RAMBLINGS - WEST OXFORD - OX2 - NOVEMBER 2008
G’dy my little
Possums! Here I sit in my underpants as the sun comes up out of the
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Rightyho! As
we Aussies say, back to earth and the realisation that Christmas is coming,
and ‘Cards For Good Causes’ and their volunteers have been busy setting up the
charity Christmas card shops, so, once again, we will be able to support a good
cause with the money we spend on our Christmas cards – in fact, the charities
will get back at least 79p in £1.
The shops sell cards from over 30 different charities as well as advent
calendars, Christmas wrappings and small gifts.
So look out for the red triangular Santa sign at Faringdon Tourist and
Community Information Centre and in St Aldates,
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The Oxford Santa
Run returns AT 9.30 on Sunday 7th December in the city centre. It’s to raise
the coppers for
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Kingston Bagpuize
Drama Group presents ‘The Accrington Pals’ by Peter Whelan on the 27th, 28th
29th November at the Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Village Hall. The
play is based on the real life tragedy of the Accrington Pals, soldiers who
left to fight for their country and those left behind to grieve for them. This
poignant play marks the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War the
timing couldn’t be better. Tickets £7 from The Log Cabin, Southmoor
Food & Wine, Post Office or Telephone 01865 820 375.
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Storyteller,
Peter Grimm opens the box to find ‘THE am-A-zing THING’ that takes him on an
unusual journey that weaves it’s way through a medley of well known Brother’s
Grimm tales. Peter is a descendent of the famous Brothers Grimm and through
the Lempen Puppet Theatre tells their stories as they were written 200 years
ago. You can catch the performance at Faringdon Corn Exchange at
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The Choir of
Longcot Primary School is 'Singing for Shelter' at the Farmer Gow's
Farmers' Market between
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Local adoption
and fostering agency ‘Parents And Children Together’ will help you to learn
more at a no-obligation information evening in Oxford on Tuesday 16th December.
Prospective parents can pick up written material, hear about the support that
is available, and talk one-to-one about their personal circumstances if they
wish. Call 0118 938 7600 or e-mail through ‘www.pactcharity.org’.
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Right, I’m packing
in for a spell. It’s 6.50 on a beautiful sunny morning and my neighbour in the
next apartment has switched on his television full blast with the French doors
wide open. If it’s any consolation, Australian TV is even worse than ours. That’s
unless you like repeats of ‘The Bill’ or ‘Midsomer Murders’. The recent Para
Olympics recorded every Australian athlete who came second or third I still
don’t know who came first and second. One news item announced “The President
of South Africa Thabo Mbeki has resigned.” Just that! Twenty minutes into the
news that was largely devoted to some dubious Rugby League tackles and the misbehaviour
of some of their players off the field. Oh! And the provision of some new traffic
lights in
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Back now after
a stroll along the beach. Seven blue black aboriginal children aged from 3 to
about 8 are splashing around in the shallows while a portly grandfather figure
in a baseball hat stands guard in the deeper water. Lovely! I feel better now.
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I flew back from
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Abingdon Peace
Group has invited Professor Keith Barnham, Emeritus Professor of Physics at
Imperial College London to talk on ‘Nuclear Power – A threat to Security? The
links between nuclear power and nuclear weapons.’ All are welcome at this public
meeting at St Nicholas’ Church in the Market Place on Tuesday the 18th at 7.30.
Professor Barnham is a founder member of Scientists for Global Responsibility,
and currently researches into the practical application of photovoltaics.
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The Vale of White
Horse District Council is looking for amateur meteorologists to help them understand
the impact of extreme weather conditions. This August was one of the wettest
on record and of course, last summer Vale residents had to cope with widespread
flooding. The Council is running a climate profiling project to help understand
severe weather so it can better respond to the threat. To do this the Vale Council
needs to look at the last five years’ weather patterns and they would like to
supplement Met Office data with any local records or anecdotal information from
people who live in the Vale. Email your interest to ‘mark.kowal@whitehorsedc.gov.uk’.
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I do love a cliché!
You’ve probably noticed. When dining out one evening in a beach side restaurant
on the other side of the world we were seated near two other couples. As we
were leaving we bade them good night and one of the chaps asked where we were
from. “Oxfordshire.” I replied. “We’re from Wantage.” said he…Wait for it!...
