Nov08Newsletter

The Council meeting held on Wednesday 8th October was attended by all Councillors and one member of the public. The following are extracts from the minutes that the Council need to approve at the November meeting.

The Clerk informed the meeting that OCC Highways had decided to retain the yellow bin on the bank at Fourtrees until the winter was over as a precautionary measure. The Clerk stated that he had reported to OCC Highways the small water leak adjacent to one of the newly created drains opposite Fourtrees.

The Clerk reported that a team from OCC Highways had cleared the drains in the village and had acknowledged the broken drain close to Willowbrook Cottage.

The Chairman reported that he had spoken to Kevin Brophy at OCC and that a meeting would take place on November 11th 2008 to consider the options for a one-off event for 25th November 2008. The communication would be through the Newsletter although the Clerk suggested that a suitable leaflet should be delivered to each household with young people eligible to attend the event. Councillor Alison Shelton will attend the meeting as Councillor Stuart McGill will be in attendance at a meeting at SODC Crowmarsh.

P08/W1045/W1046LB: Pear Tree Cottage Haseley Road; single rear storey extension, single side extension and new garage

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

The main concern of the Council was the impact that the proposed extension would have on the adjacent occupants in 28 Chiltern View. They considered that the development would be an un-neighbourly form of development that would be overbearing, intrusive and result in a loss of light to the adjoining property. The Council were conscious that an application was refused in 1998 and felt that in principle the site did not lend itself to this type of development. The Council RESOLVED that this planning application should be refused by South Oxfordshire District Council

OALC Briefing note September 2008: Freedom of Information Act; New Model Publication Scheme

The Chairman informed the meeting that the lifespan of the current model publication scheme will end on 31 December 2008 and that the Parish Council needs to adopt the new model scheme (or a bespoke scheme) by that date. The Council RESOLVED that it would take the necessary action on a presentation by the Clerk of the details of the new model publication scheme.

At this point in the meeting Cllr Alison Shelton and Cllr Stuart McGill declared a prejudicial interest in the next point on the agenda and vacated their places at the Council table.

The Chairman invited Councillor Stuart McGill to report back on the meeting held with Jayne Bolton and Pat Connell of SODC on Monday 13th October 2008. The key points of the meeting were:-

Although the grant had technically lapsed SODC were willing to pay the grant to the IPS subject to sight of a Heads of Agreement on the lease between the IPS and the Parish Council

A copy of the Heads of Agreement to be sent to Pat Connell as soon as possible to allow a recommendation to be made by Jayne Bolton to release the grant to the IPS

The Chairman briefed the Council on the meeting that took place between representatives of the Parish Council and the IPS on Monday 13^th October 2008. The salient points of the meeting were:-

The IPS was registered with the FSA on 15^th September 2008 with its founding members being Mrs Alison Shelton, Chair, Mr Stuart McGill, Secretary, and Mr Richard Alliston, Treasurer.

The model lease between the IPS and the Parish Council should be based on the Village lease and not the Orchard lease. The reasoning was that the Parish Council would lease the Premises i.e. land and any buildings existing or new to the IPS and the premises would revert back to Parish Council in the event that the lease was terminated.

The need of the IPS to seek formal approval to use the disabled toilets within the Village Hall

The need to establish good practice with regard to managing the closure of the barrier to the car park as it was recognised that this was essential to maintain the integrity of the recreation ground

There was a recognition that although the Parish Council had sent a letter to Mr Emmett advising him of the intention to extend the hall to incorporate a shop and post office there was a possibility that this could raise an issue in the future due to a restrictive covenant in the purchase of the land.

The Council RESOLVED that it should appoint solicitors to draw up the lease after SODC had confirmed that it would transfer any grant money to the IPS and that the IPS had accepted the Heads of Agreement prepared by Councillor Barry Coward on behalf of the Parish Council. A Council member proposed that the lease should include a suitable clause to reflect a varying level of rent if the IPS became financially successful. The Council RESOLVED to consider this proposal.

The Council re-affirmed its position that no work should commence on the site until the lease between the IPS and the Parish Council has been signed.

