SpotLight on Inverness & District October 2013

OCTOBER 2013

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CLUBS & SOCIETIES BEFRIENDERS HIGHLAND Voluntary organisation, coordinating friendships between volunteers and people who have mental health problems & feel lonely or isolated. Email info@ befriendershighland.org.uk or call 01463 712791. Visit the website www.befriendershighland.org.uk CAKE WALK & STORY GROUP Regular walks for all ages. For more details call Guy on 07724 992790 / www.guyandjocelyn.org CHANONRY SAILING CLUB Provides a safe & fun environment for people to come together and sail. The Harbour, Fortrose, tel: 01381 621973 www.chanonry.org.uk CLACHNACUDDIN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FC Tel: 791458. drew@tesco.net or visit www.clach-youth.info 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.

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page 2 - October 2013

FORUM FOR MEN Every Wednesday, 8pm at Macnabs Bar. Social group for gay & bi and T-men. Look for the red post box! for details email morgan@tramstop.org or text / call 07745 930383 FAMILIES ANONYMOUS For families & friends of alcoholics. We respect anonymity and confidentiality. Newcomers are welcome without prior arrangements. Meet every Thursday night. Call Denise for more details on 07983 001962.

Helpline number: 0845 1200 660.

HIGHLAND ITALIAN CIRCLE 3rd friday of the month 7.45pm from October to March. Visit: www.highlanditaliancircle.co.uk INVERNESS TENNIS Bishop’s Road, Inverness, tel: 230751 or email: itsc.information@googlemail.com or visit www.itscnews.com INVERNESS TENNIS & SQUASH CLUB Call 230751 or email: info@ invernesstennisandsquash.org Alternately you can visit us at www.invernesstennisandsquash.org LGBT YOUTH SCOTLAND Youth group every Tuesday 7pm9pm at The Bike Shed, Grant Street, Inverness. Email: kim.haines@lgbtyouth.org.uk MEDITATION CLASSES Mondays 6.30pm at Millburn Academy, Diriebught Road, Inverness. £5 (£4 conc.). Call 0141 334 1334 or visit www.meditateinglasgow.org All welcome.

PINK CASTLE PHILOSOPHY CLUB 2nd Tuesday of the month. Fun & sociable chat with meaning for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender community. Visit the website www.pinkcastle.eu or tel: 07745 930383 PLANEFIELD BOWLING CLUB Open to visitors Mon - Sat from 2pm - 5pm. Members can play from 11am onwards most days of the week. Contact Mrs Gillian Farquhar 07752 300367

INVERNESS SEA CADETS Tues and Thursday evenings, 7.15pm-9.30pm, tel: 226069 RELATIONSHIP COUNSELLING HIGHLAND Confidential relationship counselling service in Inverness for anyone experiencing problems in their intimate, personal relationship. Call 712888, or email viewplaceapts@yahoo.co.uk www.counsellinghighland.org RESOLIS BABY & TODDLER GROUP Meets Fridays 10am-11:45am at Resolis Memorial Hall, Black Isle, all year round. All parents/ grandparents/carers welcome with children from birth to 3 years old, local and outwith the area. Call Lili on 07851 083880.

Find us on Facebook or email resolistoddlers@hotmail.co.uk MERKINCH MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB Regular monthly trips, ages 12 to adult. Call 07879 443979 or email: ewanharper@yahoo.co.uk ROSS AND CROMARTY ADVANCED MOTORISTS To improve the standard of driving on our roads. Associates may enrol throughout the year. www.rossandcromarty-iam.org SALVATION ARMY COFFEE MORNING Tuesdays 10am -12noon.

Salvation Army Hall, Tomnahurich Street, Inverness.

All welcome. No charge. Tel: 225276 SALTIRE SOCIETY HIGHLAND BRANCH Meets Saturday mornings in Inverness for talks on a wide range of Scottish topics. St Andrews Day celebrations, Burns lunch and summer outing.

Call Alan Niven on 01667 459449 or email: alan.niven@hotmail.com

SOUNDS FAMILIAR SINGING GROUP Meets 1st & 3rd Tuesday every month at 2:30pm - 4pm in the Craigmonie Hotel, Annfield Rd, Inverness. For people with dementia & their carers. For details call 01463 233231 or 01463 230803 or email soundsfamiliarmusic@aol.com STARLIGHT MUSICAL THEATRE New amateur musical theatre group. For more information email starlightmusicaltheatre@ live.co.uk with your details.

STITCH THREAD AND BEYOND 2nd Wednesday every month, Community Room, Culloden Community Centre. To promote the Art of Embroidery & related Crafts in the Highlands. Call Kate MacKenzie 01463 790924 THE CLAN DONALD SOCIETY OF THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS For details call the Membership Secretary on tel 01381 620121 email: contact@clandonald.org or visit www.clandonald.org SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING IN INVERNESS Beginners: Crown Church Hall on Mondays 7.30pm -9.30 pm.

General class: St Mary's Hall, Huntley Street on Thursdays 8.15pm-10.15pm. All welcome.

Tel: 01463 235384.

PLEASE NOTE: Details of Clubs & Societies are published on a rotational basis.

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 in every issue.

T-EXCHANGE MAKERSPACE Make things, build things and exchange ideas. Third Friday of every month 7:30pm at Findhorn Village Centre. Details on www.t-exchange.net or contact Bill on 07925 551191.

tel: 01309 690063

admin@spotlighton.co.uk

3 Critical Features to demand from Your New Vet...

Moving to a new area is a challenging process for your family, your pet will be stressed by the process as well. At Moray Coast Vet Group we want you to know that we are here to help you and your pets settle into the area.

Why would you use us? Well it’s simple really, we have been vets in this area for a very long time and can offer your pet the following 3 critical benefits: to a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Accredited Practice, Access meaning your pet will be treated to the highest standards. convenient surgery locations making it easy to get to us Four day and night. and well equipped surgeries meaning we can treat all routine Modern conditions without the need to refer your pet.

So all you need to do now, for peace of mind for you and your pet, is call us to say ‘hello’ and we will do all that is necessary to register your pet with our practice. Oh, and we will call your old vet to request your pet’s existing notes, so we can be familiar with everything we need to know.

