MAY 2020

PAGE 1

FORTY DAYS AND FORTY

NIGHTS

FORDINGBRIDGE AND RINGWOOD PARISH MAGAZINE FOR

ISOLATES

In This Edition:

• Fr Paul says…

• Book Reviews (Penny Sharp)

• Poetry Please (Fr Peter)

• Protecting the NHS (Fiona Saunders)

• Peregrine Falcons (Chris Basham)

• Stuff for Kids (Alex Downing et al)

• A World on a Wall (Julia Wilkie)

• Introducing Anthony (Anthony Fyk)

• Sailing By…. (Mary White)

• Le Bec Abbey (Barbera Geatrell)

• Other Peoples’ Gardens (Sheila Wade)

• Bees and Buzzing Things (Ann Shepley) –

with a small contribution from Ed.)

• Youth Pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Sue

Broadbent)

• Good Shepherds (John Singleton)

• Gardening Tips (Sheila Wade)

• Cookery Corner (Maureen Burt)

• Stuff for kids:

Holy Land Quiz, Make a Paper aeroplane,

Fly a glider.

( Sue Broadbent, Alex, Ed)

Fr Paul Says:

I have just left the ‘Coffee Zoom Meeting’ hosted

by Mary and Norman White. We had sixteen

participants this morning and it would be lovely to

have some more. The Coffee Zoom Meeting

begins on Sunday at 1115 and the code is always

the same: 311072759. The password is Coffee.

The details are also in the Newsletter. You can join

and leave at any time and it is a great way to keep

in touch.

A World on a Wall

I wonder how many of you have heard of ‘The Village On The Wall’?

Woodgreen Village Hall is tucked away in the small village of Woodgreen, three miles from

Fordingbridge, on the northern edge of the New Forest. The inside walls of the hall are covered in beautiful

murals dating from the early 1930’s. They were painted by two recently graduated students, of the Royal

College of Art in London. These wall paintings took about a year to complete - and they were funded by a

grant from the Carnegie Trust.

The artists depicted the villagers of Woodgreen going about their everyday lives and activities - from fruit

growing, cider making and farming - and poaching - and leisure pastimes such as the annual flower show

and country dancing. My favourite mural has to be of the Methodist Chapel Sunday School. Two of the

subjects of this painting are still living - both, of course, now well into their nineties. Whilst the chapel

itself is no longer in use as such, the building has been sympathetically converted to a residential property.

In 2013, the hall trustees were able to host a party to celebrate eighty years since the murals were painted.

Five of those who had been children in the paintings were present with their families together with

descendants of many others. Members of the two artist’s families were able to see the work of their fathers

and grandfathers, for the first time.

The two artists became eminent in their chosen fields: Robert Baker became a Professor at Oxford

specialising in the restoration of wall paintings and much of his work can be seen in prominent buildings

nationwide. He also worked for Wedgewood and was a designer for Royal Worcester China – in particular

the now famous ‘Evesham’ design, which grace so many homes worldwide. Edward Payne specialised in

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I am delighted to see Canon Peter Wilkie’s poem.

It is wonderful that Peter is still linked to us. I

tried to persuade him to publish his poems the

other day and he seemed to be thinking about it.

Thanks to Chris for making ‘Forty Days and Forty

Nights’ a possibility. It is a great way of keeping

in touch with one another and sharing our various

contributions.

This week we celebrate the Feast of St. Catherine

of Siena. Here are two of her very powerful

prayers:

“Holy Spirit, come into my heart, and in your

power draw it to you.”

“You, eternal Trinity, are a deep sea. The more I

enter you, the more I discover, and the more I

discover, the more I seek you.”

And a final thought from her:

“You must believe in truth that whatever God

gives or permits is for your salvation.”

Fr Paul Concludes (Continued from

last Edition)

I enjoyed my time at seminary because it provided a

long-awaited opportunity to study scripture and

theology in depth. I made some long-standing friends

with whom I am still in contact after thirty-six years.

My mother died during my second term at Oscott and

everyone was very kind offering support. I was

ordained deacon at Oscott by Archbishop Maurice

Couve de Murville on the 26th June 1983 and was

ordained to the priesthood on 11th February 1984 at St.

Edward’s, Windsor. Then my long-awaited work as a

priest began.

