I hope you received your email/letter from your electricity provider saying that the Government Energy Support Scheme was giving you £200 towards your alternative fuel costs, e.g. oil, firewood, bottled gas and lorry delivered gas, coal etc. The amount will be paid to your electricity provider and in our case British Gas. Good news so … Continue reading Hey Off Griders
IF ONLY
It is always with hindsight that we see the errors of our past. I wonder if those who control our roads will regret not doing more to ensure that this pavement-less village is a far safer place to walk if one of our children or older resident is injured or killed by a speeding motorist. … Continue reading IF ONLY
WW2 Reveal
Although not Shottisham the Greenkeepers at Woodbridge Golf Course in Bromswell have revealed a World War 2 type 2 pill box which was part of the WW2 military strongpoint at Wilford Rise. This is shown on the Suffolk Heritage Explorer, but on the Pill Box Study Group Extended Database of WW2 defences it is noted … Continue reading WW2 Reveal
My Favourite Places Near the Deben (Part 2)
About one and one half miles south of Waldringfield lies the publess Hemley. I have looked online and I cannot see that the Village ever had a pub. In 1855 the Village, described as 'pleasant' in the History Gazetteer and Directory of Suffolk, only had 63 souls, 75 acres of water and 750 acres of … Continue reading My Favourite Places Near the Deben (Part 2)
Chocolate Teapot or Defibrillator Update
I would make a joke about what is less useful a chocolate teapot or a defibrillator where the code does not open the cabinet, but it is too serious. The defibrillator has been hung on the toilet block of the Sorrel Horse for a few years and at one time had the access code taped … Continue reading Chocolate Teapot or Defibrillator Update
Telephone Exchanges Request For Information
We have had this request for information. Please read the post and if you can help with information please respond to cranston1955@gmail.com (John Cranston) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once upon a time, a telephone was a rarity. A piece of wood, metal or bakelite screwed or tied to a wall, it offered few opportunities to annoy one's fellow … Continue reading Telephone Exchanges Request For Information
My Favourite Places Near the Deben (Part 1)
Waldringfield from Stonner Point with a Spring Tide It is difficult to say which is my favourite spot in this area of The Deben because there are so many but Stonner Point across from Waldringfield is certainly one of them. Stonner Point is a quiet and beautiful place so I am going to start this … Continue reading My Favourite Places Near the Deben (Part 1)
Ahoy me Landlubbers
I find it a little bit disconcerting when I book to see something new and I have attended a few things that have been new to me. Les Mis was one. I must admit I was not looking forward to that, The Cream at the East Ham Town Hall in the '60s and not more … Continue reading Ahoy me Landlubbers
Even the Train Station is Named Elsewhere
It has long been a desire to visit the Dog and Duck at Campsea Ashe for a meal. We have been calling the pub the Dog and Duck but ‘The Duck’ is what it is called on its website. 'What Pub' records that it changed its name to The Duck in 2016, after a refit. … Continue reading Even the Train Station is Named Elsewhere
What a Difference
I went to the far North of Norfolk for a little break over the Bank Holiday weekend and two things amazed me, in addition to the lovely coastal towns and villages, and that was the number of 20 mph limits and amount of bunting and flags hanging out for the Jubilee. Nearly every pub we … Continue reading What a Difference
Swan up and Flying
After another leak at the Alderton Swan making four in total. It came from the ceiling and they have decided to replace the plastic pipes which were the cause. Despite this they opened. Their FB page has a 360 of the bar. Looks very nice. Time to visit soon.
