OVER the past fortnight Andy and I have been a bit further afield.

We visited Yeovil for the Mayor’s Civic Day, and this involved a visit to AgustaWestland to see the production line of helicopters as well as those which had returned to Yeovil forarefit.

The managing director explained to us how recently the firm had branched out to corporate supply as well as their more historic armed forces contracts.

Some private helicopters which are destined for monarchs of other countries even have showers fitted in them.

I was struck by the similarity to our own Henry production line in Chard.

We then were shown around Yeovil Football Club and given a talk about their requirements for bigger facilities which would allow them to rise higher in the league.

In the same week we also attended the production of Sister Act in Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre.

It was amazing, and the cast and costumes were very professional even though they were amateurs.

We also attended an event in Weston-super-Mare – the Mayor’s Annual Charity Ball at the Winter Gardens on the seafront.

There was a charity auction on behalf of the Mayor’s charities, and I’m not sure how we did it, but we ended up with a signed copy of Jeffrey Archer’s latest book!

Closer to home,Ichaired the annual meeting of the local U3A group last week.

This is a group of people who are always busy learning, being active or getting about, and it was wonderful to see the Guildhall auditorium packed with their members.

On Tuesday evening, Andy and I went to the cancer quiz at the Phoenix Hotel, run by Jill White (aka the mad hatter) and Alison Whittingham, both cancer patients.

Andy was able to stay and take part in the quiz with friends of ours, but unfortunatelyIhad to leave to practice for CATS’ next show.

I also met Nick Friendship (Chard’s newest funeral director) and his family atacoffee morning he was holding for the Catherine Wells-Burr Foundation.