For
Doddington, Newnham & Wychling
The Vicarage
Dear Parishioners
Why do more women go to church than men?
In any typical church congregation you will find that there are about twice as many females as males. I have never been able to find out why this should be. I have asked many people, both those who attend church and those who do not and until this last weekend, I have never heard any really convincing answers. In my Sunday paper there was a short article about a new book, called "On Men: Masculinity in crisis" by Anthony Clare, the psychologist. In it he talks about what it means to be an adult male. For many men, he says, "childhood is a time of trial in which strength and the ability to deny feelings such as pain, sadness and loss, marked their status as males." Many young boys are taught to have self-reliance and emotional control and with it comes "a deep suspicion of intimacy."
This certainly rang true for me. My mother was Scottish and I thought this was why she was always telling me 'to be independent, to stand on my own two feet, to be neither a borrower nor a lender!' But no she was merely doing what most mothers do, teaching her male children to compete and pretend to a confidence which they did not necessarily feel. For many this results in a fear of somehow "being found out."
Who spends most time of the telephone in your house? I bet it is not the male members of the household. We men tend to keep our conversations short and to the point, never mind BT telling us that "It is good to talk." What about visits to the doctor? Women seem more ready to go than men, because going for a man, can feel like admitting a weakness, of failure. Can you see there is a pattern here. Men tend to keep things more to themselves but this bottling things up is unhealthy. The suicide statistics show that four times as many men commit suicide than women, because they are unable to admit that their feelings are out of control, that they are depressed and do not know what to do. They cannot ask for help because they think that 'any man worth his salt would sort himself out without bothering others and in any case what could anyone else do?' Most men have very little experience of ever confiding in an intimate way with anyone, for "self-reliance is strength!"
Most anti social behaviour - violence, sexual abuse, illicit drug use, alcohol misuse, gambling are overwhelmingly male activities, and Dr Clare asserts that many men displaying such aggressive and delinquent behaviour are often suffering from depression which they are unable to acknowledge.
So we can see why churches, where there are people who admit that they are in need of forgiveness; who are willing their dependence and trust on God; who worship someone put to death without putting up much of a fight; who talk about "love" must be a very unmanly place to be seen in- very bad for the image. Best to stay away and leave it up to the wife!
It was only after I started in something called Re-evaluation Counseling where I was encouraged to express my feelings for the hurts I had experienced throughout my life that I was finally able to stop pretending to be what I thought people expected me to be. I also was able to drop this thing about being self-reliant. This enabled to come to God and accept the many wonderful blessings he wants us all to have, male as well as female.
Best wishes and happy holidays
Roy Kilford
From the Registers
Weddings
15th July Rosemary Ryder and Shaun Spilsbury at Newnham.
Funerals
12th July Geoffrey Waters at Doddington & Charing
CHURCH SERVICES DURING AUGUST
Sunday 6th August
8-00am Lynsted Holy Communion BCP
1O-3Oam Doddington Family Service in Church
1O-3Oam Norton Family Service
Sunday 13th August
8-OOam Wycling - Holy Communion BCP
9-OOam Norton - Holy Communion BCP
1O-3Oam Lynsted - Family Service
1O-3Oam Doddington - Holy Communiont Rite A
6-3Opm Newnham - Sung Evensong
Sunday 20th August
8-OOam Doddington - Holy Communion BCP
9-OOam Norton - Holy Communion Rite B
1O-3Oam Lynsted - Holy Communion Rite B
1O-3Oam Newnham Family Communion
Sunday 27th August
8-OOam Newnham - Holy Communion BCP
9-OOam Norton - Holy Communion Rite B
IO-3Oam Lynsted - Holy Communion Rite A
1 O-3Oam Wychling - Family Service
Please note that Trailblazers will not meet in Doddington Village Hall during August but there will be special activities for children in church at Doddington on the 13th August, at Newnhwn on the 20th and at Wychling on the 27th.
A ship was wrecked on a veiy dangerous stretch of coastline but miraculously the entire crew escaped. They decided to devote their lives to warning other mariners of the dangers and so set up a beacon on the headland. Eventually they built a small shelter there to protect them from the weather. Other people heard about the good work that these men were doing and wanted to help them in some way, so they raised money for them mid helped out down at the shelter. As more people offered to help, some said that it was rather inconvenient to have to go all the way down to the coast and eventually a more suitable and comfortable clubhouse was built inland. The trouble was that soon people preferred just to go to this comfortable club-house, and very few were willing to go out on the headland to warn seafarers of the dangers along that pert of the coast. So once again~, the ships were often in very great danger because the group which had been established to warn them were kept far too busy niaintaming and improving the facilities in the club house.
