It seems that everybody around here is harvesting busily, our neighbour Gerrard has an enviable vegetable plot which at the moment it is heaving with water melons and pumpkins. We have been the grateful recipients of some of his surplus produce and in return I have started helping his eldest daughter with her English which has been good fun as it really stretches my French language capabilities. We too have enjoyed a good harvest of apples, blackberries, chestnuts and walnuts but for two weeks or so around the end of September the jewel in the crown ( as far as produce is concerned) is the cepe mushroom.
  In fact the usually very quiet lanes are dotted with old French cars and hopeful hunters armed with walking sticks and baskets! I was lucky enough to spend a very enjoyable couple of hours with a Dutch girl and our electrician/plumber/chimney-sweep ( who has over 40 years experience of identifying mushrooms) I returned home with a full basket although I think I only actually spotted one or two……no wonder they sell for about £12 a kilo at the market ! Still, they tasted fantastic and it was great to take part in an age-old tradition.
  The girls are busy making new friends and we keep hearing more and more French words from Alice. They've enjoyed seeing all the wildlife, so far deer, red squirrels, hedgehogs, lizards and an enormous number of birds and butterflies ( and a few LARGE creepy-crawlies) apparently there are quite a few wild boar but we haven't seen any yet.
  We've finally got around to getting some poultry, 1 hen, 3 chicks and 2 guinea fowl and next week we're off to the agricultural college to talk about our plans for the farm.
  The building work is coming on in leaps and bounds ( something to do with a large number of people visiting/staying and lending a hand in exchange for a free meal, wine and bed) . Externally our holiday cottage looks nearly finished, Chris has been saving the inside work for a rainy day.  Rain when it comes is usually torrential, almost monsoon like,  but keeps the area lush. As part of our aim to recycle as much as possible, we are installing a large underground rainwater reservoir which we will use for watering the potager and eventually for supplying water to the toilets.  Work starts next month on the septic tanks, and, much more excitingly, the swimming pool.  Lots of big machines and men looking at holes in the ground!
  The weather has been glorious, we are still wearing shorts in mid October although all our neighbours shake their heads in disbelieve that we do not have any heating for the winter except for the ancient wood burning cooker and 3 electric heaters.  Still, we did survive one winter at Dovecote without heating, and then promptly installed it the following year! Next month we will launch our website so that you can see what it's really like, if you want to contact us we'd love to hear from you lerigal@orange.fr
  Au revoir for now Jacky, Chris, Alice and Eliza Holton

  Things happen quickly in Sedbergh.  Within days (or less) of writing this piece something about town has changed!  We are certainly an active community.
  Last month I mentioned that the only place to shop on Back Lane had closed and moved to Main Street, but within days the shop which had been on the corner of New Street had moved into the vacated premises on Back Lane.
  Sid MacLellan has retired and closed his outdoor shop and I believe there is the possibility of the Three Peaks shop closing too.  Whilst we perhaps can not support two shops specialising in clothing for fell walkers I think one is an essential part of our town's make -up.  Ah well, as I say, things about town are always a-changing. (Sid & Lynn's Shop should be back open in February! Ed.)
  It was good to read in last month's Lookaround that the Chamber of Trade has an upbeat view of the commercial viability of town whereas I'm a little sceptical that all is not as thriving as it could be.  Sorry folks, but that's the way I view it.
  I've forgotten now how long ago Udale's butchers shop on Main Street closed, but if you told me ten years I wouldn't be surprised.  It certainly is a blot on the Main Street landscape, though I do believe it is the Yorkshire Dales planners who are largely responsible.  But planners (and parish councils) do rather strange things.  Last month's Lookaround included a bit about refusal of permission to build three houses at Southfield Road / Guldrey Lane on a long derelict site.  New build houses (for locals) would be a sensible use of the site in my view, and I'm sure in most sensible people's minds.  But the parish council and the planners want it for industry!  The site is too small for such use and would be detrimental to the surrounding housing.  O.K. I know it is close to Morphet's garage but that is caters mainly for passing motorists on the through road into town.  The proper site for industry is on an out of town site like that on Station Road which is surely capable of expansion.
  Mention of the parish council reminds me that I'm still looking for its Lookaround column.  I thought new blood on the council this year might bring about a new image.  But in reality it seems to have become even more of a secret society.  Remember you are elected to work on the electorate's behalf and so you are accountable to your council tax payers.  I seem to know more about what Dent PC does for its folk than what Sedbergh PC achieves.  Rumours abound so let's have something from the horse's mouth.
  A couple of months ago I mentioned a profusion of Rowan berries.  Since then the Yew trees have had a bumper crop of berries too.  Perhaps a hard winter really is imminent.
  December Lookaround is the time I normally make my awards for the best event of the year.  It has been difficult to come to a decision this year.  With so many other events this past year, some of a similar nature, the Music Festival and the Book Festival for instance, I don't think it fair to make any award.  The Town Band serves us well throughout the year but the Steel Band from Jamaica had much public acclaim.  The singers who walk the district and Zrece as well are another musical group of note.  There is the Pepperpot musicians too.  You see my dilemma - we have both quality and quantity here.  The Bonfire Night event is always enjoyable but many remarked that the display this year was very short compared with previous years, though of course fireworks are very expensive nowadays.  My favourite event is the Gala, but it didn't seem to be so entertaining this year, though the fell runners always make me feel decidedly unfit.  Sadly, the Gala will never be same in future years without policeman Dennis leading the way in his smart uniform topped by his copper's helmet.  Happy retirement Dennis - but do keep up the Town Crier bit.
  The Editors will be telling me I've used up my allotted space for this year so I'm off now to write my letter to Father Christmas seeking lots of goodies for Sedbergh's Christmas stocking.  Best wishes to you all for a Happy Christmas and New Year.    N. Hastle.

