In these interesting times it's currently not possible to have our monthly Drop-In in the Church Hall, and I'm sure those who have attended, regulars or otherwise, are missing the heady mix of home baked cakes, a nice mug of tea or coffee (or hot water!) and a lively conversation about the world in general and Long Eaton in particular. BUT we're not giving up, we're not dropping out (!), either from our regular get-togethers or our parish community
Not everyone has access to, or is a fan of, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc
but this way everyone can and is invited to join in. Whatever interests
you might interest us, the latest piece of news, a brilliant recipe
you’ve found and tried, doing something for the first time or asking
advice about something. This was what our monthly Drop In used to be all
about - connecting and sharing with each other.
I’m sure we could try to give it a go but it will only be successful
if you join in. It doesn’t have to be paragraph after paragraph, unless
you want to. It could be something you’ve seen elsewhere, something
you’ve discovered, your new interest, how you keep your spirits up. It
could also be a noticeboard for recommended suppliers, i.e shops
delivering to people who are isolating or shielding. Maybe you could
also give shoutouts to someone who has or is helping you. Basically the
list is endless. To submit an item, just click on the 'New post' button a couple of rows down from here, type what you want and hit the Save that you'll see at the top right when you're typing Remember WE ARE St Francis of Assisi and to quote Captain Tom Moore, now Sir Tom: “tomorrow the sun WILL shine." Now in print format! Here's Issue 1
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Parish Life >
Not Dropping Out
Going to Mass during lockdown
Submitted by Mary Bradford Going to 10am Mass on a Sunday during Lockdown involves me getting my act together; no lingering over breakfast as I would if going to 11am at St Francis. So breakfast, wash, dress and head to the Study. “Don’t be late” says my husband “there will be no car parking space left”. One week he said “Aren’t you wearing your Sunday best?” Not sure what I was wearing that day, probably something casual as the Study can get rather warm - I have heard that some people wear their pyjamas at 7pm evening Mass – the children really enjoy that. I have been attending 10am Mass at St Albans, Derby it has been great seeing the familiar faces of the readers (friends and youngsters I’ve taught) just as if I was among friends at St Francis. They’ve even had (virtual) Coffee and chat after Mass some Sundays. But I can’t wait until we can all be back together at St Francis – the study isn’t quite the same; sometimes there are too many distractions from the road outside. Looking forward to seeing you all soon
And just a thought - where have you been watching Mass during lockdown and what have you been wearing? :Let us know!!
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Campover 2020 - Scouting in Lockdown
Submitted by Mary Bradford 17th Long Eaton (St Francis) Scout Group Although we can’t meet in the hall or go to camp, Scouting hasn’t stopped during lockdown. The Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers were invited to join in Campover 2020 – a virtual camp for Scouts and Guides in Derbyshire during May Bank Holiday. 19 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts from the Group responded to the challenge, joining over 6,000 other young people from around the world. They could sleep anywhere other than their bed for 1, 2 or 3 nights and take part in lots of Scouting activities. A few slept in a tent in the garden or in the house, others made some super tents out of blankets etc and families joined in as well on their camp beds  One Scout even left their electronic device to join in! The favourite activity was toasting marshmallows and there was plenty of cocoa drunk before bed. Scouts and Cubs cooked breakfast for their families. Fire lighting skills were learnt and bacon or sausage was cooked on the BBQ, some Beavers joined in this too. Several of the young people went out on long walks to the park and beyond; there was den building and singing camp fire songs  Judging by the smiley faces on the photographs we were sent everyone had a great time. I know that several Cubs have been out on their bikes so I shall be awarding lots of cyclist badges and Beavers, Cubs and Scouts have been working on other badges too The Beavers Cubs and Scouts have also had the chance to take part in the Great Indoors – over 100 activities and anyone not just Beaver, Cubs and Scouts can do them as well. Just follow the link: www.scout.org.uk Looking forward to when we can meet again ………. Akela |
Peggy's Recipe for Scones with a Twist!
