SpotLight on Inverness

SEPTEMBER 2012

INVERNESS AND DISTRICT THE

NORTH’S

FAV O U R I T E

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INSIDE Clubs & Societies p4 Pastoral Letter p6 Useful Numbers p10 Parliament Blog p11 Travel USA p12 What’s On p15-18 Lawn Tips p19 Property Pointers p21

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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.

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Clubs, Societies & Regular Meetings AIRD & DISTRICT FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION Sept - Mar. Call George Davidson, Smithton, Inverness tel: 798543 AUTISM RIGHTS GROUP HIGHLAND (ARGH) Run by and for autistic adults to make the adult autistic voice heard. We uphold ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ principle.

Contact kb@arghighland.co.uk www.arghighland.co.uk MERKINCH MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB Regular monthly trips, ages 12 to adult. Call 07879 443979 or email: ewanharper@yahoo.co.uk BL’AZZ Non-profit organisation to promote awareness and understanding of Jazz & Blues in the Highlands. Call Nigel Mackenzie for more info on 221460 or email nigel.mackenzie@blueorg.com www.nigelsnonsense.org

BEAULY ANGLING CLUB Established around 1960, the club provides sea trout and salmon fishing to residents of Beauly as well as to visitors. Visit www.beauly-angling-club.co.uk 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/ HIGHLAND GERMAN SOCIETY 1st Wednesday each month, 8pm, St.Ninian’s Church Hall, Culduthel Road, Inverness. Call Rosa Finlayson on01463 238560 or rosafinlayson@btinternet.com HIGHLAND SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB First meeting of 2012/13 season.

Tuesday 4th September. Taking place in Culloden Library. Keith Duncan will give an illustrated

Photo by Pauline Lewin. Copyright.

talk on the Great Spotted Woodpecker. Tel: 01463 221661.

INVERNESS CATHEDRAL SOCIETY OF BELL RINGERS Thursdays 7.30pm - 9pm. Anyone can be a bell ringer! We ring for Sunday services, weddings and other special occasions. Tel: 01381 610411 or email inverness@sacr.org INVERNESS HOSPITAL RADIO Email requests to be played for someone in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness to: requests@inver nesshospitalradio.co.uk. We are looking for ward visitors and technical team members.

Email: enquiry@invernesshospitalradio .co.uk Contact Mr Atholl Menzies tel: 704500/704501 INVERNESS LOCAL HISTORY FORUM For details call 07843113414 or email info@invernesslocal

historyforum.org.uk INVERNESS PETANQUE CLUB Wed 7 - 9pm & Sun 2- 5pm at Fairways Golf Club. Boules can be supplied. Call John Mudd on 790912 HIGHLAND SPIRITUAL CINEMA

Inverness-based film group with monthly screenings of uplifting and inspiring films that educate, entertain and enlighten, with the opportunity to participate in post-film discussion. Tel: 01463 237452. www.highlandspiritualcinema.net INVERNESS WINE APPRECIATION SOCIETY Bringing together people with an interest in wine and to develop their interest by holding tastings, usually led by a member of the wine trade and accompanied by suitable food, tel: 221535

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Contents

Clubs & Societies ....4 Pastoral Letter .........6 Church Details .........6 Useful Numbers.....10 Local Holidays .......10

School Term Dates 10 Parliament Blog .....11 Tide Times .............11 What’s On.........15-18 Property .................22

October Issue Deadlines

Editorial: Friday 31st August Advertising: Wednesday 5th September

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Pastoral Letter & Church Meetings Time to jump!

I stared down into the abyss and I knew it was time to jump. Ten metres below lay the waters of the River Truim. By my side stood an experienced outdoor activities leader. He had assured me that the water was deep, that it was free from hidden obstructions and that it was perfectly safe to jump. But he was not going to push me. The choice of when to jump, or whether to jump at all, was mine alone.

This was my first experience of gorge walking.

If you think gorge walking sounds like a gentle and relaxing occupation, then think again! It involves travelling up a river gorge, sometimes swimming, sometimes scrambling, sometimes climbing. Along the way, you make the most of the natural features to add excitement. A waterfall is there to be climbed, and a cliff to be jumped off!

I stood on the edge for what seemed an age. I had many reasons to trust this man, but yet a part of my mind was telling me it was madness.

This was a cliff as tall as a large house. There were a multitude of things, said my brain, which could go wrong. How could I be sure I would land where he said I would? How did I really know there were no rocks concealed beneath the surface? I asked a few questions and received reassuring replies. In reality, my questions were no more than a delaying tactic. I was already well informed, and more knowledge was not really going to help me to act. It was time make a decision; time to step into the void.

Fear speaks loudly at times like this, but once I eventually took the step, there was a curious

Faith in God is a bit like that cliff jump. It is not a blind leap into the unknown, but involves a decision to put your life in the hands of another.

That requires courage. There is a mass of evidence for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, but ultimately it takes a faith step to follow him. It is good to inform ourselves, but no amount of information can conclusively prove that the Christian message is true. The Bible says “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). There comes a point when we stand on the edge and make a choice about whether to leap. That’s what faith is all about - placing our lives into the hands of God.

