Category: General Interest Articles

Articles of general interest on no particular subject

Making Steps Matter

MAKING STEPS MATTER

During the last year we were allowed and encouraged to walk. We kept fit (or in some cases got fit), often managing to greet people or make new friends at a safe distance and watched the seasons go by.

In Kenya, Florence walked 6 hours a day to collect water for her family as her previous water supply had dried up. She had managed to collect enough for cooking, and washing, until Christian Aid helped build an Earth Dam locally giving enough water for her family for her to water her crops. Rose, living elsewhere, still needs to walk to collect water with Coronavirus making this lack of reliable water more critical for the family for handwashing. Climate change for her is a matter of survival.

Every last drop is precious and this year Christian Aid’s challenge is: Together we STOP this climate crisis.

Our Local Challenge is to count our steps throughout the month of May. To keep on with our walking, whether around our neighbourhood or as far afield as the current restrictions allow. You may want to do this individually, with friends or family and get others to sponsor you for what you achieve to help women like Rose get an Earth Dam. You can set your own target, walk as far as you are able, but the challenge for those who are able is to reach 300,000 steps throughout the month.

Sponsorship can be set for a specified amount no matter how many steps are achieved. Forms are available in the Church Porch or can be picked up in Springfield Stores. Results and donations can be given to Rev Jon Ormrod or posted through the Church letter box (this will be emptied daily).

For more information contact me by email judebillingham@ yahoo.co.uk

 

 

The Tuckers Spring Plant Sale

THE TUCKERS

SPRING PLANT SALE

Saturday 1st May

 

Come along to our socially distanced Spring Plant Sale on Saturday 1 May. There will be six Wenvoe growers with plants to sell and there will be more gardening advice than you could shake a stick at!

There will be a small raffle with proceeds going to our Wenvoe Charity of choice, Wenvoe Wildlife Group. Glenys will be making cakes again which will be sold by the slice. Covid rules will be observed. Come and grab yourself some jewels for your garden and have a chat with our growers.

This will be held at our home at 29 Vennwood Close. We are so looking forward to seeing you.

 

 

Official Census Facts

I’M AN ARTIFICAL EYE MAKER AND FOLLOWER OF THE

JEDI RELIGION

 

Following our efforts in March, many will have been cheered by the news that the Government is exploring ways to gather information other than by census. Throughout history censuses have been unpopular, often because, as in the case of William the Conqueror’s Domesday Book in 1086, they have been used by governments to aid with the collection of taxes. Objections often relate to the right to privacy or suspicion of the Government’s motives. For many it is simply an onerous task even though it can now be done online. The modern census has been used in the UK since 1801 although evidence suggests that the idea goes back at least to the Babylonian Empire of 3,800 BC, when livestock and quantities of butter, honey, milk, wool and vegetables were counted. Unpopular or not, filling in your census form is not a matter of choice. Under section 8 of the Census Act 1920 people can be fined for a failure to complete census forms in line with the regulations. Exceptions exist for refusing or neglecting to respond to questions about religion, as stipulated by the Census (Amendment) Act 2000.

The law has not prevented some people attempting to avoid completing forms or using the opportunity to make their point. In 1841, artist JMW Turner rowed a boat into the Thames so he could not be counted as being present at any property. The famous suffragette campaigner Emily Davison saw the publicity value afforded by the 1911 census. Emily hid in a cupboard in Parliament on census night and had her address recorded as the House of Commons. Sadly she was killed when she stepped in front of the King’s horse in a protest at the Epsom Derby in 1913.

Census questions tend to reflect the time they are taken and the kind of information required. The UK census seems to have become more intrusive as time has passed. Many objected when the 1841 census became the first to record names, alongside age, gender, occupation and birthplace. The 1871 census asked whether anyone was blind, deaf and dumb, an imbecile, an idiot, or a lunatic. When the British carried out a census in India in 1871, people were reluctant to participate because of rumours that the goal of the count was to identify girls to be sent to England to fan Queen Victoria. The British officials wrestled with an inappropriate standard list, which made it difficult to classify such occupations in India as jokers and story-tellers, hail averters and prayer mutterers. In the UK that year, professions with the lowest counts included one bee dealer, 19 peg makers and 9 artificial eye-makers.

Officials in the UK have often been challenged by responses on household occupations. In 1911 a family from Birkenhead included a tom cat, listed as a mouse-catcher and a family from Dulwich included Roger, their watchdog. In the same year there were questions on medical ailments. In this section, John Underwood from Hastings described his children as, ‘quarrelsome’, ‘stubborn’, ‘greedy’ and ‘noisy’, himself as ‘bad-tempered’ and his wife as suffering from a ‘long tongue’.

From 1951 until 1991, households were asked if they had an outside toilet. References to “housewife” for example, were seen in the 1971 and 1981 census but by the 1990s the term had been replaced with the gender-neutral option “looking after the home or family”. Religious belief was included in the census for the first time in 150 years in 2001. Beforehand an email campaign tried to persuade people to record their religion as Jedi and 390,000 people declared that they had adopted the Star Wars religion. Ten years later, the number of Jedi believers had fallen somewhat – but at 176,632, it was the UK’s seventh most popular “religion”.

 

 

Cold Caller

COLD CALLER

(A true story) I was awoken just after 7am the other morning by the telephone ringing. Staggering out to the landing to answer it, I was greeted by a gentleman informing me that there had been suspicious activity on the internet corrupting my computer. As this was not a recorded message but a real live person, rather than slam the receiver down I asked the caller if he knew what ungodly time it was; having established that he was probably ringing from the UK and not some far off country I decided that having been dragged from my bed earlier than intended I now had time to spare to play along with his requests.

