WELCOME TO NORDELPH: MAY 2006
The index to the left lists material available in this 'Nordelph Present' section. Click on one of the tabs above to enter the other sections, with a different index for each.
Contact us on: info@nordelph.org.
Making SAM smile
SAM stands for 'speed awareness message' and in early May SAM made a first appearance in Nordelph. Most villagers have been concerned about the speed of vehicles on the Wisbech to Downham Market road, and the absence of anything beyond speed limit signs to encourage compliance. Norfolk County Council have responded by erecting a temporary 'smiley face' speed detector on approaches to the bridge over Well Creek. As is familiar, this flashes your speed at you as you pass, together with the appropriate smiling or scowling face.
It's purely awareness -- no one is prosecuted -- but the data is logged, and will contribute to future road safety debates. The mobile unit with operator, seen above talking with our Parish clerk, will visit the village on a number of occasions over the next few weeks. For obvious reasons, the schedule is kept secret!
It's unclear whether concerned residents are best advised to deliberately flout the speed limits whenever they see the signs, to strengthen our case for some permanent measure, but in the meantime, if you've missed SAM, we've replaced our regular 'flip-over' village sign in the heading to the site -- hover your mouse over the display, and you'll exceed the limit!
Village Fun Day
The Village Group committee are rather like the proverbial swans, very serene on the surface but paddling like mad underneath. Lots of ideas bubbling away and several activities still being finalized which we will let you know about nearer the time.
We can, however, let you know that the (in)famous NORDELPH RAFT RACE will be going ahead this year. So all you competitive types out there had better get your oil drums etc out of storage. Two people have already announced the trophy is as good as theirs ! Prove them wrong.
CRAFT DEMONSTRATIONS, and a GRAND BARBEQUE are also definite and of course a good Nordelph cuppa will be available to wet dry throats from all the cheering.
So write the date in your diary 12th AUGUST and we hope to see you there.
If you feel there is some small way that you could help or have any ideas to contribute please let us know:
Jean 324129 Susan 324102 Alan 324321.
STOP PRESS
We have just received permission to hold a greasy pole competition so all you testosterone packed lads had better get limbering up!
Fen Food ...
With impeccable timing, just as the all-too-short asparagus season is upon us, our vegetable of the month is the leek. But for the asparagus lovers amongst us, a reminder that the recipe for pot roast asparagus is already on the website. And there's a new recipe this month: in the faint hope that we might get a summer to remember, we have a barbecue recipe for you -- barbecue smoked bream. By the way, we've added the what's in season contribution for May to our Food master page. If you click on the link above, it will take you directly to the May entry, without your needing to scroll down.
... and drink!
There are several new entries in the index to this Nordelph Present section this month, and one of them is 'Fen Drink'. We've started a new feature that looks at the beers that are available locally, with the emphasis on independent brewers and real ale. We had wanted to launch the series with Elgood's, a brewer that at least brews in the Fens, but they haven't replied yet so they're pipped at the post by Iceni Brewery -- a Breckland brewer, but widely available locally. Even if you're not a drinker, or if you prefer doing it to reading about it, you should be fascinated by the exotic history of this brewer! By the way, this isn't a 'beer of the month' feature -- we'll add to it over the months, but not every month.
Features and images
Another new category in our index is 'Features'. There are a few things that defy convenient classification, and we're grouping them under this new heading. There's a link there to the review of Iron Roads to the Broads & the Fens that we
published some months ago, but the new item that's prompted this re-organisation is A passion for the smart car. A number of villagers own one of these quirky and idiosyncratic eco-friendly two-seaters, and they're positively prolific in Downham. Not only that, but image 10 in our growing series of favourite images cast some anonymous aspersions in the direction of this vehicle. This month's image 12 is by way of a riposte (and there's also another new image 13). Putting all this local interest together, we've provided a guide to the car, the innovative way it's made, and just what 'smart' stands for!
Nordelph history
There's a major addition to the 'Nordelph Past' section of the site this month. Most of what was previously there has been a mixture of reminiscence and old photographs -- effectively limiting our view of the past to not much more than a century. We're pleased that we now have in place a three-part History of Nordelph that covers our development from pre-history through to the drainage of the Fens.
The three pages are linked: you start with geology and pre-history, looking at the time when this area was linked to the European landmass in the region known as 'Doggerland', and progress through people and drainage and settlement. You'll discover just why it is that 95% of the people who have ever lived in Nordelph did so within the last century, and where Well Creek came from.
On the subject of Well Creek ...
We're delighted to announce that the Well Creek Trust, who have done (and continue to do) so much to enhance the creek have launched their new website: www.wellcreektrust.co.uk. It's pretty much an empty vessel at the moment, so if you feel impelled to make a contribution, that would be more than welcome. The photograph above is from the site, and shows Upwell village. Contact them by be-mail at wellcreekinfo@aol.com.
What we learned about Nordelph
Included with this update is a report on what odd pieces of information can be discovered by searching for Nordelph on the Internet.
You're very likely to be surprised!
You'll find out why both the things pictured above emerge from a search engine, and you'll discover how to find out what your home is worth -- and lots lots more, including some very definitely adult material!
Community Group Meetings
Anyone in the village who is attempting to get some initiatives off the ground and looking for support and/or funding may be interested in a couple of relevant meetings. A Community Groups Networking Meeting will be held in Three Holes Village Hall on Wednesday May 17th, from 7.00pm -- 9.00pm. A Project Planning Workshop will be held at Downham Market Town Hall on Monday 12th June from 2.30pm -- 4.30pm. This is free, as are the refreshments. For further information, click on the links above.
Some other stuff
The next Nordelph Parish Council meeting will be held in the Village Hall on Wednesday 24th May at 7.30pm. Anyone interested is invited to attend.
The Welney Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre has re-opened after its 'face-lift'; there's now a very sustainable Visitors' Centre, with a lively exhibition focusing on Fen Life. Aside from simply viewing the new facilities, this month is a good time to watch the migrants who have largely completed their often arduous journeys to Welney -- the swallows in particular are delightful.
As you're doubtless aware, the local rail franchise passed from WAGN to First Capital Connect last month. As a nice example of joined-up thinking, our index link to 'Train Information' links seamlessly to the new information. Remember that the timetables change on June 11th, and copies should be available now.
The Mobile Library schedule for visits to Nordelph has been posted on the village notice board, and the same information is available by clicking on the link above.
In our last update, we trailed the passage of a steam locomotive through Downham Market on May 1st. We weren't able to be there ourselves, but if anyone reading this was, and has a photograph they'd be willing to share, please get in touch: info@nordelph.org.
And finally ...
Still somewhat shell-shocked
by the interest in our site revealed by our newly installed web counter, and in particular by the fact that new visitors last month came from pretty well every Western European country, Canada and the US, Brazil and Dubai, we felt we ought to end with something that spread our view of our community around the world.
So, to finish this update, the welcome news that the mute swans are again nesting in their usual site near the bridge. Reports on the cygnets later in the summer!
