A sharp game of dominoes was being played by a bunch of jovial ladies, who looked as skilful as any team of men, when I nosily looked into Norman Richardson House at Middleton in Teesdale on Tuesday to see if anything was going on.

It was the jolly weekly get-together of Middleton Outreach, a branch of the Bede Day Centre. Mandy Laidlaw runs it with Norma Atkinson as her right hand woman, and they make an excellent job of it, judging by the happy atmosphere.

"We do our best to make sure everyone has an enjoyable time," said Ms Laidlaw, as some members looked over a new selection of books that had just arrived via the mobile library and an enticing aroma wafted from the kitchen.

That prompted Joyce Hearn, who has been attending the sessions for five years, to sing the praises of Sarah Liddle, who is the house manager but also cooks lunch for the members. This time it was ham and cheese quiche with new potatoes and salad, followed by fresh fruit salad.

Anne Longstaff said they all look forward to the excellent meal as well as to mixing with their friends for the day. "It's lovely to have all this nice company," she smiled, as the others murmured in agreement.

The Outreach, which also has branches in four other villages, is one of those organisations which doesn't get much publicity but helps to make life much more pleasant for a lot of senior citizens.

Kathleen Cosgrove was delighted to make £671 at a market stall in Barnard Castle last week when all the tasty cakes and scones baked by her and her friends sold rapidly. Now she is hoping for equally good takings at another stall next Wednesday.

The money all goes to a good cause, though rather an unusual one -- the upkeep of the Roman Catholic burial ground in the town. "We've always done our bit to pay for the graveyard maintenance, and market stalls are a good way of raising money," said Mrs Cosgrove.

She and some other ladies will be busy over hot stoves before next Wednesday. But they'll be delighted if some other supporters do some baking too. Volunteers can ring Mrs Cosgrove on 01833-637398 to say what goodies they can provide. Bric a brac will also be accepted -- and of course all customers will welcome on the day.

Some people who go to a pantomime in Teesdale this year may rub their eyes and feel they have a bout of double-double vision, because the cast will include quadruplets. It will surely be a first for any klind of stage show in the district.

The delightful Guy sisters from Bowes -- Emma, Kirsty, Laura and Becky -- are busy preparing for their roles in Cinderella, to be presented by the Green Explorers at Barnard Castle Methodist Church in November.

The 11 year olds will appear as the Lost Boys from Peter Pan. These lads don't usually come into contact with Cinders and Buttons, but somehow they get mixed up in the wrong panto. The producer, Anne Noble, tells me, "The quads will be first class in their roles."

The foursome will soon be making new friends at Staindrop Comprehensive School, where they will start the new term after switching from Bowes Primary.

A message has arrived from a lady in Canada, via Ferryhill, asking how Cat Castle quarry at Lartington got its name. Nan Hamilton of Cotherstone, who is well up on local history, informs me that in days of yore large quarry faces were often known as castles, so that could explain one part of it.

But where did Cat come from? Mrs Hamilton thinks there might be a connection with Catty Crag quarry behind Goldsborough, from which stone was used to build Hury reservoir. It was led there on a narrow gauge railway.

But this is only an off-the-cuff theory, says Mrs Hamilton, adding, "I've never seen any real evidence about how Cat Castle got its name." She, like the lady in Canada, will be pleased is someone comes up with a more convincing answer.