It does not seem many weeks since the clocks went back, now at the end of March they go forwards with the start of British Summertime . We all hope for an early Spring with not a lot more cold spells, not forgetting March winds. At the end of this month Jennifer and I will, we hope, make a four day visit for the fourth time to Pembrokeshire, with a one day visit to North Wales after an absence of 5 years.
People who do not often make the news… Vernon and Linda Schiller. Both can be seen doing a good trade in the meat business in the village butcher's shop. They have interests in golf, shooting and horses. They provide a first class service and the sausages are the best in the west, it is a real joy going into the shop, long may they continue.
It was good that the Parish Church gift day was so well supported last October. The cost of the upkeep of the Ministry and Church buildings continues to rise in all Churches with not a lot of real committed members going to services. In fact just around 13% of us attend Sunday services. The good news is that the Christian Outreach is on the increase.
Farm incomes continue on the decline with more going out of farming, so British farming is still in crisis. Recently I did a Radio interview with the Week St. Mary Methodist Minister, who is a farming Chaplain, going each week to Halworthy market near Launceston. In our area we have Deacon, Mrs. A. Hart from Shebbear, doing the same work.
The Government is to order that both men and women are paid the same. Childless couples can pay up to £90,000 on the internet in an egg auction for a perfect child. In future years most banking will be done via the internet or by telephone. Many local branches will be closed. A farmer has put £75,000 into promoting a pop group. There is a new pill that they say will stop men going bald, but it is too late for William Hague and me, more's the pity.
What is my future now that my husband has died - Cilla Black. I will return as an MP - Michael Portillo. I will make the railways safe - John Prescott, MP. At the next election the Tory Party will win - Ann Widdicombe, MP.
What do you call phantom doctors? Surgical spirits. Why did the sword swallower eat pins and needles? Because he was on a diet. Why don't snakes understand jokes? Because you can't pull their leg.
59 million donkeys and mules spend all of their working lives in the service of man. 5½ million donkeys work in Ethiopia. In Kenya 3,000 donkeys still work, whilst in Mexico over 20,000 are in full time work.
Road network - too many cars. Some weeks ago on my way to Bristol there was a fourteen mile traffic jam on the motorway to the City and a seventeen mile tailback coming to Exeter. Along with thousands of others whose patience was tested in the wait I was thinking about where we were all going, the cost of cars and petrol. My feeling is that the whole road network needs overhauling and even if petrol went up to ten pounds a gallon we would still use a car.
I do not get much time to read a good book but have just finished reading “A slight and delicate creature”. The memoirs of Margaret Cook, the ex wife of MP Robin Cook. I found that it was a most revealing autobiography of a leading politician's wife. The sad part was that she condemned his affairs, but has had two herself. Which to me is the pot calling the kettle black, and anyway adultery is a violation of marriage vows and cannot be condoned in any way.