. . . Oh Yes — it is! The annual Pantomime is upon us, with a vengeance as it were, this year, wreaking havoc at every turn, as the grand dame(s) fling themselves around the trembling stage and everyone tries…
Forging ahead . . .
Welcome… The friendly website of Allendale Forge Studios really does convince new browsers that this is a very welcoming place. I’m speaking with Zoë Bell, who runs the Forge Café as her own business, and is also one of the…
Timber stacks at Redwell Corner
It’s a cash crop, of course, but even so the harvesting of a plantation, especially one as mature as this one, comes as something of a shock. What a wide open space there is behind the stone wall, which is…
Au revoir to Steven Blair at the Allendale . . .
During the past couple of days, I’ve had some friendly chats with Steven Blair, who has managed the Allendale Inn for two and a half years now, and I’ve cobbled together a few notes to present here. I caught up…
The joy of singing together . . .
I asked members of the Dale Singers for a reflection on what this community choir means to them, and after a period of cajoling, I managed to prevail upon Carrie Winger to write something about her experiences . . ….
The oil cooperative
Denise Williams writes to tell us about the Oil Buying Cooperative: “Every month, the volunteer-led Allen Valleys Oil Buying Cooperative invites its members to take advantage of savings on oil prices by ordering in bulk. Allen Valleys Oil Buying…
Allen Valleys Wildlife Group
Susie White writes on behalf of one of her favourite local groups: Curlews and lapwings, hay meadows, barn owls and red squirrels. Here in the beautiful landscape of the Allen Valley we are surrounded by abundant wildlife and it’s easy…
Time itself . . .
Since we’re on the subject of Dr. Who and the timelords anyway . . . why not a short discourse on time itself? Trudge through any field around these parts, in the snow, carrying a plastic bag full of groceries,…
Soli-dalek-y . . .
So . . . Soli-dalek-y is rampant: some sightings of curious Daleks have been made throughout Allendale over the past few days, in response to Katie Maughan’s clever Let’s Get MAD (Make a Dalek) suggestion. One was even snapped having…
Luncheon Club Thursdays
I dropped in to chat with Valery Stepney and Ruth Armstrong, the stalwarts who administer and coordinate this volunteer service. The Luncheon Club is partially self-sustaining, from weekly contributions (£5.50 for the hot meal) by the luncheon guests, and partly…