Hello <<First Name>>,
We are keen to keep you informed of what's going on at bc in these unusual times. Please forward this to anyone you think may be interested. We welcome comments and feedback, so please reply to this email if there's anything you'd like to follow up.
bc&C-19
During the epidemic the health of our members and friends continues a prevailing concern. As the coronavirus risk is still high for many of us, all physical meetings and social events remain postponed for the time being. We all miss the warmth and directness of physical presence in our gatherings and look forward to a return to 'normal' as soon as may be.
Although an imperfect subsitute we are gradually becoming more familiar with using the internet. Video conferencing has allowed us to continue to firm up details of building plans and contracts with our partners. Much important work is also being undertaken to restructure our governance and decision-making processes for a growing membership and the ongoing period of transition towards construction and occupation. Lockdown interrupted the induction of several new members, but happily we have been able to complete the formalities by zoom, albeit without the celebratory welcome of a shared meal.
Communication between each other and our friends is so important. There will be more fun events for members on zoom and chat rooms for friends and prospective neighbours. For those people wishing to progress their membership, participation in these online ‘meet your neighbours’ conversations will count as attending an event. When dates are arranged, details will be announced in newsletter updates and posted on the bc website. Please see links and contact details in the box at the bottom.
Keep safe, keep well, lovely people!
New Members
Tanya and Mike and Oliver and Maisie
Mel and Frankie and Noah
Jewels and Adam and Nate, Zara, Amos and Liza
Sarah and Paul and Jess
Raj and Angelus and River
Postcards from Lockdown
Greetings everyone ! 🌻
I hope you are keeping well, and finding ways to get by in our new world.
I am enjoying the quiet, and feel very grateful that I have a little garden. When I have spare time I find watching the birds, the bees, and other insects that are carrying on with their lives around me very therapeutic. One day whilst I was lounging in a sunny corner, the leaves next to me moved slightly and a beautiful white moth with a fluffy white ruff climbed slowly out into the sunshine. It looked so clean and fresh, and new to the world, such a treat! I think it was a White Ermine.
Anne
May Day (not 'mayday mayday') 2020; the view from Weymouth. Cruise ships furloughed (?) in Weymouth Bay. Queen Mary 2 is the one with red funnel.
Derek
Making the most of life's little luxuries and not quite losing the plot!
julie
photo: Ava
The earth is breathing, wildlife is thriving, life is rejoicing....long may it last!
Stay positive people
Big love,
Anna
We did not ask for this room or this music; we were invited in. Therefore, because the dark surrounds us, let us turn our faces toward the light. Let us endure hardship to be grateful for plenty... We did not ask for this room or this music. But because we are here, let us dance. STEPHEN KING
Laura
With a big hug for everyone,
Katy
Larchpole and clay, horsehair and lime turned to bone beneath the thatch;
shelter for two hundred generations of sparrows and who knows what folk.
The blackbird's afternoon song wafts through the open window on oven-dry, straw-scented air.
From my lockdown den and home-till-Hazelmead🤞- greetings all, Peter.
While avoiding all the tasks that I could usefully have done during the lockdown, out of the blue I decided to do a written version of my 'Desert Island Discs' and send my family one a day for 8 days and with an explanatory paragraph. This was pretty out of character for someone who grew up thinking that 'self-effacing' was a virtue.
To give you a flavour, here is my 1st and 8th disc.
Disc 1 relates to my childhood and is Largo – by Handel; arranged and performed by Jonathan Scott on the 1895 T.C. Lewis organ of Albion Church, Ashton-under-Lyne. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CpJpWm9Vs
Today, this morning, I saw and heard the swifts are back - in the sky over my house and garden, squealing and wheeling, and I hope they're soon to be getting back under my and neighbours' roofs. They're all round the village apparently already - The swift flag is up on the church tower, and swift sounds are being broadcast to try and attract them to various boxes round the village. There's a great surge of interest in past 2 or 3 years, thankfully. Frost in the night but no damage done to seedlings...
All best to you all
Serena x
How I Have Been Keeping Myself Balanced During The Last 6 Weeks
Living alone in an upstairs flat could have been very challenging for me when I moved to Bridport in 2016, and especially during the past 6 weeks. I am a compulsive seed grower - I love everything about seeds and the potential for new life locked into these tiny little capsules - a real miracle of nature.
Luckily there is Flaxhayes allotment which the cohousers share, and has been my sanctuary.
Here is the result of the first round of seed sowing. Hopefully, later in the year the cohousers will be able to sit down to a shared meal again and enjoy the results!! Lin x
Visiting Lin at Flaxhayes with Hira,
Kulbir
Lorna would like us to know about this ppe enterprise
Eloise Mattews (19) is making washable masks for local people to raise money for the West Dorset Scrubbers who are making personal protectve equipment for local hospitals.
" I’m making adult size and children’s size with any adjustments, such as over the head elastic, for a £2.50 donation. I then cover costs from this money and am gathering the rest to donate. This week I've reached £250 as my first donation to Sharyn Walker,'HELP US TO MAKE SCRUBS FOR THE NHS'..
Thank you very much for showing an interest in my work, keep yourselves safe! "
b
