Local Lynx No.141 - December 2021/January 2022

Cornwall. The flock flew out into the Atlantic. These were
jays from Eastern Europe where the acorn crop had
completely failed.
Paul Laurie
VILLAGE HALL NEWS
After an eleventh-hour cancellation from the caterer, the
good folk of Bale pulled out all the stops and created an
excellent feast for harvest supper. Thanks to all concerned
for a very pleasant evening.
At the time of writing, tickets for the quiz on 27 th
November are selling well, thanks to the Bale Village
WhatsApp. This has proved a great way of getting
information around the village and we will be advertising all
future events this way. For those who are not on the
network, posters will also go up on the notice boards outside
the hall and by the telephone box opposite the church and
the Lynx carries details of everything happening and how to
book. If you would like to join the WhatsApp group, please
contact Alastair on 07791 456819.
December fish and chips on the 10 th will be, as usual, a
festive occasion so Christmas jumpers will be welcome!
We will also have the extra 100-club prize draw to help a
lucky participant with their yuletide expenses. Don’t forget
to place your food order by 6pm via WhatsApp,
balevillagehall@gmail.com (now working as it should)
or calling 01328 878355. The same arrangements will apply
for our 14 th January get-together.
Back by popular request – we will be installing a
Christmas tree outside the hall in December and would like
to invite you to get together to sing carols there on Thursday
23 rd December from 4pm. Even if social-distancing rules are
imposed again this winter, we can enjoy each other’s
company in the safety of the outdoors. This is weather
dependant so ‘fingers crossed’ for the rain to hold off that
evening.
Old Year’s Night should be making a triumphant return
on 31 st December at 8pm, Covid-permitting. For those who
are new to the village, this is a very popular event with a
gourmet meal cooked by Alastair and his team plus a few
games and, of course, a hearty rendition of ‘Auld Lang
Syne’ at midnight. Booking will be via WhatsApp,
balevillagehall@gmail.com or call 01328 878914. This
evening is always fully subscribed so please book early to
avoid disappointment! Places will be allocated strictly on a
first-come, first-served basis.
Many and varied ideas have been put forward for events
at the village hall during 2022, so watch this space for
details in the next edition of the Local Lynx. PM
HUNDRED CLUB DRAW RESULTS
If you would like to join the 100 Club, please pay the
annual subscription of £12 into a/c 10142182, sort
code 20-30-81, using 100 and your surname as the
reference. The draw is held on the second week of
each month at fish and chips in the village hall.
September 2021 October 2021
Martin Moore £25 Dawn Baker
Evan Turnbull £10 Evan Turnbull
Hannah Letts £5 Maggie Thomas
Julie Bridge £5 Paul Turnbull
BALE BOOK GROUP
Sisters by Daisy Johnson
Daisy Johnson, a British novelist and short story writer,
was one of the youngest authors to be shortlisted for the
Man Booker in 2018. Sisters tells the
story of two sisters, named July and
September, born ten months apart but,
in many respects, like twins. The New
York Times describes it as “a haunting
story about two sisters caught in a
powerful emotional web and wrestling
to understand where one ends and the
other begins.” There is an intense
emotional intertwining and
interdependence of their lives, shared
feelings and sensations and a strong
attachment to each other:
“When one of us speaks we both feel the words moving
on our tongues. When one of us eats we both feel the food
slipping down our gullets. It would have surprised neither of
us to have found, slit open, that we shared organs that one’s
lungs breathed for the both, that a single heart beat a
doubling, feverish pulse.”
One sister has a terrible dominance over the other but,
despite their dysfunctional relationship, they live together in
a very private world. Their mother, a writer of children’s
books, is depressed and almost detached from her
daughters. Their father, now deceased, had had his own
issues and had left the family. After a traumatic event their
mother takes them away from their home to an isolated and
run-down cottage near the coast where they are mainly left
to fend for themselves.
There is a twist to this story, which everyone but me
spotted at the beginning: July had promised that she would
die before September and, no matter what, September
should survive. The narrative then revolves around this
promise.
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