Items For Sale

Our Loose Canon...

with Canon Eric Woods DL

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” So begins A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, first published in 1859. The comparison of the best of times and the worst of times is between the city of London and the city of Paris, when the latter passing through the horrors of the French Revolution seventy years earlier. I suspect the lines I have quoted will come to be an epitaph for the coronavirus pandemic when at last it is conquered – which we hope will be soon, as “unlocking” continues on Monday. The best of times? Yes, when the heroic service of so many is evaluated: NHS staff, of course, but also those working in countless other areas, from care homes to supermarkets, who look after our basic needs and those of family and friends. Then there’s the greeting in the streets between complete strangers –how un-English! – which has come to mean so much to so many. The worst of times? I’m afraid so, for those who have lost those they love, those suffering from long-covid, and children and young people robbed of what should be their carefree years and their years of learning how to socially-relate –and simply how to learn. The age of wisdom? Yes, with scientists going into overdrive to give us vaccines, and others working out the logistics of delivering them. Teachers having to work on two fronts: teaching those in school and providing on-line learning for those at home. Ordinary people like me working out (it’s not rocket science) that the wise thing is always to err on the side of caution: social distancing, obeying the rules, staying safe. And the age of foolishness? Sadly, yes: people flouting the rules, crowding into protests and parks or onto beaches in a kind of defiant death wish: “I’m young. I’m fit. It won’t touch me” – and then taking the virus back to parents and grandparents, whilst leaving vast mountains of litter behind them. I could carry on exploring the relevance today of Dickens’s contrasts from that opening sentence. Instead I invite you to do it for yourself. Personally, I believe that the positives outweigh the negatives. But then, as a Christian, I am bound to look at things from the right side of Easter. Resurrection, new life, fresh hope – these are my stock-intrade. More than that – they are the graces which make me confident that the forces of foolishness, incredulity, darkness and despair will never have the last laugh. Wisdom, belief, light and hope will triumph. Dickens went on to say, “we had everything before us, we had nothing before us”. How vital it is that we believe that we have everything before us – and work together to achieve it.

Items for Sale

Weaners. Large white cross. Ready now in Baltonsborough. £45. 07740 029993. Fender Champion guitar amp 40 Watt used but excellent condition £95 01747 825501 Panasonic plasma 42"TV TH42PX60B NEW £2,399, good condition collect Mudford £100 01935 851076. Wooden doll’s house (1960-70) with furniture & dolls. 28"L X 17"H x13"W £35 01935 851076. Trailer 8ft x 4ft, with light board and brake, made from caravan chassis, needs tidying £55 ONO 01935 425220. Cast iron parasol base £20 01258 451507. Old hand seed drill on two c/steel wheels £45 Collection of small pocket knives, also collection of beer mats (350) offers. Walking sticks 5 very nice silver top in good condition £75. Sheepskin coats, ladies and gents good condition £50 the pair. Wahl electric hair clippers two in case, new £25. Book "the bounding spring" history of Teffont £10. 01722 711456. Records, 25 assorted in carry case £15, TV stand, black/chrome. 24"x17", shelf under. Perfect £15. Decorator’s folding table £5, Porter style workman trolley, excellent 01935 812328. Aluminium 10 rung extending/folding ladder £25, 30

coffee table 2ftx2ft vgc £15 01258 818078. Modern fictional paperback tray of 30. James Patterson Lee Childs etc £8 01258818075 Garage/yard Sale, Factory Hill, Bourton SP8 5AY, May 1, 2 and 3, Please follow signs in village Terracotta pots, plants, vintage galvanised. From £5 01460 55105. 2 folding bikes with shimano gears, rear rack, ideal for camping, excellent condition £100 the pair 01747 824455. Double bed frame and headboard, black vinyl, used only in guest room. £45. 01935 814856. Large gilt framed bevelled mirror 74 x 104cm new condition £20 Tel 01935 872217.. 4ft Roll heavy guage aviary wire £25 01258 268810. Rabbit & guinea pig hutch on legs as new £25. Duck house suit 4-5 ducks, new £35 01258268810. Double sofa bed modern, good quality, comfortable, clean, hardly used. £100ono. 01963 220538. Wine making kit, bottles and equipment 01747 228845 £10 Kampa XL travel Pod with all fittings suitable caravan, motorhome in excellent condition £75. Caravan accessories 40ft Aqua roll with pump, carpets, breathable 10' x 10' 25m extension lead £50 01747 861941. Two filing cabinets, metal, four door, VGC, £30 each, collection only. 01258 459179, Recliner armchair, electric. Chestnut brown, lovely condition, unmarked. H99cm, D97cm, W91cm. Collection only Sherborne. £80. 07767 863177. Ladies’ bike, brand new, never used, excellent condition, £100 07717 758854. Fridge freezer 1500mm high £45. upright Hoover extra lightweight 1800w vacuum cleaner £35 Bosh electric strimmer £25 01747 824240. Hitachi 24" TV £70, JVC digital radio/CD player £40. Bosch 2in1 rechargeablevacuum cleaner £70, all used very little. 2 x prints of Padstow 26" x 16" modern light colour frames £10 each. 07966 053208 Outdoor goldfish free to good homes. Must be kept in an outdoor pond, not a tank. 07942 133269. Double Beech Framed Bed with Mattress, as new, hardly used. £155 Tel 07894 988388 Wooden 4 door (2 with mirrors) wardrobe with 2 drawers underneath. £125. 07894 988388. Nathan Teak circular pedestal dining table. Seats 6 when extended. 4 matching teak dining chairs. Stone coloured fabric seats. V.G.C. £120. Ono. Buyer collects. 01747 812262. Westinghouse 44" Halley Hugger ceiling fan integral light, suitable workshop or office. Original price £143 asking £55. 01963 364597. Touring caravan for sale. Bailey Senator 5000. 5 berth 1996 model. Nice condition. £2,250. 01935 850631. Flymo XL500, petrol hover mower, as new only 4 hours work, 50cm cut width. £200 ono 01929 471783. Kitchen furniture - including integrated fridge/freezer, worktop, sink & 19 floor/wall units. VGC £350 ono. 01747 835846 Mobility scooter unused.Cost £1,550 Will accept £1200 ONO. Tel 01747 824974/07850 687287. Fischer bathroom heater as new 1 year old £200. 07858 232967. Lightweight folding wheelchair with cushion £65. 07960 374366. Giant ladies 24spd mountain bike. VGC, £250. 01963 202931. Double Zanussi oven, black. £150 as new 01747 830852.

APPLE IMAC RETINA 4K 21.5inch 2017 3.4 GHz 8Gb Very good condition OS Big Sur £495 01258 830618

STERLING MOBILITY SCOOTER heavy duty three wheeled,range up to 25 miles. VGC. £375.tel 07901 063859

LANBER 12 GAUGE SHOTGUN, O/U, G/C, £180. 01258 456228