I was sent first to English Martyrs, Reading, where I

became hospital chaplain to the Battle Hospital and the

Royal Berks, where for a time, I worked with Canon

Peter Wilkie. In the summer of 1985, I was moved to

St. John’s Cathedral in Portsmouth to join Fr. Peter

Doyle who was my parish priest. I was in Portsmouth

until 1990 and assumed a number of roles: Chaplain to

Kingston Prison, Chaplain at St. Edmund’s and St.

John’s School and Chaplain at Portsmouth University –

or Poly as it was then. One of my memories was the

sudden death of Bishop Emery and my job to go to the

Register Office to register his death.

At breakfast one morning in 1990, Bishop Crispian

Hollis told me that “the gravy train was about to run

into the buffers” because he wanted me to move. Not

only was I going to be a parish priest at Alresford, but I

was to take over from Fr. John O’Shea as the Director

of Religious Education based at LSU College in

Southampton. That job and parish lasted until 1998

when I was moved to Fareham and Portchester and

given the job of Vicar for Clergy. I remained at Sacred

Heart in Fareham and Portchester for three years and

then I was moved to Wash Common, a smaller parish

so that I could “give all my attention to the care of the

clergy”. Wash Common lasted for four years until

Canon Peter Doyle became Bishop of Northampton and

I was moved across to take over from him at St.

Peter’s Winchester in September 2005. I was there for

the restoration of stained glass windows and was a consultant for the repair of glass windows in Wells

Cathedral.

The murals can be viewed by arrangement only - unless the hall is open for a public event.

For further information visit info@woodgreenvillagehall.org.uk

Julia Wilkie

Introducing Anthony

My name is Anthony Fyk. I am a seminarian studying for the

priesthood for the Diocese of Portsmouth. My base parish is

Fordingbridge and Ringwood with Canon Paul Townsend. I was born

and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. After high school, I went

to the University of Alberta, where I studied Art History and History

and received a Bachelor of Arts degree. Afterwards, I went to

Christendom College Graduate School of Theology in the United

States of America, where I received a Master of Arts degree in

Theological Studies. Subsequently, I decided to continue my

philosophical and theological studies in Rome at the Pontifical

University of St Thomas Aquinas where I received a Baccalaureate

in Sacred Theology. During my time in Rome, I applied formally for

studies to the priesthood for a Canadian Diocese, and subsequently

transferred to the Diocese of Portsmouth. In Rome, I reside at the

Venerable English College.

The time in seminary is a crucial period of preparation for the priesthood. We learn, through prayer, study,

pastoral work, and fraternity to become like ‘Our Good Shephard’ to serve Christ’s flock. The Venerable

English College in Rome was originally founded as a hospice in 1362 to host English pilgrims coming to

Rome. In 1579 it became a seminary to form priests to serve the needs of the Catholic faithful in England

and Wales. One could imagine, an institute over 650 years old would be rich in history. For example, forty-

four of our alumni priests were martyred for their Catholic faith during the Protestant Reformation in England

between 1581 and 1679.

Last year, I did a pastoral placement at Bishop’s House and the Cathedral in Portsmouth. It was a wonderful

period to enculturate into the Diocese. I have since returned to Rome to continue formation to the priesthood

and have started a Licence in Sacred Theology in Sacred Liturgy at the Pontifical University of Santa Croce.

As a result of the COVID-19 situation, I have since relocated back to Fordingbridge, where my studies and

formation continue from a distance.

Everyone’s vocation is unique and special. As a little child, I had a keen interest in the priesthood. I was

brought up in a conscientious and religious family. I benefited from the example of my grandparents who

lived the faith in a simple and devout manner. God willing, I will be ordained to the diaconate this coming

July, and to the priesthood the following year in 2021, when I will return to the Diocese permanently to

serve the needs of the faithful in whatever capacity I may be called upon.

In my free time, I enjoy such hobbies as reading, music, art, cooking, gardening, skiing, walking,

travelling, and kayaking.

I ask you to please pray for our seminarians of the Diocese, who will serve you one day. Pray that the good

Lord may continue to provide priestly vocations for the Diocese of Portsmouth to spread the good news of

God’s love.