Ingredients  450g self raising flour 110g margarine or
butter 55g caster sugar 85g sultanas 300ml natural yoghurt Method
Serve with jam and cream and enjoy. Peggy Langdon |
On the Allotment - June 2020
Submitted by Wilf Rainford Despite social distancing measures we have managed to keep the allotment going and in good order. Normally we would have broad beans available now but the November sowing rotted in the ground due to the extremely wet winter and the second sowing struggled due to the driest spring on record and is now infected with black fly. However it is not all bad news, new fruit trees are growing well and the soft fruit has also looking good. Polytunnel and greenhouses are planted with tomatoes, cucumber, melons, sweet peppers and the vine is looking better now we know how to prune it! Raised beds are also planted out with lettuce, radish, onions, garlic and leaks. 14 rows of Charlotte potatoes and 3 rows of main crop potatoes are growing well. And other areas are planted with sweetcorn (with badger defences still to be built!) pumpkin, courgettes, squash, peas, runner beans, French beans and dwarf beans. Produce should be available in the next few weeks, hopefully we will be back in church soon but if not we may leave produce in the church porch for collection. Look out for information in the parish bulletin. Any suggestions regarding distribution of produce if we are still in lock down would be welcome. |
Smile Time
Submitted by Margaret Lyle Tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe and he’ll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it and he’ll have to touch it to be sure. Anonymous Insanity is hereditary. You get it from your children. Sam Levenson You know you’re getting old when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and wonder what else you could do while you’re down there. George Burns Children: You spend the first 2 years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next 16 telling them to sit down and be quiet. Anonymous A day without sunshine is like, you know, NIGHT!!!! Steve Martin |
Who would have thought!
Submitted by Margaret Lyle
I don’t know about you but I’ve been struggling over the last few weeks to get herbs to plant in my garden. Due to shielding I can’t go shopping for myself, so being rather clever (so I thought!), I decided to order living herbs with my supermarket delivery. On the first occasion I received cut herbs in bags, and last week, when I tried to order again, I received dried herbs in a jar!!!! Frustrating or what? With
the herbs in a bag (which should not be refrigerated) I put them in a
jug of water on the windowsill and harvested the leaves as I needed
them. Seven days later some of the remaining leaves started to die and
drop off so I decided to throw them away.  Taking the bunch out of the water, much to my surprise, they had rooted! I now have seedlings ready to plant out into the garden. This worked with basil and mint. Give it a go.
Do you have a gardening tips? Why not write |
Garden Centre in Breaston
We've recently discovered a lovely garden centre in Breaston, called Mill Hill Garden Centre, opposite the Navigation pub, on Risley Lane. It doesn't have a car park (usually plenty of parking on the road outside), it may be small (only allows around 6 people at a time for social distancing) and easy to miss as you drive by, but it's got
a huge range of plants (climbers, ground covering
plants perennials and annuals),
hanging baskets, tubs and planters in such a small space. They are open every day from
10 am until 4pm and the staff are really helpful and friendly They're expecting turf this Friday (29th) and had compost earlier in the week. |
Peggy's Recipe for Banana Loaf
Ingredients 100g butter  175g caster sugar 2 eggs 2 ripe bananas, mashed 225g self raising flour 1 tsp baking powder 2 tbsp milk Method
Peggy Langdon |
A Lockdown sonnet by David Goodhind
David Goodhind has submitted this, a sonnet he wrote soon after the start of the lockdown Confined to Barracks
I mark the calendar as time goes by, Not to remind me of some future plan, But to record the passing of the days Of this self-isolation. Surely, I Am not so lonely, bored or listless that I need to while away the hours like this? Of course, I don’t; there’s far too much to do. But none the less I sometimes feel quite flat. Why should this be? I think it is because I miss the friends I meet at church each day, And have a reason to get up and dressed So as to be in time to chat and pray. It only needs officialdom to nod And we shall be together soon, please God. |
Being a Catholic in Germany!
I read in the Catholic Herald this week the headline "Record numbers leave Church in Munich archdiocese [in 2019]" and I wondered how they knew, and could be so sure. It turns out the 'system' in Germany is much different to here, as the later paragraph in the article makes clear: "The [Catholic] Church in Germany is largely funded through a tax collected by the
government. If an individual is registered as a Catholic then 8-9% of
their income tax goes to the Church. The only way they can stop paying
the tax is to make an official declaration renouncing their membership
of the Church. They are then no longer allowed to receive the sacraments or a
Catholic burial." I'm not sure what to think of the differences between our two countries! |
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