THIS week readers have the opportunity to learn about achieving a sense of peace the Hawaiian way in Ulverston, taking part in guided walks and learning navigation skills in Ambleside, and enjoying the artistic magic of Jane Lewis at Sedbergh... plus much, much more.

POTPOURRI...

THE World of Beatrix Potter will be kicking up a stink this Halloween when four days of disgustingly stinky events get under way next Thursday. Families and fans are warned to hold their noses as activities such as the Stink Box Challenge and Bats in the Belfry competition celebrate this spooky time of year. For more details, call 015394-88444.

GRAB a cup of coffee, a homemade cake, and perhaps a second hand book or two at Grange Rotary Club's coffee morning at the Parish Hall tomorrow (Saturday). From 10am-noon, the event will feature a number of stalls and charity presence.

AS PART of a new series of monthly talks at The Good Living Bookshop in Ulverston, life coach Marilyn Thoknott is giving a session on Hawaiian earth-teaching, a technique Ms Thoknott believes can bring perspective on life to achieve a sense of peace. The free event, with wine, coffee and tea is next Wednesday (October 26) at 7.30pm. To book a place, e-mail goodliving.bookshop @virgin.net or call 01229-588488.

IF you have found your weekends a little empty of late, and you fall into the right age brackets, join Simply Social a group for non-smokers in their 30s-50s for a bike ride on Sunday. Meeting at Kendal Leisure Centre at 10.30am, take a packed lunch, waterproofs and, of course, a bike. For more information, call Ann on 07751-485131.

HAS the hunter become the hunted? That's the question on the lips of fight organisers behind Tuesday's welterweight boxing championship contest at Preston's Guild Hall. Michael the Lurcher' Jennings will put his belt on the line when he squares up to his challenger for the evening, Bradley Pryce, for a one-on-one battle to be tipped the best in Great Britain. For tickets, call the box office on 01772-258858.

WINDERMERE Lake Cruises are inviting residents of Cumbria and Lancastrians to join them for a free cruise on Monday. The trip will be a chance to find out about their local residents card, which gives residents discounts on the service. Call 015394-33522 for details.

A WEEK-LONG Outdoor Fest to raise money for Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team will kick off tomorrow (Saturday). Organised by Gaynor Sports, Ambleside, the event is a must for lovers of the outdoors and includes a number of guided walks, treasure hunts, navigation workshops, promotions and competitions. For a timetable of events, call Gaynor Sports on 01539-434204.

LIKE a scene from Gladiators, the boys from FWA Wrestling will be pulling off some daring moves when this year's final evening of fighting at Morecambe Dome takes place tomorrow (Saturday). Stars from the UK and beyond, including the star of ITV's Celebrity Wrestling, Joe Legend, will grapple for bragging rights and to determine who is the toughest of them all. The action starts at 7pm, call 01524-415842 for tickets.

EXHIBITIONS...

JANE Lewis certainly made an impression on the bigwigs at Bloodaxe Books who have used her beautiful paintings as book covers for more than 20 years and from tomorrow (Saturday), the thoughtful artist should make an impression on visitors at Farfield Mill, Sedbergh. Poetic Images and Still Life: Transformation of the Commonplace by Mira Bogicevic are two side-by-side exhibitions set to run at the mill until November 23. 015396-21958.

PRINT Link a group of artist and printmakers from Craven will break off from their rural tour to show off their wares at Pendle Arts Gallery, near Barrowford, from Sunday.

DON'T miss your chance to see the Green Door Studio's Annual Exhibition at Grasmere Village Hall. The annual event, featuring an eclectic mix of stunning works, ends its run tomorrow (Saturday). It is open from 10am-5pm.

VIRIDIAN Gallery, Keswick, is hosting a new exhibition of pastel paintings by Valerie Montgomery, entitled Countours of Colour. It runs until November 13.

PENRITH-based painter Derek Eland is showing his work both sides of the border this week with the opening of a new exhibition at Kirkcudbright's Whitehouse Gallery (Scotland) and a display at Manchester's Sculpture Gallery. The second exhibition, which is within Manchester Town Hall, is part of the Singer and Friedlander/Sunday Times Watercolour Exhibition and comes to a close today (Friday) so get your skates on. For information on the Kirkcudbright exhibition, call 01557-330223; and for the Manchester event, call 01372-462190.

DISCOVER how the parish of Warton has changed and developed over time when an exhibition is presented as part of the Mourholme Local History Society's silver jubilee celebrations this weekend. In St Oswald's Parish Church, Warton (from 11am-4.30pm tomorrow (Saturday) and noon-3.30pm Sunday), A Place in History studies the ancient parish which is on the border of Lancashire and Cumbria and its seven constituent townships.

SPORT...

HIGH-FLYING Kendal Town FC are hosts to Colwyn Bay in Division 1 of the UniBond Premier League tomorrow (Saturday) for a 3pm kick-off.

THERE'S National League rugby action at Kendal's Mint Bridge ground when Tynedale visit tomorrow (Saturday), 3pm kick-off, while Upper Eden entertain De La Salle in the North Lancs/Cumbria League and Windermere are at home to Millom.

KENDAL Ladies Hockey team have a home match on Sunday when Dalston are the opposition (2pm push-back).

