Dear subscriber
It was very entertaining this week to watch, as I sipped my morning coffee outside the Village Kitchen Caterers, a workman cutting the many blue strings wrapping up the branches of the four newly planted trees in the square. Not an easy task considering the height of the trees and the elegant solution he came up with was a knife strapped to the end of a very long pole.
A helpful passerby asked him, in the middle of his impressive balancing act, why the strings hadn't been removed before they were planted? Hindsight is a wonderful thing, he perhaps could have replied, but all I caught was something about eggs and sucking grandmas.
If grandma was indeed in need of eggs she could, rather conveniently, have got some free-range in the square from Gerrard at the Cabbage Patch or if she was more patient she could have flocked with the thousands to Golden Valley Poultry to shell out for a chicken or three or perhaps hire a few happy hens to deliver the goods.
Had grandma had her bicycle with her then no doubt the workman would have also told her where she can stick it - which, in case you were wondering, is in the new bike racks opposite the Macmillan shop.
And grandma knows best that bikes are environmentally friendly and help reduce the traffic and parking issues in the village and this will be especially pertinent during the resurfacing of Headley Road between Avenue Road and Hammer Lane scheduled for 30th August to 10th September. That should be interesting.
There's no doubt it's still tough out there in shopland but Grayshott seems to be holding its own. Buying in Grayshott has never been more important and you will soon be ably assisted by the latest edition of the BIG directory which is in preparation. If somehow you have missed the call up contact Dick Smith to ensure your business gets noticed.
It's good to see one of the few empty shop units being put to good use and it appears, thanks to assistance from Keats, as though Elmer the patchwork elephant has found a holiday home for a staycation at the former Grayshott Healthfood Stores in Grove House. The children from PK and Grayshott pictured above really enjoyed decorating Elmer who will definitely become a welcome elephant in the room for the new Grayshott Childrens Theatre.
Never empty is Grayshott Pottery and Ceramics designer, Myra McDonnell will lead two workshops demonstrating a Studio Art glaze technique in September.
On Saturday there is a Giant Book Fair in aid of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at the Hasleway Centre in Haslemere and also a Cats Protection Picnic at the Haslemere Adoption Centre in the newly named Upper Hammer Lane.
Ladies cricket has never been more popular and successful and England's double world cup winner Lydia Greenaway is providing expert coaching and inspiration, and a chance to shine, for aspiring 9 to 13 year old girl cricketers at the Girls Cricket summer camp at Grayshott Cricket Club on Monday.
Next week I will have exciting news about a new local scheme called "Create a Star" which aims to identify budding sports stars who have already shown both promise and commitment and help them to realise their dreams by giving grants to help them meet the costs of training. I wonder if it's too late for me? And in the lead up to the Olympics it will also create an opportunity for local businesses to support our talented young athletes.
Surely you are never too old to dream. I think therefore it's definitely time again to dust of the bent lump of wood and see whether the old hockey skills are still there. It's just like riding a bicycle, so I'm told, which should come in handy as by coincidence I'm off to Hulst in Holland next weekend to tour for the 24th time with the jolly Haslemere Hockey Club - the most clubbable club of all!
Perhaps, you maybe thinking, I should act my age, but who can resist being a boy who refuses to grow up and seeking adventure in the Netherlands.
Have a magical week.
13 aug - Elmer the Patchwork Elephant takes a holiday in Grayshott
13 aug - Decorating with Myra at Grayshott Pottery
10 aug - Thousands Flock to Golden Valley Poultry
6 aug - Concerts give a plug to The Bath Room, Grayshott
29 jul
5 aug
20 jun
20 jun
20 mar