Now that is peace of mind for your pet.

Call us now on: CARING FOR YOUR COMPANIONS

Forres Surgery (main branch) 01309 672243 Nairn Surgery 01667 453161 Lossiemouth Surgery 01343 815335 Balloch Surgery 01463 794224 24 HOUR EMERGENCY NUMBER 01309 672243 www.moraycoastvetgroup.co.uk

INVERNESS LANGUAGE CENTRE CLASSES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and ESOL. And not just languages! Check out our Art and Creative Writing workshops!

WE ALSO HAVE A LARGE PRIVATE TUITION SERVICE All subjects from Algebra to Zoology, for all ages and stages.

Winter Highers: if you’re working towards Highers next May, ask about our small-group classes to support your studies.

Learn Spanish! All levels and all ages; groups or 1:1 T: 07899 006493 www.thespanishnet.com

94 Academy Street, Inverness: near bus/rail & car parks

01463 71 61 51 www.mftcollege.co.uk

© Terry Harvey

PASTORAL LETTER & CHURCH MEETINGS I'm a town boy. So it might surprise you to know that one of my favourite times in the year has always been round about this time, when we celebrate Harvest Thanksgiving in church. We had one or two farmers who lived nearby, who'd bring a sheaf of corn or a bag of potatoes to the church. And the rest brought food as well - perhaps something from the garden, but usually something from the shop - a tin of beans, a packet of peas, a box of cornflakes. It would all be piled up on the Communion Table, a colourful and meaningful spectacle even for a wee boy.

The Bible tells of just such a festival in ancient Israel: 'each of you must place in a basket the first part of each crop that you harvest and you must take it with you to the one place of worship... set the basket down in the Lord's presence and worship there. Be grateful for the good things that the Lord your God has given you and your family' (Deuteronomy 26.2,10-11).

Our forebears lived closer to the land than many of us do today. They realised better than we that a successful harvest was a time for celebration and for thanking God. As the popular harvest hymn puts it, God 'We plough the fields and scatter the good

seed on the land, but it is fed and watered

by God's almighty hand'.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray, 'give us this day our daily bread' (Matthew 6.11).

It's a prayer for just enough, and no more.

Many of us, however, have much more than we need, even as others scrape by.

And the food we eat is often produced by hard-working farmers, at home and abroad who, for various reasons, do not receive a fair reward for their produce.

In my city church in Inverness, we bring Harvest Thanksgiving up-to-date. Just as the ancient Israelites did, people bring an offering of food as a symbolic thankoffering to God. But the offering we bring now is cans and boxes of non-perishable food for the Highland Foodbank, run by Christian charity Blythswood Care (www.blythswood.org). Record numbers of people are having to turn to foodbanks because they have nowhere else to go a dreadful indictment of our society. By giving our harvest gifts to the foodbank, our worship becomes practical help for the neediest in our region.

And we also make a connection with those who live further away. Harvest Thanksgiving is a time when many churches highlight the work of

Ardersier with Petty Parish Church, Church of Scotland Ardersier Sundays 10.15am. Petty Sundays 12 noon. Tel: 01667 462224.

Avoch Congregational Church High Street, Avoch. Sundays 11.30am.

Refreshments afterwards. www.avochcongregationalchurch.co.uk Black Isle Charge Episcopal Churches 1 Deans Road, Fortrose.

Tel: 01381 622241.

Cale House, Church of Scotland Millburn Road, Inverness.

Tel: 01463 718616.

Christian Group in Inverness Call 07724 992790 or visit www.christian-group-inverness.org CityLife Church Mercure Hotel, Church Street, Inverness. Sundays 10:30am. Tel: 01463 714839. Email: info@citylifechurch.org.uk.

Website: www.citylifechurch.org.uk Culduthel Christian Centre Culduthel Avenue, IV2 6AS. Sunday family service at 11am and evening service at 6pm. Phone 01463 222795. Minister: Rev Bill Slack. All welcome.

Culloden Baptist Church Culloden Academy. Sundays 10.30am. Tel: 01463 794005. Email: culloden.baptist@btconnect.com. Website: www.cullodenbaptistchurch.org.uk Barn Church of Scotland Culloden. Sundays 10.30am. First and third Sundays of the month 6.30pm service. www.barnchurch.org.uk Croy & Dalcross Parish Church Church of Scotland 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 and 6.30pm. Tel: 01463 232439.

Dingwall Baptist Church Tulloch Street, Dingwall. www.dbc.org.uk Dingwall Castle Street Church of Scotland www.dingwall-church.co.uk

page 4 - October 2013

agencies such as Christian Aid (www.christianaid.org.uk), who work to change the lives of the poorest people around the world. This year, Christian Aid is highlighting the plight of Brazil nut farmers in the Amazon rainforest, who are threatened by logging and mining companies. Their story is a reminder to us that life is precarious for many of those produce the food we take for granted.

Jesus, with his genius for an apt metaphor, once said, 'I am the bread of life' (John 6.35). Food is basic to life, as Christ is basic to Christian faith. Our faith encourages us to face up to injustice, and do something about it. Harvest Thanksgiving is a powerful reminder of our dependence on God, and on God's longing for a fairer world. Why not give thanks at your local church this year?

Perhaps you'll discover the bread of life!

Rev Peter W Nimmo BD ThM Old High St Stephen's Church of Scotland, Inverness www.oldhighststephens.com

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. Website: www.stjames-stannes.org.uk Dingwall Free Church High Street. Sundays 11am and 6pm. Website: www.deep-river.co.uk Dores Fcc Reformed Church, Psalm Singing - New Building B862 towards Fort William, near village centre. Sundays 11am (With Children's Program) & 6.30pm, Wednesdays 7.30pm. 01463 709729 www.dores-church.org.uk - Email: davideratti@fccontinuing.org - All Welcome - Translation Provided In Italian, French, Spanish.

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 Grace Community Church Inshes Primary School. Sundays 10.30am.

