onionbagblog

There is something most definitely romantic about Wivenhoe, and I’m not talking about the availability of cheap Malibu at the Co-op either. It would seem that the fine folk of Moving Image would agree (about the all round mood of romanticism, not the cheap Malibu.)

As a loving thank you gesture to the members of Moving Image, the independent community cinema in Wivenhoe has announced plans for a very special St Valentine’s Day event.

Much amour will be available at the splendour of the Lakeside Theatre for a film love in for the Moving Image members. Using The Guardian’s Top 25 Romantic Movies of all Time as the template, members are being asked to vote for which film will be screened on the 14th.

The choice includes such classics as Casablanca, Gone With the Wind and, um, When Harry Met Sally. My own personal choice for the most romantic movie of all time - EVER! would of course be… Purple Rain.

A night in with The Kid and some cheapo Co-op Malibu - what more romanticism could a woman want, eh?

Cast your vote over here…

And so after the marvel of the Morris Men outside the Black Buoy, Boxing Day was in need of a walk to recover from all of the chaos. The plan was for a simple stroll down to the front, out towards the Sailing Club, and then back at base before the Black Buoy booze wore off.

Somehow @AnnaJCowen and I became attracted towards the adventure of the ice out towards Alresford, and just kept on walking.

Dog walkers approaching in the opposite direction warned us off the icy path that lay ahead. But we persisted, past the Sailing Club, and then a cross-country cut through back on to the Alresford Road.

Much of the snow from a week earlier remained untouched, concealing iced over streams that stretched out away from the estuary. A particular patch had a strange yellow glow. We resisted the temptation to eat.

And then just as we were heading over the fields and back on to the main road, a polite head nod and a hello towards a fellow Boxing Day leg stretcher soon became a rather enjoyable conversation.

Reference points were made, and it seems that my identity had been blown. Bugger. But fear not - our fellow rambler was terrific late afternoon company, and kept @AnnaJCowen and I hanging off his every word with tales of Wivenhoe past.

By now and the skies truly were bruising. Anglesea Road was an ice rink, with the peak of Park Road fairing little better. Back at base and there was just enough time for a warming cup of tea, before… heading back out to the Black Buoy once again.

Blimey.

#chinchin

To the Black Buoy on Boxing Day lunchtime for a bonkers, but equally brilliant event that can best be described as only in Wivenhoe…

Yep - the traditional Boxing Day appearance of the fine men from the Colchester Morris Dancing troupe were hitting their sticks and shaking their handkerchiefs. It takes a certain amount of Dutch courage to place bells on the end of your boots. No surprise that most of that courage was booze related.

This was an ace afternoon with a splendid crowd of hungover Wivenhoe locals turning out to chase the hair of the dog. Adults looked slightly uneasy as the call came for any volunteers; kids were bemused, and even Colchester MP Bob Russell took some Christmas time out from attacking the coalition to support the Morris Men of his constituency.

Cripes.

I’m not quite sure of the deeper significance of Morris dancing, although I was reliably informed that there is an undercurrent of male fertility with all that shaking of your big stick in the air. I covered up the eyes of the fragrant @AnnaJCowen when a giant dog came sniffing around.

The Colchester Morris Men wrapped up on Black Buoy Hill shortly after 1pm, and then continued the recruitment drive with the lure of mulled wine.

“We’re looking for some young blood,” I was told. “Weekly Friday night rehearsals - we’re a very social lot.”

This I wasn’t disputing, but I fear that the dancing may clash with my *ahem* bell ringing ambitions.

Blimey.

Many thanks to the Colchester Morris Men, as well as the Black Buoy for what was a brisk day of business. We returned to the boozer later in the evening, to find some hardened Boxing Day revellers still toasting the season.

Quite a song and dance.

*facebook viewers – video embedded on m’blog over here…*

Plus: more on the Boxing Day Morris Men of Wivenhoe over here.

Have a good one.

#chinchin.

It’s a slightly strange spelling of that lot from the other side of the Colne, but the Gazette is reporting that Row-hedge Wharf has received a planning application to build 170 new homes.

Bli-mey.

“Developer Wharf Land Investments wants to build 170 homes and either a doctor’s surgery or business centre at the derelict industrial site.”

It would seem that the resubmitted plans are a climb down from the original application made last year for 300 homes. More than sixty Rowhedge locals formally opposed the plans, leaving the Planning Committee at Colchester Borough Council to reject the first set of proposals.

An open day was staged earlier this year, and it appears that developer Wharf Land Investments has been taking on board the views put forward by folk in the village. Project Manager Rafe Holt told the Gazette:

“It is 170 units, of which nine will be polyfunctional [urgh] which means they have an area on the ground floor which could be used for commercial uses, if someone wanted to set up a butchers or something like that. It reflects the existing character of the village and it should be a seamless addition.”

