Whether it is due to a rapid change in our climate or not, this beekeeping season is still confusing us as well as our bees! As I write, the outside shade air temperature is 17C/63F, it's much warmer in the sunshine, and my bees are behaving as if it were still high summer! Normally by now, the queen bees have slowed down or stopped laying their eggs until next February. But on each fine day, large numbers of new bees that have just been born are coming out to exercise their wings and to 'orientate' themselves with respect to the entrance to their own hive. They do this by flying a few feet only from the hive, and facing towards the entrance all the time. Meanwhile their older sisters are arriving with large loads of ivy pollen in the pollen baskets on their hind legs, ready to feed to still more young larvae in the brood nest. Others are continuing to bring in nectar from late flowering shrubs and plants that don't know it should be well into autumn by now! But, as last year, such a fine autumn is good news for the beekeeper who will not need to feed the bees with sugar-syrup. All the hives are 'hefting' full of honey for the bees to feed on during the winter and early spring months.
  Not just the weather is breaking all records. Most of our members have enjoyed large or even record large honey crops, the club has several new members all now with their own apiaries of two or more hives, as our 'bee-bank' has worked very well again. No swarm or complete colony has been short of a good home!  We have enjoyed record attendances at our meetings and apiary visits, most of which have been in fine weather, so the new and novice beekeepers have had plenty of opportunities to gain hands-on experience with the bees.
  After the honey shows and the bees finally put to bed, it's time to plan our programme for 2007, so our last club meeting of the year is at 7.30pm on Monday, November 20^th in the People's Hall committee room, when we shall be reviewing this extraordinary year, and planning for 2007. You will be made most welcome if you would like to attend. Malcolm Fraser-Urquhart

  The annual memorial service held for OS Richard Wild was held on Sunday. Richard was killed in Iraq at the beginning of the conflict in July 2003, shot whilst doing his job as a free lance journalist.
  Richard had been an outstanding Sedbergh boy, Head of Hart House, Head of School, 1st XV rugby player and 1st Vlll runner, Richard went on to Cambridge before taking up a career in journalism.
  Richard's parents Robin and Daphne Wild established a bursary fund to support the training of young journalists about to go to dangerous areas of the world. The first recipient was Leyla Lac, a journalist who works for Channel 4 making documentaries. Leyla gave the sermon at the memorial service where she talked about the three week course she went on, funded by the bursary, in preparation for going to Kashmir after the recent earthquake. She told the pupils and congregation how moved she had been by the dignity of hundreds of refugees in a camp completely cut off in deep snow waiting for emergency supplies of food and medicine to be dropped by the helicopter she was in. She also talked about her experience of meeting a 15 year old boy in Namibia who had to look after his five brothers and sisters after his parents had died of HIV and got himself trained as a builder to enable to pay for food, clothes and their education. Photo.   Richard Oliver

  A wind ensemble and a string quartet each formed of players from the Westmorland Orchestra gave a concert in St. George's Church, Kendal on Saturday evening 14^th October. All proceeds of the concert went to the South Lakes Society for the Blind, a voluntary organisation helping to care for people with visual impairment.
  A live concert is always a pleasure, more so on this occasion when we had the rare treat of hearing arrangements of works by Schubert, Dvorak and other composers played by ten fine local instrumentalists: two flutes, two clarinets, two oboes, two bassoons and two horns playing in concert as a wind ensemble (a dectet).
  It was a delight to hear the Pepperpot Players and to join in their musical quizzes. Their two violins, viola, cello and "man with a flat cap" are also drawn from the ranks of The Westmorland Orchestra.
  Barry Sharkey and the cohort of talented musicians gave us a most enjoyable evening of music. The members and volunteers of S.L.S.B do appreciate their very significant effort in raising funds at this particularly difficult time.   K.L.