The Council meeting held on Monday 20th October was attended by five Councillors and one member of the public. The following are extracts from the minutes that the Council need to approve at the November meeting.

At this point in the meeting Cllr Alison Shelton and Cllr Stuart McGill declared a prejudicial interest in the next point on the agenda and vacated their places at the Council table.

The Council members RESOLVED to consider the agenda item in the absence of Councillor Tim Robinson as there was a major concern that a further delay could prejudice the transfer of the grant to the IPS.

Cllr Stuart McGill informed the meeting of the Cllr Tim Robinson’s thoughts on the matter and although he would like to incorporate a mechanism to recoup some costs if the IPS generated significant profits he had no desire to cause the shop any damage or to jeopardise its grant from SODC.

The representatives of the IPS were invited to participate in the discussion before the Council members considered any formal resolution on the matter. There was an exchange of views on the matter that took some time. A key point made by the representatives of the IPS was the desire to allow the IPS to be the body that decided how it wished to distribute any “surplus” profit towards good causes for the benefit of the community as this was already part of their constitution. Equally the Parish Council concern was that there was a need to provide a future Parish Council a mechanism that would provide benefit to the wider community through a source of income from the IPS if it was very successful. The particular proposal that had been included in the Heads of Agreement created a degree of complexity that was not supported by the IPS.

The Parish Council recognised the need to ensure that it was consistent in its representation to SODC and the concept of a periodic review of the ground rent emerged as a way forward that addressed the forward flexibility in the level of rent. This appeared to be supported by the representatives of the IPS.

The Council RESOLVED that a clause stating that the ground rent, within the Heads of Agreement of the lease between the Parish Council and the IPS, should be subject to a periodic review. It was RESOLVED that if the IPS agreed the revised Heads of Agreement that a copy would be sent to Pat Connell at SODC in support of the transfer of the grant to the IPS without the need to convene a further Parish Council meeting. It was agreed that the necessary information would be given to the IPS in time for their meeting on Wednesday 21 October 2008.

Councillor Alison Shelton informed the meeting that a beech tree to commemorate Gareth Bonner was ready for planting in the recreation ground. Councillor Mabel Wood suggested that consideration of the soil conditions were necessary for the healthy growth of the tree.

The Clerk reported that there had been some vandalism to the meter boxes for the floodlights for the MUGA and that the matter had been reported to the Police.

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 12th November 2008 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

From the 1 October, there will be a Government led overhaul of the planning permission system, where the rules that cover householder developments will be relaxed. This means that in certain circumstances, residents can carry out minor extensions and alterations to properties without the need to apply to the council for formal permission. The changes come in the light of the Government’s 2007 Planning White Paper, which aimed to introduce a more user-friendly system, and to free up time for planning departments by reducing the number of householder applications coming through the system.

The new rules aim to make the need for planning permission proportionate to the impact of the development. It will take in to account distances, depths and heights of a development, and where these have little or no impact on neighbouring properties, in many cases people won’t need planning permission. The new rules are hoped to have a positive impact, supporting people's aspirations to improve their homes, through building extensions, loft conversions etc, while retaining safeguards on noise, siting and size to protect neighbours. This is particularly important given the current pressures in the housing market.

However, restrictions would remain tight in some circumstances, including parts of the district that fall within conservation areas and areas of outstanding natural beauty. The council will have the discretion to tighten or relax the rules to fit local circumstances. Building regulations will also remain in place, which means where appropriate; people will still have to show that their development meets health and safety standards. The new rules also introduce new controls over adding hard surfaces such as driveways, aimed at reducing water run-off, which contributes to flooding.

New Household Waste Collection and Street Cleansing Contract – coming June 2009 for South Oxfordshire residents

South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse District Councils are joining forces to secure a new waste collection and street cleansing contract. The councils have decided to work together to identify the new contractor in an effort to produce a more efficient service, increase recycling and reduce waste going to landfill. The new services will start from June 2009 in South Oxfordshire and from October 2010 in Vale of White Horse. The main driver for changing our existing services is the pressing need to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill - it’s damaging on the environment, landfill space is rapidly running out and we face huge fines from government if we don’t.