Patrick Evans, Archdeacon of Maidstone, told this parable. Was he trying to tell us something?
PAGE 2.
DODDINGTON CHURCH FLOWER ROTA.
6th and 13 August Mrs Cuthbert..... 20th to 27th Mrs Parry.
CLEANING ROTA.
12th August Mrs Howell….. 26th August Mrs Pateman and Mrs Smith.
NEWNHAM FLOWER AND CLEANING ROTA
5th August Miss S. Gambell and Mrs E. Clark. NF. (Wedding)
12th and 19th August Mrs D. Risden.
26th August Mrs K. Phillips.
BRASSES Mrs R. Cheeseman
DODDINGTON PARISH COUNCIL.
Meeting held on Monday 10th July in the Village Hall
Alan Bayford,
Doddington resident and headmaster of School in Sheerness, had distributed a
Plan for Provision for young People in Doddington prior to the meeting. The
Plan outlined proposals for reinstating Pre - School facilities, Mother and
Toddlers Group and provision for local teenagers. He was invited to spend the
1Omins public discussion time explaining his role in the Plan in more detail.
It was agreed that he would speak to the young people in the village and
relevant organisations and let the Parish Council know of the outcome. It was
agreed that any expenditure needed to implement any new provisions for the
village could be sought from outside bodies and not the Parish Council.
Replacement bins are to be provided in playing field, Alistair Clinton volunteered to keep bins clear and regularly inspect playground equipment - (Thank you). Graham Cuthhert reported that all new signs had now been put in place throughout the village regarding dog nuisance and fines.
The Post Office has written to the Parish Council stating their long term intention to reinstate the Post Office but if no one comes forward to fill the post of suhpostmaster the Post Office may be closed for some time. Local Post Offices are now: Teynham and Lenham. Lenham P/Office closes for lunch 1300 - 1400. Teynham P/Office closes 1300 on Wednesday. Transco works have written in response to a letter of complaint sent by the Parish Council about the unacceptable state of the road between Doddington and Newnham. They have cleared the road but it was felt that it still was not cleared to an acceptable standard., Newnham Parish Council and Mrs Day from Doddington schooI have also written to the contractors. Several complaints have been received about the abandoned cars parked at the front of Northdowns, the grass has been left uncut around the cars as the mowers can not get any nearer to the cars. It was agreed that Swale Housing and KCC to he asked to remove cars. The Green waste Site has now closed although there is a possibility of reinstatement of this facility - watch this space.
The request received from some of the young people of the village for football nets has been agreed , these will be ordered and put in place as soon as possible. (hopefully within the next few weeks). Ian Woodhouse proposed for a 4 year plan for Parish Council was discussed, it was agreed that more work would be done before any firm proposals were put forward.
Mr Planner of Swale Borough Council Highways is oto meet with a small party of villagers to discuss speeding problems at Westend. It was agreed that until Mr department had recognized the problems it would not be able to offer any solutions so a further meeting will be held to discuss the issues with other concerned residents. Swale Borough Loral Plan documents are available for reading, any interested parties can find these documents at Swale House Sittingbourne.
All members of the Parish Council welcome any concerns from the Village and are of course available at the monthly meetings held 2nd Monday of every month in the Village Hall. Next meeting 14th August at 8pm. Parish Council is as follows
Chairman Mary Chastney 886245. Vice - Chairman Graham Guthbert 886365 Stuart Doughty 886807 Barry West 886 227. Linda Lumsdem 886376 Alistair Clinton 886843 Ian Woodhouse 886 251. PARISH CLERK Eileen Trethewey.. 886 868
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STOP PRESS - - STOP PRESS -- 20th JULY 2000 - STOP PRESS - STOP PRESS
Doddington Parish Council have had several residents asking why the Council had not reported on the planning application submitted to Swale Borough Council for a telecommunication base station at Palace Farm, Doddington. Doddington Parish Council was notified at the same time as the residents in the vicinity of the proposed development. Unfortunately as our Parish Clerk was away, we knew nothing about the application until notified by concerned residents. A copy of the planning application was obtained from Swale House on Monday- 17th July.
DODDINGTON PARISH COUNCIL have called a special meeting of the Parish Council to be held on WEDNESDAY 26th JULY 2000 in the village hell. The Parish Council have spoken to many residents and are aware of the views held. A report will follow in next months newsletter.