Dear Sir
  May I, through the Lookaround, apologise most sincerely to the 20 or more young people of Sedbergh who expressed a keen interest in purchasing one of three affordable houses we were proposing to build in Southfield Road.
  At the recent planning meeting, our application to build these affordable homes was turned down. The Yorkshire Dales National Park officers recommended approval of the site but YOUR Local Representative on the YDNP Planning Committee, Graham Dalton, voted against the proposals, and YOUR Parish Council Acting Chairperson, Dorothy Blair, objected to the proposals - both of these were on YOUR behalf. These objections were on the grounds that Sedbergh would be losing an important industrial site. The site has been no more than a redundant chicken shed for the last few years. Even prior to this, the last owners only used the site for storage. BUT your Parish Council would rather the site stayed a useless eyesore in a residential area than fulfill an urgent need for you young people to remain in your hometown to live.
  I would ask which would be more important to Sedbergh, a redundant site with no industrial use or three houses for LOCAL young people, available at a cost they could afford. I leave the decision to you!
  We all know the dire situation this town is already in with people who have no intention of living here permanently buying up small cottages for holiday use, forcing the younger generation to leave town for good. Speaking as an employer in the town, we have 23 employees, 7 of whom are in the situation that they cannot afford to buy their own homes in the town.
  Your readers might like to know that South Lakeland District Council commissioned a report entitled South Lakeland Housing Needs and Market Assessment (June 2006). This report identified a need for 16 affordable units per year (80 in the next 5 years) in me Sedbergh ward. As far as we are aware, there is nothing else in the pipeline as yet, and we are 4 months into the 5 years already. No doubt the Parish Council also objects to these findings.
  Incidentally, we were working in conjunction with Two Castles Housing Association and the very nature of providing low cost housing is such mat there is very, very little profit to be made by building such houses, so this is not a case of 'sour grapes' because we weren't granted permission to develop our site. We are just saddened that we are now having to let so many people down, people whose only chance of living here has just been objected to.
  We wonder how many of the Parish Councillors struggled to get onto the housing ladder? We expect that they are all happy in their own homes and have peace of mind that the site will stay as it is.   Yours faithfully    M K Conversions Ltd

  The Annual General Meeting was held at Howgill Village Hall on October 5th.
  The Secretary's report proved we had had a very eventful and enjoyable year.
  President Mary Silva thanked the committee for their help and support over the year.  In return Mary was thanked for her hard work and dedication.  Her excellent planning ensures our meetings run smoothly.
  Treasurer Barbara Axford reported that our finances are healthy.  Barbara has decided to stand down after many years.  Mary paid tribute to Barbara for doing a splendid job as Treasurer.  Bridget Postlethwaite has taken over from Barbara.  Mary has agreed to be our President for another year and the present committee agreed to stand again.
  Sheelagh Dennis was presented with the Appleby Cup for the most competition points throughout the year.
  A warm welcome was given to Sue from Milnthorpe assisted by Liz from Grayrigg.  Sue gave us an insight into their work as First Responders, what they do and what is involved.  They give support alongside ambulance crews taking emergency calls and going to the aid of people within 8 minutes of a call out.  They gave us examples of incidents they come across.  These can be anything from someone needing t.l.c. to hypothermia or a heart attack.  A demonstration showed us how they deal with and access the situation.  Leslie Hennedy thanked them with admiration for providing this valuable service and saving lives.
  The competition winner for a Favourite Piece of Jewellery, bangles and beads, was Mary Stainton with Judith Stainton second.  The social time, a quiz, where the answers were nursery thymes was won by Audrey Hoggarth with Dilys McCaffery second.  Mary Stainton won the raffle.
  We will meet again on November 2nd at Firbank Church Hall when Janice Longmire will speak on "Designer Hats".  The competition is My Favourite Hat.  Visitors welcome. A.H.

  Plot Neet is here once again, and this is what John Hartley had to say about November 5th some 100 years ago.
  'Squibs an' crackers! Starleets an' catterin wheels! Bunfires and traikle parkin! This is th' time for a bit ov a jollification. Guy Fawkes did a gooid turn when he tried to blow th' Parliament haase up; for we should ha' had one spree less i' th' year but for him.
  Ax twenty fowk this question o' th' fourth o' November: "Are yo goin' to buy onny firewerks this year?" an' aw dare say yo willn't finnd one i' th'lot but what'll say: "Aw've summat else to do wi' mi brass nor to waste it on sich-like fooilery as that."
  An' still aw'll wager 'at nineteen on 'em buy some after all.'
  And this was apparently how folk celebrated by their bonfires: 'I' th' country, they all sit raand th' fire wi' their parkin an' milk, or else rooasted puttaties, an' they tell tales, an' they laff an' talk till they've varry near burned ther shoo toas off, an' getten soa starved (frozen) o' ther back 'at they willn't be shut ov a cold for a month.'
  Some things never change, do they?   Michael Park

