Dec07Newsletter

The Council meeting held on Wednesday 14th November was attended by all Parish Councillors, the District Councillor, the Clerk and one member of the public.

Cllr. Tim Robinson wished to have recorded that he was unable to attend the Council meeting on 9th October due to the change of date agreed at the September meeting but that he had represented the Parish Council at SODC Planning Committee hearing on the Lamb on the 10th October 2007.

The clerk updated the Council on the outstanding items with OCC Highways . The following is a summary of the points:

The speed survey has been conducted outside Willowbrook Cottage on the Haseley Road . The results show a mean average speed of around 27.0 mph.

The drain on the Haseley Road close to the 30mph sign is still in need of repair.

The work to eliminate the surface water on the Haseley Road has not yet been started. OCC Highways have indicated that they have spoken to the owners of the Manor as they have some concerns that this area maybe a contributory source of the problem.

OCC Highways have indicated that some of the verges on Church Hill and the path outside Cremar Cottages could be improved. This matter is under consideration.

The Clerk informed the Council that the Stopping Up Order in respect of Church Hill Cottage had not yet been implemented. There is a temporary structure supporting the wall on Gold Street . The Clerk stated that he will speak to OCC Highways in respect of this matter.

The Clerk reported that he spoken to Mrs Caroline Jones, Chair of Little Milton School Governors, in respect of the slip road between Haseley Road and Gold Street . The Council RESOLVED that the Clerk should write to the Chair of Governors to seek support to have the slip road re-designated for pedestrians and cyclists only.

The Clerk informed the meeting that he was still waiting for a letter from OCC to confirm the registration of the Village Green although he had received a verbal confirmation. There is a need for the Council to determine the delineation of the village green to prevent further encroachment by vehicles. Cllr Tim Robinson stated that Mrs Robinson would provide the Council with options for consideration.

The Clerk informed the meeting that he had attended the meeting held on 11 October in respect of weight limits on the A329. The meeting was chaired by County Councillor David Turner . Mr Peter Ronald provided vehicle count records including HGV’s. The conclusion of the meeting was that steps should be taken to have a more effective enforcement of the current weight limits by using Trading Standards. The National Census traffic census point south-west of the village recorded in September 2007 recorded the lowest number of HGV’s in six years.

The Chairman invited Mr Mark Willis to report on the work of the recreation ground committee. He reported on the mole activity on the recreation ground and explained that Spadework UK could not start their programme to control the mole activity due to staff problems. The Council RESOLVED to ask Mr Peter Ilbury to commence work to control the moles within the immediate future. The Clerk stated that the cost would not exceed £500 without further approval of the Council.

P07/W1258:10 Chiltern View, installation of flue for clean burn multi fuel stove

The Council RESOLVED that this planning application should be approved by South Oxfordshire District Council.

P07/W0628: Orchard House; Open air swimming pool. Planning permission granted by SODC

This application has been granted planning permission by South Oxfordshire District Council.

This application has been granted Listed Building Consent by South Oxfordshire District Council.

These planning/Listed Building applications have been refused by South Oxfordshire District Council

The Council noted that South Oxfordshire District Council was investigating an alleged breach of planning control.

Cllr. Barry Coward updated the meeting on the joint meeting between representatives of the Village Hall, the shop steering group and the Parish Council. He reported that the shop would be set up as an Independent Provident Society for the benefit of the community and that a village meeting would be called by the shop steering group at some stage in the future. He also reported that the current lease between the Village Hall and the Parish Council allows the establishment of a sub lease between the Village Hall and the “shop” but would be subject to approval by the Parish Council. There is need to incorporate a revised footprint of the village hall within the lease and for it to be registered with the Land Registry. He also highlighted that a formal letter from the Village Hall requesting approval for the hall extension was outstanding.

Cllr Barry Coward also highlighted the car park as an area that will require to be carefully considered by the shop committee as there are a number of operational issues that need to be addressed. He stated that the shop steering group have been asked to submit a proposal to the Parish Council for consideration as there may be financial as well as planning implications.

Cllr. David Wakeling informed the meeting that he had received representation on behalf of residents who use the restricted byway that leads from the High Street to Warren Barn. The road is in a poor state of repair. He reported that the matter is being addressed by OCC Countryside Services but requested that the Parish Council actively involve themselves in addressing the problem. The Clerk stated that he spoken to OCC Countryside about the byway and they had expressed their desire to improve the road surface as well as restrict its use by illegal vehicles. The solution is dependent upon available funding.

