Village Tweet - August 2020

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Return of the Milk Round It’s bigger, better and in Billingshurst!

See page 6 @VillageTweet

www.villagetweet.co.uk

August 2020

CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY AND LOCAL BUSINESS Billingshurst • Barns Green • Five Oaks • Ifold • Kirdford • Loxwood • Plaistow • Slinfold • Wisborough Green

Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk

Contents

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like to think that where there is a negative, a positive also exists. Sometimes it may take a while to emerge but at last, something good has come out of this dreadful Covid-19 pandemic…

Local residents Chris and Gareth recognised the need for doorstep deliveries of milk and other quality food essentials such as bread, cheese, eggs, juices, etc all from local suppliers.

Billingshurst Dairies delivers a valuable service to the community, especially appreciated by the elderly and vulnerable who find it difficult to visit shops in these troubled times.

Currently delivering to Billingshurst, the service will extend to other local villages as demand increases. Visit www.billydairies.com for more info or to register. If your postcode is not yet covered just email info@billydairies.com. See page 6.

Grahame

Cover: Chris (left) and Gareth, your new Billingshurst milkmen. See page 6 Food & drink Recipe: Pizza in a Pan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Kings Head pub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Health & wellbeing Age UK: Staying well in unprecedented times Katherine Finn, Hyphotherapist . . . . . . . . . . . .

Park & Brown, Opticians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Village Homecare Service . . . . . . . . . . . .

Holly Stone, Hypnotherapist . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jo Dowding, Mobile hairdressing . . . . . . . . . .

Just Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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About the house GB Glazing Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

KJ Lammas Plumbing and Heating . . . . .

MW Wingate Painting & Decorating . . . .

N Francis Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

P&W Jordan Upholstery . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Oven Cleaning Direct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mike Lord Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Miss Mop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MPS Home Improvements Ltd . . . . . . . .

AC Decor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Evans Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Flow-Serve Plumbing, Drainage, Heating GJ Coles, Builder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Goring Road Carpet Centre . . . . . . . . . .

DM Handyman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sussex Carpet Brokers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PJM, Building & Property Maintenance .

Alba Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Best Choice Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Heath Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

JC Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1A Acclaim Floor Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Apex Aerials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hamilton Cole, TV & Satellite Equipment Lee’s Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Re-Nu Kitchens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Features A Good Read . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 The Spaniel Diaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Miranda Rijks, short story: Just desserts . . . . . . . .32 Little Tweeters!

Yvonne Fleece: The Pond 3 . . . . . . . . . . .

Dauxwood Pre-school: Spaces available .

Renegades Youth Group: Lockdown larks Kids Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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COPY DATE FOR SEPTEMBER ISSUE: 7th AUGUST Published by A272 Design, PO Box 371, Billingshurst, West Sussex RH14 4AS

Editorial and Advertising: Grahame Pearson 07762 767084 editor@villagetweet.co.uk Website Design: Stephen Pearson

www.villagetweet.co.uk Printed by: The Lavenham Press, Suffolk Disclaimer: All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith. However, A272 Design cannot take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. © No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

Garden Tweet!

Garden View: Wellbeing and water JMB Gardening Services . . . . . . .

Bygone Gardening . . . . . . . . . . . .

Scriven Arboriculture . . . . . . . . . . .

Village Nurseries . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DW Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fix-Up Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jonathan Carter Tree Surgery . . . .

REM Landscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The paper used for Village Tweet has been responsibly sourced . . . . . . . . .

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Miscellaneous Professional Services & Businesses Omni Davis Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Tulip Accounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Flackwoods Solicitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 A/c’s Direct, Accounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 S&L Floristry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 CAGNE (Against aircraft noise pollution) . . . . . . . . .7 NFU Mutual Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8, 9 R Gold Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Jim Hills Sports Warehouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Dandelion Farewells, funerals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Pest Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Rudgwick Fencing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Ingfield Manor School: Job vacancies . . . . . . . . . .33 Fishers Adventure Farm Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC Community/Out & About/Farming/Smallholding Ansells Vintage Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Billingshurst Dairies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OFC, 6 St Mary’s Church: Pathways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Billingshurst 2nd Guides: Guides in lockdown . . . .13 John Nash’s Column: One Man in a Boat . . . . . . . .16 Billingshurst Parish Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20, 21 Wey & Arun Canal Trust: Zachariah Keppel . . . . . .22 St Catherine’s Hospice: Telephone Buddy Scheme .30 Motoring and Private Hire Mac’s Private Hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Billingshurst Service, Repair & MOT Centre Petworth MOT Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sussex Towing Brackets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A-Team Mechanics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Games and quizzes Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 7 Spot the Difference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24, 35 Last But Not Least What’s On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36, 37 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Out & about / Accountancy / Insurance

Check out our competitive Advertising Rates: www.villagetweet.co.uk

BARGAINS GALORE AT

ANSELLS

VINTAGE SALE & MARKET Every Saturday 10am to 2pm FREE ENTRY & PARKING Stallholders welcome (tables £5) Antiques • Hornby Trains Furniture • Bric-a-Brac • Jewellery Garden Ornaments • Crafts etc ANSELLS, KIRDFORD ROAD, WISBOROUGH GREEN, RH14 0DD Book/details: (01403) 700633 or 07798 941940

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Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk

Coffee break / Legal services

Village Tweet Quick Crossword

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Solution on page 7

Food and drink / Accountancy

Check out our competitive Advertising Rates: www.villagetweet.co.uk

Pizza in a Pan

These really are the next best thing to a pizza from a pizza oven or a proper pizzeria

METHOD

1. Mix the flour, yeast, salt and sugar then stir in 325ml water to a smooth dough. Cover and put in the fridge for two to four days. Remember rapid yeast will activate faster and may only require two days, or even one if you’re in more of a hurry.

2. Tip on to a lightly floured surface. Divide into four roughly equal portions, shape into balls, cover and leave for two hours.

3. While the dough is rising take the cheese and toppings out of the fridge so that they come to room temperature.

4. Empty the tomatoes into a saucepan over a medium heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, until they form a thick sauce. Season to taste with salt and a pinch of sugar.

5. Once the dough has proved, flatten it into pizza bases to fit your pan. For reference my pan has a 26cm base. Heat the cast iron frying pan or skillet over a moderate-high heat. It’s ready when you drop a little water into the base and it instantly hisses and bounces. Preheat the grill to between moderate and high.

6. Lightly flour your hands then stretch the dough into a rough round, keeping the edges a bit thicker.

Cook in the pan until the top starts to dry out then add some tomato sauce and mozzarella. Wait a minute before adding any other toppings. Leave in the pan until base begins to char. The first time I chickened out but as I got into the groove the subsequent pizzas were much better. When you’re happy with the bottom switch the pan to under the grill until the cheese bubbles and the edges brown.

Finish with a few basil leaves.

Preparation time: Rise 2-5 days (yes this takes a little forward preparation but it’s so worth it!)

Cooking time: 5 minutes + 35 mins Makes 4 pan-sized pizzas IMPORTANT - You cannot use a non-stick frying pan for this recipe. It has to be a cast iron pan or skillet

INGREDIENTS

Base 500g Strong white bread flour (But if you have any Italian 00 flour, it’s is even better).

1½ tsp dried active yeast. I did not have this throughout lockdown and used rapid dried yeast instead. I found that the rise time was quicker (2 days vs 4 days) so this might actually be a bonus 1 tsp table salt 1 tsp sugar Topping 1 400g tin chopped plum tomatoes 1 pack buffalo mozzarella 1 bunch basil Extra-virgin olive oil, to drizzle Plain is great but you can add any toppings you like. We made Pepperoni, ham and sweetcorn, and ham and pineapple.

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Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk

Food and drink / Floristry

Return of the Milk Round It’s bigger, better and in Billingshurst!

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f you live in Billingshurst, you may have spotted locals Chris and Gareth out and about on their retro electric milk float. They have been delivering fresh, local, quality produce to local residents and it’s going down a storm.

Children are fascinated by the strange looking vehicle, popping out of their homes to give them a wave, and adults are reminiscing about the 1980s and how milk in a bottle somehow tasted better.

Billingshurst Dairies (billydairies.com) emerged during lockdown, with Chris and Gareth (who incidentally played together in local band T-Slammers) recognising the community desire for doorstep deliveries of quality food staples. Coupled with this, they wanted to provide a service that was ethical, sustainable and as environmentally friendly as possible while supporting local businesses.

