Well, I'm about 4 weeks into winter training and I'm still alive and well. To be honest I'm
better than alive - I'm happier than a pig rolling around in the proverbial.

So far everything about this winter has been positive, even NUFC are doing scarily well with an almost unbeaten league record (Man City doesn't count as they're cheating with all their spending) and 3rd in the league for the first time in donkeys years - I'm eager to get those statements in my blog before our next two games, although by the
time you read this we may well be down to 4th.

Cramlington will hold its first ever Christmas Market at the end of the month as well as enjoy the Christmas lights switch-on.

In conjunction with Cramlington Town Council, the traditional Christmas Market weekend on November 26 and 27 will offer shoppers alternative stocking fillers and gift ideas with a range of homemade and handcrafted products by local and international suppliers.

Visitors can enjoy a festive chestnut and mulled wine stall as well as handmade beauty and bath products, ginger wine, sweets by Northumbria Traditional Sweets, cards, stationery, gift wrap, homemade chocolate and fudge, as well as farmhouse cakes, jams and chutneys.

Sent in by Changes Health and Fitness Club

To get your news on the Cramlington website contact northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk

Changes Health & Fitness Club, High Pit Road, Cramlington, have been recognised nationally for the emphasis it places on helping members to achieve their fitness goals.

Written by Kevin O'Hara, conservation officer at Northumberland Wildlife Trust

Where do they all go in winter? - Part 1

Recently I felt the first twangs of winter; the 'first frost' gripped my garden, the chickens came skidding out of their ark, and I had to break the ice on their drinking water. I really like those first days, when we still have some daylight left to enjoy the wonderful colours and smells. I take the camera and binoculars with me when I walk the dogs, keeping an eye out for winter thrushes or other visitors. The clocks have altered and we start the long haul of winter - not until February will some real light return to the sky, and warmth to the sun.

It is during these months that we wonder where, exactly, many of our resident wildlife species go to survive the coldest and wettest days of winter, especially those that are more delicate and less mobile.

By Paralympian Stephen Miller

Above are some pretty awesome pictures of the training camp in Portugal, and of my new frame made by Tharsus.

Correspondent Ruari O'Toole reviews the Three Horse Shoes beer festival in Horton - and looks forward to the next one.

The Three Horse Shoes in Horton is famous for its weekend beer festivals, and this year's autumn festival was in keeping with the historic free house's reputation for showcasing top quality drinks in a venue with atmosphere to spare.

In July of this year the Shoes' combined music and beer festival was so oversubscribed when I visited it that a beer token system was put into use and the queues at the bar were off-puttingly big, so it was a relief to actually find a seat at this October festival, even if it was in the beer garden!