Iden

FOOT PATROL: There was something '˜Rapunzel-like about my aunt Mable [my great aunt], because, unable to climb stairs, she was somewhat of a captive in an upstairs flat. In order to gain access I would ring her bell and wait ages until the poor lady limped towards the window and threw down the key amongst the nasturtiums. 'I've got it auntie', I would say, and climb the stairs to greet her. 'Gillian do you wish to pay a call' she would say, because I would dance on one leg and then the other, anxious to bring her the world, or bits if my world to tell her about. She was unable to just go out into the world herself, because of a past TB spine. She wore a built up shoe which my mother said I was never to mention .In fact my mum volunteered for me to wash auntie Mable's feet every Saturday morning, plus get a bag of shopping. From the age of 12 years it was a ritual .My aunt did go out once a week when her brother in law half carried her down the stairs. It all sounds a bit sad and morbid, but in fact she was a bit of a giggler, and the disparity in our age and physical fitness was quite bonding. I remember using this green ointment in order to finish her feet with something calming and medicinal. [Zam-buk], it was called. At least the poor woman could get her feet into an enamel bowl full of water once a week. [there were no such thing as hoists in those days for getting people in and out of a bath]. She lost her fiancé in the first world war, and that was it, no further romance [don't some people have all the luck?] Anyway I was very fond of her. Even as a child I appreciated that her only life was to bake a caraway-seed cake before being half dragged downstairs for a once weekly trip out to tea. That and listening to the radio was her only pleasure, yet still she was able to laugh. She was very '˜Victorian', always wore navy blue, and made it quite clear that my frivolity needed tempering. We drove by her window in Tunbridge Wells, only the other day, and I quite expected to see her throw
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Aug 2016, 00:00 BST

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SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THE BANK HOLIDAY: This Bank Holiday [27th, 28th, and 29th of August], there will be a flower festival at Iden Parish Church, depicting ‘DOORS’, which open into various aspects of our lives, and tie in with our Christian beliefs. There will be refreshments in the Old Hall by the church, throughout the Festival which is from 10.30 until 4.30 daily. On August Bank Holiday Monday, there will be a Church Fair, to accompany the Flower festival, with stalls in and around the Church grounds. Starting with tomorrow’s Flower festival, the festivities promise an enjoyable Bank Holiday. If anyone is willing to bake a cake for the three day event, please bring them to the Old Hall by 10.30am on whichever day is convenient.

THE QUARTERLY IDEN MAGAZINE: The Iden Parish Magazine, edited by John Hazelden, should be dropping through your door any day now. A magazine, charting events from in and around Iden is a welcome periodical. Thank you to all who help deliver it. Should anyone wish to donate a small sum to the cost of the magazine [which is now in colour], there will be a donation box in Iden Stores. Any useful comments can be posted in the same box.

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EMERGENCY EXERCISE: It’s a bit of a contradiction in terms to say that an evening spent discussing how to deal with a potentially catastrophic event will be entertaining, but on Wednesday 14th September, at 7.30pm [a date for the diary], we get a chance to meet with representatives from East Sussex Fire And Rescue Services, and the Police and Medical services, to do some brainstorming. The meeting, in Iden village hall is open to all, and the emergency services, together with audience participation, will allow us to fine- tune plans for a possible catastrophe. What such an emergency might be is a big enough reason to turn up. The meeting is the brainchild of Roy Campion, who together with members of the I.C.E team [Iden Community Emergency Forum] hopes to prepare Iden villagers for a possible crisis situation. After all, forewarned is forearmed.[ For further information call Roy Campion--- telephone 01797 280147]

A SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION: There will be a service of Holy Communion in Iden Parish Church, on Sunday, at 9.30am.

THE POP-IN: The next Pop-In will be on Monday 5th September, in Iden village hall. Do join us, all are welcome for coffee, tea, biscuits, books, bric-a-brac and a chat. People sometimes drop by who are not even from Iden, and we love to see anyone, who needs a cup of coffee, and has time to put the world to rights!

BINGO: The next Bingo session will be on Thursday 8th September. Doors open at 2pm, eyes down at 2.30pm. Proceeds go to Iden village hall. There is a flier, a jackpot, a raffle, and a light tea at half time. Anyone from the Rye area is most welcome. It’s a lovely way to while away an afternoon!

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AFRAID TO USE IT: We just had a new bathroom put in, but I’m still using the old one. I’m afraid of messing it up. I’ll have to look at it from the doorway a bit longer before I feel at one with it. In our old house we had a new posh kitchen fitted, and I continued using the old scullery, until a friend called round and pushed me inside this pristine show place [ she was actually quite forceful] “Come in here, and bring those basins”, she said,.” I’ve never heard of anything so ridiculous”. At least in my old scullery, I didn’t have to polish the taps every time I washed a tomato. I’ve always had a soft spot for the old and slightly battered!

JINGLE BELLS ALREADY?: This week I began my Christmas shopping. It was a case of having to. I found a wonderful shop full of things which would suit almost everyone I know. After ten minutes or so my husband took on a hang-dog look “I’ll go and find a Halfords, he said, I’ll see you in an hour”. An hour, crumbs, I hoped he would linger in Halfords [this shop was something else.] I bought a little girl’s nurses uniform, a glitzy walking cane full of teenage nail varnish, dog toys, costume jewellery, baking dishes, and all kinds of stocking fillers .It was a one of those shops that you could peruse all day. I was over my time, and my husband looked a little frazzled, sitting on a bench outside. Thank goodness I’d bought him some peanut bars in the shop. He’d do anything for a ‘Mr Tom’ peanut bar, and as I explained to him, Christmas shopping needs time, because each gift has to suit the recipient. There is nothing like that little squeal of “oh I love it”, if someone opens a parcel that is just right for them , even if it does mean four months wearing out shoe leather, in order to find it. There is nothing worse is there than receiving a present that a person might just as well have bought for the man in the moon!

CONTACT ME: If anyone would like to add anything to the Village Voice, please ring Gill Griffin [telephone 01797 280311]

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