The new services will not only help us to achieve this but were also the most cost effective options.

The procurement process for the new contract is now well underway. Three companies have been short-listed and officers are now involved in detailed discussions about their proposals for the new service. All three are proposing similar solutions to help to meet our tough waste and recycling targets and we know that from June 2009 the new service will include;

· continuing with the garden waste service in wheeled bins (charged for service)

The final decisions around container types and sizes will be agreed once the new contractor is appointed at the end of 2008.

Over the next few months officers will be working closely with Town and Parish councils and housing associations to identify those properties that may have difficulties storing and using wheeled bins and to provide suitable solutions.

The contract will be awarded to the successful company at the end of the year and we will be letting residents know more details about the new service at the start of 2009.

For a charge of £68 residents can arrange for their unwanted vehicle to be collected from within the District and a charge of £20 for up to three bulky item e.g. fridge furniture etc. and a further £6.35 for each additional item. 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 November are as follows:-Tuesdays 4th, 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.

Please note the new schedule for Community Waste Collection has been greatly reduced in line with the reduced demand.

I have a friend whose hobby is painting. In one conversation we had, he taught me more about painting than he could have imagined. I learnt painting is about light and shade, and colour. These things don't just describe, they interpret the world, offering through the mind and talent of the artist something new - perhaps challenging, perhaps comforting. A painting is someone's vision of truth, whatever the painting portrays. The person who looks may catch that vision, and even be changed by it.

I came across some lines written by a 13-year-old, Tali Shurek. "I had a paint-box - each colour glowing with delight. I had a paint-box with colours warm, and cool, and bright. I had no red for wounds and blood, I had no black for an orphaned child, I had no white for the face of the dead, I had no yellow for burning sands. I had orange for joy and life, I had green for buds and blooms, I had blue for clear bright skies, I had pink for dreams and rest. I sat down and painted Peace."

I'd like to see his painting! What those words capture is an optimism, a beauty, a sheer delight, in the created world. They capture something of those moments and glimpses which help us to believe in, to live by, intangible realities - like love, and justice, and peace.

Our own children in our own school sing a hymn which goes, “I’d like to paint a perfect picture, a world of make believe. No more war or fighting, the world I long to see.”

Tali Shurek words and the words sung by our children reach out to us all, and they speak to us of a vision and a longing to work for the re-ordering of our troubled world into the ways of peace and our part in that re-ordering process.

So, in this month when many are remembering the cost of war, a couple of prayers for us to say:-

Give us, Lord, eyes to see the colours of peace, and by our words and deeds, to find ways to bring its picture to life, for ourselves and for others. Amen.

Lord of peace, as we remember people who've died in many conflicts, show us how to make real their hopes for a better, more peaceful future. Help us to be peace-makers. Amen

Our Harvest Festival was a very joyful occasion. The Church looked resplendent, and we thank all those involved in decorating it. The Harvest Lunch was held afterwards at the Pine Lodge, and a thoroughly good time was had by all. Some of our young people had been busy going around the village asking people exactly what Harvest meant to them, and the resultant video was not only very well produced, but was very thought-provoking in a very entertaining way. We are very grateful to those who went to provide us with a superb lunch, and to our young people for all that they did to make Little Milton’s Harvest extra special.

To make all these things happen depends on a good number of dedicated people willing to give of their time for others. We are so grateful for those hard working people for without them nothing would be possible.

Remembrance Sunday falls on the 9^th November and so there will be a change in the usual pattern of monthly Services. The 8.00 a.m. Holy Communion will be at Little Milton, at 9.30 a.m. there will be shortened Sung Communion at Great Milton, and the Benefice Remembrance Service will be at Great Haseley, beginning at about 10.50 at the War Memorial so that the Two Minute Silence can commence at 11.00. After the Commemorations at the War Memorial we shall move into the Church for the rest of the Act of Worship. Our commemorations will have a different texture this year since Marine Dale Gostik of Great Haseley was killed earlier this year on active service in Afghanistan , and it is anticipated that representatives of the Royal Marines will be with us.

