Yurts ain't what they used to be!

When is a yurt not a yurt? When it's just an old tent with flower pots at the front door! Before voting on the blog, I think people should actually take a look at the proposed "travellers" site - they're already in residence! Where do they go to the loo? What do they do with their rubbish? (and recycling of course!) And I'd still like to know what Council Tax Band it will come under!

Same old same old!

Well 2009 has begun and I haven't updated the blog for some time - it's great to see the snowdrops in bloom everywhere and also the daffodils are coming into bud. The lambs are in the fields and everything's right with the world. Unless you're worried about your job, your mortgage, your pension..............

Merry Christmas!

'Tis the season to be jolly! (or so I'm told!)

Pubs ain't what they used to be!

On the subject of pubs - we attended a Silverton pub yesterday evening and if I were the landlord of that pub I would be very worried - only two tables in the restaurant were occupied and one in the bar. Five people were standing at the bar and two of them looked underage! The meal was reasonable but not enough to make anyone want to return. The welcome was adequate but no more than that and the place was freeeeeezing! I think we will be returning to our previous haunt in the future.

The wonder of Woolies?

So Woolies is no more........ Very sad to see this institution decline over the past few years. As a child in the 50's, I remember my local Woolies very fondly - old wooden creaky floors and the counter with lots of little compartments on it containing anything and everything! It was the only place that my brother and I could afford to do our Christmas shopping - 2/6 a week pocket money didn't go very far, even in those days! My poor Mum and Dad were given many a tatty ornament/ashtray from there: they never complained though! It was the only shop you could buy odds and ends like zips, cottons, elastic etc. I fear that other institutions may go the same way..........

A green and pleasant land?

No longer I fear - yes, someone is hoping to erect one of those nasty wind turbines on the hill near Chitterley Business Park- 50 m high apparently! I know it can't be seen from Silverton village but once someone "plants" one of these things in this area, they will spring up everywhere. They look like something out of War of the Worlds and frankly, give me the creeps. I know we need sustainable energy - blah, blah, blah but at what price? And it's not as though it will be benefitting somewhere essential like a hospital, it's just someone with more money than sense - he won't see it from his house, will he? I propose we get this in the local paper and try to do something about it. Will anyone join me? Will anyone dare to comment?

Winter reading

Does anyone know of any Book Groups in Silverton/Thorverton/Bickleigh? It would be good to have one in Silverton I think - perhaps we could meet in the Lamb?