Stir Up Sunday & The Week in Focus

Posted by Liberty Hen in Castle Coop News | 4 comments

 TAH 11/20-16

It has been another busy week here in Castle Coop…

Monday:

The Awesome Hen is proud to report that Castle Coop was well represented at our local Remembrance Ceremony yesterday. Those there all agree that the sight and sound of the Chinook flying over the War Memorial and the length of the Street to mark the end of the 2 Minute Silence was very moving.

The Dickin Medal: They also served…

Lady Egality Maran writes: On behalf of the many dearly loved pets in our  village, Castle Coop is proud to remember the many animals who have served their countries.

As of April 2016, the  Dickin medal, instituted by Maria Dickin to honour any animal displaying conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst serving with British Empire armed forces or civil emergency services has been awarded 67 times.

In recognition of all animals who have served in times of conflict, Lady Sebright, Lady Lohmann-Brown, Lady Egality Maran and Lady Liberty Hen put poppies on their dogs’ collars.

 Photograph: Martha wearing her poppy proudly ( she is not very brave & likes her home comforts & she is very aware that those who are brave & self-sacrificing should be honoured).

Source: Liberty Hen

 Tuesday:

A message from Sir Plymouth Rock:

Dear Castle Coopian, 

 

I am writing on behalf of our local Member of Parliament, Sir Hans Welsummer, to invite you to a Public Meeting with him on Friday 18th November at 7pm in the Village Hall. Sir Hans was elected last year to represent the Coop Constituency. He will make a short opening address at which he will talk about life in Westminster as an MP and some of the causes he particularly supports but he wishes specifically to listen to villagers about any concerns that you may have locally or indeed nationally. 

Best wishes, 

 

Sir Plym

Wednesday:

Brown Owl visited several houses in Castle Coop to canvas support for the Advent Church Clean up. She wishes to tell anyone who was out when she came round, that she Will Be Calling Back.

Thursday:

During a spell of bright autumnal sunshine, the Agent and Liberty Hen spent several hours collecting leaves in their garden.

 Friday:

TAH Newsletter is pleased to have been asked by our tireless New Year’s Eve Party Committee to reassure all Castle Coopians that plans for the traditional celebratory ceilidh are well underway.

Lady Sebright writes:

A few of us have met to discuss the arrangements already. Our format this year will be very similar to last year but there are slight changes to how jobs will the allocated, the menu & cost per head.
This year we’re suggesting we make a Swaddles Pie for the main course, this is a slightly spicy shepherd’s pie. This will allow us to reduce the cost per head to £6 which is plenty to cover the cost of the hall plus a couple of glasses of prosecco for everyone.

Swaddles shepherd’s pie (Serves 6-8 )

• 1 large onion
• 6 cloves garlic
• Sunflower oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1 red chilli, chopped
• 2in fresh grated ginger
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground allspice
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 900g/2 lb minced lamb
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp fresh thyme
• Fresh coriander
• Mashed potato made with 900g/2 lb potatoes, and extra butter for the top

Preheat oven to 190C/370F/Gas 5. Peel, chop and saute¿ the onion and garlic gently until softened in a couple of tablespoons of sunflower oil, sprinkling a bit of salt on. Add the chopped chilli and ginger and the spices, then add the meat and brown it. Add the tomato pureé, lemon and thyme and simmer gently for about 40 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, throw in a couple of tablespoons of chopped fresh coriander, cover with mounds of mash, dot with butter and bake in the oven for about 30-40 minutes. You want a bubbling, crustily browned top. Serve with cumin-spiced carrots.

Source: Tamsin Day Lewis at The Telegraph

TAH Newsletter is also delighted to report that the Public Meeting in which villagers discussed important issues of the day with Sir Hans Welsummer (MP) & aired their concerns in a lively Q&A session, was extremely well attended. All agreed that it was a most interesting opportunity to meet our constituency representative in Parliament & the evening was a great success. TAH has been asked to thank Sir Plym formally on everyone’s behalf for all the hard work he undertook to arrange the event as it is very much appreciated by us all.

Saturday:

Lost Cat:  A lost cat has taken up residence in the Ox and Moose. It is black with a white underside. It is being well looked after but if anyone knows where it lives please let the O&M know.

Stir Up Sunday:

Stop Press: A big thank you to our readership from TAH editorial team for all the detective work; the cat has been reunited with its owners & is now safely back home.

Trev the Rev delivered the traditional Stir-Up Sunday Sermon from the pulpit in St. Mary’s Church with his usual vim & vigour.

Having taken note of the date, Liberty Hen has been tackling her Christmas pudding

and is keeping her fingers crossed that, although cooking is not a Liberty Hen strong point, the pudding will turn out to be both edible & festive. The Agent was pleased that quite a bit of brandy was added to help it along.

Yours on behalf of our crack Editorial Team here at The Awesome Hen,

#LestWeForget

Posted by Liberty Hen in Castle Coop News | 0 comments

In Remembrance, 24/7

The War Memorial in front of the Village Hall in Castle Coop is one year old today.

This morning, at 11.00 a.m, with its new Poppy Wreath and little memorial crosses, our Memorial Stone looked like this:

As the daylight fails, the light comes on:

& our Memorial Stone shines in Remembrance all through the night, every night of the year:

Yours thinking it’s beautiful,

Stop the World: I want to get off!

Posted by Liberty Hen in Castle Coop News | 10 comments

Yours knowing this time, smelling salts won’t be enough…