Such a great experience!
Everyone appears happy to help
Last week a long standing good friend and neighbour, invited my wife and I down to the Friday Coffee “Pop-in” at the Methodist Church Hall in Meadow Lane. I had visited the “Pop-in” late last year on a couple of occasions but unfortunately not really being aware the actual situation on the ground I called in close to 12 noon, which resulted in me failing to understand the full extent of the popularity of the event. This time my visit was arranged so I called in at about 10.30 – MY! My! What a pleasant eye opener.I should add at this point that the Friday Coffee “Pop-in” is open to everyone no matter the Nationality, Class or Creed. However, I would say that anyone younger than 50 should expect to be in the minority, but that is no problem at all, in fact it can be a distinct advantage. Just image all that experience and knowledge there “on tap” - WoW! Such an opportunity
This particular Friday was generally quite wet and a typical cold winter day, yet the “Pop-in” was “well alive and kicking”, with probably some 50 to 60 in attendance. Those there were probably 60 and over, with the ladies vastly exceeding the men ( probably “gentlemen” would be a much better term). I was immediately taken back by the unsolicited and genuinely welcome I received, from all those I came face to face with - astounding, staggeringly kind and accepted by everyone. I should add that not one of those present actually knew me – to them I was a stranger!
Although my wife and I have lived in the village for some 39 years now, I personlly have been guilty of a self imposed remoteness, which means I have a great deal of catching up and apologises to make. I was born and bred in South Yorkshire and regrettably still possess the direct and dour directness of a “Tyke” - often misinterpreted/misunderstood as aggression.
As a result of genealogy research into my family name, some 5 years ago, I realised that as the result of my marriage to Sandra my wife ( born and bred in Nottingham ) We had unintentionally and coincidentally returned to the “Box”. The “Box” being my term for the location of my roots and a broad interpretation of the broad area of Nottingham including Burton Joyce, Bulcote, Gunthorpe, Caythorpe, Lowdham, Lambley, Woodboro, Calverton, Oxton, Arnold, Gedling, Stoke Bardolph etc.. In fact, my own family name came into BJ in the 1640’s and has generally been present in the village from that time to the present day. This information has stimulated us both to make a contribution to the village community.
As a direct result of our genealogy investigations it became apparent that the past social history of BJ is quite sparse and difficult to access, hence my move some 2 years ago into Online Blogging and the eventual creation 12 months ago of our Burton Joyce Community Website – www.burtonjoyceonline.co.uk - a “NOT for PROFIT” project. This will and has helped future genealogists and current relatives, friends and contacts world- wide, all of whom may have an interest in the everyday happening within our village
In fact the Online giant “Google” produces statistics which do confirm we have regular and frequent visitors to Burton Joyce Online in the USA , Canada, S America , France, Holland, Germany, Spain, in fact thro –out Europe , India, Japan the Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand , Russia and N and S Africa etc., etc.
After 12 months online , we now want to broaden the appeal of our Community website by devoting much greater coverage and reporting into the many local activities, happenings and individuals involved in making this village tick and such a pleasant place for us all to spend and share our lives in.
In our opinion there is no better group of people and place start than with the “Friday Morning Coffee Pop-in at the Methodist Hall ( 9:45 < 11:45) in Meadow Lane
