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Clubs, Societies & Regular Meetings ACTIVE CHEER & DANCE The only IASF (International All Star Federation) Levels 1-5 certified coaches in the North of Scotland. All ages & abilities. Min age 3 yrs Call Kerri Love, Head Coach Mob: 07789 715553 www.acdstars.com CROMARTY BOWLING CLUB Outdoor at the Green - May Sept, Bowling for Beginners Fri 2pm - 4pm Indoor at Victoria Hall - Nov -Apr, Bowling for Beginners Fridays 2pm - 4pm Causeway, Cromarty CROMARTY CAMERA CLUB Thurs 7.30 - 9.30pm Sept - Apr, Victoria Hall, Cromarty. Digital camera club welcoming all levels of experience. Training in all aspects of photography incl. use of Photoshop. Members able to participate in club competitions and field shoots. CULLODEN FENCING CLUB Tuesdays 7 - 9pm during term time at Culloden Academy
Sample One-Off Advertising Rates (Colour Advert)
Box £88 Big Box £167 ¼ Page £302 ½ Page £572 Business Profile £624 Full Page £1080 Discounts available for series bookings and Black & White SpotLight on Inverness is published by Winterburn Media Ltd, Comraich, Woodside Farm, Kinloss IV36 3UA, 01309 690063. All material contained within the SpotLight magazines is subject to formal copyright restrictions and therefore the reproduction of any listings, editorial, advertiser artwork or any other content, without the publishers prior consent, will be considered a breach of copyright. page 4 - April 2012
Community Centre. Call 792794 for further details.
Park Athletic Stadium. Tel 791110 www.invernessharriers.org.uk
DINGWALL INDOOR BOWLING CLUB Tuesdays 7.30pm &Thursdays 7pm, Dingwall Sports Centre Have fun on dark nights. Bowls are available, however flat soled shoes or slippers are necessary.
INVERNESS RACING PIGEON CLUB Seeking new members young and old. Races held from Inverness to as far away as France with the North East Federation. All ages welcome. Call 01463 243038.
HIGHLAND RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB Coaching & competitive opportunities in Rugby Football for the whole community. Call Andrew Russell on 243972 or 07786 256891 HIGHLAND SCHOOLS GYMNASTICS ASSOCIATION To promote participation in the sport of gymnastics within schools across Highland INVERNESS ANGLING CLUB Call Don MacKay, Inverness Angling Club, 4 Maxwell Drive, Inverness IV3 5EX www.invernessanglingclub.co.uk INVERNESS BLITZ American football, ages 11 to adult. All equipment supplied. Email info@invernessblitz.co.uk or call: 242431 INVERNESS CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY Group of music lovers promote concerts of chamber music by professional performers in the Town House, Inverness, Sept April/May, Call Paul Crowe 221535 visit www.invernesschambermusic.com INVERNESS CHESS CLUB Wednesday, 7 - 10:30pm, Chieftain Hotel, Inverness. Provides coaching and games for all ages & standards, juniors welcome. www.spanglefish.com/ invernesschessclub INVERNESS HARRIERS AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB Cross country, road and hill running, track and field athletics, Beginner to elite level. Queens
INVERNESS SEA CADETS Tues and Thursday evenings, 7.15pm-9.30pm, tel: 226069 INVERNESS TENNIS & Bishop’s Road, Inverness, tel: 230751 or email: itsc.information@googlemail.com or visit www.itscnews.com INVERNESS TOUCH RUGBY Wednesdays 6pm-8pm, Bught Pitches (by Ice Rink). Fast & fun for men and women, all abilities & fitness levels welcome. Email info@invernesstouch.co.uk or "Inverness Touch" on Facebook LOCH ACHONACHIE ANGLING CLUB Trout, Sea Trout & Salmon fishing on the Upper Conon & Blackwater rivers, Lochs Achonachie, Meig & Scardroy. www.laac.cononfishing.com LOCH NESS TOASTMONSTERS A group who’ve joined together to face one of the most feared things in general life - speaking in public. If you are interested in taming your own beast get in touch or drop into one of our fortnightly meetings. www.toastmonsters.co.uk SALTIRE SOCIETY HIGHLAND BRANCH Wide ranging interests. We have talks, St Andrew’s Day celebratios, Burns Lunch and a summer outing. Contact Philip Shimmin on 231421 or email philip.shimmin107 @btinternet.com SAYLIG INVERNESS We look at all aspects of life for
tel: 01309 690063
people with learning disability and/or autism, SHIRLIE Project, Inverness, tel: 716179 or email rona.mem@hotmail.co.uk SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF INVERNESS AND NAIRN 2nd and 4th Monday evenings in Lochardil House Hotel. Call Mrs Janet Home (Secretary) on 01463 221185 SQUASH CLUB Call 230751 or email : robin@rhamill.orangehome.co.uk www.itscnews.com THE HIGHLAND CHILDREN'S TRUST Tel: 243872 www.hctrust.co.uk THE WAY FOUNDATION Help each other rebuild our lives after widowhood. Call us on 0870 011 3450 or email info@wayfoundation.org.uk TREES FOR LIFE GREEN DAYS OUT For people in Moray & Invernessshire. Spend a day carrying out conservation tasks. Transport, tools & training free of charge. Pick ups available. Volunteers over 18 with reasonable level of fitness. Every Wed & last Sun of the month. Booking essential. Call Rosie on 01309 691444 or email rosie@treesforlife.org.uk
If you would like details of your club or society included in this section please let us know. All club listings are free. Not all clubs will be listed every issue.
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SpotLight on Inverness and District
The Editor
As spring blooms forth and we head ‘confidently’ towards a ‘scorcher’ of a summer save a thought for those poor souls that do not witness the changing seasons. It is a real joy to behold the newness of life that we see each year and we hope that this might also herald some green shoots for our local economy. We live in hope!