Email: thenewseed@yahoo.com Highland International Church Palace Hotel, 8 Ness Walk, Inverness, IV3 5NG. Sundays 11am. www.hicinverness.org.uk Hilton, Church of Scotland Tomatin Road, Inverness. Tel: 01463 233310. Website: www.hiltonchurch.org.uk Listed from A to H and regularly rotated. If you are a member of a church not listed here and would like to be considered for inclusion or if there are any amendments to be made to existing details, email tamsyn@spotlighton.co.uk

tel: 01309 690063

admin@spotlighton.co.uk

LOGIE STEADING

The Editor

As summer draws to a close I think we can generally rejoice in the better than average weather that we have had over the last few months. I understand that during July and August we were often 2 or 3 degrees above average and sometimes as much as 9 degrees above. Perhaps we should be thinking of renaming ourselves the Northern Riviera!

: !

! "

PUBLISHER ..............David Nelmes SALES ..........................Peter Evans ACCOUNTS ...................Wendy Day DESIGN .................Alistair Davidson LAYOUT .................Tamsyn Dickson

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FREE NHS EYE TEST IN YOUR OWN HOME If you are housebound and find it difficult to go to a High Street practice, then you qualify for a Free Eye Examination in your own home

McCLINTOCK’S HOME EYECARE OPTICIANS

use the latest modern and portable equipment to provide you with a full professional and comprehensive eye examination We also supply spectacles when required

For further details, please telephone us now (01309) 673635 Housden Opticians, 1 St Leonards Road, Forres

USEFUL INFORMATION Local & Bank Holidays and Special Days Local Holiday ‡ Mon 7th Oct 2013 British Summertime Ends Sun 27th Oct 2013 Local Holiday ‡ Mon 4th Nov 2013 Guy Fawkes Day Tues 5th Nov 2013 St Andrew’s Day Sat 30th Nov 2014 Christmas Day Wed 25th Dec 2013 Boxing Day Thurs 26th Dec 2013 New Year’s Eve Tues 31st Dec 2013

New Year’s Day Scottish Bank Holiday Chinese New Year Local Holiday ‡ Valentine’s Day Local Holiday ‡ Mother’s Day ‡ Inverness

Wed 1st Jan 2014 Thurs 2nd Jan 2014 Fri 31st Jan 2014 Mon 3rd Feb 2014 Fri 14th Feb 2014 Mon 3rd Mar 2014 Sun 30th Mar 2014

School Term Dates for 2013/2014 (all dates inclusive) Autumn Term Starts Tues 20th Aug 2013 Autumn Term Ends Fri 4th Oct 2013 Regional Closure Mon 21st Oct 2013 Winter Term Starts Tues 22nd Oct 2013 Winter Term Ends Fri 20th Dec 2013 Spring Term Starts Mon 6th Jan 2014 Holiday Closure Mon 17th Feb 2014 Holiday Closure Tues 18th Feb 2014

Regional Closure Regional Closure Regional Closure Spring Term Ends Good Friday Holiday Easter Monday Holiday Summer Term Starts May Day Holiday Summer Term Ends

Wed 19th Feb 2014 Thurs 20th Feb 2014 Fri 21st Feb 2014 Fri 4th Apr 2014 Fri 18th Apr 2014 Mon 21st Apr 2014 Tues 22nd Apr 2014 Mon 5th May 2014 Thurs 3rd Jul 2014

Useful Contacts 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 Dalcross Airport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01667 464000 Fortrose Community Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01381 622235 Highland Council. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01349 886606 Inshes Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 725928 Inverness Leisure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 667500 Inverness Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 236463 National Rail Enquires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08457 484950 Police Station. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

VILLAGE HALLS & COMMUNITY CENTRES Abriachan Village Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 861257 Ardersier Old School Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01667 462658 Balloch Community Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07955 756310 Cameron Youth Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 234785 Cannich Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01456 459224 Culduthel Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 712844 Farr Community Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01808 521346 Floral Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 713553 Kiltarlity Community Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 741447 Kirkhill Community Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 831737 Merkinch Community Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 239563 Phipps Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 782930 Smithton-Culloden Youth Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 793284 The Green Hall, Smithton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07977 852083 Spectrum Centre & Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 221842 Stratherrick Public Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01456 486350 Strathnairn Hall (Daviot) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 772228

page 6 - October 2013

VETS Crown Vets (Argyle St) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 237000 Crown Vets (Carsegate Rd Sth) . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 712202 Culloden Veterinary Clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 793700 Eastgate Veterinary Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 230893 Fish Vet Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 717774 Inshes Veterinary Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 711777 Kessock Equine Veterinary Clinic . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 731107 Moray Coast Vet Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 794224

DENTISTS 21 Kingsmills Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 233416 Abban Street Dental Clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 718140 Academy Dental Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 232423 Burnfield Dental Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 241515 Black Isle Dental Stu dio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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 Inshes Dental Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 794949 Inverness Dental Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 255866 Ness Bank Dental Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 236295 Riverside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 226358 Southside Surgical Dentistry Centre . . . . . . . . . 01463 710760 Southside Dental Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 710760 Torwood Dental Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 712772 Dental Helpline 0845 6442271 Useful numbers are rotated on a regular basis. To add a contact or if there are any amendments to be made to existing details, email tamsyn@spotlighton.co.uk

tel: 01309 690063

admin@spotlighton.co.uk

Outdoor catering to suit all your requirements

Weddings Festivals Corporate

CATERING .co.uk

Prep Catering are an outside catering company based near Inverness. Our approach is to give you something unique and to apply out of the box thinking. After all, we get as excited as you!!

Prep believes in serving great food, great service and providing great hospitality. We can deliver many different styles of food that are highlighted in full on our website at: www.prepcatering.co.uk.

We are very passionate about what we do and will strive at all times to deliver the experience that is required by you, the client and your guests.

Prep Catering Ltd c/o Brockie’s Lodge Hotel, Kiltarlity, By Beauly, Inverness-shire IV4 7HW. info@prepcatering.co.uk www.prepcatering.co.uk Tel 01463 741257

2013 CHRISTMAS OPENING AT M&C 116THPMO- CTOBER 9PM At our late-night opening there’s a whopping

10 YEAR CELEBRATION SAT 12TH & SUN 13TH OCTOBER Super all day festive promotions and sizzling BBQ for all the Family

10% OFF ALL CHRISTMAS & GIFT ITEMS Go on, make a night of it- and remember the bargains begin at 6pm.

