Message Board

Hello Janet,
Now we are six... thankyou for another wonderful FSA evening.. the rain did not dampen our spirits and we look forward to the next event!
linda&david

Dear Janet,
We are sending some photos taken last Weds night. Despite the weather upsetting your plans, it was a very enjoyable evening.
Carol was thrilled to, at last, meet Carol Drinkwater and it was nice for me to meet up again with Mike Thorn (double bass player with project brassens) ,
Thank you

Thank you for a fantastic evening. I really enjoyed it, more than anything i've been to for ages and ages. Pure magic - everything!
I have been to Dartington, Cheltenham and lots of other literature festivals but this was brilliant - Carol is so impassioned for her subject.
I loved the music too. The George Brassens, played so brilliantly. Thank you for an absolutely marvellous evening.

Janet this is very late but thank you for such a vibrant and interesting evening............the church comes into it's own for these events. Would have loved to have been sitting amongst olive trees in your garden but it was all fine and thank you for the delicious canapes and cakes...........everything.................you give so much to everyone. Big hug and much Love, Sarah.xx

Hello Janet.
Many thanks for bringing together an excellent and stimulating evening really enjoyed it.
Carol Drinkwater was captivating.

Happy Birthday FSA!!
xx

Hi Janet,

Lovely evening last night. Well done you for marking 6 years with a great Janet flourish !! Here`s to the next 6.,

Dear Janet and Dave

What a brilliant evening you put on last night. you both worked so hard So many lovely touches to include the little canapes and the Otto Lenghi tartlets. The vanilla taste certainly came through - a very fresh taste..
Carol was captivating. What a very special person. I had no idea she was such a mover and shaker.. I knew we had problems with the destruction of honey bees and butterflies but it's at crisis point and we all have to do something. I don't think I have the clout to take on the pharmaceutical companies - but that's what is needed. To think that all the delicious olives we eat are contaminated with pesticides.

As for the band ,well, how brilliant were they?? I I would love to come and see the olive trees before they go.....

Hats off......

Hi Janet....great evening thanks so much for organising it......inspirational talk by Carol and cosy communal feast accompanied by cool music.......it must have taken mega preparation, one is never helped by english weather systems!!! Good luck with Little Pod.

with love for now LIZx

Janet

Many thanks for last night which was both interesting and fun. We are
well aware of how much work went into it all behind the scene, and it is
only a shame that the weather did not reward you appropriately! Well it
is England! Not only that but I personally got plenty of exercise
getting up and down from my chair - well if I will choose a seat in the
middle of corridor what do you expect?!

Again many thanks for a really sucessful evening.

Blessings

Tony and Gillian

Oh! Janet darling,
What a memorable and stupendous celebration of the legendary FSA's SIXTH birthday!! Many many congratulations on the sheer organisation of such an event (bloody english weather!) but it really was such a cosy & festive atmosphere in the Hall that I don't think could have been replicated al fresco.
Carol's talk was spellbinding & thought provoking with such a clever mix of the personal & global. I don't know how long you will have the olive trees as I didn't manage to get to your garden to gaze at them & wonder at their survival techniques refined over 6,000 years or more & really would love to see them for myself.
]Many congratulations on the most glorious celebration
Sally

Dear Janet


Thank you and all your helpers for a fantastic effort last night. It was true community spirit. We enjoyed the talk by Carol Drinkwater very much and your canapes were delicious. A truly stupendous way to celebrate the FSA conception!!!


Alana and Tony

Dear Janet,
What a triumph!
It was a brilliant production. What a talent Joan McCready has - she simply was Helen Lewis. It was profoundly moving and uplifting. We are still talking about it. Thank you again.

Dear Jan, We really enjoyed 'A Time to Speak'.
The intimacy, both of the venue and the reltationship between the McCreadys and Helen made it a very moving & poignant performance. Amazing that you brought it all the way from Baltimore for us to appreciate in Exeter!

A Time to Speak: Many thanks Janet in giving us the opportunity of such a memorable and moving event; one which will last with me for always. For anyone to experience what Helen did and bring so much joy and creativity through her passion for dance says it all.
Thanks also to Joan for a powerful performance and Sam's personal account of Helen.

A Time to Speak - thank you
A deeply moving performance.
It was a wonderfully moving evening for me the more because I have visited Auschwitz and Terezin an experience that I will never forget.

