Local Lynx No.151 August/September 2023

some counties.
If you would like to see these wonderful butterflies, a
visit to Foxley Woods in July should be rewarding. A pair
of binoculars is advisable to scan the upper leaves of trees
where the males sit for long periods. I have found the main
ride through the woods to be the best place. Take a butterfly
identity chart or book as it is possible, in one morning, to see
eighteen species of butterfly, including the Silver-washed
Fritillary, Purple Hairstreak and White Admiral as well as
several species of dragonfly.
During the hottest weeks of July in 2022 there were
several sightings of Purple Emperor in North Norfolk: in
Sheringham Park, Swanton Novers and in my own garden
where one flew in, circled and landed in the Silver Birch for
a few minutes before gliding away. Happily, I managed to
photograph this wonderful creature, a reminder that you
never know what you might come across in nature, even in
your own garden.
Paul Laurie
BALE VILLAGE HALL NEWS
We have some important dates for your diaries for
forthcoming events at the village hall so be sure to make
notes as you read on.
This year’s barbecue during the August Bank Holiday
weekend differs slightly from the normal event in two ways:
firstly, it will take place on Sunday 27 th August (rather than
the usual Saturday) at 6pm and, secondly, it will be a free
event for Bale residents to celebrate the village hall’s
centenary. Of course, non-residents will be welcome but
there will be a charge of £15 per ticket for any ‘out-oftowners’.
Contributions of raffle prizes would be
appreciated. Bring your own drinks.
The Harvest Supper is on Saturday 30 th September at
7pm when we will be providing a two-course meal for the
very reasonable sum of £12. Again, this will be a ‘bring
your own drinks’ evening as the kitchen/bar will be in use
for catering. If you are able to spare some groceries to
contribute to the Fakenham Food Bank as a harvest offering,
please bring them along. The generosity of all the Harvest
Supper guests last year was most heart-warming.
Finally, in the ‘special events’ category, there will be a
return of the hotly-contested Bale Quiz Night on Saturday
4 th November at 7.30pm. Book as a team (8 maximum) or
as an individual (you can join a group on the evening).
Light snacks will be available in the interval and the bar will
be open for beer, wine, gin and soft drinks. Tickets are £7.
Interest in the event has already been expressed by nearby
villages, so let’s show the ‘neighbours’ what Bale can do!
To book any of the above events, use Bale Village
WhatsApp, call/text 07793 214703 or email
balevillagehall@gmail.com.
We will, of course, be continuing with our Fish and
Chips nights on Fridays 11 th August & 8 th September at 7pm
(orders by 6pm to Bale Village WhatsApp or 01328
878355) and the Bale Oak Bar which will be open on
Fridays 25 th August and 22 nd September, 6.30-9.30pm. PM
BALE BOOK GROUP
This is Happiness by Niall Williams
This was quite different from the type of
books we had read recently and was selected
partly because of my fondness for the Irish
style of writing and turn of phrase. It tells of
events in the fictional village of Faha in
County Clare, the year that electricity was
installed.
This particular year, 1958, was also
significant in that the weather changed.
Chapter 1 is comprised of one sentence: ‘It had stopped
raining.’ The author then tells us, in great detail, about the
usual persistence of the rain in the village, the varying types
and effects. This seemingly endless description of the rain
sets the tone for the book in many ways, in that the reader is
obliged to leave the pace of 21 st century life for the duration
and relax back into the time, place, events and characters
related by an elderly Noel, looking back to the summer
when he was seventeen.
Noel was visiting his grandparents after suffering a crisis
of faith which took him away from his Dublin seminary and
he found himself in a place where telephones were few and
far between and ‘the electricity’ had not yet been installed.
Life revolved largely around the church, the pub and music.
The heatwave of 1958 was not only when the Electricity
Board was attempting to persuade the locals of the benefits
of this new technology – a less-than-easy task – but also
when Noel (“Noe”) discovered a great deal about people,
life and love.
The characters are beautifully drawn, with their
eccentricities and endearing naivety, particularly the
principal characters: Noel, his grandparents and Christie, the
visiting electricity man. The Irish use of the english
language is a delight and has a descriptive quality which
makes each sentence a work of art.
The group’s feeling was that it took some time to get
into the slow rhythm of the story but that there was much to
enjoy once this had been achieved. There are frequent
moments of humour but with episodes of pathos and an
overall feeling of warmth which make this a book to be
savoured.
PM
8