Almost by magic following the arrival of much needed rain last week, a field of Lupins which we had totally written off as a complete failure, suddenly leapt into life four weeks after drilling. Now a mass of little green shoots have at last emerged, where just days before there were none. Nature is truly remarkable.
It is not just me who is delighted by their arrival, but so too are the pesky pigeons. Having given up hope that a crop would emerge in the bone dry Royal Oak field, after some rain and a rise in temperature, it is now a race to see if the Lupins can out manoeuvre the thieving pigeons growing quickly and making themselves unappetising. The vital rope bangers will be called into action once again, in an attempt to keep them off the crop.
Next weekend is ‘Rogation’ Sunday, the traditional time of praying for agriculture, and in particular blessing the elements used in farming; the fields, the seeds and farm animals. It is a time when vicars will challenge congregational members to think carefully of the food we produce to eat, those who work the land, and care for the water, earth and seed.
This year our vicar has suggested holding the service on the farm. Usually the service is held in the church followed by the congregation trooping down through the graveyard, where prayers and blessings are directed over the wall in the direction of the fields and our lovely Sussex cattle. When remembered to move them into the church field, they could generally be seen lurking nearby.
Next Sunday the service will take place in the new grain store. Had the rain not arrived last week, I would have insisted the service included a suitable ‘rain dance’. Mind you, it may well still be worth doing so, just for the entertainment value!
I hope prayers and blessings will aspire towards seeing off any disease and aphids in the crops, request a good yield, an increased price for the grain, and for good measure a special request that the menacing black grass to be wiped out this year.
I am hopeful that our new vicar the Revd Christopher Powell, has a very good and effective direct line to ‘him upstairs’!
I am beginning to feel a little sorry for some parliamentary candidates who are receiving an increasing amount of abuse in the press, and on social media.
It is wise when speaking publically, particularly through the media, to ensure you have total command of your subject and produce accurate facts and figures. To attempt to go head to head with experienced journalists and try and ‘wing it’, is suicidal.
The criticism and abuse Diane Abbott and a number of her colleagues are receiving, has been relentless, is unsurprising but is now verging on cruelty. The ongoing reports of her incompetence on more than one occasion, has now become the story, and the message she was attempting to convey totally lost.
The public will not tolerate being lectured by politicians who quite obviously are taking them for granted, and clearly do not have command of their subject.
It is interesting that the Conservative battle bus has Theresa May’s name plastered all over it, but Labour’s has no mention of their party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Mrs May is much in demand to visit constituencies across the country. Her presence is positive, and her popularity amongst the public and candidates is in stark contrast to the last General Election, when most wise conservative candidates ensured David Cameron did not to visit their constituency, being fully aware that his presence was toxic and unhelpful to their campaign.
The tactical manoeuvring of candidates amongst the Lib Dems and Greens demonstrates another disregard for the electorate and democracy. There is a rumbling of disquiet in Brighton where the Lib Dems have withdrawn their candidate hoping their votes will go to the far left wing Green candidate Caroline Lucas. This and the blatant interference of the ‘Remoan’ brigade, makes interesting viewing.
It is not just me who is delighted by their arrival, but so too are the pesky pigeons. Having given up hope that a crop would emerge in the bone dry Royal Oak field, after some rain and a rise in temperature, it is now a race to see if the Lupins can out manoeuvre the thieving pigeons growing quickly and making themselves unappetising. The vital rope bangers will be called into action once again, in an attempt to keep them off the crop.
Next weekend is ‘Rogation’ Sunday, the traditional time of praying for agriculture, and in particular blessing the elements used in farming; the fields, the seeds and farm animals. It is a time when vicars will challenge congregational members to think carefully of the food we produce to eat, those who work the land, and care for the water, earth and seed.
This year our vicar has suggested holding the service on the farm. Usually the service is held in the church followed by the congregation trooping down through the graveyard, where prayers and blessings are directed over the wall in the direction of the fields and our lovely Sussex cattle. When remembered to move them into the church field, they could generally be seen lurking nearby.
Next Sunday the service will take place in the new grain store. Had the rain not arrived last week, I would have insisted the service included a suitable ‘rain dance’. Mind you, it may well still be worth doing so, just for the entertainment value!
I hope prayers and blessings will aspire towards seeing off any disease and aphids in the crops, request a good yield, an increased price for the grain, and for good measure a special request that the menacing black grass to be wiped out this year.
I am hopeful that our new vicar the Revd Christopher Powell, has a very good and effective direct line to ‘him upstairs’!
I am beginning to feel a little sorry for some parliamentary candidates who are receiving an increasing amount of abuse in the press, and on social media.
It is wise when speaking publically, particularly through the media, to ensure you have total command of your subject and produce accurate facts and figures. To attempt to go head to head with experienced journalists and try and ‘wing it’, is suicidal.
The criticism and abuse Diane Abbott and a number of her colleagues are receiving, has been relentless, is unsurprising but is now verging on cruelty. The ongoing reports of her incompetence on more than one occasion, has now become the story, and the message she was attempting to convey totally lost.
The public will not tolerate being lectured by politicians who quite obviously are taking them for granted, and clearly do not have command of their subject.
It is interesting that the Conservative battle bus has Theresa May’s name plastered all over it, but Labour’s has no mention of their party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Mrs May is much in demand to visit constituencies across the country. Her presence is positive, and her popularity amongst the public and candidates is in stark contrast to the last General Election, when most wise conservative candidates ensured David Cameron did not to visit their constituency, being fully aware that his presence was toxic and unhelpful to their campaign.
The tactical manoeuvring of candidates amongst the Lib Dems and Greens demonstrates another disregard for the electorate and democracy. There is a rumbling of disquiet in Brighton where the Lib Dems have withdrawn their candidate hoping their votes will go to the far left wing Green candidate Caroline Lucas. This and the blatant interference of the ‘Remoan’ brigade, makes interesting viewing.
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