Surf spectacular
National championship at Druridge Bay

A Dog's life
We have the best dog beaches - it's official!

Affordable housing
Dreaming of your own house?

Deer Ambler
Spring surprise

Everybody's talking
Community forum promotes our interests

Hedging bets
Doing what comes naturally

Saving wildlife
Making a river change its mind

RNLI station shop
Spend money and save lives

Amble slimmers
Get thin and save lives

Editorial
Supermarket snags and what's in this "life saving" issue.

Have your say
Letters and email, including photos

Improving Queen Street
Grants can give you an uplift

National 'Elf
Dress up as an elf and save lives

Veggie basket scheme
Disadvantaged people help community

Neighbourhood watch
Keeping an eye on your neighbours

Coquet High School Partnership
Expected drop in pupil numbers

Women's house building project
The house that Jill built

Artograffi
Easter fun

David's Diary
News from Amble Development Trust

Town council report
News update from the Town Council

Confessions of an addict
Harry gives up the weed

Age Concern Northumberland
...need people who are concerned

Chinese freeze affects Welfare
Snow stops take-away

Child Trust Fund
Invest in your child's future

Penny
New year Resolutions

Amble Churches Together
Thoughts for New Year

County Councillors report
Future developments

A tale of two thefts
You have been warned

The Peer Mentors
Students help each other

Residents get the hump over bumps
Calming the traffic?

Dirty wellies in a wine bar
Rural romance

Small skinny latte
Toddlers make their own coffee shop

Poetry corner
Safe to shore

Paddlers Paradise
New look play area

Snippets...
Local food, recycling, school numbers, welfare update

What's On
Including live music, Easter services, volunteering at Warkworth Castle and more.

Greetings from Aglaia
Message from a tall ship

Ray King column
Kevin Keegan takes over. "We all eagerly await"

PENNY ...
on New Year resolutions

Forget all those things like dieting, giving up smoking, less alcohol – concentrate on the children. We’ve got so used to the expression ‘quality time’ that it has become a meaningless cliché. What children need is contact time, listening time, talking time.

Some years ago some hundreds of 11 year olds were asked what were the happiest times for them at home. Nearly all said ‘When mum comes to tuck me in at night and sits on the bed and talks to me – I have her all to myself’. Think about what that means…. It’s not holidays or the best game or designer jeans – just talking. The dishwasher of course is responsible for some of this loss – when we all washed up together the kitchen was alive with intimate chat!

Has anyone noticed how, when smacking was banned because it taught children to be violent (!) we have had more teenage violence to the point of murder, than ever before? Perhaps an appropriate smack in childhood might have taught them how it feels to be physically hurt?

Perhaps we should make a resolution to use wisely our privilege to vote instead of being so apathetic that we leave the door wide open to fascism.
Penny