Malcolm

I just consider myself so priviledged to have been part of that spell bound audience last night. I am overwhelmed by Joan's stunning performance That alone makes it an evening to remember without taking into consideration the tale it told so altogether it made it a truly historic occasion at the synagogue. I would not have missed it for the world & am still mulling over so much of the text & pictures painted so skilfully with Sam's wondrous script. Only sorry that I didn't see the dance videos as they must have added a deeply poignant touch.
Many many thanks for creating something so stunningly special & an evening that will linger long in the memory.
many many congratulations
Sally Sedgman

It is impossible to measure the impact of last night’s performance which ‘resurrected’ not only Helen Lewis experience but that of others – particularly those ‘named’. It was perfectly pitched and the McCready’s delivery and sustainment of the audience deep attention quite astounding. It was profoundly inspiring.



Thank you for bringing this to our locale; I will be looking for the book now.



Best



Gill


The premier college for the land and environment in Devon, meeting the education and training needs of diverse rural businesses, communities and individuals.

Thank you so much for the 'Ottolenghi' experience.
We loved the food, enjoyed good company and entertainment. You must have spent a lot of time organising the evening with thanks to Dave, your helper.

Our first contact with FSA on Saturday night of the 16th January, and we were most impressed by the sense of community and of course the wonderful food. Thank you so much.
We will buy the cook book on the strength of the food and would love to become members of the society.
Thank you for such a lovely evening and looking forward to hearing from you.

A Feast in Farringdon
A sumptuous array of colourful dishes were lovingly prepared by Janet Sawyer in January. Janet, having been inspired by a visit to Ottolenghi's restaurant in London, had the wonderful idea to host an evening of his dishes in Farringdon & brighten up a winter evening.
It was a magnificent feast for the eyes as well as for the tastebuds - a great variety of dishes of flavoursome foods of bright mediterranean colours & all tasted delicious.
The meal was followed by a very entertaining play & a quiz which was enjoyed by all.
Truly an evening to remember
Thank you Janet & Dave. When's the next one!

Congratulations on a brilliant evening (16th) and the food was DELICIOUS

It was amazing exploring such a selection of taste and colour of Ottoleinghi's food I am still talking about it now and ordered a copy from the library the librarian was very interested being a veggie most of the food is very exciting already brought some items to try out, very encouraging thank you for this discovery

Janet, you've done it again! What a super evening! We had such a lovely time, but the only trouble was we all suffered from over-eating afterwards as all that exquisite Ottolenghi food was simply far too good to resist!! Loved the George play - it was highly embarrassing though as had tears pouring down my face I was laughing so hard!! I must mention the Alcestis play last summer too while I'm at it as yet another superb event - the standard of acting was truly phenomenal and it was held in such a lovely setting. Enjoyed the local cider too! You really do spice up our social diary Janet! Thank you, I'm so glad we live near to Farringdon!

I’d like to say a big thank you to Janet and David for the wonderful Yotam Ottolenghi evening on the 16th for the FSA social 2010. I’ve never had Ottolenghi meal before but the blend of flavours where exquisite and the cooking so good that I and my friends thought Janet had Ottolenghi hidden in her kitchen!! But no! It was all the intrepid duos hard work. The courses were all cooked exceptionally well including the desert of fruit tart filled with cream flavoured from Janet’s wonderful Vanilla pods. All finished off with champagne truffles. Heaven!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for another truly wonderful evening with the FSA! Janet's 'Ottolenghi' dishes were absolutely delicious - bursting with all sorts of exquisite textures and flavours... and what a lovely, sociable way to share a meal together too, at those great long trestle tables! Thanks too to the brave actors from Tiverton who not only provided comedy, but a quiz while we waited for that mouth-watering dessert. When's the next one Janet?!

I'd love to see the pictures of the dog show but can't find them on the site. Am I missing something? Can you send me a link please? Best wishes.

I really enjoyed the dog show yhis afternoon and would love to know how much was raised for the Guide Dogs for the Blind

re Alcestis - what a billiant production -better than anything I've seen lately in theatre. Congratulations to you and the whole cast and all the backroom boys who made it run so smoothly. Ix

Great play, great production. Heracules was amazing!!!!

