Handsel Games 2010

STENTON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

INVITE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN

HANDSEL GAMES AT STENTON

On Sunday 3 January 2010

Open for this Parish only

Refreshments in the hall

11.30am meet on the village green

for

your entertainment – a round the village race

and the grand finale – a tug of war

available for a small donation, for your warmth and comfort - bacon rolls and mulled wine

Handsel Monday is the first Monday of the new year particularly as it used to be celebrated in rural Scotland. Handsel refers to small gifts that were customary to be given at the beginning of the first week of the new year. The farmers and landowners who arranged the various functions for their farm workers and servants provided gifts or prizes such as money, books, tea or a currant loaf. Not only children and servants were given gifts but animals too. Farmers would lay extra feed in each manger. In East Lothian it was a holiday and each community held sports or other activities.

Stenton games were held in the Glebe field next to the manse and a longer race was run round the original park. Entertainment was provided by local bands and dancing in the open air helped keep the blood moving.

It was obviously not the best time of year to hold athletic games and they gradually died out by the early 20^th Century.

Family Service @ Stenton Church

Stenton Parish Church

Family Service

for the

First Sunday in Advent

Sunday 29 November

9.30am

with storyteller

Donnie Henderson-Shedlarz

Please can all the children bring a shawl or warm cover that someone has knitted for them or given them

Everyone welcome

Pot Luck Supper & Singalonga Grease

Hi Everyone

Just a  wee note to inform you that we are having to postpone the Grease night on Saturday - look out for it coming back again in February though!

Don't forget to come and join us at the Christmas Fayre on Saturday 5 December from 10 - 12 noon in the Village Hall to kick start Christmas the Stenton way - mulled wine and mince pies at 10am!!

See you all then

Emma

Carbon Neutral Stenton

At the recent Community Association AGM, Ettie Spencer put forward a proposal to work towards a Carbon Neutral Stenton. It was favourably received by those attending but for those who couldn’t be there, I have pleasure posting it on our Blog.

K C SCA

“The health of the rural economy and rural communities in this country is vital to the health of our overall economy and our landscape.

•As people living in a rural area, we need to be at the cutting edge of 21st century living, and should be taking a lead in tackling the issues of our time.

•Not only are we concerned about climate change and the environment, but we are as worried as everyone about the cost of energy, about fuel poverty and about the sustainability of all our futures.

•Urban and rural life is interdependent, as is our way of life with the rest of the world.

In this village we use a lot of oil, we drive a lot and we have difficult to heat houses.

We appreciate the landscape in which we live and recognise it only exists while there is a thriving rural economy, whether it be farming, small businesses, service industries or leisure.

"We should look and learn from our neighbours such as Holland and Denmark where a large proportion of electricity is generated at the local level. This is cheaper, more efficient, less polluting and, crucially, accessible to communities………. Renewable energy brought the modern age to Scotland for it was the power of our rivers that turned the first mills of industry, if we do our job well, renewable energy will bring a second revolution to Scotland, a revolution in community ownership, community confidence, community wealth - a revolution of community power!"

Alan Hobbett, Community Energy Scotland, 2009

What am I suggesting?

I think we can aspire to become Scotland’s first carbon neutral village and by so doing to provide a model for other communities….

•As a village of about 71 households we are a small and compact community and an ideal size to generate our own green electricity.

•We could generate a surplus – and therefore make money for further projects.

•Electricity could be the starting point. We could achieve this focused target and carry on from there….

How?

Stage 1 – Green, cheap/free electricity for the village.

Instead of receiving piecemeal grants from the wind farm companies I think we should be more ambitious.

We should either ask for funds for a wind turbine, or for an actual turbine to be donated to the community– and we should generate our own electricity. It seems it is very do-able, and has met with much enthusiasm.

I have talked with the following agencies and in all cases met with enthusiastic support, excitement and offers of help:-

Community Windpower Ltd ,(Aikengall Community Windfarm )

-They can provide technical and funding help and advice, and possibly ‘in kind’ help.

Community Energy Scotland

-They provide funding and technical support to community income-generating projects. Grants are also available to enable them to become constituted.

The Be Green energy Advice Project in Dunbar

-Can provide a free energy audit team, advice on grants and funding etc.

Sustaining Dunbar which covers Dunbar and East Linton Ward of East Lothian.

East Lothian Council. Cllr Paul Mclennan is very keen to be involved.

What’s needed?

1.Gain the support of everyone in the village.

2. A small focus group of 3/4 people, which I would be willing to facilitate, with a variety of relevant skills to take this forward - including admin, technical, business and environmental skills.