District Councillor John Nowell Smith informed the meeting that South Oxfordshire District was considering a proposal on a new waste collection scheme from 2009. He also reported that the District Council were considering consulting Parish Councils on the discontinuance of the automatic referral of major and minor planning applications to the Planning Committee in circumstances where a parish recommend approval against an officer’s recommendation of refusal.

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 12th December 2007 at 8.00 p.m. in The Pine Lodge Little Milton unless there is a need to convene any planning or other meetings.

Please note that the complete minutes of the Council are now included on the Council website www.littlemilton.org.uk after they have been approved by the Council.

Residents can see the records of the policies and practices of the Parish Council

consultations, on request from the Parish Clerk (Raymond Fergusson –279150). Current Council member are:

Cllr. Mabel Wood, Cllr. Alison Shelton , Cllr. David Wakeling, Cllr. Tim Robinson

‘If you can find the funding then we will build barriers’, says John Gardner, General Manager of UK Highways, who maintain the M40 on behalf of the Highways Agency. His offer came during a presentation at the AGM of the M40 Chilterns Environmental Group.

Mr Gardner explained that he must reconstruct two deteriorating bridges over the motorway, at Milton Common and Stokenchurch. Existing bridges will need to be closed for extended periods whilst the works are carried out. The two schemes are planned consecutively in 2008 and 2009, which may cause further disruption of the lives of local people, who suffer from the noise of M40 traffic, night and day.

Ken Edwards, Chairman of the M40 Group, stated that, although they recognise the benefit of including the additional work, under current policies the Highways Agency will not provide funding for improving noise barriers for these communities.

Local residents queried the problems with the bridges - apparently designed for a 60 year life - after 30 years. Many expressed frustration with District and County Councils in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire for failing to consult local residents. Mr Gardner expressed his willingness to continue to examine the plans so as to minimize disruption, and to meet with local people again. However, following the Highways Agency’s refusal to fund improvement of noise barriers within the schemes, an opportunity to bring lasting benefit to local residents continues to be missed.

M40 CEG will continue to pursue this opportunity with support of local residents.

There will be no garden waste service over the Christmas period with collections starting w/c 7 January 2008

For a charge of £35 residents can arrange for their unwanted vehicle to be collected from within the District and a charge of £7.50 per bulky item e.g. fridge furniture etc. To arrange this service residents can call the Public Amenities Team on 01491 823416 or print a copy of the form from the Council’s website www.southoxon.gov.uk .

Your bin will be collected on the same day as your normal refuse and recycling. Please ensure however that your bin is placed in a safe place that does not obstruct the pavement or highway. The dates for December are as follows:-Tuesday 4th; Tuesday 18th

The Oxfordshire County Council Waste Recycling Centres at Redbridge and Oakley Wood are open Monday to Saturday 8.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. and Sunday 9.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. The recycling centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day (and will be closing at 3.00p.m. on 24 and 31 December.

Church Cleaning Christmas Party

The Lamb is booked and we are all about to celebrate another years cleaning with our ‘Christmas Do’. If you feel sad that you’re not ‘one of us’ then do telephone to book in as one of us cleaners! We would welcome you warmly…

I would appreciate if those who want to help with the flowers for Christmas could advise me if they are available on the 23rd or 24th December.

Just to let Villagers know that the Bell Ringers will be ringing in St. James’ Church, Little Milton on

As Christmas fast approaches people often say to me there’s not much Christmas spirit about. But if we keep our eyes, our ears and our hearts open we can discover it, even in quite surprising places.

Over the years I’ve taken part in many carol services. Some have been set in beautiful Churches with the music, rich and wonderful, and the readings read in such a way so to leave me moved and inspired. Others have been in less hallowed surroundings, but have in their own, but very different way, spoken powerfully to me of Christ’s presence with us.

But two carol services stick in my mind. One was in a school for children with special needs. There were wheel chairs turned into donkeys, angels with golden crowns all dressed in white and strapped into their chairs for safety, a rebellious reindeer with intoxicated antlers who couldn’t keep still, and a walk-about shepherd waving to his mum and dad, his brothers and sisters. So much care from loving staff, a joyful telling of the old, old story. To me the presence of Christ was tangible. The big lesson I learnt was that those who have least, give so much to such a wonderful effect.