(Anthony Fyk)

Sailing By

I’ve been a volunteer with New Forest Sailability for the past twelve years and I’m really missing seeing

everyone this year as we are unable welcome our sailors at the moment. We sail on Spinnaker Lake twice a

week from early April to end October with up to sixty disabled sailors each day. Hopefully, we’ll be able to

open up again before too long!

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twelve years, during which Bishop Philip Egan asked

me to be the Head of the Department for Clergy and a

member of his Bishop’s Council. At Winchester I was

hospital chaplain and chaplain to the Primary School.

In 2017, Bishop Philip asked me to leave Winchester

and take a smaller parish so that I could give my

attention to being Head of the Department for Clergy.

Soon after that, he asked me to become a Vicar General

as well!

The ‘smaller parish’ turned out to be two delightful and

welcoming parishes, Ringwood and Fordingbridge. It

was lovely to come to this part of the world.

My family, on my mother’s side, has its roots here. One

of my ancestors was Abraham Pike who was the Chief

Riding Officer for the coast between Christchurch and

Hurst Castle during the 18th century. His job was to

catch smugglers and get them hanged! There are copies

of the death warrants he signed! He is buried by the

north door of Christchurch Priory.

(Fr Paul)

'On hearing ill rumour that Londoners may soon

be urged into their lodgings by Her Majesty’s men,

I looked upon the street to see a gaggle of

striplings making fair merry, and no doubt

spreading the plague well about. Not a care had

those rogues for the health of their elders!'

Samuel Pepys Diaries – London 1664 (Some

things never change – Ed.)

Book Reviews

Here are some reading suggestions, one for an adult

book and one for children from Penny Sharp:.

“A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles

In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to a

lifetime’s house arrest in one of the grandest hotels in

Moscow, the Hotel Metropol, where he remains for the

next forty years. He manages to make a life for

himself, however, becoming head waiter in the

expensive restaurant and making friends among the

staff, and about half-way through his stay he is given a

very startling responsibility.

It is charmingly written, very readable, with believable

characters (the Count amazingly remains cheerful

throughout), and the book has a very surprising and

somehow perfect ending. (And you can brush up on

your early twentieth history of the Soviet Union - so,

educational too!)

“Little House on the Prairie”, by Laura Ingalls Wilder

and the other books in the same series.

Now is the perfect time to revisit Laura and her family

- the children in the story are home-schooled by their

mother and run wild over the Prairie. Much like some

children in my family at the moment! There are some

It’s well known amongst all our members that I don’t actually like boats and don’t ever go on the water! In

fact, it always causes a stir if I put on a lifejacket to go on the pontoon! However I love talking to our sailors

and carers and helping them to get on to the water, by working in the reception area.

Our boats, eighteen of them, are specially developed for disabled sailors. Clients go out with a trained

skipper, or if they are competent, sail on their own. Some go on the safety boats if they can’t or don’t want

to, sail, as they can stay in their wheel-chairs. I love every minute that I’m there; the volunteers, over a

hundred of them, the carers and the sailors - of all ages and disabilities, are wonderful and dedicated and are

a great inspiration. The laughs we have, the smiles on our sailors’ faces when they arrive to go out and feel

the wind in their faces and the freedom of sailing round a beautiful lake, mean it is a highlight of my week.

Some sailors come on their own with a carer to help, but most come from one of the many day centres who

use our service. The majority stay for a coffee and most also bring their lunch which they sit and eat

overlooking the lake. It gets a bit chaotic at times, but there’s always plenty of banter and good humour.

Some sailors have been coming for many years, but we get lots of new people each year, usually having

heard about us from a friend.

We always welcome new members and constantly look for more volunteers, so if you are interested in

hearing more about us please get in touch.

(Mary White)

Le Bec Abbey

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very thrilling incidents. This series is all about survival,

self-sufficiency and making the best of what life flings

at you.

(Penny Sharp)

Poetry Please

The Final Days

“Are you a king”, Pontius Pilate would say.

“And where are the people who follow your way?

There’s one who betrayed you and others have fled,

And the one who was leader denied all you said!”

It’s only a week since the people had cried

“Hosanna” - and laid down their cloaks for his guide

Waving their branches and palms they would say

“Blessed is he who is coming our way”

Now he would enter the Temple and claim

“The house of my Father for prayer must remain”.

