Iden

Belfield, Main Street

Well I’ve pinked the edges of the last Christmas card for next years tag labels [what a miser] and the New Year is under way. I’ve lived in a few locations in my time,and have always greeted the New Year with some trepidation. Since moving to Iden, I look forward to it. The New Year stretches out like a veritable ‘Yellow Brick Road ‘.Not only are there tried and tested events,but there is always the promise of Iden spontineity.

Before I go haring into the New Year though there wasn’t an Iden voice last week due to a technical error, so I’m going to back track to the Iden Christmas meal, held in the village hall on 21st December .Now I don’t know if you know this, but for weeks before Christmas, Paul and Mandy Parsons held clandestine meetings with their team of helpers, in the dead of night, to ensure that the annual Iden Christmas lunch, was everything that we would wish it to be.

Fifty Iden residents turned up at the village hall looking splendid [they know how to dress for the occasion these Iden folk].There was mulled wine, crackers, table presents and a flower arrangement for each lady, all set amongst a haze of red and green Christmas foliage. The real star of the show though was the food itself, all cooked by Paul Parsons who is an excellent chef. In fact, rather than say ‘what was there to eat’ what was more to the point, ‘what wasn’t there to eat’. A choice of starter, roast turkey and all the trimmings, and a choice of sweet, followed by mince pies and coffee. Paul take a bow! Thank you also Mandy for your organisational skills.

Carol Bourne arranged a Snow White sketch, which was hilarious in it’s simplicity. Ray Griffin manned a game of Christmas bingo, enjoyed by everyone,especially those who called ‘HOUSE’ [always nice isn’t it to win a few pence towards the Christmas ham?] Thank you Anne, Fiona and Ray, for serving everyone. In fact they slid to each table, [the condensation from those sprouts Is unbelievable!]

We constantly hear that Christmas is too commercialized, but the carol service in Iden church made me feel that the real meaning of Christmas is very much in evidence. The church was packed, it looked beautiful, and the camaraderie was palpable. Susannah Miller on the organ, and Caoroline Kehoe on the oboe, played ‘The Pastoral Symphony’ from Handel’s Messiah, which was beautiful. It was lovely to see Teresa our vicar at the service, may she continue to feel better.

Lets face it, we couldn’t live on festive fare forever. Those bucks fizz breakfasts, and sage and orange infused stilton are all very well, but the New Year heralds the need for a nice cup of tea and a slice of ordinary cheddar. I must confess though, I was trying to give up salt and vinegar crisps, but as I write this I’m munching away on one [whoever concocted salt and vinegar has enriched my life]

Iden is already blazing a trail of New Year activity. The WI. is holding an open meeting on 14th January in the village hall, at 7,30pm. All are welcome.Sue White is giving a talk on her work with the charity ‘BACE’ which does wonderful work in the Gambia.

There will be a Parish Communion service on 12th January at 9.30am.

Iden short mat bowls is held every Wednesday in the village hall from 2pm-4pm. Refreshments are served, and it makes a pleasant afternoon. All are welcome. Please contact Teresa Parsons [telephone 01797 280143] if you wish to come along.

The next ‘Pop In’ is on 20th January at 11am in the village hall. All are welcome, so do come along. There is tea/coffee, biscuits, bric-a-brac, and much laughter. There is also more gossip than you can shake a stick to!

On 1st February, a jumble sale will be held in aid of the Iden Bowls club, at 1pm in the village hall. Please take your jumble to the hall by 10am on that day.Vicky Britton [telephone 01797 280568] will collect jumble if necessary, if you give her a few days notice. No electrical goods. It’s a perfect time to get rid of cast-offs before we all get stuck into the spring cleaning, so sort out those wardrobes!

Rehearsals are under way for the Pantomime ‘Red Riding Hood’ to be performed in the village hall in March. The Pantomime is written and produced by our own Bob Hammond. Don’t forget all you thespians,Sunday afternoon rehearsals in the village hall.

I do love this village it’s so joyful!

Why don’t we all go outside and take a deep breath of 2014 air. Savour it. Go on, lean on the gate and take stock. There is much to look forward to.

Iden does do a lovely spring.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the Iden Voice please contact Gill Griffin [telephone 01797 280311]