Rodmell and Southease

THE WEATHER: The recent lovely weather has certainly cheered everyone up and the gardens are thriving, so are the weeds. I have a bad case of ground elder and speedwell, plus what I call sticky weed at the moment and its hard work keeping up with it, even though I have a gardener who comes once a week. May is what I call the rampant month, where everything is bursting out and the bulbs have finished and are dying off, thus looking untidy and unkempt.

SIGNPOSTS: The signposts around the countryside are looking very dirty and you can hardly see what the names are on some of them. I did see a lady cleaning the Iford sign a little while ago, very public spirited, but what does she pay her council tax for? As so many people are visiting Sussex and are saying how they are overwhelmed but its beauty, the least we can do is keep it rubbish free and clean signs so they know where they are going.

BOOK EARLY: As someone who has a B&B, it’s the same problem this time of year, people who walk the South Downs Way or are going to weddings and Glyndebourne just do not book early enough. As several B&Bs along the route are closing down, the accommodation situation is becoming scarce.

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CARERS: As a full time carer to Mike and with my mother in a care home, I go to meetings for carers. The last Carers Forum at Eastbourne was enlightening and somewhat frightening in the statistics it gave out. Did you know there are seven million carers in the UK. The estimated economic value of carers commitment is £119 billion a year. Many people do not realise carers do not get paid, so we are certainly doing a great job in saving the government money. The law for carers is changing and carers rights are now the same as the people they care for. Care homes are closing down at an amazing rate so what does that hold for the future? If you are young you need to look ahead as you too will be old before you know it and what facilities will there before you? The future of care in old age is in your hands and future governments. It won’t go away.

COFFEE MORNING: On Tuesday, May 31, there will be a coffee morning in the village hall.

OPEN GARDENS: Rodmell Open Gardens will be on Sunday, June 12. Why not invite your friends to Rodmell to enjoy our lovely village and gardens. Teas, Pimms and plant stalls available in various gardens.

BAD LANGUAGE: I admire the many from Lewes who recently made the press because he complained about the extremely bad language at a Brighton match at the Amex. Like him I and many others are sick to death of bad language and manners. There is a saying, ‘manners maketh man’. Sadly women are also following the swearing trend and I’ve heard small children using bad language as well. The British are getting a very bad reputation in many countries for their bad language and drunken behaviour, which is sad.

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APPOINTMENT: For three days I have been trying to get through to the appointment line at the Sussex Eye Hospital to change my appointments. I have held on for 10 to 15 minutes each day at various times and just get a voice telling me to go online, which I cannot do. I have never had this problem before and it’s very frustrating. Is this yet another sign of what the technological future holds for us oldies? I’ve now decided to write a letter, it may be quicker.

BUTTERFLIES: I have seen quite a number of the small blue butterflies that are on the ivy in the garden. It’s lovely to see them and I remember when I was young, how we enjoyed walking through meadows where clouds of butterflies would appear when we disturbed them. Although they seem to like our garden and we get more of all sorts each year, it’s a small amount to what we used to see in my childhood.

SADLY: Rodmell has lost quite a few of its long-time residents over the past year and there are also quite a few with long term illnesses. We wish you all the best and I would certainly like to thank all the people who have been so kind and caring to me over the years.

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