I HAVE a neighbour who usually cuts me anything to do with aviation, or that he thinks might interest me, out of our sister paper, the Northern Echo. That broadsheet has a reporter and photographer with a great interest in aeronautical news, and history, and my cuttings book is full of items from there. But why "sister" paper? Why not brother paper? Are newspapers female? In fact, come to think of it, most things allied to one another are referred to as 'sister' this and that. No doubt there'll be an answer, somewhere.

Do you get fed up of our present system of trying to get in touch with someone in a largish company by having to go through this hated 'option' method? I do! Progress in communication has really gone backwards. Once upon a time, and it's no fairy story, you could actually talk to a live person and ask a question. Now it's a rarity indeed. How do old folk, with little office experience, or confidence, with telephonic communications, manage? I'm sure it must be more of a nightmare for them than it is for me. Even trying to bypass the system, as I do sometimes, by writing a letter, is usually negated, because firms don't seem to like writing letters either these days, and so they ring you with their answer. I prefer to see things in black and white. That way there's no argument!

When I was a youngster, my mum and dad would sometimes talk about the Zeppelins coming over in the First World War, and dropping bombs on the Wolds, which may be the reason I developed an interest in lighter-than-air craft. I cycled over to Howden more than once, and not so very long ago, to look at the site of the country's largest Royal Naval Air Station, and to look at and photograph the several mooring blocks still there. I attended a lecture at Hull University on the subject, and became friends with the lecturer, who was largely responsible for much of the display material in the Barnes Wallis complex, at Yorkshire Air Museum. I wrote an article several years ago in a fellowship magazine, and for some reason the subject has never died. Folk from all over the country wrote to me, sent me pictures, momentoes, and told me their own memories of 'airship days'. Only a week ago, a kind fellow gave me a ring to ask, did I have such and such airship book, as he'd just bought one, and was sending it to me, which he very kindly did.

I'm beginning to wonder if the hawkmoth might follow a similar pattern, although it's early days yet. I originally saw one and wrote about it in July this year, and again in August when Geoff Wood of Robin Hood's Bay, identified what I'd seen. Later that same month, I was able to mention Clive Milson, of Hutton's Ambo, who'd seen one, which was followed by more information from Steve Gould, and then Annette Crowhurst, of Helmsley, who spotted one. Next mention was made of Janet Newman, of Bridlington, who had watched one feeding on wild honeysuckle, and Don Smith, of Kirkbymoorside, really clued me up with an issue of Ryedale Natural History Society's Journal, plus his own expert knowledge of the insect world. Lastly, Linda, our Malton office front office receptionist, had spotted one in Hovingham, as I told readers late in September. All in all, I had been amazed at the interest shown in this little moth. Things quietened down as the days got colder, and I expect we've seen the last of them for this year, but interest hasn't yet waned, for Peter Walker has given us lots more snippets of information about this amazing moth, especially the hummingbird variety, which is what has mostly been seen around Ryedale and district.

His article included a spectacular photograph of the hawkmoth, whose size you can gauge by the size of the hand it rests on, and I have a sneaking suspicion that we haven't heard the last of this little excursion into natural history yet. It often amazes me at the knowledge which local folk around us have and, which gathered together, becomes a mine of information. Thanks to everyone who has chipped in on this.

On a different subject altogether, ie scooters. Well you've seen them all around us, as youngsters whizz past on the footpaths. I remember having a scooter as a youngster, too, but it was a fairly heavy wooden affair. Now they are light, mostly of aluminium, with tiny nylon wheels, with ball bearing hubs - a different ball game altogether, and somewhat faster I expect. They are now coming on the market driven by electric battery, which usually gives them a range of about three miles per charge. Many have already been sold in the cities to unsuspecting folk, but should you be thinking of buying one for your offspring or grandchild or whatever, do bear in mind that they are not legal on roads or footpaths in the UK. There is a chance that they could be legalised, providing they were registered, taxed, insured as mopeds, but at the moment don't rush in!

Think back: "The follies a man most regrets in his life are those which he didn't commit when he had the opportunity". Helen Rowland, US writer (1875-1950).

Updated: 11:58 Wednesday, November 12, 2003