Memories 1

During my school holidays- I would have been about eight- I would go to stay with my Grandad, Granny and Uncle Jack,down the valley - Uncle Jack was a butcher and I used to help him deliver the meat.

He would fetch the carcases from Church Stretton and then carve them up to make up the orders collected from local people. I would make deliveries to places like Kinnerton and Wentnor - and sometimes I would be given a drink and a piece of cake by the customers. I had a bicycle with a basket on the front - Uncle Jack made the deliveries which were to far away- with the horse and gig.

There was a fishmonger in Kinnerton who did the same - he fetched his fish from Church Stretton and delivered around the local people.

Any meat that was left over was stored in a big vat of brine and then overtime fed to the animals.

I remember being sent to Wentnor to the cobbler to have my boots mended while I waited - sometimes it took all day- because there were others before me.

One day I went for a walk with Grandad towards Stiperstones and the Devils Chair - he was a deeply religious man and he sat down on a rock and sang a hymn.

News Flash

Scotland’s most famed osprey returns to the Lowes
Thursday 25th March 2010
Watch live from our HD nest web cam - follow this link www.thewebbroadcastingcorporation.com/swt/swt.php

The SWT's Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve today (25 March) welcomes back the bird thought to be oldest breeding female of its kind ever recorded in the UK for the 20th consecutive year to the astonishment of wildlife experts.

Spotted landing on her usual nesting site, known as an eyrie, at 2.00 pm on 23 March, this female osprey, estimated to now be 25 years of age which is over three times the average lifespan of an osprey, has once again completed a 3,000 mile migration from West Africa to her summer breeding ground at Loch of the Lowes. Her arrival could signal the beginning of another breeding process for one of Scotland’s most magnificent bird species.

Emma Rawling, SWT Perthshire Ranger appointed to protect the osprey during the breeding season thanks to funding from SITA Tayside Biodiversity Fund, said: “We are truly amazed at the tenacity and endurance of this particular female osprey. Defying her age, she has made it back to us again and from initial sightings she looks like she is in remarkably good condition.

“She is now waiting for her mate to arrive to begin her 20th breeding season. So far, this one bird has laid 55 eggs, 46 of which have hatched into chicks which have successfully left the nest. She is a hardy old bird, that’s for sure, and I can’t wait to watch her progress over the next few months.”

It is expected that the female osprey’s breeding partner, a male osprey identified with a green leg ring, will arrive within a week. This resident male will then chase any other males, known as interlopers, away before initiating the breeding process

Memories Introduction

My father is 91 - born in 1918 at the end of the First World War, he was the second born of 13 children, he has many a tale to tell of good times and bad times , happy and sad times , but most of all he has an incredible store of memories of bygone days.

His childhood days were spent on a small farm in the sight of Stiperstones, the farm is now in ruins but in those days it was called Black Top.

He lost 3 young brothers in a whooping cough epidemic - 2 brothers were lost so close together that they were buried in the same coffin

His memories include those of cold hard winters, suppers when yesterdays meatless bones were yet again stewed up to provide a warm meal for those inside those four walls. he had an eight mile walk to school,helped out on the farm and during school holidays he went to stay with his uncle, the local butcher.......

Short break to Pembroke

Last week while the sun shone we decided to take a short break to Pembroke - well nothing goes to plan and after organising plumbers to fix a leaking pipe in the kitchen - we finally arrived in Nolton Haven at our cottage at midnight- armed with a very small torch - to enter the security code into the key box after what seemed like 10 mins we opened the door.

This was to be a walking break - so we walked the coastal path in both directions- the sky was blue - the sea was blue - but the wind was very cold and unforgiving - so warm clothes were needed by all.

We walked from Nolton Haven to Newgale - well almost nearly!!! - Nolton Haven towards Druidston - up into Nolton village and back down again into Nolton Haven and into the pub - this walk took a bit longer !! - but a good time was had by all !!

' You was made bad' she said, sadly but sympathetically.

'Leastways,you wasn't made like watch dogs, and house cats and cows.

You was made a fox and you be a fox, and its queer- like to me Foxy, as folk canna see that.

They expect you to be what you wanna made to be.

You'm made to be a fox, and when you'm busy being a fox they say you'm a sinner!'

Mary Webb