February 2005  - Edition No.94

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a good Christmas. Sadly, for so many it was far from it, and our thoughts continue to go out to all those affected by the horrendous tsunami.

As I start working on this issue, it looks like being another very full one, which I hope you will find interesting. I am delighted to welcome a new artist to the fold - our country scene cover is the charming work of Judy Jones. Thank you, Judy, we look forward hopefully to enjoying more of your illustrations in the future.

Thank you, as always, to all the contributors - no contributions, no newsletter! So, how about putting pen tp paper and let's have some new scribes in the April issue. Articles and items for April would be welcome as soon as possible and by Tuesday, 15th March, at the latest. Thanks.

January is the time to look at finances and currently the funds are looking comparatively healthy. The continued financial support of the Parish and Parochial Church Councils and other organisations, as well as individuals, is much appreciated. However, although the Newsletter is a 'free' publication, it does cost money to produce. The average cost of an issue is £150 for a run of 440 copies, that is 36p a copy. The cost of coloured printing - it has become customary to have a coloured cover at Christmas and of course the Primary School children's work had to be in colour - is £150 for a single side A4 sheet run. Yes, it was lucky we had enough in the funds to cover the cost of £450! If you work that out, the October issue cost just over £1 a copy.

So, if you don't already do so - and many of you do - when you pick up your next copy, please think about popping a contribution in one of the collecting boxes. Thank you.

I take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Easter, which comes early this year.

Judie - Ed