MISCELLANEOUS...

THE Widening Horizons group is organising a talk and slideshow entitled The Manor of Kirkby Lonsdale by David Smail, at the Community Centre, Haverflatts Lane, Milnthorpe, next Wednesday (January 12) at 10am. For details, call 015242-71364.

AMBLESIDE and District U3A is organising an illustrated talk entitled Travels in Namibia by Ian Wild at The Marchesi Centre, Holly Road, Windermere, next Monday (Jan 10), at 2.30pm.

KIRKBY Lonsdale Civic Society's programme of winter talks continues with an illustrated narrative by Dr David Shorter on the Roman occupation of the Northern frontier. The talk takes place at The Institute, Kirkby Lonsdale, on Monday (Jan 10) at 7.30pm. For details, call 015242-76335.

CUMBRIA Wildlife Trust is holding a talk on the nature reserves of Cumbria, by Kerry Milligan, at the Marchesi Centre, Windermere, on Thursday (Jan 13), at 7.30pm. For details, call 01539-816300.

EXERCISE your lungs at a meeting of the Hale and Hearty Folk Club, a gathering of singers, musicians and listeners, at The King's Arms, Hale, near Milnthorpe, tonight, Friday (Jan 7), at 8.30pm. For details, call 01524-734440.

VISIT South Lakes Wild Animal Park, Dalton-in-Furness, and see the new exotic collection of pygmy hippos and black-footed penguins from the wilds of Africa. For details, call 01229-466086.

STEP back in time with some classic cinema at Forum 28, Duke Street, Barrow, tonight, Friday (Jan 7). The Silverscreen series of films continues with the musical Meet Me in St Louis, starring Judy Garland. The film starts at 1pm. For details, call 01229-820000.

CONCERTS...

CARTMEL Music Centre, in association with Amnesty International, is presenting an afternoon family concert in the Chapel at Boarbank Hall, Allithwaite, on Sunday (Jan 9), at 2.30pm. The concert will feature the Amici Singers and a variety of solo and ensemble instrumental music. For details, call 015395-32805.

EXHIBITIONS...

BRANTWOOD'S Severn Studio 2005 programme of guest exhibitions at Coniston, opens with The Wide blue Yonder by Mark Haywood. The exhibition is a tribute to famous, but contrasting, Coniston figures John Ruskin and Donald Campbell and features artefacts and digital artworks. The exhibition runs until February 13. For details, call 015394-41396.

ENJOY a diverse new exhibition looking at Morecambe Bay at the Williamson Gallery, Ashton Memorial, Lancaster. AIM artists, formerly Artists in Morecambe, have spent the past ten months working on the theme of Morecambe and the surrounding coastal environment. The exhibition features sculpture, glasswork and painting and runs until February 20.

PETER Scott Gallery at Lancaster University is hosting an exhibition of watercolours and oil paintings by Royal Academician Norman Adams, highlighting his long and distinguished career. For details, call 01524-593057.

SPORT...

KENDAL Rugby Union Club return to National League action after a three week break with a home match against Blaydon tomorrow (Saturday), 2pm kick-off. Kirkby Lonsdale are set to entertain Carlisle in the North Lancs and Cumbria League (2pm).

FOOTBALL fixtures see Kendal Town carry on their promotion challenge with the visit of Ilkeston Town in the UniBond League's first division tomorrow (Saturday), 3pm kick-off. Town are scheduled to travel to Bishop Auckland for their previously postponed first-round tie in the UniBond President's Cup on Tuesday evening (7.45pm).

KENDAL men's hockey team play Formby Thirds in the North-West Men's League at Queen Katherine School, off Shap Road, tomorrow (Saturday), 2.30pm push back.

THEATRE...

THE Brewery Arts Centre presents Aladdin, the magical tale of high adventure, love, flying carpets and magic lamps. Aladdin runs until tomorrow (Saturday), January 8, with performances at 10am, 2pm and 7pm. Call the box office on 01539-725133 for details.

BURNESIDE Amateur Theatrical Society presents Jack and the Beanstalk, the tale of a lazy bo, who gets more than he bargains for when he trades a cow for some magic beans, at the Bryce Institute, Burneside, tonight, Friday (Jan 7), at 7.30pm. The show runs until Saturday, January 15, with a Sunday matinee performance at 2.30pm. For details, call 07792-777213.

WORLD famous circus troop Cirque du Soleil willl be performing their new show, Saltimbanco, at the Trafford Centre, Manchester, until February 14. Saltimbanco is a celebration of life and offers up a new vision of urban life, overflowing with song, dance and music. For details, call 0870-060-1768.

WALKS...

STRETCH your legs and breathe in some crisp seasonal air on a winter walk around the beautiful RSPB Leighton Moss Nature Reserve in search of the elusive bittern, next Wednesday (Jan 12) at 10.30am. For details, call 01524-701601.