Ninfield Village Voice

Disco Night Tonight!! I hope you've got your dancing shoes ready and a bit of glitter to hand! SOOOOO looking forward to seeing everyone tonight for a good old Bop, leaving our collective worries at the door and losing ourselves in the soundtrack of our lives! See just below for all the details....and see you later!!

Ninfield Community Café: Friday 11th October 10-11.30am. A lovely morning to catch up with friends, family and neighbours over a cup of your chosen beverage and biscuits!!

FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY!

Friday 11th October -

A Friday night special!

'Club 339'- A Disco Night for Adults!

Purely for those who still yearn for a good old Bop in a Club; who long for those mirror ball moments on the dance floor; and who have been devotees of the Kitchen Disco while listening to all those favourite 70s, 80s and 90s classics on the radio....

This is YOUR evening.!

It's TONIGHT!!!

Friday October 11th, doors open at 7pm, full out dance fun from 7.30-10.15pm then a 'slow down' til finish at 10.30pm.

ONLY £5 per person - Nibbles, Libations and Refreshments also available, bring CASH!

From Chaka Khan to Chic via Chesney...

From Northern Soul, to Saturday Night Fever via the ChaCha Slide

There'll also be chances to learn a few old routines from the Discoteque Days -remember 'Ladies Night', 'Pink Cadillac', ??! You may even get to 'row' home - 'Oops, upside...'?!

But the whole Idea is for you to come in, get down, have fun and lose yourself in the music and lights of the soundtrack to your life!

Dress...? To dance...!! Comfy shoes, no stilettos!

There'll be limited seating as it's a Dance night...a night to move both Body and Soul, and uplift the Spirits!!!!

Tickets will be available on the door, SO Let's PACK that dance hall floor!

#Club339 Friday October 11th

Ninfield Memorial Hall 7pm

See you then!

Hooe and Ninfield Open Group-

Our next meeting will be on Friday 11th October at 2.00p.m. in the Methodist Hall.

All are welcome.

Nicki & Heather

Monday 14th October: Ninfield Horticultural Society AGM, Memorial Hall, doors open 7pm for 7.30pm start. After the official bit there will be a talk from Malcolm Buller on preparing Daffodils for the Show! Do come up, renew or take up a subscription, and have a good ol' chat about all things Horticultural! Call Kaye Crittell for more information, 01424 892883

Saturday 19th October: Ninfield Village Market, Memorial Hall, 9.30 - 12 midday. Lots of lovely crafts, foods, preserves, cakes and all at great prices! The Café will be serving bacon and egg rolls, cakes, Tea and Coffee.

The next Major Village event is Ninfield Bonfire and Fireworks Night on Saturday 19th October....you will have had a flyer through the door with all the details and numbers to call for further information.

Itinerary is-

7pm - Line up in Church Lane.

7.30pm - Torchlit Procession leaves and walks through The Green, Manchester Road, High Street, The Green to...

Recreation Ground - Chant and Lighting the Bonfire

Grand Fireworks Display.

There'll be buckets and sacks collecting donations throughout the evening... Please bring some cash for these collection points..All monies go to the Fireworks and good causes.

Please see below for Animal welfare advice. Ninfield is SO LUCKY having Vicky Payne, Veterinary practice care and Animal behaviour specialist, in the Village, and her document below is upheld and used by ALL Bonfire Societies within the East Sussex area.

FIREWORK SAFETY FOR PETS AND LIVESTOCK

Although fireworks can be alarming to pets and livestock, Ninfield Bonfire Society believe that a single organised display gives animal guardians the best chance of managing the situation safely and effectively.

Ninfield Bonfire Society complies with all relevant regulations surrounding firework displays including noise levels and distance from fields with livestock. Villagers are notified in advance of the event by flyers through the letterbox, as well as prominent signs around the village, and social media posts.

This advice is designed to give guidance on keeping your animals as happy as possible during our display and other local events; however animal guardians remain solely responsible for their animal’s welfare.

PART 1 ON BONFIRE NIGHT

Dogs and cats

Ideally you should start desensitising your pets to firework noises well in advance of bonfire season (see Part 2 Prevention) but it is easy to forget how upset your pet got until the nights start drawing in. If bonfire season has crept up on you don’t try to start a desensitisation programme; instead plan to help your dog or cat cope.