Check-out our website for more detail.

...AND THE COFFEE SHOP IS OPEN TOO!

Scottish freshness from local suppliers

Due to popular demand we are preparing some of our ‘Home Bake’ to buy and take away.

And together with our BBQ and unbeatable Christmas offers, we hope you can join us for our birthday celebrations.

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M&C

...a

nd M&C M C M&C M&C M &C M&C YEARS M&C M C M&C M&C M M&C

01309 696940

MACKENZIE & CRUICKSHANK 1 West Road, Forres IV36 2GW

M&C

www.mackenzie-cruickshank.com

01309 696940

PARLIAMENT BLOG & TIDE TIMES The tourist summer season has been excellent for many parts of Scotland, thanks in part to the marvellous weather that we have enjoyed. But, some in the sector do not get the credit they deserve. One such group is those who run and work in caravan and holiday home parks. As tourism minister, I am highlighting the good job they do. In Grantown on Spey, for example, the park is host to several hundred of visitors over the summer. These visitors will of course frequent local attractions, spend in local shops, and enjoy a wee refreshment or two in local hostelries. In fact, there are probably more visitors to most parks than all but the largest hotels in the North.

Recently the UK Government proposed a new charge of VAT at 20% on caravans - a measure which would have decimated this important sector. I brought together a meeting of park owners and related businesses from throughout Scotland and put their views in to the UK Government. Others south of the border lobbied too, and this new tax measure, fortunately, was dropped. But having removed this threat, we should now celebrate the successes and contributions made by these parks - which we have perhaps taken for granted for too long.

As a Highland MP, I believe that one of the most remarkable characteristics of our region is the strength of its communities.

More often than not, communities are much better at making decisions on local issues than national governments - and that is true no more than here in the Highlands.

Earlier this month I was delighted to announce an increase in budget for the Coastal Communities Fund. By delivering funds directly from the Crown Estate to seaside towns and villages, I believe we can help communities create thousands of jobs and build stronger economies. We also announced that â‚Ź172m of EU funds would be allocated to Highlands and Islands as an important new source of finance to stimulate local growth and jobs. Despite a real terms cut to the EU budget, the Highlands will benefit from the full funding package.

The Highland Council also see the benefits of this approach, and they are working hard to create Area Communities that are efficient and community led.

As one of the fastest growing regions in the UK, I am very proud of the hard work of Highlanders to strengthen our communities.

Danny Alexander MP

LOW TIDE TIMES FOR INVERNESS IN OCTOBER Walking on the beach should be possible 2 hours either side of these times 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

TU W TH F SA SU M

AM 04:37 05:13 05:50 06:30 07:10 07:49 08:28

PM 16:56 17:27 18:02 18:41 19:19 19:58 20:37

Beauty Therapy Trainer

www.beautytherapytrainer.co.uk www.facebook.com/beautytherapytrainer

page 8 - October 2013

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

TU W TH F SA SU M TU W TH F SA

Fergus Ewing MSP

AM 09:07 09:47 10:28 11:22 01:27 03:05 04:16 05:12 06:00 06:41 07:14

PM 21:16 21:58 22:52 23:59 12:34 14:24 15:43 16:42 17:32 18:14 18:51 19:24

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

SU M TU W TH F SA SU M TU W TH

AM 07:44 08:11 08:34 08:43 08:52 09:24 10:10 10:18 01:02 02:02 02:48 03:29

PM 19:55 20:27 20:58 21:23 21:31 22:11 23:25 13:41 14:40 15:22 15:59

Accredited, fast track, accessible, Beauty/ Holistic Therapy courses held at local venues.

For more information:

07774 329217 tel: 01309 690063

admin@spotlighton.co.uk

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR AN ELECTRICIAN? WHY NOT TRY OUR ELECTRICAL DIVISION FOR A FREE QUOTE. FOR 10% OFF, JUST MENTION SPOTLIGHT

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WITH EVERY CONSERVATORY ORDERED A conservatory built to your specification and designed with you in mind ˜ 1/(146#$.' #0& 52#%+175 ˜ #4+'6; 1( 56;.'5 #0& (+0+5*'5 ˜ 7.. '5+)0X .#00+0) n 7+.&+0) #44#06 ˜ 7+.6 61 .#56 #0& 24#%6+%#..; /#+06'0#0%'g(4'' ˜ GI// 1.;%#4$10#6' 11(f .#55 11( #5'& 10 G:GTI/

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review

La Taverna

“...a wonderful dining out experience for the whole family.�

With spectacular mountain views, in the town of Aviemore, La Taverna is a family run Italian Restaurant, Bar and Takeaway that has remained so for 36 years.

The bar boasts a fine selection of beverages including imported Italian lager on tap, local beers and Italian liqueurs. However you'd be hard pushed not to be seduced by the aromas coming from the kitchen and enjoy the cuisine. The restaurant seats 135 but still manages to keep a cosy and intimate atmosphere with good spacing between the tables.

At the heart of the kitchen are pizza ovens imported directly from Naples, as is the flour for the dough and the tomato for the topping, giving a taste of total authenticity. Along with the bold Italian decor throughout you could be forgiven for thinking you were staring out at Vesuvius and not the Cairngorms.

Pizza features largely on the menu with toppings of all varieties, from vegetarian to seafood (you'd be foolish not to try them) but it boasts so much more. Great selections of anti-pasti, starters, pasta dishes and full main courses are also available. For those hard pushed to choose there is an "all-you-can-eat" buffet option, for children and adults, where you can enjoy unlimited trips to feast on a mouthwatering assortment of pasta dishes, pizzas, salads and a delectable selection of desserts, including homemade ice cream - a delight for the eyes as well as the belly and all for a very reasonable price too!

We kicked things off with anti-pasti. Garnishes of parma ham, salami and mortadella amidst a delicious array of chargrilled courgettes, mixed peppers, artichokes and sun blushed tomatoes, with mozzarella and olives thrown in for good measure, all served with crusty bread and a balsamic dip. Perfectly portioned and absolutely delicious the taste buds were definitely tickled and ready for the feast to follow.

