THE NORTH’S FAVOURITE FREE WEE MAG
DECEMBER 2018
SpotLIGHT INVERNESS & DISTRICT
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Inverness Tel: 01463 248600 Nairn Fuels Front Cover Nov 18.pdf
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05/10/2018
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Christmas 2018
Christmas Day Lunch £57.50 per person Tables between 12:30pm and 2:30pm 5 Course Meal Coffee & Mince Pies Children’s menu available
Festive Party Nights
With Parties of all sizes catered for, bring a party to our party at the Newton this year. Arrive to a glass of bubbly before enjoying a three course meal and entertainment.
Disco Party Nights Thursday 20th December £29 per person Karaoke Room Friday 7th December £32 per person Karaoke Room and Photo Booth Saturday 15th December £34 per person Karaoke Room and Photo Booth
New Year Eve Gala Dinner and Dance
£75 per person
Pre Christmas Lunches & Dinners 3rd December - 22nd December With Family, Friends or Colleagues Enjoy a special pre-Christmas Lunch or Dinner Lunch - 2 courses £12.95 3 Courses £15.95 Dinner - 3 Courses £22.00
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8 View Place, Inverness, IV2 4SA jmmacdonald.co.uk the speyside whisky shop dec 18.pdf
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06/11/2018
15:46
We are a brand new retail shop in the heart of Speyside, recently opened in October 2018. We stock over 40 different craft gins, tonic waters, merchandise and whisky. We specialise in highly collectable single malt bottlings with a range from a variety of distilleries.
We look forward to welcoming you soon.
110A High Street, Aberlour AB38 9NX t: 01340 871260 e: sales@thespeysidewhiskyshop.com
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Clubs and Societies ARMY RESERVES INVERNESS PLATOON, C COMPANY 7 SCOTS Tue, 7.30pm - 9.30pm, Inverness Reserve Centre, Gordonville Road. Join us to better yourself, get fit, learn new skills that are useful in civilian street including driving, make new friends, have fun & get PAID for it. Call Captain Ken Scott on 0131 310 3853 or email at 7scots-bhq-oc-rrtt@mod.uk BLAZIN NEEDLES Tues, 1.30pm – 3.30pm,The Bike Shed, Grant Street, Inverness. Friendly drop-in group for anyone interested in Working with wool or textiles. Beginners or experienced knitters looking for company. Donations for room hire & teas & coffees. HIGHLAND CAR CLUB Last Thurs of month, Fairways Leisure Golf Centre, Inverness. Aim is to promote & encourage motorsport in the N of Scotland. The club organises a wide variety of events throughout the year. www.highlandcarclub.co.uk
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page 4 - December 2018
HIGHLAND GERMAN SOCIETY 1st Wed each month (Oct - Dec), 7.30pm & thereafter 2pm (Oct Apr), St.Ninian’s RC Church Hall, Culduthel Road, Inverness. Call Rosa Chisholm on 01463 238560 or email at rosakchisholm@gmail.co.uk HIGHLAND WHEELCHAIR CURLING CLUB Tues, 1.30pm - 3.30pm, Inverness Ice Rink. If you use a wheelchair or have mobility problems come & see what we do. Equipment provided. Call Mo Simpson on 01463 716227 or 07798 710404 or email at wheel77uk@yahoo.co.uk INVERNESS BLITZ American football, ages 11yrs to adult. All equipment supplied. Call 242431 or email info@invernessblitz.co.uk INVERNESS HARRIERS AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB Tues, Wed & Thurs, Queens Park Athletics Stadium, Bught Lane, Inverness. Cross country, road & hill running, track & field athletics, Beginner to elite level. www.invernessharriers.org.uk INVERNESS PARKRUN Sat, 9.30am, Bught Park, Inverness. A free, weekly, 5K timed event. To take part, register at www.parkrun.org.uk & bring along your barcode. INVERNESS RADIO VOLUNTEERS Do you have spare time at the weekend & have the use of a car? Then the IRV would like to hear from you as we are looking for more volunteers. Call 01463 794984. www.inverness radiovolunteers.co.uk LEACHKIN ANGLING CLUB For further information call 01463 223621 or email at ian@harrisholidays.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
THE ARTS SOCIETY HIGHLAND 2nd Thurs of month, 2pm, Smithton Free Church, Inverness. Want to learn more about art? Encourage young artists? Volunteer to record Churches for posterity? £8 per monthly lecture. Email Jennifer Falconer at jftash@btinternet.com www.theartssocietyhighland.org. uk
touch or drop into one of our fortnightly meetings. www.toastmonsters.co.uk LOUISE NELSON DANCERS Ballet/Tap/Musical Theatre Dance. Charleston Academy Community Complex, Inverness. Call Louise Nelson on 01463 792672 www.louisenelsondancers.co.uk MEDITATE IN INVERNESS: KADAMPA MEDITATION CENTRE, GLASGOW. Tues 7pm - 8.30pm, Room 6, Spectrum Centre, 1 Margaret Street, Inverness. Drop in meditation class for well being & happiness. All welcome. £25 for 5 classes or £7 for single class per person to cover costs. Call 0141 5733220 www.meditateinscotland.org
THE HIGHLANDS SMALL COMMUNITIES HOUSING TRUST (HSCHT) A registered charity set up in 1998 to help rural communities secure long term solutions to their local housing needs. Call 01463 233549 or email at info@hscht.co.uk. www.hscht.co.uk
MERKINCH WORK CLUB Mon - Fri, 9.30am - 4pm, Welfare Hall, 30 Grant Street, Inverness. Help with job searches, CVs, applications forms & more, so pop in & get the support you need to get into work. For more in depth help please book an appointment. Call Ann on 01463 718989 or 07872 014520
THE WAY FOUNDATION (UNDER 50’S) Helping each other rebuild lives after a partner has died. Email at info@wayfoundation.org.uk
MINI-NESS DOLLS HOUSE CLUB 2nd Wed of month. Promotes the hobby of dolls houses & miniature making. Call 01463 223590 www.magpieminiatures.co.uk SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING IN INVERNESS Wed (Beginners), 7.30pm 9.30pm, Crown Church Hall & Thurs (General class), 8.15pm 10.15pm, St Mary's Hall, Huntly Street, Inverness. Call 01463 235384 SOUNDS FAMILIAR SINGING GROUP 1st & 3rd Tues of month, 2.30pm - 4pm, the Craigmonie Hotel, Annfield Road, Inverness. For people with dementia & their carers. Call 01463 233231 or 01463 230803 or email at soundsfamiliarmusic@aol.com
tel: 01309 690063
TORCH (FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED) Last Sat of month, 2pm, the Kingsview Christian Centre, Balnafettack Road, Inverness. Christian resources & activities for blind & partially sighted people. Call Clark Walls on 01463 221597 or email at clark.walls@btinternet.com TOWNSCAPE HERITAGE WORK CLUB Fri, 10am - 12pm, Spectrum Centre, 1 Margaret Street (by bus station), Inverness. Help with job searches, CVs, applications forms & more, so pop in & get the support you need to get into work.
