Keeping in touch - edition 8

Dear All

On behalf of the committee, may I take this opportunity to wish you a peaceful and enjoyable festive season even in these strange times.  Whether this be spending it with family and friends in person or virtually I am sure it won't have been easy for all, but stick with it!

I started writing this in October would you believe?  I had been watching the 30th Birthday YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96Vgiapo39Y&list=PLL3ESM8clu2xcfA_xMGwJkSRK6Lu3gIkb on my phone whilst doing the washing up and felt inspired to start writing my Program Planners Plan for 2021.

MNTV had worked so hard over the 2019-20 season which came to a close unceremoniously on 15th March for workdays and 23rd March for the Committee just short of the 31st March year end.  The group had managed 293 workpersondays with a total of 1706.25 hours and the committee added 245 hours to that total.  All told, the group put 1951.25 hours away.  Like you, I was ready for more workdays and weekends, but alas we couldn’t do them.  On behalf of the committee I would like to say Thank You for sticking with us in the strange times we live in and being patient with me when sorting out a reconfigured program for the end of 2020 and for the 2021 program.  It has not been an easy one to plan and is still being planned as I type.

It’s December now and the handful of worksite leaders I have are eager to get back out there after a few weeks off.  If you would like to have a go at leading then please let one of the committee know or just send me a quick email.  My thanks go to my worksite leaders for agreeing to lead.

The program is being planned a little differently this year.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic many of the rangers like myself were put on furlough, some of whom are only just returning to work.  The other issue that has delayed the program I think is the National Trust's Reset Program which left some holes in our contacts with not knowing whether our usual contacts are still in a job.  Therefore, I have started with the first three months of the program and will update you with more when I get any more info.

The Reset Program that took place is mostly finished and Hilary McGrady (Director General of the Trust) sent a lovely video to volunteers to say thanks for all our hard work and sticking with the Trust whilst they went through their numerous staff changes.  If you would like to view it then please go to https://vimeo.com/489485049 and use TRUST as the password.

Right, that’s that out of the way and 2021 is just around the corner and with it comes new lockdown restrictions.  I have just received an email from Vicky Naylor at Styal to say that “The Trust has taken the decision to suspend volunteering in tier 4 areas, so sadly this means we can’t have you at Quarry Bank for the time being.  If things change in the meantime we will of course be in touch.”  This sadly means that for some of the first three months of 2021 at least, which are below, there will no workdays.  I will of course let you know on a weekly basis what is happening, if anything.

To lighten the mood I have a festive quiz for you: Answers at the end of the email

1) From which country does the Christmas drink Eggnog originate?

2) The Christmas Movie "Miracle on 34th Street" is set in which city?

3) How many reindeer are named in the Christmas poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas also known as "Twas night before Christmas"?

4) What was the first name of the main character in the Christmas film "Home Alone"?

5) In the Christmas film "It's a Wonderful Life" what does Clarence receive for accomplishing his mission?

6) Which Christmas carol demands figgy pudding?

7) How many Christmas number ones did Cliff Richard achieve? 

8) In the Christmas carol, "Once in Royal David's City", which city is the song referring to?

9) What was Mr Bean searching for when he go his head stuck in the turkey?

10) Feliz Navidad is Happy Christmas in which language?

Winner of the best answer for last year's quiz at Calke Abbey came from team Pick and Mix.  What do you call a Male Turkey - they said A Twizzler!  The actual answer is a Tom or Gobbler

A few pictures for you from previous Christmas weekends:

The group enjoyed dry weather and fantastic views in 2016 in the Lake District

The weather was not quite so good when we travelled there in 2018

The weather was set fair and the company was excellent when we travelled to Calke Abbey in 2019

I think that is everything for now.  It just leaves me to say Happy New Year and let's hope this coronavirus doesn't stick around for too long and that we can be back to volunteering soon.

Ally - MNTV Program Planner

Answers for Quiz: 1) England, 2) New York, 3) 8, 4) Kevin, 5) His Wings, 6) We wish you a Merry Christmas, 7)2, 8) Bethlehem, 9) His watch, 10) Spanish