PUBLISHER ...............David Nelmes SALES ......................Eilidh Conners ACCOUNTS ...................Lynn Wood LAYOUT ...............Megan Woodman DESIGN .................Alistair Davidson LISTINGS................Tamsyn Dickson Clubs & Societies ............................4 Pastoral Letter.................................6 Church Details.................................6 Council News ..................................8 Useful Numbers ............................10 Local Holidays...............................10 School Term Dates........................10 Tide Times .....................................11 Parliament Blog .............................11 What’s On ................................13-16 Cinema Listings.............................15 Advertisers Index ..........................26
Community Events
Gardening
Pallywags..................................12
Lawn Care ...........................22-23
Travel
Chef’s Confidential
Morocco ....................................24
Confit Duck Leg ........................18
Community Events
Lifestyle
Choctober at Easter!............20-21
Dream Homes...........................27
May Issue Deadlines
Editorial - Friday 30/03/12 Advertising - Wednesday 04/04/12 When you buy your dream
EASTER HOLIDAY HIGHER REVISION COURSES h
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Kick-start your Higher revision! English, Spanish, Maths, Biology, Chemistry ADULT LANGUAGES various levels, new courses April PERSONAL TUITION: all ages, all stages, (almost) all subjects 94 Academy Street, Inverness: near bus/rail & car parks
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Pastoral letter and Church Meetings There are times when we begin to wonder what on earth life is all about... People rushing about, driven by their own seemingly insatiable desires; politicians hungry for power, bankers in pursuit of wealth, celebrities seeking popularity and acclaim, ordinary people searching for fulfilling relationships, meaningful careers, some sense of purpose and acceptance... All kinds of folk reaching out... for all kinds of things, in the hope that something will satisfy. And everywhere we look we see injustice, exploitation and corruption – a world gone mad. Is it any wonder that so many people end their days withdrawn and disillusioned; unable to make sense of it all? Many would agree that the pursuit of pleasure, wealth, and status brings no lasting satisfaction and, outside of a personal relationship with God, all of our efforts to make a difference in this world fall short of all that we might hope to have achieved - and we are left wondering what's gone wrong – with ourselves, our lives and with the world we live in. Strange though it may seem, it was into a world such as this that the one we refer to as The Christ came; to a people
Ardersier with Petty Parish Church C of S, Ardersier Sundays 10.15am; Petty Sundays 12noon, tel. 462224 Avoch Congregational Church, High Street, Avoch. Sunday Service 11.30am. Refreshments afterwards. Visit www.avochcongregationalchurch.co.uk Black Isle Charge Episcopal Churches, 1 Deans Road, Fortrose, tel: 01381 622241 Cale House, C of S, Millburn Road, Inverness, tel: 718616 Christian Group in Inverness tel: 0772 4992790 or visit www.christian-group-inverness.org CityLife Church, Meets Sundays at 10:30am, Mercure Hotel, Church Street, Inverness, website: www.citylifechurch.org.uk email: info@citylifechurch.org.uk tel: 01463 714839 Culduthel Christian Centre, Culduthel Avenue, Inverness tel: 222795 Pastor Reverend Bill Slack www.culduthelchristiancentre.org Culloden Baptist Church meets 10.30am Sunday mornings at Culloden Academy, tel. 794005. www.cullodenbaptistchurch.org.uk culloden.baptist@btconnect.com Barn Church of Scotland, Culloden, Sundays 10.30am family friendly service; 1st & 3rd Sundays in month 6.30pm service, www.barnchurch.org.uk Croy & Dalcross Parish Church C of S, Croy Village, Every Sunday 12noon Dalneigh & Bona Church of Scotland, St Mary’s Avenue, Inverness. Bona Church, Lochend by Inverness - 10am; Dalneigh Church, St Mary’s Avenue, Inverness - 11.30am & 6.30pm. Tel: 232439 Dingwall Baptist Church, Tulloch Street, Dingwall www.dbc.org.uk Dingwall Castle Street Church of Scotland www.dingwall-
page 6 - April 2012
Picture by Al Donnelly , Copyright
caught up in that same cycle of false hope and inevitable disappointment; to those controlled by their own passions and desires; oppressed, confused, and yet filled with a nameless longing. The religious leaders of the day, who were so fiercely resistant to change, saw him as a threat; a charlatan; a deceiver of the people. To others, he was God incarnate; water to the thirsty, bread to the hungry and a light to those who walked in darkness. He took away their longing and gave them his peace. He set them free from the empty way of life they'd grown accustomed to, effectively bringing one chapter of their lives to a close and opening another that was infinitely brighter than anything they'd experienced before. Perhaps most amazingly of all, the Scriptural record informs us that his death and resurrection opened up the way, not only for those who had known him, but also for those who, at a future date, would reach out to him in faith - to find true freedom and lasting peace. In fact, those who knew him, both before and after his death and resurrection, declared, quite categorically, that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8); present
with us still, to heal and renew our lives. Whilst seeking to draw his listeners into that place of joy and peace, he said that “The Kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then, in his joy, went and sold everything he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:44). The treasure he spoke of represented the promise of a life-transforming relationship with God. Like buried treasure, it is hidden from view. And in the same way that the man took everything he had and sold it, in order to be able to buy that field, all who would receive God's gift; the gift of new life, new hope and “the peace of God that transcends all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7), would have to yield their lives to him. Thankfully, there is a light that continues to shine in the darkness; a hope that burns brightly in the hearts of those who've come to know him. And his call continues to be heard today: “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest... I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Matthew 11:28; John 8:12). Howard David Grace Community Church
church.co.uk Dingwall Catholic Church, St Lawrence, 21 Castle Street, Dingwall, tel: 01349 863143 Dingwall Episcopal Church, St James The Great, Castle Street, Dingwall tel: 01349 862204 www.stjames-stannes.org.uk Dingwall Free Church, High Street, Sundays 11am and 6pm, www.deep-river.co.uk Ferintosh and Resolis Free Church, Rev. Chris Smart, www.ferintosh.org.uk Free North Church, Bank Street, Inverness, tel: 224332 www.freenorthchurch.org Fortrose Free Church, 5 Church Street, Fortrose, IV10 8TE, Sunday: 11.30am & 6pm, www.freechurch.org Grace Community Church meets Sundays 10.30am at Inshes Primary School email:thenewseed@yahoo.com Hilton, C of S, Tomatin Road, Inverness, tel: 233310 www.hiltonchurch.org.uk Inshes, C of S, Sir Walter Scott Dr, Inverness tel: 226727, www.insheschurch.org Inverness Baptist Church, 69 Castle Street, Rev Tom Urquhart, tel: 223506, email: tajurquhart@btinernet.com Inverness Christian Fellowship, Meets Sundays at 10.30am, Millburn Academy, Diriebught Road, www.icfchurch.co.uk Inverness Church of God, Friars Lane Sunday 10.30am & 6.30pm. Tel: 241318 This is listed alphabetically from A to I and will regularly be rotated. If you are a member of a church not listed here please email us with details and we may print this in future issues.
tel: 01309 690063
SpotLight on Inverness and District
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Community Council News EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 13TH FEBRUARY 2012 OF INVERNESS CITY COMMITTEE
Part One Visit by His Holiness The Dalai Lama There is circulated a Report dated 23 January 2012 by the Corporate Manager. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is visiting Scotland during June 2012 and will be in Inverness on Saturday 23 June. This report invites the Committee to support the visit and make funds available from Inverness Common Good Fund as a contribution towards the overall costs. The Committee is invited to agree to support the visit to the City of Inverness by His Holiness the Dalai Lama with a financial contribution up to a maximum of £5,000 from the Inverness Common Good Fund, with the Inverness City Manager receiving delegated powers, in consultation with Members of the Donations Working Group, to agree the final sum.