Boundary Beating
I see from the Hollesley Grapevine that their PC has arranged a session of Beating The Bounds. They will be walking the perimeter of Hollesley Lower Common replacing the Dill Heaps as they go. Not sure what a Dill Heap is and not sure if it is relevant to this blog. Apparently the Beating of … Continue reading Boundary Beating
Sausage Roll and a Tea
Went down to the Trust Hall yesterday for the plant and cake sale. It was doing good business with happy gardeners leaving with lots of plants. The two raffles and tombola were also brisk. Fortunately it was a nice day, so they were able to put tables and chairs out in the garden, which when … Continue reading Sausage Roll and a Tea
Have They Got The Hump
I see that the very conscientious people of the Sutton Community Speed Watch scheme were out again. They are out in all weathers, on occasion, to try and improve the safety on the 1.5 km of road through the 30 mph limit of their village. I have spent no more than an hour seeing how … Continue reading Have They Got The Hump
More Bits and Bobs (Updated)
Sunday Lunch in Demand I see that the Sutton Plough run out of Sunday Lunches. Pleased to see that they are proving popular. Never forget that to many English people the Sunday roast is sacrosanct. As a young man I went off Sunday Lunch and for some time (not sure how long) my Sunday lunch … Continue reading More Bits and Bobs (Updated)
Public Consultation or …… (update)
Trials to create more 20 mph zones are being rolled out across Wales. Not sure who wrote the web article I was reading but perhaps they were not unbiased because the first paragraph in bold text says, paraphrased, that more than half of the people in Wales oppose cutting the speed limit. When you read … Continue reading Public Consultation or …… (update)
Bits and Bobs
Litter Pick I have not had a walk down Hollesley Road for some time but I will get to it this week, because I need to see how much litter there is thrown in the hedge. Must be time for another litter pick now we are out of all COVID 19 restrictions. Now is the … Continue reading Bits and Bobs
The County Council Giveth and the County Council Taketh Away
I see from the Facebook page of the Shottisham Village Association that the 'suspected' ANPR Speed Detector in Sutton has been removed after a couple of weeks. I agree with the sentiment offered by the SVA that it is not sufficient time to be of much use. When the County Councillor announced that they were … Continue reading The County Council Giveth and the County Council Taketh Away
Sutton Plough
It has been confirmed that the Plough will open on New Year's Eve with a Party. The pub will be run by a lady who previously run a tied pub so she has F&B experience. Initially it will be 60% wet sales led, but it does have a commercial kitchen so she is open minded. … Continue reading Sutton Plough
When is a Pub Not a Pub
I have read, but cannot find it today, that local Authorities do not like allowing a change of use for the last pub in a village to a dwelling because of the loss of amenity/community. Speaking, some time ago, to one of the main movers and shakers behind the purchase of a community pub, he … Continue reading When is a Pub Not a Pub
Pubs
Heard some good and bad news. From the new owners of the Swan at Alderton they have said that the work to get the pub up and working is ongoing, but because of some unexpected electrical work it will not open until the spring. Good luck and we look for ward to a visit. Also … Continue reading Pubs
Reduce Speed, Save Fuel
We went for a post lockdown break away from the village. We booked well in advance but, unfortunately the break came in the middle of the fuel ‘crises’. Was it a crisis, or was it newspaper led madness. Yes, we have an issue with the lack of HGV drivers and there was a few petrol … Continue reading Reduce Speed, Save Fuel
So Near So Far?
Had a little smile this morning. It was six calendar months to the day, yesterday, since my second Covid vaccination, 23 April, so at the request of the nurse on the ad, I went on to the NHS ‘winter’ vaccination website and put in my NHS number. Now here is an aside, according to the … Continue reading So Near So Far?
Ugain Milltir Yr Awr
The current Welsh Administration has never struck me as particularly enlightened, but then I am quite unaware of most things political. Oh I do vote but that is probably based on family allegiances, which is how I think most of us started our political thinking, rather than any in-depth analysis of the election manifestos. I … Continue reading Ugain Milltir Yr Awr
Charlie and his Dig
A number of us trouped down to the WI Trust Hall on the 13th October to listen to Charlie Haylock who was billed as the man who taught Ralph Fiennes how to talk Suffolk. He was the language coach on ‘The Dig’. Charlie is a fabulous entertainer and his knowledge of language and it's roots, … Continue reading Charlie and his Dig
The Swan Still A Pub
Or it will be. I heard from one of the residents of Alderton, some time ago, that the Swan had been bought and would have been open but for some roofing work. They were so pleased it was not going to be turned into a dwelling which was one plan. I think that may have … Continue reading The Swan Still A Pub
Wow, Just Wow
Had a meal at the Sorrel Horse, the first since 2020 because of a number of reasons. I want to support the pub, but things have contrived against it for the moment, and another but, when I saw that they had a ‘stand in’ chef who was cooking Greek food I just had to attend. … Continue reading Wow, Just Wow
Clean Road Signs V Injury
I looked at the Shottisham Village Facebook page and saw a post about the PC recommending that Parishioners clean road signs. I found the request in the Village news letter and it made me smile and then quite perplexed. So I thought about Road Signs and the responsibilities in relation to them. Whilst writing this … Continue reading Clean Road Signs V Injury
Who Do You Think You are Kidding
Pillbox north of the Village With thanks to the Pillbox Study Group http://www.pillbox-study-group.org.uk/ There is something about this island of ours that has enticed the Continental adventurers to cross some of the most dangerous and unpredictable waters to live here. Whatever lay beyond the shores of Albion, Englaland, Britannia, or whatever the invaders named the … Continue reading Who Do You Think You are Kidding
20 is Plenty Update
Update:- I see that the Shottisham Village Association is posting on Facebook about speed limit related matters so I though it would be good to republish this blog which was originally posted in 2019. I finally got a chance to look into 20 mph speed limits and there is a wealth, no mass, of data … Continue reading 20 is Plenty Update
Not a Red Flag
I watched an old program about the preparation of an Antique Darracq Car to compete in the London to Brighton Rally. At the beginning of the rally a reg flag was torn in two to represent the start of modern motoring through the appeal of the Red Flag Act. The Locomotive Act of 1865 introduced … Continue reading Not a Red Flag
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