As many of you will know, I'm working on a collection of local folk tales and lore. If you have any stories, legends, or just interesting facts, I'd love to hear them. Post them as comments here, as a story, or just tell them to me when you see me in the Swan.
For a variety of reasons, I'm currently particularly interested in stories involving foxes, changlings, or shape-shifters.
I thought that as we live in such a beautiful area of the country and the sheer quantity of wildlife that abounds in our woodlands that we should have an area dedicated to wildlife sightings.
Anyone can post – I also think that you can also add photographs, I will check with Alistair, if so I will include some of the beautiful butterflies that have visited my buddleia bush over the summer.
We could also arrange some wildlife walks I would be happy to arrange some now that I have retired from teaching all of your little darlings and in fact some of you.
It's going to be a quite busy couple of weeks at the Swan! This Friday we host the anual Sandy Moore commemorative darts match. All the best darts players from the area compete, partly to keep his memory alive and partly for the £50 of free beer that I offer as well as the trophy for the winner. Lets hope that we can keep the tropy in Sacriston Barrow after Old Pete's close win in the final last year.
The Monday after that is time for my autumn pub quiz (yes, it's that time already). Entry is only 50 pence and I expect to see you all there, but remember, no more than four to a team. Also, if anyone is interested in writing a guest round of questions (unfortunately this means that you cannot take part), then please contact me.
Then on the friday of that week, Ed and Flora Patterson have booked the swan for their wedding reception, and I'm told that the whole village is invited, so I'll want a good excuse if I don't see you there.
As well as this our Saturday night dominoes league is continuing, as is the chess club which meets in the back room every wednesday (all are welcome to both, both experts and learners alike).
I have also been reminded By Betty to add that the swan is still looking for a part time bar assistant. It's £5 an hour and should involve working most evenings a week, although if you want one off I'm sure that that could be aranged. Anyone who's interested please come to the Swan and ask for Betty.
That's about all I can think of. I hope to see most of you soon, at the wedding if not before.
I am trying to set up a local cricket team at present if anyone would like to join please either meet me on sunday in the pub or e-mail me S_marsden_HQ@hotmail.com. If you are uncertain of the rules then Try the BBC cricket website at BBC website Cricket rules
Steven Marsden
Welcome to our new website! For those joining us through the wonder of the world wide web, this site is dedicated to the village. I'm hoping it will serve as a focus for village activity, and a place to record our history, surroundings, and folklore. Locals can post messages on anything that takes their fancy - wildlife sightings, events, news, announcements, stories, history, folklore. Anything. Before you can post, you'll need a username and password - ask me for one!
At the moment, this is all very new, but over the next few weeks it should grow into something we can be really proud of, and add a whole new dimension to our village life.