Iden

CALM DOWN DEAR!: What is it with Christmas lights nowadays? To all intents and purposes, they seem to be auditioning for the '˜X Factor', plunging from ordinary static mode, into a wild frenzy of movements, that take the wind out of my sails. At the press of a button, we get to choose which style of frantic [Diversity style] dance is to be played out on our tree, by a string of fairy lights. It's all too much [it could give an old girl like me palpitations!] To be honest, I'm not all that keen on chaser lights. I like my Christmas bulbs to be stationary, [plain Jane and no nonsense.] On Christmas Eve, there is that lovely sense of pre-Christmas day peace isn't there, and I don't want over-zealous lights to interrupt the calm. The cards are all sent, the presents wrapped, the turkey's nether regions are full of thyme, and onions, the house smells of cinnamon and oranges, the Christmas table is laid, and out comes the plate [that needs a bit of a dust], that says 'Mince Pies For Santa'. I put on some music [a bit of Bing, or carols from King's College Cambridge], break open the '˜After Eights', find an armchair and a glass of Ginger Wine, and listen to the sound of silence. It's that spiritual moment that I've never quite been able to describe!
Iden newsIden news
Iden news

TONIGHT IN IDEN VILLAGE HALL: There will be a talk tonight, at the ‘Iden and District Natural History Society’, entitled ‘A Few Of My Favourite Things’, by Norman Sims. Visitors pay £3, for an informative evening. The meeting starts at 7.30pm.

A SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION: There will be a service of Holy Communion in Iden Parish Church, on Sunday, at 9.30am.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

THE CAROL SERVICE: There will be a Carol Service, in Iden Parish Church, at 7.30 pm, on Thursday 22nd December. It’s always a wonderful service, and such a lovely start to Christmas .There will be wine and nibbles afterwards, and a chance to wish each other a Happy Christmas!

CHRISTMAS EVE CHURCH SERVICES: On Saturday 24th December, there will be a 3.30pm Crib Service at Playden, and Midnight Mass at Playden, beginning at 11.3opm.

CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICES: There will be a 9.30 am Family Service, at Iden Parish Church, and an 11am Family Service at Playden.

NEW YEAR’S EVE: There will be a Watch Night Service at St Mary’s in Rye.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

COMBINED SERVICE: There will be a combined service in Iden Parish Church to welcome the new year [raise a glass afterwards to toast the New Year in the Old Hall].

A CHANCE TO SHINE: I say this every year [so it’s a bit same old, same old], but it’s evergreen time again. Those dear old hollies and firs, that have stood in the shadows all year round. Outshone by shy spring buds, which become voluptuous foliage in summer, and hit the glory button in autumn, with their beautiful yellow-gold hues, they are now poised for recognition. What’s a person [sorry, tree] to do, when they only have the one gown of dark green to last them ad-infinitum. Well, shine while the goings good my dear [would be my advice]. Thankfully there is usually a pre-Christmas rain to shower them off, producing a bit of necessary gloss, and they have seasonal adornment, in the form of pine cones and red berries. “who do they think they are”, I can imagine deciduous trees blubbing into the wind. They themselves are reduced to nothing more than shivering sticks by now [pride always does come before a fall] All I can say to the holly tree in my garden, which looks something of a picture right now is “Go girl, and give us a twirl!”

CONTACT ME: If anyone has anything to add to the Village Voice, please ring Gill Griffin [telephone 01797 280311]

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RyeandBattleObserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @RyeObs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Rye and Battle Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.