Copeland Crack

Away with the fairies

SOME subjects just seem to be in the ether at any given moment: right now, it's fairies.

It all started with the appearance of fairy houses near Gelt Wood in the north of the county. An artist with an imagination put some fairy doors at the base of trees in the wood, giving local families and hikers a smile. One might have expected... [more]

By Alan Cleaver
Published: September 30, 2010

A new way of walking

After millions of years, someone has come up with a new way of walking.

When I heard this suggested new way of walking, I have to say I was sceptical. But I gave it a go yesterday and to my surprise found it worked. It's a new way of walking up hill. Fell walkers will know that the hills are lovely but it can be a struggle on the... [more] (3 comments)

By Alan Cleaver
Published: September 13, 2010

Ready, teddy, go...

Gallery 50a in Egremont has seen some wonderful exhibitions over the past few months.

The last one, Pyxis Ludibrium, featured thousands of cuddly toys. Artist Karen Storr was worried some might be stolen as the gallery had to left unattended for a short while. In fact, the opposite happened: the number of cuddly toys increased! It seems... [more]

By Alan Cleaver
Published: September 10, 2010

When the steam trains fell silent

It must have been a dilemma to our friends on the Ratty as to how they recorded the dreadful day of June 2 in the pages of their magazine.

But they have done an excellent job. In the latest edition of The R&ER magazine - the Journal of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society - is a two-page article on the day of the... [more]

By Alan Cleaver
Published: September 9, 2010

In praise of... village halls

We take them for granted - but village halls have a magic all of their own.

I TOOK part in the photographic exhibition at Santon Bridge village hall last Sunday and it was a delightful - and very English - day out. About 20 photographers crammed into the village hall to exhibit their work and a steady stream of visitors wandered through... [more]

By Alan Cleaver
Published: September 7, 2010