ON Sunday, December 6, we have a Christmas market in the village hall from 1pm until 4pm, and are promised a variety of stalls including gifts and crafts.

There will also be family games and a raffle, plus, so we hope, the main man himself - Father Christmas. He’s hoping to take precious time away from his busy elves and their present packing to be there.

ON Wednesday, December 2, Class 2 at Henshaw, Herdley Bank and Greenhead are off to the Great North Museum for a visit to the planetarium and “A Journey Through Space”.

Don’t worry, though, they should be back in plenty of time for the aforementioned Christmas market.

HENSHAW First School would like to remind you that Christmas beanies are now on sale at the school. All proceeds will go to St Oswald’s Children’s Hospice.

ARE you 65 or over, pregnant, or a registered carer? If so, have you had the flu jab you are entitled to? Check with your GP who will almost certainly have arranged drop-in sessions. If these are inconvenient then you can make a personal appointment to have your vaccination.

This is important – influenza is not just unpleasant, it can be extremely debilitating – so make sure you are protected.

AS I write this, we still haven’t had the promised snow which keeps popping up on the weather forecast maps.

However, as we drove westward towards Haltwhistle last Saturday both the distant Tindale Fell and Cold Fell were completely white.

I like snow – particularly when it is at some distance away from where I am and not at my feet.