Happy Christmas!

A very

Happy Christmas

to all our readers!

Keep warm, have a great time, and please

don't forget to look out for your neighbours!

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Cakes & Bakes

Many Chearsley children have contributed recipes to a beautiful new recipe book "Cakes & Bakes", just published in time for Christmas.   The book is A5 in size and has 74 colourful pages of  tasty recipes for cakes, bread and puddings.  It would make a great Christmas Present. The books cost £10 each or just £8.50 per copy for orders of three or more, and can be ordered through the Cuddington village shop or via Sharon@cloverdale.biz.  All monies raised support the Cuddington & Dinton C.of E. School.

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Winter Friends

Support the

 NHS Choices Winter Friends 

campaign and sign their pledge to look in on an older friend or neighbour this winter.

Last winter, about 31,000 people in England died as a result of cold weather. Most of the people who died were over 75 and many of these deaths could have been avoided.

But it doesn't have to be this way.  By signing our pledge and looking in on someone this winter, you can help reduce the number of unnecessary deaths and make winter a better time for everyone.  Join us and together we’ll all do our bit this winter.

Signing the pledge will also ensure you get cold weather alerts and other email tips to help friends and neighbours as the temperatures drop.

5 Ways to be a winter friend;

1. Set some time aside to drop in on an older neighbour or friend once a week – more often if the weather turns very cold.
2. Check their home is warm enough. The main living area should be around 21°C (70°F) and bedrooms should be 18°C (65°F). If they are worried about the costs of heating, check they are receiving their heating bill benefits, such as Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment. If there are draughts you may be able to help plug them.
3. Food is a vital source of energy that helps keep us warm. Make sure the person you are looking in on is eating well and has some non-perishable foods in the cupboard that they can heat up in case they can't leave the house for a few days. Tinned meals and soups are ideal.
4. Many older people take medicines and everyone over 65 should have a free flu jab. Ask if there is anything you can do to help – picking up a prescription or giving them a lift to their GP, for instance. And if you are unwell take real care not to pass it on.
5. It’s also important for people to keep active and get out if they can. Make sure the person you are helping has warm and grippy shoes and a good coat, hat and gloves. Offer to walk with them if they are not confident alone. If it snows clear the path to their door for them.

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Village News

with Margaret Morbey

Christmas Bingo at The Bell - The pub was crowded for the last Bingo session of the year. The final full house win was £100. The raffle for charity made £49. Thanks go to Paul Kingsman and Andy Camden who have been hosting the Bingo evenings for the past 3 years, now well experienced callers. These evenings are always well attended and good fun. The New Year will start with one on January 7.

Chearsley Christmas Cards
Alicia Howard has created a Christmas Card of children tobogganing down the fields behind Chearsley Church. Packs of 4 cards costing £2.50 are on sale in the village shop, The Bell and from Alicia.

Christmas Tags - Andrew (Podge) and I have made some give tags from recycled Christmas cards and these are on sale in packets of 20 for £1.50, or individually for 10p each in The Bell.

Refuse Collections:
Refuse Collection Friday December 20 - the recycling and food bin will be collected.
Refuse collections after Christmas – Please note the different collection days for this week and the following week. Monday December 30 when the green general waste bin and food bin will be collected
Saturday January 4 - Recycling bin and food bins will be collected
Friday January 10 - Waste bin and food bins will be collected

Chearsley Shop
The shop will close at 6.00pm on Saturday, December 14. Christmas Day and Boxing Day are the only days when the shop will be closed. Usual opening hours up to and after then.

