Perhaps we don’t think that writing follows trends, but according to @thebookseller (yes, I’m gradually getting my head around the twittertariat) the zeitgeist is moving towards joy. Agents and publishers are looking for manuscripts that deal with that particular emotion….
Category: Healthy Living
Old Man Bottom
I suppose in every language, there are idiosyncrasies that will trip just about everyone up. Things like that verse in the carol ‘Ding-dong merrily on high’ where the line ‘And i-o, i-o, i-o, by priests and people sungen’, and you’re…
Christmas Day Feast
This year for a change, we’ll join the ranks of the ‘waifs and strays’ who are often welcomed at the traditional family feast. Everyone must play their part in the annual Christmas pageant, of course, and this year it’s our…
The horsey community in the Allen Valleys
Rosemary Granger sends in a lovely description of the joys of riding a horse out on the lanes, bridleways and byways of these valleys: “At this time of year, as I struggle into waterproof trousers, warm coat, gloves, scarf and…
The Catton Line Dancers
I spent a very jolly and laugh-filled twenty minutes or so in the company of the Catton Line Dancers last week, on the invitation of their leader Valerie Sparks, and I tried to capture some of their movements on camera….
Allendale Sports Hall
You’re never quite sure just what facility people are talking about, when you hear the words ‘Sports Hall,’ because they could be meaning the ‘Sports Club Pavilion’ over at the playing fields, or the big ‘Sports Hall’ beside the Primary…
The Tea Dance
Mary Gibson invited me specially to drop in this afternoon to chat with the regulars at Wednesday afternoon’s Tea Dance Society in Allendale Village Hall. So I’ll certainly have more stories and information about this beloved institution in Allendale, later…
Music in the key of life . . .
I had a lovely chat yesterday with June Welch who embarked on a life-changing career shift in her mid-forties, to embrace the learning and teaching of music. As she says, “For me, teaching is always about learning, both for the…
Higher Ground Repair Day
So I bustled out, after a lovely dinner, in the freezing cold (-3ºC by the little Fiat’s thermometer), venturing down the icy track to The King’s Head for a small informal meeting called by Jane Pryde of Higher Ground who’d…
Sinderhope Pony Trekking Centre
I called Lisa Collingwood-Philipson on 01434 685266 the other day to chat about the pony trekking centre up at Sinderhope that she’s run since about ’99. It’s no wonder the enterprise is such a success, since she’s so down-to-earth friendly!…