Fear will always attempt to stop us. Chris de Burgh sang: “Don’t pay the ferryman, until he gets you to the other side.” This is natural response for all of us - not to commit until we receive everything we’ve been promised but this is the opposite of faith. It is not an option that God leaves open to us. He asks us to choose first. If we

St Andrew's Cathedral, Scottish Episcopal Church Ardross Street, Inverness. Tel: 01463 233535. Website: www.invernesscathedral.com St Clement's Parish, Church of Scotland Church Street, Dingwall.

Sundays 11.30am. 6.30pm: evening worship. Sunday school meets in church hall 11.20am (term time). Tel: 01349 863063.

St Columba, Church of Scotland Inverness. Sunday 11am. Wednesday 8pm: prayer at Holm Primary School. Tel: 07535 290092. Website: www.stcolumbainverness.org St John the Evangelist, Episcopal Church Southside Road, Inverness. Sunday service 10.45am. Wednesdays 11am: Holy Communion. Tel: 01463 716288. Website: www.stjohns-inverness.com St Ninian's Catholic Church 21 Culduthel Road, Inverness, IV2 4AN. Saturday Vigil 5pm. Sunday Mass 10am. Tel: 01463 236620. Website: www.saintninians.org.uk St Mary's Catholic Church 30 Huntly Street, Inverness, IV3 5PR. Saturday Vigil 6.30pm. Sunday Mass 11am and 6.30pm.

St Columba’s Catholic Church Culloden, IV2 7PW. Sunday Mass 9.30am. Tel: 01463 233519. Website: www.stmarysinverness.co.uk St Mary-in-the-Fields, Episcopal Church Culloden. Sunday Service 9.45am. Fridays 10.30am: Holy Communion. Tel: 01463 716288. www.stjohns-inverness.com St Michael & All Angels Abban Street, Inverness. Sunday Mass 11am. Contact Rev. Gerald Stranraer-Mull: 01463 870986. Email:

page 6 - September 2012

Kessock Bridge

sense of peace. The decision had been made and there was no going back. My life was in the hands of my leader. If he was trustworthy then I would splash down safely in the river. If not, I was unlikely to survive.

commit to him, he will get us to the other side.

If we choose not to, we will never reach it.

Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Perhaps you’ve been finding out about Jesus for years. There is always more to learn; are always more questions you can ask, but at some stage, you’ll reach a point when extra questions are really just delaying the decision. There comes a time to choose. A time to jump!

Owen Morris CityLife Church Inverness

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Website: www.stmichaelandallangels.org.uk Salvation Army 20 Tomnahurich Street, Inverness. Tel: 01463 225276.

Website: www.salvationarmy.org.uk Smithton Free Church Murray Road, Smithton, Inverness. Sundays 11am (with crèche) and 6pm. Tel: 01463 793191. Website: http://www.smithtonchurch.com/ The Reformed Baptist Church Telford Road, Inverness. Website: www.wicketgate.co.uk Trinity Church, Church of Scotland 60 Huntly Place, Inverness.

Sundays 11am. First Sunday of the month: 6:30pm service.

Website: www.trinityinverness.org.uk Urray & Strathconon Free Church Urray at West Road, Muir of Ord and Strathconon at The Strathconon Community Hall. Tel: 01463 871223. Email: dgmartin@homecall.co.uk West Hill Free Church (Continuing) Culloden, Inverness. Sundays 11am and 6.30pm. Thursdays and Saturdays 7.30pm. Tel: 07532010595.

This is listed alphabetically from S to W and will regularly be rotated. If you are a member of a church not listed here, please email us with details and we may print this in future issues.

tel: 01309 690063

SpotLight on Inverness and District

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Conservatories

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Chef’s Confidential Salmon Escalope with Champagne ne and Chive Sauce S Serves 4 Ingredients Ingr edients 750g/1.5lb salmon fillet 2 tbsp sunflower oil salt Champagne Sauce: 25g/1oz unsalted butter 1 small shallot, finely chopped 120ml/4fl oz champagne plus 1 tbsp 1 pint fish stock ½ tsp caster sugar cream 120ml/4fl oz double cr eam fresh 1 tbsp chopped fr esh chives

Method 1. For the sauce, melt 10g/¼ oz of the butter in a sauce pan, add the shallot and cook, without colouring, until softened 2. Add 120ml/4fl oz champagne and boil for 2 minutes, then add the stock and sugar three 3. Boil rapidly until rreduced educed by thr ee quarters. Add half the cream, cr eam, bring to the boil and rreduce educe until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon prepare 4. Meanwhile, pr epare the salmon degree 5. Cut the salmon into 12 slices, hold the knife at a 45 degr ee towards angle and cutting at a slant down towar ds the skin.