3. An energy audit on all households.

4. Money/turbine(s)

5. A site

5. A ‘not for profit’ company to administer the scheme.

LAND…

A conversation with Jim Wyllie produced some interesting ideas….

For example, he currently has a planning application in process for a single small turbine on his land to provide energy for his business.

He is interested in the idea and could offer a possible deal –

The community could raise the money via grants etc to build a bigger turbine than the one he was going to, so that the cost is split. The appropriate percentage output would go to him in respect of the site rental and the rest to the community energy company.

This is just one idea, but this one would provide obvious benefit to both parties – from his point of view, this way it may be more acceptable to the planners, and from the community's point of view, it provides a site.

TIMING…

I think it would be possible to set up this initial stage well within 2 years.

This means that even if we went no further, this would be an achievement in itself.

STAGE 2: possibilities for the future…

•District heating scheme for Stenton?

•……an "anaerobic digester" …to generate electricity and hot water for heating... at Ruchlaw Produce Company’ …. news.stv.tv Sept 09

•Electric car pool?

•Extending the allotments scheme – land-share scheme?

•Woodchip heating? Etc….

Ettie is happy for people to ring or drop round to chat about it or ask questions (850712) (ettie@crossingtheline.org.uk)

The presentation was very well received at the AGM and 99% of the people who attended are keen to pursue this matter. Ettie is looking to set up a small focus group to investigate further so anyone who is willing to offer their assistance please also contact Ettie on the above number.

Community Association AGM

STENTON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

12 November 2009

7.30pm

STENTON VILLAGE HALL

ALL WELCOME

There will be cheese, wine and socialising at the end of the meeting!!

Also Ettie Spencer is coming along to talk to everyone about her thoughts and plans on trying to reduce the carbon footprint of Stenton with a view to Stenton becoming Britain's first carbon neutral village.

Pot Luck Supper & Singalonga Grease

Stenton Horticultural Society AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Stenton Horticultural Society will take place ;

• Thursday 19th November at 7.00 pm in Stenton Village Hall. 

There will be wine and cheese and all are welcome.  This is your one chance to air your views on matters horticultural so please try and attend.

Looking forward to seeing you all then

Amanda Mitchell

The Bughts - Making the Path

Photographs (courtesy of Moya) of the hard work making the path at the Bughts in September

There should be another delivery of bark from the council soon (hopefully) to finish the job.

A decked area is also to be built (as soon as I get round to buying the timber!!) and strong boys will most definitely be needed to help build it.

We can then get the seating ordered and then bookings will be taken for winter picnics!!

K VC SCA

 

View Full Album

STENTON FOOTLIGHTS JUNIOR

March 2010 Production

In recent years the Footlights have put on a single play in March. This next production will be a ‘fest’ of one act plays.

One of which will have a cast of young actors of school age – primary and senior school. There are both speaking and non speaking parts in the play we have chosen so if you are interested in

· acting (no experience necessary) and are available for

· rehearsals which will begin in January on Sunday evenings 6pm -7.30pm and are free for the

· performance week 21 March -27 March

There will be a meeting on a Sunday before the end of the year to read through the play and cast it ready to start in January. If you want to be involved or have any questions please get in touch with me A.S.A.P.

Barbara Wyllie

01368 850 243

Email barbara.wyllie@ruchlawproduce.co.uk

PS : Footlights are having a Cheese and Wine open meeting on Thursday 8 October at 7.30 to which all are welcome.

We will be discussing the chosen plays and reading parts of them at the beginning of the evening. We would particularly like to welcome any young people who can come along even for a short time. THIS IS NOT A CASTING NIGHT.

Footlights Cheese & Wine, Thursday 8 October

Hi All

We are having a cheese and wine in Stenton Hall on Thursday 8th October at 7.30 pm.

We have two one act plays being selected and directed by Kelvin D'Arcy-Burt and Barbara Wyllie ready for this years production in 2010. I hope they will tell us a little about their plays and be able to do some test reading for each of them.

Kelvin's play is a one act play with a cast of 6 persons and will run for approximately 45 mins. Barbara's play is also a one act play running for approximately 30 mins and is chosen with children in mind particularly so I do hope we see a good turnout of budding actors young and old.

If anyone else would like to direct a short one act play it would be good to hear from them. It would make the performance night a little more complete timing wise with 3 plays.

Please bring along anyone to this meeting who is interested in joining Stenton Footlights. Look forward to seeing you all there on Thursday 8 October.

Yours

James Wyllie, Chairman

Stenton gets a Defib Machine

Hi everyone

In conjunction with the British Heart Foundation, Stenton has been allocated a defibrillator machine.