NEWNHAM PARISH COUNCIL.
Resume of minutes of last meeting, 6th July 2000
Recreation.
1 . Cllrs. Gunners's efforts to provide a. community
area via the Rural Committee Project have had some success in that Mr. Wade of
Sharsted Court has expressed an interest. Details have yet to be discussed.
2. There had been no report from the Parish Paths Project co - ordinator
on the state of local footpaths.
3. Cllr Llewellin proposed the placing of
small signs on Parish footpaths to draw attention to interesting or unusual
flora and fauna. Councillors agreed in principal, subject to the Landowners
permission and the requirement to protect rare species.
Parish council; Mr John Adgie was co - opted as a member of the Parish Council by unanimous decision. The Council now has its full complement of councillors. Street Lighting; A small leaflet asking Wineycock residents their opinions with respect to street lighting will be circulated during July/August. Completed forms to be returned to the Village Hall within 10 days of receipt.
Pathway Clearance;
1. Cll Seath had received an assurance from the
Highways Department that clearance of the pathway- between Newnham and
Doddingrton was forth coming.We are waiting
2. The overhanging vegetation
restricting the footpath between 90 The Street and Calico House had been cut
back by the landowners.
3. The sunken drain cover on the Newnham/Doddington
Rcad has been repaired.
4. Cllr Adgie's reported on blockages of drains
owing to infrequent and ineffective road sweeping in Newnham Lane. Since
similar problems arise in The Street the problem will be discussed further, and
representation made to SBC.
Postal Service;
Cllr Adgie reported on problems with the delivery of
letters posted in the village. Councillors were of the opinion that this was a
Sorting Office problem, and will complain to the Sittingboarne Sorting
Office.
Date of the next meeting.. The Annual Parish Meeting will, be
held at 7.5Opm on 3 August 2OOO
NEWNHAM VILL.AGE STORES & PERIWINKLE PRESS.
We are OPEN 7 days a week: Our opening times are Monday - Friday 8am to 6pm... Saturday and Sunday 9am - 6pm.
We have greatly increased our range of GROCERIES - We now stock a wide range of soft drinks, sweets, crisps, magazines and newspapers..... Fresh bread is delivered daily - We also have Free Range Eggs, fresh milk, local honey and ice creams, as well as toiletries, toys, stationary, household and haberdashery items, plants & shrubs.
We have services such as Dry Cleaning, photocopying to offer you and a local community- board for you to advertise events jobs etc. .. Stamps are available for sale as are Greeting Cards. Anything that we do not stock that you would like then please do ask and we will try to get it for you...... Newspaper~ deliveries are made to Norton, Lewson Street, Teynham, Lynsted and Newnham. For those in Doddington unable to get to the shop in Newnham we are dropping pre-ordered newspapers off at Doddington Service Station.
PLEASE don't forget that we are also Picture Framers and have a second hand bookshop. We can order new books also. We also restore small items of furniture and take in upholstery jobs. For any further information contact us on 01795 890588.
Antony and Clare Swain.
PAGE 4.
NEWNHAM MOTHERS AND TODDLERS.
Yes! We are still here and thriving!! We had great fun on our outing to Farming World on Wednesday 19th July. The children especially enjoyed the tractor and trailer ride.
That was our last meeting before the summer break. Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 6th September... We meet every' Wednesday' from 10 to 11.3am in Newnham Village Hall. Please come and join us for a coffee and chat and a chance to give your baby or toddler the opportunity' of playing with others.
On Wednesday 6th September we have an excellent photographer coming to take photos of the chi1dren. (Ready for your Christmas presents) We'd love to see you. If you would like to know more please ring Sheila McManus on 01622 850535.
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NEWNHAM.
Neighbourhood watch/household Insurrance Premiums: Householders will be aware of the discount available on house/contents insurance provided that their area is covered by Neighhourhood Watch Scheme..... Roger Tuckey; currently' our Neighbourhood Watch, has also taken on the duties of Parish Paths Co- ordonator for the next twelve months. He has expressed a wish to relinquish his former Watch duties, a replacement Neighbourhood W/Co-ordinator is therefore needed. Please contact either Roger Tuckey or any Parish Councillors
FRIENDS OF KENT CHURCHES
Sponsored Bke Ride/Walk. The annual bike ride or walk will take place on Saturday 9th September when most churches in Kent will beopen between lOam and 6pm.
