Rodmell and Southease

LEWES: If you are going into Lewes on a Sunday morning, especially between 11am and noon, I would advise you not to go along Southover, as it is a nightmare. I have had to get to the station to pick people up two weekends in a row. One was the weekend of Sunday March 17 when Lewes Women’s Football Team were playing Millwall. I have never seen such chaos in this area, not helped by all the station buses ferrying people around because of rail problems and buses and cars dropping supporters off. Well done girls for such a great result, even if chaos did reign for a short time. Another problem is the parking along Southover on a Sunday caused by people parking to go to church plus visitors going to Anne of Cleves House on coaches, which need to drop them off. Southover Church has always, as far as I can remember, had a healthy congregation, but do they all come from areas where they have to use their cars? Don’t people walk to church any more? It must be hell at weekends for people that live in this area and have to cope with the pollution levels that this problem causes. I feel sorry for them.

PARKING: Since the new parking meters have been installed, there appears to be more parking spaces in Lewes. I know people that now go to Newhaven where you get an hour’s free parking or Seaford where the old meters are still used or you can park for free along the seafront.

BOOKS: It’s lovely to hear via the media that children are going back to reading real books and bookshops are on the up. To me there’s nothing like the smell and feel of a real book and I have many on all subjects. My B&Bs often write in my visitor’s book ‘must come back to read real books’. I’ve had various gifts given to me of late from people that have stayed here. One lady came for three days and ended up staying for 10 days and came back with two lovely gifts for me I just love doing B&B.

SAD NEWS: Sadly I have to report that another much loved lady, Jill Morris, died on Saturday March 16. Jill has lived in Rodmell for many years with husband Tom and they were for many years the people who looked after our village hall. When I have spoken to the family, I hope to be able to give you more information on funeral date etc.

FILM NIGHT: I went with a friend to see Casablanca, that much loved film, in our village hall. It was a lovely evening’s entertainment, but there were only a few people there, plus one dog. My friend pointed out that some past films may have put people off, but it’s very difficult to please everyone. The next film is, I believe, The English Patient. I will endeavour to get the list and put it in Parish Pump as not everyone reads the notice boards unless they walk up and down the village frequently.

SPRING SHOW: It’s Rodmell Spring Show tomorrow, Saturday, 2.30pm to 4.30pm in Rodmell Village Hall. All welcome, admission £1. Raffle and home-made teas. Please park in the car parks. Meals available in our pub, highly recommended.

PARISH MAGAZINE: In our Parish Magazine, this was written: If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back a roof over your head and a place to call home, you are richer than 5 percent of this world. Food for thought would be a good way of putting it.