The Gazette is officially in the 21st Century. Not only has it gone compact, given Spot the Dog a makeover and allowed me to use the word ‘willy’ (three times and counting!) - it has joined Facebook.

Yes everybody, The Westmorland Gazette is down with the kids. Next thing it will be hanging out at the skatepark on Kirkbarrow and the editor will be wearing jeggings.

For those of you who don’t know, Facebook is an online social networking site aimed at putting you in touch with people you maybe used to know, or helping you share your stories and holiday snaps with those you still do.

It’s not a new thing - it actually launched two years ago and has 300 million members worldwide, half of whom log in every day to update their status and, although they’ll never admit it, pour over pictures of people they’ve never met.

Yes, while on the surface it’s all ‘Timmy Huckelbury has added you as a friend’ and Mandy is ... on her third glass of lambrini, Facebook has much darker undertones. We’ve all heard stories about someone getting sacked after pulling a sicky then writing on Facebook that they’re on their way to see Cliff Rescue and the Helicopters play at Staveley Village Hall.

I must admit I worry for the Gazette. It could be drawn in to stalking rival newspapers, cyber-bullying them into keeping off its patch or worse, become addicted to updating its status every ten minutes like some that I know.

Who cares if Karen is ... on her way to Booths for milk or Michael is ... clearing out floodwater from his two-up-two-down in Tebay - I know I don’t.

What would the Gazette write anyway?

The Gazette is ... considering whether to use a nib on a wing mirror being snapped from a car on Highgate on page 32? Or The Gazette is ... thinking I wish Shelbourn wouldn’t go on holiday so often leaving us without a cartoon?

Actually, the idea behind the big WG signing up, is to keep you web-savvy youngsters in touch. To keep you up-to-date with the latest news and give you the opportunity to comment on stories, columns, send in your pics, chat about headlines - whatever you like.

All you need to do to keep in touch is log on to Facebook, search ‘Westmorland Gazette’ and become a fan. When I did so at the weekend I discovered Bambi had been stolen from a South Lakeland patio and that William Wordworth came close to being one of the Gazette’s first editors, back in the early 1800s.

This week’s column will be my last one ever written from my desk here in Wainwright’s Yard for I leave the Gazette tomorrow for pastures new.

But I’ll be logging on to Facebook to see what’s making the news and will be continuing with my column.

In the meantime, look out for me at the skatepark.