UNDER THE EDGE INCORPORATING THE PARISH MAGAZINE GREAT LONGSTONE, LITTLE LONGSTONE, ROWLAND, HASSOP, MONSAL HEAD, WARDLOW www.undertheedge.net No. 267 April 2021 ISSN 1466-8211 All My Babies! Su Woollen’s photo of a proud frog surrounded by her nascent offspring is the winner of last month’s Garden Creatures category in the Virtual Photo Competition, pipping Andy Hanna’s of a chaffinch dropping50% of by the for votesa drink cast. into All second photos place in everyby one category vote. Between are viewable them theyon the took GL Community website at greatlongstone. net/GL-Photographic-Competition. VIRTUAL PHOTO COMPETITION VOTE! online for your favourite “Full Bloom” before April 15th Full details at: greatlongstone.net/ GL-Photographic- Competition Confessions of a Car Park Attendant Or The curious tale of an African Grey parrot and a multitude of dogs Liz Hewitt is a regular visitor to Great Longstone, who has been shielding at home in the South-West for the last year. Despite the risks, she felt the need to do something positive as her contribution to help in the current crisis. I needed exercise and to get out in the fresh air as I am well and truly Zoomed out. And they needed help so I volunteered to help with car parking at a vaccine centre. A curious experience. The weather seems to know when it’s my turn. Rain, wind, sleet and the occasional sunny interval. Kit. The batting order is: thick socks, overalls, fleece, scarf, wellie socks, waterproof jacket with hood, hi-vis trousers, hi-vis jacket, gloves, hat and wellies. Mask. Stick (more about ‘The Stick’ later). And how many times have I got the order wrong and ended up trying to roll up two pairs of trousers to get my wellie socks on (which have potato heels since you ask)? All sold out: Internet and Mole Valley etc. Have discovered my Wellies leak too! Battle ready now. Car keys? Upstairs - boots off again! We have 32 spaces plus two disabled spaces and space for one bus. The cars all come in over the handily placed curb. Thud! No matter how many times we move the traffic cones, they get clouted at least twice a day. They now resemble pennants for a fair. The car park is divided by some very smart wooden post and rail fencing, held together originally by steel supports. Now decorated with red warning tape that is getting rapidly shredded, so will make a useful starter kit with the cones for the next village fete. The fence? Well it deteriorates more each week as it is below rear view mirror and camera height. Most people are nervous. Many have not been out for months. As have many of the cars, some of which have clearly been under a hedge for some time. So we try to make it a little light hearted. Car batteries need a little light regular exercise. We expect to jump start a car about twice a week. One lady left her car running explaining that if she stopped it then it wouldn’t start again. We enjoyed the oil laden fumes: like being on an old diesel train! seemedCars come rude into alldeny shapes entry and on the sizes basis and of colours. car colour But so a wecamper welcomed van? Andthem a anyway. truck and Car trailer? passengers We got come a bit in sillyall shapes last week and and parked the cars in black and white order on one side, like piano keys. We were a bit fazed when a green car came in. It out from the passenger seat “It’s not for me… It’s her… She’s not disabled, she’s just obese!” A car covered in Liverpool football sizes too. One lady brought her elderly mother and requested a disabled space (no problem), but the elderly lady shouted “clubCan stickerswe walk was the adviseddog before to waitI go in a fewCould minutes you until walk the my Chelseadog while fans I go had in? left.” “Can my grandchildren haveMany their cars picnic have somewhere? additional passengers: dogs, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, etc. A multitude of dogs. ?” “ ”– this while rain was sloshing down, making my hat look like a poor copyQuestions of an Australian vary. “Is therebush hata toilet?” with dangling corks while theCan wind my uncle, was whipping friend, wife, up myman waterproof I met last night,jacket. have I suggested a vaccine a too?”picnic in the car. I know my appointment isn’t until tomorrow, but could you fit me in today?” is a favourite (yes). “ Do we get a cup of tea?” (I only help with car parking). “ (you can ask inside but I doubt it – answer was no). “ (no, and I ‘d