Many dogs and cats like to retreat to a safe den during fireworks so make sure they have one. For dogs this might mean a crate covered in a blanket, or putting their bed behind the sofa. Cardboard boxes work well for cats! Introduce these safe dens in advance of bonfire season if possible.

Some dogs and cats respond well to tight fitting calming vests called Thunder Shirts. Consider pheromones which can help to relax pets. DAP (for dogs) comes as a collar, diffuser, or spray; and Feliway for cats comes as a diffuser or spray. Both are available from your vet or online and should be used for a couple of weeks before you expect fireworks to start. Your vet might also suggest herbal and nutraceutical calmers. Some of these act very quickly, others should be given for a week or so before you expect fireworks.

For more serious firework phobias your vet may prescribe sedative or anxiolytic drugs, but be sure to book an appointment to discuss these well ahead of time! Some owners find a carbohydrate-based meal in the evening helps their dogs be calmer during fireworks, but don’t do this if your dog tends to have vomiting or diarrhoea when stressed.

Keep your pet indoors when you know a bonfire event is planned. As people may let fireworks off outside planned event times it is sensible to lock cat flaps after dark and to ensure your dog has been walked before dusk. Close curtains and turn on the lights so flashes outside are less noticeable. If your dog is particularly afraid of fireworks it would be sensible to take them into the garden on a well-fitting collar or harness and lead them to the toilet during fireworks season even in the daylight, just in case one goes off. Also make sure the garden is secure to reduce the risk of escape.

During a display have the TV or radio on to mask sounds and as a distraction. Some dogs can be distracted during fireworks by play or training exercises, others will want to cuddle up for security, and others will feel best in their den. Be guided by your dog and don’t try to make them do anything he doesn’t want to. Don’t leave dogs which are likely to be distressed by fireworks on their own during displays. The easiest solution for some dogs living close to organised displays can be to go and visit a friend in another village for the evening.

Horses

Most horses will be safest in their stables during firework displays, however make sure someone is watching them and can take action if they become afraid. If horses are not used to being stabled they might be safer left out in a secure field or arena with safe fencing. A rug and boots are advisable to prevent accidental injury and horses should be observed at all times during a display. Calming supplements and medications can be recommended by your vet. Consider moving very nervous horses to stables or fields further away from the event.

Livestock

Livestock will startle at the beginning of a display but usually settle fairly quickly when they realise there is no harm. Like horses they may react more badly to being in a confined space. Move sensitive livestock such as in calf cows and pregnant ewes as far from the event as possible and ensure that fences are secure and safe to reduce the risk of injuries.

Small pets

Small pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs being kept outside could be scared by the noise and flashes of fireworks so consider bringing their hutch inside during bonfire season. If you notice a decrease in how much your rabbit or guinea pig is eating visit the vet as stress can cause gut stasis, which can be serious if left untreated.

PART 2 PREVENTION

Dogs

Ideally the breeder of your puppy should start proofing your puppy against noise phobias from as early as two or three weeks old. Being in a busy household and hearing pots and pans crash, vacuums whine, children shriek, and perhaps specific noise CDs while he is too young to be afraid should mean your puppy is less sensitive to sounds once you get them home. Continue this training once you bring your puppy home using noise apps or CDs (try the Sound Proof Puppy app http://www.my-puppytraining.com/ or the Clix Noises and Sounds CD http://www.companyofanimals.co.uk/product/clixnoises-sounds-cd ).

The same apps/CDs can be used to desensitise older dogs to noises, including fireworks. Start in a place where your dog feels relaxed (such as your kitchen or lounge), and wait until they are doing something pleasant such as eating or playing with you. Then start a noise CD on minimum volume – you may not even be able to hear it. Repeat this daily, gradually increasing the volume. If at any point your dog reacts negatively go back to a lower volume. Once you can play the CD loud, play it in other rooms (go down a few levels of volume). Ideally your dog will notice the noise but return to eating or playing. The next steps are to play the fireworks randomly when the dog isn’t already eating or playing. Go right back to low volume and if your dog doesn’t react give food treats or play a game. Once your dog seems pretty happy about the CD noises you won’t need to practise every day, but some training in the build up to bonfire season is a good idea.

Unfortunately the CDs aren’t perfect reproductions of fireworks, and may lack some of the high pitched noises only dogs can hear, they also don’t come with big flashes in the sky. This means some dogs will desensitise well to CDs but not to real firework events. If at any point your dog seems distressed by the training, or you can’t progress past very low volume consult your vet for referral to a behaviourist. Some dogs will need medication and general behavioural therapy to get them feeling good enough to start noise desensitisation.

