Well I hope this finds you all refreshed after the Christmas and new year break, and that you had a happy and enjoyable time – I even managed to get some sailing in! I’d like to do a big shout out to all the bellringers who turned up for every Christmas service including Christmas Eve and Day, plus crib and other services. Also, a big thank you to all those who made my Mayor’s Family Christmas gathering happen, because without you it wouldn’t have done – Cllrs Creaser and Gilbert, Isabel Ryan, Sally Bayly, Richard Eldridge, and everyone else. I hope all those who came had a nice time.
I thoroughly enjoyed the panto, oh yes I did, at Tilling Green Community Centre on Friday, December 22, and well done to all those who put in the hard work to pull this off, it was a great fun evening.
For the first time in four years (because of Covid and port duties), we were able to attend the Blessing of the Sea at Margate on Sunday, January 7. The event is organised by the Greek Orthodox community in Margate and is centred around a blessing on the beach to the sea, followed by a small child diving into the sea, although this year because the tide was out the youngster jumped eagerly into the boating pond. And not for long, because the wind was bitter and we were cold in mayoral robes so the poor thing must have been frozen. It is an annual event and it was wonderful to finally be able to see the religious leaders, in their full regalia, leading the service. A big thank you to Margate for such excellent organisation, and it was a pleasure to see so many other Cinque Ports mayors there too.
There are no full town council meetings now until the end of the month, but I know that plans for the community swimming pool are ongoing and that all parties are working hard to make this happen.
And just in case you wondered what I did in my spare or work time, this mayor was able to mend the mayor of Winchelsea’s classic car this week. Every classic car is different and has its own quirks, and it was great to be able to work on this one and get her running again! And we also enjoyed singing carols and Christmas music on Christmas Eve at the New Inn Winchelsea – the fabulous landlords Paul and Debbie kept it all together despite experiencing a total power cut just minutes before we were due to start, but the good Christmas fairy was with us, and the lights came back on just in time so everyone could see to join in.
Image Credits: Rebekah Gilbert .