LET’S hope there is no repeat of the extremely damaging storm that ripped sections of our district apart, causing a less joyous Christmas for the people who were severely affected by the weather. Hopefully, 2019 starts a hell of a lot better than 2018 finished for those people.

IN between Christmas and new year, I was sampling a liquid refreshment at the New England Hotel when I mentioned to pub regular Fred Henry that the dog on the Peter Norbury calendar behind the bar didn’t have long to go. Fred looked at me in a way only “Fredum” can, and said, “what, is he sick?”

ANYONE who knows Fred would be aware he may or may not be fair dinkum when he says certain things. I did point out however, the reason the hound didn’t have long to go was not his life span, but that there was only a few days left in the year and the calendar would have to be replaced. “Fredum” understood what I meant.

DURING the Christmas and new year break, my favourite son Ben entered Moons Bakery to pick up an order which had been placed there by myself a few days earlier. By all accounts, shop manager Barb Jamieson had some trouble locating the order until she realised she had written it down as Andrew, and not as “Coog”.

A FEW people around the village are aware that my skills with mobile phones and computers would certainly not be described as silky smooth. Last Saturday, Apsley Arms Hotel co-host Lizzie Manns was giving me some tutoring on mobile phones, including the use of Google (or as I call it, “Goggle”!).

UP until then, I thought you could only goggle if you had some fancy plan that cost more cash. Not anymore. Wayne Brennan was quite amused with the whole tutoring session before he tutored the tutor Lizzie on a few other tricky phone things.

OVER in Sports Shorts, you can read about “Brenno’s” hole-in-one at Armidale last week, the day his son Andrew commenced working at the Armidale Golf Course after his employment was terminated at the Tamworth Longyard through no fault of his own. Nothing strange about that, but please read on.

IF Wayne, Steph Sweeney and his son Mitchell had played in the competition on offer that day instead of just playing socially, “Brenno” would have picked up over $1300 in the hole-in-one jackpot after he aced the 14^th. As “Brenno” mentioned, he is glad it didn’t happen because how would it look – three burglars from Walcha scoop the bool on AJ’s first day on the job at Armidale.

THE 2018 “Kim Cross King of Compaction” award was announced at the Walcha council Christmas party late last year. It went to parks and gardens 2IC Harley Fontanella. The prize is in honour of former council roller driver, the late “Buck” Cross, and is presented by his twin brother Simeon to the employee who stuffs up throughout the previous year.

TO win the trophy, “Fonz” somehow got himself bogged in the middle of a drought not once, but three times in the space of a week. First up, in the old concrete truck, and then in a backhoe, both at “Beaver Place”, before sinking the two-tonner at the cemetery not long afterwards. Congratulations on your prize, “Font”.

HILL Street resident Margaret Tickle celebrated her 70^th birthday with family and friends at the Apsley Arms Hotel last Saturday afternoon. There was plenty of reminiscing and stories told, with everyone enjoying themselves – well if they weren’t, they certainly were putting on a pretty good show.

WALCHA Rotary Club officially opened the barbecue at the pool on Tuesday night when a good crowd of club members, guests, council representatives and sponsors were in attendance for dinner. The Rotary barbecue project, with a little help from some friends, took place mainly during the pool off-season.

THE annual Walcha Pool Party is being held on Friday, January 18 from 5pm to 7pm. There will be competitions with prizes galore for the winners. One of the attractions will be free ice-cream for the kids. A dive-in movie – Peter Rabbit – will then follow when it gets dark. Admission is free for season ticket holders, $6 per single entry or $12 for a family. Hope to see you at the pool for this family event.

THE Walcha Library is conducting a bus trip to Tamworth on Tuesday, January 22 to visit the Tamworth Cinema. Kids must be eight years and over and the cost is $20 per child. Bookings are essential on 6774 2550. The bus departs the library at 9am.

SPORT and Recreation swimming lessons commenced last Monday under the guidance of Kirsten Wall. Water temperatures and weather conditions have been ideal so far, which makes “Kirto’s” job just that bit more enjoyable than working in cooler conditions.