August 2025 (taken from The Link Magazine)

Time to ramble…………

And here we go again! I am never sure where this is going to go when I start up but here goes……..

Yesterday I was honoured to be invited to help clear dear Jane’s flat with my many hats of: home, work, church, jumble, etc. There on the table was one of those old hand whisks which immediately brought back memories of standing in my mothers kitchen whisking frantically cream for what seemed hours. My onward thought was: in an era of time saving gadgets – what do we actually do with all this time we have saved? My childhood was one of helping Ma with the twin tub washing machine and hanging it all out to dry, squeezing unsalted butter and warm milk through the cream maker, nicking the top of the gold top milk for the cream on the Sunday pudding, sewing with a hand operated sewing machine (which I loved), black and white TV, Sunday evenings playing games in front of the fire, going blackberry picking on a Sunday afternoon, slicing beans then helping blanch them for the freezer. All very time consuming. I know where my time goes – my biggest sin – playing Solitaire on the phone – just monging out. So perhaps time for a mid-year resolution of trying to be more productive. That led me to investigate playing a film on said phone which enabled a evening of knitting so some improvement! The film I chose was Educating Rita and what a look back to the same sort of era of my childhood and how attitudes have changed (as well as décor!) So one paragraph into a ramble a new resolution. Let’s see how that goes.

Up and coming on the 2nd August I am running a Coffee Morning in aid of the work Andy Wooler does in taking much needed aid to Ukraine and in particular the orphanage. Andy is coming along to it for you to meet with a selection of memorabilia from his various trips for sale, he has brought some Ukrainian biscuits to have with the coffee and I am putting together a blue and yellow raffle. I really hope you can join us and help with donations to this very worthwhile charity where all you give goes directly to the source and is so appreciated. Extra donations of nappies in large sizes and boxes of washing powder are so vital if I can push any of you the extra mile. Hopefully see you there.

In addition my garage needs another huge clear-out so we have a JUMBLE sale on the 16th August – your help, your jumble, your support are greatly appreciated and hopefully one day I will realize a dream of a clear and clean garage!!! Usual prep on the Friday night…….

Last week was Deanery Synod and we are now on a diocese push to accelerate Authorized Lay Ministry showing a commitment to support our clergy team freeing up time for them. There are a variety of Authorized Courses available which can start in the Autumn and in January – with the Authorization to be completed next summer. If you have questions and are interested please come and chat to either Churchwarden or Clergy member. Each application has to be sanctioned by the PCC.

My dream holiday plan of going away in Dinky Dora is moving a step closer with the recent mechanical improvements so am now on the mission to get the seating sorted in the cabin area and new covers made. With the recent scare with Muffin’s health now well and truly over, I will be able to pack him a little suitcase for his holibobs and we will shortly be off on little adventures. I will be sure to take a couple of photos to share with you all. Thank you all for your support re Muff – it really was appreciated and the prayers obviously worked.

That’s my ramble over, take care, be good and don’t forget to drop your pennies into the little safe at the back of the church when you have them around.

With love

Dee x

Ps make yourselves known to Simon and thank him for taking over the website!!