The other experience was in prison. Again the same old story offered and received-not by holy innocents, but by men who had played a large part in their own downfall, mostly by drugs, banged up day by day with so little to hope for, even when they come out, having made reparation. They found their Saviour in prison, were longing and hoping for a new start to their lives; working to put on a concert for ‘Children in Need’, putting on the armour of God to rid them of their habit. Their chaplains, alongside the prisoners, still seeing their potential when so many write them off. We sang carols like ‘Come thou long expected Jesus, born to set your people free’. There’s so much there that was hard and wrong-yet in the midst of it all, generosity, faith and transformation.

You see in Christ we have a Lord who saw the value and potential, not just in the beautiful, successful, premier league people, but in the backward and the disabled-even those in prison. In mingling with all sorts of people, he made everyone feel that they mattered and was of value- because they mattered and were of value to God. To Jesus, it was the individual person who was revealed to be valued so very much. He taught and lived that those who felt loved, accepted and forgiven may break free of the natural order to ignore or scrag the weak, to judge, and instead able to be led into a much richer, deeper and fuller life. It is, as He said, ‘I came to give life, more abundant life.’ For it is for the healing of the whole of humankind that compassion came down at Christmas-and God said, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’

“Not much Christmas Spirit about?” Yes there is, and the way to begin to discover it for ourselves, is to stop blaming, judging, carping and condemning one another, and show love, acceptance and forgiveness. These are the things that are all needed if Christ’s coming is to have an impact on our world in 2008.

Father of all mankind, deepen our gratitude, enlarge our sympathies and order our affections in generous and unselfish lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who is born as at this time and who lives forever to draw all mankind to your love. Amen.

Advent in the Church is always a period of quiet expectancy and preparation in readiness to receive anew, the Christ Child and the intense new love he brings into our lives at Christmas. To help us in our spiritual preparations, in addition to our usual pattern of services in a month, on each Friday morning in Advent, there will be a Service of Holy Communion at 9.00 a.m. Please do check the list of Services for the venues, since they will rotate around our parishes.

As I write our two schools are busy making their own preparation to celebrate Christmas, and it will be a special delight, to welcome all our children into our Churches. The Christingle Service with Little Milton School will be on TUESDAY 11^th DECEMBER at 6.00 p.m. I am sure it will be as colourful and delightful as always, and similarly on WEDNESDAY 19^th DECEMBER at 6.00 p.m., Great Milton School will come into Church for Hosannah Rock. Each school will in their own way tell again the old old story, but yet making it real and live and relevant to us today.

On Sunday 16^th December each parish is having their Carol Service. We begin at 4.00 p.m. at Great Haseley. Tim Suter, will be getting together a very worthy choir for the occasion, and after the service, refreshments will be kindly served at the home of Mrs. Alexander, immediately adjacent to the Church.

At 5.30 p.m. in St. James’ Little Milton , their carol Service will take place, and it is planned to have some instrumentalists from the village taking part.

At 7.00 p.m., in St. Mary’s Great Milton will be held the Festival on Nine lessons and carols, and to enhance our carol singing, Kate Billimore with friends will be helping us with the music. Kate is already gathering a choir together, even as I write.

On Friday 21st December at 8.00 p.m., we are all invited to A Carol Service at Rycote Chapel by kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Taylor. We always enjoy visiting Rycote, and at Christmas time it will be truly magical there. Look forward to seeing you.

On MONDAY 24^th, Christmas Eve, there is the Benefice Crib Service in St. James’ Little Milton at 4.00 p.m. and at 11.30 p.m. we shall greet the new born Heavenly King with Midnight Communion at St. Peter’s, Great Haseley.

On Christmas Day itself at 9.30 a.m., there will be a CHRISTMAS SERVICE FOR ALL THE FAMILY in ST. MARY’S, GREAT MILTON . I stress this Service is for all the family, so do come along and bring all of your family and friends along with all the children with yours. This service will last about 40 minutes. Afterwards there will be a shortened form of Holy Communion for all who care to stay.

Over the Christmas period, there will be many of you who will have family and friends staying with you, and when you bring them to church they may feel a hesitation to come up and receive communion. There really is no need to feel so. All are welcome around the Lord’s Table.

May I wish you all a most blessed and peaceful Christmas, and a new year full of all good things.

On the second Monday of each month there is a service of prayer, readings and hymns in Fullers Field Community Room, Great Milton. The service is shared with our Methodist friends. The service starts at 6.00pm and lasts about 30 minutes. The next service is scheduled on Monday 9th December 2007. If you would like to attend the service but require transport please contact Raymond Fergusson of 27 Chiltern View; telephone number 01844 279150 who will ensure that you are taken to the service and collected after it is finished.

