Well, I hope you managed to avoid the flu, and all the other viruses that have been around over the last couple of months. It took me three weeks to shake off whatever it was that found its way into my system.

Work on the Village Hall appears to be well underway, and one can now get some idea about the actual size of the extensions. Hopefully, it won’t be too many more months before the work is completed, and we can start using the Hall again. I’m sure the wait will be well worth it.

Here on Nightingale Row, we fortunately didn’t suffer any damage from the high winds, apart from a few planters ending up on their sides, but looking around the village, fences were down, roof tiles were missing, trees suffered damage, and one shed was known to have relocated itself to another part of the owner’s garden. Still, we can count ourselves lucky when we compare what we have suffered to those caught up in the Tsunami.

Next month, the Rudston Newsletter will be 21 years old. The first issue was dated March 1984; it consisted of 5 sides of A4, was printed on bright green paper, and the editor was Sally Cummins. If anyone has any ideas on how we can mark this event, please let me know.

There is a mention in this month’s Crosslands Column about the persistent problem of dog fouling in the village, and some of the disgusting methods used by ‘baggers’ to avoid taking their parcels home. This is even worse than not bothering at all; at least if it is left it will degrade naturally in time, though that is not an excuse to leave it there. The message is still the same, bag it up and take it home.