Stir Up Sunday & The Week in Focus

Posted by in Castle Coop News | 4 comments

Large byline photo Lady Liberty Hen, News Editor

 TAH 11/20-19

 

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.

Chinook fly past

 

The Dickin Medal: They also served…

Lady Egality, editor portrait

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.

http://theawesomehen.com/?attachment_id=14947

 

A dog receiving a medal while surrounded by a number of men in military uniform

 

Rob the Collie, receiving his medal

Certificate and medal for Pigeon Royal Blue

 

Dickin Medal and Certificate for the pigeon Royal Blue

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.

martha-and-poppy

 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:

Sir-Plym headshot round

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.

Liberty Hen & Brown Owl

Thursday:

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

raking-up-the-autumn-leaves

 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 headshot

Rev. T Rosecombe sig

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

cooking-the-christmas-puddingand 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.

Christmas Pudding

 

 

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

 

4 Comments

  1. Your cartoons of yourself as a hen are so delightful. I know how you feel being a woman of a certain age. I used to be able to pull all nighters, now I can barely pull all dayers 🙂

    • Thank you Emma for such a lovely compliment – & yes… that’s just how it is for me. I’m now pleased if I can last until tea time without any little snooze wishful thinking springing into my head 🙂

  2. Lovely pictures as ever! Have just looked up Dickin medal on wiki and amazed by how many were awarded to pigeons. Of course thousands of horses should have been awarded the medal postumously from WW1 and before.

    We have a cat answering to your description in our village. She tears across the lawn and startles the neighbours chickens. Will take a look and see if she belongs to Castle Coop 🙂 xxJo

    • I was surprised at all the pigeon bravery – we’ve always been a bit cavalier about the idea of pigeon brains but will have to take it all back now. As for the horses, I can’t bear the thought of all their suffering in WW1/ Waterloo/Charge of the Light Brigade etc..- the Agent told me not see Warhorse as he knew I’d end up sobbing.

      Wonder if your village cat, now possibly residing in the Ox & Moose, is busy doing a recce in Castle Coop in case a suitable house in Castle Coop should come on the market so you can decide if you’d like to move in -#Lady Jo.

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