Issue 19 - April 2012 (PDF) - Chipping Norton Times

NEWS
Calling all murder mystery fans. Rebecca Tope will be with us on
Saturday 14th April to sign her latest book, ‘Malice in the
Cotswolds’. In this, the 10th of her Cotswold books, Thea
Osborne and her dog Hepzibah are house-sitting in the village of
Snowshill, when a local boy is found strangled. Of course it is up
to Thea to catch the culprit. However, not only will this new
hardback be available, but also the new paperback, ‘Deception in
the Cotswolds’, is now in stock and she will happily sign that or
any of her other paperbacks. On the day, we will have a special
price reduction for the hardback so do come along or book your
signed copy, at the special reduced price, in advance. Those of
you who do attend our signings may remember the amazingly
young author, James Aitcheson, who came last year to sign
‘Sworn Sword’. James will be along in September to sign the
second in the series but meantime, ‘Sworn Sword’ is now
available in paperback at only £6.99.
REVIEWS
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fryby Rachel Joyce
Hardback at £12.99
When Harold Fry receives a letter from an old friend he steps
out of retirement and an empty marriage and starts a journey,
on foot, all the way from South Devon to the hospital in Berwick,
where Queenie is dying. On his journey he receives mostly
kindness from those he meets and as his progress hits the news,
more people try to help and even join him on his ‘pilgrimage’.
However, this is more than a story of an imaginary journey for, as
he travels, we gain insight into his marriage, into his relationships
and into a very ordinary man doing something extraordinary. A
dreamy ramble that is movingly built around a very unassuming
English hero and I enjoyed every mile.
The Bleeding Landby Giles Kristian
Hardback £12.99
Set at the start of the English Civil War, this novel concentrates
on the family of Sir Francis Rivers, a friend of the King. It is a
violent and unsavoury dispute with a neighbour which causes
the younger son, Tom, to join Parliament’s army whilst Sir
Francis and his oldest son, Mun, fight on the King’s side. I
enjoyed this read from start to finish. It’s not just the non-stop
action, nor the clearly defined and believable characters. Both of
these points would make a fair read but this author’s plotting
makes this a page- turner and he uses such rich description that
his scenes are all atmospheric and involving. This deserves, and
should receive, a very wide readership, especially as it is just the
first of a series.
More news and reviews - cotswoldbookstore.blogspot.com
and cotswoldbookstoregamesworkshop.blogspot.com
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COTSWOLD BOOKSTORE
20 High Street, Moreton-in-Marsh
01608 652666 email: cotsbookstore@tiscali.co.u
Can you imagine being elderly, alone,
isolated and afraid?
Can you imagine the impact this would have on your physical
and mental health?
Cotswold Volunteers North has a heart-breaking waiting list of
people in exactly this situation. We are looking for caring local
people who will come forward and volunteer to befriend them.
It is entirely possible that there is someone in your village who
needs a befriender, a chat over a cup of tea about old times,
someone to laugh with.
Janet, who lives in Stow-on-the-Wold, is 95 and lives alone. She
is still driving and living an independent life, but would really
like someone local just to call in on her once a week to make
sure everything is OK. This would give her a great sense of
reassurance and peace of mind: ‘It would be so wonderful if
someone could,’ she asks.
John and his wife Alice live in Moreton-in-Marsh and have a
combined age of 182! John has only 20% of his eyesight but is
Alice’s full-time Carer, as she suffers from dementia. John
would love someone to come and sit with his wife occasionally,
so that he can enjoy some respite and his wife can benefit from
some new company. ‘I have tried to get help, but didn’t think
there was anything available,’ he explains. Julie in Bourton on
the Water has lived with her brother for most of her life, but he
recently died leaving her isolated and desolate. A regular local
visitor could completely change her world.
All our Volunteers are greatly appreciated. We offer training,
support and the reimbursement of travel expenses. Many of
our Volunteers make new friends and truly enjoy their
invaluable volunteering role.
Patricia Johnston-Deas recently joined Cotswolds Volunteers
North as a Volunteer Befriender: ‘I am retired and had some
time on my hands. I find the older generation so refreshingly
honest and genuine. What is now considered to be old
fashioned values are still so important and pertinent today -
the young have a lot to learn from the old. With one of the
lovely ladies I visit I am learning to play Yahtzee – she tells me
off for not being good enough and has advised me to pull my
socks up!’
If you have some free time and are considering what to do
with it could this be your answer?
For more information please contact
Cotswolds Volunteer North: 01608 652019
Email: kirsty@cotswoldvolunteers.com
amanda@cotswoldvolunteers.com
(office hours Monday and Thursday 9am – 4pm)