PLEASE NOTE Details of Clubs & Societies are published on a rotational basis. If you would like your details to be included in this section please email linda@winterburnmedia.co.uk
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As I write this we haven’t yet had much snow and I know that the reindeers will be looking forward to colder weather and extra feed when they start deliveries with Santa. I wonder if they look forward to Christmas as much as we humans do? All I know is our family will be getting into the spirit of things over the next few weeks and something we always look forward to is carol concerts. Check out our website www.spotlighton.co.uk to find local carol concerts in your area and exercise those vocal chords. The benefit with lots of people singing together is that the worst voices all seem to sound better! Enjoy the festive season!!
Words by the Wayside “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust that He might bring us to God.� (1st Peter 3:18)
Reader, before you can approach God, or have peace with Him, the question of your sins must be dealt with. We have all broken God’s laws and stand before Him as guilty sinners. That is why Jesus Christ, the Sinless Son of God, suffered ‘the just for the unjust’ (in other words ‘the innocent for the guilty’) in order to deal with sin and make it possible for us to come to God. In simple faith, repent of your sin and receive Christ as your Saviour and you can know real peace with God.
PUBLISHER ..............David Nelmes ADVERTISING ..............Susan Innes PRODUCTION .........Linda J Donald ART & DESIGN...............Flo Skinner ACCOUNTS ..................Alan Radley
January Issue Deadlines Editorial - Thursday 29/11/18 cawdor tavern dec 18.pdf 1
Advertising - Tuesday 04/12/18
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CAWDOR TAV E R N
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open all day Food served from 12pm - 9pm Groups of up to 80 catered for (Closed 25th & 26th Dec, & 1st Jan) $BXEPS /BJSO *7 91 t t FORVJSJFT!DBXEPSUBWFSO DP VL t XXX DBXEPSUBWFSO DP VL
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Pastoral Le er & Church Meetings What is your style of Christmas shopping? Do you decide on the gifts you are buying for each person on your list, then do the shopping bit by bit ahead of Christmas? Do you join the crowds in the shops or do it all on-line from the comfort of your own sitting room; or is there a last minute rush on Christmas Eve desperately trying to find the right thing? While it is lovely to be able to give and receive Christmas gifts, it is a pity that this ‘season of peace and joy’ seems to involve so much stress and effort. When we are bombarded by the marketing and advertising slogans that tell us what we need, or what we need to do, it can be difficult not to get caught up in the rush of activity; and it can be depressing if our circumstances means we are unable to be as generous as we would like to be. In Luke’s Gospel (as he tells the story of the birth of Jesus in chapter 2), God’s marketing department, the Angel of the Lord and his heavenly host, appear to the shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem singing out a great slogan “I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all people” followed up by “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to all people”. How could they not be persuaded? “Let us go with haste,” they said, “and see this thing that the Lord has made known to us!”
Off they rushed to With haste. Bethlehem; not to some superstore but to what was probably a pretty grim stable around the back of the “Bethlehem Premier Lodge”. I often wonder what they did when they got to the door; whether they just burst in in their excitement; or did they straighten themselves up and give a polite knock? Whatever way they entered, even in that meagre place the shepherds understood that the angels’ slogans were true. This newly born tiny baby lying in the straw was the one promised by God. They had glimpsed the divine and they couldn’t stop shouting about it. John, in his Gospel, doesn’t give an account of Jesus’ birth, he gives a description of the eternal existence of the Word of God, which takes human form in Jesus Christ John 1:1 – 14). “And we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” John 1:14. Was that the same glory that the shepherds saw in the stable? In John’s Gospel, Jesus offers some slogans about himself. “I am the bread of life” (6.35); “I am the light of the world” (8.12); “I am the Good Shepherd” (10.11); “I am the Way the Truth and the Life” (14.6); “I am the true vine” (15:1) These slogans speak of journeying and of what is necessary for a journey – a map of the path, a light on the way with a shepherd or guide, and
Ferintosh and Resolis Free Church Rev. Chris Smart. Website: www.ferintosh.org.uk Free North Church Bank Street, Inverness. Tel: 01463 224332. Website: www.freenorthchurch.org Fortrose Free Church, 5 Church Street, Fortrose, IV10 8TE. Sunday: 11.30am and 6pm. Website: www.freechurch.org Highland International Church Sundays, 11am at the Craigmonie Hotel, 9 Annfield Road, Inverness. www.hicinverness.org.uk Hilton, Church of Scotland Tomatin Road, Inverness. Tel: 01463 233310. Website: www.hiltonchurch.org.uk Inshes, Church of Scotland Insches Retail Park, Inverness. Rev. David Scott. Tel: 01463 226727. Website: www.insheschurch.org Inverness Baptist Church 69 Castle Street. Rev. Iain Morrison . Tel: 07900 08792. www.invernessbaptistchurch.co.uk. IInverness Christian Fellowship at Merkinch Community Centre. Sundays 10.30am. Website: www.icfchurch.co.uk Inverness Church of God Friars Lane. Sunday 10.30am and 6.30pm. Tel: 01463 241318. Inverness Crown Church, Church of Scotland 3 Midmills Road. Tel:
page 6 -Decvember 2018
food and drink for sustenance. But it’s not a hasty journey to the shops or some superstore, or a holiday in the posh Premier Lodge. It’s that slow journey through life, when at times we may glimpse the glory of the divine, and have a sense of what our true destination will be. And as far as peace and joy are concerned, Jesus has gifts for us along the way. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27 and 20:21). “My joy should be in you that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). We also have things that we must give and do for each other to help along the way – “I command you, Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13.34; 15.12; 15.17); “As I, your master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14) So don’t give up on the present-buying as you show your love for each other, and experience the joy and excitement of the season. But think about the gifts that come from the divine, and what you might give in his name to bring a little glory into the world and lives of those for whom Christmas is more difficult. Rev Canon Dr John Cuthbert St Michael & All Angels Church & St John the Evangelist Church Inverness
01463 230537. Inverness East Church, Church of Scotland Academy Street. Call Rev. Professor ATB McGowan: 01463 236695 www.invernesseast.com Inverness Greyfriars Stratherrick Free Church Greyfriars at Balloan Road, Inverness, and Stratherrick at Errogie, Stratherrick. Tel: 01463 714085. Website: www.greyfriarschurch.org Inverness Methodist Church Huntly Street, Inverness. Tel: 01463 239784. Website: www.invernessmethodist.org.uk Inverness Mosque and Islamic Centre 1 Portland Place, Inverness IV1 1NE. Dr Waheed. Tel: 0771 44 99 289. Email: info@invernessmasjid.co.uk. www.invernessmasjid.co.uk Journey Church Sundays @ 4pm at Church of God Pentecostal, 6 North Church Place, Inverness. For info call 07547 955567 or visit www.journeyinv.com Inverness Presbytery www.invernesspresbytery.co.uk/congregations Listed I to N and regularly rotated. If you are a member of a church not listed here and would like to be considered for inclusion or for any amendments to existing details, email linda@winterburnmedia.co.uk
