WHATEVER happened to the wenches who used to serve at my boisterous banquets in those days of yore at what was then the Forge Inn on Tadcaster Road?

Former Highway Maid Gina Haigh, of Rawcliffe, set me this poser when she posted me this pictorial reminder of her days as a serving wench, taken about 22 years ago.

Gina wants to set up a Highway Maids' reunion to mull over the old times when mead, wine and beer flowed as if there was no tomorrow and raucous laughter raised the rafters.

Gina says: "The Forge Tavern was pulled down but, when I worked there as a Highway Maid, we had some great laughs and it would be fun to meet up with some fellow wenches again."

Wendy Binns, of Sherburn in Elmet, who will be 46 on Monday, recalls her days as a Highway Maid and chortles: "It was always the same food: egg mayonnaise, fish pie, jacket potatoes and coleslaw, oodles of cheap red plonk, beer and mead.

"Then a masked Dick Turpin used to entertain with playlets interspersed with slightly dirty ditties.

"As the night wore on many of the revellers were as kissed as a newt," laughs Wendy. "All good fun if you could stand up to go home."

If you were a Highway Maid at the Forge Inn in the late Seventies and would like to relive the good old days, leave a message for Gina Haigh by ringing Turpin on 01904 653051.

ALL right, darts and doms are not part of the glitzy all-night glamour of Las Vegas, the city that never sleeps, but tipplers at six local pubs in our area have set their flights on getting there for a free holiday.

Twenty six North Yorkshire pubs are hoping their customers have an eye for darts, can get their hand in at dominoes and are pushy enough at shove ha'penny, to win the first Pubmaster Pub Challenge. This offers landlords and their customers the chance of an all-expenses-paid week in Las Vegas for winning the knockout tournament based on traditional and popular pub games.

"What we have tried to do is focus on the most important aspects of a pub - its ambience, community spirit and fun," says regional manager Bob Peace.

During the next nine months, thousands of customers will compete in the hope to become the last remaining team for the Vegas trip.

Other prizes include a weekend in Dublin, days at the races, and goodies from sponsors, Guinness.

Meanwhile here's a potted history of pub games.

Darts: In the Middle Ages darts originated as an indoor version of archery. Early forms of the game started in pubs in the 19th century, but it was in the 20th century that it officially emerged as a pub game.

Dominoes: Originating in China in the 12th century, the game first appeared in Europe in the 18th century. After arriving in Britain in the late 18th century, it quickly became popular in inns and taverns.

Shove Ha'penny: Early versions (Shoffe-grote, Slype Groat, Slide Thrift) of this game emerged in taverns in the 15th century, and was especially popular with aristocracy. The modern version dates from around 1840.

Hostelries in our area taking part in the Pub Challenge include: Black Swan, Selby; New Globe, Malton; Spotted Cow, Malton; Union Inn, Norton; Bay Horse Inn, Pickering; Fox & Pheasant, Hemingbrough; Oak Tree, Helperby.

THIS is the time of year to make your Christmas cake.

And this recipe is 70 per cent fool-proof. You'll need the following: A cup of water, a cup of sugar, four large brown eggs, two cups of dried fruit, a teaspoon of salt, a cup of brown sugar, lemon juice, nuts and a bottle of whisky.

Sample the whisky to check for quality. Take a large bowl. Check the whisky again to be sure it's the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat.

Turn on the electric mixer, beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar and beat again.

Make sure the whisky is still okay. Cry another tup.

Turn off the mixer, beat two leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Mix on the turner. If the fired druit gets stuck in the beaterers, pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the whisky to check fo tonsisticity.

Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Who cares? Check the whisky. Now sift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.

Add one table. Spoon. Of sugar or something. Whatever you can find. Grease the oven. Turn the cake tin to 350 degrees.

Don't forget to beat off the turner. Throw the bowl out the window.

Check the whisky again and go to bed.