November is when clubs and organisations really

get going with their winter programmes. See the Diary

(page 5) for details of all meetings and events. If you

love flowers and would like to know more about making

beautiful arrangements, go along to the Flower Club

meeting and see how they do it (page 29). Wildlife

enthusiasts will enjoy the meetings of the Somerset

Wildlife Trust in Caryford Hall.

You can now go to Bruton Library (page 17) and listen

to recordings by the Bruton Archive team of interviews

with long-term residents, including the late Brian

Shingler. The Camelot branch of the University of the

3rd Age (U3A) has regular talks on fascinating subjects,

too, as does the Somerset branch of the Decorative and

Fine Arts Society, which this month presents a talk on

the Ballets Russes.

There is a great choice of activities and interests in

and around Bruton, not least the exhibitions at Durslade

Farm. I was lucky enough recently to be among a group

shown round by an extremely articulate and informative

guide, who explained the artists’ intentions and what

motivated them. Several people in the group said

afterwards, ‘Ah – now I get it!’ As often with modern art

or music, the impetus behind them is not always obvious,

but with guidance the viewer (or listener) is enabled to

get much more out of them than a quick, dismissive first

impression might indicate. After all, such giants as Monet

and Beethoven had to overcome this attitude in their day.

Remembrance Sunday is on 9 November, of

particular significance in this centenary year of the

outbreak of World War I.

Do keep pets indoors on and around 5 November,

in as quiet a room as possible. And if you are having

a bonfire party, please be considerate towards elderly

neighbours, who might not appreciate loud bangs at

midnight. Elisabeth Balfour