Inverness Trunk Link Road (West Link) Presentation The presentation will provide feedback on the responses to the second public consultation for the Inverness West Link, review the Options Appraisal, and provide feedback from the Inverness Trunk Link Road (West Link) Working Group held on 27 January 2012. The Committee is invited to note the presentation and provide views on the options under consideration to the Inverness Trunk Link Road (West Link) Working Group
City Planning – Strategy and Implementation There is circulated a Joint Report dated 1 February 2012 by the Depute Chief Executive and Director of Housing and Property, Director of Planning and Development and the Corporate Manager providing Members with information on The Six Cities initiative, Highland-wide Local Development Plan, Draft Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan, Inverness City Vision and associated Development Briefs which all provide a significant opportunity for Inverness to grow as the City in the Highlands. This report sets out a recommended approach which would make best use of
page 8 - April 2012
the opportunities whilst effectively engaging with our communities and partner agencies.
The Committee is invited to: Note the actions being taken to enhance the status of Inverness as the City in the Highlands and the role of funding packages, including the Common Good Fund, in the on-going development of the city; agree that the Corporate Manager, in consultation with the Depute Chief Executive & Director of Housing and Property and Director of Planning and Development, identifies an existing officer resource within the Council to form a City Development officer group whose remit will include identification of opportunities (including assets in the ownership of Inverness Common Good Fund) and, where appropriate, implementation of action plans; agree that the Corporate Manager in consultation with the Council’s political group leaders formulates proposals on the membership, remit and priorities of the Stakeholder Group; and that a report on progress will be made to the next appropriate meeting of the City Committee.
Conference Subvention There is circulated a Report dated 23 January 2012 by the Inverness City Manager. This report updates Members on the operation of the Subvention Policy which is supported by the Inverness Common Good Fund (CGF). To enable Inverness to compete nationally, it must be able to offer competitive financial assistance through its venues, businesses and the Council via the CGF.
This report updates the Committee on the benefits conferences bring to the city and the landward areas. It recommends that the maximum level of discretionary benefit per event is increased to £17,500.
The Committee is invited to agree that: a maximum of £17,500 be set as the subvention rate for conferences subject to the existing application procedure and considerations;
tel: 01309 690063
the new maximum rate of support be applied to future applications made to the Common Good Fund for conferences with applicants who have been successful in respect of events yet to take place being able to reapply for support under the new criteria; and the sum of £40,000 be allocated from the Common Good Fund for the Year 2012/13. Any applications made between now and 31st March 2012 will be funded from the City Events and Promotions budget; and, note that: Inverness Hotel’s Association is keen to provide additional support for any subvention proposal through a voluntary commission scheme. This would ensure that the organiser benefits from a 5% commission on all direct bed nights; and evaluation will be undertaken on the economic impact of the revised Subvention Pack with a report to the City Committee in March 2013
Proposals for Castle Wynd Conveniences There is circulated a Joint Report dated 6 February 2012 by the Depute Chief Executive and Director of Housing and Property and the Inverness City Manger. A report was taken to the City Committee on 8 August 2011 with the recommendation that the Castle Wynd facilities be closed in preference to Mealmarket Close. This was agreed by the TECS Committee on 22 September 2011. This report highlights the development potential of the site. The Committee is invited to agree: as part of the City Centre Development Brief, to endorse further in-depth examination by the Inverness City Manager and Housing and Property Service seeking an alternative use for the Castle Wynd building and wider site to include feasibility of including publicly accessible toilets; and, that an update report be brought back to the Committee on progress in November or December 2012.
SpotLight on Inverness and District
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Will You Be Surprised With Life After Death? all our righteousnesses [good deeds] are as filthy rags."
We get surprised Being a good person is not enough to make us acceptto God. We are still filthy sinners. In God's eyes, all when things come able have sinned; "There is none that doeth good, no, not one" upon us unexpect- (Romans 3:12). Sin means "missing the mark." We have missed God's mark even though we may do many edly. Many things all good things. If you think a person's goodness gets him that occur in our to heaven, you will be surprised! lives come with- Do you think hell will be just a big party? Matthew 13:50 says that the wicked will be cast "into the out warning. Sometimes things like sickness, bills and family crises just cannot be anticipated. Even our own death can come by surprise.
furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." A furnace of fire, wailing, and gnashing of teeth do not paint the picture of a party atmosphere. In reality, hell will be filled with only suffering and anguish. Luke 16:22,23 tells of a man who "died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments." If you think there will be any pleasure in hell, you will be surprised!
What comes after death, however, is something that does not need to be a surprise for anyone. It is not God's desire that you be surprised after you die. He tells us in the Bible that every one of us will live Do you put off thinking about death and eternity, hoping it will just "turn out well"? somewhere forever. John 3:18 says, "He that believeth not is condemned To be prepared for life after death, we must first already, because he hath not believed in the name of the examine what we believe about this matter in the light only begotten Son of God." The person who has not of God's Word, the Bible. trusted in The Lord Jesus Christ is in peril of eternal Do you think a person stops existing after condemnation already! "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3). These matters death? are too important to leave unconsidered. The Lord Jesus Hebrews 9:27 says, "It is appointed unto men once to die, Christ shed His blood and died on the cross to pay the but after this the judgment." The word "after" tells us that punishment for your sin that you deserve. “For God so life does not end with death. No matter what you think will happen when you die, God says that His judgment loved the world, that he gave his only begotten will follow. If you are anticipating "nothing" after death, Son, that whosoever believeth in him should you will be surprised! not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) Do you think God would never send you to hell? The resurrection of Christ is proof that God accepted His payment for sin. If you do not repent of your sin and Psalm 5:4 says, "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure receive The Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you will in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with Thee." be surprised! Because God is holy, He must punish sin. Sin cannot be where God is. We are all sinners. If a person's sin is not The God and Saviour you believe in must be the God cleansed by the blood of The Lord Jesus Christ, God and Saviour of the Bible and not a god that only exists in must send him to hell, "And whosoever was not found your own imagination. Dear Reader, don’t go to Hell written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” with the knowledge of the way to Heaven in your head. (Revelation 20:15). If you think no one goes to hell, you God loves you, and Christ died for you. Repent of will be surprised! your sin and receive Jesus Christ as your
Do you think being good will get you to heaven? Saviour and Lord; He says “..him that cometh Isaiah 64:6 says, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37)
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Published by www.wordsbythewayside.co.uk Registered Scottish Charity SCO41290
Local Holidays, School Term Dates &Useful Numbers Local Holidays Inverness Holiday
