As seven fit enthusiasts plunged into the pool at Teesdale Sports Centre at 7am on Tuesday it was clear that this regular early dip, coupled with another each Thursday, is doing them all a mountain of good.

Stella Armstrong, a young mother of four from Winston, swam 50 brisk lengths before hurrying home to her husband John, who was making breakfast.

Prison officer John Caldwell freestyled for 51 lengths before striding over to Deerbolt to start a shift. Why 51? "I began with that number years ago and decided to stick with it," he explained.

Jo Hankin, Gordon Calvert and Christine Lamb reported as they took short breathers between lengths that the refreshing workouts, enjoyed all year round, give them a lasting healthy glow.

They recommend them to anyone whose life could do with a lift or a bit of a splash. "They set you up to tackle the washing, housework and shopping," said Jo.

As later arrivals dived in, pool attendants Angela Makepeace and Lee Hodgson spoke of the special atmosphere around the 7am group. "They've become friends and can be heard chatting merrily as they swim," Lee told me.

Following last week's piece on an unusual old phrase, a reader called Lalage has sent another: "Making a cow's thumb of it." She says it was a compliment uttered when someone did perfect work. She remembers a meticulous decorator of whom it was remarked admiringly, "Aye, he can be relied on to make a cow's thumb of all his jobs."

The Reverend John Moore and his team of talented newshounds are about to produce edition 166 of a much-admired monthly publication, the Teesdale Talking Newspaper. Its editor, Alan Stoddart, is making his final selection of items to include.

Mr Moore, genial former chaplain at Barnard Castle School, has masterminded the project from the start 12 years ago and still does all the recording at his home with his co-producer Mike Hemingway.

As usual, this latest edition will be packed with 45 minutes of local news plus 45 minutes of magazine material including some music. More than 80 cassette copies will be posted free to visually-impaired people, who will then pass them on to others.

The newsreaders who bring the words to life are Eileen and Tony Gutteridge, Mavis and Eric Carter, Maureen Willatt, Margaret Miles and Doreen Moore.They are all excellent, the dale's answer to Anna Ford and Trevor McDonald.

Some of the recipients give donations towards the costs. And Peter Elliott, a remarkable blind dale man who does sponsored runs, helps out by chipping in some of his takings.

Historian Parkin Raine came in this week with more details on John Harris, the No Surrender shopman. Apparently, the Boer War gun involved was a gift to the town from the North Eastern Cyclists Meet and was normally berthed in a Galgate flower garden. After his long legal battle, jubilant John had greetings cards printed featuring the gun, shop and date of victory. He sent them to customers and friends. It was his perky way of rubbing extra salt into the council's wounds.

The style of the new surgery almost completed at Gainford has been much admired. And though its one bright blue wall is being criticised, I believe it fits in perfectly well - just what the doctor ordered, in fact. It's all just a matter of opinion, after all.

* I'll be glad to see anyone who calls with snippets of news at The Northern Echo office at 36 Horsemarket, Barnard Castle, on Mondays and Tuesdays, telephone (01833) 638628.