Spotlight on Nairn March 2017

MARCH 2017

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Words by the Wayside "The Lord was ready to save me" (Isaiah 38:20)

Reader, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He is a wonderful and a willing Personal Saviour. The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance and faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

God would have all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth; that they are sinners and Christ Jesus is their only Saviour. Confront yourself with your own sins, your unworthiness before God, then see the love of God in Christ Jesus. The Lord is ready to save you, but you must come to Him.

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Phone: 01667453087 Email: auldearnant@aol.com

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CLUBS & SOCIETIES AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS Free, confidential help & support to the relatives & friends of problem drinkers. Local weekly groups in Highland area. Call 020 7403 0888 for a local contact number for your area or visit www.al-anonuk.org.uk

CAWDOR HERITAGE GROUP 3rd Wed every month excluding June, July, Aug, Dec & Jan, 7.30pm at Cawdor Community Centre. Talks on Local & Family History. Research facilities at Nairn Museum. Contact 01667 493218 for details.

INVERNESS RACING PIGEON CLUB Seeking new members young and old. Races held from Inverness to as far away as France with the North East Federation. All ages welcome.

Call 01463 243038.

BEFRIENDERS HIGHLAND Local charity providing supported friendships with a trained volunteer for people with mental health problems.

Provides telephone befriending for people with dementia or memory problems and their carers. To receive a service, or volunteer to befriend someone, call Alan (mental health) or Liz (dementia) on 01667 451444 www.befriendershigland.co.uk or see their Facebook page

CHILDREN’S HIGHLAND DANCE Wednesdays at Nairn British Legion Hall. Preschool 3:30pm 4:30pm and Beginners 4:30pm 5:30pm. Call Elizabeth Fraser on 01463 729477

LEARN GAELIC IN NAIRN Weekly classes during school terms. Thursdays 9:30am 11:30am. Wednesdays 7:30pm 9:30pm. Beginners to Intermediate. Contact Lorraine McBeath on 01667 451291 for further information.

BOYS BRIGADE Contact 452950

FAMILY FIRST (BADENOCH, STRATHSPEY & NAIRN) Support service via home based volunteer support and or group support for families with a child under 4. Contact Lynne 452865

CAWDOR BOWLING CLUB Provides a six rink green where club and open competitions are played. Spoon competition Friday’s 7pm. Coaching for learners on a Tuesday evening.

Contact 453698

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page 4 - March 2017

CROSSROADS Provide and develop a high quality, cost effective, domiciliary respite care service for carers within Nairn & Distict. Contact 455369

FÈIS INBHIR NARAINN Reg. Charity No. SC038460.

Weekly traditional music classes in guitar, fiddle, whistle, chanter, accordion, keyboard & bodhran.

Any ability from age 8.

Instrument hire available. Tel: 462681 or visit www.spanglefish.com/ inbhirnarainn INVERNESS ADVANCED MOTORISTS 5 Tuesdays from 22nd April, 7:30pm, Holiday Inn Express, Inverness. Improve your driving with the Inverness branch of the IAM - lectures and practical tuition to bring you up to the IAM test standard. For details email info@inverness-iam.org INVERNESS HOSPITAL RADIO Email requests to be played for someone in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness to: requests@invernes shospitalradio.co.uk. We are looking for ward visitors and technical team members. Email: enquiry@invernesshospitalradio .co.uk Contact Mr Atholl Menzies tel: 704500/704501

LONG DISTANCE WALKERS ASSOCIATION (NORTH WEST GRAMPIAN LDWA) For all who enjoy the outdoors combined with cake. Centred on Moray but covering Thurso to Pitlochry and even the islands.

A varied programme of walks is planned to attract a wide range of people with shorter options for families when possible. For more info visit www.ldwa.org.uk MORAY & NAIRN FLORAL ART CLUB 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm in The Tolbooth, Forres.

Mar - Jun & Sept - Dec. Annual fee. New members welcome. For more information call Jean on 01309 672552 MORAY GIRLS FOOTBALL CLUB Meets at Elgin Academy Games Hall (Mon, Tues & Wed evenings). For timings & age groups please see Contact.

Welcoming girls from throughout Moray & Speyside. If you are aged between 9-14yrs & have played football or are keen to play, why not come along to one of our sessions? We are especially keen to recruit goalkeepers for our under 13s teams, even if you've not tried it before! Sessions are weekly.