Good Friday May Day Bank Holiday Spring Bank Holiday Queens Diamond Jubilee Inverness Holiday Summer Bank Holiday Inverness Holiday Inverness Holiday
Mon. 2nd April 2012 Fri. 6th April 2012 Mon. 7th May 2012 Mon. 4th June 2012 Tues. 5th June 2012 Mon. 2nd July 2012 Mon. 6th Aug. 2012 Mon. 1st Oct. 2012 Mon. 5th Nov. 2012
St Andrews Day Christmas Day Boxing Day New Year’s Day Scottish Bank Holiday
Fri. 30th Nov. 2012 Tues. 25th Dec. 2012 Wed. 26th Dec. 2012 Tues. 1st Jan. 2013 Wed. 2nd Jan. 2013
* substitute, as this holiday falls on a weekend or other bank holiday
School Holidays for 2011/2012 (all dates inclusive) Regional Closure Monday 22nd October 2012 Spring Term Ends Friday 30th March 2012 Winter Term Starts Tuesday 23rd October 2012 Good Friday Holiday Friday 6th April 2012 Winter Term Ends Thursday 20th December 2012 Easter Monday Holiday Monday 9th April 2012 Spring Term Starts Monday 7th January 2013 May Day Holiday Monday 7th May 2012 Holiday Closure Monday 11th February 2013 Summer Term Starts Tuesday 17th April 2012 Holiday Closure Tuesday 12th February 2013 for 2012/2013 (all dates inclusive) Regional Closure Wed. 13th February 2013 Regional Closure Monday 13th August 2012 Regional Closure Thursday 14th February 2013 Autumn Term Starts Tuesday 14th August 2012 Regional Closure Friday 15th February 2013 Autumn Term Ends Friday 5th October 2012 Useful Numbers
Police Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08456 005703 Bus Station, Inverness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 239292 Citizens Advice Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08444 994111 Dalcross Airport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01667 464000 Highland Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01349 886606 National Rail Enquires. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08457 484950 DOCTORS Beauly Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 782794 Burnfield Medical Practice. . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 220077 Cairn Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 712233 Cromarty Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . 01381 600224 Culloden Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 793400 Crown Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0844 576 9977 Drumnadrochit, Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01456 450577 Dunedin Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 712157 Fairfield Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 713939 Fortrose Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08444 772497 Foyers Medical Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01456 486224 Kingsmills Medical Practice. . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 235245 New Craigs Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 704000 Riverside Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 715999 Raigmore Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 704000 RNI Community Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 706966 Strathlene Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 870843 The Aird Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 782214 page 10 - April 2012
The Surgery, Munlochy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 811200 Southside Road Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 710222 DENTISTS 11 Hilton Village. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 236873 21 Kingsmills Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 233416 Abban Street Dental Clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 718140 Academy Dental Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 232423 Burnfield Dental Practice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 241515 Black Isle Dental Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01349 877082 Castle House Dental Practice . . . . . . . . . . 01463 234598 Dalneigh Dental Practice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 243767 Dental Clinic, New Craigs Hospital . . . . . . 01463 704000 Fraser Street Dental Practice . . . . . . . . . . 01463 242344 High School Dental Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 235468 Ness Bank Dental Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 236295 Inshes Dental Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 794949 Riverside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 226358 Southside Surgical Dentistry Centre . . . . . 01463 710760 Southside Dental Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 710760 Torwood Dental Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 712772 Dental Helpline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0845 6442271
Other Useful Numbers including Village Halls & Community Centres, Vets and Schools are rotated on a regular basis and will appear in subsequent issues.
tel: 01309 690063
SpotLight on Inverness and District
Picture by Pa uline
Parliament Blog & Tides The Scottish Parliament is at its best when the political content is at its least. Therefore, I was recently very pleased indeed to lead a debate on the case for the Green Investment Bank coming to Edinburgh. This will put the spotlight – excuse the pun – on renewables in Scotland - and the potential and indeed actual jobs in renewable energy are at their greatest in the Highlands and Islands. Before the Debate, and at my invitation, the energy spokespeople were invited along to a photo call – so that the campaign would be across all parties. We assembled on the roof balcony of an office in Edinburgh which overlooks the Castle and the Firth of Forth. The wind was most certainly blowing in earnest, much to the consternation of the lady MSP’s present. I would have offered them a comb, but I don’t possess one. In fact, the energy spokespeople of the main parties are all from the Highlands and Islands – so we have a clean green sweep in that regard. That makes it perfect to work in a cross party basis much of the time, united – if windswept!
Fergus Ewing MSP
LOW TIDE TIMES FOR INVERNESS IN APRIL Walking on the beach should be possible 2 hours either side of these times 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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The Scottish Liberal Democrat conference was held at the start of last month at Eden Court in Inverness. These annual gatherings can take you to every corner of the party, so it was particularly good to be at home here in the Highlands – showcasing the first class facilities which our theatre and arts venue now offers. Among our visitors for the weekend was the new Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change, Ed Davey. While Ed was here, he took the chance to see some of the huge potential which our area has to lead the development of clean, low carbon energy from our seas – potentially bringing many thousands of new jobs and expertise which will be in demand all over the world. I offered Ed a few tips on what life as a Minister can be like. Taking key decisions attracts comment – and occasionally creative interventions by those who disagree. Ed has not yet had a face mask made in his honour; nor has he been the subject of a song. I was able to tell the conference that I have had both of these experiences. They say you can’t please all of the people all of the time, but apparently I might be able to please two famous bamboo-loving adoptive Scots. The song about me is entitled, ‘Danny Alexander, feed him to the pandas’!
Danny Alexander MP
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SpotLight on Inverness and District
www.spotlighton.co.uk
April 2012 - page 11
Something for everyone at the Nairn Community & Arts Centre This bright modern adaptable building has become a vital part of the Community, promoting Arts and Culture in addition to the more traditional Community Centre Activities. Excellent meeting and training facilities available for hire. There is something for everyone, from children’s activities to films, concerts and shows. The large comfortable theatre can seat up to 300. Look out for our monthly advert with what’s on, or check out our website. Looking for something to do with the children during the Easter break?
We have a fabulous show coming up in April for children The Pallywags “Chasing Rainbows” are appearing on 13th April with 2 shows at 2.30pm and 6.00pm. Tickets are priced at £7 and are available from the Centre, or telephone 01667 453476 The Pallywags are magical creatures that live on a rainbow and love to entertain with singing, dancing and humour. Featuring Rodd Christensen (Balamory’s Spencer) and Lauren Hair from “Got to Dance” Music is one of the strengths of the Pallywags. Its producer, Rory Mhor Nicoll, worked with Prince and was part of the production team behind the Swedish pop group Ace of Base. This event is supporting the "Archie Foundation" for Raigmore Hospital.
