Having had Coffee and Cake yesterday in the village hall, with every table and chair occupied, wonderful. Thank you, to my fellow cake makers, Sally and Marilyn. I looked back, thinking not a lot had been going on in the village, to see the opposite since last Parish Magazine! Beginning with Breakfast Together on 22nd June where we had an excellent speaker, Penny, from Basingstoke Food Link. It is a local charity that collects fresh food that supermarkets can’t sell and delivers it to distribution partners, schools, charities and play groups. Amazing. Lots of chatter, good food and company. Thank you, to all who helped. The following day 23rd all hands, on board to help collect and erect marquee, table & chairs etc. in readiness for the Fete in the afternoon. Very many thanks to Simon & Harriet for once again opening up their beautiful gardens for this great village event. A wonderful day had by all with the magnificent amount of £2,774.90 raised to be split between the church and village hall. Well done everyone who helped in any way, wonderful village people. Everywhere looked brilliant, with all the different stalls and games, tables & chairs under the trees and patio. Delicious cakes, tea, also BBQ for all to enjoy. A very special village event.
The evening of Friday 28th the men’s Pop-up Pub was a great success, great to see the men getting together. Such a good idea Jeff, well done.
Sunday 30th, Laverstoke held the United Benefice service in their beautiful little church. The U.B. choir came together and enjoyed singing the anthem, ‘Ave Verum’ a favourite. Lovely way to end the month.
Tuesday 9th July, North Waltham Garden club, enjoyed a leisurely evening stroll around Steventon. The weather was kind for the ‘Open Gardens’ Chris had organized, the gardens all very different and apparently enjoyed by all. We were then invited back to the village hall to join them for a get together over wine and delicious nibbles. Jolly time had by all.
July 12th was the Book Group’s Pot Luck summer lunch, held in Paul & Marilyn’s gorgeous garden. Thank you, Marilyn for hosting. We all brought a variety of delicious food to share, which is always such a good idea. Lovely sunny day, lots of fun, great company, only a short time was spent discussing the book! “Death at La Fenice” by Donna Leon, which scored 7 overall. The 13th & 14th were in celebration of Jane Austen. The Saturday at Winchester, firstly the A.G.M. held in a beautiful large marquee, with around 200 people belonging to the Jane Austen Society attending. Steventon Church Choir, including some from North Waltham choir, sang Evensong in Winchester College Chapel at 5.00pm. Really lovely, made even extra special with Paul playing the magnificent organ. The anthem sung was ‘Give us grace, Almighty Father, to address you with all our hearts.’ Words by Jane Austen, music by Paul Wright. An end to a long, but enjoyable day. Sunday 14th of course, was Jane Austen Evensong in Steventon, lovely, with refreshments afterwards in the church grounds, with the weather once again being kind to us which enabled us to catch up with friends and neighbours.
Now into August! Thank you to Rosina for hosting Book Group on Friday 9th. Glorious weather, so everyone could enjoy the lovely new outside patio and garden furniture, good company, coffee and delicious cakes, thank you to Barbara & Linda. The book eventually discussed was, “Requiem for a Wren” by Neville Shute. Varied remarks with a score of 6 overall. Which brings us back to the beginning, Coffee & Cake yesterday on the 19th! How time flies! Plenty of gardening to be done still, slugs being the main problem, never have there been so many! What with them, moles and weeds there is never a dull moment…There have been some quite beautiful sunsets. One evening, around 150 geese came, flying in formation skimming over the tree tops heading for a field not far away, quite a spectacular sight. Muntjac have been heard many times and seen in many gardens, not good!! Harvest underway at last, fingers crossed the weather behaves. Enjoy the rest of the summer, where ever you may be. Coffee is calling, perhaps a B-B-Q later?