Phone Shona on 07723769076 or send a message via our facebook page, Moray Girls Football Club.

Community & Arts Centre (Mar Dec). Talks, visits and day outings with an Annual Show in August. New members welcome.

Visit www.spanglefish.com/ nairnand districtgardeningclub.

NAIRN U3A Speaker meetings fortnightly on Wednesdays at 1:45pm, interest groups monthly on various days.

For people no longer working full time who want to learn a little, explore special interests and meet new people. Interest groups include Mah Jong, history, reading, Scottish country dancing, Scrabble, films and eating out. New members welcome. For info call Pauline on 01667 453537 or visit www.nairnu3a.org.uk NAIRN WINE CIRCLE Home wine making. Meetings held through the year. New members welcome. Contact Rosemary on 454019 or Chris on 452000. Website: nairnwinewinecircle.org.uk PET FOSTERING SCOTLAND Supporting pet owners in an emergency situation. Volunteers care for your pet in their own homes for short periods. Reg. charity SCO15672. Volunteers needed. Tel: 0844 811 9909 www.pfss.org.uk

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.

NAIRN & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB Meets 1st Thursday of the month, 7.30pm at Nairn

tel: 01309 690063

admin@.winterburnmdia.co.uk

I don’t know about you but I am getting a bit tired of all the politics just now. It does just seem to go on and on sometimes and I wonder if we will ever get back to just complaining about road and rail like the good old days!

I am a sport fan myself and love to dwell on the success or otherwise of sporting endeavour. There is something pure and uncomplicated about winning or losing (or even just competing) in sport which seems to appeal to me. Maybe it’s because there is normally always a result and politics just seems often just to roll on and on - ah well - Hey Ho.

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*Offer based on first visit enrolment. Not valid with any other offer or discount; no cash value. Enrolment must be for a 12-month minimum direct debit mandate, paid monthly. Valid only at participating locations. Restrictions apply, see local club for details.© 2015 Curves International, Inc.

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PASTORAL LETTER & CHURCH MEETINGS I’ve never been to the Holy Land and have, therefore, never had the experience of visiting places like Nazareth, Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

But I’ve always thought it must be amazing to walk in those places where Jesus walked, even if the crass commercialisation of the tourist shops did stifle the devotional spirit somewhat.

But my wife, Maggie, was on holiday in Turkey a couple of years back and, quite unexpectedly, found herself in standing in Hierapolis before the grave of the apostle Philip who was martyred there two thousand years ago. She found it to be a genuinely moving experience – it was only a grave, but it housed the mortal remains of one who had known and walked and talked with the Lord himself and had seen him face to face. Suddenly the world seemed very small and time very fleeting, as history almost seemed to come to life before her in that unassuming spot.

Philip was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, those men who he chose to be his closest friends, followers, students, apprentices – those who would learn first-hand from him what they needed to know, in order to begin to carry his message into all the earth when the time came for him to leave this world and return to his Father in heaven.

Others, perhaps, are better known –

Peter, James and John the fishermen, Thomas the doubter, Matthew the taxcollector, Andrew the patron-saint of Scotland(!), and Judas Iscariot the notorious traitor of the group.

The picture the Bible paints of them is certainly one of a group of men who want to learn, to know God, to understand the Scriptures, to be a help and support to Jesus in his ministry. But the Bible is not slow either to draw attention to their ignorance of important truths, their small-minded tendency to squabble with one another, and their attempts to try and upstage one another in matters they should have been humble and gracious about. Worse still, the night Judas betrayed Jesus, the disciples slept when they shouldn’t have, failed to pray and stay vigilant when they should have, abandoned Jesus in his greatest hour of need - Peter doing so with swearing and cursing to prove that he didn’t even know Jesus. It was shameful, cowardly behaviour that they all must have bitterly regretted ever afterwards.

But when Jesus rose from the dead and these disciples became convinced of the astonishing truth of his Resurrection and the real significance of his death on the cross, they became men transformed – ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven.

The subsequent change in their

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

Auldearn and Dalmore Parish Church Sundays 12noon.

Contact Revd. Thomas M Bryson on 01667 451675.