‘Small World’ isn’t it?
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This year Help
the Aged is launching a range of exclusively designed charity Christmas Cards
at their 360 charity shops, all made from sustainable materials. All proceeds
will go towards the Charity's work to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation
and neglect.
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Wantage Stage
Musical Company is back on the road again with their
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The Oxfordshire
Craft Guild is holding its annual Christmas Selling Exhibition at the
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I’ve bought myself
an Australian corky hat. Nah! Not the one that has corks hanging around the
brim. One like the Digger hat David Corke, our fishing correspondent lives in.
And eats in! And drinks in! And for all I know sleeps in! Can’t wait to wear
it the next time I meet him in the Red Lion in Brightwell. Of course that’ll
be after I’ve sewn the corks around it.
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If you enjoy
delving into the past, then a new series of historic guided walks across the
Chilterns may be right up your street. The Chilterns Conservation Board has
teamed up with a number of local historical and archaeological organisations
to bring the past to life with 25 guided walks and events in places as far afield
as Little Marlow, Watlington,
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Back to
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This Month’s
Artists at Faringdon Tourist and Community Information Centre are Sculptor Pat
Elmore and Photographer Al Cane. Pat Elmore’s subject matter is her immediate
environment, four handsome sons, two lovely daughters, and one husband (a cross
between Father Christmas and Jesus), ducks, cats, sheep, and the rolling landscape
of the Vale of the White Horse. She has exhibited in Paris, London, Jersey and
Monaco and has had numerous shows around England. She teaches from her studio
at Longcot where she has a permanent exhibition in her studio and garden.
Al Cane is currently
editor of the Faringdon Folly, as well as being a freelance photographer and
graphic designer, and a member of Farringdon’s burgeoning Flickr group of photographers.
His work is diverse, covering amongst other subjects, nature, strange signs,
local scenes and special collage pictures.
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And this month
is so appropriate for a production of Britten’s ‘War Requiem’ as it’s 90 years
since the Armistice bringing to a close the ‘War to End all Wars’. Oxford Harmonic
Society is joined by members of the Bonn Philharmonic Choir and both the Oxford
Sinfonia and the Orchestra of Stowe Opera at Oxford Playhouse at 7.30 on the
22nd. Tickets at £14 and £12 on 01865 305 305 or on the door.
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If you have an
antique or interesting clock or watch and are interested to know more then get
yourself along to Steventon Village Hall on the 18th when the Oxfordshire Branch
British Horological Institute is holding its annual auction. Entries include
clocks, tools for restorers, spares and books. For entries and bidding contact
Geoff Carr at ‘geoffacarr@aol.com’.
The Institute
normally meets at the village hall at South Hinksey at 7.30 on the third Tuesday
of the month. Next month, Mike Flannery a well know restorer, is giving a talk
on entitled ‘View from the Bench’ on December 16th. Entrance is £5 and
for more details of the group at ‘www.bhioxbranch.co.uk’ or call Martin Gatto
on 07778 749 223.
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I am again getting
e-mails asking for confirmation of entry. The answer is NO so please desist.
I don’t know until ‘Press Day’ how much space there is. Under the rules of engagement,
and if I like the cut of your jib, you’re almost sure to get an entry but I
cannot guarantee it. I’m also usually rather ratty that morning. Ta!
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Faringdon Circle
Dance Group is offering a free trial lesson at the Corn Exchange on 2nd December
at 10.30. The group meets on Tuesday mornings during term time to enjoy music
and dance from around the world. No partner or experience needed. Just pop along,
or if you’re shy, phone Lilly on 01367 820 143 first.
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I saw cockroachy
things as big as my thumb in the bedrooms in Oz. I let my dearly beloved dispose
of them. Like a little terrier she is. Fearless!
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On an even larger
scale, you may have read in the papers that a chap got eaten by a crocodile
in North Queensland while I was out there. However, the only ones I saw were
in wildlife parks. Freshwater and saltwater crocs are the same breed apparently,
only one goes to sea and gets bigger. One magnificent wild specimen I saw was
given a harem of eight lady crocs after he was captured. He ate them!
-PSW-