tel: 01309 690063
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Parliament Blog & Tide Times Recent images of an American so called ‘huntress’ posing with the carcasses of feral goats and domestic sheep which have been ‘hunted’ on Islay have rightly caused outrage. I have been contacted by a large number of constituents and non-constituents alike appalled that such behaviour is legal in Scotland and calling for change. I was therefore pleased to see Cabinet Secretary Mike Russell, who is the constituency MSP covering Islay, will engage with his Cabinet colleagues on this issue. Culling of wild deer and goats can be a vital part of maintaining both the health of the environment and the populations of wild animals. But it is something which must be done in a humane manner and not as an entertainment product for so called trophy hunters.
The BBC is preparing to scrap or restrict free TV licences for people aged above seventyfive years. This is a shocking proposal from an institution which has lost its way. For many people who reach this age, the TV is a source of entertainment and they may be living alone having lost their husband or wife. The BBC believe that many pensioners are now extremely wealthy. I think they are confusing pensioners with BBC managers. The hounding of Cliff Richard by the BBC condemned by the Courts decision against them was proof that they had given priority to pursuit of a “scoop” over fair coverage. Now their decision to hound the most senior citizens seems to me to indicate that their top management - all paid six figure salaries - have entirely lost their way. I hope that the UK Government make it clear to the BBC that this proposal is wholly unacceptable.
Fergus Ewing MSP
John Finnie MSP
LOW TIDE TIMES FOR INVERNESS IN DECEMBER
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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Over the course of 2018 I have met with numerous organisations and charities working hard to help people in these difficult times. As I meet these organisations I continue to be incredibly proud of the network of kindness in our communities. I’d like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to all these organisations and their dedicated staff & volunteers who generously give their time to help others. On this, my last column of this year, I’d like finish by wishing you and yours well for the festive season and the New Year. It is a time of year to hold your loved ones close, be thankful for what we have, and most importantly to stand with those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
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Drew Hendry MP
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Useful Information
Local & Bank Holidays and Special Days 1st Sunday in Advent Hanukkah (J) 2nd Sunday in Advent 3rd Sunday in Advent Shortest Day Christmas Day
Sun 2nd Dec 2018 Sun 2nd Dec 2018 Sun 9th Dec 2018 Sun 16th Dec 2018 Fri 21st Dec 2018 Tues 25th Dec 2018
Boxing Day Wed 26th Dec 2018 Hogmanay Mon 31st Dec 2018 New Year’s Day Tues 1st Jan 2019 New Year’s Day (substitute) Wed 2nd Jan 2019 ‡ Inverness (H - Hindu; J - Jewish; M - Muslim; S - Sikh)
School Term Dates for 2018/2019 (all dates inclusive) Winter Term Ends Fri 21st Dec 2018 Christmas Holiday Starts Mon 24th Dec 2018 Christmas Holiday Ends Fri 4th Jan 2019 Spring Term Starts Mon 7th Jan 2019 Mid Term Holiday Mon 18th Feb 2019 Mid Term Holiday Tues 19th Feb 2019 In-Service Day Wed 20th Feb 2019
Spring Term Ends Spring Holiday Starts Spring Holiday Ends Easter Monday Summer Term Starts May Day Holiday In-Service Day Summer Term Ends
Ardersier Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01667 462658 Beauly Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 782930 Black Isle Leisure Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01381 621252 Bus Station, Inverness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 239292 Citizens Advice Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08444 994111 Cromarty Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01381 600318 Culloden Academy Community Complex . . . . . 01463 792794 Culloden Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 792531 Fortrose Community Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01381 622235 Highland Council. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01349 886606 Highland Migrant & Refugee Advocacy . . . . . . 01463 729152 Inshes Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 725928 Inverness Airport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01667 464000 Inverness Leisure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 667500 Inverness Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 236463 Men in Recovery ............................info@meninrecovery.org National Domestic Abuse & Forced Marriage Helpline ..........................................................................0800 027 1234 National Rail Enquires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03457 484950 Police Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 NHS 24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Croy Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01667 493356 Culloden Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 790851 Dalneigh Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 232636 Daviot Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 772226 Dochgarroch Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 861240 Drakies Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 236032 Drummond School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 701050 Duncan Forbes Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 791897 Farr Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01808 521246 Foyers Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01456 486612 Glen Urquhart High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01456 459134 Glenurquhart Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01456 450458 Hilton Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 230435 Holm Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 232697 Inshes Primary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 725920 Inverness High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 233586 Inverness Royal Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 222884 Kinmylies Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 239720 Kirkhill Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 831543 Lochardil Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 230250 Merkinch Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 232962 Millbank Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01667 452240 Millburn Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 729152 Muirtown Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 239537 Nairn Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01667 453700 Raigmore Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 234971 Rosebank Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01667 454090 Smithton Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 791606 St. Joseph’s R.C. Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 231837 Strathdearn Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 226197 Stratherrick Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01456 486630 Teanassie Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 782581 Tomnacross Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 741497
Useful Contacts