Cawdor Parish Church Sunday 10.15am. Contact Rev David M. Anderson, Locum Minister on 07802 452 293 Nairn Baptist Church Nairn Community Centre. Sundays 11am. Contact Rev. Dr. Philip Egglestone on 01667 452764 or Secretary on 01667 452428. www.nairnbaptistchurch.org.uk Nairn Christian Fellowship Sundays 10.30am. Wednesday 7.30pm: praise and Bible study. Call Sandy Shaw on 01667 456492.

Nairn Free Church Sundays 11am with Sunday school and crèche, 6pm at Gordon St, Nairn. Wednesdays: Cafe at 10am, Junior Club at 6pm, for P4-P7 and Youth Club at 7pm for S1S6. Thursdays: Tiddlywinks: Parent and Toddler group at 10am and Bible Study Prayer Meeting at 7pm. Contact the Minister, Murdo MacLeod, on 01667 459131.

Nairn Old Parish Church 10.30am: Sunday School and crèche. Contact Rev. Alison Mehigan on 01667 453777

page 6 - March 2017

conduct, speech, message and character remains one of the greatest testimonies to the reality and power of Jesus’ Resurrection.

The rest of their lives were given to preaching his gospel, telling about him wherever they went – in Philip’s case as far as western Turkey where he would willingly lay down his life for the cause of Christ and his wonderful message to the world.

For you and me, there is a tremendous lesson in all this.

Christian believers are nobody special, but the Lord still uses even people like us to do his work in the world to this day. Clumsy, awkward, relatively untalented, naïve, ordinary – but he can and does turn the world upside-down through humble, obedient followers who truly love, trust and follow him. Not because they’re anything special, but because he is.

And although we can’t know and walk and talk with him in exactly the same way Philip and the others were able to do back then… we will yet!

We shall see him face to face and ‘we shall be like him because we shall see him as he is’ (1 John 3 2).

Murdo MacLeod Nairn Free Church

St. Ninian’s Church Sunday services and Sunday school: 10.15am. Contact Revd. Thomas M Bryson on 01667 451675.

St Columba’s Scottish Episcopal Family Eucharist on Sundays at 10.30am. Holy Communion on Wednesdays at 10.30am. Contact Rev. Dean Alison J Simpson 01667 452458 St Mary’s Catholic Church IV12 4RJ. Saturday Vigil 6pm.

Sunday Mass 10am. Tel: 01667 453323.

United Reformed Church Sunday services and Sunday School with crèche 11am. Contact John C Brown (Secretary) 01667 453373.

The Pentecostal Church of God Nairn Sundays 10.30am.

Contact Minister JD Grant on 01667 456088 or visit www.churchofgodnairn.com Nairn Joint Service at Nairn St Ninian's Church of Scotland.

First Sunday each month at 6:30pm.

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 existing details, email linda@winterburnmedia.co.uk

tel: 01309 690063

admin@winterburnmedia.co.uk

Colin Buchan

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PARLIAMENT BLOG & TIDE TIMES

Almost a year has passed since I was returned to Parliament as a Green MSP. Since then I have been heavily involved in scrutinising the Scottish Government through my roles on the parliament’s Rural Economy and Justice Committees as well as the subCommittee on Policing.

I have also campaigned on a number of important issues affecting our local communities including concerns around the transportation of nuclear material from Dounreay, via Wick airport and against plans to scrap Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s board.

For over a year now I have also supported the campaign against ship to ship oil transfers in the Cromarty Firth, proposals which have the potential to devastate dolphin and other wildlife populations, tourism, our most important industry, if they proceed.

By one measure, Inverness is the most successful city in Scotland, for tourism over the past year. That measure is the occupancy rates of Inverness hotels with more bed nights occupied than the hotels in other cities in the country.

Indeed, some wag commented that the only establishment in the city with a higher occupancy level may be Porterfield Prison!

Tourism has always been important for us - perhaps more so than elsewhere in the country. So it is good to see it succeed. Our scenery, high quality food and drink, our great golf course and beaches, and the Scottish brand all helps us attract visitors from over the world.

Despite all the current uncertainty, I am confident we will build on that success over this year, with further air links to other countries in the world, and further developing our skilled workforce in the sector.