Friday 13 April - 2.30pm & 6.00pm Tickets £7 Nairn Community & Arts Centre Tickets Available from Nairn Community & Arts Centre on 01667 453476
Dry Cleaning Well Laundry & Dry Cleaning Specialists Full domestic & commercial service with free collection & delivery (Commercial discounts available)
Laundry, Dry cleaning, Services Washes, Duvets/Pillows, Wedding Dresses, Evening Wear, Work Wear, Ironing Service, Repairs & Alterations, Table Linen High quality Service by experienced staff! see website for special offers and promotions FORRES 3-5 Gordon Street IV36 1DY......01309 ELGIN 40 South Street IV30 1JX.............. 01343
673174 551144
www.dcwlaundry.co.uk
INVERNESS AND DISTRICT THE
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Log on to www.spotlighton.co.uk email tamsyn@spotlighton.co.uk or call 01309 690063 What’s~on listings deadline for May issue is friday 30/03/12
Rolling Event March 28 - onwards
31 saturday
interactive exhibition of modern automata and kinetic art 10am - 5pm, tuesday - saturday at the house of automata, kinloss (next to petrol station). free entry. tel: 01309 691212 for more information or visit www.thehouseofautomata.com
9 april - 19 may ‘john gordon and son – celebrating 150 years’ 10am - 4:40pm mon-fri & 10am - 1pm sat, nairn museum. the 150 year history of one of the most successful businesses in the highlands told in paintings, photographs, stories and artefacts. an exhibition not to be missed! www.nairnmuseum.co.uk
MARCH 28 wednesday richard durrant @ universal hall 7:30pm. findhorn foundation, the park, findhorn. tickets £10/ £8 conc / £6 u16 available at the phoenix stores 01309 690110 inverness college uhi open evening 5:30 - 7:30pm, longman campus refectory. for people interested in joining courses in aug & sept 2012. call 01463 273000 or email info@inverness.uhi.ac.uk
29 thursday opera bohemia 8pm, strathpeffer pavilion. tickets £12 / £11 / £6 from ticketweb 24-hour 08444 771000, june’s card shop, dingwall, booth scotland and pavilion 01997 420124 (open 9 - 6 mon - fri) www.operabohemia.com simba support group meeting 7-9pm, best western palace hotel, 8 ness walk, inverness. support for the loss of a baby at any stage of pregnancy or close to the time of birth. email simbahighland@gmail.com or call susan 07771358382 or denise 07724306983
30 friday phil cool @ ironworks 7pm. 16+. seated for tickets or more information tel: 0871 789 4173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com SpotLight on Inverness and District
the syndicate presents a night of thrash & death metal 8pm, flanagans bar, elgin. ‘thrashist regime’ debut and ‘bonesaw’ make a welcome return. £5 entry. email thesyndicate2008@btinternet.com or visit www.facebook.com/thesyndicate2008 cloud man @ universal hall 4pm. findhorn foundation, the park, findhorn. tickets £6/ £5 conc / £4 u16 available at the phoenix stores 01309 690110 an evening of burlesque 8pm, over 18s only. tickets £19.50 / £18 from ticketweb 24hr 08444 771000, june’s card shop, dingwall, booth scotland and the pavilion 01997 420124 (open 9 - 6 mon - fri) www.operabohemia.com highland hospice fundraiser @ ironworks 7:30pm. 18+. with special guests ‘the complete stone roses’. tickets or info tel: 0871 789 4173 or visit the website www.ironworksvenue.com "a fine art friendship" exhibition opens at inchmore gallery. visit www.inchmoregallery.co.uk, email info@inchmoregallery.co.uk or call 07777652953 inverness ramblers beinn ghobhlach, dundonnell. 8miles. meet 0830hrs highland council car park, contact 01463 236204 for further information. al anon family groups public meeting 10:30am 12noon, thistle hotel, millburn road, inverness. please come along if you are concerned about someone else’s drinking. call the confidential helpline 020 7403 0888
APRIL 1 sunday great glen walking club brora to carn liath broch. 8.5 miles. meet 0900hrs highland council car park. contact 01463 236204 for further information. bl’azz presents a jazz lunch - ‘blue and sentimental’ 12 - 3pm. ‘conservatory’ restaurant, kingsmills hotel, inverness. £18.50 per head for a 3 course meal and entertainment. book at hotel reception or call 01463 257102 cake walk meet 10am scottish natural heritage car park. walk to the mast at craig dunain on palm sunday. call guy and jocelyn on 07724 992 790
3 tuesday "a fine art friendship" exhibition continues until 28th
www.spotlighton.co.uk
April 2012 - page 13
APRIL 2012 continued april at inchmore gallery, inverness. call 07777652953, email info@inchmoregallery.co.uk or visit www.inchmoregallery.co.uk
4 wednesday himalayan primula 7.30pm. the highland rock garden club hosts an illustrated talk by pam eveleigh, international travelling speaker and outstanding photographer from calgary, canada. nairn community centre, king street. tel:01320 366246
6 friday the wee man presents nedator to land @ ironworks 7pm. seated. 16+. for tickets or more information tel: 0871 789 4173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com music nairn presents 'a wanderer fantasy' 8pm, nairn community and arts centre. michael lunts, actor & pianist, tells about the life of franz schubert in music and words. tickets £18, members £14, students £2. call 01667 453476 exhibition of still life - tore art gallery opens for the season with this exhibition by highland artists. call 01463 871444 visit www.tore-art-gallery.co.uk for more info.
7 saturday great glen walking club castle heather - mid largs. 12 miles. meet 0900hrs highland council car park. contact 01463 236204 for further information. ironworks easter showcase 7pm. over 14s. 8 top quality acts from around the highlands. tickets or info tel: 0871 7894173 or www.ironworksvenue.com culduthel's got talent 10am, 3pm & 7pm, culduthel christian centre, culduthel avenue, inverness. come along and vote for your favourite - free of charge! see www.culduthelchristiancentre.org for info the waterboys @ eden court theatre 7:30pm. tickets sold by ticketmaster uk. call the box office 01463 234 234 for more information.
8 sunday inverness ramblers achnashellach circular. 8 miles. meet 0900hrs highland council car park, contact 01463 236204 for further information.
10 tuesday inverness gardening club 7:30pm, mackenzie centre, inverness. talk by donald davidson from abriachan nurseries. “auriculas”. new members are welcome. for details call graeme on 01463 224445 or email graememunro99@hotmail.com. string theory with ‘the pink castle philosophy club’ 7.30pm, riverside lounge, glen mhor hotel, inverness. open to all, friendly towards gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. visit www.pinkcastle.eu for more info
11 wednesday ‘design? i don’t think i can do that....’ 7.30pm - 9pm, page 14 - April 2012
culloden community centre. a talk by christine macintyre of the tin house. £4. for more info call kate mackenzie (vice chair) 01463 790924
13 friday frightened rabbit @ the loft 8pm. east grange farm, kinloss, forres. call 01343 850 111 for info or visit www.eastgrange.co.uk skerryvore @ ironworks 7:30pm, 14+, standing. for tickets or information call 08717894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com the pallywags 2:30pm & 6pm at nairn community & arts centre. starring ‘spencer’ from balamory & lauren hair from got to dance. tickets £7 available from www.thebooth.co.uk or call the centre on 01667 453476
14 saturday twin atlantic @ ironworks 7:30pm. over 14s. for tickets or more information tel: 0871 789 4173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com yuri gagarin family activities 2pm - 4pm, multicultural centre, 1 ardconnel terrace, inverness. organised by the highland-russia connection charity. enquiries and booking call 01667456245. inverness ramblers balavil, strathspey. 8 miles. meet 0900hrs highland council car park, contact 01463 236204 for further information. phil kay @ universal hall 8pm. findhorn foundation, the park, findhorn. tickets £10/£8 concessions available at the phoenix stores 01309 690110 or visit www.thebooth.co.uk.
15 sunday bl’azz presents ‘the black isle stompers’ 2:30pm 5pm. ‘maclean’ room, eden court, inverness. tickets £8 from eden court box office or call 01463 234234
18 wednesday dannsa @ universal hall 7:30pm. findhorn foundation, the park, findhorn. tickets £10/£8 concessions £6 u16s available at the phoenix stores 01309 690110
19 thursday inverness civic trust AGM 7:30pm. meeting rooms next to glenmorrison hotel. call john west on: 01463 238859 for more information.