More than just milk, Billingshurst Dairies deliver freshly baked bread from Jengers Craft Bakery, butter and Sussex Charmer cheese from Rudgwick, eggs from Nelly’s Farm in Plaistow and offerings from The Kent & Sussex Tea & Coffee Co. Juices, yoghurts and much more.

With flexible payment options, no delivery fee and the option to amend or cancel at any time, this friendly and personal service (Chris will answer your calls and help you with any

queries), appeals to everyone. It’s also perfect for the elderly and vulnerable in our community, who can’t easily get out to the shops.

People have commented on Billingshurst Dairies’ Facebook page that milk tastes better from a glass bottle.

Can that be true?

Well, the facts are that this milk can be traced back to the same 50 farms. They have the highest animal welfare standards and ethical farming practices.

Less time from cow to bottle + happy cows = tastier milk?

According to the Government’s audit committee, the UK fails to recycle 15 million plastic bottles a day. Many of those that we do recycle are shipped abroad and incinerated or end up in rubbish dumps. Glass milk bottles can be reused up to 40 times and then recycled into new ones.

The lockdown has certainly made many of us re-think our priorities and place higher value on local services and produce. By shopping with small local businesses, we are investing in our local economy and reducing our reliance on global supply chains.

Currently servicing Billingshurst village, Billingshurst Dairies’ intention is to extend deliveries to include Wisborough Green, Five Oaks and other local villages soon.

To find out more visit www.billydairies.com or email info@billydairies.com.

Photo: Gareth (left) and Chris with their environmentally friendly electric milk float. See also front cover

S & L Floristry Ltd

Bespoke Floral Designs, Tailored To You Call us: Lauren – 07428 751883 April – 07516 700849 Email us: slfloristry@outlook.com Website: www.slfloristry.co.uk

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Food & drink / Aircraft noise / Private hire Voted

West Sussex Pub of the Year 2017 & 2019

Check out our competitive Advertising Rates: www.villagetweet.co.uk

THE KINGS HEAD North Sussex

CAMRA PUB OF THE MONTH June 2017

T.E.A. drinkers Pub of the Year 2020

RESTAURANT OPEN WEDNESDAY TO SUNDAY

We now have 5 luxury en suite bedrooms available to let KingsHead Billingshurst

@kingsheadbhurst

40 High Street, Billingshurst, RH14 9NY Tel: (01403) 782012. Mon-Thurs: 11am-11pm.

Fri & Sat: 11am-12 midnight. Sun: 12 noon-11pm

WORRIED ABOUT AIRCRAFT NOISE, EMISSIONS, CLIMATE CHANGE AND GATWICK AIRPORT EXPANSION PLANS? Then join Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emission at www.cagne.org You can trust CAGNE to be fair to all communities of Sussex, Surrey and Kent Est Feb 2014 Email: cagnegatwick@gmail.com Instagram CAGNE

Mac’s Private Hire 24 hours a day – 7 days a week

01403 701 842 07917 850 746 Airports - Social & Business - Lady Driver Available Wisborough Green Based

Village Tweet Quick Crossword Solution Puzzle on page 4 Across: 7, CASINO. 8, SCORCH. 9, OBOE. 10, TREKKERS. 11, RUBBER PLANT. 14, TROUSER SUIT. 18, SCOT FREE. 19, MINK. 20, ONIONS. 21, UNTRUE. Down: 1, HARBOUR. 2, RISE. 3, DOCTOR. 4, AS WELL. 5, BOOKINGS. 6, SCARY. 12, BAR STOOL. 13, LION CUB. 15, UNREST. 16, EYEFUL. 17, SCENT. 19, MOTH.

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HAVE YOU GOT THE INSURANCE YOU NEED? When did you last walk around your house looking in cupboards to check your contents insurance is adequate?

Do you live in a larger, higher-value home, or have a number of expensive items – perhaps jewellery and watches, fine art or collections, or even designer interiors with beautiful curtains and tech. Standard insurance may not be fully protecting you. You may be better protected by an insurance product which enables you to adapt your policy to meet your specific needs – such as agreeing values, increasing cover limits.

WHAT IS UNDERINSURANCE? To be ‘underinsured’ means that the amount you’re covered for is less than the cost of rebuilding, replacing, or repairing. For example, if you had a fire at your home, and your ‘sums insured’ is only £30,000, but the actual cost to replace your contents is £100,000 then you’re underinsured and the reality is your policy won’t pay out beyond £30,000, leaving you with a hefty bill.

DO YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU OWN? Try to take account of the true value of everything you own – both buildings and contents. If you’re unsure of the difference between the two, imagine your house could be lifted off the ground and tipped upside down. Everything that falls out is contents.

The rest should be covered by buildings insurance.

Also don’t forget about items such as artwork or jewellery that you might have inherited or purchased a long time ago – their value may have changed significantly.

HOW CAN YOU BE CERTAIN EVERYTHING IS COVERED? Not only does Bespoke insurance from NFU Mutual offer many specialist features as standard, but unlike many other insurers who have moved online, the team at NFU Mutual value a real conversation with you to fully understand your needs, enabling them to tailor cover right down to the finest detail.

Contact NFU Mutual Henfield on 01273 025715 to speak to Nick or Tracey or visit nfumutual.co.uk for more information.

Agent of The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited.

Take time to walk around your house and use the table below as a guide to the amount of contents you need to be insured for. Remember, you should look at how much items are to replace from new as in the event of a claim you can get new for old cover. Exclusions may apply.

Living room

£

Bedrooms

Curtains

Clothes – including suits

Furniture

Shoes and handbags

Books and ornaments

Jewellery

Electrical appliances

Bed linen and curtains

Pictures

Furniture

Other

Electrical items

Kitchen/utility room

£

Other

Electrical appliances

Bathroom

Kitchenware e.g. pans, cutlery

Bath linen

Furniture Rugs Pictures and linen

£

Furniture

Other cupboards Dining room

£

Toiletries and make-up £

Other Other rooms

£

Office Garage

Diningware – china, glasses, silverware

Outbuildings

Other

Attic Other electrical appliances Other

“At NFU Mutual Henfield we pride ourselves on taking the necessary time to make sure we are providing the right level cover for you to protect your home and contents should the worse happen.” – Chets Modi, Agent.

Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk

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Religion

Pathways

ootpath signs lead us clearly as we navigate our beautiful Billi countryside. When so much else has had to shut down, these open pathways remained as a vital source of exercise and refreshment.

Taking our walks locally has long been supported by these ancient way-markers.

Knowing which way to go through woods and over fields is straightforward. In these uncertain times it is less clear how to plot our way forward in life as we look at an uncharted horizon in our nation and world.

Questions of direction beset our hearts and minds. Our old map of life might not now seem so much use any more.

Within our community individuals will have their personal challenges as well as the shared community ones. “Now which way do I go?” “What do I do?” “How do I fill my time?” “How do I enjoy my hobbies?” “How do I support my children?”

“How can I worship?” “How do I take care of my health?” “How do I meet my friends?” Many will be wondering how to keep their business going. How to cope with redundancy. Even how to cope without a loved-one who has lost their life. The complicated choices we have been called to make have wearied many and the resilience within our community to “find a way,” “to help each other make sense of life,” has been commendable.

This is a time when our individual and shared path

has been blocked by obstacles. Some have stopped us in our tracks while other hurdles have made us see the way ahead more clearly. The landscape about what is of greatest importance in life has been somehow clearer on the horizon.

As freedoms of our life return to us bit by bit we will now have new ways of making our way through life. A new map of our normal pathways will be taking shape.

Pathways are full of surprises. We were all catapulted into one because of the pandemic. The Bible paints a picture of God’s guiding and providing presence for all. Whatever we face there is a promised, constant companion who walks alongside and lightens our way along the darkest of paths. This loving guide knows in great detail our individual path.

What came before. What lies ahead. The famous words of Psalm 23 will be familiar to many: “The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water. He gives me new strength.

He guides me in the right paths, as he has promised.”

Our website (www.stmarysbillingshurst.org) continues to provide resources and information.

Remember the Coronavirus support group in this area: billingshurst-support-group.org.

R. GOLD CONSTRUCTION AD REMOVED DUE TO NON-PAYMENT VILLAGE TWEET CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY

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Jim Hills Sports Warehouse

Competing with online prices!

