CLUB NEWS

News from Afghan Connection

Many of you will remember that back in the summer of 2019, the WV Cricket Club hosted an excellent fundraising cricket match against an army team, the Delhi Spearman. The match raised money for the charity, Afghan Connection, that St Peter’s Church was also supporting.

The charity has just sent us news about the great progress they’ve made and some heart-warming success stories – it makes for happy reading in these difficult times, so here are some highlights!

‘We are pleased to report that, despite many challenges, the projects have continued to run this year. In Worsaj and Rustaq, we succeeded in delivering teacher training programmes for a total of 89 teachers (79 women, 10 men). Children in our community-based education classes are now back at school after class closures due to the pandemic. Every effort was made to ensure students had access to learning materials during the suspension of classes and teachers’ salaries have been paid throughout.

Construction work has continued at Kiwan School in Rustaq and the school should be complete by the end of the year. More than 500 girls who once studied outside, exposed to the elements, will soon be sitting at desks in newly built classrooms.

‘Cricket: we are excited to see that our final cricket project to coach 500 girls and train 50 female coaches in Kabul and Herat has created genuine momentum. Not only has the Afghan Cricket Board continued to support the girls, running tournaments and identifying talented players for regional teams, but exciting news – hot off the press – is that they have now officially selected 25 women to form a National Women’s Cricket Team. A much hoped for wish will now become a reality!’

Maggie Henry

Wriggle Valley Ladies Group

In the words of Dame Vera Lynn, ‘we’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when,’ .. but we will meet some time soon. I do hope everyone is staying healthy and safe in these unchartered times. It seems so long ago when we were all together enjoying such a happy time and I am so sorry it will not be this year, but it will happen again. I now wish you all a happy and good Christmas and a healthy New Year.

Ruth Sanford

Wriggle Valley Voices

– lockdown won’t stop the music!

Despite all the uncertainties and barriers that the ever-changing government guidelines have put in the way, Wriggle Valley Voices are back! Rehearsals resumed in October, following all the relevant rules and safety measures. Kate felt quite mean making all choir members stand in draughts by 49

open doors and windows in Leigh Village Hall, but we have managed to continue meeting and learning new music, and noone has frozen solid.

With yet another change in the restrictions, choir rehearsals went online at the last minute last week, and many intrepid singers gave it a go. It’s not like the old days, which will return, but music is being made and even a bit of fun is being had. If you want to join a Zoom session, email wrigglevalleyvoice@gmail. com. Rehearsals are still on Thursday evenings, between 7.00-10.00pm.

Christmas Trees

From Saturday 28 November until sold out Mallows Church Street, Yetminster DT9 6LG

Please call 01935 873306 or 07970832778 email rbarfoot48@gmail.com

Busy times

On arrival if it looks busy, please wait by the gate until some customers leave or if asked by a member of staff to wait. We are open weekdays too, although times may vary so please check for details. Weekdays are generally much quieter than the busy weekends.

Face Coverings and Distancing

Face coverings are not mandatory as you are outside. Please be patient, respect staff and other customers. Keep a minimum of two metres away from others at all times. Parents must supervise their children at all times.

Payment

Cash payments can be accepted. We do have a pin machine which will accept the usual contactless card payments up to £45; Apple Pay is also available Any queries, don’t hesitate to contact us – 07970832778 or

01935873306

Dog walkers beware

Two adult wild boar and four piglets have been spotted in Prince’s Wood, close to Hermitage. Wild boar can be aggressive to dogs, particularly if they have young. Take care if you are walking in Prince’s Wood. If you spot the wild boar, please let Dave Whiteoak know – cdwhiteoak@hotmail.com

Oh Tannenbaum O Tannenbaum Wie Treu sind deine Blatter!*

The first mention of candles is in 1793 with a tree “decorated with gilded nuts, little lamps and a figure of Like beach towels on pool the child Jesus”. The idea chairs and cars that work, of decorating a tree at the Christmas tree is Christmas spread rapidly authentically German in after that as any illustrated origin. As one proud occu- edition of Dickens’ ‘Christmas pant of the Fatherland Carol’ will show. The obvious wrote in the 19th century: danger of fire from lit candles “It has wandered from Germany to all other lands. German poetry, German feeling, and Anenamel led to “illuminating the Christmas tree with tiny electric bulbs of different colors”. Note the spelling of Victoriantreetag German piety have planted the ‘color’ to indicate this was an American Christmas tree, have cultivated it and development, inevitably led by Thomas decorated it with its peculiar splendour”. Edison in 1880. And, rather like Germanic - Anglo Saxon It takes as little as 5 years (Pine) or football rivalry, where one tribe revels in as long as 10 (Noble Fir) to grow a tree the defeat of the other, it isn’t enough 6 feet high. In Britain about 8 million real they they had them – it was a source of trees are sold annually. Two thirds of pride that we lacked them: “The English households prefer artificial trees. Which have no burning, is best for the radiant Christmas environment? tree. But, in our Well, taking into Fatherland, it beams account manufrom house to facturing (lots house”. But before of plastic) and we become too shipping (mostly admiring we should from China) the recall that ‘Tannen- carbon footprint baum’ the German of an artificial for ‘Fir Tree’ was tree is 10 times also the code name that of a real for the planned tree, even if the Nazi invasion of real tree is neutral Switzerland “AndPapathistimebesureyouhavethefirebrigade’snumber” burned after use, in WW2. The earliest proven record of though these days more people take widespread use of Christmas trees is in their tree to their local council for shredding 1604, in Strasbourg, when they would (if you compost your tree it produces be hung with dolls and sweetmeats, methane). Better still, go to pot. Sales of and afterwards “shaken and plun- pot grown trees have surged. dered”. (Though there is a counter claim * Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree from Riga, in Latvia, of 1510) How faithfully you blossom!