6. Brush each escalope with a little of the oil, season lightly with salt and then put them on a lightly oiled baking tray Pre 7. Pr e heat the grill to high. For the sauce, whisk the rremaining emaining cream cr eam with the 1 tbsp champagne and tsp of the chopped forms chives until if for ms soft peaks. Set aside 8. TTo o finish the dish, grill the salmon escalopes for about 1 minute, then put them on four war warmed med plates 9. Bring the rreduced educed sauce to the boil, whisk in the rremaining emaining butter,r, then the whipped cream mixture around butter whipp cr eam mixtur e and pour ar ound the salmon. Sprinkle with the rremaining emaining chives and serve immedi immedi-ately, while the sauce is still foaming Best to serve with summer vegetables and war warm m salad potatoes

8

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Local Holidays, School Term Dates & Useful Numbers Local Holidays

Loch Ness Sunbeam

Inverness Holiday Inverness Holiday St. Andrews Day Christmas Day Boxing Day New Year’s Day

Mon 1st Oct 2012 Mon 5th Nov 2012 Fri 30th Nov 2012 Tues 25th Dec 2012 Wed 26th Dec 2012 Tues 1st Jan 2013

Scottish Bank Holiday Burns Night Shrove Tuesday Mother’s Day Good Friday British Summertime Begins

Wed 2nd Jan 2013 Fri 25th Jan 2013 Tues 12th Feb 2013 Sun 10th Mar 2013 Fri 29th Mar 2013 Sun 31st Mar 2013

Autumn Term Ends Regional Closure Winter Term Starts Winter Term Ends Spring Term Starts Holiday Closure

Fri 5th Oct 2012 Mon 22nd Oct 2012 Tues 23rd Oct 2012 Thurs 20th Dec 2012 Mon 7th Jan 2013 Mon 11th Feb 2013

Holiday Closure Regional Closure Regional Closure Regional Closure Spring Term Ends Good Friday Holiday

Tues 12th Feb 2013 Wed 13th Feb 2013 Thurs 14th Feb 2013 Fri 15th Feb 2013 Thurs 28th Mar 2013 Fri 29th Mar 2013

School Term Dates

Useful Telephone Numbers

Police Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08456 005703 Bus Station, Inverness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 239292 Citizens Advice Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08444 994111 Dalcross Airport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01667 464000 Highland Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01349 886606 National Rail Enquires. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08457 484950

DOCTORS Beauly Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 782794 Burnfield Medical Practice. . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 220077 Cairn Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 712233 Cromarty Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . 01381 600224 Culloden Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .01463 793400 Crown Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0844 576 9977 Drumnadrochit, Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01456 450577 Dunedin Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 712157 Fairfield Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 713939 Fortrose Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08444 772497 Foyers Medical Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01456 486224 Kingsmills Medical Practice. . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 235245 New Craigs Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 704000 Riverside Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 715999 Raigmore Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 704000 RNI Community Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 706966 Strathlene Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 870843 The Aird Medical Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 782214 The Surgery, Munlochy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 811200 page 10 - September 2012

Southside Road Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 710222

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 Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01349 877082 Castle House Dental Practice . . . . . . . . . . 01463 234598 Dalneigh Dental Practice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 243767 Dental Clinic, New Craigs Hospital . . . . . . 01463 704000 Fraser Street Dental Practice . . . . . . . . . . 01463 242344 High School Dental Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01463 235468 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 Other useful numbers including village halls and community centres, vets, and schools are rotated on a regular basis and will appear in subsequent issues.

If you have any suggestions for additional numbers, please contact us and we may include them in the magazine.

tel: 01309 690063

SpotLight on Inverness and District

“

Parliament Blog & Tides

Parliament Blog

”

“Findhorn Lights” Karen Barclay. Copyright.

The summer parliamentary recess is always a good time to catch up with family and friends; to visit and hold advice surgeries in many of the smaller communities right across the constituency, and to attend the many shows, games and galas that make our area such an interesting place to live.

Castle House Dental Practice Castle House, Fairways Business Park, Inverness IV2 6AA (01463) 234598 Tel Email dentist@castle-house.net www.castle-house.net

This summer, I was very pleased to be asked to be the guest of honor and judge the supreme champion bull at the Grantown Show. A daunting task! As an MP and a Minister I am familiar with making difficult decisions that are scrutinized at every level, but I was obliged to call on local farmer Stuart Black to help me with this one.

Danny Alexander MP

July has been a busy month for me, especially in my work as tourism minister.

Over that period, I have met two key groups of people who organise holidays and bring people to Scotland. Neither organisation is a household name but both are hugely influential.

The PCMA (the Professional Convention Managers Association) arranges conferences - conventions as they say in the USA - for some of the largest companies in the world.

Trailblazers organise incentive holidays for the same type of client who wish to reward their best performing employees usually with a five star holiday.

Both of the PCMA and Trailblazers organise tens of thousands of holidays and both of them loved Scotland. Visitscotland played a blinder in bringing them to Scotland and ensuring that their delegates had a magic and marvellous time. We know that this will lead to business for Scotland, and I am particularly keen to see many come to the Highlands.

Our bright, modern practice is the perfect environment for all your family dental care:

Cosmetic dentistry Dental implants Tooth whitening Orthodontics Facial enhancements Get the smile you’ve always wanted.

Tel (01463) 234598 Kevin Leeming B.D.S., M.F.G.D.P., M.J.D.F., D.P.D.S. • Paul White B.D.S.