Due to the location of Stenton (i.e. miles away from the nearest hospital) time is of the essence when someone takes ill. Figures have shown that if a patient can be treated with a defib machine and CPR prior to the arrival of an ambulance, the chances of their survival are very much increased. To this end, we are looking for volunteers to be trained in the use of our defib machine.

We have teamed up with Scottish Ambulance who will be coming to provide a training weekend in the village hall. The date set is 7-8 November 2009. You do not need to have any medical or first aid background - anyone can be trained on these machines - they are very straightforward to use and basically tell you what to do.

Verity Sinclair (850316) and Andrew Mallen (850205) are at present are our only two trained defib operators within the village. Should you have any queries about the use of these machines or exactly what is involved they are both more than happy to speak to you about it. They have been on the course the same as the one we are holding in the village hall and therefore can tell you everything about it.

We are looking to try and train as many people as possible. Please think carefully about this - you never know - you could save a life.

If you are interested in this course, please let me know.

Many thanks

Emma

Bunko Update Part Deux

Forgot to mention to you all in the last Bunko update, it is a BYOB night on Saturday - so bring a much as you want!

Also we are planning on running a raffle so any prizes would be very gratefully received. 

Many thanks

Emma  

Bunko Update

Hi Everyone

We still have plenty of tickets left for Bunko on Saturday night.  We would love to see all parents/friends there, it will be a really fun evening and you will be of course supporting the school.  It is for the guys too as I know some people thought it was just a girls night so bring your partners along.

Please see Val (850735) or Suzie (850657) for info and tickets.

Suzie

The Bughts

As a lot of you probably know, the Community Association has taken on the Bughts as an ongoing project. To date (with the help of Jenny Harper) a path has been cleared going up to a clearing half way up the Bughts.  We have already had a team of Community Association members cutting back weeds etc and now we have been awarded a grant to buy some benches for use by the residents of Stenton in the Bughts.

We have purchased some black membrane and plan to put this down on the path before covering it with bark.

This is where we need your help. 

The Council have very kindly given us, free of charge, 2.5 tonnes of wood chippings to use. These have been delivered into the field next to the Bughts.

We now need your help to move the bark into the Bughts. We are planning on doing this this Saturday 26th September at 1.30pm. If you are free, please come and help.  Bring your wheelbarrows and spades!

Also, if there is a very kindly farmer out there who could spare an hour with a forklift and a big bucket to help dump the majority of the bark straight into the Bughts, we would be very, very grateful. 

Many thanks and looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday

Emma

ACTIVE DAY IN THE SCHOOL GARDEN

STENTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

invites you to join our

ACTIVE DAY IN THE SCHOOL GARDEN

ON

THURSDAY 17^TH SEPTEMBER 2009

The children will all be helping but we need some adult volunteers (for lots of fun jobs).

There will be 2 sessions:-

10am – 12 noon

1.30pm – 3pm

If you can spare some time, even half an hour, please come along and join in.

Please bring along tools if you have them.

Coffee/Tea and cakes will be provided

RSVP to the School by 9^th September.

THANKS!

Bunko Night

COME ALONG AND JOIN IN THE CRAZY DICE GAME

THAT IS SWEEPING THE VILLAGE

Saturday 26^th September

7.30pm

Stenton Village Hall

Tickets £5 per person

includes crisps & dips,

soup & a roll

BYOB

You will need to bring £5 stake money on the night

& you get a chance to win a cash prize

(over 18's only)

Val 850735 Suzie 850657

All proceeds to Stenton School Parents Group

Stenton Village Walk

SUNDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2009

Starting at Stenton Village Green, walking to Garvald, then a “bring your own” picnic lunch at Garvald, walking back and finishing with a BBQ on Stenton Village Green

Start - 11.00am Village Green

Emma

Stenton Flower Show

I just wanted to put on a notice about the Stenton Flower Show which is Saturday 5th September at 2.30 pm.

There will be the famous Stenton Teas in the village hall (come early or all the meringues will have been scoffed). Geoff Underwood will be presenting the trophies.

The show is a "closed" show (i.e., not open to outsiders) so we will need all the entries we can get. Surely most people will have a few flowers, a potato or two, a pot of jam ..... it's a real villagey affair and great fun.

The Stenton Horticultural Society has been going since the 1850's and is probably the oldest in the district (although Innerwick claims this honour) and it would be a shame if it were to die from lack of support.

Amanda Mitchell

Car Key

Douglas Crawford has found a car key outside Ginglet Hill - anyone who thinks it might be theirs please contact Douglas.

Thanks

Emma

***IMPORTANT ***

On Monday night in the village, a couple of cars were broken into - one which had not been locked.  Small items were taken, but the thieves did have a good look through everything and left a bit of a mess.  