SCHOOLS Aldourie Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 751272 Ardersier Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01667 462344 Auldearn Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01667 452118 Balloch Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 790287 Balnain Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01456 476262 Beauly Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 782576 Bishop Eden’s Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 237103 Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 725980 Cannich Bridge Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01456 415304 Cauldeen Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 235905 Cawdor Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01667 402460 Central Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 233906 Charleston Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 234324 Cradlehall Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 791195 Crown Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 233879
page 10 - December 2018
Fri 5th Apr 2019 Mon 8th Apr 2019 Fri 19th Apr 2019 Mon 22nd Apr 2019 Tues 23rd Apr 2019 Mon 6th May 2019 Mon 3rd Jun 2019 Thurs 4th Jul 2019
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admin@winterburnmedia.co.uk
OPENING HOURS
Monday - Saturday 3.00 pm - 9.45 pm Cicchetti Menu: 3.00 pm - 5.30 pm (small plate menu)
Full Menu:
5.30 pm - 9.45 pm
01463 222033 chef@riverhouseinverness.co.uk w w w. r i v e r h o u s e i n v e r n e s s . c o . u k
R E S TAU R A N T
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View our full range of gifts online www.mccalls.co.uk
Made to Measure re ilts Hand Stitched Kilts from £459 Gift Vouchers Available 54 South Street 01343 540590 www.mccalls.co.uk
SpotLIGHT Garden
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What can we possibly be usefully doing in December? With nothing much growing, and the ground sometimes pretty solid, often frosty. It’s when we take our heavy American golf course aerators out and about to aerate lawns. We do hollow-core tining, where the machine removes thousands of plugs from the ground. Golf courses are doing this too at this time not surprisingly. Aerating the ground is multi-beneficial as it allows air into the ground, helps with drainage, and thins-out the root zone which becomes compacted and choked over time. This is mainly about moss control in this part of the world ! You can do this with a garden fork too, but not as effectively obviously as with a machine which actually removes a core of material. I’ve included a picture of our aerator, a formidable piece of kit, and not available in B&Q or at your local garden centre !
Just a reminder; the leaves are all off now, and if they are still in drifts on your grass, it’s a very good idea to lift them. Several weeks without light and air under a pile of leaves is likely to kill/seriously damage a patch of grass.
For more information about our annual lawncare plans from just £11.25 per month, plus useful downloads and photos, go to www.greenthumb.co.uk. Although GreenThumb is a multi-award winning national franchise, and is the runaway leader in the sector with one million lawns being treated, we are the family-run local franchise covering the wider Moray Firth area. Contact Alastair or Dave for a FREE LAWN ANALYSIS on 01463 229786 or email us at: inverness@greenthumb.co.uk
Alastair Watt
PRICES FROM
£11.25 MONTH
1st Treatment
FREE
01463 229786 www.greenthumb.co.uk Email: Inverness@greenthumb.co.uk
T: 01343 542218
Decora, Lossiebank Mills, Elgin, IV30 4DE
24th - 25th November Every weekend until Christmas. Book early to avoid Disappointment Sat 9.30am - 5.00pm and Sun 10.00am - 4.00pm
Santa Arrives
E: www.diydecora.com
Mon - Fri 9.00am - 7.00pm Saturday 9.00am - 6.00pm Sunday 10.00am - 5.00pm
Opening times of Store:
SpotLIGHTon FREE Listings, FREE to View, FREE to upload Promote your events in this section by going online at www.spotlighton.co.uk Register, key in details which will then automatically be printed in the magazine.
*January Issue Deadline: 29th November*. Inclusion of events is free. We do not accept submissions for classes, courses or workshops.Contact venues & organisers first as there may be changes.
November 2018
1 saturday - 2 sunday the ness around 2018 tbc, old high hall, inverness a weekend of swing dance classes & parties, live local bands & a range of tasters. tickets from www.highlandswing.dancecloud.com
1 saturday - 8 saturday royal mail letter to santa last day to post a letter to santa is 8th dec: father christmas, santa's grotto, reindeerland, xm4 5hq. don't forget the stamp!! nairn drama club pantomime: cinderella 7.30pm with a matinee on 2nd at 3pm, little theatre, nairn. call cath stevenson on 01667 258512 or email at cathstevenson442@yahoo.co.uk
1 saturday - 29 saturday
until 31 monday the highlands supports refugees (formerly moray supports refugees) for collection points see facebook page, appeal for warm clothing, toiletries, camping equipment & toys. volunteers, transport & cash donations welcome. www.en-gb.facebook.com/moraycalaid
1 saturday he 'elf on the shelf' hunt 11am - 5pm, the victorian market, inverness. free. all welcome abbamania@the ironworks, inverness, 7.30pm www.ironworksvenue.com inverness ramblers: rothiemurchus - lairig ghru loch morlich 9am, uhi car park, ness walk, inverness grade: b;, distance: 9.9 miles. call di on 01463 221787 or 07895 083137. www.ramblers.org.uk trinity church christmas bazaar 11am - 3pm, trinity church,inverness. usual stalls, cakes, toys, gifts & much more - such as car wash, tombola & santa of course. tea with sandwiches & cakes available christmas bazaar 11am, charleston academy community campus, general booth road, inverness city of inverness pipe band, highland hustle, pound at mbm fitness, louise nelson dancers, carol singing and much more diwali: indian festival of lights 6.30pm, raigmore recreation centre, inverness. booking essential. the highland indian association welcomes all to join us to celebrate diwali. email highlandindian@gmail.com admin@winterburnmedia.co.uk
ezra@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm, all welcome
in the footprints of dinosaurs museum opening hours, inverness museum & art gallery. features models, real footprints from skye, as well as a new highland animation
1 saturday - 24 monday a festival of the handmade gallery opening times, castle gallery, inverness. paintings, original prints, contemporary crafts & jewellery made by artists & designer/makers in scotland. www.castlegallery.co.uk
1 saturday - 4 january lego exhibition - brick history 1000-1515, by artist warren elsmore fort george, ardersier. included in normal admission price. call john gibbon on 01667 460233 or email john.gibbon@hes.scot
2 sunday big fish little fish: intergalactic planetary theme party @the ironworks, inverness, 2pm. rescheduled from 9th sept. www.ironworksvenue.com highland hospitals' carol concert in aid of clic sargent scotland 3pm, drumrossie hotel, inverness ÂŁ14 from the music shop, 49 church street, inverness. all welcome chris suckle@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
3 monday gerry coogan@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
4 tuesday highland astronomical society: annual quiz & q&a session 7.20pm - 10pm, smithton culloden free
tel: 01309 690063
December 2018 - page 15
Bar & Restaurant
Local produce
Stunning panoramic views across the Moray Firth
Open from 10am
Our restaurant menu is designed to meet all our customers’ tastes and trends. We want everyone to leave our restaurant with a lasting memory of the experience they have shared with us. With the seafront on our doorstep we have specialised in creating unique seafood dishes which are available every day. However, we cater to everyone’s tastes and using locally sourced produce also offer a variety of meat and vegetarian dishes too.
