An early-flowering bluebell on Hydon’s Ball, caught on camera this week by Mary Grove. Many more will follow in the glades and woodlands in and around Hambledon in the next few weeks.

Now please read on…

When speaking to anyone (and yes, we still are – whether talking on the phone or shouting, at a social distance, of course, across the road or over the garden fence), the first comment is always “Isn’t the Shop doing a fantastic job!”.  What an understatement.  On any one day, up to 50 households, which is well over 10 per cent of Hambledon, are now taking advantage of the on-line delivery service.  This doesn’t just involve the volunteers who put the orders together and deliver them.  Suppliers that are still in business have to be sourced;  goods have to be taken in and categorised;  methods of remote payment (including from all of us shoppers) have had to be devised.  And, on top of all that and the many other behind-the-scenes tasks, there’s a detailed (and regularly up-dated) on-line Shop Product List on the website.  Does any other village have it so good?

Several villagers have responded to the challenge set by the web team to take our minds off lock-down.  Various videos have been posted during the past week, ranging from how not to waste food to a live quiz.  Plus a to-do list to remind us of the chores that need doing (and which most of us continue to put off).  

Whilst the telephone can help overcome isolation, it’s no replacement for face-to-face contact.  That’s where video calling technology comes into its own.  Those who aren’t particularly tech-savvy will have appreciated the information about video linking and, most important, where to go for help in accessing it.

Two new sources of funding have been launched to help those who, through no fault of their own, will recently have lost or suffered severe reductions in pay and employment.   The Merry Harriers Fund is offering up to £2,000 a month for those who are struggling to cover the cost of grocery bills.  Applicants can apply, in confidence, to the pub;  the Village Shop will make up and deliver the food boxes. 

The Village Spirit Collective has launched an on-line raffle (tickets £1 each, no upper purchase limit). All the money raised will be passed on to the Community Fund for Surrey’s Coronavirus Response Fund, launched to support those experiencing hardship and uncertainty.  The winner of the raffle will, naturally, receive a bottle of Vann Lane gin.   

All but four subscribers to the Parish Magazine have received their copies of the April issue thanks to a whole host of volunteer deliverers, largely identified via the village’s WhatsApp group.  They remain on stand-by and the May issue is already at the planning stage (on the assumption that the printers will be allowed to stay in business).

Details of all the above can be found on last week’s village website articles.  Together they demonstrate what an amazing bunch of people live in Hambledon:  it would be invidious to name names but all of us surely know who the key players are and would want to send them an enormous thank-you. 

It’s also important to remember how incredibly lucky we are to be living where we do.  A lot of us have gardens – though some of us may have to use our ingenuity in accessing seeds and plants to put in them.  We are surrounded by wonderful countryside – invaluable for those of us who are able to go walking, jogging, cycle riding or horse riding.  (But there have also been noticeable purchases of treadmills and other keep-fit aids!)  The days have got longer;  the spring flowers are in full bloom and will soon be joined by bluebells;  and a tell-tale green haze is starting to appear on the hedges and in the trees.  If you have to lock down, you could do a lot worse than be in Hambledon.