STACK NEWS ISSUE SEVEN December 2003
Welcome to the seventh edition of Stack News!
That can't be right! - issue seven?? Well we've checked the archives and yes its true. Stack News started way back in 1997. Of course our short stay here doesn't mean we're locals. Our nearest neighbour Ruby, who's in her 90's, told us that she isn't really local either as she has only been here since she was six! Unfortunately Ruby had a fall last year and is now being cared for in the local manor house that has been converted to an old folks home.
Roger does have some claim to Cornish roots. His cousin has traced his mum's side of the family back to 1679, when a many times great grandfather was churchwarden at Lanhydrock House (now a National Trust property). More important is his long-standing friendship with a Cornish family from St Just. That started many years ago when he was visiting with a London theatre club (The Questors) that was performing at the Minack Theatre. Their favourite place to stay was Christine's café in Pendeen. Christine and her husband Lesley aided by family members and Rusty their dog made everyone welcome. Over the years the friendship has grown with Roger being 'adopted' into their family. "Like it or not - you're family" said Marlene, eldest daughter, one day. They are a wonderful family and it was with enormous sorrow that we attended Lesley's funeral on New Year's Eve last year. He is deeply missed.
Unfortunately the bad news continues. Monty our pet chinchilla died at the age of 17 after an operation on his teeth. A few days later we heard that Sarah a friend of Jayne's from Croydon had also passed away. She was only in her thirties.
Well dear readers, the good news is that most of the bad news was at the beginning of the year - so the rest of this edition should be lighter reading!
We escaped the winter floods, although Jayne did have to postpone a trip to the RSPCA as the main A30 trunk road was impassable! On another day she had to abandon her car down the road because of snow (a very rare occurrence here).
In April, Xena the lurcher came to visit Blue for a few days bringing her people, Les & Carol. The winter storms had kindly provided a coastal shipwreck for Les to video! Other human visitors staying (Les & Kathy, and John) were probably outnumbered by furry friends, including Alison's ratties and Emma's rabbit and guinea-pig Harry and Boris.
Blue our greyhound has made some new friends, and can hardly raise the energy to sleep when he comes homes after meeting Zack and Misty! Our two degus continue chewing homegrown oak and applewood twigs, and our hamster is still with us despite her advancing years. Our neighbour's dog, Dibley, was not so fortunate having died suddenly apparently from an allergic reaction.
There was some good news for the badgers as the government announced that they were stopping killing in the ten 'reactive' zones. Unfortunately we are in a 'pro-active' zone and the trapping and killing continues here with traps in place as we write in 100km2 of countryside all around us.
The following Cree Indian prophesy sums up feelings on this and many other issues:
Only when the Last Tree has been cut down
Only after the Last River has been poisoned
Only after the Last Fish has been caught
Only then will you find that Money Cannot be Eaten
Walks, talks and training courses continued with either one or both of us attending. Topics included such things as: the internet; landscape history; biodiversity; invertebrates (including the dissection of moth genitalia!); conservation of mining sites; Penwith Legends. Plus talks and walks with the Carn Brea Mining Society, the Trevithick Society, Cornwall Butterfly Conservation, and Cornwall Earth Mysteries Group.
There was just about time for a few 'out-of-county' visits including to London (Jayne's mum, Discover Dogs show at Earls Court, and the Kempton Park Insect Fair) and a Plymouth shopping trip!
Jayne's mothing has continued unabated with weekly (at least) trapping (she lets them go after they're identified and recorded) both here at Ding Dong and at a lower altitude friend's garden. Jayne is also very active for the Cornwall Moth Group, producing their newsletter and website, as well as organising mothing events throughout the county.
At work, the www now dominates Jayne's duties and she is now 'officially' Cornwall Wildlife Trust Webmaster. Even Roger has got onto the web with his first (simple!!) site for the badger group. For those of you who'd like to take a look at this or any of the growing number of sites that Jayne runs we have provided a links list at www.dingdong.me.uk
So finally, here is the Stack News! No, the house still isn't actually finished yet, but it's just the fiddly bits to do! But some progress has been achieved during the year. Outside, the walls have now been painted; we have steps to access the side/rear garden, a Landrover size carport, and a woodshed made from recycled leftovers of our old kitchen. Indoors, Roger's workshop is gradually being fitted out (what a pity we didn't have this years ago when we needed it most!). The ground floor shower room is decorated with local maps and pictures and cupboards concealing the underfloor heating manifold, and even the inner hallway has carpet and cupboards - although no ceiling as yet!
So there we have it - run out of space!
So that’s about it for now!
Best wishes for the festive season from:
Roger and Jayne
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