OTHER NEWS

Village news and views …

Facebook is a funny thing, A place to share your news, But there is something special About village news and views. Nothing usually happens, Maybe a cat is lost, Or Mrs Smith’s begonias Have not survived the frost. There are adverts for a plumber And the local village fair, But it always is a problem That people love to share. Two youths were seen in hoodies, Walking by the shop. Discussions start in earnest, Which one will call a cop? It often is the farmers who get it in the neck, From Maureen in her swimsuit Relaxing on her deck. What are those tractors doing? What is that dreadful smell? Human, dog or chicken? It’s really hard to tell. Or maybe it’s been raining, There’s mud upon the road That’s fallen from a trailer That has shed some of its load. Planning applications send people in a spin, But not picking up your dog’s poo Well, that’s the biggest sin. Chat about the potholes, The menu for the pub, Litter louts and cyclists, The van that sells good grub. And sometimes there’s a problem, A sheep stuck on its back, That parcel that went missing Has been found around the back. The church clock maybe be broken There is woodworm in the pews, But the place to find the gossip is on village news and views!

Jan Millward

A series on the singularities of our county. 2. You can leave your hat on... ALTERNATIVE DORSET

Did you know Bridport has a Hat A series on the singularities of our county. Festival? A celebration of all things 2. You can leave your hat on... hats, the organisers describe it as a giant summer-ending party for the town and its many visitors. 2021’s Festival has just been confirmed for September 4, so hold on to your hats. Over several days, the most creative and stylish headwear combines with live music, talks, displays, shows, a hat auction, games, competitions - including a hat hurling contest - and hatted dogs (we’re not making this up). It culminates in a mass hat-wearing gathering in Bucky Doo Square on ‘Haturday’, and it’s all in Did you know Bridport has a Hat Festival? A celebration of all things hats, the organisers describe it as a giant summer-ending party for the town and its many visitors. 2021’s Festival has just been confirmed for September 4, so hold on to your hats. Over several days, the most creative and stylish headwear combines with live music, talks, displays, shows, a hat auction, games, competitions - including a hat hurling contest - and hatted dogs (we’re not making this up). It culminates in a mass hat-wearing gathering in Bucky Doo Square on ‘Haturday’, and it’s all in

Haturdaynight’salright...

support of Brain Tumour Research. We say ‘Hat’s off’ to them. Or on, if you Haturdaynight’salright... want to go... support of Brain Tumour Research. We Photo: Rob Reeks bridporthatfest.org say ‘Hat’s off’ to them. Or on, if you want to go...

Artsreach is the Dorchester based charity that supports rural touring in all its forms, theatre, music, dance, storytelling, puppet shows, etc., to the villages in Dorset. After a difficult 15 months for the charity and performers, they can now offer the Wriggle Valley and wider community some outdoor performances for later this summer. These events are planned to take place after 21 June, when we all hope that most restrictions will have been lifted; they will be performed at the Yetminster Community Sports and Social Club where any remaining Covid safety measures will be in force. Please make a note of the dates. More information, including how to get tickets, will be available soon. These dates appear in the Wriggle Valley Magazine dates for your diary and various other websites.

Yetminster Group of Artists

For the Yetminster group of artists, there will be an online presence. Please look at my website www.melitafrancesmoule. co.uk and then go to the Yetminster Group page which has a link to the group’s paintings. 20% of any sales made through this web page will be given to St Margaret’s Hospice. We hope very much that we can see everyone again next year!

Melita Frances Moule

Secretary

Friday, 16July: on the afternoon before the Yetminster Fair, two Circus acts: The ‘Pirate Taxi’: performed by Pirates of the Carabina, part of Circus of Somerset. An extraordinary aerial act with live music, on and above the roof of a London taxi. This is followed by Tilly Lee Kronick, a Graduate of the School of Contemporary Circus and Physical Theatre performing trapeze and dance.

Sunday, 15 August: ‘The Cameraman’: performed by Bash Street Theatre, which has an International reputation for performing fast moving silent comedy theatre shows with live musical accompaniment.

Dorset Art Weeks 2021 22 May – 6 June 2021

https://www.dorsetartweeks.co.uk/

Dorset and other places

In aid of Save the Children, my exhibition, “Dorset and other places”, will be online at www.beegrantpeterkin.co.uk Open now!

Bee Grant-Peterkin

01935 872255

Citizens Advice

Do you feel safe at work? Covid 19 has changed all our lives and there are now many aspects of daily living that are new and potentially confusing, for example the rules and regulations around employment. One issue is how to make sure you are safe at work.

The Government has said that you should try to work from home wherever possible but clearly this is not feasible for many types of employment. If you 59

can’t work from home, your employer must do everything possible to keep you safe from coronavirus. All employers are required to undertake a Covid-19 risk assessment and the Government website www.gov.uk explains how this should be done. The website also gives detailed guidance on a wide range of different kinds of jobs, for example construction, factories, warehouses, hotels, offices, contact centres, performing arts, shops and restaurants as well as the ‘close contact’ services such as hairdressers, beauticians, tailors and sports therapists.

The specific advice will differ according to the type of work, but the basics include making sure staff stay socially distanced, reducing face to face contact with the public, cleaning more often, ensuring staff and customers wear face coverings, providing adequate ventilation and hand sanitisers and enabling staff to travel to work at quieter times of day.

If you are unable to work from home and feel concerned about your safety, it’s worth checking the guidance for the type of work you do and, if necessary, asking your employer to ensure that the required arrangements are in place.

If you would like help with this or any other subject, our website at www. citizensadvice.org.uk has up to date information on Covid-19 issues as well as information on many other topics. Alternatively call 08001448848 to speak to an adviser.

Tick alert – Lyme disease

At this time of year, the deer tick, which can carry Lyme disease, is prevalent in all parts of the UK (up to November). The tick can be found in parks, your own garden and anywhere there is long grass. Dogs and cats can bring them in to your home.

The deer tick is different to the large, obvious and relatively harmless sheep tick, as it is no bigger than a poppy seed. If you do not see it, then it can go on to give you serious health problems.

The first signs that you have Lyme disease is a round red rash, often but not always, with a further ring around the first rash, this is called a bulls-eye. This can be followed by fever and aches and pains.

At this stage, a dash to the doctor for some antibiotics will hopefully be enough to fix the problem. However, it’s not always easy to diagnose and can be confused with other conditions. Unfortunately, if not treated soon enough, it can cause lifelong problems.

So how to avoid the disease? Check yourself and your children at the end of every day during these months. The tick loves warm dark places such as under your arms, in your groin, in your tummy button, around your hairline etc. Don’t forget you are looking for a poppy seed size tick.

Keep your arms and legs covered when you are in long grass and keep to paths if possible. The tick has to be present on the skin for at least 36 hours to transmit the disease. A simple tick remover can be bought from the vet or online.

There is still much we don’t know about Lyme disease and research is going on all the time. It is only in these last five years that we in the UK have all become aware of the dangers.