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…
Neighbourly half-Wednesdays at the Chemist
Back in early August of last year, a sign suddenly appeared at the chemist: This Business is Under New Management, as of 1st August. And yet Claire Jackson, pharmacist over at least the past decade and so well-respected for her…
‘A hive of activity’ at the Dale Salon
Lindsey Weatherson greeted me cheerfully at the door as I stomped inside from the flurry of wet snowflakes drifting down, and we sat quietly beside the hair dryer to chat about the Dale Salon, a business she took over some…
Care award at Thornley Leazes . . . apprentice sought
It’s just down the Peth and up from Bridge End, but as Linda Charlton, manager of Residential Care, says, sometimes it feels like Thornley Leazes is a million miles away from the buzz and activity of the village centre. I’m…
Burns Night Supper . . .
A couple of months in the preparation, last night, Saturday the 26th, was the night for the Allendale Lions Club special Burns Night Supper, which is usually an annual fund-raising affair. Burns Suppers come in a vast variety of shapes…
Monthly Coffee Mornings
Shirley Brown drops me a note to chat about the monthly coffee mornings at St. Cuthbert’s Church Hall, like the one this morning: Jennifer Simpson with husband Charles co-ordinate the monthly coffee mornings held in aid of church funds on…