WE ARE NOW

OPEN! 2-metre social distancing,

2 families (or 4 persons) at a time Currently open Mon-Sat, limited hours – please phone or check website

We have a great range of New Stock offering a MINIMUM of 20% off all items retailing at £20 plus!

Plus up to 50% off ‘end of lines’ Simply the best for Service and Price!

Large FREE car park Hillside Farm, Billingshurst Rd (A272), Coolham, West Sussex RH13 8QN Check our WEBSITE for details and directions: 5H s ou ws er ie m ev Nu R

www.jimhillssports.co.uk e-mail: jimhillssports2@aol.com

Tel. 01403 741116

Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk

Covid-19 / Health and wellbeing

Staying well in unprecedented times – Top Tips The following tips are adapted from The Royal Society of Occupational Therapists: l Establish a daily routine.

Routines provide structure and purpose. l Balance your weekly routine so you have a good mix of activities and chores that have to be done, rest and leisure. l Think about which regular activities are most important to you. What are the important elements to these? Can you adapt them to carry out in the home? We have all seen TV clips of people exercising with a can of beans in each hand! l Set daily goals to provide purpose and a sense of achievement. This might include working through that list of the things you keep meaning to do but never get round to? Just think of that sense of achievement when you have done it. l Identify the triggers that make you feel low and look for ways to reduce or manage them. We have lived long enough now to know what sets us off or gets us down. Acknowledge this; it’s ok and perfectly normal to have these feelings and then steer yourself to do something more nourishing. l Talk with family, friends and neighbours to help them understand how you feel and how they can help. Remember that it does us all good to have a chat with someone else to see how they are doing

and it also provides us with respite from our own anxiety. l Take care of yourself. Eat and drink healthily with plenty of fruit, vegetables and water to support your immune function and energy levels.

Give yourself a treat, a bubble bath, comforting TV, sit in the sun with a cup of tea, smell the roses, watch the birds… l Avoid staying still for too long. Exercise and regular movement will maintain fitness and strength.

Use it or lose it! Put on a favourite CD or the radio and dance while no one is watching! l Establish a good sleep routine. If you are struggling, try to avoid tea and coffee in the late afternoon and evening, take a bath, listen to gentle music or do some deep breathing exercises. Some people recommend keeping a journal or a gratitude log, write down those thoughts and drift off! l Keep in touch. Arrange to speak to someone most days on the phone, or over the garden fence (observing social distancing of course!). A neighbour or friend will appreciate your call. Please remember that Age UK Horsham District (tel: 01403 260560 and Silver Line tel: 0800 470 8090) are there to talk to too.

Nicky Fuller, Rural Outreach Development Worker Age UK Horsham District

We are open again and look forward to seeing you soon!

Drivesafe – Ask us for more details

Tel: 01403 784682

32 High Street, Billingshurst, RH14 9PF

email: parkandbrownbillingshurst@gmail.com

e Homecare S g a l l erv Vi Home help, companionship, shopping, light housework, meal prep, and lots more…

ice

The

Park & Brown Opticians

Katy Clayton-Turner 01403 730663 or 07922 425157 www.villagehomecareservice.co.uk thevillagehomecareservice@gmail.com

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Guides / Funerals / Health & wellbeing

Check out our competitive Advertising Rates: www.villagetweet.co.uk

2nd Billingshurst Guides find new skills in lockdown

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irlguiding introduced a new programme at the start of September 2019; we have been exploring the new awards and badges since then. During the lockdown period we have been unable to have faceto-face guiding, so we have encouraged the girls to achieve interest badges for their Gold Award independently at home.

The work the girls have produced has been amazing; the most popular badges have been Confectionery, Photography, Upcycling, Mixology and Natural Remedies. We are now having Zoom meetings to enable a bit of social contact and routine again and keep doing the fun guiding activities the girls love. So far we have been doing quizzes, learning sign language and having a long awaited catch up with the girls.

Alice has turned a metal shelf unit and tin cans into a fabulous strawberry planter which is now producing yummy fruit for her family. Evelyn has

turned an old skirt into a new stylish bag.

Following on from her success of bag making, she has made more bags and sold them to friends and family raising money for her favourite charities.

Maddie used scraps of material to make a quilt and Hannah turned old tin cans into useful stationary pots.

Hannah has made kiwi lip scrub for the Natural Remedies badge and body butter which is the best hand cream I have used in lockdown! Many of the girls have been making some yummy cakes including fudge, chocolate tiffin, truffles and macarons.

If you want to be part of Girlguiding register at www.girlguiding.org.uk/joinus Natalie Evans, Unit Leader, 2nd Billingshurst Guides Left: Alice with her strawberry planter made from an old shelf unit and tin cans Right: Elelyn with her stylish bag made from an old skirt

Judith Dandy Independent Funeral Director Dandelion Farewells warmly invites you to contact us if you have any questions about the funeral you need to arrange.

We are committed to enabling families to plan a funeral that is personal, meaningful and affordable.

We will support you to create a farewell that is appropriate and unique, thereby taking away much of the strain of planning such a signi昀cant event.

We will be with you every step of the way.

Church View, Billingshurst Road Wisborough Green, West Sussex RH14 0DY

e: judith@dandelionfarewells.com t: 01403 701001 m: 07769 336022

www.dandelionfarewells.com

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Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk

Little Tweeters / Health and wellbeing

The Pond – 3

Once upon a time on a small farm near Billingshurst…

T

he lockdown proved to be a wonderful opportunity for several projects on Nanny’s agenda; the pond being the central one. After the rain came and went, the pond dried out and finally she was able to remove the big black plastic sheet. (She’d used that to cover an area of waste ground where next year’s project might take place just to keep weeds down). And after chipping away at the edges the pond was ready. Now the pond liner and underlay could leave their place on the front porch and fulfil their destiny.

The underlay was in two pieces so Nanny could lay that herself, albeit with difficulty. Getting in and out of the pond was quite difficult considering her tendency to wobble. When the underlay was finished (half a day’s work), she unwrapped the pond liner and nearly wept when she saw how big it was and how awkward it would be to do it ‘Miracle of miracles, the by herself. Stubbornly she waved it about a bit wondering which way it should go.

But just then, with perfect timing, Anne wandered down to check progress and was instantly conscripted into helping. Mary came down too and volunteered to help. With all that womanpower the liner was finally placed in the pond hole and anchored in place. The next job was to fill the pond.

The next day the hose was rolled out and turned on. Nanny, knowing getting in and out of the pond was difficult, asked Mary to help again – as the water started to fill the pond area, Mary could smooth out the wrinkles and edges. Mary did just that – knee deep in cold water, she smoothed and tucked the liner until it was just right. When she had finished, they left the pond to fill. And when it was full, it was splendid, the water edging the liner

made it look a bit like a swimming pool (if you squinted a little).

There were two more tasks to do: the pump and the edges. The pump came first. The power socket was in the swimming pool shed. (The pool, by the way, was full and ready for use.) A long outside length of electric wire – 50 metres – was bought as well as pump, RCD plug, and other plugs. Nanny learned how to wire up a plug after Grandad got cross because the outside wire’s inside bits were very thick and stiff and too much of a challenge. By following the instructions and being determined the plugs were wired up. The pump was tucked into a waterproof container by the pond and the other end of the electric lead was taken along the fenceline to the swimming pool. What fun that was!

The fence had been lined with screening so next pump worked wonderfully’ door’s blackberries couldn’t come through. That did not stop them from trying though and it had been an ongoing battle to keep them at bay. Nevertheless, their thorns made threading the lead along the fence, through the chicken pen, behind the chicken house, past the small greenhouse and then through the corner garden to the pool shed hazardous indeed. When the lead was finally through, Nanny – covered in scratches – plugged the end in and turned the electricity on.

Back at the pond Nanny climbed into the pond (two levels: knee deep and thigh deep) and placed the pump on a slab at the edge of the two levels, clambered out and switched the pump on. Miracle of miracles, the pump worked wonderfully.

But that is not all. Oh no, that is not all…

To be continued…

Yvonne Fleece Photo: ‘Gary’

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Community / About the house

One man in a boat…

John Nash is a retired, well sort of retired, fruit farm manager in Kirdford who enjoys scribbling about life on the farm from the now to days gone by.

I

’m writing this as June nears its end. So I’m afraid I cannot know how far we have travelled on the path of the Covid-19’s progress at the time of reading.