Aprons

Calling all cooks………………..

Does your ‘Little Milton Apron’ need updating or have you never had the pleasure of owning one?

Buy a newly designed apron with artwork of St James’ Church, The Lamb and Little Milton Primary School in burgundy on a white background. With its own little pocket you and your mobile need never be apart!!

Only £7.50 each.

They make ideal Christmas presents.

For sale in the Post Office or ring Theresa Quested 01844 278922/ Sarah Jones 01844 278120

Proceeds to St James Church

The sad passing of Ron Jefferies on October 21st 2007 at the age of seventy three is a great loss to the village. Ron was a very hard working person who was very skilled in the work he did from repairing roofs or building beautiful walls as well as many other tasks. He went about his work with little fuss. I remember the help he offered me to install football goals in the recreation ground when I helped run the youth club. He will be sadly missed.

Congratulations to Derick and Isabel Tipping on the celebration of their Diamond Wedding anniversary on 8 November 2007. Ed

We will be joining Little Milton School in raising money for their partnership school in Port Elizabeth , South Africa . The 200 pupils have to walk for 2 hours both to and from Caesar Mlumbi School each day. Because of the large distances involved, a pupil cannot be sent home due to illness and there is currently no sick bay available. All money raised will therefore be put towards building such a facility.

If you wish to join us after 6.30pm, you can check the location by phoning Richard on 07774 988747.

There was a wonderful turn out for our visit from Cathy and her dog DoGood at Seesaw last month and we all learnt very graphically how the children’s Sunday School collection money has been or will be spent. There are two December teaching dates:

and on December 24^th the Sunday School teachers are planning a wonderful crib service for all the children and families of our Benefice along lines we have planned it in previous years when it has been at Little Milton (for timing see Church Services).

NB Advance notice on Sunday January 6^th: We are holding our annual Epiphany party up at the Village Hall from approximately 11 until 1pm with the King’s Arrival, games, food etc.etc.etc. Following this event there will be some news from the Teachers so watch this space for further details…

SHOE BOXES FOR

ROMANIA

Thank you to the folk who filled a shoebox full of goodies for a family in

Romania

this Christmas. They were taken to Haddenham on November 12^th and collected from Pat’s house in Haddenham on the 13^th for onward transport to the Warehouse at Worthing and from there by lorry to

Romania

in time for Christmas…

The prize wining numbers were drawn by the Little Milton School Children at their Good Work Assembly and were as follows:

OXFORD INSPIRES

Oxford Inspires is the county’s cultural development agency and is providing coordination and practical help to put on the celebration. It receives financial support from Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, the University of Oxford , Oxford Brookes University and Arts Council England. It is also supported by a number of corporate members. www.oxfordinspires.org

A journey through the sights, sounds, flavours and vino (along with some great stories from the saddle) as we accompany Stuart on his epic cycling challenge

All proceeds in aid of the Little Milton Village Shop and Post Office Fund. Tickets available from the Post Office

As part of the roll out of neighbourhood policing in our area we are holding a public consultation meeting at Wheatley Primary School on 5th December 2007 between the hours of 1930-2100 (approx).

This meeting will explain what neighbourhood policing is all about and it will give attendees a chance to meet their local police officers and , most importantly, it will give residents an opportunity to identify the problems in their area and to tell Thames Valley Police what issues we should be prioritising.

The relatively late notice is due to the fact that this meeting has only just been confirmed.

We would like as many local residents to attend as possible and we would like to see a good representation of the population of all ages and backgrounds.

As soon as we came back from the half term holidays, our Year 5/6 class set out on an adventurous week at Kilvrough Manor, in the Gower. It was an early start for all, leaving Little Milton at 7.00 am, collecting children from Long Furlong School in Abingdon, and arriving in

Wales

in time for lunch.

During their five days away, the children experienced beach walks, mountain hikes and abseiling but by all accounts, the most thrilling, scary and exciting activity was the pot holing, when they donned protective clothing and helmets with head torches to venture into the labyrinth below the ground. The children who returned to school the following week had grown in confidence, maturity and self reliance. Mrs Bull and Mrs Austin who accompanied them had been impressed by how well they had supported and encouraged each other when the going was tough!

