February 2007  - Edition No.106

A Happy New Year and I hope everyone had a good Christmas.

Our rather dreary, but not cold, weather continues into 2007. However, the mornings and evenings in particular are drawing out, the bulbs and shoots are coming along and the birds are more cheerful - spring must be on its way!

The Christmas Greetings sent via the Newsletter was most successful and will probably be repeated this year. Rather than robbing the Manor Hall Card Distribution, takings for that and the Coffee Morning were up, and the Newsletter was able to pass over a cheque for £106. Thank you to everyone who participated.

I should also like to thank the person who kindly left a 2007 calendar of Australian Gardens for me at the Shop, with a message that they'd e-mail me. So far no word, but their kind thought was very much appreciated.

This issue sees the 100th contribution from Sue, our Local Walker. Thank you so much, Sue, for your continued support and encouragement and thank you Paul for the fitting illustrations for the Walks. Other milestones have been passed recently. December saw the 50th article from Tony Beauclerk and Sue and Simon's 'Weather or Not' covering November and December is their 50th report. Thank you all and well done!

I have had the pleasure recently of hearing from several people via the web site and it has been particularly nice to hear from Don Thirkell - who lived in the Valley - and Sonia Duckett from Middle Lee. Both say they have old photographs of the village - we look forward to seeing them!

Our printer, Len, has gone into 'glorious Technicolor', so let's give it a try and see how it goes.

With daffodils and other spring flowers not yet readily available, lilies are still in the shops, and so we have them on our cover - a delightful depiction from Paul and my thanks go to him and everyone else who has contributed to another article-packed issue.

There seem to be quite a few events coming up to put in your diary for February and March, so add to them that items for the April and Easter Newsletter are welcome as soon as possible and by MONDAY, 12TH MARCH [a little earlier than usual] please at the latest. Thanks.

Judie - Ed