Hook

Although the days are starting to get longer once more, there is no guarantee that the sun will become strong enough to grow the crops for the next year.

The only way to ensure this is to present offerings to the gods of earth and heaven, asking them to look kindly upon us.

For those of you not sure how to do this, Hartley Wintney is leading by example, blessing the trees and soil in the annual wassail ceremony.

Starting with the wassail cup at 7pm outside the Wagon and Horses, there will be a torchlight procession to the Millennium Orchard.

There, your favourite pagan representatives - Hook Eagle Morris Men - will be blessing the trees and anything else that happens to get in the way.

The events will be rounded off with a barbecue, offering locally-produced meat, cider and mulled wine.

Tickets, which can only be bought in advance, cost £3.50 (including barbecue) and are available from the Wagon and Horses or Hartley Wintney parish office.

If enough people from Hook attend, there is every chance the fertility will spread along the A30 and bring peace and plenty to at least the eastern side of Hook.

GARDEN club: Continuing the fertility theme, Hook Gardeners' Club will be meeting on Monday, at 8pm, in St John's clubroom.

Paul Patton will be giving a talk on "Growing for the Kitchen".

For more details, call 764946.

EMBROIDERERS' Guild: The Hart branch of the Embroiderers' Guild will be holding its first meeting of the year on Monday, at the WI Hall in Hartley Wintney, from 1pm to 3pm.

For more information, contact Pat on 01252 877965.