Rodmell and Southease

It appears to clash with the Rodmell Film Club, which is showing It’s a Wonderful Life at 3.00pm in the Village Hall. Somehow, the left hand doesn’t seem to know what the right hand is doing in the planning of village events. For future events, it would be better to check.

At this time of the year: there are so many things to go to and many clash. I couldn’t make one of the wonderful village coffee mornings for Christmas on14th, as I was at a carers’ event at The Green Man, Ringmer. Sorry Louise!

For everyone who watched Care: on BBC1 on 10th December, I hope if you have been a carer, as I have for many years, you thought it was an excellent portrayal of the care system we have to cope with these days. The acting of Sheridan Smith and Alison Steadman was superb. There was an honest quote by Carol Midgley in The Times TV Review, which I know many people agree with. It was this: ‘Central to this drama however is the big truth – there is illness apartheid within the NHS. If you get cancer, diabetes, or heart disease you are treated free, but if you get Alzheimer’s’ you will probably have to fund everything yourself, often by selling your house’. Many people have said if you have never cost the NHS a penny and have paid into it your whole life, when you are sick, the gates are barred if you are unlucky enough to get Alzheimer’s. So many people who have also worked hard, saved to buy a house, never lived off the benefit system, are penalized because they have done all the right things, and they are getting thoroughly fed up with what is considered by many to be an unfair system. Let’s hope this programme has some effect. Carol also said: ‘Social care is an unsexy subject about which our country is in deep denial. Which is why we need more drama like this’.

Lorna Melia’s play reading: at her flat on 7th December was well attended. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is always appreciated at this time. Mulled wine and delicious food was also appreciated. They call themselves The Rodmell Literary and Treacle Flapjack Society.

Rodmell Panto: Robin Hood takes place on 25th 26th and 27th January in the Village Hall. Tickets on sale soon from our pub, the Abergavenny Arms.

I do hope: all readers have a most enjoyable Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year. We think of all the people we know who are sick or suffering at this time, and send positive thoughts to help heal them.