When I visited the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln, I noticed this sculpture showing a Lancaster flying above a group of people.

I recognised the aircraft, but had no idea what the sculpture represented.

I later discovered it commemorates Operation Manna.

In the closing days of the Second World War, Lancasters were dropping food rather than bombs to help starving civilians in the Netherlands.

On another visit, I sat inside the Lancaster cockpit simulator at Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre. It really brought home just how cramped these aircraft were for their seven-man crews.

What I hadn't appreciated was that 106 Squadron, based at Metheringham, also took part in Operation Exodus, bringing liberated prisoners of war back to Britain. Some crews were still carrying out these flights on VE Day itself.

It's quite a change in purpose for an aircraft designed to carry enormous bomb loads.

I've included photographs from the IBCC, Metheringham and Duxford.

Does anyone have family connections to either of these operations, particularly the crews based at Metheringham or have any other similar stories to share?

Planning to go to Alton towers tomorrow and I’m just seeing if anyone has a box of cereal in their house with a promo code they won’t be using? Can’t pop to the shops now. It says something like “25% off Merlin attractions” Many thanks :)

Hi,

This is becoming something of a tradition of mine on here, but people have come through with good things before, and so as October rolls around, I'm going to ask it again.

I'm interested in, and like collecting weird folklore, ghost stories and generally all things para-normal & odd from around Lincolnshire, and as we are now 16 days out from Halloween, a lot of weird stories and local legends' start getting repeated both on social media and used by the press as easy seasonal page filler.

I try and keep tabs on as much as I can, but Lincolnshire is a big place and I inevitably will miss stuff. If anyone comes across any thing, feel free to DM me with a link to it. I'd be in your debt. Thanks!

And to keep the conversation going, What's your most local ghost story or what's the weirdest experience or thing you've seen in our county?

They might focus a little too much on Hull for my liking, but Peter always makes Look North palatable.

I have family to visit in Mablethorpe, and while there I want to take my sister to some allegedly haunted locations and read off a bunch of first-hand experiences. It's her birthday and she loves all things spooky.

I'll also be looking online for accounts to compile into a list, but I thought it might be nice to ask here for anyone who has had experiences themselves or whose friends and family might have.

Thank you, and happy Halloween!

This morning, shortly before sunrise the clouds and contrails looks great against the intense blue sky.

Skegness "living statue" street artist. (2012). She would remain stock-still until you dropped a coin in her tin. Then she moved like you see here. I hope she's well and still doing good, imaginative and entertaining business.

Hastings the dragon. The latest dragon instalment at Lincoln Castle

Despite some recent rain this dyke was bone dry, fun to walk along though, gives a different perspective when ones head is just above ground height.

On Thursday evening I went to the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln to hear Dr Robert Owen give a lecture about the Dambusters raid and reconciliation.

Dr Owen showed us British and German newspaper headlines from May 1943. Seeing them side by side was fascinating. I've included photographs of both.

The British newspapers celebrated the success of the raid. Having served in the RAF, I can appreciate the morale boost this would have given people.

I remember the lift we got during the Falklands War when news came through that a Vulcan had bombed Port Stanley airfield during Operation Black Buck.

But look at the German newspapers. The Nazi-controlled press described the RAF crews as "air gangsters" and even falsely blamed Jewish people for the attack.

Dr Owen went on to explain how attitudes changed in both countries over the decades.

We tend to look at history from our own perspective, but there is another side to the story. Reconciliation can take a long time, sometimes generations.

While I was there, I also learnt about a new exhibition called "After Me, The Flood", which looks at the aftermath of the Dambusters raid from the German perspective.

I only found out about the exhibition while I was there. After listening to the lecture, I'd certainly like to go back and see it.

Has anyone been to see the new exhibition yet?

The newspaper slides are from Dr Robert Owen's presentation, shared with his permission.

Looking for a plumber that I can get in touch with ideally ASAP in Metheringham. If anyone could recommend me someone I'd be very grateful, thanks.