20 friday blazing fiddles 8pm at strathpeffer pavilion. tickets £15/ £14/ £6. visit www.strathpefferpavilion.org or call 01997 420124 red kites @ ironworks 7pm. over 14s. Tickets or more info tel: 0871 7894173 or www.ironworksvenue.com
21 saturday frightened rabbit 7:30pm at strathpeffer pavilion. tickets £14 plus booking fee. call 01997 420124 or visit www.strathpefferpavilion.org highland branch of seagull trust cruises ceilidh
tel: 01309 690063
SpotLight on Inverness and District
Cinema Nairn
Cinema Listings April 2012
Friday 20th April, 7.30pm Another Time, Another Place (15) Visit cinemanairn.blogspot.com or contact Nairn Community Centre on 01667 453476 for details
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness Throughout April
The Hunger Games (12a) Red Dog (PG) The Muppets (U) Visit www.eden-court.co.uk or call 01463 234234 for details
Vue Cinema, Inverness
Moray Playhouse, Elgin
Headhunters (tbc)
New Screenings begin on Fridays Call 01343 542680 or visit www.morayplayhouse.co.uk
Highland Spiritual Cinema
Monthly screenings of uplifting and inspiring films that inform, enlighten and entertain. For further details please visit www.highlandspiritualcinema.net or telephone 01463 237452
From Monday 2nd April Mirror Mirror (tbc) Iron Sky (tbc)
Titanic 3D (tbc) Battleship (tbc) Rigoletto (tbc)
Salmon Fishing In The Yemen (tbc) The Avengers 3D (tbc)
KidsAM Every Saturday & Sunday at 10.15am Tickets £1.25 / VIP Tickets £2.75 Senior Screenings Every Tuesday afternoon Tickets £3.05 / VIP Tickets £4.55 Includes tea/coffee & biscuits
Visit www.myvue.com for details
Portessie Public Hall
Regular films including Saturday matinees. For further details email: portessiepublichall@hotmail.co.uk
Universal Hall, Findhorn
Showing films through the year Visit www.findhorn.org/uhall or call 01309 691170 for details. SpotLight on Inverness and District
www.spotlighton.co.uk
April 2012 - page 15
28 saturday - 29 sunday
APRIL 2012 continued 7:30pm - 11pm at north kessock community hall. featuring solo singers, musicians & a gaelic choir. £10 entry, children under 12 free. BYOB. snack served at intervals and a raffle.
great glen walking club weekend away. details to follow. contact 01463 236204 for further information.
Sunday 29th April
22 sunday great glen walking club an droiighneach circular. 9 miles. meet 0830hrs highland council car park. contact 01463 236204 for further information. inverness ramblers farigaig valley to loch ness. 7 miles. meet 1000hrs highland council car park, contact 01463 236204 for further information.
23 monday miles kane @ ironworks 7pm. standing. over 14s. for tickets or more information tel: 0871 789 4173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com
25 wednesday inverness college uhi open evening 5:30pm - 7:30pm, longman campus refectory. for people interested in joining courses in aug & sept 2012. call 01463 273000 or email info@inverness.uhi.ac.uk for info.
26 thursday admiral fallow @ ironworks 7:30pm, 14+, standing. for tickets or information call 08717894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com
27 friday the syndicate presents ‘found on the floor, filthpact & the obscenities’ 8pm, flanagans bar, elgin. a night of punk, metal & catchy choruses. for more info email thesyndicate2008@btinternet.com or visit www.facebook.com/thesyndicate2008
28 saturday annual spring flower show plants, stalls and coffee morning. 10.30am. scottish rock garden national show opens at midday (approx.). nairn community centre, king street. tel: 01320 366246 inverness choral society perform verdi’s requiem 7:30pm, eden court theatre. inspiring & uplifting variety evening with fish & chip supper by the red poppy 7.00pm, strathpeffer community centre. for strathpeffer spa railway assoc. & strathpeffer victorian day. BYOB. tickets £12 (£8 under 10s) from aladdin’s cave, sports & model shop, dingwall & strathpeffer community centre. call 01997 423209 pritchard vs dainton @ ironworks 8pm, 18+. tickets or info call 08717894173 / www.ironworksvenue.com the house of automata and obscura day 5pm at house of automata, kinloss (next to petrol station), forres. enter a magical world where rare mechanical entertainers come to life. 40 minute show £5, book at www.atlasobscura.com. contact 01309 691212 inverness ramblers corryhabbie hill. 7.5 miles. meet 0830hrs highland council car park. contact 01463 236204 for further information. page 16 - April 2012
All children welcome Sessions: £4 per child (booking desirable but not essential).
MAY 2012 in brief 5 saturday funk'void & silicone soul @ ironworks 7:30pm. 18+. for tickets 08717894173 / www.ironworksvenue.com jamp @ universal hall 2pm. findhorn foundation, the park, findhorn. tickets £7/£6 concessions £4 u16s available at the phoenix stores 01309 690110 8 tuesday inverness gardening club 7:30pm, mackenzie centre, inverness. a practical demo by john owen, askival alpines. “buy-one-get-one-free” alpine propagation. new members welcome. call graeme 01463 224445 or email graememunro99@hotmail.com for more details. class with ‘the pink castle philosophy club’ 7.30pm, riverside lounge, glen mhor hotel, inverness. open to all, friendly towards gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. visit www.pinkcastle.eu for more info. 11 friday dodgy @ ironworks 7:30pm. tickets or info call 08717894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com 16 wednesday roddy woomble @ ironworks 7:30pm. unreserved cabaret seating. For tickets or more information tel: 0871 789 4173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com 26 saturday showaddywaddy 8pm. strathpeffer pavilion. tickets £17.50 / £16.50 / £6 from ticketweb 24-hour 08444 771000, june’s card shop, dingwall, booth scotland and pavilion 01997 420124 (open 9-6 mon-fri) www.showaddywaddy.net 30 wednesday inverness college uhi open evening 5:30pm - 7:30pm, longman campus refectory. for people interested in joining courses in aug & sept 2012. call 01463 273000 or email info@inverness.uhi.ac.uk for info.
tel: 01309 690063
SpotLight on Inverness and District
"
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Certified ISO 14001:2004 International Environmental Standard
31/05/12
recipe
Chef’s Confidential You may notice a different style this month in our Chef’s confidential. The Brockie’s Lodge in Kiltarlity have agreed to take over the mantle from the River House Restaurant in Inverness and we would like to thank “Alf” at the River House for all his work. Brockie’s Lodge is run by Robbie Sheriffs who brings with him many years of experience in catering which is already bringing forth fruit in increased levels of trade coming from far and wide - and locals as well. Please try your own hand at their suggested recipe for April!
