Honeycomb-On Line

You might recall the Enron scandal of 2001. The last time you possibly heard mention of that scandal might have been this year when Enron’s Chief Executive, Jeffrey Skilling, appealed his 24 year prison sentence. Recently I went to see the play “Enron” based on the events leading up to the bankruptcy of the company. Being relatively ignorant of accounting practices I did wonder whether or not I would understand the plot much less enjoy it. Luckily I did both.

The play tells the story of how, from 1985 to 2001 Enron, a Texas-based energy company, grew from almost nothing with a share price of well under $10 to become America’s 7th largest company, employing 21,000 people in 40 countries and, at its peak, a share price of $90. Then, through creative accounting, debt concealment and fraudulent dealings, Jeffrey Skilling and his Finance Director, Andy Fastow, became the architects of the corporate world’s biggest scandal to date. It is a well-told story and I would recommend it as a good evening’s entertainment.

The play ends with Jeffrey Skilling pointing to peaks and troughs on a chart of the share price and saying “there’s greed, there’s fear, joy, faith, hope and the greatest of these is money.” I was astounded by those words. Would young people recognise the cynical twist on St. Paul’s words “now faith, hope and love abide, these three;and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians chapter 13, verse 13)? Lucy Prebble who is 29 years old wrote the play. She, we are told, is part of the generation educated with little knowledge of the great classics of the English language much less of the Bible.So it was refreshing to see that she knows the Bible well enough to use it so effectively. I can only hope that all those who have seen the play also see the damage to our society in which it often seems that money has replaced love.

Actually there is difficulty with the word “love” because it can mean so many things. In Greek, the language St.Paul wrote in, there are four words for our one word love.There is “eros” which is the feelings of intense, sexual attraction.There is “philia” which is the strong bond of affection between people who have chosen to be partners or close friends. There is “storge” which is affection for people who you have not chosen such as parents, children and siblings. Finally there is “agape” and this is the word that St. Paul used. Agape involves the mind as well as the emotions.It is benevolence and positive regard towards others that requires a deliberate effort often at personal cost.

We are going to need a lot of agape over the next few years as we face massive public sector spending cuts which will affect all of us. Already we are being asked to say where we think the cuts should be. Many of the suggestions I have heard and read involve cuts that will affect other people but not the person or organisation making the suggestion. Far more rarely do people suggest cuts that would affect them directly. One suggestion I would make that would affect me would be the abolition of the winter heating allowance. Some of the money saved should be funnelled to the poorest pensioners through pension credits. No such suggestion has come from the Treasury so far and I suspect that that is because the over 60's have the highest turn out at elections so are a group that should not be offended.

However, agape is practice would say that such factors should not be taken into account.The over 60's, or whichever group is affected by a specific cut, should have that positive regard for other groups more deserving of being protected from cuts. But who is “more deserving”?Our politicians are inclined to use the word “fairness” when outlining the principles upon which they will decide where to cut. However, fairness implies a comparison. Is it fairer to cut child allowances or winter heating allowances? Is it fair that X should earn more than Y because X thinks s/he works harder than Y?

Agape would not use the word “fairness”. Instead it would use the word equality in deciding the first principles for any cuts that have to be made. In Christian terms we believe that God created every human being equal and loves each one of us equally. Putting that belief into practice in our politics, should mean that, at a minimum, every person has equality of opportunity.That certainly does not apply at present. I quote Martin Narey, chief executive of Barnardo’s who said “it is shameful that in this, one of the richest nations in the industrialised world, a child born into a poor family is more likely than ever to start accumulating disadvantage at birth”. Agape demands of the majority of us that we bear the brunt of the cuts so that the poorest can have equality of opportunity from birth.

Jan Brookshaw

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Bugs breed in wheelie bins!

This summer, are you tending to give your wheelie bin a wide birth? You are probably right to do so.

Dangerous levels of bacteria can build up in wheelie bins. Swabs taken from 10 bins in Britain found levels of bacteria, including strains that cause salmonella and even the plague, multiplied by six times during a fortnight between bin collections. Fungal spores that cause respiratory problems were also soaring in number. One microbiologist said: “The levels of disease-causing bacteria found in the bins are at a level that I would consider to be dangerous, especially to those with a weakened immune system.”

But a spokesman from Wrap, the Government’s waste quango, said: “The key thing is for householders to observe basic hygiene precautions, such as always washing hands after handling waste...”

Let’s be thankful that we still have a weekly bin service – long may it last.

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What do you spend your money on?