Well - I came away amazed at the stunning production of Alcestis performed at the Froginwell Cider Barn on Thursday. Many many congratulations to all the actors and crew behind the scenes who have obviously worked so hard to provide us with this outstanding performance. Special mention and thanks to a marvelous Heracles!

What a Herculean effort! Phil - a superb production and you make a stupendous Hercules too. Congratulations to all the cast - certainly worthy of Dartington and beyond! The lghting was fantastic. The costumes and set helped create a memorable and very 'gripping' evening. Hoping for at least one sunny evening for you all this week.
Congratulations to Janet of course and what a wonderful setting. More seats needed next year!

Delicious picnics too.....

Ellie

Superb opening night for ‘Alcestis’ congratulations to all involved and a hug for Janet! Yet another incredible production for the FSA...... I think you have just introduced the youngest member of the audience Edward [10yrs] to Greek theatre & Ted Hughes ...
Well done Sarah

Just wanted to say how much i was touched by the whole Buddhist teaching weekend,including Janets very warm hospitatility and home

Hi, I have reached Thailand by traveling overland from Singapore through Malaysia, If you want to follow my rather crazy family on our adventure you will find my blog on http://travelsofia.blogspot.com/

The Tony Cox concert -Such a wonderful experience! A very moving and talented musician, a memorable event. Thank you!! Can't wait for the next time!

Julie and Mark

Dear Janet/Tony Cox

Thank you so much for the concert last night at the lovely Farringdon Church. I am now listening to "You Asked For It" & "Tenderosa", marveling at Tony's expertise and musical talent with Mervyn Davis' amazing creation! The church was the right venue for, what was for us a truly, spiritually uplifting experience. We wish Tony, Debs & Tula all good things whilst they are here in the UK. Thank you once again.

Mike & Julie Jones

work from 5 of the artists who will be exhibiting with the FSA during the DAN exhibition can be seen at the Sth West Academy exhibition....................
work from 7 of the artists who will be exhibiting with the FSA during DAN have been selected to represent East Devon at the Thelma Hulbert Gallery in Honiton............
14 artists will be exhibiting with the FSA this year when the exhibition opens on Sat 13th in Farringdon Village Hall............
If you want to be invited to the Private View -
please e-mail:
fsadevon@hotmail.com
for the following options
3-5.30pm cream tea with the artists
6.30-7.30pm live music and wine with the artists
7.30 - 10pm .. gallery open during the guitar concert in the church....

Dear FSA!!
I am so thrilled of your amazing success and the greatly organized programs that you are running! Dear Philly how was the comix workshop ?!?! OH Im sure it was great! I would so much love to be there.... Lovely Janet, for once more you prove how many opportunities are there and how dreams can always come true if passion exists! I wish you all the luck and keep on with that wonderfull job. Devon is veeery lucky to have you guys!! Lots of love, Violetta, your friend from Greece. x x x

I would just like to thank everyone for a great evening. I really enjoyed the play, the whole atmosphere and setting. Lucy and Brian were absolutely fantastic, they looked and sounded spectacular.
Thanks

Message received 13/6/08
Dear Janet,
A bit late but I could not let another day go by without thanking you for a wonderful evening back on 23 May. I thought BURIAL AT THEBES was just a marvellous experience. The venue, of course, the superb acting, the clarity - oh, just everything. We still talk about it. I sent a mass of texts to friends pressing them to visit you the next day, but of course everyone is booked on a Saturday.
The production is so wonderful that I feel sure you will be asked to present it again through the summer. Please let me know if you do. I might well come again and I would certainly press others to experience it if at all possible.
All best wishes,
Frances Talling

Dear Janet,
I must congratulate you on a very fine performance of 'The Burial at Thebes'.
The opening as a garden party was quite inspired and made all the audience immediately feel a part of the unfolding drama. The obvious good-humour between the actors added to the friendliness of the occasion. Also, the setting in the churchyard was really atmospheric and made the whole performance very special. Even the weather was kind for the outdoor performances, so I guess the gods were looking down favourably on you! I hope you will be encouraged to produce another play! Diana Symes

A Triumph! Congratulations on a great first night, I hope the rest of the week goes as well for you. We all had a splendid evening, your vision for it all came to fruition and you deserve all the plaudits. It was passionate and dramatic and very entertaining. Well Done. Love Gentian