Hopefully nobody else had anything taken, as I know some of us are not very good at locking our cars! 

Anyway just a wee note to let you know perhaps might be worth being slightly more vigilant over the next wee while and if anyone sees anything suspicious to contact the police as they have been informed of the break-ins.  

Thanks

Emma

The Poem for July

Apologies to the Bard for the delay in posting his latest ‘masterpiece’, but Blogmaster K has been a little pre-occupied of late. However, back in harness again and here it is

Horace

Horace is fat,

Horace is smelly,

Horace lies on his back and wiggles his belly,

Horace has wrinkles covering his face,

And leaves large deposits all over the place

Horace has hair like a bristly wig,

Horace, sweet Horace the Vietnamese pig!

Bill Stevenson

There will be a service in Stenton Kirk on Tuesday 30 June 2009 at 7pm to bless Bill's appointment as Director of Boys Brigade in Scotland - everyone most welcome. Hope to see you there

Secret Organ Video

Managed to sneak into the pre-rehearsal rehearsal for Sarah’s wedding last week and snatched this short, shaky, secret video of the new organ in full(ish) flow.

Village Girl Weds

For those of you who could not make it to Sarah & Steven’s wedding on Saturday, I have uploaded my photos of the occasion so just click here Sarah & Steven's wedding photos to see them.

Eileen organised the much enjoyed fizz and food after the ceremony and should be mightily pleased with herself!!

BlogM K

Sprocket & The Poisonous Geranium

Have you ever seen such a scary sight as my Dad’s garden late at night?

Up the steps I quietly creep as leafy monsters children seek

That giant bush lurking there, its long fat feelers touch my hair

“Oh no”, it’s trying to pull me in, I shout and scream and make a din

With one great leap I clear its claws, as it tries to clamp me with its jaws

I see the door with shining light and run for it with all my might

But one thing nearly seals my fate, a poisonous geranium lies in wait

Lurking just out of sight by the front door on the right

Crash bang wallop, upside down, potting compost strewn around

The thing that saved my life by heck, I stood on it and broke its neck

Up the stairs into bed, blankets pulled up over head

Now I tremble feeling sad and wonder what to say to Dad

In bed again, here I lie, a small wet tear drop in my eye

Our little doggie who’s name was Sprocket really did get a rocket

“The silly dog” so they say, belting up the path one day

Leaping madly in the air collided with a geranium there

“That dog will have to go” raved dad, by was he hopping mad

So poor old Sprocket in disgrace was exiled to some far off place

Now here I sit feeling oh so sad

But not sad enough to own up to Dad

Written by Dick Irwin,posted by Blogmaster K

A P.S. to the Last Post (Not the bugle tune!)

If you’re reading this then you know about the Stenton Village Blog.

However, although it’s hard to believe, there are people out there who don’t know about the Blog.

Please let you family and friends know about the Blog in general and the photographic competition in particular

Many thanks

Blogmaster K

P.S. Here’s another one I made earlier! (January 2006)

Photographs of the Summer in Stenton

Here’s one I made earlier (January 2008 actually!).

Just goes to show that, whatever the season, the village of Stenton and the surrounding fields and farms can look stunningly beautiful.

The idea is straightforward :

A photographic competition

• The competition will be for photos taken this Summer (for our purposes Summer will be June, July & August)
• No restriction on subject, format, etc.
• Open to anyone of any age interested in Stenton
• Either post the photo on the Blog directly (if you don’t know how then contact Blogmaster K) or send the photo by e-mail to Stentonvillage@gmail.com and the Blogmaster will post them for all to see
• Judging may be via “An Expert” or a la BGT!
• Prize(s) to be decided

So why not get out there and starting snapping away for the Summer.

Blogmaster K

Stenton Village Gala 2009

Just a reminder (as if it’s needed!) that the Stenton village gala is set for a week today, Saturday 30 May 2009.

The fancy dress theme (only for the children I’m afraid!) this year is Movies/Films, so hopefully we can look forward to impersonations of Vincent & Jules, Batman & The Joker, Princess Leia & Padme and possibly Donna, Rosie & Tanya. (Can’t place all the characters? I’ll list them in a day or two!)

All the usual fun things to do, see, eat and drink, and all in a very good cause.

K VC SCA

At last, the photos are back from the chemist.!

..and so I can now report that last Saturday (9th May) a bunch of hardy perennials and assorted seedlings convened at the Bughts (latterly the eco-hippie encampment) to continue the clean up of the area and to discuss the establishment of a picnic area for villagers.

This phase of the work involved clearing all of the old protective plastic tubes and stakes from the now established trees.  Luckily, the rain stayed off and everyone had a good time.

