Portland Probus Club

We moved across the parkland with its beautiful established trees down to the lake and on down the oak walk, past the Grecian Temple to the Elizabethan Manor House and beyond to the Walled Garden.  Originally this was the kitchen garden for both houses and now it is a valuable resource as a teaching garden.  Here the students at the college learn about flowers and plants, learning how to look after them and the names of the wide variety that grow there whilst maintaining the garden.  Our final visit on the tour was to see the enormous green houses, probably the most valuable resource for the students where they look after tender plants in the winter and propagate new plants.  In a very suitable position, on the same site one large green house acts as a classroom.  I am sure everyone found Nigel’s talk as fascinating as I did and thank him for his time and for imparting lots of knowledge.

We were joined by Lucy and Chris and Rob (with dog) for our convivial picnic lunch in an idyllic setting above the lake on the terrace in front of Kingston Maurward House.  Finally thanks to Judith for arranging such a well organized event.

15 August 2019

In true Naval fashion President Rob opened the meeting spot on time but, not before there was a minor panic through there not being sufficient chairs!   Rob thanked Andy for organising another luncheon at Abbey House.  How Andy manages to book splendid weather year after year is a real wonder.  Unfortunately Rob had to mention the vacancies which will occur on the committee in the coming years and sought volunteers to fill vacant posts.  Other committee members then gave meeting updates on forthcoming activities and speakers.

On arriving this morning I was walking up the stairs just behind Sarah and President Rob and overheard Sarah saying how nervous she was feeling about speaking.  Well, it is certainly did not show as Sarah talked to us for a good hour without any notes or visual aids in an amusing and absorbing way.

If nothing else I am glad that farming did not come within a million miles of being a career choice.  Who would want to work 80 hour weeks, 365 days a year, be out in all weathers, suffer costs and variable or no income, and be affected by your stock becoming ill and many other disasters and events mostly beyond your control.  Sarah did and would not have changed it although admitted it has taken its toll on her body.

Sarah recalled how she trained as a nanny and then met her husband Pedro a fisherman!  She told us how they started on a 100 acre farm in partnership initially owning 2 cows Mandy and Christine.  Yes, all her cows were given names.  Over a period of time the number of cows rose to 40, to 60, then 80 and when they joined forces with a neighbouring farm and had a greater acreage, 220 cows.  Over time the farm had a bout of brucellosis, suffered milk quotas, butter mountains and Sarah suffered from pneumonia herself.  She is proud that her son introduced the New Zealand system into milking and calving, the first to do so in the country and which made life slightly easier.

Over the years Sarah and Pedro experimented with various initiatives such as raising sheep, growing maize, growing potatoes, going organic, and raising heifers.  Sarah not one to stand still is now in the process of overseeing the completion of holiday cottages and involved with a charity involving young people and horses.

Wendy thanked Sarah who, she has known for over 45 years, for a super presentation to which I and everybody else I am sure wholeheartedly agrees.

1 August 2019

We were greeted by our secretary David at his house and after an inspection of his (well Sue’s really) garden which was ablaze with a wonderful display of colourful flowers, directed to an area outside his back door.

David had set up tables and chairs so we could hold our planned committee meeting alfresco (I think the club’s first committee meeting held in the fresh air?).

Although these meetings are scheduled to start at 10.00 a.m. sharp and nearly always do so, being outside tended to throw members off for some reason and we were later starting this morning.  Maybe it was because we took too long over coffee and chocolate biscuits! As it happened the agenda did not contain any big or problamatic issues so the late start was not crucial.

President Rob received reports from chairmen, chairwomen and chair people. (Politically correct and do not want to offend anybody)  Quite often these reports can be interspersed with amusing quips and a wandering off the subject, today for example we managed to get onto seagulls snatching dogs, and I am not sure how this occurred.

As Andy said “In the 9 /10 years I have been on this committee I have always found it fun, enjoyable and a very social occasion”.  How many could say that about attending committee meetings?  I have not served on the committee as long as Andy but, agree with his sentiments

Okay what was discussed?  Well we talked about memberships, numbers in the club (You know what I mean!) amongst other items. Rob did mention By- laws and the Constitution at one stage but, I think I switched off for this section of the meeting.

The aim is to restrict the 6 meetings we hold a year to an absolute maximum of 2 hours but, today we finished at 11.20.a.m. or thereabouts.

Our President mentions at our monthly meetings the need for new members to join our Probus Club committee. You are probably thinking no that is not for me as; it will be fussy, stuffy and regimented.  You would be wrong on all counts.  In addition you would be able to influence what the club does and get you views across and heard.

Please do consider taking on a role, none are too onerous especially as a new look committee would enable further new experiences to occur.

29 July 2019