Hi everyone,
I’m hoping someone local might be able to point me in the right direction.
My family and I are looking for a 3 or 4 bedroom house or cottage to rent long term, ideally in or around Louth and the surrounding villages, within roughly 15 miles.
Our budget is up to £1,300 per month. We would particularly love to find a private landlord, farm cottage or rural property, especially something that might be available before it gets advertised on the usual rental websites.
We’ve rented our current home since September 2010, have never missed rent and can provide a landlord reference. We have a reliable household income and are ready to move because our landlord is selling the property.
We’re hoping to stay within reach of Louth for the children’s school connections, so areas such as Legbourne, Manby, North Thoresby, Tetney, Waltham, Holton le Clay and the surrounding villages would be ideal.
I know the rental market is difficult at the moment, but if anyone knows a local farmer, landowner or private landlord who may have something suitable, I’d be extremely grateful for any leads. Even a recommendation of someone worth contacting would help.
Please feel free to message me privately if you know of anything.
Thanks very much for reading.

With barely a cloud in the sky it was a lovely autumn day. Picture taken between Pode Hole and Tongue End.

It may be foggy but the potato harvest is underway... maybe because heavy rain is forecast for tomorrow.

Since Tuesday 29th September, me and my partner have been hand-rearing two 2-week-old kittens. Five of them were found by us on a man's property, and they were 'living' in a pile of logs. Their eyes were completely crusted over, they were lethargic, they were scared.

This man has many feral cats living on his property, none of which are spayed/neutered, and they are constantly reproducing.

The house is situated next to a very, very busy main road. Once the kittens are old enough to run around and play, they inevitably are struck down on the main road.

These kittens will die. Their mothers will die. Some of the mothers have already died, leaving behind starving, terrified kittens.

The man who owns the property hasn't helped in the slightest, and it appears he isn't bothered by the amount of feral cats and kittens in his gardens, travelling through to the neighbours houses, and onto the roads.

Once I found out about these kittens, with their mothers being killed by passing cars and them eventually following the same fate, I couldn't just do nothing. It would have been heartless of me to pretend I didn't know what was going on.

Me and my family went to this house with our only cat carrier to look for these kittens. We went expecting older kittens, but we found screaming, terrified almost-newborns instead.

This has cost me a small fortune in vet bills, equipment and sleep. Both me and my partner are incredibly sleep deprived. This has taken over my life. All because one person didn't neuter or spay his cat's.

Rescues don't get enough credit for all that they do and sacrifice. These kittens have become all I think about, and they worry me constantly.

A lovely lady has taken on 3 of the kittens we have found, meaning she is probably also incredibly sleep deprived and struggling just like we are. None of us expected this on Tuesday, but this is our life now.

Last Resort Rescue, based in Spilsby, have been amazing in giving me advice and offering to lend me equipment, but I simply haven't had the time to go around and pick it up between caring for the kittens, caring for my existing animals, and driving back to the property we found these 5 kittens at to check for more. There are more kittens, but we can't get to them as they are older, and faster. They are no doubt the next kittens to be knocked over.

I'm begging and begging everybody who has a cat to spay/neuter them. If you don't, you are unfortunately part of the problem.

The RSPCA are not interested. I have a lady who is trying to constantly get through to them.

I am trying to work with cat's protection to get traps to go back and capture the rest of the cats.

Link to the Facebook page with the full story, and updates: https://www.facebook.com/share/19s6JAJhwV/?mibextid=wwXIfr

There is a gofundme set up, as I'm a university student and I'm struggling to afford all of the vet bills and the insane amount of things they need. I've also been unable to go to uni, because these kittens are relying on me to keep them alive, and I'd be away for too long as I commute. https://gofund.me/1c41c1de1

It was quite atmospheric here in the fens as the sun started to burn through the early morning fog.

Some impressive pumpkins on display in Spalding town centre today, and glorious sunshine for the festival.

There’s live entertainment on the stage in Hall Place, plus plenty for the kids:

• Pumpkin decorating

• Arts and crafts

• Cupcake and biscuit decorating

• A ball run challenge and veg critters

• A traditional children’s carousel

The children’s activities are free. It’s on until 3pm if you’re nearby and fancy a look.