At each of the Services on this day we shall be laying a wreath on each village’s War Memorial as has always been our custom.

Some time ago discussions began in the PCC about providing an open space at the rear of the Church by removing a couple or so of pews, creating a multi purpose area where there could be gatherings for people after a Service for coffee, say, an area where our Sunday School could meet, or indeed, a Quiet Space where people could just sit still, or for any other suitable purpose. Plans have been produced as to what this space will look like, and we also have obtained permission from the necessary Diocesan Authorities to go ahead with things. The costs for this project are in the region of £7,000. At the last PCC Meeting, Stuart McGill offered to discover what funding there was available for the work. If you feel that you would like to be associated with this project, or you can offer some help, then please by all means have a word with Stuart. At the next PCC Meeting we would want to progress things and it would help us enormously if we had some idea how funding was proceeding.

The Bishop of Oxford, Bishop John, has asked us all in the Diocese to consider how we might all renew our spirituality. I’m very aware that Spirituality means different things to different people. I believe we are all spiritual people, and we are all so very different, so each of us would have a different approach. Nevertheless, some people would like some guidance. Here in our benefice a small little leaflet has been produced, and the Bishop has asked that our leaflet be distributed as widely as possible. These were distributed at our Harvest Festival, but should anyone wish to have one then please do speak with me or indeed anyone on the PCC, and we shall see that you get one.

Of slowing down to look at a flower, to pat a dog, to read a few lines from a good book.

Let me look up into the branches of the towering oak and know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well.

Slow me down Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life’s enduring values that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.

This always takes place on the second Monday in the month in the Common Room at Fullers Field, Great Milton at 6.00 p.m. and lasts about 35 minutes. The service is a simple one of hymns, readings and prayers. If you are available then do come along and a warm welcome will always await you. There will be a service on Monday 10th November in the Common Room at Fullers Field at 6.00 p.m.

This month, November, we’re meeting on the 2^nd for a Brunch Meeting in Spring Cottage, Haseley Road , and on the 16^th in Church. Both meetings begin at 11.00 and finish between 12.15 and 12.30pm. We’re continuing to explore Prayer through Godly Play and craft activity and welcome any child between the age of 4 and 12 years. Next month, in December, there will be a very special Sunday School event in Church on December 14^th at 11.00 am…

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

Thanks to everyone for their continued support and we are pleased to be able to present the school with a cheque for £363.

A young woman about to be married discovers that any one of three men could be her father. She invites all three to the wedding without telling her mother, Donna, who was once the lead singer of Donna and the Dynamos. In the meantime, Donna has invited her backup singers, Rosie and Tanya.

This year’s Harvest Festival collection was given to Ekyemisana – a charitable trust for Ugandan Children. It was lovely to welcome so many parents and friends to St James Church, to join us in our celebrations. The children in Years 3 and 4 had been studying a poem by Kit Wright – The Magic Box – and decided to compose their own poem for the harvest festival I am sure you will agree that their poem is full of beautiful images.

The Auction of Promises, organised by the Friends of Little Milton School, was an action packed and fun filled evening! We had been given some fantastic promises – thank you to all of our donors for their generosity – and to everyone who came along on the evening to bid for and eventually buy every item! A figure in excess of £5700 was raised on the evening – a brilliant achievement. We are investigating installing a beautiful wooden gazebo in the school grounds along with a selection of outdoor musical instruments. The gazebo will be used as an outdoor classroom, and will be particularly useful for art and science activities. Thank you again to everyone for their support, and a big thank you to The Friends of Little Milton School for all of their hard work.

I would like to thank all friends and neighbours for the cards, letters and messages of sympathy for me and my sons. It was very much appreciated.

It is with sadness that I have to report Tony Hawkins passed away on 4th October 2008. Tony lived with his wife Pat in Abbotts Close and was treasurer of the Village Hall for many years. Ed

A Christmas Party will be held in the Pine Lodge on December 20^th,12.30 p.m. for 1.00 p.m. anyone wishing to attend please contact Janet Betts on 279238. Transport can be arranged.

