February 2008 Update

 

I was going to repeat that “there’s not a lot to add at the moment” but actually, there is, and there’s a lot about to happen too!

 

Final details of the Grand Auction of Promises (March 28th) are going to press this week and the Tickets (£10.00 including Catalogue and Supper) will go on sale on 14th February – surely the ideal Valentine’s Day present! The Auction catalogue contains 44 items all worth having, and many of which are simply not available anywhere else – facilities in private property, personally escorted and guided trips – a lavish and unique selection of “Must Haves”. There are also some very practical and “life-saving” things too – help with your Word Processor, someone to do your Ironing, someone to baby-sit – you know the type of thing! Even if you can’t come to the Auction you can buy a catalogue (£2.00) and register a bid with Mike Bowers, but Proxy bids must be registered with Mike no later than 7 days before the date of the Auction – I make that 21st March (Good Friday as it falls this year)

 

Before that of course there’s the Puddings Evening on 23rd February – the tickets are flying out at £15.00 so please ask NOW if you want to come – there may be some left (Contact Anne Wivell or the Parish Office)

 

The Appeal Committee are also catering for the Mothers’ Union Dinner on the 5th of March, with any profit going for the benefit of the Appeal. (What is it about this Appeal that always seems to involve FOOD!  Still, we’re not complaining!)

 

Details are now being firmed up for the CONCERT by Boston Spa School on Thursday 17th April – the March update will have more on that, but book the date now. It’s a while since the School have entertained us, and we’re looking forward to a varied programme showcasing the best  Musicians the School has to offer.

 

Meanwhile, the letters all went out to the FTSE top 250 at the end of January – and the replies are trickling back, with nothing concrete to report as of 7.02.08. We are ever hopeful! The Applications to Trusts and Grant Making Bodies are on hold for the moment until the Faculty is available and there’s a bit more technical work to do before we can actually apply for that. It’s too soon to say what the Fast Fundraising Fortnight produced – we will accept late donations though! Please also remember that the end of March sees a reduction in the amount of tax we can reclaim on donations from tax payers – we lose 2p in the Pound, and whilst it doesn’t sound much, it all helps! So if you can make a tax eligible donation, please do it before the end of March and it will be worth 2p in the pound more to the Appeal.

 

It’s worth adding that whilst the Organ still sounds fairly OK, playing it is getting harder by the week, and there are times when I wonder if it will make it through the service! Actually persuading the keys to go down and so open the valves that let the air into the pipes is becoming a real struggle – and there have been several times recently (Ash Wednesday was particularly difficult) when I expected just a wailing sound from wind-starved pipes to be the result of all my efforts. It’s really important that the work is done as soon as possible – July 2009 (the provisional start date for the work) won’t come a moment too soon, so we must have the Cash in the Bank well before then!

 

Liz and John