The money' raise by each entrant will be divided equally between the Friends of Kent Churches and the church of their choice.
The friends of Kent Churches provide grants for building restoration work and have in past years given money' to our parish churches.
This year we would like to encourage as many children as possible from our villages to travel between Doddington and Newnham Churches, a distance of approximately 1 mile. The route for walkers, cyclists and tricyclists will pass through the grounds of Doddington place to the White Gates just outside Newnham, thereafter the pavement can be used to Newnham Church. Older children may' prefer to be sponsored for laps. Refreshments will be available in both churches.
Forms are available from Periwinkle Press, Newnham, Hieather Parry at Cherry Tree house, Doddington or from Janet Howell at Trailblazers.
TRASH & TREASURE.
Alexander Spurrier Trust on Saturday 29th July 2000 at Newnham Village Hall 1Oam to 12 noon. Alex is now 6 and his progress is remarkable. He is coming out of the lonely dark tunnel of Autism and cam now speak, read, do numbers and colours. His goal is to go to mainstream school with his sister. Thank you for your continued support.. Joan Tuckey.
DARBY & JOAN CLUB.
We had a fantastic afternoon on 2lst July our last meeting until September. Our members had been invited to Calico House of Sir Roger and Lady Moat and their Dauqhter. It was perfect weather to sit in the garden for a wonderful tea also able to walk around the garden. We thank you very much and also to Brenda for waiting on us.
Our next meeting is on 8th September when we have had a invitation to visit the home of Mr & Mrs Harris at Bunkers Hill. Transport arrangements to follow in next month's newsletter.
STOCK CLEARANCE.
Fantastic Bargains.. 1/2 price Art Sale.... Newnham Village Hall on 12 August 2000. 10 to 12 noon. Refreshments in aid of Alexander Spurrier Trust. Everyone Welcome.
CLEANER REQUIRED
Cleaner Required for Newnham Village hall. A cleaner for approximately' 3 hrs per week. Contact Mike Meakins.. Telethone 01795 890437.
PAGE 5
DODDINGTON & DISTRICT VILLAGE SHOW.
Doddington Village Hall Saturday 2nd September 2000. Can you believe how quickly a year has flown by since the last bumper village show Please help to make this years show as big a success. Schedules are available from Mary Chastney, Woodstock, The Street Doddington, and Charlie Clark the Hollies Newnham. There are 64 classes including horticulture, flower arranging, preservation and cookery, craft and photography and 5 children's classes.
Entry forms must be received by Mary Chastney by 7pm on Thursday' 31 August earlier if possible Entries must be staged at the village hall between 8am and 10.l5am on show day Saturday 2nd September. This year you dont even need to bring your own vases they will be provided, except of course for the flower arranging classes.
The show is open to the public from 2pm - 4.3Opm, the prize giving will take place at 4.l5pm. Refreshments will be available, also a sales table and a raffle.
AN APOLOGY
This letter was originally intended for the Parish Council, asking why' the proposed erection of a telecommunication base station had not been mentioned in any of the reports of the Council meetings, when it was clearly' of importance to the whole village. The Chairwoman and another Councilor came to see me to explain that they' had had no inkling of any' such proposal until the Clerk received the letter from Swale Borough Council at the same time as the 7 or 8 of us living in the Chequers Hill area. The same two ladies came to our local informal meeting yesterday' and very" patiently' listened to our fears and concerns, and answered questions about council procedure of which we are not always aware. Other councilors have been very willing to listen to individual comments.
My sincere apologies then to the Parish Council for misjudging them in my ignorance, and my thanks for arranging an extra ordinary Meeting so that all villagers can express their views on how such a mast will be of benefit to the village. Thus my faith. has been restored in our caring and well respected Parish Council Furthermore, I should like to take this opportunity (as one does not often present itself) to thank the Council not on1y for giving us the interesting details of their monthly' meetings but for their often intensive work in their overall praiseworthy aim. to protect our happy village community, enjoying the peaceful life as we have always known it of our beautiful Kentish village of which there are not too many left. Stella Smith.
SPONSORED WALK.
John and I would like to thank everyone who sponsored us on our recent 18 mile walk from Newnam to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital.
Thanks to your generosity we raised over £ 1000. for the East Kent MacMillan Nurse Appeal and the National breast Screening Programme.