Fergus Ewing MSP

John Finnie MSP

LOW TIDE TIMES FOR NAIRN IN MARCH

Walking on the beach should be possible 2 hours either side of these times 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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AM 07:25 08:04 08:45 09:33 10:33 11:53 00:42

page 8 - March 2017

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02:11 03:20 04:13 04:57 05:36 06:12 06:45 07:17 07:49 08:20 08:55 09:35

14:48 15:49 16:40 17:22 18:01 18:36 19:10 19:41 20:12 20:45 21:21 22:05

tel: 01309 690063

I recently attended the formal signing of the Inverness City Region and it was excellent to mark the day when the projects that form the City Deal were set to become a reality. The £315 million funding package is led by the Scottish Government’s investment of £135 million. The UK Government has committed a further £53 million with rest made up by the Highland Council and partners. The accelerated investment will support the development of key infrastructure projects and will invest in our emerging industries such as STEMD and Life Sciences.

It is an opportunity to not only boost the economy and bring jobs, it allows us to plan growth, develop our vision and deliver for the people who live and work here.

Perhaps one of the most notable benefits of the Deal is the opening of Inverness Castle to the public. It will be great for all, locals and visitors to come to the Highlands to see yet another world-class attraction.

Drew Hendry MP

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AM 10:27 11:44 00:37 02:07 03:07 03:52 05:31 06:10 06:48 07:26 08:05 08:46

PM 23:04 13:28 14:43 15:33 16:14 17:52 18:31 19:10 19:49 20:30 21:11

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FEBRUARY 2017 20 monday

Promote your events in the SpotLight ‘What’s On’ You can now go online at www.spotlighton.co.uk Register an account and put your event online and in the magazine - both for free Any events uploaded to the website by the closing date will be automatically printed in the magazine.

secret symbols of the stuarts: children's half term crafts 10am - 2pm, culloden battlefield visitor centre donation plus admission to the centre. join us to make some jacobite secret symbols- from bees to roses. all children must be accompanied by an adult.

21 tuesday

sophie ellis-bextor@ironworks, inverness tbc. visit www.ironworksvenue.com

22 wednesday

Now there’s clever!! *April Issue Deadline: Friday 3rd March* Alternatively, you can still Email: linda@winterburnmedia.co.uk or Telephone: 01309 690063

bite & blether jointly run by dyke & district village hall & dyke church 11am - 1pm, dyke village hall come & join us for a bowl of soup, cake & coffee & a blether. all welcome-

24 friday

Inclusion of events in What’s On is free.

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

Contact venues & organisers first as there may be changes to events.

livewire ac/dc@ironworks, inverness 7.30pm. visit www.ironworksvenue.com hunter & the bear@the drouthy cobbler, elgin (sold out) 8pm. visit www.thedrouthycobbler.co.uk nairn literary institute: "snuff making & snuff taking in scotland”- speaker dr eric grant 7.30pm at nairn

PetStay

Now taking ŬŝŶŐƐ ĨŽƌ 2017!

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Rolling Events 25 february - 8 march inverness music festival tbc, inverness - various locations

until 28 february

still life studio winter exhibition@still life studio, aberlour10am - 5pm (mon - sat), free, all welcome

until 30 april

moray supports refugees: appeal for warm clothing, tents & equipment for adults, children & babies living in refugee camps this winter. collection points at the sorting centre, chanonry estate, elgin (near blind spot) thursdays 2pm - 4.30pm & fridays 11.30pm - 2pm; babalou,high street,forres; reboot, greshop road, forres; the drop off caravan, pineridge, findhorn foundation & wastebusters (camping equipment only), waterford, forres.

admin@winterburnmedia.co.uk

ͻ ƌĞ LJŽƵ Ăƚ ŚŽŵĞ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĚĂLJ͍ ͻ džƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚ ŽŐ KǁŶĞƌ͕ ƉĂƐƚ Žƌ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ͻ Ž LJŽƵ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ƐĞĐƵƌĞ͕ ƵŶƐŚĂƌĞĚ ŐĂƌĚĞŶ͍ ͻ Ž LJŽƵ >Ks K'^͍ ͻ Ž LJŽƵ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ĞĂƌŶ Ă ůŝƩůĞ ĞdžƚƌĂ͍ Then maybe becoming one of our many Dog Carers would be ideal for you.

