We met many of those who came to the Sedbergh carol weekend at the beginning of December a few weeks later when our Lakeland Voice singers stayed in Zrece for a week over Christmas - definitely the best time to visit Slovenia not just for the festive lights and snowy mountains, but for all the wonderful singing events that take place at that time of year.
  We hired a mini bus and car at Venice airport and, on driving into Ljubljana, were greeted by the students in the main thoroughfare each holding a letter which spelt out a welcome to our singers. After an excellent party with both English and Slovene singing, we drove on to our accommodation at the tourist farm Urksa, on a hilltop overlooking Zrece - but returned to the capitol the following day to sing under the Christmas trees and a dazzling display of lights in this beautiful city.
  On Christmas Eve we joined the party walking from Rogla down to Skomarje - although the route changed because of the deep snow. We were also joined by an English TV company whose professional cynicism provided quite a contrast to the romance of snowy mountain top churches, carols and the hospitality of the Slovenes.
  They were filming an English couple on holiday in the Rogla Hotel and I overheard their camerawoman telling the producer: "Yeah, I got some great shots of Natasha falling over on the ice, and then sobbing into her mobile phone that she wanted to go home!"
  After singing with our friends at the midnight mass in Skomarje church we joined a party for more singing at Jose Kovse's guesthouse, Medved - where the Cautley Carollers stayed last Easter. It was a surprise to walk into this beautiful mountaintop home and find a photo showing Roger and Judith Bush, Dorcas Thomas, Penny Carruthers and myself proudly displayed on the wall.
  At Urska we ate like royalty - despite most of the group being vegetarians we enjoyed a splendid variety of dishes. So after an enormous Christmas lunch we appreciated being able to work off some of the fat by joining a lamp-lit procession from the church in Zrece (where we sang at a special service blessing the children) to the Sveta Neza church on another hilltop overlooking the town. We were very honoured by again being invited to sing during the service - our Slovene carols being especially appreciated (we had practiced some of them on Alan Pratt's doorstep while carol singing up Dowbiggin Lane before leaving Sedbergh.)
  But what we enjoyed most was meeting - and being welcomed by - many of our Slovene friends who had visited Sedbergh over the year: Dusan, Ivan, Jose and Anthon from the Ljudski Pevci iz Stranice; Marjan Hren who came with Odmev for the carol weekend; Samo Ivacic and the singers from the choir who came in August; and of course Zdenka and the Mayor who gave us a special welcome at the Mayor's Office.
  Some of our singers wanted to demonstrate the English carol singing tradition which they did outside Edvard and Dagma's house by the hilltop church - after which we were invited in for more singing and refreshments. What I enjoyed most was joining a group of five men from Zrece singing the harmonies for some of the Slovene folk songs we had learnt earlier in the year.
  Our Boxing Day is their Independence Day, and like last year we joined the concert in the main church for a fabulous display of singing from about 20 different groups and soloists (even the firemen have their own choir) - all from the Zrece area. Although this year we also sang a couple of songs, and were surprised when the entire audience started clapping along with one of our wassailing songs. Afterwards we spilled out into the blizzard for mulled wine and a party out in the snow.
  If the Slovene's are impressed by an English nonchalance for walking in the rain, we were all amazed by the apparent unconcern shown by the Zrece locals for driving in deep snow. With good winter tyres, they leap into their cars and drive off without a thought in conditions that would have our schools and offices closed and most of the roads closed for traffic. But by the end of the week we had developed the skills necessary for putting chains on and off in the snow, though not without a lot of help from passing motorists who would stop to give us a hand.
  Another thing we noticed was that many drivers were tooting their horns and making rude gestures at us until someone explained that because we had Venice number plates it was assumed we were all Italians. There was a very noticeable difference in the attitude of other drivers when we put a large GB sign in the back window!
  Our final concert was in the ancient town of Ptuj where we sang with another 20 local choirs as well as their town band, a 30 piece wind ensemble who amongst other music played several movie theme tunes - including Bridge over the River Kwai and the Good, the Bad and the Ugly, reminding us all of another town band close to our hearts. Afterwards we joined a huge banquet in the hall were many of the singers would break into spontaneous singing - some of which we were able to join.
  As well as all the singing, we also found time to ski, walk in the hills and swim in the spa (with the unusual sensation of being able to swim from the warm pool inside out into the falling snow outside.) But everyone agreed that what we all enjoyed most was meeting all these wonderful people and being invited into their homes to celebrate the common ground between our two towns.
  (Howgills Harmony continue with the singing of Slovene folk songs on Tuesday evenings to which everyone is very welcome to join. We are also planning another performance project and cultural exchange to Slovenia in the first week of August, and weekends through the year.)

