Halloween

Happy Hall🎃ween

The village theme this year is musicals but a few have just gone with pumpkins

I'm pretty sure this one is John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John from Grease

This is The Witches

My first thought when I saw this was The Joker

but I don't think it is

I know this a Pharaoh but I don't know the musical

This is my favourite.

A few had lights on them, I meant to go out after dark to see them,

but kept forgetting! There were more, but I didn't find them in time to post.

🦇 Be safe and well 🦇

Polly x

Lunchtime Concert

Today's concert was truly delightful. It featured Sue Handscombe playing an assortment of recorders, an underestimated instrument but Sue demonstrated just how versatile and wonderful they are. For one of her pieces she used all seven recorders.

From baroque to ragtime, Fred and Ginger to kazoo, her programme of music was lovely.

She was accompanied by pianist Ed Sutton.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

Brentwood Mac

On Saturday my village church was the venue for a sell out performance by Brentwood Mac, a brilliant band dedicated to playing the timeless music of Fleetwood Mac. This was their 15th consecutive sell out gig.

With a repertoire spanning all eras of the legendary band's career, from their early blues-rock days to their iconic hits and solo material, the group offers a faithful journey through Fleetwood Mac's rich musical history.

 

From the haunting vocals of Stevie Nicks to the driving rhythms of Mick Fleetwood, Brentwood Mac pays homage to every member of Fleetwood Mac, delivering a performance that transports audiences back in time. 

We had two bars, I was helping at one of them, but I did have a reserved seat to sit and enjoy the music. But I was too tired to stay afterwards to help tidy up! 

 

They were given a resounding encore and everyone had a great time. The profits went to the church roof appeal, and the band made a contribution as well. 

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

A Read

Wish You Were Here

by Jodi Picoult 

Diana O'Toole has always been a planner. At twenty-nine she’s up for promotion to her dream job as an art specialist at Sotheby’s, and she’s about to fly to the Galapagos where she is convinced her surgeon boyfriend, Finn is going to propose. She will be married by thirty, children by thirty-five, then move out to a New York City suburb. Perfectly on track. But then a virus that felt worlds away has appeared in the city, and on the eve of their departure, Finn tells Diana he can’t go - he has to stay behind, it's all hands on deck at the hospital. He convinces Diana to go, it would be a shame for their non-refundable trip to go to waste. And so, reluctantly, she goes.
 

Almost immediately Diana's dream vacation goes awry. On arrival she finds the island is under quarantine and the hotel has closed its doors. She could have taken the return ferry and returned home but decided to stay, leaving her stranded and completely isolated, way out of her comfort zone. Eventually she befriends a local family who help her.
 

With lots of time on her hands she finds herself examining her relationship, her choices, and herself, and wondering if when she goes home, she will have evolved into someone completely different, and maybe even re-evaluate the future she’s envisioned. 

Some of this was good but overall it was a bit tedious and, despite a massive surprising twist just over half way, predictable. I skipped some of it. As for the ending - it was just a huge eye roll.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Covid

Last week I was very poorly with a bad cold. On Wednesday a lovely friend who had been talking to my dear friend M phoned to ask how I was, and would I like a covid test kit, as he had two reaching their expiry date. Why not I thought, still thinking it was just a cold, something to do! He brought them round and a little while later there it was - two bold red lines, oh crap. My diary for the week had to be cancelled - swimming, bowls club, craft club, village book club, my stint at the hospital, a U3a meeting, an opticians appointment. They would have been cancelled anyway, I felt so poorly.

And the one I was most looking forward to was a tongue in cheek production of Pride & Prejudice, described as "Creative, naughty and hilarious". I've seen a trailer and it looked very good, confirmed by the ladies that went.

 

I didn't do my stint at the church cafe on Saturday, and another I was really looking forward to was a friend's birthday celebration lunch today which was completely dependant on the outcome of another test which was ..... negative, I did go to the party 😀 and I am feeling tons better.

 

Dear reader I hope you stay well and don't catch any nasty viruses.

Polly x

A Good Read

The Herd by Emily Edwards

Bryony and Elizabeth are best friends and despite being polar opposites, their friendship works. They live for their families and each other, they are godmothers to each other's daughters, trusting that the safety of their children is paramount. But some things have gone unspoken between them, they differ radically over one very important issue, and when Bryony, afraid of being judged, tells what is supposed to be a harmless white lie before a child's birthday party, the consequences are catastrophic.

Bryony grew up with a severely autistic brother whose autism their mother believes stemmed from the MMR vaccine, so she vows never to vaccinate Alba. Elizabeth's daughter, Clemmie, cannot be vaccinated due to an early childhood illness and so the family rely on others to maintain herd immunity in order to keep her safe.

Elizabeth, Bryony and other characters - a doctor, a journalist, a mother, an internet troll, all take their turn at being sympathetic, informative, sanctimonious and annoying. The callousness of the internet and media is skilfully captured.

This is a profound, emotional read, based on contentious issues of vaccination and herd immunity, but it does so in a way that doesn't preach for either side, it highlights the pain that may be experienced by those making their choice on either side of the debate. It feels honest, fair, and doesn't shy away from any of the arguments frequently thrown up about vaccines.

Despite being very sad, it’s an excellent read.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

A Break in the Weather

After all that rain we are now enjoying some beautiful warm sunny days. 

The badgers have been busy again

 

the entrance to their sett used to be in the field, if they continue at this rate they will completely take over the area between the field and the hedgerow!

oOo

A new kid on the block

 

meet Buzz

he is a rescue ex racing dog, and he is so lovely and gentle. When we first met him he was a bit wary but now when we meet his tail starts wagging and he gets very excited.

oOo

Has anyone been watching "The Wives"? The story revolves around three women who are related by marriage to three brothers. It's set in Malta where the couples holiday at a resort together every year. The previous year one of the wives disappeared and is presumed dead. One of the remaining wives isn't happy with that, she is convinced Annabelle was murdered. The more the three wives investigate the deeper they get into the mystery. It was very good BUT the ending was - WHAT, WAIT, who was in the black van; what's with the casino chips, will Charlie be vindicated; will the real villain be uncovered? The cast were all very good actors and most of the script was good, but the ending was very bad, unless a second season is planned.

oOo

The size of my header image suddenly changed so I thought I would be able to use the original image but I couldn't get the size I wanted, I think it has to do with the sizing of the layouts, I've tried changing them but it didn't make any difference. My blog says its custom so I'm not confident to change anything in case the whole thing goes wrong!

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x