THERE’S always a silver lining, reflects Nick, genial bachelor landlord of the Thirsty Shepherd high on the moor above Bleakside-in-the-Wolds. The locals are piling in this winter to huddle around his two open fires; they’ve been glued to rugby, ITV Racing, the World Cup and Strictly Come Dancing on the television; the bridge club, history club, quiz league and ‘stitch-and-bitch’ ladies’ knitting group have all decamped here.
It doesn’t take too many bodies to create a warm fug and the skittlers reckon it’s cheaper to bring their other halves than leave them at home with the heating on full blast. Admittedly, some of
