Members of Dentdale WI spent an enjoyable Business Meeting looking forward  and planning forthcoming events. For our outing next month on July 12th, we are booked for a late high tea with Allithwaite and Cartmel WI, and there are a range of options available to fill the afternoon. One can spend time in Grange, Cartmel or a garden under the Open Gardens Scheme, so, there promises to be something to suit all tastes before we meet together for tea! We shall be out the following month too joining Frostrow WI for a joint meeting in the People's Hall, Sedbergh.
  Tickets are now available for our fund raising event which is to be a Gardeners' Question Time in Dent School on 4th August (more details are elsewhere in this issue of Lookaround) and posters will soon be up and around to encourage people to come along.
  There was much discussion too over our contribution to the teas for Dentdale Gala when home baking from members will be needed to make this the success it was last year! With orders being taken for the 2007 calendars and diaries, suddenly the year seems to be racing by!
  Our speaker for the evening was Pat Hayward who amused us with her dry sense of humour as she talked through her subject - Sugar, Spice Salt and Vinegar. She reminded us that these humble cooking aids gave such variety to our daily lives. Lots of tips along the way too!
  The raffle prize went to Jenny Pilgrim and Pat Allen's four cup cakes deemed to be good enough to win the month's competition.
  Next meeting in the Memorial Hall will be on September 13th but much on offer until then as I have written.

  Once again this year a party of twenty people form Sedbergh has been enjoying the area around Rome and Naples - experiencing the language, culture and gastronomy of that wonderful country to which Europe owes so much. There were guided visits every day to both well-known and hidden places of interest, under the expert leadership of Pierluigi Barberio who has visited Sedbergh many times. Our specially-arranged programme included the Pope's Palace in Anagni and the amazing castle in Fumone from whose high roof-garden smoke signals were sent in past centuries to warn neighbouring villages of approaching invaders. We also visited the ancient country villa built by the much-travelled Emperor Hadrian, he who built the famous Wall just to the north of us, marking the northern limit of the great Roman Empire in the second century AD.
  The tour had many highlights, of which one was a return visit to the house at Picinisco, on the edge of the beautiful Abruzzo National Park, where English writer D H Lawrence once stayed with an Italian friend and wrote part of one of his novels. This is still furnished as it was at the time of Lawrence's visit, but Loretto Pacitti, the farmer who now owns it, has diversified into agriturismo and, with the help of his family, cooks the most amazing meals, using only home-grown produce. Delicious course after delicious course is brought to the table while musicians in brightly-coloured traditional costume play for the guests on melodeons and bagpipes. Two Italian newspapers featured our visit to Lawrence's House on their front pages. It made us feel quite famous.
  We had two city days - one in Rome and the other in Naples. The Rome day started with a memorable visit to the ancient Catacombs, deep underground, where the early Christians were buried on stone shelves lining some five hundred miles of narrow tunnels. Then we went to the second largest church in Rome, St Paul's, built on the site where the apostle Paul was martyred for his faith. We followed this with a visit to The Colosseum, the enormous arena built in the first century to house great spectacles for the people of Rome - as seen in the famous film, "Gladiator". Our guide told us fabulous, and often gory, tales of events in those early times.
  Our second city day was in Naples, home of the pizza now eaten all over the world. We were guided through Herculaneum, the smaller and less famous town that was buried at the same time as Pompeii when Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. We saw the way the people used to live nearly two thousand years ago in their homes so well-preserved under the mud and lava that flowed down the steep hillside. In the afternoon, we spent a couple of hours in the Naples Archaeological Museum where many of the treasures rescued from the buried cities can still be seen.
  All this cultural input was supplemented by optional Italian lessons on three mornings from an attractive young Italian lady, and a short organ recital in the nearly church from Dent organist, Roger Bush. The food at the hotel was excellent as always, and in addition we were treated to a Medieval banquet in the castle at Fumone with the Baron and his friends to entertain us, and to a feast of typical regional specialities in the ancient hill-top town of Fiuggi. Ours was a cultural and gastronomic tour of the first order. The family at the hotel have come to regard us as friends and they are looking forward to another visit from Sedbergh next year.                                                                                                                                  George D Handley

