A QUESTION mark hangs over my future as a columnist keeping all informed of local village news. Thanks to one of my bright ideas I have been upstaged by a four-legged friend called Simba. Her involvement in news-writing began when I met her among the blue

A QUESTION mark hangs over my future as a columnist keeping all informed of local village news.

Thanks to one of my bright ideas I have been upstaged by a four-legged friend called Simba.

Her involvement in news-writing began when I met her among the bluebells in Eversden woods.

Now we have the Simba news from the Eversdens which has already been read in eight countries, and by people from all over England.

Strange to say my local news coverage also began as a result of my findings among the bluebells in that very same woodland. That is now a very long story which began a long time ago. Since then I have travelled many thousands of miles and survived being tortured by Islamic extremists. To then have the editor of another local newspaper telling me to step into the real world does give reason to question his presumptuous ignorance about those who live in the local community.

Simba has also travelled some thousands of miles to be here. She was found injured by the roadside somewhere in Canada and spent a long time in quarantine on arrival in England.

I suggested that I take digital pictures of her amongst the bluebells for use on the Eversden villages web site at www.the-eversdens.co.uk so that her owners, currently traveling the world, could have a look at her. The Simba on line Eversden newsletter was the outcome. Her big village news item is the sale, or lease, of the Golden Elephant, only some seven months after the announcement that it was no longer The Hoops pub and was now a Thai restaurant.

Apparently this happened shortly after the parish council made inquiries about the licensing hours. I don't remember these being mentioned. Sebastian certainly did, so it must have been me who in true doggie fashion nodded off.

With an asking price of more than £600,000 the suggestion that Bob buys it with his loose change is by no means with out foundation as, of course, he was once the landlord.

Is it wishful thinking that once again we might see the original Hoops pub sign which we are assured still hangs behind the present Golden Elephant perspex covering?