Thank you to those of you who have kept me informed of village activities and events this past year. I look forward to hearing news of family celebrations, special achievements ,and forthcoming occasions in 2014. Without having news, there is no column. Happy Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

Diary Dates :
December 22 4.00pm Lessons and Carols at St Nicholas
December 24 3.00pm Children’s Crib Service – everyone welcome, not just children and parents
December 24 11.30pm Midnight Communion
Christmas Day 10.00am Christmas Praise
December 24 The Bell is Open 12.00pm to 3.00pm. 6.00pm till late.
Christmas Day The Bell is Open 12.00pm until 2.00pm Closed in the evening
Boxing Day The Bell is Open 12.00pm until 4.00pm Food available. Dodgy Christmas Jumper competition. Closed in the evening
Monday December 30 – Mobile Library in The Bell Car park from 10.00am until 10.25am. The next visit will be January 27.
New Year’s Eve The Bell is Open 12pm to 3.00pm. 6.00pm till late. Nibbles on the bar. Food available as usual
New Year’s Day The Bell is Open 12pm to 4.00pm. The Bell’s Big Brekkie and usual menu. Closed in the evening.
January 5 2014 – Twelfth Night Party at the village hall at 7.30pm. Tickets are £12.50 available from Anne Pratt on anne.jpap@gmail.com
January 13 2014 Parish Council Meeting – venue to be announced. Please see noticeboard a few days before for more details.

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Village News

with Margaret Morbey

Village burglary
A garage in Dark Lane was broken into overnight on Wednesday November 27 and Thursday 28. The padlock was forced and power tools were stolen. Anyone with any information is asked to contact PCSO Denise Grayburn from Waddesdon Neighbourhood Policing team on the 24hour Police enquiry number 101.

Margaret Braley There will be a short service led by Canon John Wynburne at St Nicholas Church, Chearsley on Wednesday December 18 at 10.30pm for the interment of Margaret’s ashes. Everyone is welcome to attend. Margaret was one of the original residents to move in to Elm Brook Close with her husband, Harold, when it was built in 1967. Margaret was a former President of Chearsley W.I. and will be remembered for her needlework and crafting skills and for her love of children, teaching more than 1 generation of pre-school children at her nursery in Aylesbury.

Black Coffee

This first play written by Agatha Christie is being performed by The Official Agatha Christie Theatre Company in the New Year. It is good news to hear that Eric Carte (Chearsley’s most famous actor) is among the cast, with Robert Powell playing Hercule Poirot. The performance will be on tour throughout the country, starting with a 2 week period at Windsor from January 6. It will also be at Milton Keynes from April 28. The play is set on an English country estate which is thrown into chaos following the murder of eccentric investor Sir Claud Amory and the theft of his new earth shattering formula. On the arrival of Hercule Poirot with Captain Hastings at the scene, he immediately senses a potent brew of despair, treachery and deception amid the estate’s occupants. Agatha Christie described the play in her autobiography as “a conventional spy thriller”.

Free Christmas Day Lunches Churches Together in Buckingham are offering anyone who will be alone this Christmas Day the opportunity to enjoy a free Christmas lunch, entertainment, games and presents. One lunch will be at St Mary’s in Aylesbury Town centre, one at Buckingham and one at Steeple Claydon. Places are limited, so booking is essential. Please phone Eric Undritz on 01280 817560 or email wellstreetoffice@gmail.com.

Chearsley Christmas Cards Alicia Howard has created a Christmas Card of children tobogganing down the fields behind Chearsley Church. Packs of 4 cards costing £2.50 are on sale in the village shop, The Bell and from Alicia.

Diary Dates:
Friday December 13 6.30pm Lighting of the Christmas Tree on The Green Gather round the tree on The Green for a count-down to the lights being switched on and for carols, mince pies and mulled wine

Christmas services at St Nicholas Church
December 22 4.00pm Lessons and Carols
December 24 3.00pm Children’s Crib Service – everyone welcome, not just children and parents
December 24 11.30pm Midnight Communion
Christmas Day 10.00am Christmas Praise

Christmas and New Year at The Bell
December 24 Open 12.00pm to 3.00pm. 6.00pm till late.
Christmas Day Open 12.00pm until 2.00pm Closed in the evening
Boxing Day Open 12.00pm until 4.00pm Food available. Dodgy Christmas Jumper competition. Closed in the evening
New Year’s Eve Open 12pm to 3.00pm. 6.00pm till late. Nibbles on the bar. Food available as usual
New Year’s Day Open 12pm to 4.00pm. The Bell’s Big Brekkie and usual menu. Closed in the evening.

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