It was decided to investigate the use tables and benches made from recycled plastic like the ones already in use at the school.  If you want to see what they are like follow this link  (Recycled plastic furniture).

If you want to see all of the photos taken by M CCR SCA follow this link (Moya's photos).

 

 

K VC SCA

Help Needed ...

...to tidy up the Bughts tomorrow (Saturday) at 11 am

Hopefully going to be dry and people are bringing a picnic lunch.

See you there

K VC SCA

Porcine Influenza Warning

New Poet Laureate, New Poem

No, not a poem by the new Poet Laureate (3 Firsts, First Scot, First Women & First Lesbian!) but a new monthly blog poem for May from the artistic roofer & slater, known to his friends as DI.

The Class of 4C

Dear old Mrs Creswell is under quite a strain,

That awful class of 4C is acting up again,

“Come along now Tarquin, Maths are really not that bad,

But if you’re not going to try, I’m writing to your Dad”!

“You won’t ever know how easy it is unless you really try it”.

These were the famous words she spoke that nearly caused a riot!

Missiles started flying, this way and that,

Pencils, rulers, books and the janitors old cat!

Miss Creswell she exploded, screaming, “You bunch of spotty mutts”,

Unless we get some order here, I’m gonna kick some butts”.

The riot stopped and silence fell as quickly as a trice,

As 4C cowered down like frightened little mice,

So if you ever have some hassle and it looks like being a tussle,

Just call on dear Miss Creswell to “Flex a little muscle”

Nice one Dick. If you enjoyed the poem, why not leave a comment.

Calling those that enjoy a Sunday morning lie-in..

..I was going to say Heathens, but then that might have been a tad non PC. Personally, I’d be happy to be classified as a heathen, but that's another story.

Back to the matter in hand and of course, those who enjoy a lie-in on a Sunday morning may not have seen the transformation of the Laird’s Gallery since the theft of part of it some weeks ago (see previous post!)

I noticed the church organist’s car parked outside the church a day or two ago and am hoping that we will have a tune out of the ornate box and tubes before too long.

If you have any further information on when the village can hear the new organ or even if you just enjoy the post, then please click the comment button and let me and the other reader (!) know.

K VC PNTNSCAC SCA

Crimewatch Update

The police are currently on a nationwide search for thieves who have apparently stolen part of the Laird’s gallery in Stenton Church.

As can be seen from the photograph, the thieves carefully removed the centre section of the gallery.  No doubt the scaffolding, recently built for the installation and voicing of the new Organ, made their task all the easier.

If anyone has any information regarding this heartless crime then please contact p c dixon@dockgreen.co.uk

On a totally unrelated matter, the work to install the new organ is moving on a pace and the latest estimates have the organ voiced and singing in 2-3 weeks.

K VC (PNC) SCA

Stenton Church - New Pipe Organ

On Tuesday 14 April 2009, scaffolding will be erected in front of the Laird's Gallery within the Church as the work on the installation of the organ commences. It is hoped that the work will be completed within 4-5 weeks and that the disruption will be kept to a minimum.

Apologies are given to all Church users for any inconvenience caused, but please bear with us as it will all be worth it in the end!

Organ Committee

The Bard's Poem for April

Jamie

Jamie has a long fuzzy nose

rather cute, I suppose

eyes a pinkish kind of red

lovely markings on his head

When Jamie walks into a room

all the ladies faint and swoon

middle aged go kind of frigid

grannies tend to go quite rigid

Jamie doesn't care at all

he runs across the floor and up the wall

he thinks it's rather silly that

they're frightened of a big brown rat

Thank you !!

A Big Thank You !!

To everyone who supported Stenton Post Office
over the last 28 years and to all those who very
kindly donated to my leaving present.

It was completely unexpected, very emotional and
much appreciated !!

Love and Best Wishes,

Doreen

Apparently Stenton Doesn’t Have Talent!

Well there we are.  No sooner have you washed your good socks, when they just up and cancel it.

To be clear, the Stenton’s Got Talent (Junior) event that was scheduled for Monday has been cancelled.  Not sure whether that is a real cancellation or a possible postponement

Watch this space!

K VC SCA

Post Office Closes

Doreen. thanks lots for everything you have done for the village. If anybody has any photos/video of the presentation to Doreen please send them to me (K VC SCA) and I’ll put them up for others to see. Thanks

The village now has a rather reduced post office service. This is being run by the postmaster from East Linton.

For two hours (12 noon to 2 pm) every Thursday he puts up the Post Office shingle and magically the room next to the kitchen in the Village Hall becomes Stenton Post Office.