Fergus Ewing MSP

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

SA SU M TU W TH F

AM 07:18 07:49 08:17 08:45 09:07 09:04 09:23

PM 19:18 19:46 20:16 20:47 21:11 21:19 21:53

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

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

Margaret Behrendt B.D.S. • Derek Brown B.D.S.

Dental Surgeons AM 10:04 11:22 02:06 03:11 03:58 04:41 05:25 06:06 06:47 07:28 08:08 08:50

PM 23:05 14:35 15:33 16:15 16:54 17:34 18:14 18:54 19:34 20:13 20:55

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

TH F SA SU M TU W TH F SA SU

AM 09:32 10:18 11:11 01:17 03:04 04:09 05:03 05:48 06:23 06:53

PM 21:39 22:32 23:39 12:24 14:21 15:34 16:31 17:18 17:57 18:27 18:52

travel

Dreaming of...

The United States

The United States has never been at the top of my ‘wish list’ but after my 3 week trip to the West coast I can’t wait to return! I split my time between San Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, with a journey through Yosemite Falls Yosemite National Park and Death Valley.

San Francisco was my favourite, I pre-booked most of my excursions before I travelled to make the most of my 4 nights in the city. A highlight was Alcatraz, located on an island off San Francisco. It was used as a federal prison between 1933 and 1963 and housed such in-mates as Al Capone.

Instead of the usual flight between San Francisco and Vegas I decided to take a 1 night, 2 day trip through Yosemite National Park and Death Valley. Seeing the vast comparison between the green, lush National Park with Yosemite falls, the fourth tallest waterfall in the world in full flow (May is the best time to see this) and the barren emptiness of Death Valley was amazing.

Vegas is like nothing I have ever seen before! The Strip really comes to life at night with the fountain show at the Bellagio Hotel and an erupting volcano at the Mirage Hotel. A trip to one of the Wonders on the world, the Grand Canyon is a must. Excursion options are endless, we chose the ‘sunset helicopter tour’ landing in the canyon for a glass of champagne to view the sunset before flying home over The Strip.

My last stop was Los Angeles, ‘The City of Angels’, where we split our time between Beverly Hills for shopping and celeb spotting and Santa Monica for the beach and surf. A tour of Los Angeles is recommended to see all parts of the city – from Venice Beach, or Muscle Beach as it is perhaps better known Hollywood Walk of Fame and Sunset Strip. A day spent at Universal Studios for the launch of the new attraction ‘Transformers 3D’ was well worth the hour trip from Beverly Hills. Santa Monica was the perfect way to finish off what was a busy 3 weeks.

Editorial by Aimee (Elgin branch member)

12

Information kindly supplied by Hoover Dam

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Inverness departures

USA

Jersey - 15th and 22nd Sept - B&B from ........................................£409 Sorrento & Bay of Naples 6th & 13th Oct - B&B from ...£449

Las Vegas - from ...................... £871 San Francisco - from ...............£784 Los Angeles - from ................... £763 Above flights are from Glasgow, for travel Jan-June, 2013, booked by 31st Oct, '12.

Lake Garda 7th & 14th Oct - B&B from ...£389 French Riviera 6th & 13th July, '13 - from ....£639 Majestic Fjordland Cruise from and back to Leith 12th June, '13 from .............£599 Amsterdam - weekend return flights from ............................£168

Pantomime 4th Dec to 6th Jan

Aberdeen departures:

Golden Triangle Fare, based on visiting all 3 cities ...................£755

Direct flights to Turkey, Tenerife, Majorca, Tunisia and Costa Dorado - all available for half term holidays in October.

All holidays quoted are for 7 nights, per person based on 2 sharing, and direct flights.

For further details enquire at

Las Vegas - from ......................£854 San Francisco - from ...............£872 Los Angeles - from ...................£853 Above flights are from Inverness, for travel December - March, '13, booked by 31st October, '12.

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Above fare is for travel December -June, 2013, booked by 31st Oct, '12, All fares above are subject to availability at the time of booking.

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events

City of Elgin Food & Drink Festival 2012 15th September

Elgin BID is delighted to be hosting the City of Elgin Food & Drink Festival on Saturday the 15th September 2012. The Festival will be the largest of the BID events in 2012 with more than 60 exhibitors confirmed so far, ensuring that there will be something for the whole family to do and see.

The event will open at 11.00am with a “Cook Off Challenge” between Richard Lochhead & Angus Robertson. The Cook Off will be held in the AEG cookery trailer courtesy of the Oakwood Cookery School.

For this event exhibitors and activities can be found all over the City Centre area including Commerce Street, Batchen Street, South Street and the Plainstones.

As well as a vast array of foods and crafts there will also be a Giant Tea Party, courtesy of Moray College, which is being held in support of the STV appeal and in the East End of the City (Cul De Sac opposite the Muckle Cross) we will be hosting “Medieval Elgin” with jousting, sword fighting and archery – lots of fun and specially arranged for the children. In the West End of the City we are hoping to hold a pancake making competition.