Lipstick is out, lip-gloss is in. Fizzy drinks are out, mineral water is in. Hairdryers are out, hair-straighteners are in. But of course, you already know all that.

Now The Retail Prices Index and the Consumer Prices Index has reported on the following spending habits in modern Britain: Ten items were added to the 2010 basket: Cereal bars, garlic bread, small bottle mineral water, allergy tablets, blu-ray disc players, computer games accessories, hair straighteners, lipgloss, liquid soap, powered baby milk formula. Ten items were dropped: Pitta bread, baby food, canned fizzy drinks, men’s casual training shoes, gas call-out charge, eye tests, squash court hire, disposable camera, lipstick, hairdryer.

For an item to make the basket, it has to usually achieve annual sales of more than £400 million. For it to drop out, it must have fallen to below £100 million.

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Saint of the month

Bit short of cash for your holiday this year? Saint Cajetan should be the patron saint of anyone who needs some extra money – right now. For it was he who founded the Monts de Piete – the pawnshops – in the 16th century. They were first designed to help people through a lean time, not exploit them.

As a young man, Cajetan gave up a brilliant career in law to become a priest. He and his friends founded the Theatine Order, which promoted study of the Bible, sound Christian doctrine, spirituality of worship, caring for the sick, and good pastoral care. They worked in Verona, Venice and Naples – where the pawn shops first appeared. Cajetan would undoubtedly have a lot to say about the amount of interest the credit card companies charge these days.

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The Stodden Sleep-out

The hot and dry weather continues and it is hard to remember the severe winter which we endured just a few months ago. So it was that 24 parishioners volunteered to sleep rough in or around the porches of all six Stodden Churches on a cold, wet night in early December.

Each of our rough sleepers raised sponsorship and the result was a staggering sum of just short of £6,000 once gift aid tax had been recovered. This was split between the King’s Arms project, a local charity working with the homeless in Bedford and the Church Housing Trust which has similar aims and objectives on a national scale.

I received lovely letters from Ali Green, the CEO of the King’s Arms Project and Sally Isaacs of the Church Housing Trust both astonished at the generosity of our sponsors and grateful to those who gave up their warm beds for a night. This will make a huge difference to the lives of some of the country’s most needy people.

So, well done everyone and grateful thanks from me as the local co-ordinator.

Mike Pond

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The start of 1400 years of English history

Augustine, a 6th century Italian prior, holds a unique place in British history. He became the ‘apostle to the English’ – although it was with great reluctance. In 596 Augustine was chosen by Pope Gregory to head a mission of monks whom he wanted to send to evangelise the Anglo-Saxons. Augustine was not a bold man, and by the time he and his band of priests reached Gaul, they wished to turn back. But Gregory would not hear of it – and bolstered their confidence by sending some more priests out to them, and by consecrating Augustine bishop. Finally, the party, now 40 in number, landed at Ebbsfleet Kent in 597.

It would be fascinating to have a detailed description of that first meeting between Bishop Augustine and Ethelbert, powerful King of Kent. Whatever Augustine said, it must have been effective, for Ethelbert granted the 40 priests permission to stay in a house in Canterbury. He even allowed them to preach to his people, while he himself considered their message of Christianity. His wife, Bertha, was a Christian princess from Paris, but she does not seem to have played any role in the conversion of Kent.

By 601 Ethelbert and many of his people had been baptised Christians. The mission to the English was well underway. More clergy, some books, a few relics and several altar vessels arrived from Rome. At Gregory’s wise urging, Augustine decided to consolidate the mission in one small area, rather than try and reach all of Kent. So Augustine stayed in Canterbury, where he built the cathedral and founded a school. He left only temporarily to establish a see in London.

Also at Gregory’s wise urging, Augustine did not destroy the pagan temples of the people of Kent, but only the idols in them. In this way, innocent rites were taken over and used for the celebration of the Christian feasts. Meanwhile, before his death in 604, Augustine helped Ethelbert to draft the earliest Anglo-Saxon written laws to survive – and so influenced British law for centuries to come.

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East of England Ambulance Service

NHS - When to call 999

The East of England Ambulance Service responds to more than 1,400 emergency calls a day across six counties.

You can help save lives by making sure the service is used appropriately.

Do not hesitate to call 999 in the case of a genuine emergency, for example: Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Unconsciousness,or Serious Bleeding.