THEATRE...

ENJOY "a wonderful romp" with Rosemary Hawthorne when the renowned author, actress and fashion historian presents The Knicker Lady at Beetham's Heron Theatre tonight (Friday) and tomorrow (both shows start at 7.30pm). Featuring a myriad of characters from the last quarter century, this show will be a good bet for men and women of any age. Call 015395-64283 for details.

LADIES are guaranteed a great girl's night out with The Odd Couple, a story about a group of women who gather in the apartment of divorcee Olive Madison for an evening of Trivial Pursuit. The Ambleside Players once again promise a good show with their new production which is written by Neil Simon and kicks off at the Kelsick centre on Wednesday (8pm) for a three night run. Tickets are available from Whittakers Newsagents in the town.

THERE are bound to be some fairground frolics as the Ulverston Amateur Operatic Society's version of My Fair Lady unfolds on Tuesday. The popular show will fill the Coronation Hall (Ulverston) for a five-day run and tickets are available by calling 01229-588994.

BASED on the popular TV series and featuring all the popular characters from Rene's caf, the hugely enjoyable stage version of ALLO ALLO continues at Preston's Charter Theatre until tomorrow (Saturday). Presented by the Charity Players, tickets for the 7.30pm shows are available by calling 01772-258858.

OUT of Focus, a comedy by Peter Gordon, will go on stage at Cartmel Village Hall on Thursday. Presented by the Cartmel Players, tickets for the three-night event (7.30pm start) are available from the Institute, Cartmel and Grange TIC.

A STORY of friendship, strife and battle will unfold at Brigsteer Village Hall next Wednesday when the Cumbria Otherwise Junior Theatrical Society present About a Bird. For tickets, call 01539-732918.

HALFWAY to Paradise, The Billy Fury Story, sees Fury's original backing band of the 70s, Fury's Tornados, take to the stage with Colin Gold in Billy's shoes. After 25 years, the stunning two-hour show, at Preston's Charter Theatre from Sunday (7.30pm), re-creates the electricity of Fury's atmospheric shows once again. For tickets, call the Box Office on 01772-258858.

TALKS...

IF you have questions on the United Nations past and future why not swing along to Highgate's United Reformed Church in Kendal and pitch them to Lord Frank Judd, who will be giving a talk as part of One World Week. For more information, contact the United Nations Association South Lakeland and Lancaster City Branch, on 015395-33141.

MEMBERS of Kendal's Photographic Society will present a talk on the Battle with Holme at the Agriculture House, Appleby Road, next Wednesday (7.30pm).

Half Term Highlights...

n GET out and about in the great outdoors at one of the most beautiful times of year and create some imaginative sculptures from natural materials in the atmospheric grounds of Sizergh Castle, near Kendal, from 9.30am-noon on Sunday. For details, call 015395-60723.

n ENJOY a thrilling tale of mystery and adventure at the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal. It Was a Dark and Stormy Night tells the tale of a brave eight-year-old who has been kidnapped by a band of nasty brigands and hidden in their secret cave. It is being performed on Sunday at 2pm and agains at 8pm, for details, call 01539-725133.

n FROM Monday (Oct 24) you can join Explorer Ed for a week of exciting activities at the Aquarium of the Lakes, Lakeside. As part of the Explore and Draw event, visitors will be able to help create the Lake District's largest fish sculpture, meet birds of prey and enjoy events including face-painting and balloon animals. The week will culminate with some horrifying Halloween high jinks the following weekend.

n LEARN how animals get ready for the winter at a special morning of activities and crafts at Kendal Museum next Tuesday (Oct 25). It is suitable for children aged from four to seven. For details, call 01539-721374.

n JOIN a Forestry Commission ranger at Grizedale Forest next Wednesday (Oct 26) and find out about the care of the forest. Identify the clues on a nibbled nut and find out who has been having a nibble on it, a dormouse, squirrel or mouse. For details, call 01229-860010.

n THERE will be fun for all the family at Hey Diddle Diddle a musical show based around nursery rhymes at Kendal Leisure Centre next Wednesday (Oct 26). Performances at 11am and 2pm. For details, call 01539-729777.

n SIZERGH Castle, near Kendal is holding an art workshop celebrating the lives of birds next Thursday (Oct 27). For details, call 015395-60723.

n HEAR the harrowing tale of the Pendle Witches at Lancaster Castle on Friday. Cold Light Singing is a play about the Pendle Witch trials and the performers will take the audience on an eerie journey through the castle as the story unfolds. For details, call 01524-64998.

n SPEND a fun day with Engie Bengy the playful engine at Forum 28, Barrow, tomorrow (Saturday). It's Check up Day, for Engie Bengy and this new show features specially designed scenery, plenty of songs and dancing. In Engie's world, anything can happen, and usually does. Performances are at 1pm and 3.30pm. For details, and also on Saturday, October 29, at 6.30pm (doors open at 6pm), call 01229-820000 for details.

n BROUGHTON Junior Film Club present Holes (PG) at Victory Hall, Broughton-in-Furness at 6pm tomorrow (Saturday). Holes is based on the award winning book by Louis Sachar and stars Sigourney Weaver and John Voight in a great film for all the family. Tickets are available on the door.