Our Year 2 class had a much more sedate, but no less enjoyable, trip to the Ashmolean and Natural History Museums in Oxford , where they looked at portraits and animal families, as part of this term’s project. Year 3 / 4 travelled to Ickford School to see a Tudor play performed by a travelling theatre group. All in all another busy month!

We are now tuning up our voices in readiness for Christingle. The school will soon have that lovely Christmas aroma of oranges as we put together at least 100 Christingles to light our singing at our service on Tuesday 11^th December. The service starts at 6.00 pm and we would be delighted to welcome people from the village. It will contain our traditional nativity, and lots of new carols.

We will be ending the term with a trip to the Oxford Playhouse to see Aladdin, parties for the children and for the adults organised by the Friends of the School, all followed by a well earned Christmas break.

The children and staff at Little Milton School would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy Christmas, and to say thank you to the many people in the village who give their time and support to us throughout the year.

FRIENDS OF WELLS FARM

We plan to meet on Sunday 2nd December, when we intend to clear back undergrowth overhanging the paths & also in the saplings planted in the spinney.

The mid week volunteer party from BBOWT have been clearing the Brambles away, so that some new Allotments will be available to rent shortly. Anyone interested call either Helen D’Ayala at BBOWT HQ or myself.

For those who regularly walk the farm, you will have noticed that a couple of Dexter cows have appeared. They are called Myrtle & Dumpy & Myrtle is pregnant & due to calf before Christmas. Dumpy could also be pregnant as well, though the vet was not too sure. Please keep a lookout for them calving & call BBOWT or myself.

We welcome anyone who would like to come along and get some fresh air. We meet in the Farmyard at 2pm.

Our January meet will take place on Sunday 6^th January at 10.30 a.m, when we will do a Farm Walk.

Oxfordshire 2007 is a celebration of 1000 years of Oxfordshire through special events, anniversaries, festivals and cultural highlights. Oxfordshire 2007 showcases the remarkable array of talent that exists in every corner of the county and represents collaboration between hundreds of cultural organisations, individuals and communities. The year is an endorsement of Oxford ’s status as a European Centre of Culture and Oxfordshire’s reputation as one of the county’s most prized visitor destinations.

Fund raising continues at a rapid rate to achieve our target of £150,000 for the new Post Office and Village Shop. We were turned down by the Lottery (surprise, surprise!) but there are other funders in the pipeline so no harm has been done. We have already achieved over £100,000.

We had a brilliant Cabaret Evening on 24^th November, where some of the most musically talented people in the village came together for a wonderful evening of swing, country and rock music. Thanks again to Stan the Man, Amanda, Bruce, Alison and Charlotte for their contribution, and to Leslie and Doug Arnold for their help in organizing.

We have also finalised the details of the constitution of the shop. We will be an Industrial and Provident Society (IPS) for the Benefit of the Community, which is rather like a Co-Op but it means that everyone in the Village can buy shares in the shop and the profits are either re-invested in the shop or paid to worthy causes elsewhere in Little Milton.

We believe it is essential that everyone in Little Milton knows this is their shop, everyone has a stake in it, and everyone can contribute to its success.

A fabulous 21st birthday celebration is planned for Saturday 26th January 2008 and you are all invited to come along because the celebration is for a familiar village character - The Orchard Pre-School, so whether you're a current, former or future Orchard attendee or parent, member of staff - past or present or simply a supporter of this wonderful Pre-school, please put the date in your diary! You'll help us make this day special.

If you have any photos, memories or even your children's artwork from their Orchard days, please would you contact Lesley McCaig (278244). We'd love to use them on the day and return them safely to you. Please also contact Lesley if you have contact details of anyone you know that would love to be invited - we don't want anyone to miss out on the celebration.

Now we have an outbreak of avian flu to add to our problems! Thousands of turkeys will have to be destroyed. The effect that this will have on the Christmas trade remains to be seen. Having been given the impression that the wonderful organisation called the “Department of the Environment and Rural Affairs” had been doing a good job on controlling these outbreaks, I now gather they have been actually making a real “Horlicks” of things. Most of us really do not know what is happening or what we should be doing, except having a good laugh at DEFRA’s inadequacies, blunder after blunder appears to be the name of the game.

I wrote briefly last month on the matter of experts disagreeing with one another and making it extremely difficult for the man in the street to understand. Now we have scientists saying that organic food really is beneficial to health, when not long ago the Food Standards Agency said there was no benefit in organics. How on earth are we to make a qualified decision on what to and what not to eat? Surely, all things in moderation?

