. . . especially in the following activities:

COMBEbusiness

After standing up and speaking at a public meeting, I was elected to the committee and then voted chairman of a new business group in North Devon. Thanks to my fellow directors and support from members, COMBEbusiness has established itself to promote business around the Ilfracombe, Woolacombe and Combe Martin area of North Devon.

This has been an inspiring year and the turnout and participation at our monthly meetings has been phenomenal. In 2012 COMBEbusiness plans to provide tailored support and training for businesses in the area.

Ilfracombe courteous town initiative

Again, the response from business and residents of Ilfracombe has been tremendous. This pilot initiative, run by pleaseandthanks.co.uk and the National Campaign for Courtesy, has trialled a campaign to recognise courteous businesses in the town and focus on the positive aspects of business and work.

During the course of the initiative, I have met hundreds of people in business in the town and have been amazed by the response when people realise that someone has nominated them for an award to recognise their courtesy: it means so much to them.

North Devon 101 Apprentices campaign

In my role as business writer for the North Devon Journal, I had no idea how the North Devon Employment and Skills Board’s campaign to sign up 101 apprentices in 101 days would succeed. As it turned out, the commitment from North Devon’s employers, jobseekers, schools, colleges and residents was impressive. We beat the target and will be repeating the campaign in 2012. Watch out in the North Devon Journal.

North Devon Journal Business Awards

This was the first time that the North Devon Journal had run its business awards and again the response was enthusiastic. We met some great businesses and judging the winners was very difficult. The awards evening was a contrast to many other events in this time of economic uncertainty in that it focused entirely on genuine achievement and success.

North Devon Business Alliance

As a founding member of the NDBA, I’ve always enjoyed its friendly, professional lunches and events. Blogging, discussion on LinkedIn and interaction on twitter help to bring this vibrant business community together and in 2011 I’ve got to know even more business people across North Devon through the NDBA. In 2012 I look forward to getting to know even more.

Studio Theatre car boot sales

I also organised six fund-raising car boot sales for Studio Theatre on the seafront at Ilfracombe. I know many people love these and come from Bideford, Barnstaple and elsewhere because the atmosphere is so enjoyable. I was considering giving these up, but this week bumped into a car booter who thanked me and pleaded with me to run them again in 2012. I shall have to think seriously about this.

So thank you to all who have supported these organisations and activities and have made all the hard work in organising them worthwhile.

I plan to do some more gardening, DIY and things for myself in 2012, but already there are many projects and events in the pipeline for some of the above organisations above.

Let’s hope 2012 is even more successful!

Oh, What a Lovely War! Hm.

The Vicar of Dibley, hm.

Christmas, hm.

And now a New Year.

Hm.

Life has been busy. Even Christmas has been busy . . . with family and friends, with sorting out all the accumulated things to sort out that have piled up because of work and theatre, work and theatre and life and everything else.

So it’s not been much of a rest, which I usually like at this time of year, but it feels great to be in control again. There is hectic and hectic and I prefer hectic to hectic, although control is even more preferable.

And I did relax a bit . . .

. . . on Woolacombe beach.

So now I aim to write more and add more to the novel.

I hope you had a good Christmas too and wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

We went for a walk with our dogs on Woolacombe beach on Boxing Day . . .

Woolacombe, Devon in the evening sunlight on Boxing Day 2008

. . . and the light was wonderfully clear . . .

Woolacombe, Devon in the evening sunlight on Boxing Day 2008

. . . and as the sun went down . . .

The waves of the incoming tide on Woolacombe Beach, Devon on Boxing Day 2008

. . . the views got better and better . . .

Sunset over Woolacombe, North Devon on Boxing Day 2008

. . . who could ask for anything more?

When You’re Smiling, devised by Mike Bennett, is a bubbling summer mix of song, dance and comedy celebrating the stars of the 1940s with performances by Studio Theatre at the Landmark Pavilion and across North Devon.

Laugh at the comedy and listen to the songs of Vera Lynn, Rob Wilton, Flanagan & Allen, Gert & Daisy, the Andrews Sisters, Marlene Dietrich, Max Miller, Groucho Marx, Anne Shelton and Stanley Holloway.

Catch When You’re Smiling @

• Saturday 26th July – Landmark Pavilion, Ilfracombe
• Friday 1st August – Combe Martin Village Hall
• Friday 8th August – Woolacombe Village Hall
• Saturday 9th August - Landmark Pavilion, Ilfracombe
• Friday 15th August – Pilton Church Hall
• Saturday 16th August - Landmark Pavilion, Ilfracombe

All performances start at 8.15pm.

Tickets are £7 on the door or Landmark Pavilion tickets can be reserved from the box office on 01271 324242 or book online at www.northdevontheatres.org.uk.

Tickets for other venues available from Combe Martin & Woolacombe Tourist Information Centres.

More details at www.studiotheatreonline.org.uk.

I told you drama was coming and here it is . . .

. . . a production of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit performed by Studio Theatre at the Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe and in Berrynarbor and Woolacombe.

An old theatrical favourite, Blithe Spirit is the comic tale of a husband’s haunting by the mischievous ghost of his first wife.

Catch Blithe Spirit @

• Wednesday 23rd July @ 7.45pm – Berrynarbor Manor Hall
• Sunday 27th July @ 8.15pm – Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe
• Wednesday 30th July @ 7.45pm – Woolacombe Village Hall
• Sunday 3rd August @ 8.15pm – Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe

Please note start times for each venue.

Book your Blithe Spirit tickets

Landmark Theatre tickets £8.50; Family ticket £28. Call the Landmark Theatre box office on 01271 324242 or book online at www.northdevontheatres.org.uk

Tickets for other venues £7 on the door. You can also buy tickets from Berrynarbor Village Shop and Woolacombe Tourist Information Centre.

Visit www.studiotheatreonline.org.uk for more details.