Northiam

Badminton: The badminton clubs will only be taking a break for Boxing Day, so, if you want to justify those mince pies, come and have a run around – 8pm each Friday in the Pretious Sports Hall.

Flu: Just a quick plug for the day job! The uptake of flu vaccinations for the under 65s with chronic conditions has been quite low this year. Although flu is an unpleasant but self-limiting infection in otherwise healthy people, for at risk groups it can cause serious illness and even death. If you are pregnant or suffer from asthma, COPD, diabetes, chronic heart, liver or kidney disease, you may be entitled to a free flu jab either from your surgery or from participating pharmacies. And the weather’s turning.......

Carols by Candlelight: Start Christmas week with the timeless celebration of carols and readings lit by candles in St Mary’s at 6.30pm on Sunday. The builders have removed the scaffolding, and the church is watertight and a great deal smarter than it has been for a while, so come along to have a look, and celebrate.

Coffee Stop: Coffee Stop will be taking a well-earned break this week, but, fear not, the kettle will be back on the boil for New Year’s Eve!

Sheep: I have been quite excited to bump into a few of the lost sheep dotted about the village, and I hope you are enjoying looking for them, too. There are 20 knitted sheep of all shapes and sizes waiting to be found in time for the Crib Service, and there is a list in the Parish Magazine so you can tick them all off.

Crib Service: Take the children out of the house on Christmas Eve to enjoy their very own Crib Service in St Mary’s at 4pm, when we hope that the shepherd will be reunited with his sheep as he comes to the stable to find baby Jesus. And if you don’t have any children to hand, come along yourself, and enjoy the excitement of Christmas through the eyes of the little ones.

Christmas Services: Holy Communion on Christmas Eve will be at 11.15pm in St Mary’s, ready to bring in Christmas morning. Then everybody back for 10.30am, preferably armed with interesting presents for Rod to play with. My favourite year was the remote controlled aeroplanes, but we have had cricket in the aisle and whizzing about on scooters – so what can you bring this year?

Happy Christmas: I do wish you a very Happy Christmas – and there’s even the promise of snow!

St Mary’s Services: (21st): 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am Come Praise, 6.30pm Carols by Candlelight

Karen Ayling

The White House, Dixter Road