The weather was reasonably kind to us and after a. drizzle start, the wind dropped and the sun even made a brief appearance, The rain started again Just as we arrived at the hospital but as our return lift was waiting for us we avoided another soaking!! Thank you once again...... Rosemary Llewellin.
OSPRINGE POST OFFICE
Please note that there is a new advertisement in this month from Ospringe Post Office. It has been recommended by' one of the residents in Doddington, with resonable parking and no Queues.
THE WEATHER. JULY 2000.
Up to the 24 a month of unsettled weather drier since the 14ath but rather cooler. I have recorded 26mm(l") of rain so far. There have been some pleasantly' warm days, but separated by cloudy dull ones rather than continuous sunshine. The past week has seen several days reaching the high 20's (29.5c on the 19th) but there have been several chilly nights - 8c on the 17th, 8.3c on the 12th and 8.8c on the 8th.
There was a gusty wet spell from the 9th to the 13th, when most of the month's rain fell: a maximum wind speed of 25 mph on the 10th. There is still time for some summer!!.
PAGE 6
NEWNHAM VALLEY W.I.
Our meeting this month had an extra visitor, a four legged one. Liz Stevens was our speaker for the evening. With her came a four month old black Labrador pup who is in the process of being puppy walked and trained to be a Guide Dog for the Blind. Liz went on to explain the care of the puppies how they are fed and the different disciplines that they have to be introduced to.
Problems such as getting on a train which we all take for granted need to be overcome, so that the dog is not frightened of a train approaching a platform and can make sure his or her owner is safely escorted onto the train. Clapping and any sudden noises that we again take for granted have to he introduced. From puppy walking the dogs progress to a training programme before being partnered with a blind person. The blind partner will go to live at a training centre for up to four weeks to learn how to use their guides safely and effectively. The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is responsible for the care, upbringing and training of over 6,000 dogs and is purely charity' funded.
Our Garden Meeting on 17th August will beheld at Sandhurst Farm Forge from 2 - 4pm There will he a demonstration of blacksmithing and a chance to have a go at spinning.
On September 16th (Sat. Morn) Newnham W.I. will be holding a jumble sale, bric- a-brac and nearly new sale at Newnham Vi1lage Hall. If you have anything which would be suitable to sell to help us boost funds, please phone Kate Dickenson on 01795 886854 and I can arrange to collect things from you. Look out for the posters round the village soon for details. Our Top Team Quiz Team won their Group so they now go onto the Final on Monday 23rd October. Flower of the month was Jennifer Cheesman with a rose. Competition Winner was again Jennifer with a hand made Parchment Card.
Next months meeting is our Garden Meeting on 17th August at Sandhurst Farm Forge, Seed Road 2 - 4pm ... so lets hope the weather warms up.
WILDLIFE NOTES.
Last month I wrote that you do not see too many Swifts out here in the countryside. Well to prove me wrong, there have been some large flocks of Swifts over Doddington & Newnham during the last month. These are probably parent birds collecting insect food to take back to their young in the towns. However, the autumn migration movements of birds have already started even if it seems that summer has just arrived - and some of the Swifts we see may be on their way back to Africa.
Earlier in the month baby birds were everywhere, and some species are now raising a second brood certainly the Yellow hammer in the .orchard opposite my house have- started to sing again I have received reports of a family of Spotted Flycatchers in the garden in Newnham, and also .a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers raising a brood in a Doddington garden. An. unusual bird sighting was a Lesser Black backed Gull, spotted by Mick Barry on the road between Doddington and Wychling. This gull is a scarce breeding species in Kent.
July and August are the months to look for 'arable weeds', those summer - flowering annuals of ploughed farmland. The Field Poppy is probably the best known of these, but there are many more recently, I counted some twenty different species of annual wildflower in Church Field at the top of Chequers Hill. These included Scarlet Pimpernel (the 'Poor Man's Weather glass' because its flowers close in bad weather), Pineappleweed (Crush and sniff the flowers to find out why it is so named) with flowers that look like daisies but without the white petals and the Round Leaved and Sharp - leaved Fluellens. These last two are low = growing plants with flowers resembling tiny, purple - and - yellow snapdragons. Finally', keep a look out for Glow worms: the first I've heard of was shining away in Newnham on the 19 July. All sightings - of Glow - Worms or anything else to me at 2 West end Cottages , Doddington. Richard Moyse.
