It was good to meet some of you at the Village Hall on Saturday 5^th November, it left me feeling a little bit more a part of your village community!

It seems to me that each year Christmas comes quicker than the last, is it something to do with getting older, or just that our way of life is so packed full we hardly have time to stop and think?

I love Christmas, all the tinsel, crackers, parties, mince pies and so on, I shed a tear at the Children's Nativity at Church and I enjoy the Candles by Candlelight, the service on Christmas Day when the children bring a gift to show to the congregation, and I am fortunate I am able to spend time on Christmas Day with at least some members of my family. (Last year my daughter Naomi was in New Zealand for Christmas)

However the modern Christmas seems to last too long, I wonder if you agree?

Almost before the school summer holidays are over Christmas starts to creep into the shops. Offices and businesses close for at least a week and New Year has become part of the event. Was it better when we only had two days holiday, did we in fact appreciate the time off, to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, more, when it was a shorter and therefore, precious time with family and friends?

This year perhaps we could think about those Christians who live in areas where Christmas is not generally celebrated because Christianity is not the main religion, and so they have to hold a quiet time, perhaps after work, with their families, and  we think too, of course, of those who live in fear that their faith is discovered and their lives are at risk.

I hope you all enjoy a Christmas to remember this year.

Maggie Bridgett

I must wish a Happy Christmas to everyone in the village and especially those who have contributed to the magazine throughout the year and the "Teams" who print compile and distribute the magazine to you.

Please note that our printing date for the January issue is the 14^th, so all copy including diary items must be with me by the 12^th.

Keith

At the recent community Village Hall meeting users learnt that the repairs to the flat roof have been done.  The Management committee are looking to the future when a pitched roof over all of the flat roof surfaces will mean that continuing repairs to this area, will become a thing of the past.

The boundary trees along the side of the village hall and cemetery have been crown lifted by Waverley Borough Council and they have promised to remove the potentially dangerous spiky iron fence and replace this with a wooden one.  The Chairman gave his thanks to the Council.

The management committee will consider during 2006, the decorating of the interior and exterior of both halls and to replacing the curtains.

The new boiler is working well and it was nice to feel warm and cozy on such a cold evening.

Diana Terry