Chatbox

I think the editor should call time on Critiquing The Critics – It's getting boring now

One for our more mature residents; Someone is selling a spiked chain on here. (Nothing at all to do with me) But...can our older residents remember what premises in Audlem used to have a very similar spiked white chain in front of it's property? First Prize; I'll come and sing for you. If you get it wrong; I'll bring the whole band......for a month! Second thoughts, there is no Prize..it's just to see if your memory is better than your forgettory. ;-)

Thank you to ADAS and other organisers involved in Audlem's lovely Village Fete on Sunday afternoon. We had a really nice couple of hours and our dog Betsy had a great time in the dog show.

A friend of ours from Alsager popped over to the fete; he lives alone and is finding life tough at the moment. He said several times how lucky we are to live in a village where fetes happen, people speak to each other and there is a friendly, happy feeling in the ether. And we heartily concurred.

How sad that some have seen fit to criticise the freely given efforts of others.
Being a member of ASET has opened my eyes as to how much hard work goes into staging these events and to criticise them is hurtful , unnecessary and unhelpful. Thankfully the vast majority of people do appreciate the work and time given and are appreciative.

I had exactly the same thoughts as Peter Morgan earlier today re Fawlty Towers.
Unfortunately I couldn't attend either event, but heard good reports from neighbours on both.
I was reminded though of a maxim I was taught when I started to manage other staff in my job. "Praise in public but criticise privately".
For those who feel disappointed I think it would be better to air constructive criticism (with suggestions for improvement) privately to those concerned rather than on this public forum. It must be very demoralising for those who have given up their time and effort to provide something for the community. The last thing we need is for them to be discouraged in the future. I've had the benefit of the support of the ADCA volunteers in the last three years and greatly appreciate what these public spirited people do for us.
Keep Audlem friendly.

I am not sure that farmers whose crops are dying from lack of rain, olive tree farmers in Spain and those in Pakistan suffering tremendous floods see trying to cut carbon emissions as a woke response. I certainly don't on quite a few fronts, which I won't bore you with.
I too am worried about keeping warm in the coming winter and have a small store of fleeces, throws and, a real passion killer this one, Bedsocks! Wish I still had my stock of candles from Ikea so need to investigate rechargeable battery operated lanterns in case of planned supply cuts.
I will acquire a headlight as well to enable reading of anti-woke mails,

As Abraham Lincoln once said:

"You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time".

Sold-out stalls, successful auction-bidders, proud competitors and rosette winners with the sound of lots of lively, happy conversations speak loudly as a measure of a successful event. Perhaps the addition of a set of stocks where wet sponges can be thrown at specially selected visitors is the sort of improvement the critics would welcome at a future Village Fete?

Audlem has not had a village fete for many years. Yes, it once had the May carnival, but insurance/liability issues and lack of volunteers put paid to that. So, it was refreshing that the ADAS committee stepped up to the plate and congratulations to them. As a first effort, I thought it was a great success. Certainly, I saw a lot of smiling faces there and some were down to the antics of my chocolate Labrador trying it on with Arthur the Spaniel, who then went on to win the Waggiest Tail competition. I wonder why?
Anyway, when I saw the criticisms levelled at the organisers, I immediately recalled that wonderful Fawlty Towers episode, A Room with a View (catch it on You Tube for a spirit lifter) and that brilliant dialogue when Basil sneeringly replies to the lady criticising the view from his Torquay bedroom window; 'What did you expect? Sydney Opera House, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, herds of Wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain.' Get the drift... Or were some people just disappointed because it was free. Ah well, another year, another opportunity to show us all, just how it should be done.

I actually saw lots of happy faces at the fete and only heard positive comments. Things can always be improved and I'm sure that, if repeated, there will be some changes. Overall, though, I think the committee deserve huge congratulations on pulling together a fantastic event for us all to enjoy. Looking forward to next year!