There will be Carol singing around the village on Wednesday 17^th December from 6.00p.m. There will be more details in the December newsletter.

The Sewing Group will meet on Monday the 24th of November at Pat Dugdale's home from 11.30 am. Please ring Pat (279242) if you plan to attend.

Dr A Harnden and Partners

Morland House Surgery, London Road , Wheatley , OX33 1YJ

Telephone: 01865 872448

The Surgery and Dispensary is open

Monday to Friday 8am – 6.30pm and Saturday mornings

Surgery appointments times:

Monday to Friday: 8.30am – 11.00am and 3.30pm – 5.50pm

Saturday: 8.30am – 11.20am

On Saturday mornings we have a limited number of pre-bookable appointments and emergency ‘walk-ins’ until 11.00am on the day.

Please telephone 01865 872448, call at the reception if you wish to book an appointment, make an enquiry or register with the practice. Alternatively, visit our website www.morland-house.co.uk for further information on appointments and the full range of facilities and services that we offer.

The surgery is situated on London Road (just off the roundabout at the top of Holloway Road ). Car parking available.

The Surgery is currently running clinics for free Flu immunisations for its patients aged 65 or over and those in ‘at risk’ groups. Please contact reception to make an appointment.

The surgery is currently accepting new patients from the local area.

SATURDAY 29^th November

7.00 for 7.30pm @ The Pine Lodge

The Christmas Fayre this year will be held on Saturday 6th December at the Pine Lodge. This is always a very enjoyable and friendly village event where 3 organisations get together to provide festive foods and gifts for you to buy.

As usual we would be grateful for any help from cooks, craftspeople and helpers on the day as well as donations for the raffle. Any offer no matter how small will be very gratefully received.

We will be running a work party on Sunday November 2nd from 10.30am until 1pm to carry out some maintenance work around the reserve. If you wish to join us please meet at 10.30am at Wells Farm car park. The current plans are: to clear up some of the pink tree guards that are lying around in the wooded area (North East corner); to shore up a bank on the allotment with timbers and prevent the rabbits from digging in; to clear any vegetation from the gates; and if there are enough people we may start marking out a new pond on the allotments which will provide water for the resident toads.

The nettles and grass are beginning to die back now, making it easier to walk around the reserve. During your walks, look out for the bright pink spindleberry! Please can you also ensure the gates are firmly closed behind you. We have had a recent incident where the gate joining the meadow to Blenheim field was left open. One of the ponies ended up with the sheep and became distressed when separated from the others as a result of this.

Next Meeting: Phil Williams will be talking about Thame Museum at our November meeting. Visitors are very welcome to join us at The Pine Lodge, Little Milton at 7:45 pm on Thursday, 13^th November.

Mrs Rose Cross led a session on circle dancing at our October meeting. We enjoyed learning a number of simple dances from far-flung parts of the world – inspirational exercise with lots of laughter when things didn’t go quite right.

W.I. campaigns: The WI is working on a number of environmental campaigns, including the WI Carbon Challenge. Our October WI Life magazine outlined how to reduce your car’s CO2 emissions in an article by Steyning Downland WI member, Steph Savill of the FOXY Lady Drivers Club. Try these ways of cutting fuel bills:

· Plan routes in advance to avoid traffic hotspots and check that the sat nav is taking you the shortest way (the quickest route can be a longer distance).

· Speed – emissions are lowest between 50 and 60 mph and going over 70 mph can increase them by up to 25%. Most pollution occurs when driving at less than 15 mph.

· Use your car’s engine efficiently – drive off when you switch the engine on and combine several short journeys into one.

· Drive smoothly, avoiding over-revving, harsh braking / acceleration. Use the correct gears so that you don’t strain the engine.

· Turn off air-conditioning as this can reduce fuel efficiency by a startling 8%.

Our annual Harvest Festival took place on the 25th September and was led by the Rev Victor Story. This occasion was combined with a bring and share lunch which was very much enjoyed by everyone. Once again we all went home heavier that when we arrived! The 9th October saw Maddie and Mo with us again - what delightful ladies they are, we do so enjoy their visits.