I can only hope that you are all safe and that the worst part of the pandemic is now behind us all.

Anyway, today... I wish to impart a vital warning to those of you who are, like me, a little way past the peak of fitness and are finding that joints and muscles are not quite at their most responsive in moments of stress.

Do not – and I make no apologies for repeating this for those who may be hard of hearing! – DO NOT GO CANOEING! Those of you who know Sally’s farm are familiar with the lovely three-acre reservoir that was used for irrigating and frost protecting the orchards in days gone by. Now it stands with nothing to do but look pretty and give a home to the fish and water fowl.

With the easing of the lockdown my dear daughter thought it appropriate to make use of it by bringing over her canoes and having a little paddling excercise…

The day was sunny and warm, the water calm and placid. Would I like a go?

Me? Of course I would. I was fit, I was strong, I was keen.

I wasn’t of course!

Well, not qute true. I was keen. But on everything else I was sadly lacking.

Her canoes are strong, two-man, blow-up beasts, and once inflated they do indeed look very impressive.

Now our reservoir has no launch slope. Just a

e Pleassured s a be taking y I’m cessar e -19 all no d C viutions a c e r p

steep, prickly-bushed banking that ends in deep, dark water! Getting into the retched thing was a work of art and sadly I’m no Picasso. The seats are inflatable too so they give under your weight. I’m no gymnast either, so it was a floundering whale that launched itself into the floating mass of rubber and air.

I missed the seat. (No, I don’t know how either.) I was perched just on its edge with the bulk of my rear end sitting on the boat’s rubber floor. “Push yourself up onto the seat” came the instruciton from the safety of the bank side. I tried.

Trouble is, if you push down on a blow-up boat that’s floating in the water, you don’t go up. You stay where you are, but the boat goes down. The patiently waiting water accepted the invitation and happily slurped over the gunnels and into my shorts. The harder I tried the more of it was absorbed by my lower apparel.

It was bad enough to suffer the indignity of flailing like a beached leviathan, but to be serenaded by a chorus of hysterical laughter was, I felt, just a touch harsh.

I gave up the struggle, grabbed an oar, and propelled myself out into the centre of the lake while virtually laying flat on my back. From then on it was downhill all the way.

Exhausted by the effort I admitted defeat and slowly and uncomfortably paddled back to the banking.

I shall skip the intricate details of disembarking.

If you think getting into a rubber canoe is difficult, try getting out of the blasted thing when your laying down in it to start with. Suffice to say, the water was deep, and the muddy clay glorious.

I went home to dry out and change. If it was any consolation everyone else was in pain too – from laughing so much!

Thank goodness modern banknotes are made of plastic. At least they were waterproof!

John Nash

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Books / About the house

A Good Read August’s selection of summer reading The Testaments – Margaret Atwood Coming 30 years after her best selling The Handmaid’s Tale, readers have had a long wait for this sequel. The success of the recent television series has certainly brought in new fans, anxious to know what happens and whether Gilead will ever be brought down. Here Atwood tries to give us some answers.

For those not familiar, the original novel told the story of America in the not so distant future where a totalitarian state has been established in the east of the country after a civil war. Women’s rights have been taken away from them and are subjugated in this patriarchal society.

This sequel tells us what happened next from the perspective of three women: Aunt Lydia, familiar to readers from the first novel, Agnes, a young woman living in Gilead, and Daisy, a young woman living in Canada. Here we learn something of how Gilead came to be in flash back accounts from Aunt Lydia, how the outside world sees Gilead, and the lifechanging decisions that are made for young girls in Gilead by society.

As a fan of the original I found this to be a gripping read that did not detract from the power of the 1985 novel. Is it a satisfying ending?

Is everything resolved with the end of Gilead?

That would be telling too much, and I’ll leave it up to you to make that discovery.

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Katie Helps A Turtle with Tummy Ache – Nick Lloyd-Davies For those of us that are despairing at the images of litter left on our precious Sussex beaches, this recently released children’s book by local Itchingfield author Nick Lloyd-Davies tells a charming story of Katie and her magic glowstone and how they come to the aid of a green turtle called Harry (and his best friend Basil the starfish) who have sore tummies caused by ingesting ocean plastic pollution.

The book has a foreword by TV presenter Julia Bradbury (and Ambassador for Keep Britain Tidy) and the marine scientist that discovered millions of pieces of washed-up plastic on Henderson Island in the South Pacific, where the story is based.

The lead character, twelve-year-old Katie, is strong-minded and determined to help these innocent creatures and she does so with the help of Harry and Basil and her magical glowstone. She even gets the leaders of the world to sweep up the beach!

A fun and charming adventure, well illustrated and with an important message for the next generation. Aimed at 6-9-year-olds and part of a wider series known as The Glowstone Adventures.

Available now in paperback from Amazon, £5.99. Also see www.nicklloyddavies.net.

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Billingshurst Parish Council Billingshurst Community & Conference Centre Roman Way, Billingshurst, RH14 9QW

Billingshurst in Bloom Local Competition Due to the Covid-19 outbreak and the difficulties that are likely to be experienced with holding our usual awards evening in September, we are not going to have our usual Billingshurst in Bloom local competition this year.

Due to the lockdown, the large majority of residents have spent much more time at home since early April, so this, along with the beautiful spring weather we have experienced means those of us with gardens have spent considerably more time titivating and beautifying our green spaces. If your front garden is looking particularly pretty, or if you have a hanging basket, trough or tub you are particularly proud of, then we would love to see a picture or two! Send your pictures to council@ billingshurst.gov.uk along with your home address, and we can show them on our Twitter & Facebook social media pages. Please note that only road names will be shown but not any other address information.

NO SWIMMING at Jubilee Fields The Fishing Lake at Jubilee Fields is NOT designed for people to swim in. Not only is it extremely dangerous and detrimental to marine life but it is against Council Byelaws. If you become aware of anyone swimming in the lake please call the Police on 101 as they are able to act under Council Byelaws covering the area.

Billingshurst Centre Reopening At the time of writing, the Billingshurst Centre plans to re-open on Monday 6th July. If you are thinking of making a booking, please give our colleagues a call on 01403 787690 to see whether your booking can be accommodated. Please note that for the time being, the crisp packet recycling scheme has been suspended. Please hang on to your empty crisp packets and keep an eye on our social media pages for notifications on when the scheme can recommence.

Walking & Cycling Routes We are fortunate to have good reasons to get outside and enjoy local services, shops and surrounding countryside; but our busy roads,

particularly the A272 and A29, prove a barrier to many residents. Lockdown has proven an opportunity to enjoy more walking and cycling, and it would be fantastic if off-road access could be improved in the years ahead so residents can continue to enjoy the benefits recently discovered.

At its recent virtual meeting, which was streamed online via Facebook, Billingshurst Parish Council (BPC) resolved to make preliminary investigations on potential improvements for walking and cycling in the parish. If you would like to find out more, please check out the NEWSFEED section of the Council’s website www.billingshurst.gov.uk.

Be a good neighbour this summer Please remember that on warm summer days and evenings playing music, lighting bonfires and taking part in noisy activities might be great fun, but it can also have an effect on your neighbours too. In most cases a pleasant informal approach to the person responsible can resolve the matter without need for a formal complaint. Please also be careful leaving windows open as it allows easy access for intruders.

Finally, if you plan to be away from home for a period of time please ensure that you have a nominated neighbour or contact for your burglar alarm.

www.billingshurst.gov.uk Email: council@billingshurst.gov.uk 01403 782555 / twitter@BillingshurstPC

Billingshurst Parish Council

@BillingshurstPC

PUBLIC NOTICE OF PUBLICATION OF THE BILLINGSHURST NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN REGULATION 16 – THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING (GENERAL) REGULATIONS 2012 (AS AMENDED)

BILLINGSHURST NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN In light of recent announcements regarding COVID-19 Horsham District Council to reviewed its protocols regarding the consultation process for neighbourhood plans, a number of which were published for public consultation shortly before the government imposed the nationwide lockdown.

In order to continue to progress neighbourhood plans, we have made a decision to continue with the consultation process with measures we feel are in accordance to the government guidelines.

Billingshurst Parish Council has prepared a Neighbourhood Development Plan (BNP).