To experience as much variety as possible we decided on the buffet for our main meal and nothing disappointed, enticing us back to reload our plates several times.

We could not resist sampling some of the heavenly desserts from the menu The panna cotta came laiden with fruits of the forest and was absolute perfection. The affogatto al caffe comprised of ice cream (homemade) with a shot each of amaretto and espresso which all combined magically to finish things off with a bang.

The service throughout was first class making it a wonderful dining out experience for the whole family. However, if you prefer to enjoy the fare in the comfort of your own home, a takeaway menu is also available. All in all, a brilliant night out with superb food and great atmosphere all in the heart of the beautiful Cairngorm National Park.

La Taverna Grampian Rd Aviemore, Invernessshire PH22 1PT 01479 810683

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M OR E S B R E A K LE B A L I A AV easy to call • easy to click • easy to go K TO BOOE N I L ONLY SCOTTISH COMPANY LIKE US OPEN ‘TIL 9PM! ON HE & ON T E N PHO All offers include evening meal and breakfast unless otherwise stated.

Hotels with include leisure facilities. BB = bed & breakfast.

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2 nights (Thur-Sat)

MONTROSE

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October & November 3 nights (Thur-Sat)

£109

£149

2 nights (Sun-Thur)

October & November 2 nights (Fri arrival)

£106

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October & November 2 nights

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CRIEFF

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Crieff Hydro

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November (Sun-Thur)

2 nights

£100

£126

£99.50 BB

Includes dinner on first evening of your stay

2 nights (Sun-Thur)

October & November

£89

2 nights (Fri arrival)

£99

Includes a bottle of wine on first evening of your stay

Call 08430

55 44 33 or book online at www.easy-breaks.com Open 7 days 9am to 9pm Terms and conditions: All rates are per person, per break based on two guests sharing a double or twin room and include dinner, bed and breakfast unless otherwise stated, please check for family and single room rates and availability. All reservations must be pre-paid at time of booking by credit or debit card and an administration charge applies to each reservation. All rates are subject to availability which may be limited- when they’re gone, they’re gone, so book quickly to avoid disappointment. *If you find the same deal cheaper on any other third party booking site, we will match that rate. Full terms and conditions apply, please see website.

PLeaSe SenD US DeTaiLS Of YOUr evenTS Deadline for the November Issue: Friday, 4th October

27 friday - 29 sunday

Website: www.spotlighton.co.uk Email: tamsyn@spotlighton.co.uk Telephone: 01309 690063 Inclusion of events into the What’s On is free.

We do not accept submissions for classes, courses or workshops.

harp village 2013 cromarty. contact caroline hewat: 01381 600354 or 01349 877434 / 07751 821800. abernethy men's weekend friday 6.30pm - sunday 3pm. guest speaker angus jamieson (an elder at culduthel christian centre) for info call 01479 821279 or email nethybridge@abernethy.org.uk

Please note: contact venues and organisers first as there may be changes to events.

28 saturday

Rolling Event 28 september – 14 october highland archaeology festival a two-week feast of walks, talks and other special events in inverness and some in elgin too. for details or a booklet email archaeology@highland.gov.uk

28 september – 7 october autumn exhibition daily 10am - 4pm, udale gallery, ferry house, balblair, black isle. paintings, drawings and lino prints by susy cooper (nee macdonell). call 01381 610710 or visit www.udalegallery.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 23 monday - 28 saturday buddy - the buddy holly story eden court, inverness.

01463 234234. www.eden-court.co.uk

24 tuesday balloch bowling club 7:30pm in balloch village hall. start of a new season of indoor bowling. call 01463 790274 for more details.

26 thursday

the annual baxters pasta party 12:30pm - 6pm. bught park, inverness. tickets available online. www.lochnessmarathon.com/event-info/pasta inverness ramblers carn ghluasaid, sgurr nan conbhairean & sail chorain. 10 miles. meet 8am highland council car park. contact 01463 236204 music nairn presents ‘beinn artair piano trio’ 7:30pm at nairn community & arts centre. playing haydn, beethoven & mendelssohn. call 01667 453476 or visit www.nairncommunitycentre.co.uk saltire society 12pm, chieftain hotel, millburn road, inverness. eric allan will give a talk on "the golden age of scottish dance music". all welcome. rspb car outing to kyle of lochalsh & skye meet at 8:30am at highland council car park & 9am at drumnadrochit. call 01997 421193 for details. inverness abc boxing tournament north of scotland vs north of england select @ ironworks 7pm. call 0871 7894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com

29 sunday great glen walking club dunglass island & the river conon. 9 miles. depart 10am. call 01463 236204 baxters loch ness marathon & festival of running full marathon, river ness 10k &10k corporate challenge, 5k fun run or wee nessie for those with little legs. visit www.lochnessmarathon.com

pip utton in ‘adolf’ @ strathpeffer pavillion 8pm. £9 / £8. on sale at the pavilion: 01997 420124. visit www.strathpefferpavilion.org rspb talk – the farne islands & north norfolk 7:30pm at fraser park bowling club, macewen dr., inverness. df concerts presents : tim burgess @ ironworks 7pm. call 0871 7894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com

27 friday cinema nairn presents “salmon fishing in the yemen” (12a) 7:30pm at nairn community & arts centre. call 01667 453476 / www.nairncommunitycentre.co.uk

admin@spotlighton.co.uk

tel: 01309 690063

Free

Assessment

kumon.co.uk

October 2013 - page 13

2 wednesday the magic of the beatles @ strathpeffer pavilion 8pm. tickets £18.50 from 24-hr hotline 08444 771000, june’s card shop in dingwall & pavilion 01997 420124. www.strathpefferpavilion.org

4 friday - 6 sunday

NAIRN Nairn Community & Arts Centre Your local venue for films, shows, concerts, and parties. Wide range of activities for all ages.

