'Plot' to raise feline funds succeeds ...
21 August 2016
Cat-carer and jam-gem Jenny Reynolds, along with helpers Ann Simpson and Kathy Porter, were delighted when they totted up how much they’d made for cats at the Walsall Road allotments open day on 20th August – a stunning £260 in just two hours!
The weather didn't look too promising - with showers and gusty winds forecast – but all it brought was a bit of bluster and a two-minute downpour. After that, it was plain sailing and sunshine all the way.
Confirms Jenny: “Kathy and Ann turned-up with a top-notch selection of bric-a-brac and cat-related goodies and we did well. The weather was blustery at times, then we had a miniature shower, but were soon catching up with dozens of regular customers – like Tereshina, one of the plot holders, who gave a nice donation, as did Angelina, the daughter of Walsall Road allotments secretary, Betty Farruggia.
Long-standing CP supporter Bridget Harper was on-site with Snuffles the hedgehog charity, and I was able to point out the lady who knitted my Christmas tree decorations last year, and who I went on to persuade to knit hedgehogs for her. A lovely day all told and we look forward to the next.”
The allotments raffle prize – a bottle of port – was won by CP volunteer Senga Whiteman, who promptly ‘did the right thing’ by donating it back to the branch where it will be wisely used for more jam-making – probably spiced plum and port jam! Sounds delicious – but then, so are all Jenny’s gem-jams. And all in a great cause - the needy cats and kittens of North Birmingham.
The branch did the right thing too in passing on £100 of the spoils to the WRA-team. The plot-holders donate loads of produce to NBCP which goes into the jams and preserves and, not only that, they have given kind, freedom-style homes to three lucky ferals!
Says ‘allotments’ Betty: “We have 7 cats altogether on site tho’ just four - Wanda, Janet, E.T. and Psycho – are home-grown. The other three – Virginia, Pauline and Freddie - we’ve given them a permanent allotments plot-home, as it were, as fully-grown felines.”
Betty and Jenny agree about the close relationship between WRA and NBCP: ‘We enjoy a long and on-going mutually helpful association, and long may that, and the good weather, and the folk who come along to support us and enjoy the open days, last.’
And so say all of us! We must never lose the plot!