I’m not so sure that 170 new builds opposite Wivenhoe will appear so seamless to the landscape, but at least some use for the derelict site is being considered. The plans are expected to go before Colchester Borough Council sometime in the spring of 2011.

One to watch out for - quite literally.

I often wonder how the very good folk of the Wivenhoe Bookshop ever have any time to actually sell any books; such is the depth and variety of the various literary themed events, which they so splendidly organise.

But yep - sell books they do, knowing that this can then serve as a springboard to add a little more value to the reading experience with the related events that are then put in place.

2011 is looking like it will be no different. The schedule has just been released by the Wivenhoe Bookshop folk - challenging, enlightening and no doubt entertaining. It’s got to be better than staying indoors and watching Eastenders as we wait for spring to arrive in Wivenhoe…

“Ethan Frome has all the ingredients for a good read - an embittered man, a hypochondriacal wife, and an enchanting young woman, meeting in circumstances which unleash predictable consequences as passions are aroused.”

[Mmm - that sounds familiar...]

“Edith Wharton’s accomplished style and deft characterisation have ensured the book’s enduring popularity since it’s publication in 1911. Our reading course on this classic novella begins in Feb 2011.”

Call into the Bookshop to make a booking.

The beauty of the Wivenhoe Bookshop is that it’s not all about the books. Reading is wonderful, but sometimes you just want to, well, y’know - let down what’s left of your hair and have a bit of a bop.

Did someone just say Wivenhoe Bookshop Unplugged?

“Always keen to nurture creativity and provide the best experience for our customers, in 2011 we bring you a new event, ‘Bookshop - Unplugged’.”

Come and feast you ears on a stripped back acoustic show in a truly intimate gig space. Our first featured band are the fabulous DRUM, a guitar / bass / violin combo with Fiona Harmon on vocals.”

Fiona is probably one of the most well connected (and liked) locals within Wivenhoe. Her music is as cool as her conversation. She is worthy of your time at the Bookshop on the evening of January 21st at 7:30pm.

And finally…

Does God Exist?

Oh Lordy.

“Now there’s a topic worthy of a philosophical debate. This subject, and the areas of human rights, scepticism and common sense, animals and ethics, and personal identity, will all be under consideration in our new shorter five week Philosophy Breakfast beginning in January 2011.

In March 2011 we bring you The Great Philosophers, a five week course for which no prior knowledge is required.”

Now there’s something to think about.

Oh, and whilst we’re at it, here are the opening hours for the Wivenhoe Bookshop over the festive period.

Happy reading.

Here’s a rather decent project to look forward to in the New Year - the fine folk at Transition Town Wivenhoe have ambitious plans to use the empty space of the Station Master’s House as a community hub.

TTW has been working successfully around the station throughout the year, taking the initiative to tend to the Station Master’s garden, and then offering free veg to surprised commuters.

This next step at the station proposes to take the project to the next level, allowing the house to become a community owned facility, and to offer training and activities to suit local needs:

“Since developing the station house garden with Off the Rails this year, TTW has submitted a proposal to National Express and Network Rail outlining an idea to create a community hub under the Community Rail Partnership Stations Initiatives Scheme. The station house has been empty for two years.

Our initial idea is to set up a social enterprise to offer skills and training courses and activities related to building local resilience, e.g. food growing, crafts skills, renewable energy, energy advice, cycling related activities such as cycle training and bike trailer hire, local skills exchange and share schemes. Also to make hirable space including desk space with internet available to others.

We met with National Express in November and they have offered to set up a meeting early in the New Year with Network Rail in late January when we can present our ideas to them. In the meantime we have secured a [significant] grant from Community Builders to support the development of the necessary skills, training and new organisational structures/business planning involved.

We believe this is a fantastic opportunity to rejuvenate a heritage building and create a buzz in Wivenhoe whilst at the same time giving space to expand our activities and have a permanent base to help create sustainable change.

We now need folk who might get involved in shaping the ideas and developing the project. Interested TTW supporters and friends should come and find out more on Thursday January 6th at 7pm, William Loveless Hall.”

How wonderful. There is already a strong ethos within Wivenhoe of utilising empty space for public use. *cough* @asset_transfer has a hyperlocal Wivenhoe base. TTW would do well to take on the advice and skills that are on offer here.

So yeah - the Loveless Hall on the 6th is the location if you want to help shape this hub. From small projects, grand ideas grow. Who knows - from the Station Master’s House to… the old Engine Shed?