like one too!). We do get brought tea or coffee; taken sparingly in my case, as it would take me an hour to get my kit back on and the run off from my clothing would create a trip or slide hazard. A COVID-19 injury? No punch-ups yet, but a close call between two dogs, and a short ‘humph!’I’m not having when that” one and person left. possibly opened their car door onto another car. One lady stormed out when she was told, having asked which vaccine she would receive, it was a Pfizer vaccine day. Said “ The Stick, which has been with me for several decades, is used to help with reversing into spaces. Hold the stick behind the low fence so it can be seen in a rear view mirror. Very occasionally, tap a bumper toBe avoid Inspired! a pedestrian being run over (not sure if thatwithout would register having asa swifta COVID-19 chat with related the injury). Use it to stop a car entering fundraiser in aid of Ashgate Hospice, I thought I would provide you with an update appointment times. And generally, hold Folks, on behalf of the Inspire Health GP Practice gang undertaking the 2021 mesecurity up in guard, the wind. whose job is it to check The article read that we were going to cover the target of 4,500 miles during on progress so far. I think we may have caused some confusion in January’s UTE. shift.For thoseThe centre who like has numbers: now vaccinated we have January 2021! For clarity and our sanity, we are taking on the challenge over 12 4 vaccinators. 12 volunteers per 6 hour months from January 1st to December 31st. My aim is to cycle 2,500 miles by the end of the year. Since the begininngEd. of over 10,000 people (no dogs, no daysJanuary it has to today been (Marchvery cold, 16th), icy, I wet,have andpedalled headwinds 826 miles are which a challenge. include The elevations rest of parrots). Ah yes, the parrot. Her name totalling 38,510 feet (yes, nearly two miles higher than Mount Everest! ). Some is Molly and she“Tickle, likes atickle!” ride in the“Who’s car so a naughtycame with boy, her then?” owner. She kept Liz Hewitt us well the team are running most days and between the four of themInspireHealth2021 since January entertained! or1st my they name have Rick covered Gooch an impressive 608 miles to date jogging in all conditions. GL WELL DRESSING & We are still encouraging donations on Just Giving (search for ). We would like to say a big thank you for the generosity WELL BLESSING justgiving.comshown so far. Our target of £1,500 was reached within 8 days of launching Saturday 10th July theRick, appeal, Maggie, so now Theresa, we are Lucy aiming and for Anne-Marie. £2,500. Please visit the Just Giving page (subject to COVID-19 restrictions) and donate whatever you can. As Tesco says, “Every little helps!“ 2 Thanks, Len! Hey, Landlovers from the Peak District, where Fish are Scarce! ourIt’s good readers. to hear when articles in Under The Edge have been appreciated by seeingRecently Neil LenHutchinson’s White contacted photograph UTE to say how much he had enjoyed of Little Longstone Chapel in UTE this ofFebruary. his mother In the and past, aunt UTE (UTE has received August 2017)school photos from Len from 1905(UTE November 2017), plus reports of his and 1930 of his cousins of a village school (UTE April 2016, Februarytrips to Kenya 2017) (in. his 90s!) in support Len, who has connections with Great long way, receives his copy by post at and Little Longstone which go back a his home in Beverley, East Yorkshire. His grandfather was John Bridge who Hey there Under the Edge farmed Dale Farm from around 1890. In 1932/33, when Len was about , you may know me as the bloke doing balcony gigs all with10 years his auntold, hewho spent had amarried year staying Isaac aroundsummer the in worldlockdown. get together Anyway, on I am a website currently to collaborate taking part as in well something as write called their at Long Roods Farm, Ashford Lane FAWM which stands for February Album Writing Month. Musicians from all Longstone School. Shimwell.Len has many During happy this time memories he attended of the ofown course songs this and year the aimI am is here to write in the and lovely record barn. 14 songs in the month of February. time he spent in this area and is still in UsuallyAnyway, I am one out of in the Thailand challenges and takeat the part start by was recording to write demos a sea on shanty my iPhone, and oddly but touch with his relatives in the village.