From a high summer garden party to an end of term disco
Last week I was busy putting together summer holiday activity bags for the children at the two village pre-schools. They were a gift from the Friends of Rusthall School to the younger members of the village to mark the end of a school year less ordinary and celebrate a connection between the school and the community. One of the more touching things they included were beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written notes from St Paul’s Year 6 children as they leave the school, to the children who may soon start their time at the school, wishing them well with their new adventures. There were times when the bags and their contents threatened to take over my small house when I wondered what I was doing, but once it all came together it was so rewarding and I’m glad I did it.
Notes written by the lovely children of Rusthall St Paul’s to villlage pre-school children.
Amidst bag stuffing, there was time to admire the flourishing restored Marl Pit Ponds during an evening walk on Rusthall Common, as well as my friend Felicity’s garden in bloom and the colour-pop of the latest yarn bomb on the postbox – I am always thankful for this creative, nature surrounded community.
On Friday I went to a modestly titled Bring and Buy sales in aid of Hospice in the Weald in Langton Green. It was in fact a glorious high summer garden party, on which the sun beat down, and friends found shade to sit in or basked in the heat according to their preference. For many people it was the first time they had been able to socialise in a group for a long time, and although the rising case numbers are concerning, an outdoor event is the safest kind that can be had. “We are a community that sticks together, and cares for each other,” said Daphne Streeter when she stood up to thank people for coming and spending their money in aid of this great cause. “I really want to thank Valerie and Jeremy Stirling for offering to host the event, it has been wonderful.” There was a raffle, great bric a brac stall (I love the vintage enamel cake tin with lid I bought) and a book stall as well as lots of tea and cake. In total £910 was raised.
Hospice in the Weald Bring and Buy sale
Friday was also the day of my daughter’s end of term school disco – a thing that was organised as an act of faith by the PTA, because it didn’t always seem certain that it would be allowed to go ahead. Held outdoors, with each class allocated an area of the playground so that they could stay in their class bubbles, it was clearly a big hit with the children to dance under the shade of the many trees in the school grounds in the early evening sun. I waited with other parents at the back gates to collect my daughter, and we talked about our hopes that this would be a golden and lasting memory for them, of carefree joy and anticipation for the holidays ahead.
As soon as she came out, clutching an ice lolly, we were straight off to choir practice, this week held outdoors in the church yard. As I walked away towards Nevill Park with its near bucolic views of cows in the meadow and the doll house facades of Hungershall Park, it was moving to hear their singing voices carrying and then fading as the distance between us grew.
That’s all for this week, as ever I appreciate your reading this so very much. If you would like to subscribe to my Village Diary (normally every Friday) or contact me I would love to hear from you.
I hope you are all having a lovely week.
Jayne
