On Thursday December 1 David Burbidge met the Slovenian singing quartet, Odmev, Mojca Belak and 12 students from Ljubljana University at Liverpool airport, and before the end of the day, had sung their way up and down Dentdale, crawling into bed at 10.30 that night!
  On Friday 2^nd , Odmev and the Ljubljana Singers invaded Sedbergh's Farfield Mill Heritage Centre cafe and suddenly found themselves serenading Tim Farron MP The students were very interested in political issues and some very lively discussion followed the visit. Then to Settlebeck High School in Sedbergh where the headmaster Dave Smith, who has himself taken school parties to Zrece and is very instrumental in the Sedbergh twinning movement, kindly gave us use of computers. Then on to Dent, where they were joined by exceptional local fiddler, Tom Bell-Richards, and some jolly music was made. West Gallery Choir and The Gladly Solemn Sound sang a couple of sets in Dent Memorial hall where Alan Nowell showed us a men's dance he had discovered from old manuscripts in Wyresdale
  Saturday morning was David Burbidge's Singing Workshop in Sedbergh and after  stretches, and breathing exercises, and voice warm ups, they were straight into May Your Cup Always Be Full, a wassailing song in four parts. Versions of Sweet Chiming Christmas Bells, the Sheffield pub carol Merry Christmas, and an arrangement of the Field Mice Carol - were also sung. Paul Guppy's instrument workshop was equally well attended by local people playing flutes, fiddles, bassoon, oboe, cello, tuba! In the evening we returned to The Sportsman's Inn - with singers from several choirs from Cautley, Dent, Edinburgh, Kent, Sedbergh, Sheffield, Kendal, and of course Slovenia with fiddle and accordion music to give even more of a lift to proceedings
Sunday 4^th saw a Slovene Carol workshop. Slovene carols were written out on big sheets in phonetics so that the English singers could take part even if they had never seen or spoken a Slovene word before. Then packed lunches for an afternoon walk in the rain  The Slovene students were surprised how the English hardly notice the rain: "There was even one woman who had a hood but didn't put it up, she just let her hair get wet!" Signing by a little waterfall, in the woods, by the river, and on into tiny Cowgill church nearby. In the evening, all bundled into the Ceilidh in the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal
  Monday was the outing to the Lake District, with a drive up to Little Langdale and a short walk to the caves at Tilberthwaite, where Odmev sang, then back via Slaters' Bridge and the beautiful Little Langdale tarn, and on to Grasmere with a tour of Worsdworth's grave, the church, and the house where he lived by the lake. Across to Ambleside and the Badger Bar for a Cave expedition from the Badger Bar at about 6.30 p.m., following along the edge of Rydal Water. Candles were lit and English and Slovene carols were sung - a beautiful sound - followed by a feast in the cave with lashings of mulled wine, quiche,  pies and sausages  Harmony singing groups run by David Burbidge from Kendal, Sedbergh and Dent had been practicing Slovene songs all term and now met together for this international celebration of song and harmony. Next day at 4 a.m., scattered Slovenes across Cumbria were collected and taken off to the John Lennon airport where everyone sang Yellow Submarine.
  Forthcoming singing events:  the visit of our choir to Zrece and other Slovene towns over the Easter 2006 break, and to celebrate the visit of the Ljudski Pevci iz Stanice to Sedbergh last May - a Slovene-English celebration of folk harmony in May 2006. Singers from the Zrece school have also been invited to sing again at the Dent Folk Festival in June 2006.

  Getting a fair deal in farming is a big issue locally and international trade affects local livelihoods in major ways. Christian Aid is very concerned and involved in enabling fair deals for local farmers worldwide. On Thursday 9 February the Christian Aid in Sedbergh and District group have invited the Revd. Richard Hunter of Barnard Castle to come and speak on "Common Ground ; Fair Trade and Farming" at 7.30pm in Settlebeck High School's Music room. The meeting will be open to anyone with an interest in these issues. Refreshments and discussion will follow the talk .
  "N.B. The Rev. Richard Hunter, a Methodist minister and retired Northumbrian hill farmer, is now also associated with Upper Teesdale Agricultural Society. He will share his experiences of visiting farmers in developing countries and relate their situation to that of farming in Britain, in the context of solidarity and international trade rules etc."

Time for celebrations - Christmas Lunch 2005.
  This year a jolly party of Killington W.I. members and friends assembled at Bridge House Farm in Wray to feast and enjoy ourselves. Why Wray? You may well ask yourself. Well, a few weeks earlier a friend had taken me to Wray (which I had never previously visited) to show me the remaining evidence of the 1968 flood which had devastated the village after a cloudburst in the surrounding hills. We explored valleys previously unknown to me, East and West Roeburndale, the Hindburn Valley, and later in the day, Littledale. Such lovely countryside, so near us, and so quiet. At the end of this voyage of discovery we decided that we had earned ourselves a cuppa. And lo and behold there it was - Bridge House Farm, a garden shop, craft centre, a gallery and a tearoom all rolled into one. We had a most delicious tea with an enormous cream scone and such friendly service. Hence it sprang to mind when we came to plan our Christmas lunch.
  The meal was excellent and enjoyed in the company of good friends. At the end of the meal presentations were made to two of our longstanding members. Mary Tallon and Jose Waller have been in continuous membership of Killington W.I. for SIXTY years.
  Now isn't that quite something! In recognition of this each was presented with a framed certificate. We are all very proud of them. Our super Christmas hamper was won by Elspeth Griffiths, and Majorie Henson and I tied as winners of our competitions through the year.  We enjoyed an afternoon of brain stirring quizzes and finished the afternoon with tea and home made biscuits. A grand time was had by all!
  At four o'clock our Mummies and Daddies took us home to bed,
'cos we were tired little teddy bears.                                                                                                                                                                          W.F.U.

  Christmas is well past now, but we all remember the delicious festive meal we enjoyed at Thorns Hall on 8th December 2005.  The evening was rounded off with singing carols.
  The first meeting of the New Year was very well attended and presided over by Anne Petyt who welcomed a prospective new member.
  The 'Stepping Out' folder of photos etc. assembled by June Mudd, Pauline Mather and Jean Jones was passed round.  They are all to be congratulated on exceeding the suggested mileage of 90 miles!
  Interest was shown in some of the Federation events and we hope to have more entries for the Spring Show this year.  Anne Petyt will represent the local W. I.'s at the AGM in Cardiff in June.
  A petition urging the government to ban unhealthy foods for children and to make more PE in schools compulsory was passed round for members to sign.
  Vic Hopkins, a Parish Council representative on the Town Twinning Committee, gave us a most interesting insight into the Twinning experience, especially as he had had previous involvement with Twinning in another area.  Vic's visits to Zrece in Slovenia have given him a rapport with the people who are warm and friendly.  In a short time, he gave us an overall picture of the country, its people and customs and showed us gifts from the Zrece tool factory, also the Zrece flag.  It seems that the country's economy is growing quickly since it gained its independence.
  Marjorie Fishwick thanked Vic for his enlightening talk.  Eileen Staveley won the competition prize for 'Felt Making'.  Do come along as a visitor if you would like to see this demonstration or just want to know about W. I.  You will find a warm welcome!                                                             M. F.