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The Grapevine Magazine April 2004 Issue No 189
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Well done, and a huge thank-you to Charlotte
and Lisa, who not only completed their half marathon in a fantastic 2 hours 3
minutes, but have also raised over £200 for Krakatoa in the process. The money will be put towards equipment for
the outside area. The children have all been very busy this
term, painting some beautiful butterflies, creating ponds complete with frogs
and tadpoles and making wonderful cards for all us lucky Mums. Seeds have been planted and are already
sprouting - ready to go into our new garden area. For all enquiries - general and waiting list -
please phone Penny McCulloch - 01844 353727. Anyone interested in playing lawn bowls should
join us at Watlington Bowls Club. All ages can take part. We are also trying to start a youth
section. Do come along on our Open Day on Sunday, 25th
April at 3.00pm. The rink is behind Watlington Memorial Club, High Street, Watlington. Flat shoes will be required. Sign up for a free 6-session course with
our resident coach. If you are
interested contact David Beechey on 01844 351451. “Flaubert’s Parrot” by
Julian Barnes was discussed at our meeting in March. Although almost
universally disliked by the group the book provoked a lively and frank
exchange of views and ideas. The
questions raised ranged from “was this a
novel?” to “should the letters of famous people be burnt in
accordance with their wishes or should these wishes be ignored to satisfy
posterity’s curiosity?” For next month we have chosen a book which
promises to be completely different, Claire Morrall’s
“Astonishing Splashes of Colour”.
This was a first novel short listed for the Booker Prize in 2003. If you are interested in joining the group,
then you can contact me on 350382. Elan Preston-Whyte “Knysna” Lewknor Something Unusual From If the spring days are
encouraging you to plan a new look for your garden this year, why not go for
a Mediterranean feel? It’s
straightforward to achieve in the smallest spaces, easy to care for, and
perfect for our hotter, dryer summers. The Mediterranean look is
simple, stunning and ideal in a courtyard setting. The key feature is a tree for shade, more
than one if you have space, and the older and more gnarled the better. Fig trees are perfect, or you could choose
an olive (hardy in our climate), or an oleander. All these can be grown in pots and kept
small if space is tight. If it
isn’t, try the fast growing eucalyptus, or for something different, the
evergreen loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is drought
tolerant and very unusual. It has
furry clumps of fragrant white flowers in winter and spring, followed by
tasty orange fruit and large brown seeds in summer. Surround your tree with drought-proof
grasses and perennials like low growing rock roses (Cistus)
and cape daisies (Osteospermums), alongside
colourful cannas, spiky cardoons (Cynara cardunculus) and phormiums. Place lots of large flat pebbles in between
the plants. These will contrast
beautifully with the leaves and flower shapes and provide
a mulch. For more permanent
landscaping, you could set the pebbles in concrete. There is no grass in a
Mediterranean garden. Paving (often
terracotta) and gravel is used instead, punctuated with some well chosen
plants in pots. Citrus trees are an
obvious choice, or you could try yuccas and palms like the European fan palm
(Chamaerops Humilis), or chusan palm (Trachycarpus Fortunei). Smaller
pots can be filled with lavendar, rosemary, aloe vera, agaves or even a selection of cacti. For something a little bit different, why
not try a prickly pear (Opuntia). Finally, what about those
finishing touches? If you have room, a
couple of huge terracotta pots tipped onto their side would complete the
look. If not, a collection of brightly
coloured geraniums in pots, ideally fixed to wrought iron wall hangers would
do the job just as well. And
don’t forget grapevine, passion flowers or clematis ( The Sports Camp Action packed, fun filled
sporting activities and team games - a great opportunity to try a variety of
sports, including tennis, rounders, golf, cricket, football and much more! Venue: Jubilee Hall, Lewknor Date: 14/15/16 April Time: 9.30am - 12.30pm Age: 7 - 13 year olds Cost: £15.00 Please bring plenty to
drink and suitable clothing/trainers for indoor and outdoor activities! To book please call: 01491 823417 Recent research by local
independent fostering agency, www.familyplacement.com
has revealed that the public still believe many of the negative myths and
misconceptions about foster care. According to the research,
a significant proportion of people think that most foster children have
extreme behaviour problems, that all of the children come from broken homes,
that you have to jump through hoops to be approved to foster and that most
foster carers are unpaid work, untrained mother earth” type volunteers. As agency manager and
researcher, Andy Clipson has explained the reality
is more complex: “Although some of the
children can be very trying, and applicants do have to complete a robust
vetting process, in practice, providing a safe and nurturing home for a
child, can be a magical experience.
There is nothing quite like seeing a child relax,
become happier and begin to thrive in your care and knowing you have made a
real difference for them.” To help people realise this
level of achievement, the agency pays all of its foster carers a significant
weekly fee in addition to a maintenance allowance for the child and all
carers have access to around the clock support. If you think you could help make a
difference for a local child, or would like further information, please
telephone Andy Clipson on 01993 201514 or email: info@familyplacement.com. I once again enjoyed my
annual visit to the Show and was very impressed by the whole standard - the
Art Show itself, the excellent work of the children beautifully displayed -
and all so efficiently organised. Well done School - a lovely
village event. Campaign to Protect Rural Midsummer Music In A Bring a picnic. Enjoy the glorious garden. Inside
if wet Friday 18th June at 7.30pm (gardens open from
6pm) Ticket price £17.50 Tickets on sale from April 1st Contact CPRE Branch Office Tel: 01865 874780, email: oxonepre@globalnet.co.uk Website: www.epreoxon.org.uk
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