A traditional Ambulance may not be the first ambulance response on scene, it could be:

*	A Community First Responder
*	A single crewed response vehicle with an emergency care practitioner, paramedic or emergency medical technician.
*	An Air Ambulance
*	An Emergency Doctor

Fortunately you have your own local group of Community First Responders - all trained volunteers who, when called on by the Ambulance Service, will arrive with medical bags containing a Defibrillator, (which can restart the heart by giving an electric shock in some cases of cardiac arrest, Oxygen and some First Aid Equipment, the Community First Responders will help you until the ambulance arrives and will then hand over to the Ambulance crew.

New Recruits.

If you would just like to find out more about what we do, or if you are interested in becoming a Community First Responder please contact: CFR Co-ordinator:Elizabeth Goakes.Tel. 01234 708481

Please also contact me if you have expressed an interest before so that I make sure you are included on the list.

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Mothers Union

The monthly meeting will be on Wednesday 18th August at 2.30p.m. in Pertenhall Church. Members will be bringing an item that made them at some time in their lives persevere onwards, either through a difficult time or an oncoming journey. This meeting will be the last in the theme of Pilgrimage.

In September a new year starts with Revd Norman Holden leading a service.

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All in the month of August

400 years ago:	on 2nd August 1610 that English explorer Henry Hudson sailed into what is now called Hudson Bay, Canada. (He mistakenly thought he had found the north-west passage, and had arrived in the Pacific.)
200 years ago:	on 10th August 1810 that Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, was born. This Italian statesman unified Italy and served as its first Prime Minister.
175 years ago:	on 25 August 1835 that the ‘New York Sun’ newspaper published the ‘Great Moon Hoax’ – a series of articles that told of fantastic creatures living on the moon. The sales of the newspaper soared.
150 years ago:	on 30 August 1860 that the first tramway in Europe opened – in Birkenhead, England.
125 years ago:	on 29 August 1885 that the German engineer Gottlieb Daimler patented the world’s first motorcycle.
100 years ago:	on 26 August 1910 that Mother Teresa was born. This Macedonian-born Indian missionary won the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize, and was beatified on 19 October 2003.
90 years ago:	on 26 August 1920 that the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution came into effect, and for the first time ever American women were given the right to vote.
80 years ago:	on 21 August 1930 that Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, was born. She died on 9th February 2002.
75 years ago:	on 14th August 1935 that the USA first introduced Social Security. The US President Franklin D Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act, creating unemployment insurance and pension plans.
70 years ago:	on 13th August 1940 that the main phase in the Battle of Britain began. The German Luftwaffe launched raids on RAF airfields and radar installations. On 20th August 1940 that the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill paid tribute to the Royal Air Force in a famous House of Commons speech, saying, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
60 years ago:	on 15th August 1950 that Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, was born and on 27th August 1950 that the BBC transmitted the first ever live TV pictures across the Channel.
50 years ago:	in August 1960 that the following countries achieved independence: Dahomey (Benin), Niger, Upper Volta (Burkina Faso), The Ivory Coast, Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville), Cyprus, Gabon, and Senegal.
40 years ago:	on 17th August 1970 that the Soviet Union launched Venera 7 to Venus. It would become the first spacecraft to transmit data from the surface of another planet.
30 years ago:	on 14th August 1980 that Lech Walesa led a strike by shipyard workers in Gdansk, Poland. It led to the formation of the Solidarity movement.
25 years ago:	on 22nd August 1985 that a British Airtours 737 burst into flames at Manchester Airport after an engine caught fire and a fuel tank ruptured. 55 people were killed.
20 years ago:	on 2nd August 1990 that the Gulf War began when Iraq invaded Kuwait. On 7th August Operation Desert Shield was put in place when US President Bush sent American forces to Saudi Arabia to prevent an Iraqi invasion.
10 years ago:	on 4th August 2000 that the Queen Mother celebrated her 100th birthday.

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Melchbourne Feast Day 2010

We had a fantastic Feast Day on Sunday raising in the region of £2,800.The sun shone and Melchbourne Park looked stunning.Our visitors were able to sit back, relax and really make a day of it. There was fun for all the family and lots of happy faces.Everyone worked extremely hard this year, not just for the few hours of the fete but through the entire weekend, whether it was helping on a stall, tending plants or baking cakes on a sweltering weekend.

The committee this year were the Bridges, Pam Cousens, Ali Gordon, Tony Lamm, Robin Mackonochie, Jill Rata and William Tusting. We would like to thank the residents of Melchbourne Park for hosting the event. Several residents were directly involved but for those that weren’t we hope that it wasn’t too major an inconvenience. After all nobody really likes having more than five hundred people in their front garden!