Confit Duck Leg, Puy Lentil Sauce, Roasted Root Vegetables on a bed of Roasted New Potatoes Ingredients for 4 people 500g Duck Fat 4 Female Duck Legs 200g Puy Lentils 350ml Gravy 100g Parsnips 100g Carrots 1 Red Onion 2 Courgette 200g New Boiled Potatoes Dried Thyme Dried Rosemary Method 1. Melt the Duck Fat in a large frying pan and place the duck legs (skin down) in pan 2. Cook until brown and place in casserole dish with some of the duck fat, cover with tin foil and place in middle of oven at 180 degrees for 1.5 hours 3. Boil Puy Lentils in water (500ml) until cooked – be careful not to let them dry out – add gravy 4. Peel and Chop Vegetables, par boil until aldente 5. Par-boil New Potatoes 6. Place remaining duck fat in a roasting pan and heat in oven for 10 minutes 7. Remove roasting pan and place potatoes and vegetables in it along with dried herbs 8. Cook until roasted Enjoy!
18
Robbie Sheriffs R & J Hospitality Ltd, T/a Brockies Lodge Hotel, Kiltarlity By Beauly Tel: 01463 741257
FFinalist inalist in tthe Highlands and Islands FFood ood and D Drink Awards 2010 010
Only hotel in the t have h th the Hi hl d to Highlands Healthy Living Award
Healthiest children children’s dren’s menu in the local area, a, remember wee still have our bouncy castle castle..
NEW PUB CLASSI CLASSIC C MENU MENU Your Y our favourite mealss served all day from £6 £6.75 6.75
Outside catering is i a speciality – we brin bring ng the restaurant to you!!! – all you do is enjoy the experience ence 11,000 people – intimate (smallest allest 6 people) – everybody receives the same level of service. rvice. – largest event so far is 11,000 Robbie, R ob obbie, bbie, Jean or K Karen aren cann be contacted on 01463 63 741257 VR RESERVATIONS ESERV VATION NS RECOMMENDED RECOMMENDED V Our famous Sunda Sunday ay Carvery from 12.30 - 3pm — Don Don’t ’t forget to o bring your loyalty card!! d!! Salon 45 within Br Brockies rockies is open Monday Monday, y,, Thu Thursday Thursday, ursday, F Friday riday and Saturday – no appointment necessary necessary. yy.. Tel: 01463 741257 . Email: info@brockieslodgehotel. el. Brockie’s Lodge Hotel . Kiltarlity . By Beauly . IV4 7HW . Tel:
BenWyvis Kilts 2
Kilt Makers & Kilt Hire
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Highland Rail House, Station Square, Inverness
01463 715448 www.benwyviskilts.co.uk
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Elgin Easter Chocolate...yu...mmm...y! Elgin is the place to be on Saturday 7th April. Elgin Business Improvement District and Olive Tree Chocolate have teamed up to bring you a fun packed day in celebration of Easter and National Chocolate Week. There are so many activities that there is bound to be something to suit, whatever your preference. The whole day kicks off at 10am with the Easter Street Market in the City Centre offering a wide range of locally produced foods and crafts and Easter treasures. Starting from 11am there will be a Chocolate Cookery demonstration, Easter Treasure Hunt, Easter Fancy Dress Competition, games and crafts activities (on the Plainstones) including Easter bonnet making. Moray Titans rugby club will be undertaking a charity car pull in aid of the Moray Friends of Archie throughout the day till 2pm. The Easter Treasure Hunt will take you around the City Centre (including the Town Hall). The treasure will be letters which you collect to make up a famous word. Letters will be placed in the windows of City Centre retailers as well as at the Town Hall – the home of Choctober @ Easter. Entry forms are available from Unit 4 (between Orange phone shop and Dorothy Perkins) in the St Giles Centre and completed entries can be returned by 4pm to the Town Hall Reception or back to Unit 4. To enter the fancy dress competition all you have to do is dress up in an Easter theme and register your entry between 11.15am – 11.50am also at Unit 4, St Giles Centre. There are 3 age categories: up to 5 years, 6 – 9 years, 10 – 15 years. Entrants will parade (in costume) through the City Centre at 12 noon ending up on the Plainstones where judging will take place at approx. 1pm.
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Prizes for both competitions will be £30.00, £20.00 and £10.00 to be spent with a City Centre retailer.
Wave radio will also be broadcasting throughout the day. Choctober @ Easter at the Town Hall offers no end of exciting activities. Starting at 11am the second chocolate festival for Elgin (also the most Northerly festival of its kind in the UK) has built on the success of the first festival held in October also at Elgin Town Hall. Falling on National Chocolate week, the afternoon entertainment is themed around a carnival. On arrival you will be treated to a demonstration of balloon modelling, circus skills and story telling. In the Main Hall will be the Chocolate High Street and Restaurant. This will recreate a typical High Street but linked to chocolate. For example florists selling chocolate bouquets, travel agents traveling the world in chocolate. The restaurant will be serving refreshments and hot meals throughout the afternoon. For the more adventurous why not visit the chocolate making workshops where you can learn how to create simple hand roiled truffles in one hour, (must be pre-booked). There will be a chefs theatre which starts on the High Street (Plainstones) at 11am and continues at the Town Hall stage area. The chefs will create dishes in the format of a starter, main course and dessert all including chocolate. Great to pick up ideas on how you can cook something with a difference. Last, but by no means least, there will be a large craft fayre upstairs in the Supper Room consisting of locally made crafts. Entrants to the Easter Egg design competition will be announced and presented with their prize at approx. 3.30pm at Elgin Town Hall. The prize for each age category is a recreation of their design on a hand-made egg from Olive Tree Chocolate.
SATURDAY 7TH APRIL IN ELGIN IS A MUST FOR A FUN FILLED, CHOCOLATE FILLED, ACTIVITY PACKED, NOT TO BE MISSED EXPERIENCE!!!!
Saturday 7th April 10am to 3pm, Elgin City Centre 11am to 4pm, Elgin Town Hall
Spring is here, and thank goodness. The last few Winters have seen some pretty serious weather in the Moray Firth area, causing lots of problems, and challenges, for gardeners. Prolonged lying snow with frost and ice does also inevitably leave the grass looking pretty poorly. Around March in Scotland, you should also look out for brown, possibly dying patches appearing. These may be a symptom of leatherjacket activity. Leatherjackets are the larvae of crane flies, or daddy-long-legs, which hatch from eggs laid in turf in the Autumn. If you remember seeing lots of crane flies around last Summer, or see flocks of starlings pecking furiously at the grass, investigate further. The grubs start to feed on the roots of the grass plants, which kills the grass and can cause severe damage to a lawn very quickly if not treated. Try lifting a square of turf if you see damage, and if there are lots of grubs evident you should treat the whole lawn as soon as possible with a suitable insecticide. We spray with a very effective insecticide and the next morning there are usually thousands of dead grubs lying on the grass. With the mower coming out of the shed now, it is a good time to check the blade, and if it is blunt or pitted, get it sharpened. A blunt blade chews the grass rather than cutting it, and will leave a ragged cut on the grass leaf causing bruising and brown tips, and making the plant more susceptible to disease. Also check the cutter height is not set too low, we recommend a cut of not less than 1” as it leaves a decent amount of leaf on the plant, allowing good photosynthesis to occur and a green and healthy plant. The most common problems we see are scalped, weak lawns with poor colour and the resultant bad moss. Now is a good time to aerate and scarify the lawn, especially if you didn’t get it done last Autumn. We tend not to scarify once new grass starts growing as we find it often takes too much of a hammering from a vigorous scarifying machine such as ours. We use a professional blade scarifier which cuts through thatch build up (the perfect habitat for moss to flourish). This is a more rigorous process than simply raking out existing moss (which just grows back) as it actually removes the main cause of moss growth.
