Chatbox

I see Mr Fousert is invoking the myth, which always surfaces around this time of year, that there is some sort of ban on playing conkers on the grounds of "health and safety". It's disappointing to see Audlem Online putting wind in the sails of this made up trope by repeating it – as a social media platform you have a responsibility not to spread misinformation. It's about as true as the bent bananas story. It all started as a publicity stunt by a headteacher – you can read his account here https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/dec/09/conkers-goggles-myth-health-safety. You can see more of these myths that resurface from time to time debunked on the HSE website (https://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/top10myths.htm). Perhaps the editors of Audlem Online could exercise a little more care before publishing this sort of misinformation.
It is however true that horse chestnuts are toxic, like some contributions to Audlem Online

David there are meant to be 11 disabled spaces on the car park in the village . I suggest you see if there still is ., if not ask the clerk to contact Cheshire east . I agree the one place they should not be moving them from is by the doctors absolutely ridiculous !!

Most likely to be a mink. Not unusual to find fish remains on the boat moorings beside the Turnpike Field. Whatever it is has disgusting table manners! We've always put it down to mink (not uncommon on the canals), but never caught it in the act.

Bob, here are some uses for conkers.
1. Extract aescin, an anti-inflammatory, for bruises and sprains;
2. Grind into Conker Flour, a Victorian recipe although comes with a severe health warning;
3. Put into wardrobe to ward off moths – the seeds contain triterpenoid;
4. crush the conkers and add to soap or shower gel as the seeds contain saponins. Popular among the Vikings!
5. Enjoy the colour and texture of the newly opened seeds.
There you are, hours of fun.

Full marks again to the the council department responsible for white lining recently in the car park. In addition to renewing the white they have removed the disable parking bays adjacent to the surgery entrance. This means that those people who have difficulty walking and need to visit the surgery, yes those oldies amongst us who need to visit the surgery usually quite frequently will have to walk 4 or 5 times as far as they used to. Solution those people giving them a lift will now park across the entrance to the surgery blocking the entrance to the car park whilst they help their passenger to the surgery.
Result frustrated drivers getting angry waiting to park their cars further into the car park .
Why didn't they remove 3 of the spaces from outside the public hall?
David Higham

Nigel, thank you. My guess was that it was an otter. This is good news as Otters and compatible with Water Voles. This was my target for the camera after a probable sighting a week before. Alternatively our mystery visitor was a mink. That would be bad news. Mink and Water Voles not compatible. Otters displace Mink which is good news!

At the moment there are 3 buses. I would imagine if its proves to be successful they might add more buses.

Might them there eyes belong to a Mink? Not seen one for years but, you never know. If it is and you get chance to have a chat; can you ask it if intends on replacing my hens it took off me all those years ago please. Having said that, it might not be the same one and even if it was, it probably wouldn't admit to the crime and, after all these years, I can't prove it. Might not have even been a Mink come to think about it. So, to sum up, don't ask it....it probably won't know what your on about anyway.

We think it could be an Otter.
Any other ideas other than a car, beaver or otter?

Adrian, thanks for the article on the Rhythm of Life. Excellent reading.
The Mystery nocturnal visitor looks, well, mysterious!
At first I thought it was a pair of headlights (which wouldn't surprise me at present!) then I looked closer and thought – is it a beaver maybe??

Is there a prize for the correct answer?

Thanks again Adrian and the Tree Planters.
Nigel.

Mr Lee has a very good point, surely the whole business model for this new service is flawed. It can only work well if very few people use it. At the moment people are using it as a private taxi which is great, but surely if the service became very popular throughout its service area the chance of you booking it at the time you wanted it would become less and less likely, and therefore you couldn't rely on it to get you somewhere in time so you would possibly have to make alternative arrangments.

Hi Maureen, being fairly new to Audlem I too would be interested in getting my car washed locally, if you could kindly let me know who to contact I would really appreciate it. Many Thanks Annette

I agree there are some dangerous drivers in the village and that 20mph is a good idea. One of the major problems when trying to negotiate a safe passage through with a large vehicle including the massive HGVs or even a small one, is the horrendous parking situation with cars on double yellow lines. Some people can't even be bothered to cross the road for their fish and chips!! Just to say we don't have any red trailers and I believe our drivers, be they employed or self-employed, drive with care and consideration. As with any drivers – there are some good and some bad

Just for some light teatime pursuing

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/police-investigate-financial-irregularities-cheshires-21827774.amp

Hi, Thank you for the helpful replies as regards the car wash. I have been given the name of a local person so my car is booked in for next week, thank goodness.

Maureen Morgan, there is a car wash opposite Morrison's in Market Drayton, you go to back of car dealers. Big orange sign outside..
Very good and reasonably priced too!

Will this Go to bus service introduced by Cheshire East , that people are saying is marvellous, become the final nail in the coffin for Routes 72 and 73. This 'new' service does not have a timetable, so can be run as and when Cheshire East say so, how can you arrange say an appointment. It then becomes a chicken and egg situation- which do you book the 'bus' or the 'appointment' with any certainty that you can tie both in together. At least with routes 72/73 you can book your appointment knowing full well how long the journey will take and exactly what time you are able to go and come back.
First we lost a regular train service are we now heading towards losing a regular bus service – we may be 'country bumpkins' but can still read between the lines be they 'double yellows' or 'railway tracks'.
I will admit to being only an occasional bus user at the moment but my time will come when I may well be a regular one as electric cars are a 'no no' for me.

Hand car wash in Market Drayton behind Nagingtons, opposite Morrison's is very good.

Hi, Not wishing to go to petrol station, Does anybody know where I can get my car cleaned locally.

Thanks to Mr Bricknell for his remarks re the airport style lighting around the Lyme wood / McCarthy and stone development. As a neighbour to this development and Mr Reynolds, representations have been made to both the planners who approved the design and the management of the facility. To no avail. For context since it's inception we have had the tower crane phase, the weekend working phase, the floodlighting pointing at our houses phase and now the runway lighting phase. So any help with the visual intrusion would be welcome.

We live in a small hamlet and had been looking forward to the dark, starry nights when we moved here. Found out on our first night that there is an, at least 5ft, orange streetlight on the corner shining into the master bedroom all night. In all honesty cannot see the reason for it being there.

Lighting anywhere, rural, suburban or in a city should be looked at again in the current climate. Much of the lighting that is around at present will have been installed well before climate change became an issue and should be re evaluated.

Reductio ad absurdum works better for mathematical problems than light pollution problems.

Well Rosemary, there is only one thing to say after your caustic comment re the lights at night – MEEEEEOW!

I believe that Mr. Reynolds is a neighbour of Lyme Wood Grange and can understand that he may not be happy with the nighttime security lighting here. However, it is ironic that he appears to be a chimney sweep thus professionally facilitating the use of fossil fuels and increased pollution by open fires.
It may be that something could be done to reduce the light pollution but the use of sarcasm and or irony to make the point is hardly going to facilitate cooperation. Perhaps dialogue with the local management might be more productive, it certainly could not be less so. I am a resident of the development and would rather we had a pleasant relationship with our neighbours. This is hardly the best route to that end.

It is very necessary to have lights on in and around farm buildings at night. There are many farms where evening milking takes place and where the milk tanker will call to collect the milk. Lights on in the sheds will also prevent cows treading on the calves who are asleep in the deep straw. Perhaps this has never occurred to non farming people.