I just wanted to congratulate you all for a truly spectacular show!
You should both be very proud and very happy that it all went so well. It really is a major triumph to achieved this with so few resources - worthy even of King Creon perhaps!! Truly Farringdon is on the map!
With best wishes
David T

Hi Janet. The performance last night was really engaging and Jane was absolutely outstanding.
Jane Russell, Exeter College

Dear FSA,
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the Burial at Thebes on Saturday night. The acting was fantastic and the staging very inventive. Well done to all those involved - what a wonderful night.
Kind regards,
Penny Harper

Hello Janet
Thank you for the extra visitors you gave us in May! I hope they all enjoyed their stay in Farringdon and will talk about their visit to all their friends. I think you did an amazing thing and can't quite believe that you
managed to put on a package tour, act as guide, produce a play, act in a play, act as hostess, organise the local council and still stay calm! Well done, your play was exceptional and well liked and it was
cleverly supported by the very interesting and well produced literature. Genius!
Thank you again
With love from Liz

This is a quick email to say well done regarding Burial at Thebes which I attended on Saturday evening. It was first class. My favourite character was the Guard.
I look forward to the next Greek tragedy.
Best wishes,
Fiona.

Many Thanks. The play was superb and no doubt will leave a lasting impression on us all. Much love S.xx

Janet, I must tell you I thought the play was excellent and we enjoyed it hugely. Such an unusual experience - tony's and my first taste of Greek Tragedy - and the actors, venue and production put together a memorable evening for us. Dave Hill in particular, and also Jane Wicks were so very strong of course but very ably supported by the rest of the cast so that the narrative flowed, drew us in, and lifted us above frozen fingers and toes. All hail to the actors too for being seemingly unconscious of the arctic conditions. All the accessories were so well developed too - Posters and programme from Phigbilly were in a class on their own and the drink at the beginning, entertainment, blankets and little hand warmers were the product of careful thought and bright idea. Sorry we could not stay afterwards: one of our number had a significant problem with the cold. When I see something exciting and fresh like this, I'm frustrated that more people did not get to see it. Will you enter Burial for any competitions or do you have any plans to show the play on any other occasions? In the meantime, I must rush back to Tipton Times production, and please note that we have now set up a dedicated TT email address for future use.
Very kind regards and congratulations to you all, Barbara Pugh

Hi Janet I really enjoyed the trip. It was great to see so much in such a short time. It was very cultural and great that your play went so well. You all did a great job in a short time period as well.
Lisa Scully-O’Grady

Dear Janet,
Hope you've started to recover from your efforts re the play et al. I have heard so many good reports from everyone who saw it, it was a real triumph and as I said it spoke very powerfully to me.
Love, Sandra

Dear Janet, Thank you for a lovely experience on Saturday. I thought the play & it’s setting was magical. What a star Antigone is going to be.What breadth of vision you have to have thought it up & still to bring it all off so well.
Love, Ann

Thank you so much for a wonderful evening. The play was wonderful- the setting spectacular, the production great – and such an amazing conception. We have to hand it to you – quite something that no-one else could have done!
W, A and Em.

Flawless performance of a fasincating interpretation. Congrautlations to everyone involved. I'll certainly mention it in my 'modern drama' essays next academic term!
Charlie Lister, (English student at Cardiff University)

What a wonderful production! Congratulations to everyone involved in 'Burial at Thebes'. It kept me enraptured for 2 hours and the setting and evening was perfect.
When is the next one?

Congratulations to performers, production team, stage managers & the weather. All dreams must have been realised and more, and the Arts Council be regretting they were not associated with something so enterprising and unusual. A pity Seamus Heaney was not with us in person ....... or was he ?

Congratulations to all on the Burial - the balance of "pro" and "am" made it just right. It was amazing to have produced something so good out of nothing - no theatre, no existing company, not even a roof!!!

Janet
Outstanding Burial at Thebes – though only as we would expect from you!
Well done to all involved and we look forward to the next production
What a pleasure – congratulations
Sarah & Richard Hills-Ingyon

Had the pleasure of watching Burial at Thebes on Wednesday evening with the drama students from Clyst Vale. Great, thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience,regardless of the freezing cold. Thanks to all participants and looking forward to the next one.