Throughout the day we will have live cookery demonstrations with chefs demonstrating delicious ways to cook locally grown and sold food. We are delighted to welcome back Wendy Barrie who has appeared on the BBC Good Food Show, Royal Highland Show and the London Restaurant Show, Olympia.

To top the day off we will have live music and dance throughout the town centre from local performers such as Nae Reel, Elgin and District Pipe Band to name a few. We are also running a special “Broons Treasure Hunt” with goody bags of Broons items for the lucky winners.

So come on down and join us for a fantastic, fun and fabulous day out. With free samples and tastings from the market stalls and lots to do and see, we are sure you will have a great day out at the City of Elgin Food and Drink Festival 2012.

For full programme listings and details of the exhibitors visit www.elginbid.co.uk or follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/elginbid

City of Elgin Food & Drink Festival 15th September 2012 Help Elgin to celebrate the finest of Scottish Foods and Crafts with over 60 exhibitors from Elgin, Moray and Scotland. Exhibitors will be located across Commerce Street, South Street, Batchen Street as well as the Plainstones.

+ Experience ‘Medieval Elgin’ with jousting, sword fighting and archery (Muckle Cross) ..plus much much more..

+ ‘Cook off Challenge’ between Angus Robertson and Richard Lochhead plus a number of cookery demonstrations and tastings throughout the day.

+ Children’s Entertainment with Bubbles the Clown and Zig Zag Circus. + Prize Winning competitions, live music from Elgin and District Pipe Band, Nae Reel (plus more to be confirmed)…

An experience not to be missed!

Let’s all EMBRACE ELGIN and put the VIBRANCY back into the CITY CENTRE

For on going developments please go to www.facebook.com/elginbid or www.elginbid.co.uk

Elgin Rotory Club

What’s On &),-3 s 3(/73 s %6%.43 s #/.#%243 s %4# Please send us details of Your events log on to www.spotlighton.co.uk email michelle@spotlighton.co.uk or call 01309 690063 What’s on listings deadline for the october issue is friday 31/08/12

great feil maree by dingwall rotary club 11am - 4pm. street fair in dingwall town centre. concert with julie keen and friends 3pm. at st john’s episcopal church arpafeelie. fee £5. contact linda: 01463 811629

1 saturday - 2 sunday

Rolling Event 1 wednesday august - 2 sunday september ‘scottish contrasts’ art exhibition by angus donaldson ÂŁ1 fee or is included in the ÂŁ4 museum ent. fee

18 saturday august - 15 saturday september ‘journeys’ 2 - 5pm. inchmore gallery, inverness. exhibition of new work by firstline artists: gwen black, janet soutar, and mark lomax. tel: 05602 625740. www.inchmoregallery.co.uk

art cafe organised by spey art group. exhibiting members’ paintings with other arts and crafts for sale. tea, coffee, and homebakes available. inverallan church hall, grantown-on-spey. tel: 01479 872085.

2 sunday

AUGUST 27 monday

donate blood 3pm - 6:30pm by appointment at the blood donor centre, raigmore hospital call 01463 704212 to pre book.

great glen walking club morvich to a’ghlas-bheinn (munro). 10 miles. meet 8am highland council car park. contact 01463 236204 for further info. wedding fayre 11am - 3pm. the glen mhor hotel, inverness. highland chamber orchestra 3 pm. at the strathpeffer pavillion. tickets £8 / £6 / £1 call 01463 223171 www.highland-chamber-orchestra.co.uk allotment 4pm. universal hall, findhorn. outdoor show. £7/£6 concs/£4 u16s.

29 wednesday

4 tuesday

soul masters (feature documentary), what’s in a smile? (short film) 7.30pm. highland spiritual cinema, highland rail house, inverness. visit www.highlandspiritualcinema.net

30 thursday

ironworks summer showcase #8 7pm. 14+. feat. roadway, jake bolt & toby michaels rolling damned. call 0871 7894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com bl’azz presents ‘blue and sentimental’ 8pm - 10pm, castle tavern, view place, inverness. free admission but limited seating so come early.

SEPTEMBER 1 saturday

inverness ramblers: kingussie to newtonmore via track and moor 9am. 7 - 9 miles. meet at highland council car park. contact 01667 236204 for further information. carve carrbridge 10.30am - 5pm, on the village sports field. top chainsaw carvers from the uk & around the world will compete for the magnificent claymore trophy. live music, activities, games, stalls and food & drink.

SpotLight on Inverness and District

patience (film) 7.45pm. eden court cinema. film will be followed by informal post film discussion. further details on www.invernessfilmfans.org

4 tuesday - 9 sunday

nairn book & arts festival for further details, telephone: 01667 453476 or email: info@nairncc.co.uk. visit: www.nairncommunitycentre.co.uk or http://www.nairnfestival.co.uk

5 wednesday

nhs highland annual review 9.30am at eden court. influential speakers, q&a and buffet lunch. book your place by email - maimie.thompson@nhs.net or call 01463 704722 olive tree chocolate tour (dingwall) 7.30pm - 10pm. organised by choctober, the uk’s most northerly chocolate festival. raising money for charity & awareness of mary’s meal and olive tree chocolate. at castle st. church of scotland, dingwall. tickets £3.

