SO, the lovely sunny weather was just a brief interlude; sufficient perhaps to bring on the early lambs.

They need three things to thrive – milk, grass and sunshine.

Now, just as the traditional lambing time for the Blackies is in full swing on the highest ground, we are back to snow and icy winds.

And all the swelling buds on the fruit trees will be at the mercy of the night frost.

For the most experienced and tough farmer, lambing is not only non-stop very strenuous work, but immensely emotional, as each birthing can be cause for joy or trauma.

The first few days are always dangerous for the newborn lambs and crows, foxes and badgers hover; the ewes not always cooperative, and then there’s the weather!

We heard some harrowing stories as well as tales of survival and success from stall-holders at the April market.

LET’S hope the weather is fine for the May farmers’ market – another early one as the second Sunday falls on May 8.

PLEASE send me news of events that are due a week or more ahead, and of course, reports of what has happened during the past week.

I can’t write about them unless you get in touch, by email on wendynbond@btinternet.com or leave a message on (0169) 747448.

AS far as I know, there will be the arts and crafts group on Tuesday, in the afternoon, and the youth club in the evening, both in the village hall.

Also in the hall, there will be keep fit on Monday, Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes and the dance club on Sunday evening.

And on Thursday, we are all expected to turn out to vote in the hall in the elections for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria.

TRADITIONALLY, the annual village meeting takes place on the third Monday evening in May one occasion established by law when the whole community can come and say on whatever it thinks important about how things are going and what is needed in the village.

It usually takes place at 6.30pm before the parish council meeting.

It is usually chaired by the parish council chairman and is usually treated as the council’s AGM.

We have many newcomers to the village who will have insights not easily available to the old-timers.

We are sadly beginning to lose some of our oldest residents, but I am sure this will not deter those who patiently bring up the same issues, decade after decade.

These issues may not have been resolved in the past – money has never been available for them – but they should be recorded as the unfulfilled needs of the people who have to put up with them. And, who knows, one day?

The important things is that we meet together and exchange ideas and views freely and openly and make what progress we can, especially in these times of financial and environmental threat.