NOT sure if it's me, or not, but there seems to be a lot more than usual may blossom about this year. Nevertheless, the old saying 'ne'er cast a clout till may be out' was spot on this year, as the appearance of the Hawthorn flowers coincided with all the lovely warm weather.

SKIPTON'S Rendezvous Hotel will pay homage to the area's grandfathers on Sunday - Father's Day. It is offering a free three-course meal to all grandpas, who go along with at least one family member. It follows a similar - successful - initiative for grandmothers for Mother's Day in March. Hotelier Malcolm Weaving joked: "Who said all Yorkshire men have short arms and deep pockets?" The father’s day celebration will be held in the hotel's Baby Swan and canalside Conservatory restaurants between noon and 3pm and there will be live entertainment throughout the afternoon. The cost for family members is £17 for a two-course meal and £20 for a three-course meal, with children under 12 eating for half price. To book a table, call Lindsay Muller on 01756 700100.

THORNTON Hall Country Park is also pushing the boat out for Father's Day - or least for those dads who like motor sport. The Thornton-in-Craven visitor centre is hosting an adrenalin-fuelled display by professional motorcycle trials and endurocross rider Dougie Lampkin on Sunday. And, with 12 FIM World titles and 99 GP wins to his name, Dougie remains one of the true legends of trials riding. He will be joined by one of his sons for the Thornton event. Tickets cost £8 and are available from 01282 841148 or visit thorntonhallcountrypark.co.uk

THERE'S little room for much in the way of humour at planning meetings of Craven District Council, but at the end of a hot and lengthy session last week, questions were asked whether a new 'wellbeing centre' at Broughton Hall for the use of the business park would be open to the general public. Councillors clearly liked the idea of a swimming pool, meditation room and sauna, and wanted to know if it would be for sole use of the park people only. "Perhaps if we had a particularly planning meeting, we could all retire there afterwards," said vice chairman Cllr John Dawson.

A KETTLEWELL tearoom will take part in the Alzheimer’s Society's first-ever cupcake day today. Zarina Belk, of Zarina's Tearoom, has enlisted friends to help bake the cupcakes which will be available from 10.30am to 11.45am. The £2.50 price tag includes a cup of tea or coffee and all funds will go to the society's battle to defeat dementia. The initiative is being supported by Paul Hollywood, from BBC's Great British Bake Off, actresses Ruth Jones and Donna Air, comedian Jo Brand and chef Lorraine Pascale.

PLANNING a community event - and feeling out of your depth? Craven CVS might have the answer. It is holding an events training workshop for those working in the community and voluntary sector. The course will provide tips on how to make events - both small and large - a massive success. The workshop will be staged at the Friends Meeting House in Settle on Saturday, July 2, from 10am to 3pm and the cost is £20, with bursaries available for smaller organisations. To book a place, call 01756 795838, email info@cravencvs.org.uk or visit cravencvs.yapsody.com

MEMBERS of the Cross Hills-based Friends Are Us youth club will be doing their bit to help the area's young carers. They are holding a fundraising coffee morning at the village's St Peter's Church Hall on Saturday from 10am to noon. Attractions include everything from bacon butties and hot dogs to a nail, hair and tattoo stall and apple bobbing. All proceeds will go to Craven Young Carers. So why not go along and support the youngsters?

ONE of the showiest vehicles on display at last weekend's Skipton Car Show was this 1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible. Fans of the movies will also have recognised it as the car Tom Cruise drove in the film, Rain Man, in which he starred with Dustin Hoffman. The film tells the story of Charlie Babbitt, a selfish yuppie of questionable ethics played by Cruise, who learns that his estranged father has died and bequeathed his entire fortune to his other son, austistic Raymond, portrayed by Hoffman. All that Cruise's character gets from his father are his prized rosebushes and the car.

BACK in 1916, despite it being the second year of World War One, Skipton Hospital Gala was one of the few annual events to go ahead. The event, on Saturday, July 15, took place as it had for many years off The Bailey, Skipton. Organisers back then, just as the organisers of Saturday's Gala, were hoping for good weather and a record turnout.