West Ashton Magazine
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West Ashton Magazine Photo by Margaret Workman Photo Henry Marsh Our community magazine keeping you up to date in West Ashton, Rood Ashton, East Town, and Dunge. Summer 2020 Iss:66 The West Ashton Magazine is published quarterly by the West Ashton Parish Council. WAPC has devolved full authority for the magazine to an independent volunteer Editorial Group formed for the sole purpose of producing this magazine. The intention is to inform and entertain the residents of West Ashton. The magazine is distributed free of charge to all residents of West Ashton village. The Editors warmly invite you to submit reports, articles and photographs relating to past or future village issues and events, or any subject that may be of interest to the readership. The editors reserve the right to edit any submissions and make corrections, omit material or do minor reorganisation to any submitted work and reserve the right to reject any submissions. We prefer typed or electronic material. Photos will be returned on request. All material published in The West Ashton Magazine, including adverts, editorials, articles and all other content is published in good faith. The West Ashton Magazine accepts no liability for any errors or omissions and does not endorse any companies, products or services that appear in the publication. All material is accepted on the understanding that it is copyright free. The West Ashton Magazine accepts no liability for any subsequent copyright issues. The West Ashton Magazine cannot accept responsibility for and does not endorse views expressed by contributors. We want the content of the magazine to be primarily editorial, but we will include small advertisements for local businesses based in West Ashton. The West Ashton Magazine does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of claims made by advertisers. No part of the magazine may be reproduced without the prior written consent of The West Ashton Magazine, Editor: Jo Watkins - 01225 753196 :[email protected] Producer: Tim Le Mare - [email protected] Front page photo Dee Dee in isolation with her dogs. All contributions welcomed. Please send them, in the first instance, to Jo Watkins. PRINTING OF THE MAGAZINE IS SPONSORED BY BRIKEN MOTORS Servicing and Repairs of all types and makes of vehicles. MOTs/Pre-checks, diagnostics & electrical, clutch & gearbox specialists Air-con; batteries & exhausts. Tel: 01225 755203 www.brikenmotors.co.uk 2 EDITORIAL As I write this sit- when people come out to clap for ting in my garden, the sound of si- the NHS using whatever they can lence is deafening, broken only by get their hands on to make a noise. birdsong and the eerie toot of a On a more positive note, people train in the distance. Normally you have rallied round with offers of can always hear the ever present shopping and any help they can buzz of the traffic on the busy provide, adversity does bring out A350, along with the occasional po- the best in us. All meetings and so- lice siren and roar of motor bikes. cial events have had to be either But these aren't normal times, in- cancelled or postponed, so sadly deed most of us have never lived in there are no 'coming attractions' to times like these while our country advertise. I’d like to thank everyone remains in the grip of the coro- for their articles and photos, I’m na virus. Self isolation and social really spoiled for choice and will do distancing are new to our vocabu- my very best to include as many as I lary causing disruption to our lives. can. We're all looking forward to Working from home is the new when life returns to normal when- norm for a lot of us. Bratton Road is ever that is. We've all had to adapt, deserted with not a car in sight, and and I hope the magazine will enter- the occasional walker exercising tain you with what people have got themselves and their dogs. The up to in this snapshot of these diffi- whole village is eerie, like a ghost cult times, town, except for Thursday evenings Keep safe, keep well, Jo Wot No Carrots Two little carrots sitting all alone, One said to t’other "Hope someone takes us home" SO I DID. Wendy Bartlett Wendy snapped this when every- body was panic buying in the super- market. 3 POTTERING IN THE GARDEN as (very tropical large flowers), lobelia upright, geranium pink (trailing), toma- What a strange world it has become, to plants Moneymaker, and lots although I must say, it’s feeling more of Alicante (excellent flavour) and like locked up, than lockdown, We are some runner beans and broad beans. now in the fifth week as I’m writing My elephant garlic, is impressive! I also this, giving me ample quality gardening have a strawberry plant which remains time mostly due to the absence of in my greenhouse, fruiting now in Flower Club, W.I., Wives, and Rotary the last week of April. We have been Ladies, a real cut off from all of my so- lucky to have such lovely warm weath- cial activities. er. No need to go abroad even if we We all know we have no choice, and could, and now some rain, perfect tim- must think ourselves lucky to ing for the garden and the empty wa- be alive! Certainly as we read daily fig- ter butts. ures of so many lost lives. On a lighter TOP TIP: Keep smelling the roses, note, do you remember being Sweet some of my Austin ones are flowering Sixteen when petrol was cheap, you now, and get out those sun beds and a couldn’t legally buy a drink in a pub, good book. and what’s more you were grounded? Holly Westlake O.K, time for a potter. I have been taking cuttings, sowing seeds and potting on, as Flower Club was due to have a plant stall in mid May, of course now sadly can- celled. Dorothy House is the charity to benefit this year, so instead, I will have Elephant a table at my garden gate, very reason- garlic ably priced, although you can include a donation if you so wish! Among the things I’ve grown are: penstemon, in many colours, blue verbena, white fuchsia, white bacopa, suitable for tubs and baskets, Russian sage, gazani- Footnote:- Warning to all pond owners. Have heard on very good authority that in neighbouring villages koi carp have been found decapitated. Apparently, dur- ing the February floods, otters have been exploring new territory and helping themselves to a tasty treat. Ed. 4 Always look on the bright side of life!!! is down Kettle Lane and into Picket Okay, so after six weeks of lockdown and Clanger woods, then back up over (we went in two weeks earlier than the fields to the village. The bluebells everyone else – writing at the end of have blown me away (pic enclosed, April) the fact that I can’t pop out for a hope you enjoy). I never have time to coffee, or nip to the shops without see them usually, but their colour and queuing or, worst of all, go to the sea scent have been amazing. Having is beginning to grate. stopped to listen to the birds and look- However, I count my blessings. When ing at the bluebells one visit, I heard you look at refugee camps and lock- stumbling in the undergrowth. Think- downs around the rest of the world, I ing it was human I was very surprised know that we live in a bit of a bubble. to see a young stag appear. He too Here are my positives from this experi- was surprised and a little wary. After ence: my husband is home all the time sniffing the air and staring at me for (can also be bad!); time to learn a lan- several seconds he decided he was off, guage (badly) and new skills in photog- leaping through the undergrowth like raphy; catching up with family and a springbok, a wonderful sight. friends via video calls; learning more Hey, and riding the bike on roads about new technology; loving the 8pm which I wouldn’t normally dream of Thursday claps as the neighbours come riding them on as far too dangerous; out to clap for those dear brave souls clearer birdsong as there are less cars; on the frontline; the rainbows in the saving money by not going places or village windows and on the signs, the eating out; less stress because as I lost tulips in the planter at the beginning of most of my work from the shutdown the village; (tutoring A level students and exam knowing I can marking, along with holiday let in Corn- cope without wall); seeing green shoots of a commu- flour and nity spirit. Something lost and found, if eggs! Being only temporarily. greeted by So now, I’m hoping I have made you strangers who think. I wonder which of this list you live in the vil- are doing/noticing, and which could lage; discov- you add on? I know it can be difficult ery of walks but keep up the ‘coming together’; other than keep smiling and breathe….we are all those I know. in this together! My favourite Ps Ciao persone! Leya Walker 5 Keeping on track during “lockdown” ing incorrectly and to ring them. A few Like most organisations, the West Wilt- seconds on the phone and I was pointed shire Model Railway Circle has been to my input error. The young lady put the forced to lock its doors.