DOGWATCH -- With another robbery last week it should have come as no surprise to find Gwyllym at three o'clock in the morning deciding that there was something odd in the garden. I opened the door and he disappeared into the night. Some time later and still no response to my silent whistling, nor to my sotto voce threats to his existence, I stumbled back to the house. Inside Gwyllym; I picked up his body language; had he a watch, he would have been pointing at it 'd'you know what time it is, we're trying to get some sleep here'. But at least we were secure in the knowledge that there were no intruders about. Later I spoke to our Beat Officer PC Roger Bradley, and he confirmed that locally at least the police are being more pro-active, with an officer attending every scene of crime. Most of ours, luckily or not, seem to be opportunistic and 'passing trade', but any information may be of use outside our area; even part of a car number could be a vital missing link.

HEDGE-LAYING -- The annual hedge laying extravaganza takes place this weekend near Five Ways in Westhope. On the face of it horizontal rain, howling wind and guaranteed mud, the normal conditions over the years, seem hardly designed to attract a crowd; strange then that experience shows that as the weather worsens the turn-out grows. So I fear for this weekend, unless spring relents and returns us to good old-fashioned winter. Any new faces will be made welcome; simply bring an offering for the table, and an appetite for fresh air.

JUMBLE SALE -- The organizers of the Save the Children jumble sale were delighted to have so many so willing to dip so far into their pockets on Saturday. Around £500 was raised for the charity during a frantic afternoon, which made all the background work worthwhile.

BRING AND BUY SALE -- This Saturday there will be a bring-and-buy coffee morning for St Michael's Hospice in the parish room. The event has outgrown its usual venue at the Great House, so in its new setting hopefully it will go from strength to strength; there are few more worthwhile causes. Anyone unable to attend, due perhaps to the hedge laying, can of course make a donation in absentia.