DODDINGTON RESIDENTS
To those who received a "flier" headed Extraordinary Parish Council meeting Wednesday' 26 July' and apparently listing the reasons why the Parish Council would oppose the proposed Vodaphone Mast. I would like to make it very clear that this did not come from the Parish Council and that we are not connected with the D A M Action Group. Mary Chastney - Parish Council Chairman.
PAGE 7
THE PANTOMIME.
Rehersals continue for the next years production of 'Aladdin'. There will be 4 (four) Performances, by popular demand, 2.. Matinee and 2.. in the Evening. The date of the performances are 6th and 7th of January 2001 which are the first Saturday and Sunday of the New Year.
Unlike most other Panto's which have Eastenders in the cast we have Westenders in ours who are Alistair' Clinton, Sue Hollaway" and Sue Hanson. It has been fun so far at rehearsals and we hope you will enjoy" the fun as well. Tickets will be on sale soon by telephone on 01795 886 332 or from Leslie at Doddington Service Station. Please book your tickets early" to avoid disappointment
SHARSTED SPORTS CLUB
It has not been a very good few weeks for the clubs cricketers as they have lost 3 of their Kent Village League games, and also they were knocked out of the Doug Wood Cup by' Macknade. Keep up... Lads the tide will turn in your favour.
The football section have started training for the coming season, and it is hoped to sign some new players. If anyone is interested training is on Thursday evenings at the ground.
DODDINGTON & DISTRICT W.I.
July" 29th, Garden Meeting held by kind permission of Mr & Mrs J. Wildash in their garden at Chequers Hill. A beautiful sunny afternoon, and we all arrived to find tables, chairs, and umbrellas, set out over the lawn ready" for our use.
President Mrs A. Martin began the proceedings by' welcoming members and a number of visitors She then handed out buttonholes to those with July/August birthdays. Amongst the business discussed members were reminded of the federation 'Stretch a fiver' campaign and given a Smartie tubes to fill with coins and return at Septembers meeting. The monthly Sales Table has not been doing well of late so it was suggested and agreed that for a period of a year we try' having a Bring & Buy Stall every 3 months. The first will be in September (Please price goods brought).
September 28th is when the next Group Meeting will he held. The competition will be for a Lavendar hag 4*overall. Any shape, any medium. (please bring to September meeting) Thursday August 10th is the day of the outing, final details will be given of time etc. by letter to those going.
After reading correspondence and items from newsletter everyone either sat and chatted or joined in a competition organised by Mrs Wildash. Prizes were given to four people with the highest score. A delicious tea was then served, Scones and Cakes being provided and served by Committee Members. Our usual Flower of the Month competition was won equally by Mrs Mary Chastney and Mrs Pam Hawkins o The raffle was then drawn.
It was agreed that it had been a most enjoyable afternoon' and thanks were given to Mr & Mrs Wildash, for their hospitality. ...... NO Meeting in August. The September meeting takes place in the Village hall on Thursday" September 14th at 2.l5pm. A talk on Millinery will be given by Mrs Brooker-. Monthly' Competition will be a decorated hat. Group Competition as stated. Visitors most welcome for details of joining please contact our Secretary 01795 886 886.
CLOSING DATE FOR SEPTEMBER
AUGUST 24th at 6pm.
PLEASE NOTE IF NEWS IS NOT RECEIVED BY THEN IT WIIL NOT BE PRINTED.
Recipe of the month
Feta and Mint Frittata
More commonly known as Spanish omelette, this is a made-in-minutes meal for a summer lunch or supper.
You will need
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
6oz (150g) cooked new
potatoes, cut into small dice
6 large fresh eggs
3 tablespoons double
cream (or milk, if you prefer)
Plenty of freshly ground black pepper
Large pinch cayenne pepper
200g pack Greek feta cheese
2 tablespoons
freshly chopped mint
A non-stick frying pan, 9-inch or 11-inch
How to make it
Put the oil in the pan and make it quite hot. Fry the diced potatoes until lightly browned. While this is happening, prepare the eggs. Whisk the eggs, cream, black pepper and cayenne together in a bowl - there is no need for salt as feta cheese is quite salty.
Pour the eggs over the browned potatoes. and stir round with a fork until the eggs just start to scramble.
Now crumble the cheese and scatter it over the eggS. thcn sprinkle with the chopped mint. Push the cheese into the liquid egg a little, then leave the omelette to cook and brown on the underside - about three minutes.
Meanwhile the put the grill on. Pop the pan under the grill for a couple of minutes to set the top.
Serve straight from the pan with a crisp green salad. or leave until cold and cut into wedges for a picnic lunch.