The Plan sets out a vision for the future of the parish and planning policies which will be used to determine planning applications locally. In accordance with Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012 (as amended), the BNP and associated documents will go out to consultation: Wednesday 17th June to Wednesday 12th August 2020 for 8 weeks inviting representations on the draft submission plan, basic conditions statement, consultation statement and the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) screening opinion. Copies of the BNP Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents are available to view on the Horsham District Council’s website: https://www.horsham.gov.uk/planningpolicy/planning-policy/currentconsultations Documents will not be made available in deposit locations due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. If local residents have difficulty in engaging online we have provided a telephone number and email addresses below. Please leave your details for an officer to contact you back if they need further information. This arrangement will be under review throughout the consultation period.

Email: neighbourhood.planning@horsham.gov.uk and SAS@southdowns.gov.uk Telephone: 01403 215398 We encourage those responding to use our online consultation system which is available on our website, at the above web address. All representations must arrive no later than 12am (midnight) on Wednesday 12th August 2020.

NOTIFICATION Any representations may include a request to be notified of the local planning authority’s decision under regulation 19 in relation to the neighbourhood development plan.

Horsham District Council will process the information you provide in a manner that is compatible with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ALL REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED BY THE AUTHORITY WILL BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE (IN DUE COURSE). THESE WILL BE IDENTIFIABLE BY NAME AND WHERE APPLICABLE ORGANISATON.

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WACT / About the house

Trip boat makes a spectacular return

T

he Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s trip boat Zachariah Keppel made a spectacular return to its home at Loxwood, West Sussex in June after spending several months away for repairs.

The boat was floated along the Thames from All 4 Marine yard in Chertsey to Penton Hook Marina, where it was transported by lorry to the wharf at Loxwood, and lifted by a 76-tonne crane over the towpath and into the canal.

The unusual sight of a 50ft long, eight-tonne narrowboat sailing through the air created quite a stir, and was filmed by a BBC South team for a piece on that evening’s programme.

Zachariah Keppel was taken to the boatyard in January as it had developed rusty steelwork and the decision was made to appoint professional boat repairers to carry out the work required to allow the boat to be deemed passenger-worthy again.

With the rusty internal fittings replaced and the hull buffed off internally and externally, primed and painted with black bitumastic paint, the 45year-old vessel has been given another 10-15 years of life.

The boat was named after Zachariah Keppel, a builder from Alfold, who was the contractor responsible for building the Wey & Arun canal. He went bankrupt and had to give up the job before it was completed.

Now that Zachariah Keppel is back home, volunteers will replace her ballast and flooring, making her ready to take passengers when government restrictions allow.

Gill Davies, Press and Publications Assistant Left: 76-tonne crane lifts the Zachariah Keppel Right: BBC South photographer films the spectacle

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Kids of all ages / About the house

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Pets / About the house

The Spaniel Diaries

H

i folks, it’s been a while. We are still in strange times, I’m missing my trips to the New Forest but Mum seems happy and is going on about a place called Wales.

Apparently we boys are going to love it and it looks like we might be able to go! Another thing that I’m not so impressed with is our training classes have started again, I had become quite used to doing my own thing lately and I know better than Mum anyway – no way could she sniff out rabbits like I can!

Maverick is enjoying training of course, but then he’s an idiot and needs to be told what to do. I told him it’s absolutely fine to chew up his bed – Mum wasn’t impressed and I did snigger, then she bought him a new one – can you believe it? I must work on getting him to chew mine up so I get a new one too.

We have been doing a lot of gardening lately, I am an ace hole-digger. Mum fills them in, I dig them out again. Maverick goes around biting the heads off the flowers, I mean what sort of idiot does that? He also eats snails, he’s such a disgusting creature. Still, it means he gets wormed more often as Mum was muttering something about lungworm; it doesn’t sound very nice whatever it is. I have had several disgusting ticks on me, I hate them but Mum is good and takes them off with her little tool; they leave a little bump where they have bitten me but Mum makes sure I’m nice and clean so it’s not too bad.

I do, however, object to the disgusting stuff she puts on the back of our necks to stop any itchy nasties living in our fur. It’s horrible and it stinks, I think I would rather take my chances with the fleas! I try to hide as soon as I get a whiff of

26

what’s going on but Mum hunts me down and puts it on anyway, the same as the way she catches me and marches me to the bath when I have spent time and effort rolling in fox poo – now that does smell glorious, much like the tripe I have for breakfast!

We have both had a haircut as the grooming lady is back to work now. Mum was pleased to get us in and trimmed and I must say after the hot weather it felt really nice to be smart and cool again – unlike Mum who is sporting the draggedthrough-a-hedge look until her groomer is open – Dad offered to cut her hair using a bowl but she refused. Not sure why, anything is better than the yeti look surely!

We have been having some wonderful walks lately and as we haven’t been travelling too far we have been exploring our lovely county and discovering new places we have overlooked and have found some wonderful quiet spots. Mum is keeping us away from the beach, muttering things about sardines. We NEED to go – I love sardines!

Good news is my strict diet has been lifted slightly, bad news is I can no longer get away with stealing Maverick’s food – the idiot even leaves some, the ungrateful scoundrel. I would finish it but I’m not allowed too and Mum watches me like a hawk. Still, a few biscuits are now forthcoming. I do feel better for my new diet, and I can run even faster now – not as fast as Maverick, he’s surely got to be part greyhound, Mum should get him to the track, she’d make some money!

I hope you are all well and things are getting better for you all. Until next time, Billy.

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Garden Tweet! / Pest control

Wellbeing and water

M

ost people find the sound of water relaxing. The benefits of ‘blue space’ – the sea, rivers, lakes, canals and waterfalls, have been studied, and found to be psychologically restorative; associated with increased sense of wellbeing, lower levels of stress and mental illness, lower blood pressure, and higher levels of vitamin D. In short, being by water is good for body and mind.

Can we replicate this in our gardens?

The presence of water in the garden can transform a space into a natural haven of calm, and provide a focal point. Running water in a garden produces negative ions which are known to increase serotonin production in the brain. Serotonin is the chemical that elevates our mood and relaxes us.

There are many ways to introduce water into a smaller space, including natural look ponds and waterfalls, but you don’t need a deep ornamental pond; you can create a small pond in a container, or create a toddler- and pet-friendly pebble pond, or install a modern water feature which uses reflective surfaces that bounce light around, creating movement and life in the tiniest space.

Any water source will attract a wide range of wildlife. I have a metallic sphere water feature on my patio that seems to be a magnet for dragonflies, which are a delight to watch. A shallow beached area or pebble pool will attract bathing birds, and also frogs and toads, which can shelter, breed, and stay out of sight of potential predators. You may even attract a hedgehog or two. They enjoy shallow pools with sloped edges, so they can drink and bathe without falling in. A small barrel or container

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s, ve ted s, ol ct ce on ha la er to ta la cti u -re ow s, on ll p se y o n ( f l e d c wi n If rde ss sh ase e rde ga e s, le . W a a sin se c) p ay r G a u bu ho , et tod pul n s t o e e e r ee p gr ow Tw our m ge in lla d Vi r a u yo

Garden View

pond will allow algae to grow which will attract water invertebrates including snails, pond skaters and water boatmen.

Kids love water so introducing a pond is a great way to encourage them to learn about local wildlife while having fun. Safety is crucial though; if you have young children it might be better to wait until they are older before creating a large pond as it will require constant supervision. A pebble pool with a small fountain effect provides all the sound and fun of water with none of the depth, and a large trug or half barrel can be transformed into a tiny wildlife pond. If you do create a pond, position it where it can be seen from the house, make sure the edges slope gently, and fence it off while the children are young.

Planting around water features is half the fun.

The water forget-me-not, ‘Myosotis scorpioides’, is perfect for growing in shallow water or in the muddy area at the edge of ponds. It has pretty blue flowers in late spring and attracts newts, which lay their eggs on the leaves. Irises and grasses look lovely planted around any water features and you can even find a tiny lily – Nymphaea ‘Pygmaea Alba’ white – for small ponds, which has the bonus of being heavily scented.

Water features in a garden are no longer the preserve of the rich, with acres to spare. Even if you only have a tiny balcony you can now enjoy the sight and sound of water in your outside space.

Happy gardening.

Rachel Leverton

Garden Tweet!

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Charity

“St Catherine’s Telephone Buddy Scheme has been a lifeline”

E

arl, a patient under the care of St Catherine’s Hospice, has been speaking to volunteer, Graham, once a week as part of St Catherine’s new Telephone Buddy scheme. The scheme was recently set up to make sure patients, who’ve temporarily had to stop attending the hospice’s Living Well Centre due to Covid-19, remain connected to St Catherine’s by having a regular, social call with a volunteer.

