Lost Dogs Found

We are glad to report that the two missing dogs have since been found and returned to their owners.

Happy New Year to all our Members

Bulb Planting with Friends of Chinbrook Meadows

Friends Of Chinbrook Meadows recently applied for free bulbs that were being offered by Taylors Bulbs of Holbeach in partnership with The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association and have received 3,000 bulbs to enhance Chinbrook Meadows. These include narcissi, snowdrops and grape hyacinth. Glendale are going to plant some for us before Christmas but the rest we would like to plant as a community event on Saturday 5th January, 11am – 12.30pm.  Please come along. We will meet at the pavilion. Bring trowels and bulb planters. Come back later in the year to admire your handiwork in flower.

However with all recent rain the path to the meadows are waterlogged (flooded)

So wellington boots are probably essential as water is draining from the embankments. These have now some green cover following last year's works by National Rail.

Nice to see the Quaggy full of water

Merry Christmas to all in the Links Estate

On behalf of the committee of LERA we wish you a peaceful and merry Christmas. If you have not had a chance to see the lights of this house in Portland Road here is a photo that does it little credit. If it ever stops raining do take a walk past it.

Click on the picture to see a larger image or click on the triangle below to watch a very short (6 seconds) movie

Christmas Services at St Andrews Church

Carols by candlelight

Sing carols in a warm, candlelit church on Christmas Eve at 11pm before the midnight Mass. Do join the congregation!

Monday 24th December 2012 at 11:00 PM for ½ hour

Christmas Midnight Mass

This is a Common Worship Sung Eucharist with hymns, carols and incense to celebrate the birth of Jesus 2000 years ago. The crib is blessed at this service.

Monday 24th December 2012 at 11:30 PM for 1 hour

Christmas Day Family Eucharist

This is an informal Family Eucharist for Christmas morning with a talk around the crib.

Tuesday 25th December 2012 at 10:00 AM for 50 minutes

   

Lessons and Carols within the Eucharist

This is a service of readings and carols within the Eucharist to celebrate Christmas but also looking forward to the New Year.

Sunday 30th December 2012 at 10:00 AM for 1 hour

    

Winter Vomiting Bug

Some of our family have contracted this unpleasant disease. Especially at this time of the year, when many families get together, this can be very distressing. NHS direct has the following advice:-

Norovirus, better known as the winter vomiting bug, is the most common stomach bug in the UK, affecting people of all ages.

The virus, which is highly contagious, causes vomiting and diarrhoea. As there is no specific cure, you have to let it run its course, but it should not last more than a couple of days. If you get norovirus, make sure you drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and practise good hygiene to help prevent it from spreading.

Read more about the symptoms of norovirus.

Norovirus can be unpleasant to experience, but it's not generally dangerous and most people make a full recovery within a couple of days, without having to see a doctor.

Between 600,000 and 1 million people in the UK catch norovirus every year. You may have heard of it as the “winter vomiting bug” because the illness is more common in winter. However, the virus can be caught at any time of the year.

What should I do?

If you have norovirus, the following steps should help ease your symptoms:

• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
• Take paracetamol for any fever or aches and pains.
• If you feel like eating, eat foods that are easy to digest. 
• Stay at home and don't go to the doctor, because norovirus is contagious and there is nothing the doctor can do while you have it.
• However, contact your GP to seek advice if your symptoms last longer than a few days or if you already have a serious illness.

Extra care should be taken to prevent babies and small children who are vomiting or have diarrhoea from dehydrating, by giving them plenty of fluids. Babies and young children can still drink milk.

Read more about treating norovirus at this link.

Don't worry if you are pregnant and you get norovirus: there is no risk to your unborn child.

How to stop it spreading

The virus is easily spread by contact with an infected person, especially through their hands. You can also catch it through contaminated food or drink or by touching contaminated surfaces or objects. Just 18 virus particles can cause the infection. Virus particles are very, very, very small.

The following measures should help prevent the virus from spreading further:

• Wash your hands frequently.
• Do not share towels and flannels.
• Disinfect any surfaces that an infected person has touched. 

Read more about preventing norovirus at this link or view the short video at this link nhs.uk Norovirus .

Hope you avoid this awful condition and enjoy a happy Christmas.

Burnt Ash Library Reading Group January

The next meeting at Burnt Ash Library is on Thursday 3rd January at 2.15 pm and everyone is welcome.

The book to be discussed is:-

One Day by David Nicholls

15th July 1988. Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows?

Every one is welcome.

For more details visit the library or contact the librarians on 020 8460 3405 or by email at burntash.library@bromley.gov.uk

For details of other activities at the Burnt Ash Library see the following link:-

http://www.bromley.gov.uk/directory_record/34386/burnt_ash_library

Lost Dogs and Artifice Burglaries

Lost Dogs

A couple from the Links Estate are looking for their two dogs which escaped from their garden in Leamington Avenue yesterday afternoon.

The two dogs are a Siberian Husky and a black and white Cocker Spaniel. Both are micro-chipped.  If you hear or see anything please email us at leracontact@gmail.com.

Artifice Burglaries


There have been four possibly linked burglaries in the Borough using the Water Board method of entry. A male asks to enter your house as there is a water leak down the road. He states that he has to turn your taps on. Whilst the (elderly) victim is distracted another suspect comes in and burgles your property. The suspects are white males, one aged 40-50 approximately 5'10, the other around 30 years, approximately 5'08, both wearing high visibility jackets.

Please be vigilant, spread the word where possible amongst your family, friends and neighbours. Please report any suspicious activity on the 101 number and 999 if burglary is being committed.


This may be completely unrelated but there have been a group of three men ringing on doorbells asking to talk about security and asking whether you have a burglar alarm.  They said they were from ADT but we don't know whether this was genuine or not.  You should not enter into discussion with them at all.  Just to let people know and beware.