Let the snow stop them from praising God? No way!

Last Sunday, the 8th February, 9 brave souls trekked through thick snow to reach the little church at Otterford. Whilst there was up to 12 inches of snow on the ground and the air outside was chilly, the welcome inside the church for the family service was very warm and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

The service was led by Rachel Ruthven and the sermon gave the children a helpful way to remember their prayers - the finger prayer. The children completed a handy card to take home to remind them of what they had learned.

There was a wonderful mix of traditional and modern hymns with the modern ones generating a bit of clapping and dancing - another way to beat the cold!

Finally, the congregation adjourned outside for a thoroughly enjoyable snowball fight. If only all Sundays could be like this!

After a very wet week with floods in the West Country and Northumberland the prospect for the walk seemed rather doubtful. However, on the day, the forecast was more hopeful and a small group assembled at the church for the start of the walk. The seven adults and six children who took part were all sensibly attired in wellington boots as we expected a rather muddy walk.

Ann Grabham had prepared the route and the children were given a map with questions to be answered and items to collect en route. This kept them all busy and, together with sloshing through muddy fields and streams, a very happy time was had by all.

The route took us on the footpath up behind the church, along the lane and across fields to School House at Brown Down, to Howstead, Owlhayes Farm and to Birchwood Chapel where we stopped for a picnic lunch, all food and drink having been taken by car to the site. The return journey then took us up the road to Waterhayes farm, across fields to Lower Fyfett, up to School Farm and over fields and back to the start.

Apart from being fun it was also quite an educational walk. We identified trees, learnt why dry cows were so called, were shown a spot where farmers used to wash their sheep. When we found a large metal disc at one farm David Ruthven explained how it was used long ago when metal rims were attached to wooden cart wheels.

Altogether a very enjoyable walk, and, above all, not a spot of rain!