I opened the e-mail and immediately thought this is a scam:
“Dear Mr and Mrs East, we are delighted to announce that you have been awarded the prestigious VisitEngland Rose Award in Recognition Of Service Excellence”. Just to check that my intuition was correct, I speedily e mailed the VisitEngland Assessor who carried out our annual Assessment earlier in the Year. At the back of my mind was also the thought that for most Tourism Awards, you have to enter yourself and go through a rigorous process competing with amazing hospitality …
[Read more...]
Yellingham Farm – October 2023
Reverend David’s September Notes – Deliveroo/Deliver Who?
The Deliveroo rider weaves skilfully through the Exeter traffic, their big turquoise box strapped to their back. Pedalling hard – up the hill, down again, following their phone’s directions. Ding-dong. “Delivered to you – your freshly-baked pizza.”
The big white van skids to a halt outside the house, the 129th of their day. They stride up the path, no answer, so leave the package in the porch, jog back to their van, leap in, and onward. “Order today: Delivery tomorrow – our promise to you”.
The drone speeds over the green Orkney fields. Over …
[Read more...]
Yellingham Farm – September 2023
“The grass is always Greener on the other side”. Whoever wrote that must have had my Black Welsh Mountain sheep in mind. The phrase dates back to the Greek poet Ovid, who lived in the first century B.C. The original saying was, “The harvest is always richer in another man's field.” Whichever phrase you choose, my Black sheep know the meaning and act on it.
So, last week a very kind gentleman pulled up outside the farm gate and alerted us to the fact that a Black sheep was on the lane heading towards Crowders Cross… given I don’t know of any …
[Read more...]
Paul’s Nature Notes July-August 2023
We have suffered two setbacks this year. Our house martins did not reappear this year and my earlier account triggered similar reports from several friends. This has set me wondering if there was a problem in the wintering quarters or along the migration route. I do know that this species, as with so many others, is in decline.
All, however, is not lost, as non-breeding birds were seen building nests in preparation for next year. They had a hard time of it though as there was not much wet mud around at the time, but a seepage from adjoining …
[Read more...]
Reverend David’s August Notes – the Power of ….
Nelson Mandela is one of my heroes (as for many others). Desmond Tutu isn’t far behind. In 1982 I did 6 months’ voluntary work in South Africa. It was impossible then to see apartheid being dismantled without major bloodshed. And yet it happened. Archbishop Tutu’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission was a key part of this.
Roll on a few years, and I was struggling to forgive someone. It involved significant hurt for those close to me and myself. I discovered ‘The Forgiveness Project’, an online resource from Tutu and his daughter Mpho. I …
[Read more...]
Paul’s Nature Notes May-June 2023
There are times when I despair of our politicians. Years ago Boris, when mayor of London, wanted to build an airport in the Thames estuary, an area of international importance for over-wintering wildfowl and more recently I read the disparaging comments from a Cornish MP about “the Attenborough effect” – clearly he is not a fan. Now it has been suggested that the Environment Secretary may be blaming wild birds for the poor water quality in a Suffolk creek. Local people want to swim in an area that dries out to mudflats at low tide and where …
[Read more...]
Payhembury Provisions – June 2023
Summer is round the corner - temperatures are rising and days are drawing out with blue skies and
sunshine encouraging us outside into the garden, the surrounding countryside - where the wild flowers are just stunning at this time of year - and of course to the seaside. How lucky we are to live in such a beautiful area.
Payhembury Provisions is gearing up for the summer with everything you need to enjoy the outdoors. Our new ice-cream freezer is crammed full of delicious treats for everyone and there’s more in the main freezer with yummy …
[Read more...]
Payhembury Provisions – July 2023
Things you can’t see; and top of the list are the new Photo Voltaic panels on the roof which were installed and commissioned last month by Dan. They must be positively pulsating with all the sunshine we have had and we can’t see all the lovely electricity they are producing either - I am writing this before I do my monthly meter reading (remember when a chap in a uniform came and did it for you?) so I can’t tell you by how much it has reduced our electricity bill, I hope significantly. It's good for our long term view for the shop and thinking …
[Read more...]
Reverend David’s May Notes – Sliced or unsliced?
The man wondered why he was there. His wife had dragged him along – “A family day out,” she’d enthused, “with the kids.” He wondered, and he worried. How was he to feed that family today? He should be working. Not perched on a craggy hillside listening to a preacher. His ears pricked up. “Give us this day our daily bread,” the man was saying. “Yes please,” he thought, “but easier prayed than done.” His mind wandered again. “At least this man seems to know what real life’s about, living hand-to-mouth,” he thought, “not like those religious rich …
[Read more...]
Parish Paper – June 2023
To read or save this issue please click 2023 06 Parish Paper. …
[Read more...]