We’re not just big inproperty, we’re the best.Hamptons International winsLarge Estate Agency of the Year 2012.To find out how our industry-leading approach couldbenefit you, contact us today. We’d be delighted to help.Hamptons Alton31 High Street, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1AWSales. 01420 408079 alton@hamptons-int.comLettings. 01962 706389 altonlettings@hamptons-int.comwww.hamptons.co.ukPlease dial in full. If you have already appointed another agent, you may be subject to a restrictive contract.Beyond your expectations25HVM - Spring <strong>2013</strong>
Colin’s ColumnIt was a lovely frosty morning and Fido (name changed tomaintain his anonymity) and I decided to walk through ourlovely village of <strong>Holybourne</strong>. As usual, en route to Cuckoo’sCorner, I stopped in the Post Office for my morning paper. “Somuch happening in the world”, I immediately thought. War,Papal resignation, more political shenanigans and Olympiancriminality were all worthy of comment. I let my mind wanderas I casually walked, enjoying the peace and quiet and thefeeling of close friendship with Fido. I suppose therefore, tosome extent, I was partly to blame, as I was not really payingtoo much attention to where I was walking. To my disgust, Istepped in fresh dog excrement. My mind was made up atonce. This article is not going to be about global woes, butthose that we face much closer to home. This soapbox rant istargeted at <strong>Holybourne</strong>’s dog owners.Having wiped my freshly decorated boot on the grass, Icontinued along the footpath. Ahead, I could just see the blurof something orange hanging from a tree. As I approached it,I realised that it was a dog ‘poop-bag’, which had been tiedat head height. In the space of 200 metres I had negotiatedmy way through some kind of excrement assault course.I mentioned this ‘experience’ to a friend who frequentlywalks along London Road. She was not as amazed as I hadexpected her to be, but shared with me a similar incident.However, hers involved the morning school run, whichfrequently necessitates her children performing a game of ‘turdhopscotch’ along the pavement.So what’s the point of all this? Well, it’s simple really. I refuseto believe that I am the only one in <strong>Holybourne</strong> who is angeredby this behavior. I have no doubt that the majority of the dogowners in this village is considerate, but it is very clear that asmall minority is not. Among us, we have someone or somepeople, who believe it is socially acceptable to allow their dogto excrete on the pavements and footpaths of <strong>Holybourne</strong> andthen not bother to clear it up. However, it’ s worse than that,because at least one of these people does use the ‘poopbag’but then decides to hang it from a tree, displaying utterlaziness and a complete disregard for others. Not only is thisbehavior extremely unsociable, it is potentially very harmfulto health, especially for our children. Lastly, but by no meansleast, it has been designated a criminal act in East Hampshire.I do not have much more to say really, other than to finish thisarticle with a plea and a challenge. The plea is quite simple.Whoever it is, please stop this foul, selfish, dangerous andcriminal behavior. Should you choose not to do so, I havea challenge for you: find a mirror and see if you can look atyourself in it. If you can, respond to this article and justify youractions to the rest of us.Colin(Colin is off-grid, but can be contacted viaEditor@holybourne.com)ErratumIn last issue’s “From the Archive” we printed a photo withan incorrect legend. It was actually a photograph of DavidAndrews, his sister, and Jimmy and Denny Cuff. Apologies toall concerned.Beeches The AbandonedPony Gets A Little TLCSpeedwatchYou may have spotted in the localpaper several articles relating toa pony who was abandoned in adreadful condition near PrestonCandover in January, and who is beingnursed back to health by the localHorsewatch coordinator. The pony hadbeen named “Beeches”.<strong>Holybourne</strong> resident Emma Vincent,who is a qualified Reiki practitioner,was touched by the pony’s plight andvolunteered her assistance.Emma takes up the story: “I met withBeeches on Tuesday for her first Reikisession. Although she is very poorly, her will to fight for lifeshone through. I worked the length of her left side and whenI was ready to move to her right side she boxed herself in toprevent me from getting there, so I went back over to continueworking on the left side. Once she had made the decisionthat I had completed the left side effectively, she happilymaneouvred herself to allow me access to the right side. I willbe visiting Beeches next week for a follow up session.”Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction, relaxationand also to promote healing. Equine reiki benefits not justphysical injuries, but many other conditions such as laminitis,colic, wind sucking, cribbing, appetite loss, stress etc.Emma completed Reiki 1 in November 2008 and Reiki 2in November 2011. Having always been a horse lover, thedecision to focus on equine Reiki was a no-brainer.Beeches is still very poorly. Any donations, large or small,would be gratefully received.Please contact Steff Lewis on 07779 454528Emma VincentThe implementation of our Speedwatch plans move slowly.You will recall, from the article in the last edition, that the ideais for volunteers to record speeding vehicles and to reportthem to the police, who will, in the first instance, send a letteradvising the registered keeper that drivers should be moreconsiderate. Speeding, particularly in London Road, wasperceived as the most concerning village problem when wedeveloped the Village Plan.The programme is organised by the police and the equipmentis shared between several villages. The delay has been mainlydue to slow take up by other villages - this is now resolvedand we can proceed.We plan to start in the spring when we get lighter evenings- so look out for the fluorescent jackets and radar gun on theside of the road - or better still just obey the speed limit!Many thanks to those who have already expressed an interestin volunteering to be on the Speedwatch team - but we doneed more volunteers; so if you are interested please contactme.Nick Cane01420 86282 nick.cane@holybourne.comHVM - Spring <strong>2013</strong> 26
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