Our outing this month was on the 15th October. This was another City and Village Guided Tour. We had coffee at Beaconsfield and a short wander round the town and Church before a tour of the Buckinghamshire Chilterns and on to West Wycombe for lunch. We then continued out journey on to Hughenden Manor, the Gothic Georgian home of Disraeli, Queen Victoria 's favourite prime minister. We left for home about 5 o'clock after another successful outing.

Following the huge success of Carmina Burana in April, Great Milton Singers have pleasure in inviting you to their next concert on November 22^{nd at} 7.30pm in St Mary’s Church, Great Milton. The programme will include Glorias by Puccini, Rutter and Vivaldi, as well as instrumental works by Syrinx and Bagatelle. The price of the ticket includes a glass of wine, so it promises to be as enjoyable as our previous concerts!

Singers are still welcome to join the choir. For information or tickets please contact Alex Kirkman, 01844 278090.

The big issue at the moment is as we all know is that our banking system is not very stable, a situation that affects us all to a lesser or greater extent. It also means that some of us will be very much worse off, and I think what is galling to most of us is that those who caused it, will suffer the least.

I do not seem to have been out and about as much this month, not quite sure why. Consequently I do not seem to have a great deal to comment on as far as wildlife is concerned. What I can say is for some reason the pesky grey squirrels are more obvious now, may be because the leaves are disappearing, also they are now foraging for their winter supplies/stores. Having been worried about the Partridge population I am heartened to see that there are actually more about than I thought. Another person who is very much in evidence is Mr Brock (the badger), with great excavations going on in places where you would really rather he didn’t. What is good is that Barn Owl have been seen hunting over the river meadows, these wonderfully quite predators that are not always obvious. Deer are not so easy to see now that the fields are tilled, but with the greening up of the planted crops they will become more and more obvious.

Last month we were struggling to finish harvest, since when Murphy has taken over, changing the weather completely. The wonderful early autumn dry and sunny weather has enabled us to complete most of the winter cultivations and planting, a lot of the crops already showing green, in anticipation of next years harvest. We have to be thankful for living in this area, of relative low rainfall, and to have free draining soil. We are still seeing pictures in the farming press, of farmers scratching their heads, whilst looking fields where the harvesters, have left great, ruts which are now full of water, with little hope of doing any cultivation work for sometime, hopefully mother nature will take care of this as she usually does.

The debate that is dominating the farming world at the moment is the proposal by the EU, to ban certain agricultural chemicals; the problem apparently is that they are mainly, ones that we have become accustomed to using. Needless to say many farmers are up in arms about this, saying allsorts of things like this will affect our profitability, yields will drop, and the worlds starving population will increase, and the price of food will increase. (I find this hard to believe as it is only supply and demand that dictates what we receive, being something we have never been able to control) I cannot agree or disagree with these points. It has been reported (if you can believe it) on the Radio 4 “Farming Today” programme, that imported food has 40% more chemical residues than home grown. Now what is a fact is that within the EU we have an organisation known as the Pesticide Safety Directive (PSD) that screens all new chemicals, this we know is very stringent. Add to this all sprayer operators have to have a certificate, and all sprayers have to have a current MOT equivalent, I think probably this gives us all the safety protection we need. I understand that in other countries a new chemical can get it’s clearance for use in about 6 months whereas it can take up to 2 years here, so I guess we are fairly safe. I heard of a case where they use coffee as a spray and because it contains as we know carcinogens, it is likely to be banned yet we are not concerned enough not to drink it.

Sadly we have to report that we have had to close our cooking oil recycling business, this is due to the falling price of ordinary fuel, and this has to be good news to most people. The fact that we are unable to purchase our used cooking oil any cheaper, has made our fuel more expensive than from the pump, whereas some were prepared to pay more for an environmentally friendly fuel most were not. This is very sad for us, not only had we invested a lot into the project both financially, and psychologically as we felt we were playing a part in helping the environment. However we must move on as they say, we will still continue selling our very popular eggs, in fact because they sell so well we are about to get more hens fairly soon, so those of you who have been having fuel and eggs, we hope will continue to come and get them, those who did do neither, here is where you will be able to get fresh eggs in the future.