6 thursday

‘habits of the abbots' presented by emma malone.

2-4pm. daily life in kinloss abbey. part of the moray society lecture series. lecture is ÂŁ3. ÂŁ2 for society members. contact elgin museum: 01343 543675. email: curator@elginmuseum.org

tel: 01309 690063

September 2012 - page 15

7 friday brodie castle (as part of nairn book festival) 11.30am. a unique opportunity to learn something of the wealth of archive material held by the national trust for scotland. ian riches, the national trust for scotland’s archivist, will speak about the importance, care and preservation of the trust’s collection. adult £5. lunch available in the tearoom. “from fact to fiction” 2.00pm. 17th century banff and aberdeen are brought to life. an historian, specialising in 16th and 17th century scotland, shona maclean writes historical thrillers set in the northeast during these times. adult £7. tel: 0844 493 2156 or visit www.nts.org.uk. blas festival tribute to calum kennedy 7.30 pm. at strathpeffer pavilion. tickets at the pavilion as well as via ticketweb.co.uk, 0844 248 5096

7 friday - 15 saturday blas festival celebration of gaelic & highland music. highlights include al fresco entertainment on the waters of loch ness with a floating performance by traditional musicians allan macdonald & friends. visit www.blas-festival.com

7 friday - 21 friday aaron sterrit local wood furniture and sculpture exhibition. the iona gallery, duke street, kingussie. check www.ionagallery.com

8 saturday olive tree chocolate tour (inverness) 7.30pm - 10pm. organised by choctober, the uk’s most northerly chocolate festival. raising money for charity and awareness of mary’s meal and olive tree chocolate. at raigmore recreational hall, raigmore hospital, inverness. tickets are £3 with main proceeds going directly to mary’s meals. cinema nairn presents ‘steamboat bill’ (u) 10am. buster keaton silent movie with live pianist. little theatre, king street, nairn. tickets: www.nairnfestival.co.uk great glen walking club loch rannoch to dalnaspidal.

12 miles. meet 8am highland council car park. contact 01463 236204 for further information. doors open days: cullen auld kirk 10am - 4pm. tel: 01542 841590. free entry. visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk doors open days: dufftown railway station 10.30am 4pm. tel: 01466 730327. free entry. visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk doors open days: elgin museum 10.30am - 5pm. talks at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. tel: 01343 543675. free entry. visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk and www.elginmuseum.org.uk doors open days: falconer museum in forres. tel: 01309 696261. free entry. visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk doors open days: greyfriars convent church in elgin.

11am - 3pm. tel: 01343 543675. free entry. visit page 16 - September 2012

www.doorsopendays.org.uk and www.elginmuseum.org.uk doors open days: kinloss abbey 10am - 4pm. free entry. visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk doors open days: logie house in logie. 10am 12pm. tel: 01309 611278. free entry. visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk doors open days: the michael kirk in duffus.

10.30am - 3pm. free entry. tel: 01343 546620. visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk doors open days: st peter’s church in duffus. 11am 3pm. tel: 01343 546620. free entry. visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk doors open days: tugnet icehouse in spey bay. tours by scottish dolphin centre staff at 12.15pm & 3.15pm. tel: 01343 820339. free entry. visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk mr mcfall’s chamber - four corners 8pm. universal hall, findhorn. witty relaxed music from four corners of scotland. £10/£8 concs.

8 saturday - 30 sunday sylvia wishart scottish artist, exhibition. the iona gallery, duke street, kingussie. check www.ionagallery.com

9 sunday doors open days: findhorn icehouses 2-5pm. tel: 01309 690659. free entry. visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk doors open days: kinloss abbey 10am - 4pm.visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk doors open days: milnes primary school in fochabers. tel: 01343 821204. free entry. visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk doors open days: tugnet icehouse in spey bay. tours by scottish dolphin centre staff at 12.15pm and 3.15pm. tel: 01343 820339. free entry. visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk inverness ramblers: walk 1 - binnein shuas and binnein shios, laggan 8.30am. 15 miles. meet at highland council car park. contact 01667 236204. inverness ramblers: walk 2 - knockfarrel, strathpeffer 10am. 8 miles. meet at highland council car park. contact 01667 236204 for further information.

11 tuesday inverness gardening club 7:30pm, mackenzie centre, inverness. speaker to be confirmed. new members welcome. call graeme on 01463 224445 or email graememunro99@hotmail.com ‘evolution’ with the pink castle philosophy club 7:30pm, riverside lounge, glen mhor hotel, inverness. open to all, friendly towards gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. visit www.pinkcastle.eu inverness floral art club 7:30pm. will meet in cauldeen school. new members & guests welcome. blas festival concert featuring margaret stewart for further details, telephone: 01667 453476 or email: info@nairncc.co.uk. visit: www.nairncommunitycentre.co.uk

tel: 01309 690063

SpotLight on Inverness and District

11 tuesday - 12 wednesday

first highland wheelchair curling triples inverness ice centre. scotland’s top wheelchair curlers.