Dine in style at Nairn’s multi-award winning restaurant
Harbour Street, Nairn IV12 4PH T: 01667 370 037 E: info@sundancer.uk.com
Dining Review of the Sun Dancer Restaurant HARBOUR STREET, Nairn
First things first. This is a brand new restaurant build with probably the best views of the Moray Firth along this coastline. If there is a better one then I have yet to see it! The Sun Dancer opened in 2016 and over the last two years has been gradually increasing its reputation and popularity. The Summer of 2018 was its busiest period yet with it proving popular with locals and tourists alike. We arrived for dinner at 5pm prompt having parked in the nearby harbour road overlooking a variety of small and bigger fishing vessels which set me thinking of seafood... I hope they have seafood on the menu! The restaurant itself is a lesson in interior design. It is absolutely immaculate, very modern, stylish and yet at the same time very welcoming. We were seated at a window and had the setting sun over the western horizon reflecting yellows, oranges and reds across the Firth. But to the food...
Mussels (white wine, garlic, onion and a slight hint of mustard sauce) were down as a starter so I ordered these without delay – couldn't wait. My dining partner went for the Mushroom (Porcini) Ravioli. The mussels were inspired – cooked to perfection by Head Chef, Pete Sealey. Tender to eat and seeped in that delicious juice. As a great touch the starters came with Artisan French bread (served in a small chef's hat!) which was just right for dipping into the Mussel juice. Similarly, the Mushroom Ravioli were expertly cooked and melt in the mouth delicious, bursting with flavour. A great start but what about the mains?
Panoramic Views
Always a big fan of lamb, I chose the Roast Cannon of Lamb. Our ever helpful and knowledgeable waitress, Laura, explained that the Cannon of Lamb is taken from the loin (the nicest bit), trimmed and then rolled into a cannon shape (hence the name). Again – cooked just right – it was both tender and full of flavour. The best lamb I have had in a long, long time. I really liked the accompanying veg too. Tasty carrot puree, dauphinoise potatoes (cooked perfectly again!) and a brilliant red wine jus. Not a spot left on the plate! My dining companion had the Pan Seared Breast of Duck and she raved about the Plum Sauce and complimentary root vegetables. The duck was cooked to order and arrived just as requested.
Fantastic Meals
After all this it was difficult to imagine where we might fit the anticipated pudding. The menu entices with a mixture of traditional and modern. I went for the flourless chocolate cake (divine and very chocolatey) and my friend opposite me took the modern take on an Apple and Pear Crumble. Both delicious and worth the anticipation. In summary – how was the Sun Dancer? Well – the views are absolutely stunning but the clear winner was the food itself. The chef has a truly magic touch and brought out the best from high quality locally sourced produce. Add to this the exceptional service (Restaurant Manager Ryan was always close at hand) and it was the pure definition of a fantastic evening out. We both recommend you try this gem out – but I would definitely advise booking in advance as we were told that it can get really busy at times! Enjoy (ps – go for the Mussels!!)
church. all welcome. www.spacegazer.com scottish ornithologists' club highland: is the cairngorms national park a “farce run for a tiny minority”?. speaker peter mayhew 7.30pm, culloden library, keppoch road, culloden, inverness. £3 members; £4 non members. call 01463 772539 or 01808 511740 befriending information/training day: the role of volunteer befriending 9.30pm, highland hospice call maria cuthbert on 01463 246470 or email at m.cuthbert@highlandhospice.org.uk andy duncan@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
5 wednesday weihnachtsfeier (christmas celebration) 7.30pm, st. ninian's church hall, culduthel road, inverness. celebrate christmas in the german style, with traditional food & drink, plus carols & readings. call richard baxter on 01463 571372 or email at richbax52@yahoo.com the north kessock & district local history society: the yankie mining squadron; speaker - richard jenner 7.30pm, bowling club, north kessock the burning hell@tooth & claw, inverness, 8pm
6 thursday nairn & district gardening club: agm, gardening quiz & christmas table decoration competition 7.30pm, nairn community & arts centre. call 01667 462410. www.spanglefish.com/nairnanddistrictgardeningclub the arts society highland: a cornucopia of christmas customs; speaker - jane tapley on the origin of several christmas traditions 2.15pm , the free church hall, smithton, inverness. tea, coffee & biscuits served after the lecture. email at info@theartssocietyhighland.org.uk http://www.tasscotlandni.org.uk royal society of edinburgh@inverness: quantum wonderland speaker - prof erika andersson, heriot watt university 7pm - 8pm, the atrium, inverness royal academy. free entry. for p7 to s6 & adults cromarty camera club: making photo cards & how to take pictures of paintings; speaker - andrew dowsett 7.30pm, victoria hall, cromarty. call alistair meldrum on 07802 730565 or email at aawm@btinternet.com kevin fraser@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
6 thursday - 20 thursday spectrum support group room 133 (every thurs) 12pm - 1pm, the guidance team, inverness college, uhi. all welcome
7 friday skerryvore@ the ironworks, inverness, 7.30pm,all welcome. www.ironworksvenue.com scottish ensemble: musica adventus - concerts by candlelight 7.30pm, inverness cathedral. £17; friends discount - £2 off single ticket. all welcome polar express pyjama party 6pm, nairn community page 18 - December 2018
centre. free. watch disney’s the polar express. enjoy hot chocolate, biscuits and prizes. children can wear pyjamas. call shaunda hamilton on 07511 622509 or email at shaundahamilton@att.net pressure: queen vs bowie@ tooth & claw, inverness 9pm, all welcome dingwall & district choral concert: "lest we forget" 7.30pm, strathpeffer pavillion. a commemoration in word & song. tickets from choir members, from junes card shop, dingwall, spa pavilion. call or email call 01997 420124 or events@highlifehighland.com jamm night@mad hatters, inverness, 10pm rant@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
7 friday - 9 sunday eden 2: christmas arts, crafts & food fair in aid of the highland hospice tbc, eden court, inverness. free. over 70 exhibitors - alcoholic beverages, cakes & patisseries, crafted chocolates, unusual cheeses