  "Think safety before doing it yourself"
  As spring has gone and summer with us, Cumbria Fire Service has issued timely advice to all would be Do It Yourself enthusiasts.
  "Statistics and experience show that at this time of year there is an increase in calls, which are found to have been caused by activities associated with DIY" said Fire Officer Tom Donnelly. "These range from fires ignited by blow torches involved in paint stripping, to electrical appliances and other equipment which may have been stored in a damp garage or shed over the winter period."
  Highlighting important safety points to be remembered Mr Donnelly said, "Always check that the task you are undertaking is within your capabilities. Take expert advice. Many of the modern DIY Superstores from which materials and equipment are bought will offer such advice. Safety instructions should be read in full and complied with."
  Always: -

• Check you have the correct tool for the job.
  
• Ensure children and pets are safe, with obstructions removed from your workplace.
  
• If you have to check or repair an electrical tool turn it off at the main. Don't be tempted to cut corners because you are some distance from the power switch.
  
• Always uncoil electrical extension cables fully, as these can overheat and cause a fire.
  
• Never use multi-way adapters when working with high amperage tools.
  
• Gas appliances should only be repaired by an approved contractor.
  
• Flammable liquids should be used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, secured in containers and used in small quantities, well away from the house and other risks - naked flames or cigarettes.
  
• Ventilate when using adhesives and flammable liquids by opening windows and door and always ensure that no naked flames or power tools are close by.
  
• If you spill a substance on your clothing or overalls remove them and clean them thoroughly.
  

  I am very pleased to announce that the group has achieved its goal and succeeded in raising the funds to purchase and name a rose. One of the worlds leading rose growers, Peter Beales who are based in Norfolk have agreed to take up the idea. In a letter I received on the June 8 Amanda Beales states that they, the rose growers will donate 10% of every sale to the children's cancer charity, Ali's Dream, ACT, (against childhood tumour).
  Sometime this month my daughter Katharine will be meeting with the growers and picking out a rose to be named for her little girl, Indianna May.
  Amanda Beales is expecting the rose to be a big seller. The launch will take place at Hampton Court Rose Show July 2007. It is hoped that Lorraine Kelly, patron of Ali's Dream will be there to take part in the launch.
  Words would never be enough to thank everyone who supported the Panto's and helped make this possible, a million thanks to you all, helpers, players and supporters.
  If you are thinking that there will by no more Panto's you are mistaken.. Sorry you will have to suffer some more silly antics from the group. A new Panto is being put together and will take place, with a bit of luck in early March next year. All funds raised after expenses will go to charities with a local connection
  I am looking into the possibility of a trip to the Hampton Court Rose Show next July to see the launch. If you are interested tickets for the show go very quickly so please could you get in touch as soon as possible, I.e. Before the end of the month. Gates Travel do an over night with rail travel at a reasonable price but I have to book quickly so please be prepared to pay a deposit up front. Once again Thank you.

Sandra G.W,  015396 21808

Rugby sevens tournament
  On Friday the fifth of may, Settlebeck high School took part in their first rugby sevens tournament in over 10 years. We set off at around nine o'clock in the school minibus and reached Kirkby Lonsdale rugby club at around half past nine. When we arrived we had about half an hour to get warmed up before our three fixtures against Dallam, Queen Katherine and Windermere St Annes.
  Our first match against Dallam went well as we held them to five all in the first half. In the second half we were unlucky not to get three more tries because of some handling errors. Towards the end of the game Dallam managed to get three more tries that left the full time score 15 points to five.
  The second match against Queen Katherine was a bit of a one sided game with Settlebeck not managing to get the ball out of their own half or any points on the board.
  If we won our next match, we could have stood a chance of getting in to the plate final. We had a perfect start with Codey Sharp and Oliver Wales both running in a converted try each leaving the halftime score 14 points to zero. A couple of changes were made at half time leaving an almost fresh Settlebeck side. Unfortunately the lack of experience showed and Windermere scored three tries to win the match by just one point. The final score was Windermere Fifteen, Settlebeck fourteen.
  I think that we did really well as we had only started training a couple of months before. We are hoping to start playing more matches next season after we have got more players and done more training.                                                                                                                              Iain Bainbridge