On behalf of the committee I would like to thank everyone who helped in any way. Several people deserve a special mention – and in no particular order these are: everyone on teas who had to grapple with the logistics of tea in the Park, Jill Rata for ensuring that the Park looked beautiful, Brian Rata for doing a great job on the raffle. Bob Richardson and team for sorting out the wonderful tractor rides and dealing with the roadside signs.Running the barbecue for the first time at Feast Day were the Tustings and Jason Gordon while Val and Ray worked exceptionally hard on the Pimm’s tent as well as cleaning and setting up the tea tent. Kate Beaty’s assistance with transporting chairs and tables around was invaluable. Last but not least I would like to thank Nick Edwards and Martin Hudson for help in setting up before having to head off to the opera!

The committee is always open to suggestions for Feast Day so if anything crossed your mind on the day please let us know.

Cathy Rowland
01234 709728

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Swineshead

Correspondent- Jenny Leishman

St Nicholas Church

Cleaning Flowers August 22 Pauline, Clarissa, Diana Pat

Village Hall

The Sixth Bell Bar will be open from 8pm on Fridays 6 August and 3 September.

Afternoon Teas will be served in the village hall from 3pm on Thursdays 5 & 19 August, and on 2, 16 & 30 September,

Swineshead Runs

Okay, after last month’s warning, Run fever is getting a hold.If you plan to run and haven’t started training, then you’d better get started! It is a good fun day out for the whole family, and watching the runners start and finish is enough for all but the more energetic

STALLS, BARBEQUE, BAR, HOT DRINKS, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, etc.

Free parking available.

The three runs, the 10, the 5 and the Fun Run, all start together at 11.30 near Green Lane, but everything else is in the centre of the village.There are medals for all runners.

Entry forms are available, together with more details, on the village website:www.swineshead.org.uk

Please do offer to help and be generous when approached for donations for stalls.Most of the money raised goes towards the upkeep and improvement of the Church and Village Hall, although donations are also made to St John Ambulance and a muscular dystrophy charity.

Please remember that the High Street will be closed to traffic between 11.00 and 14.00

Road Closure Notice

Swineshead High Street will be closed 11.00am until 2.00pm on Sunday 12 September,whilst the Swineshead Runs are taking place.Traffic between Riseley and Melchbourne should use the alternative route between those times.

Swineshead Open Gardens

On Sunday 11 July the weather played its part and on a warm and sunny day over 300 visitors made their way through Swineshead to view four gardens, open to the public as part of the National Gardens Scheme “Gardens Open for Charity”. Plants were also on sale at the Village Hall, where lunches and teas were served throughout the day, and an Arts & Crafts Exhibition was held in St Nicholas Church.Many thanks to those who opened their gardens, and to all the organisers and volunteers whose efforts helped to make the day such a successful and enjoyable one.

Lost and Found

A small purse with some cash in it has been found in the village hall under the bar. Anybody who believes it may be theirs should contact Rodney Tate on 708171.

Swineshead Golf Society

The annual tournament was held this year at Colmworth Golf Club on 4 June, when Michael Whitlock won the trophy in the men’s event, with Martin Newsom second.

Wendy Newsom was the winner in the ladies’ group.The next tournament will be in June 2011 and any newcomer to the village who would like to play should contact Rodney Tate on 708171.

100 CLUB

July Draw Winners (Thursday 13th Teas)

£20 Sue Smith (84) £10 Alan Constant (88) £ 5 John Willcock (47) £ 5 Lesley Willcock (51)

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Pertenhall

Correspondent- Chloe Reid

Welcome

A warm welcome is extended to Sarah and Phillip who have recently moved to Springfield, Wood End. We hope that they will be very happy in Pertenhall.

June Fete

The fete held on Saturday 6th June raised the grand total of £1,021.53 for St. Peter’s fund. Thank you to everyone who helped and supported the event.Pertenhall PCC are very grateful as we have to raise all the money for the upkeep of the church building and its insurance – there is no external source.

Harvest Supper and Quiz

The Harvest Supper and Quiz is being held this year in Pertenhall Village Hall on Saturday October 25th, beginning at 7.30pm.It’s for a good cause and in aid of church funds. Tickets cost £10.00 and can be obtained from Julie Botterill (01480 861382) and David & Kathleen Eddowes (01480 860514). Make up at table of six or we will help organise one for you.

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Dean

Correspondent- Annette Brooks

Chapel Services

Sundays 1st, 15th, and 29th August at 2.30p.m.
12th September at 2.30p.m.
Newcomers always welcome.

All Hallows 50 Club

July winners:
M Rhodes £16.00
J. Ashby £16.00

The All Hallows 50 Club raises funds to maintain the fabric of our beautiful village church. Anyone who wishes to join the club should call Jeanette on 01234 708510 or e mail jeanettedormer@btinternet.com for a membership form.