  What a life life can be, it is good that we do not know too far ahead or some of us might just give up altogether, Nov 13th last year was the day we made a quick dash to Bristol to be with B who was very ill, Nov 13th this year saw First Responders here in our home giving support until the Ambulance came to take a rather poorly B to hospital in the wee small hours. Just a few days previous he and I had been to a Winter Market with our other brother M and partner arranging to meet at a cafe near Crooklands. On their arrival M explained they did not really want coffee as they had stopped at the motorway services for some thinking my choice of cafe could be a bit crummy (no pun intended), I fixed him with what I hoped was a very steely glare and in the poshest voice I could muster told him what I thought to that suggestion! The very thought!
  We were pleased to have Trick & Treaters knocking at the door and B had purchased lolly pops and chocolate frogs etc "just in case", we had some plain clothed and some "sparkly" clothed children, very nice. I am not sure how I feel about witches and goolies .. although I did see two little ghosts just down the road as I came home from work .. funny not seen them since..?
  Younger daughter, who I am not allowed to say much about in this column, tells me that should I ever need "sorting out/putting right" it will be her and daughter-in-law T who will have to do it as I do not take any notice of elder daughter (?) or son, Hu! The very idea ..., what is the world coming to? Younger daughter went out for a meal with the Oms recently, that is the Old Married's, where presumably this ridiculous idea was formed.
  Visitors to the village at half term were somewhat amazed to see a metal Greenhouse being carried through the streets all intact except for its glass, but it was a good simple way to move the latest addition to our garden, we have ample space and it could even earn us some money in the future. Talking of ample space, Cleo welcomes me home by placing her paws on my ample chest, be they wet or dry, muddy or whatever to tell me how pleased she is to see me, its our special time, but is best when the paws are dry!
  I had the unfortunate experience of a fall recently and somehow managed to bruise both sides of my body, as Hubby commented "You do not do anything by halves", if something is worth doing it is worth doing well and that is what I try to achieve at work amongst other things. Recently my computer at work was being replaced and my boss was very impressed to find a file I'd been working on which was dated the day before he was clearing it all, I thought it very unfortunate he had to then discover it was actually a year old, don't you? Did not do my street cred any good at all.
  A friend and I went out for lunch where the meals were half-price for those over 55, naughtily we decided to try for the special offer she being over that age and me being grey haired, nothing was said about me but she was asked for I.D. Luckily she has a good sense of humour.
  These radio controlled clocks are brilliant, we have one and when the clocks change it does it itself, how I wish I had had one when living on the farm and hubby milking cows and he changed the time in stages for the sake of the cows, the children remember arriving far to early to chapel or very late, depending on the time of year, and I used to ring the Speaking Clock to check the time to get them to school! The things you do for love.
  A very merry Christmas and a happy new year to you all, thank you for reading this column through the year, see you in February, keep right end up!

  Last month, the gremlins managed to get involved and the photo was one that had been in some years ago. This month I am submitting 2 photos which were kindly loaned me by Ann Allen. They are both of the National School. Photo 1   Photo 2
  Names as always to Shirley Tebay, Walnut Bungalow, Dent LA10 5QT. Tel: 015396 245001 or email shirley.tebay@btinternet.com