Have you seen that the word “post” has been painted on the road in several places in the village? An arrow from the word points to a spot where it seems the post is to be erected – though in the case of the one opposite the village hall the spot is on the dry stone wall. I am intrigued to know what might appear to need support from all these posts. Any ideas?

Alstonefield Parish Council would like to thank our Lengthmen for the great work undertaken throughout the year in maintaining our beautiful village.

Thank you also to all who assisted in replacing the posts around the village greens. Another job well done…

Would you like to spend a pleasant afternoon each week with like-minded people?  Would you like to learn such diverse skills as Crewelwork, Calligraphy or Transfer Dye printing?  (to name but a few!). Then come along and join Alstonefield Arts & Craft Group on Tuesday afternoons from 2.00 pm. to 4.30 pm. in the Village Hall. We welcome everyone from the Parish and immediate surrounding villages. For more information please contact Cathy on 310125 or Jani on 310366.

Please note that details of funeral services which take place at St. Peter’s Church, will appear on the main Church page under ‘Special Services’.

A gentleman has contacted the website to ask if anyone knows of any descendants of Thomas Stones & Elizabeth Wall (married in Alstonefield in 1790) and their son Daniel. If you can help, let me know. Thanks.

There has not been enough support or interest in an extension and we will therefore not be pursuing this suggestion.

The next Parish Council meeting will be on Wednesday 11th November at 7.00pm in the Village Hall. The meeting will commence with a Public Forum to which all Parishioners are invited. Come along and have your say.

Following some lively debate on the website Forum, this issue was discussed at the last Parish Council meeting, both during the public forum and the meeting itself. There had been suggestions that the speed limit through the village be lowered to 20mph, however it was concluded that such a move would be unnecessary and we would not in any case meet the criteria for a 20mph zone. It was decided that the main objective should be to ensure that drivers keep to the existing 30mph limit and the Community Police Officer will be contacted for advice and with a view to enforcement.

Various proposals were put forward and accepted at the last Council meeting on 30th September which include increasing and improving the signage around the village to encourage visitors to use car parks and not to park unsafely, inappropriately or on verges. Car park security will be reviewed in conjunction with the implementation of this project. The proposals now have to be costed and appropriate bodies such as Highways and the Police will be consulted, therefore please do not expect a ‘quick fix’. In the meantime, a suggestion from a Parishioner that notices be placed in the public toilets advising of alternative car parks, will be actioned.

Parishioners may also be interested to know that the Honesty Box in the Playing Fields car park is working, with over £50 having been collected in the 6 weeks to end September.

It’s the early hours. As one particular village machine is causing a sleepless problem, I resort to another machine and review the village website and notably the forum. I don’t have Eileen’s erudition, nor the wit to conjure up phantom airships, and the first day of school sadly belongs to a bygone era. We hold our hands up, and wonder why on earth we felt it was OK to drive onto a pavement to post a letter. And yet some posts have left good people feeling unfairly criticised.

Written words have a perculiar power that can make or break depending on how they are read. Take an innocent invitation – one popped through my door makes me feel warm and fuzzy and yet one displayed on someonelse’s mantlepiece taunts me. Am I the only person in the village not invited? What’s wrong with me? I wail. Daft isn’t it! We can’t invite everybody to everything. Then I remember how I swanned on my sofa for a month after an operation while my lovely new neighbours cleaned, washed, ironed and made cakes…good job too as I had so many visitors to feed. Then Brian was so ill and even our lawn was tenderly cared for. Every newsletter carries invites and thanks from one caring set of neighbours to another.

We live is a very special place, but that takes many good people to volunteer for jobs the rest of us would not want to do. Sleep will probably elude them too. So to all you unsung heroes – and heroines ‘Thank You’.
G’night all.

We want to black lead the iron grids which cover the heating system in Church and paint the front gates of church. It is not heavy work and we hope to be able to black lead the ironwork outside to reduce any mess made. If you can help, please come along on Wednesday and Friday evenings, 16th & 18th September, from 6.30 – 8.00 pm. Thanks.