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Shelton

Correspondent- Sarah Morgan

June 13th saw a beautiful day for our open gardens. Well attended, we even had visitors from as far as Peterborough.Thank you to everyone who contributed to such a lovely day.

On Sunday 11th July we had a very special family service in St Mary’s with Ella Morgan(9yrs) and Alice Napier(9yrs) taking part, after attending communion classes with Jan, in their First Communion. Both girls narrated their readings beautifully and a celebration cake was enjoyed by all afterwards. Thank you to Jan for her teachings and everyone who came along to the sevice.

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Yelden

Correspondent- Sue Taylor

Stawberry Faire

The weather was almost guaranteed BUT we did have to compete with England playing Germany – some competition!However our Strawberry teas are quite a draw and they were sold out of fruit by 3pm. A magnificent display of aerobatics by a Yak and the low flying drone of the Dakota DC3 added to the atmosphere. Well done everybody and hopefully the enjoyment by many and an equaliser to last year’s profit made it all worthwhile. We pride ourselves on clearing up promptly and the teams clearing tables, packing bunting and uprooting signs are to be congratulated. Those who had any energy left found themselves barbecuing at the Chequers and going over the day’s events.

Yelden Art Group

Members of the Art Group once again thank all the residents of Yelden who attended their 3rd Preview Evening in St Mary’s. It was a very cheerful occasion and we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did; it is very encouraging to see you all.During the next twelve months we will be working hard to produce new work for next year and are very grateful for your continued support.

Stephanie

Yelden Ball

Once again Helen and Tim came up trumps with the Moroccan themed ball. You had to be there to appreciate the time and effort that must have gone into the magnificent decorations. And all that was topped by a delicious feast – cooked in giant sized frying pans! Starters and puddings were organised by the Ball Committee and many thanks go to them, especially as it is only one week after Strawberry Fayre.

Trevor Holyoake Fun Day

The Fun Day was held at Yelden Village Hall on a gloriously hot and sunny afternoon which resulted in many red faces for the participants and especially Tim behind the BBQ!! The organisers of the event would like to thank all of those that organised teams, participated, provided support and loaned gazebos/umbrellas for shade. Team Yelden successfully retained the trophy for another year which is currently being given pride of place in several of the village homes and had made the odd guest appearance at school assemblies.

Flower & Cleaning Plan

1st August Jenny / Sue – 10.30
29th Aug Lesley / Lorna – 9am
12rh Sept. Sue / Jane - 10.30

Yelden Methodist Chapel

Sunday August 1st at 11.00am    Holy Communion Service led by Rev Mike Lewis

Yelden Chapel Coffee Morning

Many thanks to all who turned out on a sweltering Saturday morning to help raise £265 for chapel funds at the annual chapel coffee morning.

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MELCHBOURNE

Correspondent- Philip Pahl

Art Classes

If you have always wanted to learn how to paint, or you just want to improve your painting skills Deborah Barnes runs positive, friendly art classes at the church hall in Sharnbrook on Tuesdays starting on September 7th, 2010.
Tuesday Art Classes for the more advanced 10am - 12.30pm
Over the next 7 weeks we will be working on portraits

Art course fee £45.50

Tuesday Art Class for beginners 1pm - 3.30pm

week 1:	Introduction of materials and how to use them, (pencil, charcoal and water colours)
week 2:	pencil drawing using a grid to help transfer from a photograph
week 3:	Charcoal tonal drawing of still life
week 4:	Water colours how to mix paint and 2 washes
week 5:	water colours mixing colours
week 6:	draw and paint water colour still life
week 7:	continue with the painting

Art course fee £45.50

Beginners art materials pack £59.50

If you would like to know more or want to book your place on the course call Deborah on  01234 764704 or 07584 317 366.

Church Cleaning and Flowers Rota

There is a regular church cleaning rota and volunteers are always welcome.Anyone wishing to be included on the rota should contact Audrey on 01234 708728.

Service August 8th Cleaning Audrey & Mary/ Flower Audrey Service August 22nd Cleaning Joy & Malcolm/Flowers Joy

Village dates for your diary:

Sunday 15th August	Melchbourne Summer BBQ
Saturday 2nd October	Stodden Quiz & Supper at Melchbourne
October 3rd	Harvest Auction
October 16th	Jumble Sale
October 30th	Melchbourne Halloween Party
November 20th	Christmas Bazaar
11th December	Melchbourne Quiz Night