Other Animals

It is possible to use desensitisation programmes with other animals, but it simply isn’t practical to try and desensitise whole herds of cattle or flocks of sheep! The noise CDs discussed above could be used in horses in a similar way to dogs; playing them very softly at first while grooming or feeding the horse, and maybe while schooling them later on. It would be important to carry the desensitisation training on into the evenings, and to be aware that it is harder to protect horses from the startling flashes in the sky. Cats can be desensitised in the same way as dogs, though training sessions should be shorter

Memorial Hall: Monday 21st October, 6.30pm Committee Meeting- NOT the AGM! But it IS a Finance meeting, and Residents are invited to attend. There'll be discussions on hire fees for next year and a review on the year past. Do come along and find out more about your Village Hall

Ninfield Art Group: Exhibition and Sale of Work.

Saturday and Sunday, 26th & 27th October. Memorial Hall -10 -4pm each day . Free admission, parking, disabled access, refreshments available

The Ninfield Local History Group:

We are resuming our oral history project. We want to hear memories of growing up and living in Ninfield in the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s. If you would like to take part please contact John on 07989 373336 (email [email protected]). It works well with 2 to 5 people together so if you have some friends who would also like to join in but individuals can also do it. Hope to hear from you!

Halloween: There will be an event this year!! Thanks to Emma Kehoe and Catriona Smith for taking on the mantle after my Retirement from this event last year, after 20 years of organising it! I think it will take this format ..

4.30 Sparke Pavilion for Fancy dress competition and dancing, 6pm Trick or Treat around the Village. If anything changes I will let you know here in the column!

GALA NIGHT!!!!

Now, you know that we live in the 'Village that never Stops' as opposed, but not dissimilar, to NYC, the City that never Sleeps, so please put Saturday 23rd November on your calendar and into you phone; it's The Gala Night at the Memorial Hall - a Black Tie event, with Fish and Chips Supper, a Bar, a Cabaret Revue Show with Déjà Revue- and a special guest, plus the Village Awards, and presentations of donation cheques to Charities, including Canine Partners. There'll be a Grand Raffle and music for Dancing to end the evening, with carriages at Midnight. It's such a brilliant evening, great fun, lots of laughs and surprises and very glamorous; and, at just £20 per head it's really good value... plus it's on your doorstep! No long journeys and no parking problems... Tickets are available to book from NOW! Call me 07870650321, or email [email protected]

Ninfield Carnival Association.

Heads up!! -It'll be our 90th Anniversary next year, 2025, and we would like to reinvent the Carnival Floats Procession as part of the Celebrations. If you'd be interested in helping with this, and have more ideas to help celebrate #NCA90, please get in touch by email/phone, or come up and say hello at the next meeting which is The AGM on Wednesday 9th October, 7.30pm for 8pm start with food and drinks, to be held at Sparke Pavilion.

Please come and join us, we're a fun and enthusiastic group, who just enjoy creating magical events for Ninfield!

Only in Ninfield can you have... A Café, A Village Market, A Wildlife Bat Walk, A Country Michaelmas Fayre, A Film at the Cinema, A Band Night, A Disco Night, A Race Night , Various themed Social gatherings, A Spectacular Bonfire and Fireworks Night, and a full on Gala Night with Show, Supper, Awards and Charity presentations....all in the space of about 10 weeks!!!

This Village is incredible, the organisers, volunteers and helpers are tireless and amazing, and, even though there's a fair bit of work to get it all up and running, the reward is to see local residents and families of all ages enjoying these things right on their doorstep.

Please keep supporting the events, and charity nights....all monies raised go to really worthy causes locally and beyond.

We're very proud of our Village...and it's supportive friends in the surrounding areas; keep on keeping on Ninfield , and Thank you!

Ideas are still requested for Friday Nights in the Hall ..what would make you come out for the evening?

Would you like a night in the Theatre, a Show or Cabaret?

A Cinema evening, a recent blockbuster? Or a vintage showing?

I've decided to do a dazzling Disco Night- SEE ABOVE!!

Then what about a Blues evening?