Beware when religion is just an excuse

For gathering wealth for your personal use.

The Lord will approach with a whip made of cords

And drive from his temple the marketing hordes.

Last night of his life for the Master to spend,

His promise – the Spirit as gift he would send.

And then a commandment as one that was new

“You love one another as I have loved you”

And then his great gift – the first Eucharist they see

When he said “You do this in remembrance of me”

Is it possible Judas had gone on his way,

Without hearing those words – for his friend to betray?

To garden and judgement and cross he must go

Example of no greater love he would show.

In moments of dying his foes he forgave,

We must follow his ways if our souls we would save.

In a tomb, by a garden, his body they laid,

In haste before eve into morrow would fade.

There in darkness the King he would sleep,

Until Easter morn – then his promise he’d keep.

I developed this poetry phase after some twelve years

in Milford on Sea. I retired there in 1999, after many

years in hospital and prison chaplaincy - twenty years

of this - as well as work as a Parish Priest of seven

parishes.

Most of the time I spent on my own. For the first time

in my priestly life I found a lot of time for prayer and

for reading, especially the Gospels. This just moved

me, after a while, to put these thoughts on paper. I sat,

always at the kitchen table, and the verses just formed.

From it all came the so strong conviction about the

indispensable life of prayer for every Christian trying

to get to grips with their faith. And, therefore, the

primary duty of the clergy to teach people how to

pray. I ended up with quite a number of poems!

(Fr Peter Wilkie)

Protecting the NHS

At the St Joseph’s, Laverstock, Trafalgar School

Downton, Sarum Academy and Wyvern St. Edmunds,

staff have been going into the DT department creating

components for protective face masks for NHS staff.

They are working on a rota 7am - 7pm seven days a

week and will continue to do so as long as the laser

Other People’s Gardens

One of the pleasures of gardening is going to look at

other people’s gardens… both for inspiration and out

of straightforward curiosity. Not going to happen this

year, certainly for the time being, but I have been

remembering visits in previous years and keeping my

fingers crossed for visits later on this year.

Around this time last year, the garden at Crichel

House, Moor Crichel just a few miles away from my

cottage here in Dorset, was open under the National

Garden Scheme. This was the first time the garden

had been open under this scheme and I was really

pleased to go and look round on a lovely morning in

very early May.

The tulips were out en masse, in drifts of all hues of

purple and pink as I walked down the path towards

the walled garden. A beautiful sight. The walled

garden itself had been replanted in the last few years

as an ornamental garden with some wonderful water

features and sculpture placed in various small garden spaces. And even more tulips. Glorious! And

by tradition, the visit ended with a lovely cup of tea and some home-made chocolate cake.

Crichel House is a beautiful small stately home set in its

own park at the head of a valley with a very picturesque

lake leading up to the house. It has very extensive stable

and carriage house buildings set slightly away from the

house… which as a horse person, gave me stable envy!

This year, all the gardens, which are part of the National

Garden Scheme, are closed to visitors at the moment, for

obvious reason. However National Garden Schemes are

organising virtual garden tours: you might want to have

a look at their website and select one that you can enjoy

from your armchair: https://ngs.org.uk/virtual-garden-

visits/

You can even look round the garden of Alan Titchmarsh!

The National Garden Scheme is a registered charity

which fund raises for many other charities from the

entrance fees paid by visitors to the gardens.

(Sheila Wade)

Bees and Buzzing Things

As a beekeeper in Woodgreen I seem to be frequently worrying about the 50,000 or so honey

machines that live in each hive during the summer. Bees are amazing, living in a complex female

dominated society where their actions are organised completely during their 5/6 week lifetime.

They give us so much - not just their honey, but their work as pollinators too is vital to so many of

our food crops.

Sadly, bees are threatened by all sorts of things. From

herbicides to moth larvae that feed on their wax to the

varroa mites that drain their health and mice that try to

invade the hive to make a nest in the winter.

And the latest potential problem is the Asian Hornet! It is

said to have travelled to Europe on imported plants. A little

smaller than its European cousin and with yellow legs, the

Asian Hornet is particularly partial to honeybees which it hunts and eats in huge quantities.

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cutters keep going!!

