Victorian Evening gets off to a good start

Pupils from West Coker School with teacher Mrs. Cottle singing in the Market House.

In the run up to the start of Ilminster's popular 'Victorian Evening', and undeterred by the weather, pupils from local schools, including Greenfylde, Hambridge and Swanmead, entertained local residents throughout the day with carols and Christmas songs.

This is the fourth year that local business woman, Angie Blackwell from Cottage Flowers, has organised the event, and she said, 'I always feel it gives the evening a great start, and involving local schools helps everyone to feel included. I am also grateful to local shops for their support. Chocolates were provided by Tesco and the Co-op, and to make sure the children did not go hungry, sandwiches were provided by Silver St. Dairy. It was also lovely to see the support we always get from our local County Councillor Linda Vijeh, who seems to turn up everywhere!'   

Giving at Christmas

Piles of shoe boxes filled with gifts at The Minster ready to be delivered across the world

With enticing TV advertisements and shops displaying their wares increasingly early, in a concerted effort to part us from our hard earned cash, along with what is billed as ‘super Saturday’ at the end of November, in an attempt to kick start the buying frenzy, it is natural that most of us will be lured into responding to the commercial aspects of the festive season. This is of course in tandem with  ecumenical activity. 

As a regular church goer, I am all too aware of the quickening pace in the weeks leading up to Christmas. What with ‘stir up’ Sunday, Christingle, nativity plays and carol services galore, there is plenty afoot to remind us why we get to enjoy a few days off work, the chance to pull a cracker or two and all the while steal a kiss under the mistletoe.

Not least is the huge meal many of us will get to enjoy on Christmas Day, along with a seemingly endless supply of turkey for the week after. 

I am mindful however of those who, in our multi-cultural society, from other cultures, who will not necessarily be celebrating with us. My personal view is that we should all embrace fully any excuse to celebrate, whatever time of year.

There are also those who for many reasons may not have a happy Christmas; this could be due to the death of a loved one, health problems, money problems, unhappy relationships, all sorts of reasons.

This last weekend, attending the shoe box appeal service at The Minster, the generosity of our local population, in donating hundreds of boxes that will be sent far and wide to those in need. For us to put together a few bits and bobs, hats, scarves, toys, pens, pencils, colouring books, may not such a big deal, but to those who are fortunate enough to be on the receiving end these gifts can really help to brighten up a person’s day, even if only briefly.

I always find it hard not to shed a tear at such services (this week I failed miserably, as the pile of shoe boxes grew taller and taller) but remind myself that although we are not all dealt the same cards in life, every of us has the ability to shed a little light, even if just for a moment, on someone else’s life; with a smile, a kind word or deed. 

This is the thought that I shall hold onto, as along with the rest of us, I am busy writing greetings cards, rushing around exchanging gifts and cooking up a storm.

Locally our small groups and organisations can really make a difference to the lives of others at this time of year, but only with our support. 

Food banks are not a myth in this country, unfortunately they are a reality, even for those who Theresa May calls JAMs (Just About Managing). I have been there, and it is only through the generosity of others I have become an MOT (Managing Ok Thanks).

Dowlish Wake Participation III review

Judy Woods - ice cream girl!

Dowlish Wake held a review, entitled Participation III, at Speke Hall this week, which was attended by Cllr. Linda Vijeh, who said,

'I was thrilled to be able to hot foot it across from a District Council meeting in Yeovil to see the latest talent give their all to raise funds for improvements and repairs to he hall.

To a packed house, and raising close to £1,000, the audience were treated to a compilation of a series of sketches, poems and jokes, with particular emphasis on 'blond' moments, that had us all rolling in the aisles. Under titles such as Blondie and the Shepherd, Flossie and the Flit Gun, and A Lesson in Anglo-French Relations, we eagerly joined in. I was amazed at the talent on offer and feel that these types of events, where the whole community comes together, are what makes our rural villages so special.'

We could ALL be Daniel Blake

Whilst I have not yet had the opportunity to see the Ken Loach film released this week, ‘I, Daniel Blake’, I was interested enough to listen attentively to discussions about its content.

As a local councillor, I often get called upon to support residents with a wide variety of problems and concerns. This can be anything from planning issues, to education, health or child protection; most people would be surprised by the variety of things I get involved in, often well outside my remit as a councillor, and frequently in trouble because of it!

Recently, I have been spending time meeting with officials who are responsible for the care and support of both vulnerable and elderly residents who have a variety of social care issues. Whilst I can appreciate that in recent years funding cuts have had an adverse impact on the provision of services, it can be hard for those in need to understand that the support they have previously received is now no longer on offer. Their situation has not changed, but someone has moved the goalposts.

