Sports Roundup

There are further small victories. Working in the garden, hugging long missed friends, stopping for a chat in the street. Shopping, walking up and down the aisles rather than having a doorstep delivery. I made a physical copy of my tree. It is a reminder that after lockdown, although we will be in a different world, there is so much to look forward to.

Take the very best care of you. You’re unique. See you next month

Not only was Novak Djokovic playing for the Australian Open title last month, he was playing catch-up in the race to be crowned the 'GOAT' in men's tennis. The number of Grand Slam titles is the most obvious and easiest metric for those who wish to determine - and not everyone does - which man is the Greatest Of All Time. Djokovic won in Melbourne to land an 18th major title, moving him two behind Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer's all-time leading tally of 20 Grand Slam singles victories. Beating Daniil Medvedev for a ninth Australian Open title may prove to be pivotal in the race. For some, the 'GOAT' discussion is trivial and does a disservice to the achievements of each player in their own right. Looking purely at the numbers does not tell the full picture. It is not possible to quantify their different playing styles, how they have adapted their games, their physical and mental strength, nor how they have overcome the tough moments that have peppered all of their careers. But it does provide the framework for the debate, and shows that we have been living in special times if there are three potentials ‘GOAT’s that have overlapped during their prime playing days.

UPCOMING EVENTS IN MARCH INCLUDE:

16-19 March: Horse racing - Cheltenham Festival

25 March: Football - World Cup qualifying starts: England v San Marino

28 March: Formula 1 season starts - Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir - revised season calendar

By Local Resident, Emily Archer It was during the 2020 pandemic that my dolls first came to life. Home-schooling was part of my daily routine despite my five year old’s turned up nose. In a creative attempt to encourage reading I tried voices, actions and singing each story but nothing held his active mind. With the feeling that nothing was working and the worry of his lost early years education, I had the extravagant idea of crafting the characters to visually bring the book to life.

The story we were reading was a book I had written myself; it tells the enchanting tale of two paper dollies and their adventures. Penelope and Presley were the first two puppets I created. Each doll perfectly resembled the two mischievous characters from the book. Both my son, Morgan and I fell very quickly into the folk world envisioning and discussing all the possible creations we could make with just the materials we had indoors.

Like the rest of the UK we were in lockdown. The regular shops I would visit for my crafting essentials were closed for browsing. The clay and acrylic paints I would normally grab were not available and those advertised online were continually out of stock as more households became creative.

Making my own clay seemed like my best option, but of course both the toilet roll and flour used to make paper clay were amongst the items hit with a national shortage. Rationing our own supplies gave me enough leftovers to continue my crafting throughout the summer months and by autumn my finely tuned recipe was better than any I had ever bought.

Whilst on our daily exercise along the River Thames in Greenhithe we collected stock of washed up driftwood, chalks and earthy minerals. Treasure hunting and making our own paints became a fun daily ritual with unearthing the tones in our riches becoming one of my fondest lockdown memories. The colour pallets I use in my work today combines a lot of the paints I have made from that I have foraged.

Over the year past, the demand for my dolls has increased tenfold. What began as making characters for our own play has very quickly turned into the possibility of being my dream job. In January 2021 my dolls were accepted by The British Toy Makers Guild which further gave me the confidence to part from my much-loved position in a local Estate Agent in Dartford.

Sadly, Morgan still doesn’t hold much interest in reading, but I’m always overwhelmed with excitement when I find him entwined with my characters. Homeschooling has not been easy for any of us, but it has most definitely been made more enjoyable by the fantasy world we have created and continue to mould.

Over the next 18 months my dolls will be featured in several publications, namely the Dollshouse and Miniature Scene Magazine which also features more about my foraging around the Thames riverbanks. Furthermore, I plan to use my creations as the artwork for the picture book I have written and hope soon to be featured in an exhibit quite local to home.

To find out more about my dolls and my mission to use recycled materials foraged from the Dartford surrounds you can find me online @hellogreensuk.