As usual with these callers he requested I switch on my computer. I pointed out that this was in another room and it would take a few minutes. So off I went to the toilet before returning to inform my caller that the computer was now switched on. Next request was the information about what I could see and I dutifully described my screen saver picture to him. Very patiently he asked me to enter my internet provider screen; off to clean my teeth. Next request on my return was to go to the ‘page from where I could call up the internet’. Off to have a shave.

On my return, he asked if I had a mobile phone or a laptop to save my having to wander off to perform each request; regrettably I lied that I possessed neither. Next idea was maybe I could move the computer nearer to the phone, this I informed him that it may be possible but I would need to unplug everything and set it up nearby and it would take a while, he agreed to wait. I went off and had a shower.

A very patient operator was still there, as I dried myself. He dictated a web site address I needed to enter. Poor hearing! I got it wrong, returned to confirm what he had asked me to enter. Now fully dry, time to think about what to wear today.

Few more delays and he was obviously coming to the conclusion that I was somebody who had little knowledge about computers and he could see an easy scam on the horizon; I did nothing to change his views.

One or two more delays, and I was fully dressed and ready to go and have some breakfast. With having to interrupt my morning ablutions to chat with the fellow, nearly half an hour had passed. I thanked my caller for being so patient with a brief explanation of what I had been doing during my numerous absences and hung up.

On reaching the kitchen the downstairs telephone rang; again, it was my computer man upset at what my scam had cost him in time and phone charges. With a smile on my face I happily went about my daily business

 

 

A Letter From Harold

A LETTER FROM HAROLD

It is important for all husbands to remember that, as a women grow older, it becomes harder for them to maintain the same quality of housekeeping as when they were younger. When you notice this in your wife try not to yell at them. Some are oversensitive, and there is nothing worse than an over-sensitive woman.

My name is Harold. Let me relate how I handled the situation with my wife, Debbie.

When I took “early retirement” last year, it became necessary for Debbie to get a full-time job along with her part-time job, both for extra income and for the health benefits that we needed.

Shortly after she started working, I noticed she was beginning to show her age.

I usually get home from the golf course about the same time she gets home from work.

Although she knows how hungry I am, she almost always says she has to rest for half an hour or so before, she starts preparing dinner. I don’t yell at her. Instead, I tell her to take her time and just wake me when she gets dinner on the table. I generally have lunch at the Crown and Anchor so eating out twice a day is not reasonable. I’m ready for some home cooked grub when I hit that door.

She used to do the dishes as soon as we finished eating, but now it’s not unusual for them to sit on the table for several hours after dinner. I do what I can by diplomatically reminding her several times each evening that they won’t clean themselves. I know she really appreciates this, as it does seem to motivate her to get them done before she goes to bed. Another symptom of ageing is complaining, I think.

For example, she will say that it is difficult for her to find time to pay the monthly bills during her lunch hour. But, boys, we take ’em for better or worse, so I just smile and offer encouragement. I tell her to stretch it out over two or even three days.

That way she won’t have to rush so much. I also remind her that missing lunch completely now and then wouldn’t hurt her any (if you know what I mean). I like to think tact is one of my strong points.

When doing simple jobs, she seems to think she needs more rest periods. She has to take a break when she has only half finished mowing the lawn, I try not to make a scene. I’m a fair man. I tell her to fix herself a nice, big, cold glass of freshly squeezed lemonade or orange juice and just sit for a while. And, as long as she is making one for herself, she may as well make one for me too.

I know that I probably look like a saint in the way I support Debbie. I’m not saying that showing this much consideration is easy. Many men will find it difficult. Some will find it impossible! Nobody knows better than I do how frustrating women get as they get older. However, fellows, even if you just use a little more tact and less criticism of your ageing wife because of this article, I will consider that writing it was well worthwhile. After all, we are put on this earth to help each other.

Happy retirement

Harold

Editor’s Note;-

Harold died suddenly on May 27th last year

The police report states that he was found with a Callaway extra long 50-inch Big Bertha Driver II golf club rammed up his posterior, with only 2 inches of grip showing.

His wife Debbie was arrested and charged with murder; however, the all-woman jury found her Not Guilty, accepting her defence that he accidentally sat down on it.

 

 

 

A Letter From Harold

Staying Safe When Walking on Country Roads

STAYING SAFE WHEN WALKING ON COUNTRY ROADS

During the current pandemic there has been a significant increase in people walking the country roads (lovely to see). However it is amazing how many people do not know the country code for walkers.

“Individuals or small groups should keep to the right hand side of the road so you can see oncoming traffic. Keep close to the side and be prepared to walk in single file. If you come across a sharp right hand bend with no view around it you should cross to the left hand side and cross back to the right hand side after the bend.”

Walkers should wear hi viz or light coloured clothing, especially at night. It is surprising how many wear black or dark cloths,; this is especially true of cyclists.

With social distancing it doesn’t help to have two people walking one each side of the road. This simply makes the road narrower and still endangers the person on the left hand side. The person walking in the opposite direction is forced to walk out into the road to pass.

Also, walking on the left hand side, with a dog and on your mobile is an accident waiting to happen.

A little reminder to drivers-please slow down when passing walkers, particularly when the road is wet.

Enjoy your walking

 

 

Playing Cards Facts

PLAYING CARDS FACTS

It is believed the first playing cards were invented in China about 1,200 years ago.

Each of the four suits stands for a different group of people in society. Hearts are clergymen, spades are soldiers, diamonds are merchants and clubs are peasants.

In 1685, French soldiers on duty in Canada were paid their wages in playing cards because coins were in such short supply!

The four kings, queens and jacks may look the same but there are small differences. For example, the jack of hearts and spades have moustaches.

 

 

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