CHLOE Gosling is preparing to soothe away the aches and bruises of men, women and horses in a business she has launched from her home in Mickleton.

She has been qualified for over a year to give human massages, but has now undergone further training to treat equine customers as well.

She is a busy lady, as a full-time lecturer in animal management at Houghall College. She spends two days a week dealing with horses there and the rest of the time promoting the care of other creatures.

"But I am really looking forward to running this new venture in the dale in my spare time," she told me.

She has a degree in agricultural and biological sciences from Newcastle University and has worked for some years as a veterinary nurse. She has ridden most of her life and has three ponies.

She travelled to Dorset to study the techniques of equine massage with Mary Bromley, so she has plenty of knowledge about how to handle the four-legged patients which will make use of her services.

They can often be helped greatly by massage while recovering from leg or back problems. Vets regularly recommend it.

Ms Gosling can treat human clients in their own homes or places of work as she has a portable massage table.

Some people she has dealt with in the past year have had sporting injuries. Others, including a number of women, simply feel the need for some soothing and toning-up.

One recent caller was a grouse shooter who had just spent his first day for a long time on the moors and ended up hurting all over. She soon put him right.

"A massage can make anyone feel much better," said Ms Gosling, 30, whose partner in life is Scott Walker. They are having a barn converted into a home.

Anyone wishing to inquire about her service can reach her on 01833-640190, or mobile 07967-594685.

Barry Stannard felt life was a little strange this week when he didn't have to go back to school after the summer break.

Having spent a long career in teaching, with the last 23 years as deputy head of Gainford Primary, it was a big change for him to be at home. And his wife, Shelagh, stayed in the house too, rather than returning to a classoom at Sugar Hill School, in Newton Aycliffe.

The couple have enjoyed a long holiday at their caravan in the South of France, where they've been going for 20 years. Their daughter, Rebecca, is a lecturer in Newcastle, and their son, Neil, is a policeman in Darlington.

Mr Stannard, who ended up teaching some children of his earliest pupils, has been getting a spot of useful exercise on a pushbike, one of the gifts presented to him on his retirement.

Another was a poem written about him by headteacher Howard Blindt, with just a little influence from William Wordsworth and his daffodils.

The masterpiece has five verses, the first being: He travelled in his silver car/That drove o'er Teesdale's vales and hills/When all at once he saw a crowd/A school of Gainford's great pupils/Beside the hall, beneath the trees/All smiling and talking with utmost ease.

Anyone fancying a lively night out might like to know that a new season of circle dancing is starting on Thursday, at Eggleston Village Hall.

Enthusiasts from around the dale are looking forward to birling around again after a summer break and will welcome others of any age, gender or expertise.

Hazel Browne and Audrey Ruddick, who have both enjoyed this form of dancing for 15 years, say it can be healing, transforming and calming, as well as a lot of fun.

One advantage is that there is no need for a partner. Any man or woman can drop in alone and can be sure of finding new friends.

Ms Browne, who lives in Lunedale, told me: "It is really easy to do.

"It includes dances from many folk traditions around the world, as well as newly-created contemporary ones."

The sessions, on the second Thursday of each month, start at 7.30pm. The price is £2, which includes tea and biscuits.

It sounds like an ideal way to get fit while having a pleasant time in good company.

For more details, call Ms Browne on 01833-640194 or Ms Ruddick on 01388-609789.

It seems some young ones have been extremely busy moving stones around in the Tees at the end of their school holiday.

A sort of causeway jutted about ten yards into the river from the bandstand area at Barnard Castle this week.

There were a lot of heavy rocks among them, so it must have taken a great deal of strenuous effort. It looked as if a machine might have been used.

But Alan Wilkinson, historian and authority on this neck of the woods, told me that creating this type of jetty has been popular among boys since he was a lad, quite a number of decades ago.

"It's done from time to time to see how far they can walk over the river without getting their feet wet," he said.

"But this one is longer than most."

It sounds like a healthy and harmless pastime, but if the young folk involved had put as much hard graft into a paid project they would have ended up with a handy pay packet.