Here Earl and Graham share their experiences of the scheme: Earl said, “Due to my health issues, I was attending St Catherine’s Living Well Centre every Wednesday before lockdown. I’d got to know Graham while I’d been going to Living Well, so being paired up with him as part of the hospice’s new Telephone Buddy scheme was a continuation of that. When one of the nurses told me about the scheme I asked if I could speak with Graham because I already knew him. Everything is driven by my needs as the patient.”

Graham adds, “I’ve been volunteering at the hospice for seven and a half years and was really pleased to be asked to help while I’m not able to be at the hospice volunteering. It means a lot that I can still do something to support patients and St Catherine’s and not just sit around for months. Earl and I had already met at the Living Well Centre. We get on very well and already have a rapport with one another. Earl really took to my meditation sessions and my professional career was as a policeman. Earl was a policeman in New Zealand for a while, so we have similar interests.”

The pair have been catching up together on the phone for over a month now. Earl says, “We usually have our call at 10.30am for about an hour on Wednesdays. We’ve got lots of things in common and we talk about everything, no subject is barred.

Sometimes, we agree to disagree on things but it’s not a problem as we can each present our views.”

Graham agrees, “Conversation flows naturally and it’s like having a chat with a friend. Earl’s an easygoing guy and we always find lots to talk about. It’s like being together at the hospice for an hour, it’s just the service has been adapted. Earl’s illness is a very small part of it. I’ll check in on his general wellbeing but mostly we discuss our past experiences, the world in general, anything. We both look forward to our call.”

Earl adds, “A lot of laughing goes on! The call is something to look forward to each week and it’s all positive as far as I’m concerned.”

Graham says the guidance and support for volunteers taking part in the scheme has been

30

fantastic too. He said, “I’m chuffed to be able to do this. It’s an enlightened scheme. St Catherine’s is all about giving patients as normal a life as possible and the hospice is still doing that for them now. It’s just it has to be over the phone rather than face-to-face at the moment.”

The Telephone Buddy scheme was set up to help people under the care of St Catherine’s feel less isolated during the pandemic and this is something that Graham thinks it does really well. “It gives people a friendly voice to chat to and lets them know, that even if they can’t attend the hospice in person, St Catherine’s is still there for them,” he said. “They know they’re not forgotten, it’s just the world has changed. For some patients, it’s not so much about who is calling them, it’s more about keeping in touch with the hospice in a different way to talking to a nurse.

Many patients love coming into the Living Well Centre and for some of them it’s the highlight of their week. It must be difficult not being able to do that at the moment.”

Earl agrees the buddy scheme is important for people like him. He said, “It’s made a real difference.

I’m classified as extremely vulnerable so I’m not able to go out and I only get the odd conversation with people. Speaking to Graham each week has been a lifeline. I live with my wife, but for other people who can’t physically access the hospice or who live alone, this scheme must be a godsend.”

Graham said, “It’s really nice to know the scheme is making a difference. It’s comforting for people to know somebody is there, and it spreads the load for staff too. I’ve got the time to do this and I feel very lucky and privileged to be able to. It’s difficult times for all of us but it means a lot to still offer my services to wonderful people like Earl and to St Catherine’s.

Some parts of our normal world might be shut down but the good work of the hospice isn’t. It’s a brave new world, but one good thing that’s come out of all of this is that people are being more friendly and talking to one another more. I hope that continues as life gets back to normal.”

Earl hopes the scheme will continue even when he’s able to return to St Catherine’s Living Well Centre. He said, “My calls with Graham work really well. We both want it to continue even when I’m able to visit the Living Well Centre again. It’s a great way to reach more people who need the hospice.”

To help St Catherine’s support more people in your community through this crisis and beyond, please visit: www.stch.org.uk/donate.

Laura Mitchell, St Catherine’s Hospice Photo: Graham, a volunteer at St Catherine’s Hospice and a volunteer to the hospice’s new Telephone Buddy scheme

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Short story

Just Desserts A short story written exclusively for Village Tweet by local author Miranda Rijks 2020 Like all students of her generation, Anna’s plans had flown out of the window. What she hadn’t expected was a rent demand from their landlord. After a flurry of e-mails, it came to light that her flatmate Jon, hadn’t paid his half.

“I’m not paying the rent.” Jon’s What’sApp message read.

“What do you mean?” Anna’s fingers flew across the screen of her phone.

“I’ve gone home so I’m not paying.”

“But you can’t just not pay. We signed a lease together. We’re both liable.”

“Not my problem. I’m on the other side of the world.”

Anna tugged at her long curly hair. She was studying law. She knew perfectly well that under the terms of her lease, if Jon defaulted, she’d be responsible for his half of the rent. She paced up and down the small flat, a knot of panic curdling in her stomach. She wanted to be a lawyer. She couldn’t afford to default on her lease but at the same time she couldn’t afford to pay the full whack. It was so unfair. Jon’s family were taking advantage of Covid-19.

She walked into his room and stared at his belongings.

Two of the designer jackets hanging in his wardrobe would cover his portion of a month’s rent.

She rang her mum, but Louise couldn’t help.

She’d been furloughed and there was barely enough money to pay the mortgage. Louise was sympathetic and very proud of Anna, the first member of their family to go to university. She was amazed by Anna’s highfalutin plans to become a lawyer. Most of their family were on the wrong side of the law.

Anna wrote to the landlord. The reply was swift and unrelenting. He would offer her a 10% discount, but she was responsible for the full amount. A lease had been signed and she had to abide by it.

Anna sent Jon a long imploring e-mail. It went unanswered. Anna and Jon had been flatmates for two years and had become good friends. For a couple of days, she wondered if something had happened to Jon. Had he or members of his family succumbed to Covid-19? Had they gone bankrupt?

But no. Jon popped up on Instagram, prancing around his parents’ outdoor swimming pool, palm trees gently swaying in the breeze.

Anna asked one of her university tutors for advice.

“You can’t sue him so long as he is out of the country. You’ve got no choice but to pay his portion.”

Anna raided her savings, the money she had saved the past three years working in a coffee shop; the money she put aside to support herself through law college. She sold as many of her things as she could: not easy during lockdown. There was a moratorium on evictions, so Anna knew the landlord couldn’t chuck her out, but even so a debt is a debt.

She didn’t have enough money. What could she do? There were so many people in a much more

32

desperate situation than she was in. Her woes were a drop in the ocean of misery and hardship.

2028 It was a busy lunchtime, but Anna preferred it when the restaurant was hectic. She didn’t have time to mull over what might have been or let resentment nibble at her soul. Of course she should be one of the diners, drinking fine wine and consuming fois gras and truffles, dressed in designer clothes, safely ensconced within a transparent Perspex cube.

“Can you serve table five?” Casey asked, balancing a tray of 20 glasses on the palm of her left hand.

“Sure.” Anna strode over to the four men perusing the menus.

“I’ll have the lemon sole,” the young man in a pinstriped suit said. He was the only one who didn’t say please. Anna did a double take. Surely it couldn’t be him? He glanced up at Anna, a fleeting look of confusion on his face. “Do I know you from somewhere?” he asked.

Anna shook her head and turned to the man seated to his left. But by the time she had taken the order through to the kitchen, her face was pale and her hands shaking. She couldn’t remember: what was the statute of limitations for civil cases? Was it five years? If so, she was three years too late.

“Can you take the drinks through to the bunch of lawyers on table five?” Casey asked Will, the restaurant’s newest recruit.

“Lawyers?” Anna said.

Casey nodded. “I overheard them talking about barristers and clients in court and boring stuff like that.”

When chef announced the order was ready for table five, Anna picked up the Dover sole and surreptitiously spat on it. She would have liked to have done more; found some poison perhaps, but she didn’t have time.

She smiled sweetly as she put the plate on the table in front of him. Half an hour later, desserts ordered and eaten, the four lawyers were drinking coffees and the oldest of the men had asked for the bill.

“I don’t feel well, Casey. I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to go home.”

Anna slipped out of the back of the restaurant and got into her ancient car. She drove slowly towards the front car park where their clientele left their fancy motors. She got lucky. Jon was the last of the four men to exit the restaurant. As he was approaching the cars, he bent down to tie up his shoelace.