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Aeration is good at any time and I know some of you will have forked the lawn (back breaking and ineffective). We use a big hollow-core tining machine as do the golf and bowling clubs. It takes thousands of cores out of the root zone easing compaction, improving ventilation and drainage and allows new root growth. If you have problems with moss and lichen this is one of the best things we can do for you.
For more information about seasonal lawn improvements from just £15 per qtr, plus useful downloads and photos go to www.greenthumb.co.uk. Although GreenThumb is a national franchise with over 200 branches across the UK, we are locally based in Cawdor and cover the whole Moray Firth area. Contact Alastair or Fiona for a FREE LAWN ANALYSIS on 01667 404774 or email us at: inverness@greenthumb.co.uk.
Call in the professionals! GreenThumb’s annual treatments ensure your lawn looks lush, green and healthy. With prices starting from £15 per treatment, your lawn nightmare will soon be history. Call your local branch today for a FREE lawn analysis and no obligation quote on:
0800 0111 222
Services of our Lawn y n agazine a F F £10 O SpotLight M m o r fr e uch with this vo ! c ustomers for all new
£10
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travel
Dreaming of... ...Morocco
Your correspondents have recently returned from an interesting holiday in Morocco. This amazing country has thrived on being at the north end of the Sahara Desert and on the trade route to Europe. We spent three nights in Marrakech where we walked for miles taking in all the sights, sounds and smells which make it such an extraordinary and vibrant city. We enjoyed the Djemaa El Fna Square with its music, snake charmers, street entertainers and stalls selling delicious freshly squeezed orange juice and in the evening hundreds of barbeques seem to appear from nowhere. The rabbit warrens of the Souks are unlike anything we had seen before. We stayed in a wonderful Riad within the Medina. The staff were incredibly welcoming and friendly and our room combined Moroccan style with a contemporary twist and we enjoyed being able to lie back and rest on our own roof terrace. It was one of the best places we have ever stayed in but was a world away from what we found outside the Riad and by the time we moved on we had really had enough of being hassled endlessly to buy things. From Marrakech we went into the Atlas Mountains for three nights of peace and tranquillity. The weather was lovely and we enjoyed a few walks through the hills passing small hamlets where children, who appeared from nowhere, were not sure whether to hide or ask for 'bonbons'. We were then driven west across the country to Essaouria, a charming fortified emplacement created by the Portuguese in the 15th Century, which is now an unspoilt fishing port – not a bar or club to be seen! We found excellent fish restaurants and stayed in another excellent Riad with a roof top pool. There are miles of lovely beaches and at other times of the year the Atlantic breezes attract windsurfers. The early morning drive back to Marrakech was fantastic – it was market day in one of the towns and we watched hundreds of men riding across fields on donkeys draped with panniers bringing their wares to market – it was an unforgettable and almost biblical sight. Morocco is ideal for a long weekend or for longer multi-centre journeys as we did. Riads are smaller boutique hotels with central atriums open to the skies and roof terraces, negating the need for windows to the exterior, and Kasbahs are larger guest houses with grounds – both are generally very characterful and certainly a contrast to a normal city hotel. Temperatures in the towns and cities are comfortable all year round, becoming hotter from June to October, and being really at its hottest from July to September. Evenings tend to be cooler, and in the mountains it can also be cooler all of the time.
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Information kindly supplied by
2-6 South Street, Elgin 01343 548844 ‡ +LJK Street, FRUUHV
www.beavtrav.com INVERNESS departures
ABERDEEN departures
DUBROVNIK - 4th June S/C from.....................................£549pp
VENICE - 27th May B&B from ............................ £579pp
Hidden PORTUGAL 11th June HB from ............ £669pp 30th Sept from .................. £679pp
LAKE GARDA 27th May B&B from ............................ £568pp SORRENTO - 16th June B&B from ........................... £589pp
VENICE and VERONA 1st July HB from ................. £875pp LAKE GARDA 1st July B&B from.............. £589pp 7th Oct B&B from.............. £588pp SORRENTO - 6th October B&B from ............................ £599pp CYPRUS - 25th November HB from............................... £797pp
FLORENCE - 16th June HB from............................... £729pp
FORRES 01309 672203
DUBROVNIK - 2nd July S/C from ............................. £606pp Hidden PORTUGAL - 17th Sept. HB from............................... £659pp
ELGIN 01343 548844
SICILY - 6th October B&B from ............................ £649pp
All holidays are priced per person, for 7 nights based on 2 people sharing a room.
Beaver Travel, 78 High Street, Forres 2-6 South Street, Elgin
Beaver Travel (Elgin and Forres) is a ticket agent for Eden Court Theatre, Inverness - at Box office prices - NO BOOKING FEE!
DAZZLES D AZZLES HAIR STUDIO
t 29 CASTLE STREET, INVERNESS t
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Index of Advertisers 3D Plans........................................................................7 Ashley Ann ....................................Outside Back Cover AW Landscapes ..........................................................11 Beaver Travel ..............................................................25 Ben Wyvis Kilts ..........................................................19 Big Sky Print ..............................................................17 Birchwood Gardens & Paddocks ................................7 Brockie's Lodge Hotel ................................................19 Cardon Home Improvements ....................................26 Chemsafe....................................................................17 City of Elgin BID Limited........................................20-21 Dazzles Hair Studio ....................................................25 Dry Cleaning Well ......................................................12 Forres Tree Services ..................................................17 GreenThumb (Inverness) ......................................22-23 Highland Green ..........................................................25 Highland Wildlife Park ..................................................7 Kylauren Homes ........................................................27 Logie Steading............................................................19 Lorna Munro Holistics ................................................26 Moray Coast Veterinary Group ....................................3 Moray Firth Tutorial School ..........................................5 Nairn Community & Arts Centre ................................12 Pizza Hut Express (inverness) ....................................26 Pole Dance Scotland ..................................................16 Roof Wizard ................................................................11 Scotengineering..........................................................17 The House of Automata................................................7 The Loft ......................................................................16 Unique Beauty ......................................Front Cover & 3 Wardrobe Design Online ..............................................3 Wheelchair Care ..............................Inside Front Cover Words By The Wayside ................................................9
Cardon
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£4.99 LORNA MUNRO Off er available at the Eastgate Centre Pizza Hut Express store IV2 3PR. Please present voucher at the time of ordering and produce on payment. Not valid with any other deal or off er. Off er subject to availability. Only one voucher per order.
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