8 saturday festive family fun day in aid of family mediation highland hosted by innes & mackay solicitors 1pm 3pm, old high church hall, academy street, inverness. various stalls, etc lewis capaldi@the ironworks, inverness tbc. www.ironworksvenue.com nairn literary institute: the work of scottish natural heritage in the highlands; speaker - george hogg 7.30pm, nairn free church, gordon street, nairn. email info@nairnliterary.org.uk. www.nairnliterary.org.uk christmas charity ball in aid of mfr's cash for kids 7pm - 12.59pm, the strathpeffer pavillion. £22.15. dress code for the evening is 1918 - 2018 100 years of dance. dancing with sharks. www.eventbrite.co.uk christmas fayre 12pm - 4pm, dows bar, balloan road, inverness. adult - £5; free for young people. call 01463 418121
8 saturday - 9 sunday christmas art fair & open studios 8th: 10am - 4pm & 9th: 12pm - 4pm, wasps links studios, grant street, nairn. all welcome
9 sunday inverness ramblers: circuit of clunas reservoir 9.30am, uhi car park, ness walk, inverness. grade: c; distance: 6.3 miles. call carol on 01463 239883. www.ramblers.org.uk willie campbell@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm a magical night of christmas carols & songs performed by a variety of talented local choirs, groups & individuals 7pm, inverness town hall
10 monday rsgs lecture: unclimbed summits in antarctica; speaker - stephen venables on climbing in tierra del fuego, the antarctic peninsula & south georgia 7.30pm – 9pm, highland council chamber,
tel: 01309 690063
admin@winterburnmedia.co.uk
glenurquhart road, inverness. £10; students, u18s free; tiso card £8. email rpreece@onetel.com doc livingston@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
on 07802 730565 or email aawm@btinternet.com doc livingston@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
11 tuesday
nick firth with ian hislop & james watson@hootananny, inverness, 9.30pm the shire@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm ezra@mad hatters, inverness, 10pm
highland quilters: christmas meeting 7.30pm, smithton church hall, murray road, inverness. £3 visitors. email highlandquilters@gmail.com andy murray@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
12 wednesday
21 friday
22 saturday the shire@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
the highland rock garden club: 35 years at cawdor castle & auchinoune gardens; speaker - derek hosie 7.30pm, nairn community & arts centre. £4 (incl refreshments). call john owen on 01320 366246 inverness field club: matthew forster heddle; mineralogist & mountaineer. speaker - hamish johnson, highland family history society & greatgreat grandson 7pm, uhi inverness campus
13 thursday cromarty camera club: competition 3- 3 prints; people (internal) 7.30pm, victoria hall, cromarty. call alistair meldrum on 07802 730565 or email at aawm@btinternet.com andy duncan@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
23 sunday inverness ramblers: dochgarroch & the great glen way 10am, sports centre car park, inverness. grade: c+; distance: 8.7 miles. www.ramblers.org.uk stay classy@johnny foxes, inverness, tbc
24 monday andy duncan@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
25 tuesday kevin fraser@johnny foxes, inverness, tbc
26 wednesday ezra@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
27 thursday
14 friday the dolly parton story@the ironworks, inverness, 7.30pm. www.ironworksvenue.com rumours: fleetwood mac playback@ the ironworks, inverness, 9pm. www.ironworksvenue.com kinky karma@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
14 friday - 16 sunday winter wonderland tbc, whin park, bught road, inverness. free. santa with his reindeer arrive to visit the toddlers of inverness, illuminations
15 saturday mark knight@the ironworks, inverness, 10.30pm. www.ironworksvenue.com inverness ramblers: inverfarigaig & foyers 9am, uhi car park, ness walk, inverness. grade: c; distance: 6.2 miles. call john on 07980 836786. www.ramblers.org.uk
red hot chilli pipers@ the ironworks, inverness, 7.30pm. www.ironworksvenue.com davy cowan@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
28 friday manran & the elephant sessions 8pm, strathpeffer pavillion. all welcome illicit dnb end of year party@tooth & claw, inverness 9pm, all welcome drag night@mad hatters, inverness, 9.30pm craig robertson@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
29 friday inverness ramblers: culloden moor & woods 10am, uhi car park, ness walk, inverness. grade: c; distance: 5.6 miles. www.ramblers.org.uk ted christopher@hootananny, inverness, 9.30pm city limits@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
30 sunday
16 sunday
lazy jamb@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
hipsway@the ironworks, inverness. 7pm. www.ironworksvenue.com chris suckle@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
31 monday hogmanay bash with rythmnreel@the ironworks, inverness, tbc. www.ironworksvenue.com bogmanay@bogbain farm 7.30pm, ceilidh then blazin' fiddles red hot highland fling@northern meeting park, inverness, 8pm, free. all welcome kinky karma@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
17 monday gerry coogan@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
18 tuesday caman@johnny foxes, inverness, 10pm
20 thursday cromarty camera club: quiz & social evening 7.30pm, victoria hall, cromarty. call alistair meldrum admin@winterburnmedia.co.uk
tel: 01309 690063
December 2018 - page 19
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WML Survey Half Page.pdf
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READER SURVEY
Spotlight is conducting a survey into what you feel about your monthly magazine. We want to know:
t What you like t What you don’t like t What you would like to see included which isn’t already. In order to contribute your views we would invite you to go to the home page of our websitenwww. spotlighton.co.uk and click on the survey button. Alternatively, if you prefer to just send us an email then please forward your comments to admin@winterburnmedia.com
PaINT AND STENCIL MDF LETTERS FOR PRETTY CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS FILL A BOX FRAME WITH BAUBLES AND ADD VINYL STICKERS
string pine cones on to twine for a simple rustic garland make your own crackers with cardboard tubes and tissue paper
Adult Non Fiction
Blowing the Bloody Doors Off By Michael Caine With over 100 movies to his credit over six decades, Hollywood legend and British national treasure Michael Caine shares the wisdom, stories, insight and skills that life has taught him in his remarkable career - and now his 85th year. A brilliant new insight into his life and work and with his wonderful gift for story, this is Caine at his wise and entertaining best.