A recent article in a national newspaper sparked my thoughts. One of the main problems with building more houses in this country is whether the natural resources are able to deal with the waste. Couple this with the fact that the UN is saying that we could soon run out of food globally. It begs the question of how much food do we actually waste needlessly? Food that would have been perfectly good in years gone by is now quickly past it’s “sell by date” and just thrown away. I was horrified recently to see that the average household actually throws away about a third of the food it buys. Add to this the fact that there is an awful lot of land around the world that could be brought into production. If only the politicians, and so called terrorists were to leave ordinary people to get on with their lives. Idealistic I know but in reality this must mean that we have to do everything in our power to make this situation abundantly clear to those who can make a difference and do something about it. Otherwise the consequences will be extremely serious for humanity.

Generally there seems to be a lack of garden birds around and there are perhaps several reasons for this. The weather seems to be the biggest culprit. A lot of rain at nesting time does not help, with no young feathered creature able to stand getting wet. I cannot imagine that a lack of food is a reason as there seems to be plenty of berries about now (that is, where the squirrels have left them alone) and wet weather usually brings out a multitude of growth and insect life. Another possibility is that there does seem to be an awful lot of magpies about at the moment and they are not best mates to small birds. Another bird that seems to have taken a loss in numbers is the partridge. We have noted only one or two coveys about the farm when we would expect there to be at least ten. This is particularly disappointing as one of the reasons for the grass margins around the fields is to benefit these birds.

I would not feel like a real farmer if I did not mention the weather once more! Most country people will know there is a saying that “if a pond will bear a duck before Christmas it will not bear a goose after”. In other words an early cold snap can signify a mild winter. This is one of those sayings that often rings true. We were in

Scotland

at the end of September and saw the first snow of winter, giving us the impression that we could be in for a long winter. What could have an effect on things, is that if the average temperature has been lower, then generally the soil will be cooler, thus having the effect of keeping everything else cool.

A change in the activities at View Farm! Mrs Wills’ alpacas are now to be grazing the Views Farm acres. This made me think of all the top quality goods and services available within the Great Milton parish boundary. Can many small villages boast such a wide number of services? From farm products such as meat, eggs and alpaca wool to the first class service from the Post Office, school and our two hostelries (“The Bull” & “Le Manoir aux Quit' Saison”). With such diverse enterprises as stone, wine, lawn mowers, fireworks and bio-fuels all being produced or marketed in the area. Add to this the myriad of small industries supplying various services such as cleaning, building, and engineering, the list is endless. This must be a unique position for a village like ours, we are so lucky to have such quality so close to hand.

Next Meeting: Our December meeting will feature how to look at modern art with local art expert, Pat Dugdale. There will be Christmas refreshments to end an enjoyable 2007. Visitors are welcome to join us at The Pine Lodge, Little Milton - 7:45pm on Thursday, 13^th December. Our January meeting will be a New Year Dinner for members.

At our last meeting we were able to complete a Christmas card each – using a paper craft known as quilling. Liz Collyer demonstrated the technique and showed us a beautiful selection of items made using quilling and parchment crafts.

President: Pam Assiter, 278228; Secretary: Heather Peers 279352; Press Correspondent: Lyndell Dixon, 279275

The 26th Little Milton Christmas Eve Golf Competition will be taking place this year at The Oxfordshire GC at 09:00 on (surprise, surprise!) 24^th December, with lunch for players, families and other hangers-on at The Lamb from 14:00.

Qualification for entry is that you have to persuade a fellow player that you have a legitimate claim to association with Little Milton (reading the Newsletter counts!). Entry is £45 for non-Oxfordshire members and £10 for those that are members.

There is a list of events that can be viewed on www.oxtrust.org.uk or you can ring 01865 728953. There are a number of events in October

The level of demand for the service is relatively low in Little Milton but to those who need support it is vital and very much appreciated. Please give it some thought and ring me to find out more information if you are interested in helping or require transport to the surgery or hospital.

Many thanks to all of you who contributed to my lorry load of humanitarian aid for Kosovo. All your gifts were greatly appreciated. My vehicle plus six other 7.5 ton lorries, one 17.5 ton and two 44 ton lorries transported and delivered in total seventy four tons of aid.

Nearly 900 families received an individual family box comprising food, toiletries and clothes. Numerous schools, hospitals and handicap centres also received invaluable and much needed equipment and consumables with many items having been specifically requested and obtained prior to our departure.

