Christmas Eve 2010

With all the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve, today’s dog walk along the Stoke Saltings didn’t start until dusk and the sunset was quickly turning into a dark, crisp and wintry evening - hence the lack of photos. Happily though, the smell of rabbit trails seemed to keep the dog entertained and there was just enough light to find our way back to the car.

The plan for tomorrow is for an early morning walk towards Egypt Bay, before lunch and a few seasonal beverages.
 

Winter Walk - Hoo to Kingsnorth

Another day, another dog walk. This time from Hoo to Kingsnorth walking along the riverside. Beautiful views of the mud flats, even with the ever present power station dominating the skyline.

Winter Walk - Hoo to Cooling

With a friend (plus Dog!) staying for Christmas, we decided to pre-empt the effects of many mince pies with a long walk from Hoo to Cooling yesterday. Here are a few photographs.

After a look around St. James’ Church and the famous graves featured in Great Expectations, we stopped for some tasty chips and a pint in the Horseshoe & Castle pub.
 

Information: Salt Bins on the Hoo Peninsula

   

Medway Council has informed me that Salt Bins can be found at the following locations on the Hoo Peninsula:

Allhallows
Avery Way (outside the Pilot pub), Binney Road (junction with Jutland Close), St. David’s Road (on grass verge).

Chattenden
Beacon Hill Lane (junction with Four Elms Hill).

Cliffe
Church Street (adjacent to no. 199), North Road (rear of no. 21 Reed Street).

Cliffe Woods
Brewer Road (junction with Brookmead Road), Brookmead Road (opposite no. 3), Brookmead Road (junction with Englefield Crescent), Englefield Crescent (side of no. 27 on recess by manhole cover), Hale Road (junction with Ashwood Close), Sedley Close (junction with Brookmead Road), Thames View (top of hill by lamp column).

High Halstow
Harrison Drive (outside no. 11), Longfield Avenue (junction with Northwood Drive), Marsh Crescent (junction with Northwood Drive).

Hoo
Moremont Road (on grass verge near garages), Pottery Road (on slope near school), Rochester Crescent (junction with Pankhurst Road).

Upnor
Admiralty Road (top of road near footpath), Castle Street (near telegraph pole outside no. 30).
 

Carols by Candlelight - Hoo St. Werburgh Church (Hoo), Sunday 19 December 2010

A festive Carols by Candlelight event will be held this Sunday (19 December) at Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church (Church Street, Hoo). The event will begin at 6pm - pop along for an enjoyable evening!



Carol Service at St. James' Church (Cooling), Saturday 18 December 2010

The Friends of St. James' Church Cooling (Main Road, Cooling, Rochester, Kent, ME3 8DG) present a Carol Service this Saturday (18 December). Beginning at 6pm, the event will be followed by a serving of mince pies and mulled wine at Cooling Village Hall.

 

 

Carols by Candlelight - St. James' Church (Isle of Grain), Saturday 18 December 2010

The Salvation Army will appear at St. James’ Church (High Street, Isle of Grain, Rochester, Kent, ME3 0BS) this Saturday. Pop along for an enjoyable and festive evening. Carols begin at 6pm and there'll be hot drinks and mince pies after the concert!

Lots of fun at Hoo Village Christmas Fayre

Hoo Village Christmas Fayre took place last Saturday.

I went along with my family and, despite the chilly weather, the sun shone brightly over Hoo Village Square.

The Gravesend Borough Band performed an hour of festive tunes and carols, and they were followed by live entertainment from local singer Chris Irvine.



It was good seeing so many people enjoying themselves, whilst raising much needed cash for Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church. I believe more than £900 was raised on the day, which is a fantastic achievement.



Event Organiser Linda Perfect was very pleased with the success of the event and I took a photograph of her with the Rev. Andy Harding and Parish Council Chairman Lionel Pearce.

Village Christmas Fayre (Hoo), Saturday 11 December 2010

A Village Christmas Fayre will be held at Hoo Village Square this Saturday (11 December), from noon to 3pm. The Gravesend Borough Band is set to perform a selection of festive tunes (for an hour from noon) and other live musical entertainment will follow until 3pm.

Many treats will be available, including: mulled wine, mince pies, sausage rolls, roasted hot chestnuts, homemade pickles and other goods, refreshments, festive crafts and a tombola! The Rev. Andy Harding (from Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church) will be switching-on the Christmas tree lights.

The Christmas Fayre has been organised by local resident Linda Perfect (pictured), supported by many local businesses in the village, and proceeds will be donated to Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church.

Linda can be contacted on 01634 252795.

Localise your Christmas cards!

If anyone still needs to buy Christmas cards, there is an excellent way to localise your Christmas greetings! Local artist Christopher Norman (Roffensis Studio) has produced a collection of cards that feature local landmarks, including Rochester Castle, Rochester Cathedral and Eastgate House.

Christopher Norman has his own Rochester Cards website, where you can browse through his designs and make an online purchase. His cards are also available at Rochester Visitor Information Centre, 95 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1LX.

According to Royal Mail, the last posting dates for standard mail deliveries are: 18 December for second class mail and 21 December for first class mail (UK and Channel Islands).

Youth Soccer School (Isle of Grain) - New Players Urgently Needed

The Isle of Grain Youth Soccer School is urgently looking for players to help make up more full teams!

