OUR Christians Together in Minehead 10 per cent meal happened on Saturday, January 25, and it was a memorable occasion for the 52 people who came.

The point of the meal was to illustrate the way the world is, with only a small proportion of its population having plenty to eat, while the majority struggle to put food on the table.

Six people attending were randomly chosen to go to the 10 per cent top table. They were served a three-course meal of homemade vegetable soup with fresh bread, roast chicken with all the trimmings and a dessert, all washed down with a choice of soft drinks.

Meanwhile everyone else sat on adjoining tables. They watched the 10 per cent and waited to have water provided to them, which was in itself a reminder that many millions in our world do not have easy access to clean water.

Eventually, the 90 per cent were invited to come up and collect their meal of soup and bread.

Tim Woods, who has visited Bangladesh with Christian Aid, gave everyone a sheet of quiz questions, asking us, for instance, to estimate what percentage of the world's population lived in poverty (income under US$6.85 per day) in 2024. The answer is 44 per cent.

Tim then asked everyone to take part in a simple role play. Each table took the part of a group (such as the landowners, the children, the men or the entrepreneurs) in a typical village in Bangladesh.

Each group received the same scenario where an aid organisation invited them to suggest what would help them towards a better life in the village. We soon realised how different groups could have different priorities.

Afterwards, some of those on the top table said: “The two types of meal brought home the contrast between those who have enough to eat and those who don’t’

”Being randomly chosen to be one of the 10 per cent was not my choice. I wanted to give it to somebody else.

“It felt really awkward, knowing I was having a three-course meal whilst others ate soup and bread. It made me think how unfair it all was.

“We have such a choice of foods available to us, while so many don’t have enough food to live. So for them, it’s no choice at all’.

“It was a thought-provoking evening with lots of information about Christian Aid.”

The event was organised by CTiM. All the food was prepared by a team led by Jane Hayes and Minehead Methodist Church kindly gave us the use of their hall and kitchen.

Each adult attending the meal paid the same £10 for their ticket. Together with additional generous donations made, we raised just over £900 which has been sent to Christian Aid.

Christian Aid is an agency of all the churches in Britain and Ireland, committed to offering relief in times of disaster, as well as helping communities to get on their feet by supporting local partner organisations.

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First round of the Somerset Pentathlon

Fantastic fun for Danesfield School’s (Williton) athletes who participated in the first round of Somerset Pentathlon events. Activities included: Boccia, Archery, Ten Pin Take Them Out, Zombie Spots, Seated Slalom, Bench Hockey, New Age Kurling, Volleyball. Everyone got thoroughly involved and there were some outstanding performances. The accuracy in the archery and ten pin bowling was superb! Well done, everyone.

First round of the Taunton Area Netball Championships

Congratulations to Danesfield’s year-6 netball team who competed in the first round of the Taunton Area Netball Champs. A 100 per cent win record, while conceding no points, shows just how well they played. Terrific teamwork, amazing agility, precision passing and super shooting. We wish them luck in the next round.

Year 8 Hockey

Congratulations to Danesfield’s year 8 hockey team who played a selection of games versus Minehead Middle School. Great skills were on display showing just how much they have progressed this year as a result of their regular Thursday lunchtime training sessions. Well done everyone.

Year 7 football

Congratulations to Danesfield’s Year 7 boys who beat Castle School in the first round of the County Cup. All the team played well but Oakley and Harry deserve a special mention for their performances. Well, done to all the players, good luck for the next round.

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MONKSILVER Gardening Club is planning a busy year with speakers, outings, competitions and a variety of social events. The launch event celebrates The Nature of Somerset. Local photographer, Ian Anderson, will take us from the coast, across the levels and moors, to remind us of the unique and beautiful county we call home.

This is a free event for members buy entry costs £3 on the door for non-members. Please join us on Tuesday, March 4, at 7 pm at the EMN Community Hall, Monksilver. Follow Monksilver Gardening Club on Facebook for future events.

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ON Friday, February 28, Watchet Community Cinema will be showing Freud's Last Session.

Set on the eve of World War 2 and towards the end of his life, Freud's Last Session sees a fascinating imagined dialogue between the pioneering psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud (Anthony Hopkins) and iconic author C.S. Lewis (Matthew Goode) as they debate whether God exists and on the meaning of life.

Exploring Freud's unique relationship with his lesbian daughter Anna (Liv Lisa Fries) and Lewis' unconventional romance with his best friend's mother, the film interweaves past, present and fantasy, bursting from the confines of Freud's study on a dynamic journey. The little known story of Anna is tragic and brings real emotion to this story.

This film is being shown at Watchet Community Cinema, Knights Templar School, Watchet TA23 0EX. Doors open at 6.30pm and the film starts at 7pm. Tickets cost £4 which are available on the door

People who would like more information about the event or the community cinema are asked to call Anne on 07557 734795.

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THE Porlock Library Poetry Group started about seven years ago when a bunch of like-minded people got together to see what might happen. Our group still meets every first Thursday of the month at 10.30am until midday, and has produced an interesting miscellany of varied content. After much discussion, we decided to select some of that output and produce our little book ‘Through the Library Window’. We’ve added photos to make it more colourful – just like us.

We launched at the library last November. As this conveniently coincided with the Christmas shopping activity, it got off to a reasonably good start as a modestly priced stocking filler ‘for someone who already has everything’. It is a pleasant little souvenir of Porlock, and we want to thank everybody who has already dived in and snapped up a copy. At a modest (and nominal) minimum of £6.99, that’s about the same price as a couple of cafe coffees – plus it will last substantially longer.

Besides, all proceeds go to Porlock Community Library, which as I’m sure you know also provides a local focal point for various clubs, societies, talks and so on, all of which serve to enrich the village for young and old alike.

So go on – feel free to take the plunge and pick up yours from Porlock Library, Porlock Home and Hardware, or any of the other outlets kindly stocking ‘Through the Library Window’. You never know, at this rate we may have to organise a second printing.

Please be assured that anyone wishing to join our happy band will be most welcome. Our next regular meeting at Porlock Community Library will be held on Thursday, March 6.

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THE one-acre garden at Elworthy Cottage, Elworthy, near Wiveliscombe, is open again as part of the National Gardens Scheme’s Snowdrop Festival on Tuesday, February 25, from 11am to 4.30pm. Admission for adults costs £5 while children go free. The garden has more than 350 named varieties of snowdrops, most of which are clearly labelled, as well as areas where the common snowdrop is naturalised. Many different hellebores give colour to the garden at this time of year, as well as pulmonarias. Cyclamen coum add interest and are planted among the snowdrops.

Snowdrops, pulmonarias, and hellebores provide a good food source for early bees. A large number of different birds visit the garden during the winter including long tailed tits, nuthatches, woodpeckers and siskins. A redpoll was spotted on one occasion this winter.

Teas will available in aid of the Children’s Hospice South West. Dogs are also permitted on short leads. Depending on the weather, the garden could be wet underfoot therefore it is advisable to wear stout shoes or boots. Elworthy Cottage is situated in Elworthy Village on the B3188 between Watchet and Wiveliscombe.

Call 01984 656427 for more information or visit www.elworthy-cottage.co.uk.

Many thanks,

Mike Spiller, Elworthy Cottage