Wednesday 6th November 2024 - Subsidised, Gardening Club and Escapee

The Parish Council’s firework display on Saturday lasted just under half an hour, during which there were bangs and flashes of light across the sky; all the things you would expect from a display of this kind.  Our cat, Sid, freaked at the first bang, ran under the dining table and deciding this was not a safe enough refuge, hot pawed it up the stairs and hid under our bed.  The Parish Council’s firework display used to be funded by the previous year’s bucket collection, along with any donations (usually one from the White Horse pub).  This year, (I haven’t checked but possibly earlier years too), it was subsidised by the Parish Council.  On the Parish Council’s published payments and receipts for November 2023 it shows the bucket collection for 2023, totalled £989.44 and their minutes for July 2024, expenditure on fireworks of £2500 was approved. Hence me saying the fireworks were subsidised by the Parish Council; presumably from the precept levied in the Council Tax on residents.  In general, there has been less noise from fireworks than in previous years.  We quite often picked up spent cardboard tubes and rocket sticks on our litter picks, but not this year.  I am guessing there is a move to being more conscious of the distress the bangs and flashes cause to pets, wildlife and those suffering with PTSD.

We’ve had quite a few grey days but it hasn’t been cold.  While delivering Poppy wreaths this morning, I was conscious I did not have to wear a thick jacket or gloves, other years these would have been a must.  Long may this spell of mild weather continue.  I have been gradually moving the tender plants, in pots, to the shelter of the greenhouse but noticing the osteospermums are budding up again, I have put them in the conservatory, where once the buds open, we can enjoy their blooms. 

I went to the Gardening Club meeting yesterday afternoon, expecting to hear garden maker, Amanda Hensby talk about her work. However, she had to re-schedule and Amanda will now be giving her talk in 2025 at one of the gardens in the village she designed, a few years ago which must be nicely established by now.  So, instead of listening to Amanda, committee member, Gordon, gave us an insight into the history and folklore of holly, ivy, mistletoe and yew; clippings of which are often brought into homes at Christmas as well as used to decorate door wreaths.

Today’s photo is of a red hot poker in flower on the cliffs.  This has to be a garden escapee and in this position; is most certainly, salt tolerant.