Anna put her foot on the accelerator.

She didn’t stop.

Miranda Rijks writes psychological thrillers set in West Sussex, published by Inkubator Books.

Paperbacks and ebooks are available on Amazon.

Find out more at www.mirandarijks.com.

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Job vacancies

Domestic Supervisor Full Time We require a creative and experienced individual to manage and provide an excellent standard of cleaning across our school.

The successful candidate must be well organised and flexible, a good communicator, have high standards of service, and offer a friendly approach and a can-do attitude. Supporting and managing a team of 4 staff. 35 hours per week with 1 or 2 evening shifts per week to enable successful candidate to work with all staff.

For further information and an application pack please contact Jane Hart-Coombes or Stephanie Harry Tel: 01403 782294 or email: ingfield.manor@ambitoeducation.co.uk Please note that we follow Safer recruitment, therefore, all successful appointments are subject to satisfactory references and Enhanced DBS checks.

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Waking Night Support Worker Term Time Only We have an exciting opportunity for a Waking Night Support Worker to join our friendly team supporting inspirational young people.

For further information please call 01403 782294 or email: jane.hart-coombes@ambitoeducation.co.uk or tracey.francis@ambtioeducation.co.uk Please note that we follow Safer recruitment, therefore, all successful appointments are subject to satisfactory references and Enhanced DBS checks.

If you would like to know more about our school, please visit our website www.ingfieldmanorschool.co.uk A Centre of Excellence for Conductive Education

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Motoring

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What’s On near you

What’s On – August Every Mon

Table Tennis. St Mary’s Room, East St, Billingshurst, 2-4pm. An informal sociable group for all ages.

Newcomers welcome, tea & biscuits included, £1 (goes to church funds). Tony, tel: (01403) 783496 Every 2nd Rotary Club. Blacksmiths Arms, Adversane. 7.30pm. Supper (£13) & talk. Visitors welcome. Social activities & 4th Mon & occasional business meetings. Stuart Pullen, Attendance Secretary, tel: (01798) 873791 or 07967 159034 Every Mon, Shipley Men’s Shed. Shipley football ground off Dragon’s Lane. Part of the international Men’s Shed Tues & Weds organisation. For men interested in woodwork or wish to spend time with like-minded, local chaps. www.HorshamShipleyCommunityProject.org. Tel: 07786 070939 or email philipgibbs669@gmail.com Every Mon Wisborough Green Short Mat Bowls Club. Village Hall. Mons 2.30-4.30pm, Weds 1.30-3.30pm. & Weds New members & visitors welcome. £2.50 (includes Tea/Coffee & biscuits). Trial session free for newcomers. Further information: www.wisboroughgreen.org or contact Keith Carter on 01403 700502 Every Tues Stitch & Knit. Six Bells, Billingshurst. 7-9.30pm. Welcoming & helpful, just bring your project & make new friends. No fees. Sarah, tel: 07817 699865 (leave message) Every Tues Billingshurst Short Mat Bowls. Suspended until further notice due to Coronavirus Every Tues Billingshurst Choral Society rehearsal. Billingshurst Primary School, 7.30-9.45pm during term time.

New members always welcome. For details see www.billingshurstchoralsociety.org Every Tues Slinfold Concert Band rehearsal. Slinfold Village Hall from 7.30-9.30pm. Brass, woodwind and percussion players all welcome. www.slinfoldconcertband.org Every Tues Billingshurst Youth Club. Women’s Hall, High St, Billingshurst, 7.30-9pm, term-time. 11-16 years. Varied activities such as indoor obstacle course, miniature football tournaments and crafts. £1 per session. Contact Ben Sheldon, Community Youth Worker, tel: 07763 302456, e-mail: ben.sheldon@horsham-matters.org.uk Every Tues Walking Football. 10-11am. Holbrook Club, Horsham (winter) or Shipley football ground off Dragon’s Lane. (Check website or phone for venue.) Followed by refreshments. Men & women welcome. www.HorshamShipleyCommunityProject.org. Tel: 07786 070939 or email philipgibbs669@gmail.com Every Tues Drop in Baby Zone! St Mary’s Room, East Street, Billingshurst. 1.30-3pm. Meet other parents and their babies. Every week except between Xmas & New Year. Emma: babies@stmarysbillingshurst.org Every Tues Neighbourhood Warden drop-in sessions. Billingshurst Community & Conference Centre. 12-2pm Every Tues Preschool Ballet and street dance classes. Jubilee Fields, Billingshurst. VMA Dance run fun, friendly & Thurs classes for preschool children. Free trial then £4pw pre-booked. 07879 773705 www.vmadance.co.uk Every Tues Petanque Club. Meets at Shipley Football Ground, 10.15am for 10.30 start (in the summer months & Fri meet Friday, 6.30pm). Coffee after. All equipment provided. All ages and abilities welcome. www.HorshamShipleyCommunityProject.org. Melanie, tel: (01403) 782134 or email: melcjrob@gmail.com Every Weds Horsham Accordion Band. Practises in Slinfold Chapel from 7.30-9.30pm. Varied repertoire. Band Leader Mags Fisher tel: (01403) 790717 or email: magsfisher@btinternet.com Every Weds The Millennium Bridge Club. Storrington Village Hall, 1.30-4.30pm. All abilities. Please contact: Barbara: (01903) 741365 or daisy.campling@btinternet.com Every Weds Line dancing. St Gabriel’s Church Hall 7-10 pm. All levels welcome, beginners from 7pm. Details from Maureen 07774 828282 Every Weds Billingshurst Bell Ringing practice. St Mary’s Church, Billingshurst. 7.30-9.15pm. New learners and visitors welcome, just turn up. For information email Kathy at kathyfitzp@hotmail.co.uk Every Weds The Leconfield Singers. United Reformed Church, Petworth. 8-10pm. Mixed voice non-audition community choir. Newcomers welcome. More details and term times see www.leconfieldsingers.co.uk Every Weds Billingshurst Rock Choir. Primary School. 7.30-9pm, term times. No experience required. A friendly choir singing upbeat pop, rock and Motown. Book a FREE taster session at www.rockchoir.com Every 2nd BilliUke: Billingshurst’s Own Ukulele Jam! The Six Bells, from 7.30pm. If you already have a & 4th Weds ukulele, or are thinking about getting one, please come along and join us. It’s a fun couple of hours and you also get to make new friends from the village and beyond. www.billiuke.com Every Thurs Stitch & Knit. 10am-12.30pm. We rove round local cafés & car share, lifts may be possible. Welcoming & helpful, just bring your project. No fees. Sarah, tel: 07817 699865 (leave message) Every Thurs HDC Health Walk. Billingshurst (2). All HDC walks cancelled due to Coronavirus Every Thurs Wildlife walkabouts. RSPB Pulborough Brooks Nature Reserve, Wiggonholt, RH20 2EL. 10am-12 noon.

Our regular gentle ramble is an ideal introduction to some of our very special wildlife. £8 per person (£2.50 for RSPB members). (01798) 875851. www.rspb.org.uk/pulboroughbrooks Every Thurs Spy Café. Temporarily closed due to Coronavirus Every Fri Billingshurst Bowling Club Open Evenings. Temporarily suspended due to Coronavirus Every Fri Open days at The Blue Idol. Temporarily suspended due to Coronavirus. Updates: www.blueidol.org VMA Dance classes for children 2-18yrs. Jubilee Fields, Billingshurst. Classes in Ballet, Street Dance Every Fri & Contemporary. Free Trial available then £5pw pre-booked. 07879 773705 www.vmadance.co.uk Every Fri Nationwide Building Society. Billingshurst Community Centre. Cancelled due to Coronavirus Every Sat Indoor table top sale and market. Ansell’s Yard, Kirdford Road, Wisborough Green, RH14 0DD. 10am-2pm. No entrance fee. Tables £5 (must be pre-booked). Tel: (01403) 700633 or 07798 941940 Every Sun The Emmanuel Fellowship meet every Sunday at ‘The Chapel’, Spy Lane, Loxwood. 10.30am for about an hour with refreshments afterwards. www.emmanuelfellowship.co.uk SPACE IS TIGHT IN THE WHAT’S ON PAGES. IF ANYONE HAS TRIED TO TAKE PART IN ANY OF THE REGULAR ENTRIES (ABOVE) AND FOUND THEM TO BE NO LONGER AVAILABLE PLEASE LET VILLAGE TWEET KNOW 2 Aug 3 Aug

36

Indoor Antiques Market & Collectors Sale. Ansell’s Yard, Kirdford Road, Wisborough Green, RH14 0DD. 10am-2pm. No entrance fee. Tables available £8 (must be pre-booked). Telephone (01403) 700633 or 07798 941940 Rotary Club monthly ‘Friends’ get together for new members. Six Bells, Billinghurst. 7pm. Come along and find out about what we do!

