Coming home

Hello all.
 
It's Virginia Jealous here. (Yes, that really is my name.) I was born in 1960 in Manor Cottage, baptised in St Giles, went to school at Ferndale and the Elms in Faringdon, and moved out of the village in 1971. I've been based in Australia since 1983. Long time ago...
 
I now unexpectedly and wonderfully find myself back in the village, house-sitting Chapel House while the family are away. I'll be here until late August, I think. I'm making some strange and wonderful (re)connections with place and people - thanks so much to those who I've accosted in passing and who have already shared memories and hospitality! It's very interesting to view such a specific part of childhood through adult eyes.
 
I'd be very happy to catch up with anyone in the village who'd like to revisit - however briefly - that different country of the past. These are only some of the names/events that have stuck with me over the years: 

• we village kids included Teagle, Halsall, Hutchinson, van Tinteren, Maitland, Austin, Yates and more
• the 'grown ups' included Morses, Goulds, Payne, Hawkins, King, Scott, Miles, Vines, Nias (we 'Mr and Mrs'd' them then - no idea of first names)
• BBC filming a TV production of 'Beowulf' in the Barn in the late 1960s (?). We kids were extras - serving 'wenches' and such
• bellringers in the church
• carol singing 
• group camping at Badbury Clump to listen to nightingales
• the fab heritage apple tree at Manor Cottage, drooping over the wall, taken down shortly after we left I think
• that Simon and Garfunkel song 'April Come She Will' and its association with Gt Coxwell
• etc etc etc

Do please drop by or leave a note in the letterbox if you'd like to get in touch. Fingers crossed!
 
Virginia
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