To paraphrase one of my favourite songs of all time American Pie.
Good news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step.
Don McLean wrote about bad news on the doorstep. Every month our Good News magazine comes through our letterbox. This is one of the magazines I am responsible for and one I am currently pleased with since we went full colour a couple of months ago.
It still gives me a fissure (is that the right word) of excitement when the magazine appears, despite the fact I already know what it looks like and what is in it.
So I read it through again and as usual it highlights the difference between this and my Hethersett Herald e magazine.
Good News is exactly what it says. It's all about the good things happening in Hethersett and the Meltons. I looked through the latest edition and every story fell into this category - even the obituaries which were designed to be a celebration of life.
Hethersett Herald on the other hand is much more critical and doesn't avoid reporting bad news where it exists. It also discusses many of the issues facing us and our village.
I am happy to think that I can make a distinction between the two publications and bring contrasting styles to them. It's been an interesting exercise.
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I have to share part of a text sent to me by granddaughter Poppy aged eight. She came for a sleepover with brother Elliot.
We took her to her regular Saturday stage course and then took Elliot into Norwich. The other threequarters had been out for breakfast and so was full up. So I gave Elliot the choice of where we should eat. He plumped for Norwich market.
First choice was Chinese but then he changed his mind and decided on pie and chips. So we had a steak pie and chips, smothered with mushy peas. There was so much food that neither of us could finish it and I'm someone who hates leaving food and rarely does.
After that we went to Gelato in Opie Street. One national newspaper recently named their top ice cream places in the country. Obviously they haven't been to Norwich.
We love Gelato ice cream. So many flavours, so many choices.
But back to Poppy's text which she secretly put together and then sent.
It was very long but I just loved this bit which came near the end.
"Just letting you know I can get Britain's Got Talent on the TV and I go to bed at 8.30-9.00-9.30.
"I have made pudding and we will have it soon. I also know some fun games and TV shows that we can watch together."
Poppy's pudding was cake, mixed with peach and pieces of chocolate. She mentioned Gordon Ramsey but I ignore any reference to this foul mouthed so called celebrity.
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Had a delightful day at the cricket club yesterday, this time to watch Elliot play for Norfolk Under-11s against Cambridgeshire.
Norfolk batted first and hit 222 off their 40 overs. One of their youngsters hit 106. They then bowled Cambridge out for not many. Elliot bowled his leg breaks and took 2-10 off four overs with some lovely flighted deliveries that got the batters in a tangle. The Norfolk boys have improved tremendously since the last time we saw them.
Poppy has also picked up a love of cricket. Up until recently she had little interest in the game, but went to a couple of training sessions and is now playing for Hethersett Under-9s.
Yesterday she had me practising bowling with her in the club's nets.
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Today will be an historic day and I will tell you about it tomorrow.