What’s On near you / Little Tweeters!

4 Aug 6 Aug 8 Aug 12 Aug 13 Aug 15 Aug 17 Aug 20 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 27 Aug 31 Aug

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Trefoil Guild Meeting. St Mary’s Room, East St, Billingshurst. 7.30-9pm. First Tuesday of the month.

Open to all ex-Brownies, Guides & Guiders. Hillary, tel: (01403) 783792 Reading Friends. Billingshurst Library. 10.30-11.30am. Are you interested in meeting new friends, having a good chat and sharing your love of books? Everyone welcome, just turn up. Tel: (01403) 783145 Billingshurst United Reformed Church Dementia Café. In the Church Hall, on the Second Saturday of every month, from 10am-12pm. Please join us for tea, coffee and cake. All are welcome Billingshurst Carers Group (for carers of people with dementia or long-term condition). Longfield Manor, West Street, RH14 9LX. 2.30-4pm. (Every 2nd Weds.) info@carerssupport.org.uk or www.carerssupport.org.uk Billingshurst WI. There will be no meeting this month due to holidays. Secretary, tel: (01403) 780810 Billingshurst Horticultural Society Annual Flower Show. Cancelled due to Corona virus Billingshurst Lions Club Meeting. Sports Pavilion, Jubilee Fields, Billingshurst. 8pm. For information about the Club contact Alan Ridout on (01403) 871370 or call in at the Lions Bookshop, Jengers Mead Barns Green & Itchingfield Women’s Institute Meeting. Barns Green Village Hall. 2.30pm followed by tea. New members welcome. Meetings 3rd Thurs of the month. For more information contact Annette Relph (01403) 732580 Quiet Garden Afternoon at The Blue Idol. Temporarily suspended due to Coronavirus. See website for details: www.blueidol.org Sing for Pleasure. Billingshurst Community Centre. 3.00-4.30pm. We are a friendly, informal group who enjoy a sing-along. If you are a lady or gentleman in the more mature age group, even if you think you can’t sing, we’d love you to join us for an enjoyable afternoon. £3, includes tea and biscuits Sing for Pleasure. Billingshurst Community Centre. 3.00-4.30pm. We are a friendly, informal group who enjoy a sing-along. If you are a lady or gentleman in the more mature age group, even if you think you can’t sing, we’d love you to join us for an enjoyable afternoon. £3, includes tea and biscuits Wisborough Green Village Fete & Horticultural Show. Cancelled due to Corona virus. The organisers would like to thank all of our helpers and supporters who were gearing up for another wonderful day.

We look forward to seeing your next year on Monday 30th August 2021!

We have been notified of some events being cancelled due to Coronavirus – these have been marked in red. For other events, where a phone number or e-mail is given you are advised to check.

With Press lead times and government guidelines changing almost daily the onus is for the organisers to contact Village Tweet if your event is cancelled; we cannot make that decision for you!

Village Tweet will publish details of local events in this free What’s On section.

Please email brief details to editor@villagetweet.co.uk together with contact or website details

Dauxwood Pre-School Group

SPACES AVAILABLE Term time, Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm Long serving, dedicated, experienced and friendly staff l Newly refurbished outdoor play area and garden l Access to modern learning technology l Safe, fun and free flow environment l

For more information please contact: manager@dauxwood.co.uk Since 1971, Dauxwood Pre-school has provided early years education for the community of Billingshurst and the surrounding areas

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Advertisers Index / Little Tweeters!

ADVERTISERS INDEX August 2020 1A Acclaim Floor Care ......................26 A-Team Mechanics............................35 A/c’s Direct, Accounting ......................5 AC Decor...........................................18 Alba Plumbing...................................25 Ansells Market.....................................3 Apex Aerials ......................................27 Best Choice Roofing .........................25 Billingshurst Parish Council ........20, 21 Billingshurst Service, Repair & MOT Centre ..................................34 Bygone Gardening ............................29 CAGNE ...............................................7 Dandelion Farewells, funerals...........13 Dauxwood Pre-school.......................37 DM Handyman ..................................22 DW Gardens .....................................31 Evans Electrical.................................19 Fishers Farm Park.........................OBC Fix-Up Gardens.................................31 Flackwoods Solicitors..........................4 Flow-serve Plumbing, Drainage, Heating..........................................19

GB Glazing Ltd..................................15 GJ Coles, builder ..............................19 Goring Road Carpet Centre..............19 Hamilton Cole TV & Satellite Equipment .....................................27 Heath Windows Ltd (Southern).........25 Holly Stone Hypnotherapy ................13 Ingfield Manor School .......................33 JC Plumbing......................................25 Jim Hills Sports Warehouse ..............11 JMB Gardening Services ..................28 Jo Dowding, mobile hair....................14 Jonathan Carter Tree Surgery ..........31 Just Care...........................................14 Katherine Finn Hypnotherapy ...........12 Kings Head pub ..................................7 KJ Lammas Plumbing & Heating ......15 Lee’s Locks .......................................27 Mac’s Private Hire...............................7 Mike Lord Building ............................17 Miss Mop Domestic Cleaning ...........17 MW Wingate Painting & Decorating .15 MPS Home Improvements Ltd..........17

N Francis Electrical Ltd.....................15 NFU Mutual Insurance....................8, 9 Omni Davis Insurance.........................3 Oven Cleaning Direct........................16 P&W Jordan Upholstery....................15 Park & Brown, opticians....................12 Pest Man...........................................28 Petworth MOT Centre .......................34 PJM Building & Property Maintenance .24 R Gold Construction..........................10 REM Landscapes..............................31 Re-Nu Kitchens.................................27 Rudgwick Fencing.............................31 S&L Floristry........................................6 Scriven Arboriculture.........................29 St Mary’s church ...............................10 Sussex Carpet Brokers .....................23 Sussex Towing Brackets ...................35 Tulip Accounting..................................3 Village Homecare..............................12 Village Nurseries ...............................29

The Renegades’ Lockdown larks

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rom bat boxes and pizza making, to archery and landscape painting, the Renegades Youth Group has continued to try and challenge and stimulate the children throughout the lockdown.

Lockdown is tough on everyone but arguably the young are finding it a particularly hard time. With schools mostly closed until September, they are cut off from the people they care most about – their friends – and forced to spend their entire time with their parents. At a time when they want more control over their lives, they have less than ever and their worlds are shrinking.

To try and help, the Renegades have their own WhatsApp group to maintain peer support and social contact, and we have kept both the routine of Monday evening meetings (albeit via Zoom and despite the nightmare of rural broadband) and the structure of new challenges to minimise as much as possible the boredom factor. And, just to make them laugh, some of the silliest films, memes and jokes have been whizzing through the cyber sphere.

The parent helpers have come up with a range of ideas to keep the children occupied – they have put together a variety of hand-made kits to make, including paracord survival bracelets, bat boxes and onegar catapults, which all proved very popular.

We have also been creating ‘how to’ videos to enable

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the children to try other activities. One video showed how to make the perfect pizza dough and therefore the perfect pizza! The video was shot in stages and, beyond the recipe, demonstrated the crucial skill of stretching the dough and using gravity to help create the right shape and thinness.

Since some of the restrictions were eased but with still a current maximum of six meeting up and everything done outside, we have moved to create special interest groups each night of the week. Mondays and Fridays are archery nights (pictured) – these are hugely popular with the children so we need to run two nights with two sessions each night (without any overlap). Tuesday is carpentry, Wednesday is Drama and Thursday is Art… and we have already done a socially distant hike into the woods to encourage them to have a go at landscape painting.

Because of the carpentry sessions we are on the lookout for any carpentry or engineering tools that you may have gathering dust in the shed – we would be very grateful for the donation.

The Renegades is a local youth group for all children in The Weald catchment area aged 10-16.

Membership costs just £10 a month, contact Gareth Miller on 07801 862550.

Vanda Rumney

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