The surgeries are very popular and it advisable that if you wish to make an appointment that you do so sometime before the surgery you would like to attend. Please contact 01491 612852

SAVE THE DATE *** SAVE THE DATE *** SAVE THE DATE

50’s/ 60’s Dance

Saturday, 1 March 2008

The Pine Lodge

Music by Stan the Man and his friends

Proceeds to Sobell House Hospice Charity

WHEATLEY COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP- “SWAP SHOP”* – 12^th JANUARY 2008 9.30 am – 12.00 p.m. at the MERRY BELLS

Free refreshments will be provided, so even if you have nothing to bring you could drop in for a drink and see if there's something you might like to take away!

Freecycle™ performs the same function, but is running every day! Visit your local group here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wheatley-Thame-Freecycle

*Swap Shop is one of the activities of the Wheatley Community Action Group (CAG).

For more details about Wheatley Community Action Group: contact Paul Bailey; Tel: 01865 874588

On the 24th October we again set off to London for our trip entitled "The Birds and the Bees - a City Safari". We were met by our guide Shaun (the same one we had on our last trip). He boarded our coach and we set off for the London Wetlands Centre with Shaun giving us a running commentary of all the places we passed on the way. The Wetland Centre was amazing - just like a smaller Slimbridge set in the heard of London . It used to be three reservoirs but when these were no longer needed they were transformed incorporating islands, channels and lots of planting. The wildlife certainly seemed very happy in their surroundings. After lunch at the Centre we boarded our coach for our "City Safari". This involved a tour around with Shaun pointing out various statues etc. involving animals. We arrived at the Natural History Museum which unfortunately, owing to it being half-term, was packed with children. However, we had time to get something to eat there before getting on our coach for the journey home at 5.00p.m.

On the 8th November we were entertained by the ever popular Maddy and Mo, with their songs, poems and little stories. Our next and last outing for this year is on the 28th November - London Lights and Sights and a Dark Ride on the London Eye.

The CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory carries out world leading research ranging from the vastness of space to the invisibly small world of nanotechnology. All the lectures are free and many are suitable for families – age guidelines are shown for each lecture. If you are interested in what might be available please contact 01235 445959 or Email talkingscience@rl.ac.uk

Members may have ordered their catalogue for Mr Fothergill’s seeds, don’t forget you get 30% off if you are a member of GHHS.

Vegetables - Stake and tie Brussels sprout plants, they can get so top heavy they may blow over.

Lawn - Rake up the last of the leaves as they will kill the grass underneath. Keep of the lawn in frosty weather.

Bulbs - Keep an eye on bowls of prepared bulbs like hyacinths and narcissi. They can be brought indoors once the bud is 3.5cm high, to open in time for a Christmas. In mid December branches of winter flowering shrubs which are in bud can be cut and brought indoors to open and add to Christmas displays.

Cuttings - Take root cuttings of fleshy rooted perennials such as oriental poppies, Japanese anemones and anchusa, which propagate easily this way. Dig up the plant, wash off the roots and cut some of them into 5cm lengths, straight at the top and slanted at the bottom, so you plant them the right way up! Replant the parent. Plant the cuttings vertically in pots of cuttings compost with vermiculite for good drainage, put them in a cold frame to root. Leaves should appear in spring when the cuttings can be potted up singly to be planted out next autumn or given away.

Learn more about flower and vegetable growing, join your local gardening society, membership only £3 a year.

Contact Membership Secretary Sally Orriss at: The Old Stores, Great Milton OX44 7NL or on 0184427323

If you want advice or general information call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. This is a 24 hour service staffed by nurses who can give confidential advice and information on what to do if you are unwell, have any health concerns and give contact details or self help or support organisations. You can also visit their website at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

If you need to visit a GP or health professional outside of normal working hours you can call our service on 0845 345 8995. We will then arrange for you to see the right health professional in the right place. This service runs from 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 a.m. weekdays and 24 hours over weekends and bank holidays.