Adult Fiction
Macbeth
By Jo Nesbo When a drug bust turns into a bloodbath it's up to Inspector Macbeth and his team to clean up the mess. He's also an ex-drug addict with a troubled past. He's rewarded for his success. Power. Money. Respect. Plagued by hallucinations and paranoia, Macbeth starts to unravel. He's convinced he won't get what is rightfully his. Unless he kills for it.
Adult Non Fiction Adult Fiction
The Tattooist of Auschwitz By Heather Morris When Lale Sokolov arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau he was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival - scratching numbers into his fellow victims' arms in indelible ink. Waiting in line to be tattooed, terrified and shaking, was a young girl. For Lale - a dandy, a jack-the-lad, a bit of a chancer - it was love at first sight. And he was determined not only to survive himself, but to ensure this woman, Gita, did, too. So begins the love story of the tattooist of Auschwitz.
Junior Fiction
There’s a Yeti in the Playground! By Pamela Butchart Izzy and friends are excited! The snow is falling fast and they're hoping they'll all be sent home early. But then they hear weird noises in the playground, and find a big footprint in the snow... And that's when they know! There's a YETI in the playground and it's HUNGRY!
Have you Eaten Grandma? By Gyles Brandreth A definitive (and hilarious) guide to punctuation, spelling, and good English for the twenty-first century. Without hesitation or repetition (and just a touch of deviation) Gyles skewers the linguistic horrors of our time, tells us where we've been going wrong (and why), and reveals his tips and tricks to ensure that, in future, we make fewer (rather than 'less') mistakes.
Junior Fiction
The Tales of Beedle the Bard By JK Rowling A favourite bedtime read in wizarding households for generations. Full of magic and trickery, these classic tales both entertain and instruct, and remain as captivating to young wizards today as they were when Beedle first put quill to parchment in the fifteenth century. Translated by Hermione Granger the collection includes: 'The Tale of the Three Brothers' – which Harry Potter fans will know from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - 'The Fountain of Fair Fortune' and 'The Warlock's Hairy Heart' amongst others. Published in aid of the Lumos, a charity dedicated to ending the institutionalisation of children.
118 High Street, FORRES IV36 1NP
Chocolate and Orange Christmas Pudding This recipe for Christmas pudding includes the popular flavour combination of chocolate orange. A Sure-fire Festive Hit!
Ingredients: 100g raisins 100g sultanas 1 orange, zested 2 eggs 50g plain flour 100g frozen raspberries, defrosted 100g frozen cherries, defrosted and chopped roughly
1 pear 100ml brandy 100g dark chocolate 100g unsalted butter 100g dark soft brown sugar 1 tsp mixed spice 1 tbsp cocoa powder 50g fresh breadcrumbs
Method: 1. Peel and grate the pear and place in a microwave safe bowl with the raspberries, orange zest, cherries, sultanas, raisins and brandy. Heat for 2-3 minutes then leave to stand and allow the fruit to absorb the brandy. 2. Grate or chop the chocolate and stir into the warm fruit with the butter. The fruit should still be hot enough to melt the chocolate, if not, give it a further minute in the microwave making sure not to burn the chocolate. 3. Grease a 1 litre pudding bowl with a little butter. 4. Lay two sheets of tinfoil over each other and grease the top one. Hold them together, fold a pleat across the middle of the tinfoil and set aside, this will form the lid while the pudding is steaming. 5. Beat the eggs together. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, sugar and mixed spice onto the cooled fruit and chocolate mixture, then add the breadcrumbs and eggs and mix until well combined. A sturdy spatula or wooden spoon does the job nicely. 6. Transfer the mixture into the greased pudding bowl and cover with the pre greased tinfoil lid (greased side down). Tie a length of string around the lip of the bowl to keep the tinfoil in place. Tuck the tinfoil so as to keep the water from getting into the pudding whilst it cooks. 7. In a large pan, place a smaller heatproof bowl to sit the pudding on while it cooks, and pour enough boiling water so as to reach about half way up the pudding bowl and leave to simmer with a lid on the pan for about 2 hours. Use a skewer to test if the pudding is cooked straight through the foil. Allow an extra 15-20 minutes if the skewer comes out wet. 8. Once cooled the pudding can be kept for up to 2 months wrapped up in the foil. Microwave for 5 minutes to reheat and serve with cream or ice cream.
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Put your Christmas tree in an old duvet cover when you’re transporting it home and keep it on when you carry it into your house no needles in your car or on the path from the front door. Do the same thing when you’re removing the tree after Christmas and you can get it out of the house with the minimum of mess.
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Make mulled wine or mulled cider in the slow cooker. That way, you are greeted by the most welcoming and festive aromas on walking through the door after work. An instant cure for any chilly or busy commute home and gets you straight back into the festive spirit.
3.
Do the 'squint test' on the lights on the Christmas tree. Once you have the lights on the tree, turn the rest of the lights in the room off, stand back and squint at the tree. You can then see any bare spaces so you can rearrange the lights for maximum coverage before you add the decorations.
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Put the roll of wrapping paper on the top of a double radiator - it's the perfect dispenser.
To easily remove sticky price labels off gift bags without breaking your nails or destroying the gift, use a hairdryer to heat up the glue and peel the labels off easily.
Always win at Christmas crackers. If you never get your hands on that covetable key ring bottle opener, here’s what to do. Hold your end of the cracker lower, so it tilts towards you, and go for a slow, controlled pull, with minimum twisting.
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Homemade mincemeat is much tastier than shop-bought, but not everybody has time. Buy the best supermarket jar, then add extra brandy and a handful of luxurious fruits, such as dried cherries or figs. Accept compliments graciously.