  Thanks to the overwhelming generosity and support, we raised £520 at the Coffee Morning/Nora's birthday on the 29^th September.  It was a most enjoyable morning, though hectic at times, with a wonderful end result.
Raffle winners were:
Food Hamper Debbie Gilbert
Joint of meat Rene Huddleston
Basket Fruit Rose Sedgwick
Basket Fruit Olwyn Stainton
Spa Set Shirley Richardson
Tin biscuits David Alban
Box Sweets Joan Park
Nightdress case Mr & Mrs Dark
Box Biscuits Doreen Airey
Vacuum Flask Kath Milburn
Cafetiere Olwyn Stainton
Rag Doll Majorie Day
Card Set Mabel Hall
After Dinner Mints Glyn Johnson
Bubble Bath Irene Howarth
Scented Candle Val Law
Fresh Farm Eggs Pauline Bainbridge
Plant Rose Sanderson
Maltesers Mr & Mrs Dark
  Thank you to the shop keepers who donated prizes towards the raffle including Garth Steadman, Andy at the Green Door, Angela Brooks, Carole at Howgill Gifts, The Chemist Shop, Martin Powell and to Heather Askew at Flowers by Arrangement in Kendal for kindly putting the helium in the balloons.  Thank you to all who helped on the day by making the coffee, selling raffle tickets and for coming along.
  Special thanks to Dennis Whicker for being an impromptu M.C. and keeping us amused.
  Next year's Coffee Morning will take place on Friday 28^th September - please put it in your diaries.
  Nora Capstick also wishes to thank most sincerely everyone that attended and gave so generously to MacMillan's Cancer Research on her behalf. A big thank you also to Wendy Frazer-Urquhart for her kind words and toast. Kath Milburn

  Sorry! I got the date wrong for the Oct Bible Study, if you are interested in joining in it is best to ring us to check the date or see the details on the notice board!
  We are reading and studying a book called "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. Our AGM joint with Dent Foot Chapel was a good meeting, we haven't much money but we do see life! We are planning a series of fund-raising events to cover the year including a showing of the "Dale that Died" (see advert!) An evening with, to include a supper, an Antique Valuation Day (May) and a Flower Festival (Aug) plus a Coffee Morning at the URC, any help you are able to give will be appreciated.
  The Secretary, Brian Haygarth retired and we thank him for his years of work in that role, somehow the job got passed to me, as the Minister said, (to laughter) "You are the best we have!" (Its ok, I don't take offence!), Treasurer Libby Hartley, Stewards Jeff Allen and John Woof, Property Steward John Woof, Communion Steward Marjorie Haygarth, Organists Gordon Middleton and Marjorie Haygarth, Pastoral Care Gwen Greenwood, cleaning/caretaking J/S Woof, Heather Capstick, Marjorie, Jeff. Representative to Dent Memorial Hall Committee Sarah Woof as is the Methodist Hall bookings person! Larger congregations will hopefully be able to share out the jobs a bit wider! Never mind, it is all part of our Christian walk.
  The Prayer Corner is in use, the Accessible WC is in use and the rooms are being re-decorated, many thanks to all. As ever there are jobs to be done ie the Parking area, the railings, and floor covering. Our services are now 2pm and as ever everyone is welcome, if you need a lift do get in touch. The life of the Chapel is about more than who does what and jobs needing to be done, it is about Jesus and how He changes lives, supports in the difficult times and builds up His Church.
SEW (25212)

  Apologies for being so slow with our heartfelt thanks for all the work put in by everyone who helped with the Festival in August and September.
  These events are growing and becoming quite a problem as so many helpers are needed. You were all absolutely fantastic! And huge thanks to everyone who helped., to everyone who lent equipment and premises and everyone who cleaned up after us. You will be happy to know that over 3000 people visited the Festival events from all over the country and also we have visitors from Slovenia, Russia and New Zealand!
  Next years event is already taking shape as I write so watch this space, as they say.