The initial contract is for one year so if we want to keep even this level of service then we need to use the facility.

For more information on the scope of the Outreach Hosted Service being provided, please use this link Post Office Outreach Services

Use it or lose it!

The Hypochondriac – A Review Needed

Went to see the latest Stenton Footlights performance this evening (Friday) but, as a member of the production team (Set Design & Construction #2), it would be inappropriate for me to pen my review thoughts here.

Therefore, is there anyone out there who has been to see the play and wants to let the great Stenton Village Blog reading public know what they thought of it?

If you’re up for the job either give me a call on 01368 850279 or send the review text to stentonvillage@gmail.com

Thanks

K VC SCA

Stenton’s Got Talent

Just to inform you all that the local school children are putting on a Stenton's Got Talent in the Village Hall on Monday 30 March at 6.15pm.

Everyone from the community is more than welcome to come along - the more the merrier!!

Come and see what talent there is in the village - who knows they might all be famous one day!!

Looking forward to seeing you on Monday.

Emma Maguire

S SCA

Stenton Singers Quiz Night

Rook Distribution, see;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rook_(bird)

1996 Planetary Reclassification, see;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAU_definition_of_planet

Right, with those minor contentious issues out of the way, I am pleased to report a well attended and lively contest with the proceeds going towards the Stenton Organ Fund.

After 8 closely (well not terribly closely) fought rounds of competition, the winners were Tron, an ad hoc team chosen by playing card and comprising Libby Jeffrey, Angie Simpson, Angus Wilson and Ken Hare.

Special thanks should go to Audrey & Steven for dispensing the liquid refreshment, Chris for the number crunching and Moya & Lynda for the raffle & vittles.

K VC SCA

Committee Meeting Reminder

The next meeting of the Stenton Community Association committee will be held in the village hall on Wednesday 1 April 2009 starting at 7.30pm

Quiz Night Reminder

Just a quick reminder that there will be a quiz night in the Stenton Bowling Club tomorrow (Friday) night starting at 7.30pm ish.

All welcome.  Bar open and magnificent (according to Lynda) prizes!

See you there

What A Difference 2 Weeks Makes !

Well, well, well, Martin slaps a few botties and before you know it we have a side which, at least for 2/3rds of the match, played wonderful rugby and scored five tries. 

OK for the last third we eased up and allowed  France a few consolation points, but in the light of our previous 6 Nations games, this was a great improvement.

What is more important is that we had 15 men on the pitch for the whole 80 minutes for the first time in this year’s campaign !!

So, that’s what I think

Perhaps you have other opinions?

Or would you care to comment on mine?

If you don’t how to post a comment, then let me know on stentonvillage@gmail.com

Stenton Primary School Blog

Well, you’ve found the Stenton Village Blog and hopefully you will keep coming back and even consider commenting or posting your self.

So, why not bookmark the blog of Stenton Primary School and find out what our more junior villagers are up to.

The address is http://edubuzz.org/blogs/stenton/ 

K VC SCA

***Footlights Update***

So, apparently there was nobody who read my previous post requesting details of this year’s Footlights production, who knew anything about it. Who would have thought it !!

Luckily, courtesy of a colourful flyer skilfully handed to me by Maguire Child #2 (Debs), I am able to tell you that this year’s play is the last work of the 17th century French playwright, Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (AKA Moliere), The Hypochondriac (from the french, Le Malade Imaginaire).

The public performances, in Stenton Village Hall, run from Wednesday 25 March to Saturday 28 March 2009.

There will be a raffle and refreshments will be available at the interval.

Tickets, priced at £5 (Adult) and £4 (Child) are available now from Fiona Dobson on 01368 850206

The Poem for March

This month’s offering from the archives of Stenton’s only published poet is entitled ;

Emma and the Vampire Raspberry

As we walked down a leafy lane, past the fruit farm my friend and I

Underneath a gooseberry bush a giant raspberry I did spy

White sharp fangs, long black cloak, that is rather odd I note!

Suddenly with an evil scream it launched itself upon my throat

***

Help help my friend and I exclaim as we leg it down the leafy lane

We’ve been attacked by vampire fruit, we shout and bawl as off we scoot

But as we go crashing through the trees, poor Emma falls and skins her knees

Quick the raspberry red and fat is lining up for another attack

***

Down he swoops without a care on poor Emma lying there

But I grab him by his stumpy root and squash him underneath my foot

No more throats for him to eat, lets scrape him up and make a treat

We’ll take him home to auntie Nellie who’ll make him in to raspberry jelly

***

Now girls, here is something of note, should a rasp go for your throat

It’s obvious he wants to eat, so have a friend with ginormous feet

Make sure she always wears her wellies

And you’ll never be short of raspberry jellies

Nice one Dick. If you agree, or even if you don’t, then why not leave a comment.

