Rodmell and Southease Parish Pump

Well, we are still having warm weather, so make the best of it.  There are flowering shrubs in my garden that shouldn’t be in full flower at this time of the year and the roses are doing really well at the moment.  I started planting up my pots of Spring bulbs last week but still have a lot to do.

As there may be some frosts starting, according to some weather forecasts, I decided to put my Geraniums into my cold greenhouse, which is also my garden-room.  It looks very pretty and colourful at the moment.  Next job is taking the shading off so it gets max light and thinking about  bringing my Spider plants, which are very prolific, into the house.  I fried up the last of my tomatoes last week, and enjoyed them mixed with herbs and Worcester Sauce, and on fried bread – yummy!  It’s now the time to turn out my pots of potatoes, which are small but tasty, like new potatoes and especially nice boiled or steamed with their skins on, and service with Parsley butter.

 It’s been another of those strange weeks, as I’ve been told by my optician that I now have Charles Bonnet Syndrome.  I am now going to tell you about it, in the hope that it may help if you have the symptoms but are frightened about it, and haven’t disclosed it to your optician or family and friends. 

When I watched TV or wrote letters, I kept seeing patterns appearing and, sometimes, small bunches of flowers, etc.  I found this very worrying, so had my eyes tested thoroughly, to be told that they were in good condition apart from Glaucoma which I’ve had for years.  I was also told I was still fine to drive (not that I really want to now), and that I had Charles Bonnet Syndrome.  I had a discussion with my optician, who put me at rest about it, and gave me printed details about it, which were very helpful.  So, I’m passing on the main part of the information in the hope that it may help people understand, if they have symptoms:

What is Charles Bonnet Syndrome?  Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) is a common condition among people with poor eyesight.  It is when you experience silent visual hallucinations.  These can seem real and can be confusing or frightening.  They are caused by the brain trying to ‘fill in’ detail in the blind areas.  The hallucinations normally decrease or disappear over time.

Who is affected by Charles Bonnet Syndrome?  Anyone, including children, who has an eye condition that results in sight loss, can develop Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS).  However, it is more common in older people as they are more likely to have conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma or diabetic eye disease, which results in sight loss.  You may worry that you have Alzheimer’s Disease, or mental health problems, but CBS is a result of sight loss and is not associated with any other health problems.  Currently, there is no cure for CBS and no specific medication to stop the hallucinations, (you have to learn to live with it!). 

If you want more information, check https://lookafteryoureyes.org/eye-conditions/charles-bonnet-syndrome/  

I am hoping this may help people by publicising it, but don’t panic and rush to your optician, unless you have symptoms, but do have regular eye tests.  Remember, forewarned is forearmed, and could save your eyesight.

 Our pub has been extremely busy lately and is holding a children’s Halloween Party on Saturday 31st October – phone for details 01273 472416

 The Rodmell Coffee Morning (3rd Wednesday of the month) held at the Abergavenny Arms has been suspended until into the New Year.  Thank you to all those who attended regularly throughout this year.

 Monk’s House has had lots of visitors this year and many come by coach.  Now coaches can’t go down our village and there is a sign outside my house saying ‘not suitable for coaches’.  It’s also difficult for them to park in the pub carpark but there are two bus lay-byes (one each side of the C7 road, with one right opposite the pub).  These can be used if room is left for the local 123 bus service, which doesn’t run that often.  A coach recently stopped right outside the pub’s front entrance to let people get off, which was very dangerous on this fast and busy C7 road.  At one time, coaches used to park right across my driveway, but I had to stop that as it was so dangerous and I do run a B&B business and need access at all times.  When I asked drivers (politely) to park elsewhere, I was told that their passengers didn’t like to walk far!!

 Surprisingly, November is turning out to be a busy month for my B&B and I’m full up, yet I only had 2 this month (October) and 2 in September.  There were so many cancellations in hot weather, when people didn’t want to walk in such high temperatures.