River Valley Beauty - Christmas Opening Event at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Oak Lane

Upchurch

Sittingbourne

Kent

ME9 7AY

December News from Upchurch Horticultural Society - From the Potting Shed

Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd

We draw towards the end of the year as December arrives and with it comes the Winter. The Autumn has been mild so far with bright sunny days, good nighttime temperatures and a couple of frosts. The longer term forecast is saying colder weather and the internet is blathering about sub-arctic conditions with food and fuel shortages. Looks as if we will all be scavenging for berries praying for an early Spring. It's all a Russian plot to keep us preoccupied while they invade Ukraine on Boxing Day. I really don’t think they have forgotten the Battle of Sebastopol when we gave them a good stuffing…. I wonder if that happened at Christmas as well?

To my surprise, I have carried on working in the garden while the Junkyard Mutt has nabbed my place by the fire. There has been too much finishing up to do this year so all the time we get mild days I am carrying on.

The lawn is looking so much better now and the Canada Green has been a success. I will carry on working it into the thin patches next year and maintain a high cut. Scarifying the lawn after each cut is hard work but it removes all the dead thatch and leaves it looking fresh and healthy. A good lawn isn’t easy but when it is in good condition it’s a pleasure and so typically English.

I am experiencing a strong feeling of Nationalism and feel that we are facing a lot of threats from Johnny Foreigner. Those Russians keep testing our borders to see if we can defend ourselves. Europeans are subverting us with covert economic maliciousness and our American cousins wouldn’t even give us as much as a “kiss my backside”. It’s a time to stand up and face the world and see who our friends are.

Meanwhile, the Turnips have done well and along with the frosted Parsnips, are proving a great addition to casseroles. The Leeks are looking better and putting on a bit more size. The Climbing Bean trenches have been dug and filled with compost, while the rest of the vegetable patch has been well turned over and ready for Spring.

The flower borders are still producing colour and we have yet to have a frost hard enough to finish them up. Even the Dahlias are still blooming when normally they are black stumps by now. The Winter containers still need to be sorted ready to provide early Spring colour.

It’s also time to sort out the seed order for next year and get the Leeks and Onions up and running (my soil is too thin for Onions). They can be sown at any time now and raised under glass. Broad Beans can be planted in Autumn but I was pleased with planting in March, harvesting at the end of July and then sowing Turnip seed into the cleared patch and lifting at the end of October. That gave two crops from the same ground, although I need to plant further apart to allow ventilation as the Broad Beans picked up a fungus infection. I am going to change my Marrow seed next year and go for a larger variety as the crop has consistently failed and I am sadly missing my stuffed Marrow. A fresh juicy Marrow stuffed with a mince, chorizo, bacon and tomato filling (with other special ingredients) is a classic old English favourite…although the chorizo is a welcome Spanish addition that compliments it… and the Spanish did help us to defeat Napoleon. So did the Portuguese, which is probably why I like Port.

A classic old English dish… with a touch of Spanish.

I must admit I am looking forward to Christmas this year as there wasn’t one last year, and a good Tawny Port is a favourite with a cheese board, although it will be English cheeses only. Cheddar, Red Leicester (does sound a bit commie), Somerset Brie and a Stinking Bishop (nothing against the Church).

There was a character in the Old Testament whose name was Booz in the old translations and Boaz in the new ones. Booz was a good guy, very honourable and respectful of women. After his daily toil, he would settle down by the wine press and enjoy a few drinks to make his heart happy. There was also a character called Adam… he was a gardener, but sadly he sinned and became a farmer. I have decided that it is best to remain as a happy hearted gardener.

On that note, I would like to wish you all a happy hearted Christmas and hope to be back in March.

UHS is always looking for new members and tries to encourage a fun attitude towards friendly competition. So if you want to grow your own fruit, vegetables, and flowers or even enter any of the shows we hold each year, please get in touch. We would be happy to hear from you.

If you are interested in becoming a new member, (all ages are welcome), please contact Rosey on: 01634 377812 (evenings) or Email: rosemary@ringwoodaccounting.co.uk

Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society

UpARA - December 2021 Newsletter

Hello UpARA members,

This month we would like to invite you to our Christmas Social afternoon on Friday 17th December.

This will be like our previous social afternoons; tables will be arranged around the hall and the idea is that you just turn up and generally have an enjoyable afternoon in the company of others. Guests welcome.

We will be providing some festive mince pies, cakes, mulled wine, teas & coffees plus a free raffle with lots of prizes. Please also bring your own drink/glasses. There will be some festive fun with entertainment on the big screen plus a short quiz. All for just £2, taken on the day - what more could you ask for!?

