazing spectacle happened the other evening while we were silently watching them while sitting in the porch, from around the side of the house with wings outstretched, a Tawney Owl flew and hovered right over the hedgehogs. It stayed in that position for a good 20 seconds, head bent down. It’s eyes with unblinking intensity, fixed on just the small one in the group. Decided against pitching in with the other much larger ones close by and looked up, which felt like it looked right at us. We held our breath not daring to move until this beautiful creature tilted its wide wings and glided effortlessly away. What a moment, once in a lifetime awesome experience. One we will never ever forget.
So wonderful when we are all walking up the tracks and surrounding area, to find they have all been so very well trimmed to absolute perfection. No more ducking and diving round brambles etc. A Huge thank you to John Gruzelier for all his hard work, you are an absolute star. Also, to Nick for all his mowing beyond and above, also Jeremy, thank you, especially with the ticks that have been in abundance this year! Off to pick more tomatoes, pull some weeds, Mike may mow the lawn, yet again!! Marvellous. Maybe a BBQ next week as the forecast is lovely.