5 saturday

OCTOBER EVENTS Mon 7th..........Cinema Nairn “The Ladykillers” (U) Matinee 2pm Sat 12th.............................................................Chocolate Festival Fri 25th...........................Cinema Nairn “The Artist” (PG) 7.30pm Sat 26th................................................ Scottish Opera-Rodelinda Thurs 31st ................................ “Big Walls and High Mountains” Doug Scott & Paul Braithwaite For further details, telephone 01667 453476, e-mail info@nairncc.co.uk or check out our website at www.nairncommunitycentre.co.uk

30 monday emma’s imagination @ ironworks 7:30pm. call 0871 7894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com

OCTOBER 1 tuesday

for those about to rock 2013 feat. livewire ac/dc & the zz tops. ac/dc & zz top tribute @ ironworks 7:30pm. 0871 7894173. www.ironworksvenue.com great glen walking club two rivers and a famous bay (gruinard bay). 6.8 miles. depart 9am. call 01463 236204 for more details. feel good buskfest 11am - 4pm, on elgin high street free to attend. if you are a musician or street artist and would like to take part, phone 07592 040498 email h&mmarketing@crusescotland.org.uk or visit www.facebook.com/crusehighlandandmoray

5 saturday - 13 sunday ted fest 2013 11am - 5pm, abernethy old kirk, nethy bridge. hundreds of teddy bears on display. loan your bear and help beat the record of 324 bears on display. ’bid for a bear’, colouring competition, cuddle corner & more. tea/coffee & homebakes. free entry, free parking. for more info, contact olwen on 07934413063 charity christmas card sale 10am - 1pm at cawdor community hall. for cawdor and croy and dalcross churches. entry free. tea/ coffee available for donation to church funds.

5 saturday - 26 saturday

the highland-russia connection charity agm 7:30pm in sainsburys, nairn. followed by a documentary film " who am i ". for details call 01667 456245 scottish ornithologists' club: " birds in gardens" by stan da prato 7:30 pm, culloden library. call 01463 221661 or 01808 511740. £3 members £4 non members men’s health - health stand 12pm - 2pm at the police hq in inshes. as well as leaflets, we'll be checking blood pressures, heights and weights and giving advice or referrals if necessary. infifa ‘femme fatale’ season - the killers 7:15pm at eden court cinema and followed by informal post film discussion. visit www.invernessfilmfans.org

1 tuesday - 10 thursday online promise auction/random act of kindness day bid on or donate a promise from simple things like donating unwanted gifts or car washing or a ticket to an event. for information phone 07592 040498 email h&mmarketing@crusescotland.org.uk or visit www.facebook.com/crusehighlandandmoray page 14 - October 2013

wild about the word friday 6pm - sunday 4pm at abernethy adventure centre, nethybridge. explore| discover|live. trying new ways of reading & studying the bible, meeting people, sharing fellowship and enjoying the great outdoors. for details call ellie on 01479 818005 or visit www.abernethy.org.uk

mixed summer show mon - sat 9am - 5pm. castle gallery, 43 castle street, inverness. for info call 01463 729512 or visit www.castlegallery.co.uk

7 monday royal scottish geographical society lecture 7:30pm highland council chamber, glenurquhart road, inverness. tom christian: plant collecting in the 21st century £8 adults, free for students & rsgs members. cinema nairn matinee 'the ladykillers' (u)1955 2pm nairn community & arts centre. tickets at door. incl tea & bakes. for further info: cinemanairn.blogspot.co.uk

8 tuesday the pink castle philosophy club. 'do we have a soul? is the mind in the brain?' 7:30pm, riverside lounge, glen mhor hotel. visit www.pinkcastle.eu or text / call 07745 930383 for details.

10 thursday "making an alpine bed" 7:30pm at nairn community & arts centre. a presentation by davie sharp for nairn gardening club.

tel: 01309 690063

admin@spotlighton.co.uk

12 saturday the western front association: “john terraine, douglas haig and the history of the first world war” 2:30pm. elgin library. chairman.wfasnb@virgin.net isla grant @ strathpeffer pavillion 8pm. £17 / £15 / £6. on sale at the pavilion: 01997 420124. visit www.strathpefferpavilion.org choctober 12pm - 4pm, nairn community centre. fun for all the family. cookery demos, craft market, tasting & more. free entry. for details visit www.facebook .com/choctober emily barker & the red clay halo @ ironworks 7:30pm. call 0871 7894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com cake walk with story knockfarrel, strathpeffer. 4 miles. meet 10am. tel. 0772 4992790. www.guyandjocelyn.org

New purpose-built cycle track for all ability cycling. We can provide individual or group instruction, events for schools or clubs, timed competitions etc – all on our 1km tarmac track.

Special bikes for disabled users available. 1 mile outside Croy village, just follow the signs!

Tel: 01667 493789 / 07546 517312 highlandcycleabilitycentre@yahoo.co.uk

19 saturday great glen walking club etteridge to luibleathann bothy. 9 miles. depart 9am. call 01463 236204 highland wool & textile fair 10am - 4pm, bishop's palace, eden court, inverness. luxurious goods, tweeds, yarns and fabrics from the highlands and islands will be on sale. come along and be tempted.

20 sunday

13 sunday great glen walking club aultgowrie, orrin reservoir circle. 13.5 miles. depart 9am. call 01463 236204 for more details. bl’azz presents 'a tribute to billy' 2:30pm - 5pm, 'maclean' room, eden court. tickets £8 from the box office or call 01463 234234 antiques & collectables fair @ strathpeffer pavillion 10am - 4pm organised by friends of the pavilion. entry £1 payable at the door. call eleanor on 01667 451839 further info.

15 tuesday highland literary salon 7:30pm, glenmhor hotel, inverness. guest speaker: bernard maclaverty. www.highlandlitsalon.com infifa ‘femme fatale’ season - chinatown 7:15pm at eden court cinema and followed by informal post film discussion. visit www.invernessfilmfans.org

bl’azz presents 'blue and sentimental' 2:30pm - 5pm, 'maclean' room, eden court. tickets £8 from the box office or call 01463 234234

24 thursday rspb talk – the rspb in the affric hills & beyond.

7:30pm, fraser park bowling club, inverness. steve mason @ ironworks 7pm. call 0871 7894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com

25 friday - 27 sunday great glen walking club weekend away. call 01463 236204 for more details.

