Many of you will have received a free copy of the April issue of the Messenger magazine, which had a strong Dallington theme this month.
In case you missed it, here is a screenshot of one of the articles, about the Dallington School Vegetable Garden.
Dallington is the only village served by both the Parish Magazine and the Messenger, and many people subscribe to both publications as they are very good value while offering quite different content.
Here is a message from the Editor:
We gave you a complimentary copy of The Messenger magazine as the April issue had a Dallington theme. We hope you enjoyed it and many thanks to everyone who helped me put it together. We are also going to deliver the May issue to you to try and entice you to subscribe!
We produce 12 issues a year – delivered to your door or collected from Dallington Post Office – for an annual subscription of £10. If you would like to continue to receive The Messenger please contact me, the Editor, m.willisfleming@gmail.com 01424 838764 or Pauline Ridley 01435 830152
Because of the current social distancing we will not be collecting subscriptions, either by cash or cheque, for the time being. The magazine will continue to be produced, and delivered by posting through your door, unless circumstances change further. We will be asking for your annual subscription later in the year when it is safe to do so.
I’ve just received a letter from SE Water about works (flushing water mains) in Dallington, starting today (14.04.20) for approximately one week. They advise that there may be a reduction in water pressure and water may appear cloudy.
Just so you all know what is going on.
Irene – Parish Clerk
We still have no end in sight and just have to carry on with our new “normal,” but we have glorious weather and there is a soft greening on our trees and hedgerows.
Both the Rother District Council and East Sussex County Council websites have Community Support sections.
Doctors
If you need to see or contact your GP during this emergency, please check their website or phone first. I’ve added links to the surgeries I know about in Battle and Heathfield.
Like our GPS, vets are only dealing with emergencies, although I understand they are still doing the final jabs for puppies and kittens. Check their website and phone first.
The Best of Us
It goes without saying that our heartfelt thanks go to all NHS workers and every one of those essential workers who are keeping our lives as normal as possible. I would also like to say a massive Thank You to those Dalligton residents who have volunteered to pick up essential supplies/prescriptions for those who must not leave their homes. A resident contacted me about helping our super Postmen by leaving our gates unlatched, this is a great idea – but obviously not if you have small children or pets!
Scams
Be extra vigilant at this time – just put the phone down or delete the email. There’s some good advice on the Age UK website, the link is below.
1. Sainsburys (all Sainsbury shops)
Monday to Saturday 0730-0800 priority for NHS workers (will need ID)
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 0800-0900 priority for the elderly, keyworkers and the disabled.
2. Co-op (Heathfield and Battle)
Monday to Friday 0800-0900 priority for keyworkers, the elderly and disabled.
3. Waitrose (Heathfield)
Monday to Saturday 0700-1000, first opening hour is priority for keyworkers, the elderly and disabled. They are also giving NHS workers priority at the checkouts.
4. Local shops (ring first)
Netherfield Stores and Post Office – 01424 838589
Rushlake Green Village Stores – 01435 830381
The Old Orchard Village Shop – 07969 778985
Zero Heathfield – 07391 490098
Eggs to Apples – 01580 860566
Venison and Lamb meat packs – 07780 707006
The Adventures of Alfie
I’m afraid Alfie is in disgrace. We went to our field yesterday and as usual he was just trundling around. He managed to put up a pheasant and I don’t know who was more frightened – the pheasant or Alfie as his natural prey is a small beetle. I took my eyes off him for a moment, looked around and the Little Grotbag was on his back rolling in fox poo! I’m not normally precious, but I cannot live with with the smell of fox poo in the house. So it was straight home and in the shower for him. He’s nice and clean now, but is beginning to look like a failed attempt at Build a Bear. We haven’t had the great nail clipping project yet, but it will be very soon.
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVAH!
Last Christmas my son bought Alfie the biggest dog chew he could find. Alfie couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw it. He walked around it for a few minutes and you could almost hear his little doggie brain thinking – “is it really all for me?” He managed to pick it up, tried to get it through the door to the kitchen and had to work out for about 10 minutes just how to do it. That hurdle overcome, he then tried to get it up the stairs, all we could hear for most of Christmas morning was the crashing and banging of all the failed attempts. It is now in three pieces and he still guards it vigorously against the BAD KITTENS!