We are immensely proud of our NHS and are very

pleased to be doing something which will help to

protect these incredible people.

(Fiona Saunders)

Peregrine Falcons at Salisbury

Cathedral

Holding forth one day about medieval graffiti about

half way up the tower of Salisbury Cathedral, I was

interrupted by a group ‘Aaaah’ from the visitors whose

attention I usually hold, and I wondered what the fuss

was about. I turned round to one of the tall, decorated

gothic, windows behind me, and there, at the bottom

where the sill would be if decorated windows had sills,

was a Peregrine Falcon holding a dead pigeon which it

proceeded to pluck and tear before our eyes and to the

visitor’s delight (Possibly not the pigeon’s, but I’m

pretty sure it had been a clean kill and the bird was

deceased). The well-known fact that ‘Nature is red in

tooth and claw’ was amply demonstrated.)

Our Peregrines are famous, great stars on TV and

lots of people actually take a tower tour with the

Falcons very much in mind. The birds nest on the

south balcony of the tower, and we never take

visitors out there. We do have a camera focused on the nest box, however, and something of a display in

the adjacent ‘Eight Doors’ chamber, so visitors can feel

themselves in close proximity to the birds, but without

seeing them directly and disturbing them. I am no

expert in the bird department, but I do my best to

answer any questions that arise, and I try to promote

our dedicated peregrine tours when our resident

ornithologist comes along.

Peregrine Falcons are not uncommon today. In the

1980s because of persecution and the use of DDT in

agriculture, their numbers were down to about eight

hundred, but with conservation, their numbers had

doubled by 2014 and are still higher in 2020. They

naturally seek out nesting sites on cliffs and tall

buildings and have long been associated with our tallest

There was a nest found in Christchurch last season and it was

destroyed, but we beekeepers are ever vigilant! The National

Bee Unit (yes, we have one and it does a great job) has

supplied registered beekeepers with special traps and we

report sightings. The Bee Inspectors then try to capture a

hornet and place a tracking device on it so they can track it

back to the nest and so destroy it.

Having said all that, beekeeping is fascinating! To watch a bee

emerge from its cell, and a bee arrive back from foraging and do a waggle dance is brilliant and the

part I enjoy the most. Then of course, we have the honey which is wonderful!

Bees live in a complex society. Once a bee emerges from its cell, it cleans the cell and then sets

about cleaning other cells. It then moves onto feeding the bee larvae, then capping their cells until

they are ready to emerge, and then attending the Queen bee. Next it moves onto fanning the nectar

brought in by the foraging bees, to draw out the water and then capping the honey with wax from

its wax glands to store it for the future. When that is done, it proceeds to the entrance of the hive to

be part of the protection team fighting off predators. Its final job is foraging, coming back to the

hive and performing the waggle dance to inform other foragers the best places to find nectar and

pollen.

Ann Shepley

Oh, dear! Ann’s mention of hornets has reminded me of a dramatic event in Fordingbridge church

in about 1956 or 7 when I was about ten and serving the eight-thirty Mass, correctly dressed in my

cassock and surplice, behaving impeccably for Fr Tracy – he of the operatic and much practised

tenor voice.

We had got through most of the Mass and I was kneeling at the left of the altar behind the Priest,

who, of course, was facing the other way from the way we do it today. Nearly done, I felt a tickle

at the back of my head, which I probably thought was my hair re-erecting itself as it occasionally

did. You see, I had a crew cut, the only way my unruly hair could be kept in order. I reached behind

my head and detected a ‘presence’ followed by a hot sharp pain: it was a hornet, and it had stung

me. Instinctively I threw it on the floor and crushed it, meanwhile saying one or two words which

seemed to be appropriate to the moment. Of course, the Mass was in Latin, but I don’t think it was

that. It might have been Anglo-Saxon, but my study of ‘Beowulf’ came later in my career. Anyway,

it seemed have to come to me quite naturally at the time, and I rushed into the sacristy in search of

holy water to bathe my neck.

By the time Fr. Tracy arrived from the altar, the pain had subsided enough to allow me to make

some attempt at explanation. He was not pleased, but I was able to point to the dead insect. It was

big, and so was the lump growing at the back of my neck. Just sayin’…….