Parents of any children who are keen – boys or girls, aged from 4 to 16 – should get in touch with Paul Peachey on 07818 558036. Younger children play mini soccer, older kids 11-a-side.

The Isle of Grain Youth Soccer School recently achieved sponsorship from E-ON and are also looking for help to get some new kits for the new season.

Pantomime (Isle of Grain), Friday 10 and Saturday 11 December 2010

Showin’ Grain Theatre Group will perform their ‘PalaceAid’ panto this Friday and Saturday (10 and 11 December), at the Village Hall, Chapel Road, Isle of Grain.

Written, directed and produced locally by Moira Pearn, the production picks up the story from last year’s successful ‘Happy Ever After’ panto, in which Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, along with their hubbies (Prince Charles, Prince Chas and Prince Charming), went back to Faireepantoland to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversaries with the Grand Duchess. However, three baddies (Frightious, Evilla and Scarity) went out of their way to ruin the event, although in true panto tradition all ended well, with the help of Titania and her young fairies.

This year the characters return to raise funds to restore the palace and the well-being of the Grand Duchess with a spectacular charity event, namely ‘PalaceAid’. There will be songs, gags, sketches and a happiometer – helping to lift the cloud of doom and gloom that hovers over the land.

Doors open at 7pm for ticket holders and 7.15pm for non-ticket holders. Tickets are £5 for adults, £2 for under 12s and free for the under 7s. Tickets can be purchased in advance from Veronica Cordier on 01634 271674 or on the door. Performances begin at 7.30pm with refreshments during the interval.

Pop along and enjoy some Christmas cheer!!!

The Gravesend Borough Band is coming to Hoo on Saturday 11 December 2010

The Gravesend Borough Band (pictured below) will perform a selection of festive tunes at Hoo Village Christmas Fayre on Saturday 11 December. The band, which has a 125-year history, will be playing for an hour from noon onwards.

You can get more information about the Christmas Fayre by calling Linda Perfect (Event Organiser) on 01634 252795.

Out and about in Hoo - Snow Coverage

Severe wintry weather continues to cause disruption to everyone living on the Hoo Peninsula. I walked into Hoo village centre this morning to see how things were shaping-up. No buses were operating and only a small number of cars had ventured out. The shops were quite busy, although ‘rationing’ had been introduced on some items, such as milk and bread.

Photographs include the Village Square, Main Road, Church Street, Vicarage Lane, and Bells Lane.

Sunday Walk (Stoke), 28 November 2010

Along with a surprising number of people ‘enjoying’ the frost, the weather wasn’t enough to stop me from getting out for some fresh air this morning.

Setting-off from Upper Stoke at 9.30am, I followed walking route RS35 across open fields to Middle Stoke, and then towards Stoke Saltings – crossing the railway line and passing the micro-light airstrip.

I continued along walking route RS34, taking a quick look at the boats moored near Creek Lane. Continuing past some rather cold looking horses, it was then over another railway crossing connecting me with a farm track up to Stoke Road (RS33) – arriving back in Upper Stoke after just over an hour.

Christmas Fayre (Hoo), Saturday 27 November 2010

Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church (Church Street, Hoo) present their Christmas Fayre on Saturday 27 November, from 10am until 1pm. There will be cakes, books, bric-a-brac, fresh produce, crafts, food, refreshments and much more.



Diary Date: Village Christmas Fayre (Hoo), Saturday 11 December 2010

A Village Christmas Fayre will be held in Hoo on Saturday 11 December, from noon to 3pm. The Gravesend Borough Band is set to perform a selection of festive tunes (for an hour from noon) and other live entertainments will follow until 3pm.

Many treats will be available on the day, including: mulled wine, mince pies, sausage rolls, roasted hot chestnuts, homemade pickles and other goods, refreshments, festive crafts and a tombola! The Rev. Andy Harding (from Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church) will be switching-on the Christmas tree lights.

Anyone wishing to book a stall should contact Linda Perfect (Event Organiser) on 01634 252795.

Sunset over the Medway

These photographs were taken earlier this week near Kingsnorth Power Station, looking across the River Medway towards Gillingham and Chatham. Although a very cold evening walking from Hoo to Kingsnorth, the sunset views made it worthwhile.

Farmers' Market (Hoo), Saturday 20 November 2010

There will be a Farmers' Market at Hoo Village Hall (Pottery Road, Hoo) on Saturday 20 November, from 10am. Pop along for local produce, pet food, jewellery, a range of crafts and much much more!

Out and about in Allhallows

I went along to Allhallows Primary School this week to join their special Remembrance Assembly. It was really nice to see the children taking time to think about the sacrifices made on our behalf by previous generations.

Afterwards I walked around Allhallows, from the border with Lower Stoke to the Leisure Park. The weather was terrible, but knowing I was heading for lunch at The British Pilot made the soaking bearable!

The British Pilot (above) is open from 12 noon every day, serving food from 12 noon to 2.30pm, and then from 7pm to 9pm (Monday to Saturday). On a Sunday, food is served from 12 noon to 6pm (for Sunday Roast). The British Pilot is on Avery Way, Allhallows-On-Sea, Rochester, Kent, ME3 9QW. Telephone: 01634 272198.