This past year (2007) has been very quiet western-wise for us, the weather certainly ain't helped, but I do hope to get back into the swing of it next year. For the past five years (I can't believe it's been that long!) we (pard Doc Jack Coltrane and I) have attended about three round ups a year with Whiskey Creek Western Club in Alfold, Surrey. (Their website is linked to ours.) But I have found that, in my enthusiasm, I was taking along far too much 'stuff' to show off! What with clothes galore, scrap books, blanket sales and artefacts, it was driving me bonkers every time it came to packing. I've recently been reminding myself that camping in the original Colorado or Klondike gold regions (which I attempt to emulate...! ) would be done extremely simply. Not even the kitchen sink. I have to also remind myself how I packed when Greyhound trekking around the States during the late seventies...!

Anyhow, back to Alfold. It's a beautiful setting and the folk are great. Every year, the Bar X Rancheros summer roundup is held there with their western town and stagecoach, plus country music and shows. If anyone is interested in attending any of this in the future, just email me or contact Ron Symonds (Whiskey Creek Western Club) on 01798 872836.

Much of this year has been taken up with helping our daughter look after her twin toddlers. Their father used to dress in cowboy kit and attend country and western events, so we're wondering if his daughters will take after him and follow our western trail! That would be good, we do notice that younger folk are thin on the ground at camps.

Again around five years ago I formed an email group, Wild West Saloon. It's still going strong, which amazes me, and although there is only a small knot of familiar names who 'talk', there are around forty members, some of whom contribute when the whim grabs them, and a number of them hail from the west, one of them being a 'Madam' from Tombstone whom I am proud to call a friend. We're a fun group and have got to know one another well over the air waves. We discuss anything connected with the Americas, ancient or modern, mythical or factual. We can even be serious if the mood grabs us! If anyone would like to join us, there is a link at the bottom of the main page.

Jo Bennett alias Kitty Le Roy,

British Westerners Association and Whiskey Creek Western Club