(Ed)

Youth Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

The young pilgrims and their adult helpers set off on an extremely early windy and rainy Friday at the end

of October for the third Parish Youth Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2013. We returned to the same spot

and to the same weather eight days later having experienced an amazing journey of three parts; the physical

journey through the land of Israel/Palestine and Jordan, our personal faith journeys and the journey as our

group developed, growing in our care and support of each other.

All of these journeys are an important part of any pilgrimage and a youth pilgrimage works in a similar way

although there are some big differences. The pace of the journey is faster because we can do things physically

more quickly and we start early and finish late on many of the days. The group usually bonds more quickly.

This is mainly because the back of the coach is where the young pilgrims sit, and the bonding happens a lot

in that place with singing, playing the mini keyboard (always named George for some reason) or listening to

each other’s smart phones, and one year even a pantomime involving three fluffy camels.

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structures, which were, in the main until relatively

recently of course, cathedrals. In the past they were

prized hunting birds and they are well known as the

fastest animal on Earth achieving speeds in excess of

two hundred miles an hour when they ‘stoop’ from a

great height on their prey. The falcon strikes its victim

(usually a pigeon) on the wing. The impact is usually

fatal, but if not the bird turns in the air and dispatches

the creature before it falls to the ground.

In 2011, following numerous sightings over a number

of years, a nesting box war installed in the hope that

they might settle and breed. It worked, and for some

years we had a regular pair nesting and producing

broods of chicks, with between one and four eggs in the

clutch each year. In 2018 disaster struck, only the

female, Sally, appeared. With no sign of a mate she

defended the nesting site with such success that a new

pair showing interest were driven off and no breeding

took place. Poor Sally had become well known and was

a good mother, even to the extent of accepting ‘orphan’

chicks and rearing them as her own. Sadly, she was last

heard of near Coombe Bisset. She may yet survive, her

tracker run down, but there have been no recent

sightings and she has abandoned the tower.

This year we have a pair in residence and, during the

lockdown, they, at least, have been busy. The first egg

appeared on Mother’s Day and now there are four

being incubated by the falcon (female) and her mate

(termed a tiercel). Four eggs seem to be an optimal

number and we hope to see the chicks at the beginning

of May. Chicks will be ringed with a metal ring and a

blue plastic one which can be read at a distance so the

birds will be known and tracked almost from the time

of their hatching. If the Cathedral were open, you could

see them on a screen in the cloister, but the easiest way

to view them is on the Cathedral website.

(Ed)

Stuff For Kids

“Local police are hunting a knitting needle nutter

who has stabbed six people in the last forty eight

hours. Police think he might be following a

pattern”

“Have you heard about the hole outside the police

station? Police are looking into it.

Know any other Police jokes? They are not hard to

make up! Send me some!

Pilgrimage Quiz

Have a go at the Holy Land Pilgrimage Quiz opposite

and a bit further down the page. Send your answers to Sheila Wade at the Parish Office. Sue offers a prize for

the first family to submit all the correct answers – so

get busy!

Meal times are also important and

initially the young pilgrims sit together

and us adults are watchful but separate,

but there comes a time in the journey

when we mix in and that’s when Canon

Paul starts getting the questions – so

many about anything and everything.

The youth leaders also plan evening

activities, both fun and serious, that

accelerate that process. Ask Canon Paul

about Salvation History as taught by

him in those sessions and you will get

an idea of those evenings!

And then there are the visits to biblical

sites and Mass each day. We go to the

same places as the adult pilgrimages and listen to the same readings and individually experience the same

range of reactions and deep or less deep stirrings in our hearts. But somehow it is different. Most of the

Masses are celebrated outdoors rather than in the churches on the sites. We bring our own musical

instruments and make improvised ones too – (gravel from the Mount Nebo outlook in an empty water bottle

works really well). Mass is a particularly joyful time with all the pilgrims preparing and taking it in turns to

be readers, choir, bidding prayer writers, extraordinary ministers and servers.

The reaction of passers-by or the Orthodox or Franciscan custodians at the sites is always interesting. We

sometimes get told off because we are a bit noisy but that is usually when we are waiting in line to get

somewhere and are chatting or smiling too much! The main reaction is pleasure to see young people learning

about and experiencing their faith, energy being received from the young people and a renewal of optimism

and openness based on the young people’s attitudes and behaviour.