If your tree is looking thin, there is no need to splash out on a new one. Simply buy some dark-green tinsel (as close to the colour of the needles as you can find) and twist it around the tree to give the impression of fuller branches. Or for the ultimate DIY decoration use a cream feather boa instead of tinsel - it looks like snow!
Many a parent has tried to “post” their child’s letter to Father Christmas up the chimney, only to find the missive refuses to budge – to the distress of the little ones. Crack open a door or window to create a draught and the missive should fly up with no trouble. And if you haven’t got a chimney? Post the letter to Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ by December 6, and the Royal Mail will send your child back a personalised reply, free of charge.
P u zz l e P a g e
Medium Easy
Answers will be printed in the next issue of Spotlight
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The Garden TOM ANGEL IS A LANDSCAPE CONSULTANT AND GARDEN
AVIEMORE. HIS ANGEL HORTICULTURE
DESIGNER BASED IN BUSINESS
LTD OFFERS CONSULTANCY AND DESIGN SERVICES TO CLIENTS ALL
SCOTLAND. TOM ALSO ‘THE MOUNTAIN GARDENER’ WHICH YOU WILL FIND AT WWW.ANGELHORT.COM OVER
WRITES A BLOG AS
S
itting next to the fire as I write this, with a steaming cup of coffee on the table and the dog curled up next to me, I am reminded about why I ended up living in the highlands. A day out enjoying the autumnal colours, followed by cosy evenings spent indoors make for a pretty unbeatable mix. The beautiful autumn display this year was never going to last too long, the trees and plants have had a stressful summer with the lack of rain, so will have been keen to shrug off their leaves at the first sign of frost. The Birch trees that I can see beyond my garden fence are looking increasingly sparse, and are starting to take on that magical monochromatic sheen unique to Birch woodlands in the winter. There are jobs to do in the garden, not only to put the garden to bed for the winter, but to keep it looking interesting from the warmth of the house. Once the remainder of the leaves are down, I will use my lawnmower to collect them from the lawn before putting them in bin bags to create a nice leaf mulch for next year. If you put too many leaves in your compost it will make it too carbon-heavy, but a good well-rotted leaf mulch creates a reliable soil conditioner for use next year.
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In the flowerbeds I will be raking the leaves out, and paying special attention to clearing the leaves from the base of plants where they can cause fungal infections to build up. There are plants to divide, plants to mulch, and some lawn repairs to do too. My shed’s green roof which has been looking very sorry this year will get some running repairs as well. Plants with spent seed-heads will be cut back if they are looking messy, and others I will leave to catch morning frosts and add some interest to the garden. I have some great projects on the go at the moment too. One that has recently come to completion was a tricky planting plan for a boggy bed that is both exposed and shaded – a perfect storm of difficulties! Careful selection of plants will reward us with a long-lasting and robust display next year and for years to come. Autumn and winter are the best time of year for planning and undertaking garden projects, and the absolute best time for planting bare root hedges and trees. Keep thinking about your garden through the winter and you can reward yourself with some magical results come spring time! To find out more about what I am up to you will find me as The Mountain Gardener™ on Instagram or on my blog which you will find at www.angelhort.com.
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Can I find forgiveness and peace? The Bible has the answer Jesus said 'Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.' (Matthew 24.35, the Bible)
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A History of
Festive Traditions Why Mince Pies?
Mince Pies, like Christmas Puddings, were originally filled with meat, such as lamb, rather than the dried fruits and spices mix as they are today. They were also first made in an oval shape to represent the manger that Jesus slept in as a baby, with the top representing his swaddling clothes. Sometimes they even had a 'pastry baby Jesus' on the top! During the Stuart and Georgian times, in the UK, mince pies were a status symbol at Christmas. Very rich people liked to show off at their Christmas parties by having pies made is different shapes (like stars, crescents, hearts, tears, & flowers); the fancy shaped pies could often fit together a bit like a jigsaw! They also looked like the 'knot gardens' that were popular during those periods. Having pies like this meant you were rich and could afford to employ the best and most expensive, pastry cooks. Now they are normally made in a round shape and are eaten hot or cold.
Why Christmas Trees?
Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition (as we now recognise it) in the 16th Century, when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. When did it start in the UK? German-born Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, is usually credited with popularising the Christmas tree in Britain in the 1840s and 1850s. A drawing of the Royal Family celebrating around a decorated Christmas tree in Windsor was published in 1848 by the Illustrated London News and the custom was eventually taken up by the masses.
Why Christmas Crackers?
Christmas crackers are a traditional Christmas favourite in the UK. They were first made in about 1845-1850 by a London sweet maker called Tom Smith. He had seen the French 'bon bon' sweets (almonds wrapped in pretty paper). He came back to London and tried selling sweets like that in England and also included a small motto or riddle in with the sweet. But they didn't sell very well. Legend says that, one night, while he was sitting in front of his log fire, he became very interested by the sparks and cracks coming from the fire. Suddenly, he thought what a fun idea it would be, if his sweets and toys could be opened with a crack when their fancy wrappers were pulled in half. Crackers were originally called 'cosaques' and were thought to be named after the 'Cossack' soldiers who had a reputation for riding on their horses and firing guns into the air! When Tom died, his expanding cracker business was taken over by his three sons, Tom, Walter and Henry. Walter introduced the hats into crackers and he also traveled around the world looking for new ideas for gifts to put in the crackers. The company built up a big range of 'themed' crackers. There were ones for bachelors and spinsters (single men and women), where the gifts were things like false teeth and wedding rings! There were also crackers for Suffragettes (women who campaigned to get women the vote), war heroes and even Charlie Chaplain! Crackers were also made for special occasions like Coronations. The British Royal Family still has special crackers made for them today! Very expensive crackers were made such as the 'Millionaire's Crackers' which contained a solid silver box with a piece of gold and silver jewerly inside it! Cracker manufacturers also made large displays, such as horse drawn carriages and sleighs, for the big shops in London. The world's longest Christmas cracker measured 63.1m (207ft) long and 4m (13ft) in diameter and was made by the parents of children at Ley Hill School and Pre-School, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, UK on 20 December 2001. Now that would be one big bang! The biggest Christmas cracker pull was done by 1,478 people at an event organised by Honda Japan at Tochigi Proving Ground, Tochigi, Japan, on 18 October 2009. Now that would be a lot of bangs!
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