A belated Happy New Year to everyone We all had a lovely family Christmas but since then my husband has been ill hence no update on my blog.

We have been keeping the birds well fed and helping them through this icy weather.Lots of different birds have been visiting our garden Lots of thrushes and also Redwings which we have never seen before. We also have a Pheasant who arrives each morning for his daily feed of chicken corn.

I had to attend the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital for an Assesment for a major operation on my leg in early February. It was manic the nurses rushed off their feet elderly people suffering fron injuries sustained from falling on icy ground. The staff were wonderful making sure everyone was comfortable and looked after.

After spending five hours in the hospital I was looking forward to getting home but it was not to be. We were caught up in the traffic which was gridlocked from Exeter to Dawlish. It took 3 hours to travel the eight miles to our home . We were caught in the backlog from Telegraph Hill and Halden Hill. Listening to Radio Devon helped at least we knew what was happening and motorists were trapped for longer on some other routes. It isn't a day we wish to repeat it was good to arrive home safely and enjoy a cup of tea.

Piper Bill Millin

A bronze statue of Dawlish resident , Bill Millin has been commissioned in France. The 8ft high bronze statue, due to be unveiled on June 6th 2010. The statue commemorates Bill's bravery when in 1944 he piped his comrades ashore at Sword beach for the D-Day landings.

In November the Town Council were pleased to host a reception at the Manor House

Dawlish to welcome a party from France who came to visit Bill and bring a model of the statue showing how it would look when completed.

The reception was attended by the Mayor and Councillors with Representatives of the Royal British legion. The pipers from France were Policemen in their working life.Bagpipes were played, the tunes bringing a lump to our throats

Greetings were exchanged in English and French with much laughter at the translations.

To round off the afternoon we all enjoyed a very English tea which included cakes and of course a cup of tea.

Bill is hoping to visit France in June to see the unveiling of the statue. At 86 years of age we give him all our best wishes.

Remembering in Dawlish

The Service of Remembrance is even more poignant this year.

We stood with the people of Dawlish at the War Memorial and gathered in St Gregory's church for the Remembrance Service. The church was packed it was good to see so many young people attending this year. Churchs and Memorials all over the Country paid their respects and remembered the tragic cost not only of previous wars but also of present day wars.

7 Servicemen killed in a week

Support for the war is collapsing 63% of people want the troops withdrawn. How can our troops carry on if men they have trained turn and shoot when they are all relaxing over a cup of tea. What chance is there of ever winning this war.

We see in the papers and on our television screens the heartache this brings to families. Young children deprived of a father, sons, brothers, fathers all gone. We will pray for an end to the suffering of war, and remember those who have given their lives, so bravely for Queen and Country, and for their families.

On Wednesday Nov 11th at 11am pause and remember for 2mins. Wear your poppy with pride for all the gallant men who died for all

Dawlish Poetry

A Poem for Dawlish

 

Bird watching colonels on thr old sea wall,

 

Down here in Dawlish where the slow trains crawl;

 

Low tide lifting, on a shingle shore,

 

Low sunk islands from the sea once more;

 

Red cliffs rising where the wet sands run,

 

Gulls reflecting in the sharp spring sun;

 

Pink-washed plaster by a sheltered patch,

 

IIex shadows on a velvet thatch;

 

What interiors those names suggest!

 

Queen of lodgings in the warm south-west.

 

John Betjeman

Winter arrives with a vengence

What a glorious half term week we have enjoyed.

Dawlish Warren was buzzing with lots of families enjoying the wonderful weather . The trees in their wonderful Autumn colours have been execeptional this year.Caravans were leaving one after the other on Friday making  their journey home. Most of the camps are now closed as we settle into the quiet time of the year. 

 

The rain and gales have arrived today with carpets of leaves everywhere. 

 

Dawlish Town Council are looking to Regenerate the Town and Dawlish Warren.Details of the scheme will be on dispaly at The Shaftsbury Theatre on Nov 11th. Members of the public can visit and make their comments.

 

Why can't the bus drivers be allowed to park in the Barton Car park for free.

 

 At present they park in Piermont Place and discharge their passengers. then  drive the Coach to Sandy Lane Car Park. There is nowhere the driver can get a cup of tea or a meal.

Why can't he park in the Barton car park where he is within walking distance, get some refreshments perhaps a free meal.He may be inclined to stay longer in Dawlish and not just stay long enough for the passengers to have a quick look around and then disappear.  

Nappy Roadshow

Reading that Teignbridge are to hold a Nappy Roadshow sent my thoughts back to when my first baby was born. We had never heard of disposable nappies.

 

When I was first married we lived in a ocottage  on the Chatsworth Estate in Derbyshire. My husband's grandfather was coachman to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire at Chatsworth House. I never did understand why they were the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire living in Derbyshire 

 

The cottage we lived in had no mod cons like we enjoy today. I had to light a copper in the washouse to boil our nappies each day. But they did look good blowing in the wind all snowy white.That was how the neighbours knew when the baby had arrived

 

 I wouldn't like to go back to those days it was hard work, but much better for the environment and nothing in landfill

 We also had to pin them on with a large safety pin and very careful not to stick the pin in baby.

 

Today's reusable nappies are so much easier washing is  easy with today's washing machines. The cost over the time a child is in  nappies is colossal plus all the years disposable nappies take to disintegrate in landfill 

Motorhomes on Dawlish Warren Car Park

Motorhomes on Dawlish Warren car park. During the Summer months Teignbridge District Council allowed motorhomes to stay for two nights free of charge on the landside car park at Dawlish Warren.

 

This was to encourage visitors to Dawlish Warren to see what a lovely area we live in. Also for anyone arriving in the resort late at night who didn't have anywhere to stay. On the whole this has been a great success. We have had letters from visitors  who were delighted with the idea.

 

Some of the camp site owners were not so happy  as it does take their trade away. Perhaps now the Season is over we should take a look at this and address any concerns raised