I have been on four youth pilgrimages and It is a huge privilege to be part of one, the hard tiring work of

looking after the boundaries of the group, both physical, emotional and behavioural, is more than

compensated for by being part of a group that you can see and feel blossom somewhere about day 2 or day

3 and then they take off in directions that only they and The Lord know. The investment in our young people

pays off as you see them years later as frequent or not so frequent Mass attenders, still nudging their parents

or friends when a particular scripture reading comes around and they can say – I was there, in that same spot

as The Lord, and we talked and prayed about…..

And the answer to the very justifiable question – why not a local pilgrimage or to Lourdes or wherever ...

our view is that it shouldn’t be either/or but both, and in the end the Holy Land is special, it is rightly known

as the Fifth Gospel, and to be able to go to that place so early in someone’s Journey of Faith is such an

amazing opportunity and investment for the future.

(Sue Broadbent)

Good Shepherds

We have a small flock of nine ewes, five of which we put to the ram for planned lambing over Easter so

that all the grandchildren could be here to help and enjoy the new born lambs. What a disappointment

lockdown was for them! They had been so looking forward to the fun. They have been involved via our

family WhatsApp groups “lambwatch”.

The first lamb was born on the 3rd April and the last ewe lambed on 14th and all are doing well, except that

one ewe, lambing for the first time, had twins but got confused and rejected one which we are having to

bottle feed four times a day! One ewe turned out not to be in lamb and we ended up with seven lambs from

four ewes.

Our ram moved on from here to Mike and Anne Roberts Colby Wood Farm where hopefully further lambs

are now being born, he will be back with us by November so hopefully we can be lambing again next Easter

Hols for the grandchildren to enjoy.

FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS

PAGE 7

There’s the answers to last time’s puzzles and another

one from Donna. It would be really good if one or two

of you young people could suggest an activity or send

me an article for your friends to enjoy.

Make a Paper Aeroplane!

For this you will just need an A4 sheet of paper. It can

be any colour and you may want to add decorations,

name your plane and design your own logo! Here are

step by step instructions for the perfect plane (again

you may need some help from a grown up!):

Step 1

Fold a rectangular sheet of paper in half

lengthways, then open flat so that there’s a straight

crease down the middle, from top to bottom.

Step 2

Fold the top two corners of the paper to meet at the

centre fold to create the nose of your aeroplane. This

should make a triangle shape.

Step 3

Take the new angled corners and fold them to meet at

the centre fold, creating an even more narrow triangle

shape.

Step 4

Fold the aeroplane in half along the centre line, hiding

the other folds inside. You’re creating the body of the

plane at this stage so make sure it’s nice and tucked in.

Step 5

Fold down the top two flaps to make the wings and

you’re done. Time to fly your aeroplane!

(Alex Downing)

Here’s another design above. Try to work out how to

make this one.

There’s lots of other ways to make paper aeroplanes.

Research a few and make them, then try them out and

decide is the best design.

Yesterday, Saturday

18th we had the shearer

in so this photo shows

the ewes looking all

smart and white, ready

to enjoy this sunny

weather. (John

Singleton)

Holy Land Pilgrimage Quiz

1. Name three ‘mountains’ we visit during a pilgrimage to

the Holy Land.

2. What river connects the Sea of Galilee and the Dead

Sea?

What happened in this river?

3. What is the name of the largest mosque on Temple

Mount in Jerusalem?

What other religions regard this area as sacred?

4. How many gates does the Old City of Jerusalem have?

Which one did Jesus use on Palm Sunday?

5. What valley separates the Garden of Gethsemane and

the Old City of Jerusalem?

What happened at the Garden of Gethsemane?

6. What two important events happened within the site of

the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

What is the name of the man who provided the

tomb for the body of Jesus?

7. What deserts do we cross to travel from Jerusalem to

Nazareth?

8. Name three things that happened on the Sea of Galilee

9. Name three towns in the Gospels that are on the shores

of the Sea of Galilee?

What happened in the one that Jesus stayed in at the

house of St Peter’s mother in law?

10. What was the name of the town that Mary Martha and

Lazarus lived in?