25 friday

social diners - why eat alone? 7pm for 7:30pm dining at the culbokie inn, dingwall, ross-shire. for information and to book call gill on 01349 877061

the very spooky ghost tour around brodie castle 7pm & 8pm. over 18s only. booking essential due to limited numbers, call brodie castle on 0844 493 2156 to book or visit www.nts.org.uk/events cinema nairn presents 'the artist' (pg) 2011 7:30pm nairn community & arts centre. tickets at door. for further info: cinemanairn.blogspot.co.uk rock 'n' wrestling @ ironworks 7pm. call 0871 7894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com

18 friday

26 saturday

16 wednesday

gregorz kupczyk's ceti @ ironworks 7:30pm. call 0871 7894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com

HEAD CHEF REQUIRED

Fully refurbished restaurant and bar in newly modernised 18 room Hotel •48 covers restaurant •Live-in if necessary - Salary negotiable

Please send CV to info@aberlourhotel.co.uk or call Kelly on 01340 871287

'Come and join the team at the heart of the Spey Valley'

admin@spotlighton.co.uk

wonderfully wicked & weirdly wild halloween @ brodie castle with earthtime 3pm - 7pm, last entry at 6pm. calling all wee witches & wizards - come and be thrilled, or maybe a little scared. further details at www.nts.org.uk/events or call 0844 493 2156 highland skalloween with bombskare 7:30pm. bogbain farm, inverness. 01463 772800. visit www.bogbainfarm.com wishbone ash @ ironworks 7:30pm. standing. 0871 7894173. www.ironworksvenue.com inverness choral society coffee morning 10am 12pm, inverness town house. sheila bruce on piano. great local autumn cycle challenge @ the highland cycle ability centre, outside croy. family, individual & group activities am, main challenge in teams of four pm. membership not obligatory. call 07546 517312 for details.

tel: 01309 690063

October 2013 - 15

music nairn presents 'rodelinda' 7:30pm nairn community and arts centre. scottish opera perform handel's most popular opera. call 01667 453476 rspb car outing - culbin to burghead area 9am at highland council car park, inverness.01463 220013 wishbone ash @ ironworks 7:30pm. call 0871 7894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com

26 saturday - 27 sunday arts, crafts and food fair @ strathpeffer pavillion 10am - 5pm. supporting the poppy appeal. free admission. visit www.exclusivelyhighlands.co.uk or call 01463 250127

MORAY GOLF CLUB ww w. m o ra ygo l f. c o . u k

Winter Membership P lu s

(6 months)

Full Package of Benefits available

27 sunday fatherson @ ironworks 7pm. call 0871 7894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com

28 monday

ONLY

bastille @ ironworks 7pm. call 0871 7894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com

29 tuesday

£

infifa ‘femme fatale’ season - gilda 7:15pm at eden court cinema and followed by informal post film discussion. visit www.invernessfilmfans.org

99

31 thursday sticky kids hallowe'en singalong @ strathpeffer pavillion 10am. £6. on sale at the pavilion: 01997 420124. visit www.strathpefferpavilion.org

Contact us on: 01343 812018 or email: secretary@moraygolf.co.uk

The Grant Arms Hotel

'RANTOWN ON 3PEY s 4HE 7ILDLIFE (OTEL Chris Grant and Team present

TRADITIONAL SUNDAY LUNCH 2 Course £9.95 and 3 Courses £12.95 Children’s Menu and Half Portions available

TO BOOK CALL: 01479 872526 25 The Square, Grantown-on-Spey PH26 3HF LQIR#JUDQWDUPVKRWHO FRP ZZZ JUDQWDUPVKRWHO FRP

Hotel

WEDDING FAIR SUNDAY 6th October 12-4PM FEATURING MANY WEDDING SUPPLIERS Showcasing all they have to make your day perfect

CRAIGMONIE HOTEL 9 ANNFIELD ROAD INVERNESS IV2 3HX TEL:01463 231649 WWW.CRAIGMONIEHOTELINVERNESS.CO.UK

review

A Country Inn... with Restaurant Standards!

It is a while since I have eaten at The Old Mill Inn and I was interested to see how it is getting on. The bar was already set high - I had heard some very good things about the Old Mill - could it live up to it? Well - it exceeded our every expectation.

but excellently cooked and presented. Apart from the ooh's and aah's coming out periodically the meats were described variously as "melt in the mouth", "gorgeous", "sauce to die for" etc. The flavours were subtle and unexpected - a real treat and not at all expensive.

Some friends and I (quite a mixed bunch!) went in on a Friday lunchtime and were warmly welcomed by the owner himself, Kevin Edwards. He talked us through the menus and was both pleasant and informative. He is obviously a very hands-on owner and takes a great pride in using exclusively fresh produce (mostly local) and also his wide range of Scottish Real Ale.

I like to think that I am a bit of a burger expert - well I am a man! I often try the burger when I am out and I believe that it is a good bellwether for the standard of the chef. Burgers are easy to cook but not so easy to get perfect. The Old Mill burger was perfect in every sense. Using 100% beef and made to their own recipe it was both juicy and tasty and with a slice of in-house smoked bacon on top - pretty unbeatable. I was a happy man!

The first surprise was the huge breadth of choice on the menu - something for every taste from the tried and tested to the more adventurous. Although none of us actually had a steak we did see one whizz past and it looked really tempting. Kevin told us that all his steaks are from locally reared beef aged in controlled environments in Elgin. It is one of his best selling meals and he has special steak nights on Mondays where there are discounts to be had.

Raspberry Meringue

Scottish Tapas Fruit Garden

Filling Burger

The adventurous among our party ordered a selection of "Scottish Tapas" for the main meal. This worked really well between two people. They ordered six in total which was just about the right quantity. I went "standard" with a burger and my other friend had the ribs and crispy chicken.

The Tapas were chosen from a selection of about 15 different plates and were absolutely fantastic. They arrived on a stacked plate presentation in "Theatre Style" and were both really tasty and fun - something really different

Two of our party ventured into the puddings. The Raspberry Meringue was exceptional but could not match the Fruit Garden. Put simply, The Fruit Garden was a triumph of creativity and flavour. If, following this review, you are tempted to visit the Old Mill, I recommend that at least one of you tries the Fruit Garden. The flavour combinations of fresh summer fruits, mousse and chocolate were absolutely sublime but the really clever trick was to make it look like a plant pot, complete with garden stones (not really stones!).