All thoughts welcome...we can have a Pay Bar and full Supper or Snacks....the thing is...the Hall can turn into all sorts of guises, and it's ON YOUR DOORSTEP! No driving, no parking, for locals... and if you're coming from the surrounding area, parking is right at the venue (and a taxi for the journey back, if necessary, is not too expensive!) Please let me know if you have an idea, or would like to book something in...there are alternate Friday evenings available throughout the year!

There is a lot of good stuff happening in the Ninfield Village Memorial Hall - it's the Hall for all residents to use, and everyone is welcome to come and join meetings, and get involved in events. Please call me on 07970650321 or email [email protected] for any further information.

Dark Skies: If you want to hear more on the Dark Skies, Bat walks, Planet spotting please email [email protected] and enclose your mobile number if you'd like to be added to the WhatsApp group.

Singing Group - The Friendly Voices, the Mantra is .. - 'we'll try anything once!'. The group meets on Tuesday evenings at the Methodist Hall at 7.30-8.30pm and Thursday afternoons at Sparke Pavilion 2-3pm. Anyone is welcome to come along and at only £1 a session, it's cheap entertainment! Contact Kaye Crittell for more information, [email protected]

Movement 2 Music, Update!! Reasons to be cheerful...parts 1,2 and 3!!

Combine some excellent exercise with a coffee and a chat...!

Not only for the older, but still active person, but also for those recovering from injury, illness or awaiting an operation..it's so important to keep the muscles moving, to 'keep pushing along'(to quote esteemed Mama)to 'do just a bit', 'to move it or lose it', and I have now revitalised my Monday morning class to make sure there's something for everyone, including a new routine, different music, a lovely stretch after the main exercises, followed by half an hour of natter over coffee (and biscuits!) So, I would love to welcome more new people to our fabulous group. - there are a few places still available.. please see the details below, and you can always call for a chat before committing; I can only say, and it's not just bias, that the M2M hour and a half is SO beneficial, sets you up for your day, helps lift the spirits and 'gets it all going' for the week ahead!

Ninfield Community Speedwatch: Please see if you have the time to join up with the volunteers who are trying to help reduce the speeding traffic through the village!. This is really important work, and will help Ninfield be a safer place to live . There is some training first, and then you'll be inducted by the experienced volunteers. Email [email protected] or call David on 01424 892248

Ninfield Health and Wellbeing Group aims to promote the health and wellbeing of people in the local community. Established in 2018, the NHWG is an umbrella organisation supporting a range of activities.

Ninfield Lunch Club.

This is a very popular addition to the activities under the Health and Wellbeing umbrella! For more information, and to enquire about places/booking, please contact Maggie on: 07985588524 or email: [email protected]

Book Exchange and Community Café.

Methodist Hall 10 – 11.30 weekly on Friday.

First Friday monthly: Book Exchange and chat over tea/coffee and biscuits. Donations asked for books and refreshments. A good range of books and good company.

Community Café open on all other Friday mornings – you will be made very welcome.

For further details contact David on 07989729123 or email [email protected]

Women’s Crafting and Knitting Circle.

Memorial Hall. Weekly 10.30 am – 12.30 pm. £5 per session. A well established friendly group.

For more information contact Jane on 01424 892428.

Health Walks.

Every Thursday. Trained local volunteers lead a gentle walk of about an hour. Meet 11am at Sparke Pavilion at Ninfield Recreation ground near the main entrance off Church Lane. A few more walkers welcome. Part of the East Sussex Health Walks scheme. Please wear suitable footwear. Contact Robin for more details: 01424 892778 or [email protected]

Men’s Shed.

Sparke Pavilion. 10 am last Friday of the month. Men putting the world to rights over free coffee.

For more information contact Dave: 01424 892883.

Film Matinees

Memorial Hall Tuesday afternoons. Doors open at 1.30. Films start at 2 pm. FREE entry and refreshments. Dementia friendly and subtitles.

We look forward to welcoming you next on..

5 November: The African Queen

10 December: The Greatest Showman

For more information or to book a place (to ensure enough cake!) contact Jackie or Rose: 01424 892422 or email: jackie.langley1@ btinternet.com

DANCE/EXERCISE CLASSES

Samantha Hughes-Guard A.I.S.T.D (Hons)

Please call 07970650321 or email me at [email protected] for more information.

Movement 2 Music - Monday mornings 10-11.30am at the Memorial Hall-

Chair based and Standing exercises for the Older but Still Active person.- great fun, lots of laughs and a singalong too -