Christmas Newsletter - as sent to subscribers (more or less)
Wishing you and yours a Happy Christmas and New Year, in as good a way as is available
Happy Christmas to all. I took this photo of a tiny series of raindrops on new growth of a St John’s Wort (Hypericum) that self-sowed itself in a pot twenty-plus years ago. There is something magical about how the surface of the young leaves cradle the raindrops, as well as sparkling, reflecting the sky. Apparently, I did look a bit odd sitting on a chair hunched over the pot at the time, aiming for stability to capture the light, but photography and lichenology in equal measure trigger many a raised eyebrow!
News
I’ve been on Facebook for a very long time, although it felt at the time that it took ages to jump into social media. The catalyst was some investigation into something, but what I have found to be the best part as well as the social side has been access to organisations and groups that would be really hard to find any other way.
One of these is the Sussex Film Office, who have promoted Sussex destinations to the film industry and also done occasional shoutouts for things they couldn’t find by themselves. Apparently the new film, Wicked, has scenes filmed on the River Cuckmere, although a friend who has seen the film didn’t remember that there was a river scene, so it’s not clear what they did with it!
A new initiative building in 2025 is a photo and image library and I will be supplying some photos for them to include, from both mine and Simon’s photographs. It will be a good incentive to go out and take some more as well.
Natural history
It's war with the robin next door now (I've called him Buster). Yesterday Freddie came across to tweet good morning, only to be bullied off by Buster.
When Buster flew hard at Freddie he flew off to regroup. Then in a flourish they were both tussling on the path in a flurry of feathers really like the Chinese 1970’s TV The Water Margin.
Freddie suddenly flew up and then down fast at Buster and the surprised bully had to flee.
Freddie next flew up into the magnolia and waited for me to cross the path to speak to him. I opened the lid of the container that his food travels in and tapped some into it, at which point the kung fu moves had obviously gone to his head as he then channeled full hummingbird to take some of it! I was so surprised, but maybe so was he as he then hopped pointedly across to where I’ve been putting it out for him and his ‘other species’ chums. (He has no problems with tits, dunnocks, blackbirds or even nuthatches).
Within minutes of him making sure of his food supply, both Freddie and Buster were engaged in a classic sing-off on their preferred perches.
Buster is resolutely not tame...
Buster has pronounced white flecks on his wing edges, Freddie is less flash in his markings, it’s his personality that shines instead…
Fact Nuggets
Work on the churches book continues apace, with publication getting closer, although my plans for April 19th have been bulldozed as that’s Easter Saturday so no good. I will keep you posted once things look clearer. In the meantime this is less of a fact nugget and more of a celebration.
Out on the internet is the most magnificent resource. Hampshire and West Sussex tithe maps need to be accessed via the Genealogist Diamond subscription, East Sussex and Brighton and Hove are also available for free on the Keep website.
These maps are so rich in their content. Sadly copyright issues mean I can't share the map images. The church at West Liss is thirteenth century, where the village has its oldest centre. There are four areas to this: West Liss (in two parts really); Liss that built up around the railway station (that church is from 1897); Liss Forest that grew up related to army encampments and enclosed common (awash with non-conformist chapels); and Hill Brow/Rake that nudge into West Sussex (more non-conformism). It’s a toughie to unravel it all.
Greeting card story
Father Christmas at the Theatre Royal, Bath. This card was designed by my mother, Diana Harding, a number of years ago when my parents lived in Wiltshire. The Theatre Royal held a competition for a design for their Christmas card and she was encouraged to enter. Unsurprisingly, this beautiful and fun image won that year and they used it as their card. I did also rework Father Christmas into another card of ours a few years ago, but the Theatre Royal is by far and away the better card!
Team members
Mabel outsourced this year’s Christmas decorations to the personal shopper just outside Inverness, who was her friend before she joined us and was in fact the source of the introduction. This USB powered Christmas tree would look very at home in a discotheque, I think she has decided we all need a bit of fire in our bellies going into the New Year
Thank you to all subscribers, including new ones, and also to customers. Your support is constantly appreciated. Have a lovely Christmas.
This newsletter was written by Amanda Davey. I share it here as a blog post to show what they can be like. The plan is to try to send these out once a month, ideally mid-month, although it can vary. It would be great to hear back with any reactions to this and to encourage you to sign up for future editions. Please do feel free to share it with anyone you feel might be interested in the content.
With very best wishes
Amanda
PS. On the website there are now 7 books from us or family members, as well as the second hand bird books and nearly 200 greeting cards (all blank inside). Prices range from £2.30 for the cards, through £8.99 to £19.99 for the new books*. All postage is calculated by weight to be as fair as possible – particularly for cards this is helpful for purchases of more than one card. I am always keen to hear ideas and feedback, which often gets translated into action.
*The second-hand books are variable in price and postage to the UK is included in the prices.
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