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.

Have you considered the impact of noise on your life? When a big lorry passes through the village, have you ever felt its vibrations rumbling through the floor? Or has the television sometimes seemed so loud that it’s given you a headache?

Virtually every culture in the world has references to “Universal Sound”. As far back as 2000 BC, the ability of sound to heal people was already being recognised in Ancient Egypt. By 500 BC, the Greek Pythagoras not only connected sound and frequencies with the heavenly bodies but also devised mathematical equations which resulted in the formation of the musical scale as we know it today.

The history of one of the great principles of sound – entrainment – is linked to the Dutch scientist Christian Hugyens who observed in 1665 that pendulums swinging at different rates all naturally synchronised with each other in order to seek harmony. The other great principle of sound is sympathetic resonance. Who can remember when London ’s Millenium Bridge was first opened in June 2000 in London only to be closed again two days later? Sympathetic resonance meant that the effect of a large number of people walking over the bridge too closely matched its resonant frequency, threatening to break the structure apart.

In the 1960s, Hans Jenny discovered that every sound had a corresponding shape. More recently, Masuto Emoto of Japan photographed changes that emotions make to the cells of water. Since we are principally made up of water, each thought and emotion we have has the potential to change our actual cellular structure. A daunting thought! Not many of us are in control of our thoughts and emotions and hence we fall prey to the myriad of disturbances that can affect us daily.

Bombardment doesn’t stop with the conscious mind. Because the human ear can only hear frequencies in the range of 16 - 22,000 Hz, it cannot detect many of the other frequencies which continually surround us. This doesn’t mean, however, that we can’t feel them. For instance, during the first space missions, astronauts experienced debilitating space-sickness because they were deprived of the Earth’s resonance. After an instrument emitting 7.83 Hz - the Earth’s frequency - was attached to the next space module, however, the space-sickness was eliminated.

Today, the use of sound as a healing modality has become mainstream. Not only is the medical profession using ultrasound for pain relief and as a tool for creating an image of internal organs of the body, but also sound has been developed as a Therapy using the principles of entrainment and sympathetic resonance to re-tune the mind-body system back to its optimum frequency.

Just as every car driver accepts the need for the engine to be tuned, so we need to understand that the body-mind system also needs to be kept in tune. The different areas of our bodies all vibrate on different notes which, when blended together, produce a symphony. This symphony is as unique to each of us as a fingerprint. If that symphony is not playing in harmony with itself, however, the body may stagnate into illness and disease. By tuning all the parts back up to optimum frequency, the opportunity exists to re-empower the self and take back control of one’s life and health.

So where can you go for a physical M.O.T., a re-tune or a more intensive look at rebalancing? Laurelle Rond BA(Hons), PGCE, Dip ST (BAST) MBRCP is a fully qualified Sound Practitioner at The Centaur Chiropractic Clinic, Oxford Equestrian Centre, Lower Road , Garsington OX44 9DP . If you would like more information on treatments, taster sessions, gift vouchers and special Autumn offers, please telephone Laurelle on 278045 or email your.sound@hotmail.co.uk. This article will give you a 10% discount on a treatment.

Saturday 22 November 8.00 p.m. The Steve Steinhaus Swing Band; Tickets £12.50/£10 concessions. Telephone 01844 279334

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

FARMER’S MARKET

GREAT HASELEY VILLAGE HALL

Sunday, 9th November 10am -12noon

(2nd Sunday of every month)

Start placing your Christmas orders; cakes, wine, fruit, vegetables, ready-made meals, cheese, bread, eggs, chicken, beef, lamb, pork, flowers, plants etc.

Why not have breakfast as well? Enjoy a bacon butty with a cup of tea or coffee whilst reading a Sunday newspaper!