12 wednesday

heavenly creatures (film) 7.30pm. eden court cinema, inverness. inverness film fans present their current season “kate winslet”, a series of films starring the actress. film will be followed by informal post film discussion. www.invernessfilmfans.org

nadfas (national association of decorative and fine arts societies) fine art lecture on “creating a splash the st ives society of artists 1927 - 1952” 11am. delivered by david tovey. at the sherwood suite, eight acres hotel, elgin. visitors welcome.

masayuki kino & fumiko fujimoto 7.30pm. universal hall, findhorn. highly-acclaimed classical duo. £10/£8 concs/£6 u16s.

14 friday

21 friday

concert with bel canto 7pm. “bel canto” (literally “sweet singing” in italian) is a small north-east group of youngsters aged 8 to 18 (approx). £8 and £6 concessions. 0844 493 2156 or www.nts.org.uk.

15 saturday michael card in concert for further details, telephone: 01667 453476 or email: info@nairncc.co.uk. visit: www.nairncommunitycentre.co.uk coast to coast race staging through cawdor castle grounds. call 01667 404401 for more info or visit www.cawdorcastle.com nairn’s breakfast club 9.45am for 10am. at windsor hotel, nairn. meet other christian and non-christian men to share food and fellowship. speaker: stewart watt. contact campbell 01667 455149 by friday 14th september to book a place. clic sargent euan macrae sponsored bike ride aldie burn woods, tain. a 20k off road route or a 3k route full of harry potter themed surprises. bbq & activities. call peter 01463 713080, text ‘bike’ to 07889 119147 or email peter.logie@clicsargent.org.uk inverness ramblers: traverse of ben rinnes, moray 9am. 9 miles. meet at highland council car park. contact 01667 236204 for further information. dance ihayami - seeing differently 8pm. universal hall, findhorn. magic mix of indian classical dance, music, and film. £10/£8 concs/£6 u16s. guitar concert 8pm. at strathpeffer community centre. featuring the great fingerstyle virtuoso clive carroll. tickets £12/£10 concession available from duncan kennedy: 01997 421124.

15 saturday - 16 sunday

could you cross scotland, coast to coast? take on the challenge and raise money. contact children 1st on 0131 319 8068 or events@children1st.org.uk

16 sunday

great glen walking club glen arnisdale. 8 miles. meet 8am highland council car park. contact 01463 236204 for further information. boblainy forest group guided walk to meall mor above boblainy forest. meet at culburnie entrance to the forest 10am. contact sheila 01463 741382.

18 tuesday highland literary salon meeting 7.30pm. glenmhor hotel, inverness. we are running a writing competition (poetry and prose) on the theme of ‘highland life’. deadline 30 nov. www.highlandlitsalon.com SpotLight on Inverness and District

19 wednesday

glasgow phoenix choir 8 pm. at strathpeffer pavilion. tickets £10 (conc. £8) are already online with wegottickets.com www.phoenixchoir.org www.facebook.com/dingwall.choir the rotted @ flanagans bar, elgin 8pm. old school d-beat death metal. supported by aberdeen death metallers bonesaw and crusty punks filthpact. visit www.facebook.com/thesyndicate2008

22 saturday special end of season children’s activity session 11am - 1pm. elgin museum. accompanying adults go free and a visit to the museum is included. £2 per child. contact the museum: 01343 543675. email: curator@elginmuseum.org.uk the marvel of peru 7.30pm. exciting new baroque ensemble concert. eighteenth century chamber music from scotland and england. in the dairy at daviot. interval wine/soft drinks and luxurious finger buffet. bookings £15. tel: 01463 772976. Email: cafe@dairyatdaviot.co.uk glen cunningham concert for further details, telephone: 01667 453476 or email: info@nairncc.co.uk. visit: www.nairncommunitycentre.co.uk

22 saturday - 27 saturday october three fantastic exhibitions open together local photographer iain sarjeant’s “among trees” runs concurrently with scottish potter’s association “autumn exhibition” and a group of various mediums inspired by the lyrics of “if you go down to the woods today”. visit: www.inchmoregallery.co.uk

23 sunday great glen walking club chanonry point and the fairy glen. 7 miles. meet 9am highland council car park. contact 01463 236204 for further information. inverness ramblers: black rock gorge and glen glass, evanton 9am. 10 miles. meet at highland council car park. contact 01667 236204autumn wedding fair 11am - 4pm at strathpeffer pavilion. www.strathpefferpavilion.org or call 01997 420124 laigh o’ moray vintage charity rally & fun day @ inchkeil steading in aid of friends of moray archie appeal. adults £6, oaps £4, children £2, and under 5s free. contact morag davidson 01309 676815 or gordon mckenzie 01343 541665

tel: 01309 690063

September 2012 - page 17

24 monday 'the mummy's return' presented by professor caroline wilkinson. 2-4pm. research information about elgin museum's peruvian mummy. lecture is £3. £2 for society members. contact elgin museum: 01343 543675. email: curator@elginmuseum.org.uk

27 thursday

NAIRN Nairn Community & Arts Centre

bl’azz 8pm - 10pm. in the downstairs bar of the castle tavern, inverness. performing classic american blues & jazz songs. free admission, limited seating.

