Jackdaw Chatter - The Quarterly Magazine about Stow-cum-Quy
Bill’s Bit
Well then together we’ve had some real good weather since Christmas.
A fair bit of sunshine and nice frosty mornings to kill off all the old bugs.
Everything’s a bit forward, but not so much as last year. I thought the
Snowdrops seemed a bit late this year which allowed the Aconites to get a
good hold. Under that grut old beech tree behind Quy Hall there was more yellow
than white this year, but that still looked a rare pretty sight. On the last
day’s shoot this year the woods were a picture. Over in Top Norris all
the buds were just starting to break out on the end of the branches of the
elders and the sycamores. Underfoot all the ‘Lords & Ladies’
weeds were hastily shoving up long dark green leaves to try to keep ahead
of the nettles. No I know they won’t win , ‘cos a mass of tiny bright
green nettle plants are already appearing., but the ‘Lords & Ladies’
have given their flower shoots a bit of a chance . That was a lovely clear
sunny day with a tidy old wind blowing. I was standing stop on top of the
river bank by Quy Mill. All the pheasants were streaming across to the wood
& I watched a lone muntjac lumbering about in the Loop then he ambled
off across Stow field. A big old bird ( that weren’t a buzzard, but I
don’t know what it was) came hovering over the wood, and all the pigeons
did a runner out of the opposite side. That big old bird just sat there head
into the wind lazily flapping away, and probably looking for prey. He was
a real pleasure to watch, and when he had seen all he wanted to he put on
a bit of welly and went gently across to Honey Hill wood, where I watched
him hovering again till he flew off and disappeared into the distance. On
the next drive I was driving up The Sheep Walk and suddenly eight Roe Deer
hoped up on the plough, only about 10 yards from me. They were so well camerfl,
camoufl coloured that I hadn’t even seen them till they moved. Then away
they went with their white tails bobbing , straight over two ditches without
breaking stride. They really are so elegant. On another drive down by Anglesey
I watched a grut old dog fox come tearing out of the cover crop, and with
his tail strung out behind he looked a treat, but we didn’t get any birds
out of that drive. We’ve had a really good shooting year at Quy this
year. I’m sure everyone has enjoyed it , and there’s nothing to
beat a days brushing when the weather is nice. You walk all round the extremities
of the village and see nature as it really is. Mind you that ein’t so
good when that’s raining and foggy, but you still have to go. If you
are interested for next season, give me a shout and I will put your name forward
Paul Carrington is always on the lookout for keen beaters.
We have got one strange bird about down the river way this year. Mal Hatley
told me about it, Paul and l some of the other guns have also seen it. They
reckon it’s an egret, apparently it is white and fits all the other patterns,
so keep your eyes open..
Poor old Morris Coleman died just after Christmas. He delivered bread to most
houses in the village three times a week for years, as had his father before
him. Morris retired praps 15 years ago. When he stopped coming round every
one missed his jokes and his happy disposition, nearly as much as his bread.,
but that old Tesco stuff tasted some rum tack after Morris’s.
They tell me Kath picked up a nice young man the other Sunday. She was late
for church (as usual ) and someone stopped her at the end of Herrings Close
to ask where the nearest petrol station was. She told him then asked him if
he would give her a lift to church. They all told her she shouldn’t have
done it, but she said "Why not he was a nice young man". Well done
Kath I’m sure 99 % of people are still quite ordinary and safe.
Have you noticed the cygnets have now been hiked out by the old swans? The
two adults were with all 5 cygnets on the last shoot on Feb 1st, but by Feb
7th only the olduns were left. As well as that, I notice there is a bit of
scraping around on the end of the peninsula, so I reckon they are starting
to prepare this year’s nest. Let’s hope they get as good a brood
as last year.
The church roof has now been completed using felt, but it must only be considered
to be a temporary measure. English Heritage say the lead must be reinstated
eventually. However the felt roof has a 20 year guarantee so they have a few
years to think about it. That’s nice to see such a good crowd turn up
to help clear up the churchyard, and the old place is looking much better
for it. Although Colin Lowe will be pleased at the turnout, it’s a shame
all the volunteers were over 50. Where are all you younguns who will want
the church for your matching , hatching, and dispatching in years to come?
Only one thing was missing from the work parties. The coffee break didn’t
go quite to plan. Apparently they only got half a cup each on the first morning
, but that was half a cup more than they got the week after. Ant reckons Jim
laid in bed too long, and we’d finished afore he was up!
Jean tells me the Carol singing made £253 , which was a good sum to
give to the Children’s Hospice Jean says thank you to all who donated
and also to all them who turned out to sing. Let’s hope we can keep this
years old tradition going. The old Carol service was very enjoyable again
this year. Mike & Lynn had asked a variety of people to read lessons,
and most of the Carols were old favourites, with just one or two we didn’t
know. They keep trying to educate us each year, when all we want is to go
along and sing what we know.
I’ve just come home from Malcolm Flack’s funeral. Many of you will
know him ‘cos he was born here and lived here for many years. Only 63,
and a bit sudden. We used to work on the farm together. That don’t seem
long ago when we were hoeing beet on Stow field together one May day.( we
were only about 20) There was some famous photographer ( who had some connection
with the Francis family)used to bring models down Crickles and the Boot and
take these posh photos. He went past where we were hoeing one day with two
lovely bits of stuff, so when he had gone we chucked our hoes down and crawled
through the Loop to peek over into Crickles, hoping we would see him taking
some nuddy photos. All he was doing was taking them leaning against trees
etc with all their clothes on. So that was a waste of time and we lost about
two rows of piece work hoeing for nothing. Me and Malc weren’t very pleased.
Welcome Sandra & Colin to the Swan. There seems to always be a good crowd
in there now so we hope you are settling in alright. We are very lucky to
have two good pubs, both doing good meals in the centre of our village. Long
may they continue to flourish.
We had a good Jackdaw club party again in Jan, but John will tell you more
about that. The entertainment was good, but Jean thinks she would like to
help with the entertainment for next year, so she was practicing on me cutting
a man in half. The only trouble was she got it wrong and sawed thro my hand
instead. No, I have to say that ‘cos only me could be daft enough to
hold one hand under a saw, and I managed to go thro a tendon and a vein, so
now , after two days in hospital I’m left with a gammy thumb for a month.
That’s also my excuse for this slow writing.
Now what about you lot who keep whinging about the Parish Council then .A
new Council could be elected in May and any one living in the village could
put themselves forward for nomination. It will take up a lot of your time,
with no pay, and a lot of agro, but if you feel you want to be involved in
the village it is satisfying. Still interested? Then get a form off Kate by
the end of March.
Well by the time you read this the Children’s party and Beetle Drive/Tombola
evening will have gone, and also the Ceilidh. Don’t know how the party
and the first beetle drive will go yet, but we seem to have sold several Ceilidh
tickets. Then there will be the children’s Bunny Hunt on Wed March 26th,
meet at The Avenue 6pm. We are going to try a walking treasure Hunt this year
on Sun 8th June, and then the popular Rounders evening on Friday July 18th
Hope to see you at some of these events .
Cheers Bill
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