By the way, the “Emma” in the poem was actually Emmajo Whitehead!

..Wherefore art thou..?

Now, as the construction crew (Angus Wilson, Keith Hillier and me) have just finished building the stage and set in the village hall, the indications are that there will be a Stenton Footlights production this year.

Good news, but does anyone out there have any details about the performance, cast, dates, ticket costs, etc ?

If you have any information then please post it on the blog or let me know ( stentonvillage@gmail.com ) and I’ll let our growing band of blog followers know.

Thanks

K VC SCA

Get Together Reminder

Just to remind all loyal readers that there will be an open house get together at Dick & Christine's tomorrow (Sunday 6 March 2009) from 7.30pm

Please bring a bottle.

We look forward to seeing as many as can make it but expect a major influx after the choir practice ends !

Stenton Singers Quiz Night

Get on down to the Bowling Club on Friday 20th March for a star studded Quiz Night. When I say star studded, I understand there may be an astronomy question or two!

The fun starts at 7.30pm. There will be an entry fee of £1 per person and teams of up to four will be allowed.

Proceeds from the evening will be donated to the Stenton Organ Fund.

Have You Lost a Lasagne Dish ?

A Lasagne dish (not this one!) has been left in the hall after the Mamma Mia night on Saturday.

If you brought a lasagne to the do, can you check whether you have collected your dish.

And Then There Were Four … Plus A Musician

The almost complete (66.67% full) Stenton Morris (in collaboration with the Morris Ring of the UK and the Loyal Ex-Colonies) has the honour to announce the signing of not one but 2 Sinclairs.

Coming in at #4 is the highly experienced and very keen (according to his wife) Hugh “Cross My Baldricks” Sinclair.

The second Sinclair to join the fledgling team is the maestro violinist and not bad fiddler, Verity who will take on the role of, guess what, Morris Musician.

Mr M Clifford, new PR spokesman for Stenton Morris, said “..we are very pleased to welcome the Sinclair duo to the team. All we need now are two more confident individuals to realise that they have always wanted to dance the Morris”

Applications, in the strictest confidence to stentonvillage@gmail.com

Come on you know it makes sense!

“Friday (actually Saturday!) Night and the Lights are Low ….”

..Looking out for the place to go”.

And the place to go on Saturday night was definitely Stenton Village Hall for the Sing-a-Long-a Mamma Mia Pot Luck Supper.

The evening started with good home cooked main course cuisine (by all accounts the Nutty Rice was outstanding!) followed by pud, all washed down with significant volumes of BYOB liquid.

Fancy dress was optional, but a few of the more extrovert village residents took the opportunity to dust off their dressing up clothes.  Here we see Doreen “Agnetha Faltskog” Thomsonsson posing with Jim “Benny Andersson” Wylieesson.

Following a very successful raffle (thanks to all who donated such nice prizes) it was on with the film and peripatetic cheese and biscuits.

 

The Dancing Queens (not you Dick!) were in their element as the film progressed though a goodly selection of the seminal works of the 70’s Swedish popular music group ABBA. 

Much in evidence, but in no particular order, were June, Barbara, Lynda, Moya,  Agnetha, Audrey, Audrey’s Friend, Joanne, Michelle, Verity, Emma, Fiona(s), Trina and many more.

The event had been organised to raise funds for the Community Association and at last count had added over £580 pounds to SCA coffers.  Well done to all involved.

Stenton Church Family Service

A Family Service is being held at Stenton Church on Sunday 22 February starting at 9.30am.

We’re sure that Geoff and Laurie Underwood will be there, as one of their family, The Reverend Jayne Scott, will be ministering to the congregation.

We hope to see you there.

Stenton Church Family Service

Come and join us on Sunday 22 February (never mind those hangovers from Mamma Mia!!) at 9.30am with Rev Jayne Scott (Geoff Underwood's daughter)

Hope to see you there

Makes It All Worth It !!

Including the hangover !

Stenton's Snowlady

How the children of Stenton spent a snowy Thursday during half term! A mascot for Stenton perhaps? Any ideas of a name for this lovely lady?

Going, Going………Not Quite All Gone

Only a few tickets left for the Mamma Mia & Pot Luck Supper Night on Saturday 21st February.

Don’t risk missing out on what promises to be the best ever Mamma Mia & Pot Luck Supper Night in Stenton this year!

If you need tickets (£10), or have some and need more, either;

• leave a comment to this post
• send an email to stentonvillage@gmail.com
• or phone me on 01368 850279

Fancy dress is optional, but I have a feeling that at least one of us already has his dress and wig looked out!!

