Rodmell & Southease

NASTY BUGS: There seem to be some nasty virus and bug problems affecting people at the moment, especially those who have decided to take a winter sunshine break. I know at least three people who have come back from warmer climes, only to go down with something nasty on their return, which leaves them low for weeks. Maybe it's the air on aircrafts that is responsible. Meanwhile walkers that have been doing the South Downs Way and have turned up here soaking wet and cold seem to be very robust in health, many in their 70's plus.

DOG OWNERS: Please keep your dogs on leads wherever you are walking in the countryside at this time of year, when it is lambing time and a nightmare time for farmers. This especially affected a poor farmer in West Sussex, in the West Dean area, who lost 136 sheep, many in lamb, because dog/dogs had chased them into fencing. This must have been a horrendous sight for the farmer to come across. This was a recent event. All dogs, no matter how well trained, have wolf genes in them and the hunting instinct. In many cases people who have beloved pets have had to have them shot or put down causing great distress. You can get long extending leads now so dogs don’t have to be too restrained. I have many people coming to stay here with dogs over the year and I always tell them, keep your dog on a lead as you just don’t know where sheep are present and it’s just not worth the risk.

SUNSHINE: It’s been lovely to see some sunshine and have some crisp cold days, just right for walking and getting on with the garden. Rob, who helps me with my garden, was pleased to be able to cut the lawns at last and the garden is looking quite neat and colourful at the moment. I love to be able to work or just sit in the greenhouse enjoying seeing everything shooting up or bursting into bud.

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ACCIDENTS: There seem to be a lot of accidents happening in the area between Brighton and Falmer and Lewes and Beddingham, plus quite a few in the Newhaven, Seaford area and along the C7, especially near the garden centre. Please drive carefully.

PARISH COUNCIL: I didn’t get to the recent parish council meeting, I fell asleep. I hear that the proposed pheasant rearing centre at Iford was discussed. Many farmers are now turning to shooting days to bring them in money and people pay enormous amounts (around £1,300 per person per day in some places) to follow their hobby. I was brought up with the hunting, shooting, fishing set, but even I dread the amount of pheasants that appear on the C7 in the season as it’s such a dangerous road and many drivers will swerve to avoid the pheasants and partridges running across the road. At times the C7 looks like a bird war zone. I have a lot of people that shoot staying with me and they travel all over this country and abroad to follow their hobby. As my father was a gun collector I know just how much people love and worship their guns. I have never owned or shot a gun, if my father had had a son and not a daughter things may have been different.

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