David Burbidge

  How many shops do you think there were in Dent one hundred years ago, in 1906? Twice as many as today? Ten times? Answer: there were 18 grocers and four butchers, making 22 food shops in all. Today only one of them is left:  James Dinsdale's, now known as Dent Stores. And 2006 could be the year when that goes the way of all the others.
  Two thousand village stores and corner shops close every year as the people they once served turn to the supermarkets in nearby towns. At a parish meeting on January 23rd, attended by more than a hundred Dentdale residents, it was announced that Dent Stores could close by the summer unless local folk switch a little - just a little -of their supermarket spend back to their local shop. Use it, or lose it!
  An Action Group was formed to see what can be done to keep the shop open. By the time you read this, every household in the dale should have received a pink questionnaire designed to find out what would bring more customers back to the shop more regularly. Different opening hours? More organic produce? Local specialities? The questionnaire is anonymous. We want everyone to feel free to say what they think, in complete confidence. And the Action Group is independent of the shop.
  Given the level of concern expressed at the meeting, it would be easy to create a short-term surge in buying - but quite another matter to sustain it over the months and years ahead. We could all so easily slip back into old habits! So we are inviting residents to consider joining a more permanent Friends of Dent Stores group, to keep the campaign going. "Friends" would promise to support the shop in whatever way they find most convenient: a small commitment, but it could be a lifeline.
  There is far more than the survival of one business at stake. If the shop goes, what next? The bus service? The Post Office? The school? Our visitor attractions? We can stop Dentdale from becoming one more dead community - but only by taking action now. Losing the shop could be the first step towards Dent becoming no more than a residential outpost of Sedbergh! No disrespect to Sedbergh, but that's not what we want!
  We don't have to go the way of other rural communities which have allowed "free market forces" or "big business" to roll over them and destroy their way of life. We don't have to do much: just speak our minds, tell the shop what we want, divert just a small part of our monthly spend from our favourite supermarket (we all have one!) to our own local shop. And signal support by becoming a Friend.
  If you think we've missed you out and you haven't received the survey forms by the beginning of March, just collect a set from the shop. Then make sure you get them back to us by Wednesday March 15th. Just pop them in the box provided at Dent Post Office or other points listed on the questionnaire itself. If  you want any more information, ring us on 015396 25321. And remember, it's Use it or Lose it! 

David Boulton, Action Group convenor

  The annual Christmas party was held in January.  A wonderful buffet served by Ann Hawley was followed by entertainment created by the group themselves. Some members selected their favourite tunes which were played to the group. These were interspersed with recitations given by other members and volunteers. The entertainment ended with a selection of music hall songs.
  The group was very sad to lose two members this year. Bill Moore passed away in the New Year. At the commencement of the January meeting Bill Long lead a quiet period of remembrance for him. Since then Ron Daldry has also died. Both are great losses to the group.
  The Society meets on the third Tuesday of the month.  New members who have vision problems and also volunteers are always welcome. Transport may be available. If there are any queries please telephone 21019 or the Society's Kendal office 01539 742633.                                                       JGL