Villagers and friends, we are about to ramp up efforts for the tennis season 2024 and could really do with some help!
Court tidy up: Saturday 9th March from 9am
If you could spare 30min to 2 hours and come armed with a yard brush wheel barrow or loppers, we plan to clear the moss and weeds around the court to make it playable once again for the season.
AGM: All welcome, Summerdale, Barrow road 8pm on Thursday 14th March
This year we will be losing Sue Holmes as a committee member and would really value some keen players or just …
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Payhembury tennis club – 2024
Paul’s Nature Notes January-February 2024
I don’t know about you but I dislike January and February – too much low light meaning I have to switch on the lights indoors during the daytime and as for all those grey mornings…. The answer is for me go for a walk which generally has an immediate positive effect on my mood and none more so when the snowdrops emerge. I first saw them on 13 January and judging by the size of the clumps they have had a good year. Then the daffodils started to flower early. Mind you, that can be said for so many plants this year. It really is amazing what a bit …
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Support Asthma and Lung UK
I am training for the 2024 London marathon, fundraising for Asthma + Lung UK and would really appreciate your support. Thank you to those who have donated so far by purchasing earrings in the village shop, made by Heidi, Rosie and Isla. They are delighted to know that people are enjoying their creations as much as they love making them. If you would like custom made earrings please get in touch!
Please continue to use the charity box in the shop or alternatively you can read my story and donate via my JustGiving …
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Reverend David’s Rectory notes – Same-sex blessings
Change whirrs ever faster in our world. The Church’s cogs turn rather more slowly. Sometimes this gives reassuring stability; sometimes it is frustrating. In December blessings of couples in same-sex relationships were finally authorised in the Church of England. Our churches can at last properly embrace LGBT people. This is a first step in a longer journey of inclusion: the prayers can be used in regular services but ‘standalone’ services of blessing aren’t yet possible. Same-sex marriage is some way off.
The Church has had previous pivotal …
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Paul’s Nature Notes December 2023 to January 2024
Storm Henk wreaked damage dumping massive amounts of rain on already swamped ground and bringing down a Payhembury landmark. We have lost the dead tree which was in our bog garden. It was there before we moved in over 8 years ago and we have no idea what species it was. Many people have asked over the years why I did not simply cut it down but I loved that tree. It was a perch for owls and woodpeckers but has now been sawn up and left to rot further to become home to many more beetles.
New additions to the parish database of flora and fauna …
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Parish Paper February 2024
Please note that due to technical difficulties, this is the Parish Paper page by page – but still contains all the articles in the February issue.
To read or save this issue, please click 2024 02 Parish Paper
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Parish Paper January 2024
Please note that due to technical difficulties, this is the Parish Paper page by page - but still contains all the articles in the January issue.
To read or save this issue, please click 2024 01 Parish Paper …
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Reverend David’s December Notes – Calendars of Hope
Travel north with me to the dark winter days of Orkney. Italian prisoners of war are building barriers between the islands around the deep water of Scapa Flow, protection for naval ships. It’s wartime, 1944. We are ushered through the barbed wire into the camp. The men have finished for the day. We see them file into a Nissen hut, so we follow them in – and our breath is taken away. For this unassuming hut is the most gloriously painted chapel we have ever seen. In the midst of conflict and alongside enemies, we are drawn with them into quiet …
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Paul’s nature notes November-December 2023
Andrew & Cherry at Mousehole were told recently of a sighting of a Harris Hawk near Spence's Cross, doubtless an escapee. It reminded me of a wonderful hawking experience day the family arranged for my 65th birthday at Leeds Castle in Kent where I enjoyed hunting with one in the afternoon. What a great experience that was!
They also told me that their holly berries have now been almost stripped bare by flocks of blackbirds and fieldfares which have now turned their attention to the apples. Then they had the joy of watching a stoat …
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