It’s going to be a very different Easter for all of us, with Christmas, one of the turning points of the year. I’m not religious, but understand the importance of this time of year to those of all faiths – it is the most important celebration of the Christian year, Passover for those of the Jewish faith and Ramadan starts in late April. It is so sad that our churches, synagogues, mosques and temples are closed.
I can only wish you all a Happy Easter, staying safe and looking after one another.
Irene (Parish Clerk)
I’ve had a few queries about how you can contact your GP during this emergency and how you can arrange a necessary visit and/or renew prescriptions.
Links to the Martins Oak Surgery, the Oldwood Surgery and the Heathfield and Firs Surgery are below and these will give you full details.
If you know anyone who does not subscribe to this website and probably uses one of the above surgeries – can you please let them know of the changed arrangements.
Irene – Parish Clerk
No real end in sight yet – all we can do is to stay safe and look after each other safely.
SAFE WEBSITES FOR INFORMATION
Be careful, lots of very dubious information out there, the following sites are safe Click on this link for NHS coronavirus information
FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES/INFORMATION
Dallington Parish Council cannot be responsible for any information held on this site, but it is generally thought to be a reliable source of financial information, particularly during this emergency.
THE BEST OF US
Grateful and sincere thanks to everyone out there who are working endlessly to keep us safe and our lives as normal as they can possibly be – all who work in the NHS, the carers, all the keyworkers, all in the emergency services, the military, all the shop assistants, the food bank volunteers and all those in essential jobs. You have our heartfelt thanks.
AND THE WORST
They are always out there and scammers will take the opportunity of this emergency to to try to defraud, upset and generally increase the levels of anxiety. If you get any emails (I’ve had a couple) asking for money, threats, the old “click on this link” request or any email that you feel is not genuine – DELETE! DELETE! DELETE! – a safe website for advice is the Police’s Action Fraud site, the link is below
SHOPPING
1. Sainsburys (all Sainsbury shops)
Monday to Saturday 0730-0800 priority for NHS workers (will need ID)
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 0800-0900 priority for the elderly, keyworkers and the disabled.
2. Co-op (Heathfield and Battle)
Monday to Friday 0800-0900 priority for keyworkers, the elderly and disabled.
3. Waitrose (Heathfield)
Monday to Saturday 0700-1000, first opening hour is priority for keyworkers, the elderly and disabled. They are also giving NHS workers priority at the checkouts.
4. Local shops (ring first)
Netherfield Stores and Post Office – 01424 838589
Rushlake Green Village Stores – 01435 830381
The Old Orchard Village Shop – 07969 778985
Zero Heathfield – 07391 490098
Eggs to Apples – 01580 860566
Venison and Lamb meat packs – 07780 707006
CHURCHES TOGETHER IN HEATHFIELD
They have gathered together a big group of volunteers from all the Heathfield churches and are happy to help you if you are self-isolating and can also put you in touch with other local volunteers. Their numbers are – 01435 863786 and 01435 864646.
DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME!
A young astrophysicist, Dr. Daniel Readon, was trying to invent a device to stop people touching their faces. He ended up in hospital with magnets stuck up his nose! Every mother reading this probably rolled her eyes and thought I’ve got one like that – good brain, but no common sense – I know I have. However, full marks Dr. Daniel for trying. There’s a link below to the Guardian article.
He’s very bored and missing his woodland walks as we’ve decided to just exercise him in the field behind our house. I’ve just looked out of our window and there are no fire-breathing sheep in the adjacent fields – so he should be safe. We are going to have to bite the bullet soon and clip his nails, not looking forward to it, but will have to be done.
Stay safe all of you, look after yourselves and each other.
Irene – Parish Clerk
East Sussex Highways are starting their spray patching programme today (01.04.20). Their wonder machine can fix permanently up to 200 potholes per day.
The link below will give you details about the roads they will be working on and how the patching machine works. Click on this link to see details of ESCC Spray Patching programme
Many of you will have received a free copy of the April issue of the Messenger magazine, which had a strong Dallington theme this month.