Name two things about Jesus that happened in that town

(Sue Broadhurst)

Gardening Tips

Tomatoes:

Whether you have grown your own from

seeds or been given seedlings: wait until the

soil has warmed up and all risk of frost has

passed, before planting outside. Tomato

plants are tender.

More sun equals more fruit. It’s not heat

you need, but sunlight. Position in the

sunniest spot. 7 hours per day if you are

lucky is ideal. And give plenty of space, at

least 0.5 metres between plants to allow

them to make the best use of the sun, and to

keep disease to a minimum.

Beef up your compost. Use special tomato

grow bags or add extra nutrients to ordinary

compost. And add extra feed in with your

watering all the way through the growing

process.

Stake all but the most compact tomato

plants, and tie in regularly. Tomato plants

are thugs and easily get unruly.

Pinch out the shoots that start growing in

the junctions between the main stem and

leaves. These won’t produce much in the

way of fruit and the plant will start

producing too much vegetative growth

rather than the fruit you want.

Water, water and even more water. And

feed.

If all goes well, you should start to harvest

fruit from around 40 days after planting out.

(Sheila Wade)

Cookery Corner

Banana Dessert:

Ingredients

125 gm digestive biscuit crumbs (put

biscuits in polythene bag and smash

with rolling pin)

5 tablespoons caster sugar

85 gm melted butter

FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS

PAGE 8

If you like this sort of thing, try googling for how

aeroplanes fly and see what you can learn about the

theory of flight. It’s really cool and not what you

expect. Seriously, what keeps all those aeroplanes up

there?

If you get into this, you might be able to nag your

parents into visiting our gliding club when we all get

out of jail, where I can show you how we fly gliders.

You can watch, and sit in a glider or, if you are old

enough, we can even send you up in one with an

instructor as shown in the picture! (Tell your parents

that it is very safe. Lots more people hurt themselves

riding horses or playing rugby, which is why I fly

aeroplanes!). Who needs an engine anyway? (You have

to be 13 to fly. Some people go solo at 14!)

(Ed)

More details crisbasha@aol.com

Puzzles and things from Donna

Here’s the answer to the puzzle in the last edition:

Answer : 6

Explanation :

Looking at the diagram in rows, the central circle equals half

the sum of the numbers in the other circles to the left and right

of the centre.

I still haven’t a clue, but I trust Donna in all things, and here

goes another.

Oh my!

Answers to wildlife quiz last time:

1 Greater Horseshoe Bat 2 Seal 3 CapercaIllie 4 Bottlenose Whale 5 Red Kite 6 Shrew 7 Harbour Seal 8 Roe Deer 9 Mountain Hare 10 Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly 11 Hen Harrier 12 Red Deer 13. Earwig 14 Striped Dolphin 15 Hedgehog

125 ml (5 oz) double cream

125 ml (5 oz) plain greek yoghurt

1 Large Banana

4 tablespoons soft brown sugar

Method

1.Grease with butter a 20 x 23cm ( 8’’

x 9’’) tin

2. Mix together biscuit crumbs, melted

butter and sugar.

3.Press the crumb mixture into the tin

really firmly and chill

for approx 1 hr.

4. Gently whip together the cream and

the greek yoghurt

until thoroughly mixed

5. Finely slice the banana and fold into

the mixture

6. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the

top of the mixture

7. Put the dish under a very hot grill

until the sugar bubbles

and be careful the sugar does not

burn.

NOTE The banana can be substituted

with any fruit that you

(Maureen Burt)

End Bits

Thanks to all my contributors, I can’t

do it without you and now I need yet

more, especially from Ringwood

because I don’t know so many people

there. Apologies if I flog willing

horses, but if this organ is to continue

to play, you must keep me pumped up!

Lockdown seems to be going on for

ever. The Forty days and nights of the

title seems now to be wildely

optimistic. Maybe we need a new title?

‘Wanderings in the Wilderness’?

Suggestions?

So send me – book reviews, film

reviews, viewing tips: Shakespeare’s

Globe are putting plays up for free on

Youtube – exciting activities, unusual

interests – keep it coming – and

photos! Recipes, funny anecdotes,

jokes, things to do.......

crisbasha@aol.com

(Chris Basham)

FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS

PAGE 9