Rodmell and Southease
FIREWORKS: I have just listened to people who coped with the war years being interviewed on TV about the big bangs from fireworks that shake houses, frighten animals and distress those who are old and vulnerable. My own mother, whose family was bombed out three times in Brighton in the Second World War, suffered all her life from depression and ended up with Paranoiac Dementia at 96, due to the noise of bombs being dropped. She loved the pretty fireworks but dreaded November 5. Those of us that have not lived through a war or in a war zone have no idea what damage it causes for years for those unfortunate to have suffered. Every year, for some years now, I have a couple from Lewes come to stay on November 5 as their dog gets so traumatised. Many years ago, I used to join in the bonfire procession in Lewes and it is a wonderful thing to see, it is of course a tradition loved by many. As it’s become so famous and is watched worldwide on TV, it seems to have caused a few problems to its dedicated organisers. Such is the price of fame. Fortunately, unlike a war, it is supposed to go on for only one day.
MEETING FRIENDS: On Sundays I usually meet up with friends and former jazz musicians and singers that I have sung with in the past, at the Depot in Lewes, where various musicians and singers entertain us at the far end between 11am and 1pm. We usually end up eating a light lunch there as well, so it’s a friendly occasion. They recently had a very good duo named Javajam. For those who like music I recommend this venue on a Sunday. It’s very friendly.
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Hide AdCOOKING: There are endless cookery programmes on TV these days, but I do wonder how many families sit down together at a table for a home-cooked meal these days. I am guilty at times of sitting in front of the TV with a microwave meal, but I have very fond memories of a table laden with home-cooked food and a time of good family conversation, without a mobile phone in sight.
PHONES: On the subject of phones, on TV recently they mentioned that the ‘dumb’ phones that I wrote about are flying off the shelves, as people are fed up with the technology of modern phones. They interviewed people in the street and many were young, who said they preferred a dumb phone, apart from a lady who appeared to be perhaps Scandinavian, who stated that she would also like one of these phones but didn’t want to appear to be old. What a load of nonsense, can’t we do what we actually want without keeping up appearances like Mrs Bouquet on TV.
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY: Don’t forget it’s Remembrance Sunday on November 11 and there will be a service at Rodmell Church at 10.55am and one at Southease Church at 10.55am. We will remember them.
ILLNESS: So many of my friends are ill at the moment. Whilst I can’t get to them all, I’m thinking about them and wish the well.