A free eight-week computer course will be held again in The White Horse Pub at Shophouse Road, Twerton. 149 people have already been introduced to the basics about computers on the course. Learning about computers can help you find a job, improve your confidence and help you relate to your children or grandchildren when they talk about computers. Some people feel more comfortable learning in a pub environment than they would at a college.

The next course is scheduled for October or November but places go fast so you need to book now. To book a place telephone Jacqui on 07977 239782. Please pass on this information to anyone else who you think might be interested.

Joe, 28/08/08

Bath City Farm organised a special day on the August Bank Holiday to raise some funds and offer everyone a fun time. When I saw the clouds overhead I thought they might have been unlucky with the weather, but the day stayed warm and there was a pleasant breeze.

Laura and Kedric organised the barbecue with pork and beef burgers and sausages. John and Liz work voluntarily at the farm and were asked to do the children's face painting (top right photo). Neither of them had done it before but judging by the multi-coloured faces I saw, they did a very good job. John said, "I heard the trick is to smile and look confident even when it's going wrong."

There was a a tombola and a darts practice game, a raffle with a top prize of a laptop computer donated by a local firm, and a thing a bit like a coconut shy but with tin cans instead of coconuts.

There were quite a few car boot sellers too. The left-hand photo is of Peter and Joy from Twerton at their stall. I forgot to ask the names of the two musicians above. They lead the Wutan Martial Arts group and kindly did a display at a Chinese event in Twerton earlier this year.

What the photos don't show is the large numbers of people from Southdown, Whiteway and Twerton who come to the fun days each time. It's a good way to build community as people come into contact with others in their neighbourhood.

Joe, 26/08/08

Bath City's clash with AFC Wimbledon had a real sense of melee about it. The Wimbledon side has a lot of partisan support and hundreds of their fans descended on Twerton to encourage their team with loud chanting. City fans responded with their own songs leading to a battle of the voices to accompany the play on the pitch.

What I remember from the first half is Stuart Douglas' three shots at goal. One was struck directly at the keeper, another was scuffed and a third flew just the wrong side of the goalpost (see photo). If Douglas can sharpen his work a little more City will have a strong attack.

By half-time Wimbledon were leading 1-0 due to Elliot Godfrey's goal in the 19th minute. But City hit back in the second half with stupendous goals from Martin Paul in the 50th minute and Gethin Jones in the 71st minute. Wimbledon fought hard after that, with Inns securing the equaliser for them in the 85th minute. You can see a video clip of the two Bath City goals here.

Joe, 24/08/08

City's game against Team Bath on Saturday was a tense one for the 820 fans lining the terraces of Twerton Park. Team Bath had scored 14 times in their first three matches of the season and had been labelled favourites to win the clash by City Manager John Relish. The university side didn't look particularly dangerous once play started and were lucky when Scott Rogers' early shot at their goal ricocheted around the woodwork without going in.

In the 15th minute, City player Stuart Douglas scored from a penalty after Hogg was brought down in the box. The video clip is a slow-motion replay of the kick being taken. In the second half, Team Bath gained a penalty after City goalkeeper Paul Evans was judged to have blocked Llewellyn, and Marc Canham scored from it. A couple of excellent saves by the Team Bath keeper rescued them from defeat, earning the respect of the Romans fans.

Joe, 24/08/08

The Nisa store at Twerton High Street has vacancies for shop workers on offer. The work is part-time but hours are likely to increase once you start. The pay is minimum wage and two references are needed. You can telephone the store on 01225 427624.

A new charity shop is about to open in the Mount Road retail area at Southdown. The shop is in aid of the organisation Mercy in Action, which cares for street children in the Phillipines.

The Council says that rubbish, recycling, cardboard and garden waste collections will take place normally on the coming Bank Holiday Monday. So you can put your stuff out as usual.

Joe, 23/08/08

Thursday's fun day at Bath City Farm had wool weaving as its theme. Hilary Peters turned up to teach the children what to do and to give a demonstration of peg loom weaving. Last week the children had a go at pottery making. You can see one of the pots that the kids made here.

The fun days last from 11.30am to 3pm and there is a canopied area where families can relax and have a natter. Next Thursday will be the last in the series of Thursday fun days for the summer holiday. The main activity will be miniature garden making.

There will also be a special day at the farm on Bank Holiday Monday August 25th, from 12 noon to 4pm. Look forward to live music, refreshments, a barbecue, a car boot sale, skittles, prizes and more. For further information telephone 01225 481269.

Joe, 23/08/08

A new project to empower the Whiteway community is in the pipeline. The project aims to increase the strength of the community by helping local people to work together in finding solutions to local problems, and by creating better relations and cooperation between public services and the people.

The Council is currently inviting workers from organisations who have experience of helping different communities to apply for the role of managing the project. Interviews will be held in September and after that the project will start as soon as possible.

Joe, 22/08/08

This colourful garden full of of begonias at Whiteway, wins an award in the Bath in Bloom Competition each year. The owner, a gentleman named Wallace, has kept the display going for about 10 years and also grows other plants such as geraniums and fuschias.

Wallace begins to plant in the first week of June to avoid any frosts. But Wallace feels the judges come too early to view the garden. He says, "If they came near the end of July they would see a different garden altogether." Members of the public have come to see the garden from as far away as Gloucestershire. For a bigger photo of the display click here.

Joe, 21/08/08

At around 9.15pm last night the Police were called to the Full Moon in Twerton High Street, after a man in his 30s was hit by a car outside the pub. The man was taken to the Royal United Hospital where he later died. A 40 year-old woman has been held at Bath Police Station on suspicion of murder.

Anyone who saw the incident or who has information which could help with the investigation, is asked to contact Bath CID on 0845 4567000, or Crimestoppers (anonymously) on 0800 555111. These details are from the Avon and Somerset Police website which you can access here.

Information from website, 18/08/08

First Steps Bath are having an open day on Saturday 6th September from 11am to 2pm. Their Twerton Children's Centre at Woodhouse Road, and Moorlands Children's Centre at Moorfield Road, will be open for the public to come in and see the facilities.

So if you live or work in South West Bath and have pre-school children, why not think about going along? You can download a flyer about the open day here.

Joe, 17/08/08

A Bat Walk organised by Bath City Farm was attended by about 15 people on Wednesday. The walk was led by Tom, a tree surgeon, who has learned about bats in connection with his line of work. The party of adults and chattering children used bat detectors to pick up the high pitched sounds that bats make.

The avenue of beech trees at the farm was where we saw most of the bats flying about hunting for insects. Bats will often fly some distance to get to a favourite hunting ground like Bath City Farm. So even when you see one, you don't know if it's a Twerton bat!

I made a short article about bats at Bath City Farm, which you can see here. It contains a video clip of a bat detector being used.

Joe, 15/08/08