The First Glimpses of Normal Life?
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COVERING: Aylton, Little Marcle, Munsley, Pixley & Putley The first glimpses of normal life? Summer June '21 - Aug '21 Issue No.91 Photo: Jo Porter Dognapping in Pixley A word from by Lesley Clothier On the evening of the 28th of March the WhatsApp the Editor by Julie Crompton Helping Hand Group received Jo Porter's front cover to get back home to their owners as soon as a devastating text one that all possible. picture perfectly sums up dog owners dread. There are though, so many feel good stories Shelagh and Andrew Wynn’s Labrador Moss my hopes for new beginnings to read in this issue, tree planting, dormice had gone missing. As everyone knows, a as the easing of restrictions in our hedgerows, young litter pickers, the Labrador’s brain circuitry is centred around continues, and the planned return of Putley open gardens, The Prancing food and Moss failed to come back in from Pony is open for business and coffee the garden at 5 pm at her usual feeding time. lifting of all covid restrictions mornings restart in Aylton. Extensive searches by Shelagh and Andrew Chihuahuas, Jack Russells, Labradors and should happen on June 21st. I'd like to thank Melissa Hawker, sadly, this that evening did not bring her safely home. Pugs. Police are advising dog owners not will be the last issue where is able to impart to leave dogs in the garden unattended. To So many things we used to take for granted However this story does have a happy to look forward to once again, even if it’s her culinary knowledge, skill and passion, look out for spray markings on the road but for all you foodie types out there, we ending. Because of the jungle drums of the and gate posts and black cable ties on fences only getting out and about again! WhatsApp Helping Hand Group, a photo have a new cooking and baking page lined- and to beware of strangers asking questions It feels especially exciting that pubs and up for the Autumn issue, so we won't go of Moss was circulated the next morning. about your dog. Some dogs are being stolen A gentleman had found Moss the previous cafés, shops and bars are able to open up hungry! It will be a change of style, but whilst the owners are walking them. Ghastly again. If you are able to, please support these there will be some great things to bake and evening wandering along the A438 near stories are being told, of microchips being Tarrington and had picked her up and taken businesses. They need us, and indeed, we cook up! cut out. need them. her home for the night. He was knocking If you have anything you would like to on doors in Putney in the morning and We all know that dogs touch the hearts One thing I've felt concerned about during mention in the next issue, please get in Tracey Snowdon who is on the WhatsApp of all family members, and this shocking the pandemic has been the continued rise in touch with me. I would love to see your group put him in contact with Shelagh and and devastating crime leaving families cases of dog napping (see page 2). How has it photos, stories and articles. Details below on Andrew and thankfully they were reunited grief stricken. Currently the law treats come to this, where simply going for a walk how to get in touch. with Moss. Moss had been taken from dogs as criminal property in the same way with your dog has become so concerning? the garden but had been rejected by these as TV and mobile phones, meaning that Please keep a look out if you see any dogs Enjoy our return to freedom everyone! dognappers because she has a grey muzzle, dognappers will typically walk free from wandering about. The chances are they have Julie has been spayed and on closer inspection court. The Kennel Club say that less than been dumped by these criminals and need looks her 9 years of age. No offence 5% of cases result in a criminal conviction. Shelagh and Andrew because we all know However the government plan to table an Please support the local businesses who advertise in our magazine. Including pubs, cafés, plant Moss is gorgeous! She had been turfed out amendment to the policing Bill to make centres, garden maintenance, garages, courses, accountancy, clothing repair and even design onto the A438 and was found quite some it a separate offence following this rise in agencies. They all provide much needed services and if they aren't open currently, they will be as way from home. dognapping. Pet theft could become a crime soon as they legally can. Dog theft has risen by 250% nationwide in its own right that carries a two year jail following increase demand during the sentence. I think we would all agree that If you have any events, stories, photographs or Copy deadline for the Autumn Issue: pandemic. The most common dogs to be the government should get on with it and news, please let me know. If you don’t tell me Sunday 1st August stolen are Staffordshire Bull Terriers, frankly is 2 years long enough?! I can’t pop it in our very own little mag! [email protected] 2 3 Summer - normal service resumed? Almost midsummer. And on 21st June we all We have thwarted the pigeons and frustrated hope to be able to fling open our garden gates the squirrels but the protective cloches were to invite our friends and families to wander snaffled for another purpose. A very old round our lawns and flowers, sit on a swing- little black cat, our temporary lodger until seat and soak up the sun or partake of tea and she and her owners move house, now lives in scones while listening to the humming of the greenhouse. She was miffed because the the bees or the screaming of small children, staging in there became covered in pots and whichever you prefer. The acrid fumes of the trays of seedlings and she couldn’t sprawl on neighbour’s Bar-B-Cue will waft deliciously her usual sunbed. So she realised the plastic over us as we sip our Pimms under the tunnels were in fact little suntraps and crept in, mulberry tree and remind us of why our supper curled up on the carrots and the kohl rabi and is sitting in the bottom of the Aga. purred. I didn’t! The dry April was a challenge – a lot of D.B. is not usually allowed anything sharp in hosepipe mending involving reels of plumber’s the growing season, but he was let loose on a tape and decidedly unhorticultural language. very overgrown Japanese honeysuckle – one of Three waterbutts provide for the greenhouse those sort of sprawly hedging shrubs which was but Dearly Beloved is too creaky to get the in our wild corner, left for the birds and insects. water carrier on his head for the top of the But it had really impinged on the path so we garden. The warmth has ensured the vegetable started to trim it a bit. As soon as D.B. found seedlings grew rapidly under their cloches and a Definitely Dead bit there was no stopping the indestructible spinach (oh, how I would him. He climbed behind it, heaved it off the like to see the end of it) continues to look like ground and cut it off at the waist. None of an advert for a seed merchant – tall, bright the “remove third of the old stems, reduce rest green and no signs of going to seed. No danger by a third” mantra here. It was big loppers, of iron deficiency in this house. medium loppers and secateurs wielded gleefully Having planted and enjoyed all those bulbs, for a whole morning. The blackbirds were then it was the turn of the lilies and gladioli. decidedly unimpressed but it will grow back Should I put them back in the beds – from thicker and more nest-friendly than ever. whence they were only moved because other The RHS Spring Show at Malvern may have plants had overshadowed them – or in big been cancelled but the Autumn one is due pots on the terrace? How about a formal row to go ahead. So I have invited an old friend, of white lilies down the straight path with a Hampton Court Garden Guide no less, to the evenly spaced lavender and sedum? Or stay and booked us tickets for the first day – Hand crafted in Aylton for over 50 years would it be clumps of five in gaps in a border. what an extravagance. We will spend all day Gladioli, these are lime green ones, do look a tottering round with lots of sitting down and Save time, waste and money with our unique stack and slide freezer basket system bit odd in a bed, as if someone has gone to the refreshments suitable for elderly persons and Keep your pets safe in our custom made dog cages for the car and home supermarket, bought a bunch, and stuck them maybe, just maybe, I can buy all those items in the ground. And then there are the dahlias, on the “What I Need for the Garden List” still www.hamsterbaskets.co.uk - www.facebook.com/DogCages usually left in situ, but for reasons of space pinned up from last year. Not to mention the overwintered in the garage.