Dates for your diary: Farmers’ Markets on Sunday 14^th December and the evening of Monday 22^nd December, 7:30-9pm

Deirdre Mann 279334; Will Meadon 0771621619

GREAT HASELEY AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Invite you to a

CHRISTMAS PARTY AND LECTURE

ANNE PEARCE

‘INSPIRED GARDENING’

Great Haseley village hall Wednesday December 3^rd 2008 at 7.30pm

The garden designer Anne Pearce, who lives in Little Haseley, will talk to us about her inspirations and share her gardening experiences with us. She won Garden of the Year award 2006 from New Houses Garden Awards and has featured on Gardeners World and in The English Garden and House and Gardens.

The talk will be followed by wine and mince pies

Free to members.

Non-members £5 or join the society (membership £5 January – December 09) and attend for free.

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.

Advice line 01844 214827 Appointment Line 01844 217186 thamecab@cabnet.org.ukFor more information and advice on consumer rights go to www.adviceguide.org.uk or contact your local CAB

Two new exhibitions chronicling important aspects of the county's military history are now open (from Saturday, October 25) and free to view at Woodstock 's Oxfordshire Museum .

Both displays are the start of a pilot project by the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust, who aim to improve accessibility to military heritage in the county. The shows at the Oxfordshire County Council-run museum in Park Street are on display until next summer.

The museum is open 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday and from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday.

People wanting to find out more about their family history can now delve into the past online in all Oxfordshire libraries. History enthusiasts can use Ancestry, one of the most popular internet sources for family history, free of charge in the county's 43 libraries thanks to Oxfordshire County Council's annual subscription with the website's publisher and a £5,000 cash injection.

you are new to the concept, the purpose of a swap shop is to “Reuse, recycle and keep stuff out of landfill!”

Ø We would like you to bring useful old stuff that you no longer need; take away FREE stuff that is useful to you.

Ø Bringing is not compulsory – call in and see if there is something you want to take.

Ø RECYCLING: You can also bring used printer cartridges, old mobile phones, Tetrapaks, plastic milk bottle tops, batteries and foil milk bottle tops for us to recycle.

Building on the success of thameFM 87.9, in June as part of the Thame Festival, the radio station will be on air again as part of the ‘Try Thame First’ advent promotion.

thameFM 87.9 will broadcast a local radio service for a four week period from Saturday, November 15, to Friday, December 12, with news and information on advent events and promotions in the town, along with details and awareness of local community groups in the Thame, and the surrounding areas

The station will play a cross section of popular Classic Hits of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s along with selected 90’s and quality current hits.

In addition local businesses are invited to take the opportunity to advertise on thameFM 87.9 at highly competitive rates. The station will reach up to 28,000 people who live within the transmission area.

Advertising spots can be single voice, read only or a full production advertisement with sound effects/music.
For further information please contact Alison Isherwood, 21st Century Thame Project Officer, on 01844 215215 or e-mail ai@21stcenturythame.org.uk

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 December 2008 Newsletter should be with the Editor at 27 Chiltern View, Little Milton, by 8.00 p.m. on 20th November 2008. The Editor reserves the right not to print items submitted for publication and to edit those items, which are published.

Councillor Stuart McGill ( Chairman)	01844 279092
Councillor Barry Coward (Vice Chair)	01844 278970
Councillor Mabel Wood	01844 279670
Councillor Alison Shelton	01844 278144
Councillor David Wakeling	01844 278014
Councillor Tim Robinson	01844 278343
Parish Clerk Raymond Fergusson	01844 279150 fergie.milton1@btinternet.com

Friday 14th November	Chalgrove	08.00 – 11.00
Sat 22nd November	Wheatley Primary School	08.00 – 12.00

2nd	10.30 a.m.	Service held at Christchurch in Thame
9th	9.30 a.m.	United Service Parish Church .
16th	11.00 a.m.	Morning Service led by Dr Paul Williams
23rd	11.00 a.m.	Holy Sacrament led by Rev Derick Chambers
30th	11.00 a.m.	Morning Service led by Rev Charlotte Collins

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

LITTLE MILTON

GREAT HASELEY

SATURDAY 29th November

7.00 for 7.30pm @ The Pine Lodge

SATURDAY 29^th November