The artwork that children did at the Devon Launch of The Legend of Aranrhod, as displayed in the Gallery on this website, is fabulous! Congratulations to the children involved and to the FSA for including them so artfully in the Gallery. Beautiful.

Due to rising costs and low sales - it is with regret that City Art & Crafts in South St, Exeter will be closing this Christmas. We are having a general sale starting this Saturday 1st December until Christmas. If you want more info, about what we will be doing then please send an email. We plan to continue picture framing from home in Dawlish. regards geoff

Just met Janet today at an art class in Farringdon Village Hall and have come to the website to see what she was talking about. Wow! Your art society is very impressive and the website is great. Will be looking forward to future events and am only sorry I've missed so many good ones already...

This has been my first visit the the website and I just wanted to congratulate and thank all those who have been involved in putting it together. It really is excellent and gives us all much to build on.

I very much enjoyed the Last of the Summer Wine evening yesterday, the first event I have been to. Very relaxed and sociable with great music. Well done!

What an excellent site! I am very impressed. Well done.

I've just had a good look at your web site, at Janet's invitation, and would like to add my best wishes to your message board. Keep up the great work FSA. Looking forward to joining you at one of your events one day...

I learnt of the FSA & its website from (lovely) Janet after sitting next to her at dinner. I shall definitely visit the website again to check for interesting events & look forward to seeing Janet,David & others at a FSA event soon! With best wishes for a happy 2007. Steve Homer.

Wishing everyone at the FSA the very best wishes for 2007. Hopefully, we will see each other in the not too distant future...anyone coming to New York, please do not be shy to ask Janet for my contact info.

Hi everyone! I'm delighted to find the website and to soon be associated in my small way with the great movement which is FSA. In June, and again in October of this year, I'll be giving a workshop on the Enneagram, an ancient system that describes 9 personality types and their interrelationships, It's very accurate and profound. You should recognise yourself and perhaps some of your loved ones! Please stay tuned to the details which should come up on the website shortly. I'm very much looking forward to meeting all (or some) of you then.

Wishing everyone in Farringdon a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

This year, Crealy is donating a water-pumping Roundabout PlayPump to children in Africa, using donations from guests, staff and the money usually spent on Christmas cards.

Festive Greetings!

Angela and all at Crealy

www.crealy.co.uk www.playpumps.org

Dear Janet,

Congratulations for the work you have done. It is great. One day I will come to see you and again Congratulations!!!!! Your friend from Greece

Best of luck with the forthcoming festival of arts event.

Easy to use, colourful, interesting and full of great events. Well done to all in FSA. I look forward to visiting one day soon.

I too have been encouraged to leave a comment! Congratulations on all the good work you are doing in Farringdon and getting your excellent web site up and running. The Farringdon History Society is right behind you. (and closing fast!)

I've found you! It's a very attractive and colourful site with clear navigation - even I didn't get lost. The Summer Festival is ambitious but you have the people in Farringdon to pull it off. Janet, let me know as soon as you can whether the FSA wants Blagovest under their aegis in 2007. I may be doing an autumn tour as well, so mid-Sept to mid-Oct may be an option as well as mid-May. Meanwhile have a good year.

Hello! Very vibrant and intriguing website, I particularly enjoyed reading Kate's description of Farringdon walk!

Janet is encouraging me to leave a message here for anyone with an interest, inter alia, in ceramics. I have just completed the organisation of an exhibition called 100 Devon Potters, on until 9th July, at the Burton Art Gallery, Bideford. Worth a trip? Look forward to meeting other members of FSA at the Arts Festival early next month, where Clayworks will be involving as many as possible in handling clay!
Paul Vincent

The website is great and a fantastic way to show off all you have acheived so far! Keep up the good work and I look forward to watching the FSA grow even more.

The FSA stand at BBC Springwatch today attracted masses of interest. I didn't even pick up the book I had taken with me - we did not stop chatting to people all day!
Many thanks to Alana, Helen, Peter and Barbara, Alan and Will, Dave and Dan for helping out today. Many thanks also to Tina, Alasdair, Annie, Helen B, Alex and Joy for entrusting their creations to me for the day. Our stand looked very beautiful.
One man asked me for details of my marketing company! weather was glorious, the setting perfect,

Thanks to the new website, I'm enjoying finding out about the FSA although Im stuck in the sticks of London.
Long may the FSA flourish!