World Cup hits Postwobegon

A SEEMINGLY innocent request for a lift up to Orwell the other week was not exactly well received.

I must have been one of the minority of people who just didn't know that in a few minutes time one of the World Cup matches was about to begin and that England were playing.

The Orwell's Gardens Open weekend had coincided with the game.

On day two of the weekend, more than 200 visitors enjoyed refreshments in Maggie's garden regardless of its location down a track off the main road and a long walk from the village centre.

Eight years ago her garden was described as a pool of mud. Next year it will open for the first time as part of the National Gardens Scheme.

With football now an important topic Addenbrooke's doctors attended to what they described as their first World Cup casualty. Here in Postwobegon, Joan's husband playing football with his grandchildren, fell and fractured his arm. Grandad is now confined to watching football from his armchair.

The Eversdens has its own World Cup competition compiled by Catherine. The winner will collect £250 and two others will receive £150 and £75. With entries costing £5-a-time coupled with the total absence of any sales point in the villages it was a brave venture for Mary and her family who got on their bikes and canvassed.

Response has well and truly exceeded expectations and I estimate that very few homes in the village failed to respond. The winners will be announced on July 9 at the showing of the World Cup Final in the village hall.

We cannot exactly claim that there will be a big screen as such, but the equipment for screening has been given a run through, the picture will be projected on to the wall of the village hall and I am assured that the detail is superb.

Fund-raising is for the provision of tennis courts.