28 friday cinema nairn presents ‘a separation’ (pg) 2011.

7.30pm. multi-award winning iranian film. nairn community and arts centre. tickets at door. 'italy to grant lodge: the making of robert adam' presented by dr lester borley. 7.30-9.30pm. prices £3. £2 for society members. contact: 01343 543675. email: curator@elginmuseum.org.uk

our local venue for films, shows, Your Y concerts, and parties.

W ide range of activities for all ages.

Wide

SEPTEMBER EVENTS Tues Tues 4th - Sun 9th ..................................Nairn .................................. Nairn Book & Arts Festival Tues Tues 11th 11th ...... Blas Festival Concert featuring “Margaret Stewart”

29 saturday music nairn: pianist leon mccawley for further details, telephone: 01667 453476 info@nairncc.co.uk www.nairncommunitycentre.co.uk inverness ramblers: remote loch luichart, strathconon 9am. 6 - 8 rough miles. meet at highland council car park. contact 01667 236204. gaelic eucharist with some hymns in english.

12noon. at saint paul’s, strathnairn. parson duncan (reverend duncan mackenzie) to the episcopal church and to the gaelic language. gaelic and nongaelic speakers welcome. bi-centennial celebration and restoration of the main stained glass window of st john’s scottish episcopal church 11am. a service led by bishop mark strange will start at 3.30pm. extensive flower arrangements at 11am. all welcome. refreshments available. celebrations service on sunday at 11am. sara groves uk tour 7pm. culduthel christian centre, culduthel avenue, inverness. visit www.refinetickets.com for info and booking. dame emma kirkby & jakob lindberg in concert 7pm - 8:30pm, old high church, church street, inverness.

Sat 15th ....................................................Michael .................................................... Michael Card in Concert Sat 22nd ................................................. Glen Cunningham Concert Sat 29th ...................................Music ...................................Music Nairn - Leon McCawley Piano

For further details, telephone 01667 453476, e-mail info@nairncc.co.uk or check out our website www.nairncommunitycentre.co.uk at www.nairncommunitycentre.co.uk

fundraising for moray steiner school & a new upper school project. suggested donations for tickets start at £25, available at www.moraysteinerschool.org, from leakey’s bookshop, church street, inverness & phoenix, the park, findhorn. leon mccawley 7.30pm internationally acclaimed virtuoso pianist playing liszt, debussy, rachmaninov, and schuman. nairn community and arts centre.

01667 455701. www.musicnairn.org.uk dr feelgood 8 pm. at strathpeffer pavilion. performing such hits as "milk & alcohol", "down at the doctors" and "roxette", tickets £15 (conc. £14, school pupils £6) Tel 08444 771000,

30 sunday last day of opening for castle & gardens for the year. enquiries & ticket info call 01667 404401 or visit www.cawdorcastle.com great glen walking club ben wyvis. 8.5 miles. meet 8.30am highland council car park. contact 01463 236204 for further information. autumn wedding fair 11 am to 4 pm. strathpeffer pavilion. free entry for visitors on the day. anyone who wishes to exhibit at the event should ring andrew or mary dawn on 01997 420124. www.strathpefferpavilion.org/weddings.asp grab your children 1st charity place for the loch ness marathon contact children 1st on 0131 319 8068 or email running@children1st.org.uk page 18 - September 2012

tel: 01309 690063

SpotLight on Inverness and District

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Property

VALUE MATTÂŁRS A new house or a second-hand property? The following pointers may help you make up your mind.

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Property section

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A nd it ’s the per fect ma tch ffor o or a br and new K ylaur y en Home.

Home.

And it’s perfect match brand Kylauren B oth ar designed for for o ccomfort omffort and built ffor or lif off ffer e Both aree designed lifee and both offer lev els of qualit afftsmanship tha levels qualityy and cr craftsmanship thatt ar aree simply miles ahead hen it ccomes omes tto o style, style, they’re they’re in a class of their own. own. ahead.. W When FFor or mor able off ffer err, moree details on this unbeliev unbelievable offer, don ’t miss out - call us no w. don’t now.

S Showhomes howhomes at: at: M Meadow eadow LLea, ea, Montgomerie Montgomerie D Drive, rive, Nairn Nairn IV12 IV12 5 5RW. RW. TEL:: 01667 452508 55IVSTEBZ .POEBZ BN UP QN t www.kylaurenhomes.co.uk IVSTEBZ .POEBZ BN UP QN t www.kylaurenhomes.co.uk *

Property section

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German build quality Italian design flair Superbly made in Scotland Est.1986

OVER

YEARS

IN BUSINESS

K I T C H E N S Beautiful, design-led kitchens of exceptional quality, and made by us in Scotland, which we only sell direct through our own showrooms to ensure outstanding value.

ELGIN:: 27 Tyock Tyock Industrial Estate.

Estate . T: T: 01343 545155 ABERDEEN: 1 6 Murcar Commercial Park.

Park. T: T: 01224 703274 16 oad. T: T: 01463 711548 INVERNESS: 18 Carsegate R Road.

ashleyann.co.uk