Please book - We ask that you let us know that you are coming please, and we will allocate a place. Also, let us know if you are a group and a table will be set aside so you can sit together.

Email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com or by text: to 07802 250773.

Our speaker this month is sure to set the festive tone when Tony Harris returns giving us a history of the Pantomime Dame. Many will remember Tony with unforgettable appearances as Henry VIII, Sherlock Holmes, and Churchill. 

The thoughts of Chairman John

Hi everyone,

We continue with our activities both indoor and outdoor with really good turnouts, so good that we have been running Petanque for two afternoons a month, (I would like to thank Ray for all the work ensuring the Terrains are kept in excellent condition, especially at the moment with the clearing of the leaves).

Last month’s Speaker, Edwin, gave us a really enlightening talk on Canine Partners; it was the first talk he had given since Lockdown; a member organised a collection which raised £100, (additional to the club’s donation of £60) - many thanks to Heather - I have since received an email from Edwin who was over the moon!

Lastly, Turkey and Tinsel at the Belgrave Sands Hotel in Torquay; once again Malcolm and Brenda have hit the Jackpot. The Hotel was superb - everything you could ask for; Rae and Rob from Jewels Tours were excellent.

Our trips out were also very enjoyable, Exeter, Plymouth, and an evening trip for some to the nearby Babbacombe Theatre to see the show, ‘Step into Christmas’, tears of laughter flowing all the evening! As it was T&T, all our members had a chance to celebrate the festivities, with various festive wear!

John W 

Trips

Homeward Bound. A stop at Stonehenge after a great break in Torquay. 

Website

Don’t forget you can visit us on our website: www.upara.club to see what is happening, view the calendar if you need to check whether certain activities are on or not and what time.

Can you help us? 

You may remember our asking for volunteers to help in running some activities, possibly as part of a group or on a rota - Many hands make light work! If you can help in any way, please let us know.

December Activities 

Please note there is no Table Tennis, Art, Coffee Morning, 10 Pin Bowling, and only one Walk. Thank you.

December Calendar

Mondays December 6th, 13th, 20th 10:00am - Short/Soft Tennis

Returns 10th January

Monday, December 6th 2:00pm - Kurling

Returns 10th January

Tuesday, December 7th - Inn on the Lake ‘Salute to Xmas’

Wednesdays December 8th, 15th 10:15am - Line Dancing

Returns 12th January

Friday, December 10th 2:00pm - Monthly Meeting

Tony Harris & The History of the Pantomime Dame

Tuesday, December 14th 1:00pm - Petanque

Note this is the normal day for 10 Pin Bowling which is cancelled this month

Friday, December 17th 10:00am - Seasonal Village Walk

Santa Hats optional!

Friday, December 17th 2:00pm - Christmas Social Afternoon

£2 - Includes free raffle, tea/coffee, mince pies, mulled wine, cakes, entertainment, plus a chance to say ‘Merry Christmas’ to friends! Bring your own drink and glasses and enjoy yourselves. 

Hopefully, see you all soon - your UpARA Committee.

Email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com 

Website: www.upara.club

NSD Runners Club - Community 5K Run

Come and join us on our friendly new Upchurch Community 5K Run.

We will meet outside the Crown Pub in Upchurch village every Saturday, and the run will begin at 9:00am.

Please contact me (Andy Sambrook) at: nsdrunners@gmail.com if you are interested or search for the run club (NSD Runners) on Strava. My website is to follow.

Hopefully, if there is enough interest, I will also introduce another 5k run one evening during the week and a 10k run on Sunday morning... but let's see how it goes with the Saturday 5k first!

All runners of all ages and abilities are welcome :-)

Andy Sambrook

Attempted Break-in - Newington

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/245452/21

Between 00:01 on Monday the 1st of November and 18:27 on Friday the 26th of November, somebody tried to break into a residential property and damaged a window in Orchard Drive, Newington.

If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.

For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk

Kent Community Messaging

The Christmas Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church, Upchurch

Hi everyone,

Come along to our Christmas Rainbow Café on Thursday the 2nd of December between 2:00pm and 5:00pm.

As well as our usual delicious homemade cakes, savouries and kids snack deal, we will have mince pies and mulled wine. 

There will be a Christmas story, carol singing and some great Christmas crafts for the kids.

All are welcome.

May we take this opportunity to wish for you a Christmas full of joy and love. And we pray that the year ahead will bring many blessings.

Gill Gay and all the Rainbow Café team