As we go into March the signs of Spring can be found around the countryside. The clocks go forwards one hour to BST at the months end. There is still time for more winter weather and turn oput for cattle could be some way off. This is the time of the year when we hope to return to Pembrokeshire to spend a few days relaxing and away from it all, as always we will be staying at Wisemans Bridge, near Saundersfoot.
Nicola Prance. Nicola spends very busy days helping out and serving us with petrol at Wickett's Garage owned by her father Keith. She gives a good service to the public and often has a few words to say about life in the community. She enjoys her free time by way of travel and local entertainment centres. It is pleasing to see a local person working and involved in our parish.
Last November milk producers had a small increase in milk sales price which might stop some farmers going out of production. Also vehicle duty has been lifted from farm tractors and other vehicles. Some time ago a local farmer's wife told me that she was delighted that farm land prices continue to rise as land was and is a sound investment.
Man: Please call your dog off. Boy: But I always call him Scamp. "Which animals in Noah's Ark did not come in pears?" Worms, they came in plums. Teacher: Why do you want to work in the glue factory? Pupil: It's the kind of job I'll find easy to stick to.
Tuning into the Grand National, the greatest steeplechase on earth on the wireless? Over fifty years ago we had an old 20 volt battery crackley radio and we used to make sure we could afford a new battery at the end of March so that we could hear this race from Aintree in Liverpool. The excitement of who I think was the BBC's greatest commentator, Raymond Glendding, was one that made you feel that you were there with him. Thinking about my book I found a photo of him and a letter sent to me after one such race, he told me that this was for him the world's greatest event.
In May there will be the Devon County Council elections with parish and district elections in two years time. TDC have now taken over from DCC the Ring and Ride bus service so do please use it. Many thanks to Mrs. A. Yeo for her work as our parish footpath warden.
Our rector Rev. Richard Dorrington has a busy life looking after his parishes. He is a good visitor to the aged and those in hospital and has a very real concern for everyone, yes even We Methodists. Recently speaking at a meeting in Bristol a young lady said to me "Why is it we have not got time to talk about Jesus?" I wonder how many of us talk about him or are the world's problems more important than he who said "I am the way the truth and the life" - I wonder?
It was a real joy some time ago to have an interview with Cecil T. Collacott on BBC Radio Cornwall's Dawn Chorus programme talking to me about his life. Many have told me that they missed his broadcast - I have a copy tape if you would like to hear him.
As for TV, what a mess it was when in the USA elections the TV people got the count wrong on a number of times. Many were not happy with the end of the BBC TV nine O'clock news going to ten O'clock. I think C4 News and Sky TV twenty four hour news service continues to improve.