In one case the number of hours a person has been receiving in support has been reduced from 10 to 4 per week, although their circumstances remain much the same. In another case a resident who move into sheltered housing five years ago now finds that the housing provider has downgraded the facility to ‘supported’ housing, meaning[LV1]  that there is no longer an on-site manager. The same person has had several falls in recent months, requiring an ambulance to be called out, and although they would now like to move into a care home sufficient funding is unavailable, in part due to the preferred residence being ‘out of county’ although just 10 miles up the road. The result of this is that, not being fully mobile, apart from 1½ hours care a day, they are left at home alone and totally isolated. In addition to this, the shower has not been working for over a year. On making enquiries, I was shocked to be told that as long as a person could stand or sit at a sink it was not a requirement for them to have a working shower. I am pleased to say that as a result of my intervention a new shower was installed that afternoon.

What is often at the heart of the decisions made on behalf of these vulnerable people, both young and old, is the need for an assessment to be carried out. This usually involves a social worker, who may not be that familiar with the person concerned, as sadly, they change with monotonous regularity, asking set questions from a standard form. The problem with this is that the questions do not always take into account that person’s individual circumstances. In one case a local resident with MS was asked if they could wash and dress themselves unaided, to which the response was ‘Yes’. What was not explored was the fact that it took over an hour for them to do so due to their medical condition.

Much is also made of a person’s mental capacity to be able to make decisions for themselves. This is all very well, but happens when the decisions they make may bring themselves or others into danger?

The fact is that humans are complex beings and cannot so easily fit into the boxes bureaucracy requires of them, in order to satisfy the latest criteria, which it seems to me is sometimes arbitrary at best.          

YEOVIL CONSERVATIVES SUPPORT HEARTBEAT

Photo – left to right – Ezzat, Hassan, Cllr. Linda Vijeh, Chris Jones, Ashley Davidson, Terry Bate 

Local Conservative Councillor, Linda Vijeh, was joined this week at Papa Pancho’s restaurant in Yeovil, by Terry Bate, President of the Yeovil Conservative Councillors Association, to hand over a cheque for £120 to Ashley Davidson, representative of Yeovil Heartbeat.

On handing over the cheque, Cllr. Linda Vijeh, who is also known for her enthusiastic support for local charities, said, ‘I am delighted to be able to hand over this money for such a good cause.

Although only a small organisation, I know that over the 25 years since it was set up Yeovil Heartbeat has helped thousands of local people by offering cardiac rehabilitation to anyone suffering from heart related problems. When my Conservatives got together recently at Papa Pancho’s, we were urged to donate the funds we raised, due to the generosity of owners Hassan and Ezzat, to Yeovil Heartbeat, as the mother of a young lady called Danielle, who helps in the restaurant, had benefited from their support.’

Trump result - calls to suicide lines increase

It has been widely reported in the national press that suicide hot line calls have reached an all-time high in the US since Trump’s election victory became clear.

Whatever we may feel about the result, the fact is that this is the unpredictable way in which things take a turn in a democracy.

The fears being expressed are understandable, particularly for those vulnerable groups who feel that they have become targets for abuse, as a result of the inflammatory rhetoric Trump used in his campaign. There can be no doubt that the language he used was intended to appeal to a certain sector of the population not known for its tolerance or understanding, in order to win over their vote. What I term the ‘hang ‘em and flog ‘em’ brigade. He clearly succeeded in doing just that. What remains to be seen is what he will choose to do with his new-found power and just how many of his radical plans will bear fruition once the cold light of day dawns.

Personally, I am hopeful that Trump’s ego will be sufficient abundant for him to want to go down in history as a successful President and world leader, and that this will be enough for him to temper some of his more outrageous aspirations.

When people become afraid and scared about the future, and feel that they cannot cope, they can often feel that there are few options when it comes to seeking someone who will listen to them in a non-judgmental way.

We are in turbulent times, and whilst there remain such high levels of uncertainty, not just in the USA, but elsewhere in the world, help lines such as those run by Samaritans and other support organisations will continue to be much in demand.

In this country, we are lucky to have a fairly strong support network available, particularly when it comes to issues of sexuality. Perhaps where we ourselves are less tolerant, particularly outside of our major cities, is in our acceptance of immigrants; there is often a high degree of suspicion, and concern over the effect on our society in terms of jobs and educational and health provision.
I am of an age when I can well recall waves of previous immigrants, and living in 1950s London I can remember the ‘no blacks, no Irish’ signs in windows. Thankfully we have moved on from such bigoted behaviour.

If the USA wants to move forward, not backwards, then as a nation it would do well to remember that its success has been built on hard working immigrants, and that tolerance of others’ lifestyles is the hallmark of a truly great nation.

One suggestion has been for people to limit their exposure to social media and TV, a sentiment I wholeheartedly endorse.

Isle Valley Flower Club Says It With Flowers

Isle Valley Flower Club said it with flowers at their twice yearly flower demonstration held at The Warehouse Theatre in Ilminster.

Not only were the 60 members who filled the theatre able to gain some inspirational ideas for Christmas decorations from expert John Channel, who had made the journey down from Northampton for the event, but the club were also able to present a cheque for £3500 to the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance. 

Said Cllr. Linda Vijeh who attended the demonstration, ‘I love flower arranging but in recent years I have not had the opportunity to do much. It was a real treat to be at this splendid event. What really impresses me though is just how many of our local organisations make a real effort to support charitable causes in the area, making it a real win/win situation all round.'