Just need 3 More (and a Musician)!!

The convocation of Stenton Morris are pleased to announce the signing of Keith “Where‘s my Bells” Hillier to the May Day extravaganza!!

In an exclusive interview with Morris Times Keith said;

“..there are no easy matches, but I’m over the moon and as we all know, Morris Dancing is a funny old game”

The current members of Stenton Morris, VC SCA and T SCA, were not available for comment as they were out shopping for Baldricks.

Blog Stats & Training with a Prize

OK. so we have now had 138 visits to the blog by 44 unique visitors (courtesy of the wonder geeks at Google Analytics!)

Interestingly, 10% of the visits have been from the USA, with over 75% coming from London and Glasgow! Presumably this is something to do with the location of the servers. Most of you seem to be stuck with Internet Explorer whilst the more savvy of you are using Firefox or in one case, the new kid on the block, Google Chrome. All bar one or two are using Windows, so no surprise there!!. A few of you could look to upgrade your Flash version.

So, we are starting to get reasonable numbers visiting, and importantly, revisiting the Blog.

However, I’m sure some of you have views you would like to share, but perhaps don’t know how to. This is where the comments link at the bottom of each post comes in. If you have a point or a comment to make then just click on the comment link and, after any previous comments, is an empty comments box. Just type in your comment and click on the post comment box. In the first instance perhaps you should comment as anonymous (mostly because it’s easier than going through setting up or using profiles!) but don’t forget to put your name at the end of the comment.

Now, to see whether you have been paying attention, please comment on this post, anything you like but remember to include your email address. For every comment published I will send a copy of the good aerial photograph of Stenton above which I got from my dentist (don’t ask !!). I have had an A4 print made and it is a very clear image showing all of the houses.

Happy blogging

K VC SCA stentonvillage@gmail.com

PS I wonder who the ex-colonial blog viewers are?

A Message from Dick Irwin

In case anybody missed the comment left by Dick on the Burns Night post. here it is again ;

“Hello,

After heating costs and portaloos paid for approximately £400 raised for charity to be split between Dunbar Life Boat and Sick Kids.
A big THANK YOU to all who contributed.

Dick”

Attention Junior Readers (and poetry lovers everywhere)

The poet laureate of Stenton would like to initiate a regular monthly poetry spot for our junior villagers. This month’s poem is called;

Sammy the Spider

Sammy the spider was a fine handsome chap

Long lanky legs and hair down his back

Round, fat and bumptious,as tough as cold steel

One glance from old Sammy could make the girl’s squeal

***

But Sammy got smart on a sprint through the hall

And never did notice the foot start to fall

A size nine and a half soon took its toll

And Sammy the spider was stuck to the sole!

***

The flies were quite happy to see Sammy flat

No longer to sprint across the hall mat

They thought it so funny to see poor Sam fall

But one swipe of a paper stuck them to the wall!

Stenton Morris : ***Sponsor Update***

Despite currently only having 2 signed up dancers, no musicians but with 2 camp followers, the juggernaut rolls on with the announcement today of headwear sponsorship.

The gentleman roofer of The Gables (not Pantiles!), Stenton has kindly offered to provide (in)appropriate hats as he has a box full of the damn things after the Burns sketch at Eastfield on Friday last.

So that’s the hats sorted, now we just need a few more bodies and other elements of the uniform and we are on track for a unique experience on May 1 2009.

K VC SCA stentonvillage@gmail.com

Let’s Get Together (Again!)

Continuing the winter season of open house get-togethers, the next one will be held at Dick & Christine Irwin’s house (The Gables, Stenton) on Sunday 8 March 2009 from 7.30pm onwards. As before at David & Sally’s, please BYOB.

As an added incentive, Dick hopes that, if all goes well, there could also be the unveiling of an Irwin family portrait by the Edinburgh based artist, Damien Callan.

X Factor Valentines Karaoke at the Bowling Club

Saturday 14th February 2009. (8.00pm onwards)

FREE ADMISSION ... Children Welcome.

Calling all Ex-Pats, Hankies at the Ready !

..And by ex-pat of course we mean any body from the wrong side of the Tweed (OK, the English for those slow on the uptake!)

The Nationalist fervour whipped up on Friday night at Eastfield had an effect on one or two of the Sassenachs present.

Why not put together a Morris Dancing team and plan to dance at least one dance on the village Green on May Morning, this year, at sunrise (forecast to be at 5.22am !!)?

Any takers ? We will also need musicians and camp followers are to be encouraged!

K VC SCA stentonvillage@gmail.com