Netherfield

Netherfield Mobile Library Service: My apologies to those who read this column for details of when the library service appears outside the Netherfield Stores and Cafe. I missed advertising it for 13 December this week. I hope it did not spoil your reading pleasure.

Reflections on a Garden: What an end to the year. Yet another radical change in the weather to see us through the festive period. The wildlife is certainly thankful as nothing now gets frostbite as they venture from the relative warmth of their shell, in the case of snails, or, if one of the many species of bird that remain here over the winter, seek to crack the icy covering which pervades so many sources of water around the county. What we don’t need is another warm surge, which will tempt the many mammals, already in hibernation, to believe that we are on the verge of spring and therefore venture out into the winter sunshine, months before they should.

A Christmas Poem by Ben Cordery:

It’s a cold and dull December day, grey, with clouds hung low

Many years since it passed this way the oft-predicted snow

Another Christmas song we hear with words so bland and quirky

It mentions times of festive cheer, another Christmas turkey!

Candles lit and lights on trees with presents sat beneath

Decorations hung to please and door with festive wreath

Carollers calling with hands held out wanting cash for just one line

I say “No thanks” but do not shout, after all, it’s Christmas time

My gifts all bought and tightly wrapped then soon comes Christmas morn

Spent with family, firmly trapped and bright new jumper worn

Paper, paper everywhere the place is such a mess

Discarded wrappings here and there but mum Likes her new dress

Crackers pulled by young and old, paper hats and silly rhymes

Flaming pud or trifle cold, the most wonderful of times

After lunch and washing plates it’s time to watch the Queen

What time is the Great Escape? Not hard to choose between

And after that a catnap take, dad laid out on his back

Glasses chink, he’s soon awake and ready for a snack

With the big day done and folks abed, just time for one last beer

A find old day it must be said, same time, same place next year

So there you go, the weather man, he got it wrong again

The weather, unexpected, turned to rain

We miss out down our road I fear, despite those clouds hung low

And once again I say this year, “Merry Christmas, where’s the snow?”

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