It is an absolute must and great fun.

The Old Mill Inn is a fantastic country pub that has achieved restaurant standards in its presentation and cuisine. It does not pretend to be the cheapest food but if you are the type of person who enjoys your food you will really enjoy the meal. The welcome is warm and friendly and not intrusive. In short I am not surprised that it is getting such rave reviews – try it for yourself!

www.oldmillinnbrodie.com

(BETWEEN NAIRN & FORRES) CAMRA COUNTRY PUB OF THE YEAR WINNER 2012 NE SCOTLAND

LUNCH

is a delight is Lunching at the Old Mill has just got tastier!

With our brand new Menu and Daily Specials board, you’ll find it difficult to stay away!

Our team of Chefs lead by Head Chef Jo take a huge pride in what they do. Constantly inventing and improving the dishes they deserve all the accolades they’ve amassed, although they covet only happy diners and their empty plates.

www.oldmillinnbrodie.com

HUGE RANGE OF REMNANT STOCK Quote: (‘SpotLight Offer’)

50%OFF

Blinds

*

FREE advice

FREE

measuri n

g

FREE expert fitting

*Off specially selected blinds.

VISION

HAVE YOU VISITED OUR NEW SHOWROOM YET? COME AND SEE OUR RANGES ON DISPLAY

NEW SHOWROOM OPENS IN OCTOBER

SHUTTER

LONGMAN RD

VERTICAL

WIC K

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SEAFIELD RD RR H A RBO U

D

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65

INVERNESS

For a FREE no-obligation quotation in the comfort of your own home

(01463) 222 522 www.horizonblinds.co.uk

Feta Cheese, Caramelised Onion and Spinach, Filo Pastry Tart, Olive Tapenade & Aubergine Caviar

Chargrilled Rump Steak Salad with Strathdon Blue Cheese and Pepper Mayonnaise

Old Mill Inn Mini Brodie Burgers served with dipping Sauce and homemade Chutney

Thai Marinated Chicken Supreme, Coconut Fragrant Rice, Thai Green Curry & Salad

Wild Boar (Grazed in the Pine Forests Coldingham) Sausages, Champ Tatties & Red Wine Sauce

Warm Garlic Focacia Bread, Parma ham, Sunblush Tomatoes and Rocket

Bowl of Cullen Skink Skink, Warm Roll and Butter

Old Mill Delicious selection of Scottish Tapas

at the

For further details TELEPHONE 01309 641 605

UP TO

Sample delights from our lunch menu

Showroom 60 Seafield Rd, Inverness

(BETWEEN NAIRN & FORRES) CAMRA COUNTRY PUB OF THE YEAR WINNER 2012 NE SCOTLAND

travel

Dreaming of... ...a Skiing Holiday As the warm weather starts to turn autumnal we turn our minds to that wonderful winter pastime – the skiing holiday. Europe has become closer and closer with dedicated flights from Scottish airports, mainly Edinburgh and Glasgow with some from Aberdeen and now Inverness.

A good skiing holiday is a total change to your normal routine, but it is not a lazy option – skiing (or snowboarding) itself uses muscles that we don't otherwise use every day and although exhilarating, it can be hard work to ski all day every day for a week or a fortnight. People who make the most of the daylight hours, getting out onto the slopes after 9am but before 10am, see the best groomed snow of the day. How people can party all night and ski all day we have never figured out, but we find skiing more rewarding than partying anyway, so a good night's sleep is always required.

It is a great advantage to be able to test your interest in skiing at a Scottish resort – if you like it you can continue to use the local facilities at weekends but it is tempting to go to the greater snow fields of Europe, and then the ultimate treat is in North America and Canada. In Europe the popular countries are France, Switzerland and Austria. French resorts tend to be high such as Tignes (the highest in France) or Chamonix which is a small French industrial town surrounded by three clear skiing areas. Swiss resorts tend to be picturesque and Alpine-like, including Verbier and Zermatt – Verbier is high with good skiing, and is a mecca for the British if that is what you want, whereas Zermatt has retained its charm as a Swiss-style resort. Zermatt also offers huge areas of skiing as just over the mountain under the shadow of the Matterhorn you are into Cervinia in Italy – another wide range of pistes. Austria, although not the highest resorts, offers the most charming and stylised resorts such as Kitzbuhel and St Anton. The west coast of Canada has wonderful skiing in Banff, Lake Louise and Whistler, where the winter Olympics were held in 2010. Whistler offers so much choice there are even 2 mountains to choose from, both offering guides to show you round. The ski lifts are generally larger and wider than European ones, as are the pistes, and the mountain restaurants are enormous and modern, but very efficient. The ski police keep you on your toes.

The final but very important consideration is the cost of your skiing holiday. The key components are your flights, your accommodation, your food and drink bills, your equipment hire (skis or snowboard and boots), and your lift passes, but these can range enormously in price and there are always some very good deals around.

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renewable energy The UK currently relies heavily on coal, oil, and natural gas for its energy. Fossil fuels are non-renewable, that is, they draw on finite resources that will eventually dwindle, becoming too expensive or too environmentally damaging to retrieve. In contrast, the many types of renewable energy resources-such as wind and solar energy-are constantly replenished and will never run out.

Most renewable energy comes either directly or indirectly from the sun. Sunlight, or solar energy, can be used directly for heating and lighting homes and other buildings, for generating electricity, and for hot water heating, solar cooling, and a variety of commercial and industrial uses.

The Future is Clean! abundant element on the Earth. But it doesn't occur naturally as a gas. It's always combined with other elements, such as with oxygen to make water. Once separated from another element, hydrogen can be burned as a fuel or converted into electricity.

Not all renewable energy resources come from the sun. Geothermal energy taps the Earth's internal heat for a variety of uses, including electric power production, and the heating and cooling of buildings. And the energy of the ocean's tides come from the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun upon the Earth.

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Renewables Feature

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