A Local Produce and Crafts market is to be held in Tetsworth Village Hall. The first market will take place on Saturday 8th December 2007 and the second on Saturday 22nd December just in time for Christmas. We currently have stalls for Organic Vegetables, Pork, Venison, Traditional Poultry, Organic Beef & Lamb, Cakes, Preserves and Organic Bread. We have Plants, Willow weaving and antler carvings as well. There will be refreshments available including an organic BBQ

This has been an eventful year at Wheatley Library. So many things have happened that it is impossible to mention them all but here are a few highlights:

Christmas is approaching rapidly as I write this. At Wheatley Library the last day we are open before Christmas will be Saturday 22^nd December. Remember we close at 1.00pm on this day. The library reopens again on Wednesday 2^nd January 2008.

All books issued after 3^rd December will not need renewing until after the New Year. If you do need to visit a library the Central Library in Oxford is open on 28^th, 29^th and 31^st of December. Don’t forget that books can be renewed online but you do need a “pin” number. If you don’t have one please ask us next time you are in the library.

The best days to take out DVDs are the 18^th, 19^th or 20^th of December when you get a 3-week loan period for the normal price for a week.

All of us at Wheatley Library would like to wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year. We look forward to seeing you in the library.

A unique series of winter lectures brings together leading gardeners and garden designers to give us their perspective on gardening The lectures take place at 8.00 p.m. in the Nelson Mandela Auditorium at the Said Business School . Tickets cost £10.00 (includes a glass of wine) or £45 for the series of five lectures. To reserve tickets call 01865 286690.

Has Christmas become too commercialised is a question that is often asked at this time of year. That is for individuals to decide but the Thame and District CAB report that every year in January and February they see an increase in the number of people seeking debt advice. Christmas credit card bills are usually the last straw for people who are already struggling to cope on a tight budget.

We live in an affluent part of the country but hundreds of local people seek advice each year with debt problems. In some case, things have got so out of hand that bankruptcy may be the only way out. Perhaps it’s because we are surrounded by such obvious wealth that the pressures on ordinary people to spend are much greater. It is especially difficult for parents when their children clamour for the latest expensive gadget. Citizens Advice has five tips on how to keep out of debt this Christmas.

2. Work out how much you are going to spend on each person - and stick to it. Try shopping just with cash and not using your credit cards.

3. Don't just run up an overdraft without talking to your bank - this will be much more expensive than if you arrange it beforehand.

5. If you do get into difficulties, get advice as soon as you can from Thame & District CAB. Tel 01844 217186

For more information and advice on consumer rights go to www.adviceguide.org.uk or contact your local CAB.

This tale concerns a nativity play organised by a trendy curate in Manchester . The play had no set words and no lines to learn, rather the children were told the story beforehand and then encouraged to feel what their character might have felt and use their own words on stage. All went well until after Jesus had been born. Mary was holding the baby Jesus , Joseph entered and said, “ Hello, Mary, how’s the baby?” To which Mary replied, in strident tones, “ere ,you take him, he’s been a right little bugger all day”

DEADLINE REMINDER – Please note that unless articles are in the hands of the Editor by the 20th of the month (unless otherwise stated), such articles will miss the scheduled Newsletter. The views expressed in this Newsletter are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Parish Council. All material for inclusion in the January 2008 Newsletter should be with the Editor at 27 Chiltern View, Little Milton, by 8.00 p.m. on 20th December 2007. The Editor reserves the right not to print items submitted for publication and to edit those items, which are published.

Friday 7th Dec.	Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 11.00 am
Friday 14th Dec.	Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 12.00 pm
Saturday 15th Dec.	Wheatley Primary School	8.00 – 11.00 am
Friday 21st Dec.	Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 11.00 am
Sat 22nd Dec.	Wheatley Primary School Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 12.00 pm 8.00 – 12.00 pm
Friday 28th	Chalgrove Village Car park	8.00 – 11.00 am

2nd	9.30 a.m.	All age worship led by Mr Colin Watts
9th	3.00 p.m.	Carol service led by Rev Derick Chambers
16th	11.00 a.m.	Sacrament of Holy Communion led by Rev Anne Henman
23rd	11.00 a.m.	Morning Service led by Rev Derick Chambers
25th	11.00 a.m.	Local arrangement
30th	11.00 a.m.	Covenant Service led by Rev Derick Chambers

Monday Morning Monday Afternoon	10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. 1.30 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.	Open Door No appointment needed Appointments and phone advice
Tuesday Morning	10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.	Appointments and phone advice
Wednesday & Thursday	Closed
Friday	10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.	Appointments and phone advice

Church Cleaning Christmas Party

LITTLE MILTON

GREAT HASELEY

SHOE BOXES FOR ROMANIA

OXFORD INSPIRES

FRIENDS OF WELLS FARM