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Parklands Day Nursery

Hi all

I would just like to thank the people of Audlem for the great response we have received to our recent chat box post over 50 emails of support from the fantastic residents of Audlem. Please allow us time to reply to them all we did not expect the number of emails we have received. We will arrange a meeting in the very near future so we can all meet up and discuss how we can make sure people are feeding there children rather then pandering to some silly woke agenda

Whilst I strongly believe that everyone has a right to freedom of speech and comment, I totally agree with Judy about the need to evidence why you may not like something. However, in order to maintain a sense of balance, should not those who praise something that they like, also evidence why they feel that way?
With regards to the Village Fete, I'm glad that this was enjoyed by the Chatbox respondents, but looking at the photographs on AOL today, one has to wonder if everyone felt the same way. I found it difficult to see anyone with a smiling and happy face. In fact, AOL could use the photos to hold a 'Find the Happy Person' competition.

I felt that each of the recent completely negative criticisms of Audlem Fete and Festival is an example of the current trend. Negative criticism, not in itself a totally bad thing, without a single positive and no sign of any intention to actually volunteer to help. Not that it would necessarily be welcome, I don't know. Wasn't able to go to the Fete myself as not feeling good but my family had a pleasant time.
I think the singular verb goes with each but no doubt if not the grammar police will set me right!

A question for the critics of Audlem Village Fete (held on Turnpike Field, Sunday 28 August – dated to avoid any confusion), please?

Stating:
'disappointing'
'much improvement needed'
'as interesting as figs'
... but no offers of how the committee could improve for next time.

Here's my suggestion – the critics step up and help with the input and organisation.

Well done to the Village Fete committee and all the volunteers.

I'm sorry I have to agree with Mark and Stewart we went through all the stress of getting the family out to attend the fete was not worth the effort really needs a huge rethink before or if it's put on again

An article on AOL before the village fete listed the events (as below)...and they were all there so I am not sure how one could be disappointed with it! It seemed to me be be a quintessential village fete. 100s of people milling around, chatting, enjoying each others company. We need more of that, not less.

Splat The Rat,Football Challenge,Coconut Shy,Ballon Car,Dog Show,Auction,Tea and Cakes,Pimms & Prosecco,Tombola,Toy Stall,Bran Tub,Face Painting,Book Stall,Artificial Flowers,Raffle,Posh Frocks & Rats,Bric A Brac,Country Ware's,Sleap Model Flyers,Cheshire Model Engineering Society, Metal Detectorists's, BBQ, PAU Run & Ride, Body Products, Ice Cream, AWEG, Fire Engine,Honey products, Handicrafts,
Jewellery & Crafts,Natural Products, Audlem Wildlife Trust, Overwater Marina, Greeting Cards, Fabric Crafts, Linden Stall

Many people willingly and voluntarily put a lot of effort into making the Village Fete, Quiz Night and Music Festival resounding successes and are to be congratulated. Perhaps Mark Archer and Stewart Lawson might like to consider the feelings of those people before rushing to post inappropriate and unwarranted comments online. Better still they might like to do something positive for the village!

There is very little point in leaving criticism if it neither is detailed, nor constructive. Stating that you did simply didn't like or enjoy something is of no use (and absolutely no interest) to anyone. The pen is indeed mightier than the sword – but only when used correctly.

I must offer a huge apology to the people running the Audlem music festival my post was aimed at the Audlem Fete not yourself which I found an extremely disappointed and not in anyway enjoyable event I'm sure the music festival was fantastic and again I apologise for the mix up between the two events

Well done to everyone involved in the Village Fete. Thank you for a lovely afternoon and to all the people who supported me by buying my watercolour cards in aid of St Luke's Hospice.

Hi Stewart Perhaps you should have stayed at home and sang along witH Max Bygraves

family day at Audlem Fete yesterday extremely disappointed by the event thought it was extremely poor and a disappointment to the family much improvement needed if it's to run again. I very much understand that people would have put a lot of work into this having done so with events similar myself but massively missed the mark

A huge thank you to everyone who helped to organise the fete in Turnpike Field; the field proved the perfect venue. It was a super event enjoyed both by humans and dogs alike. I do hope it becomes a regular feature in Audlem social calendar.

It could have been much worse Stewart....I could have been playing there..... ;-)

An interesting comparison, though both begin with'f'. Are you keen on figs? I am thankful that we have people with enough energy and capability to organise these things. Much harder than fig acquisition . Bah! Humbug!