Highland & Moray Branch Ϭϭϰϲϯ ϳϰϭϮϲϳ ͻ ĐĂƚƌŝŽŶĂΛƉĞƚƐƚĂLJ͘ŶĞƚ ͻ ǁǁǁ͘ƉĞƚƐƚĂLJ͘ŶĞƚ

free church. contact: pam sherriff om 01667 451402 or email info@nairnliterary.org.uk. visit www.nairnliterary.org.uk cinema-nairn: spotlight 7.30pm at nairn community & arts centre. visit www.cinema-nairn.co.uk buddhist public talk: unraveling our emotions, ven. robina courtin 7.30pm, sunshine room, 505 east whins, the park, findhorn contact: margo van greta on 01309 676665 or email togmesangpo37@gmail.com. visit

tel: 01309 690063

March 2017 - page 13

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24 friday - 25 saturday groove cairngorm, aviemore tbc, featuring basement jaxx, craig charles funk & soul club, bonde, etc. www.groovecairngorm.co.uk

25 saturday scottish opera highlights 7.30pm, nairn community & arts centre. music nairn performance. visit www.musicnairn.org.uk highland ramblers: strathconon to badinluchie, strath bran 9am (please arrive 10 minutes early), highland council car park, glenurquhart road, inverness. grade b. 10.5 miles. contact: jane chisholm (walks coordinator) on 01463 236204. visit www.highlandramblers.org.uk

26 sunday great glen walking club: loch clair to easan dorcha bothy 9am (please arrive 10 minutes early), highland council car park, glenurquhart road, inverness. grade c+. 10.5 miles

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3 friday american idiot the musical @ironworks, inverness, tbc. www.ironworksvenue.com

3 friday - 4 saturday north sea gas @hootannay, inverness 9.30pm

4 saturday vitalic @ironworks, inverness, tbc. visit www.ironworksvenue.com sing-along-a-swing @mad hatters, inverness, 7pm red hot chilli pipers @the loft, forres, 7.30pm great glen walking club: morning walk & agm tbc, detais to follow.

5 sunday

registration from 1.30pm, entry on the day only. fun run min. age 8. all entrants aged 8 & 9 must be accompanied by adult. www.nairnroadrunners.co.uk highland ramblers: dava way –dunphail to halfway hut 9am (please arrive 10 minutes early), highland council car park, glenurquhart road, inverness. grade c, distance 9 miles. contact: jane chisholm (walks coordinator) on 01462 236204. http://www.highlandramblers.org.uk

6 monday "a life in mountain rescue": speaker john allen 3pm, nairn community & arts centre. members £2, non-members £4. on behalf of the highland members' centre n.t. for s.

7 tuesday black star riders + gun + the amorettes@ironworks, inverness, tbc, www.ironworksvenue.com. highland astronomical society talk: "variable stars" by maarten de vries 7.20pm, smithton culloden free church. all welcome. scottish ornithologists’ club highland: “red breasted geese in bulgaria” by bob swann 7.30pm at culloden library. £3 members, £4 non-members. for info call 01463 772539 or 01808 511740,

8 wednesday highland rock garden club: around the upper engadine (switzerland) speaker - michael almond.

7.30pm, nairn community & arts centre. £4 (includes refreshments). all welcome. contact: john owen on 01320 366246

10 friday the real thing @ironworks, inverness, 7pm, www.ironworksvenue.com danielle price & pianist 1pm, spectrum centre, margaret street, inverness. all welcome nairn literary institute lecture: 'herring gutters of north-east scotland 1840-1950' - speaker anne coombs 7.30pm, nairn free church members free, non- members £3 on the night. contact pam sherriff on 01667 451402 or email info@nairnliterary.org.uk. www.nairnliterary.org.uk.

11 saturday lee scratch perry @ironworks, inverness, 7.30pm, www.ironworksvenue.com music nairn: kammer philharmonia europa 7.30pm, nairn community & arts centre. german string group plays bach, corelli, albinoni, greig, borodin. visit www.musicnairn.org.uk highland ramblers: clava estate beinn buidhe mhor 9am (please arrive 10 minutes early), highland council car park, glenurquhart road, inverness grade b, distance 9 miles. contact: jane chisholm (walks coordinator 01463 236204. visit www.highlandramblers.org.uk

nairn 10k 2017 nairn community centre: 2pm, page 16 - March 2017

tel: 01309 690063

admin@winterburnmedia.co.uk

Music THE DROUTHY COBBLER February saw several sell-out performances at Elgin’s The Drouthy Cobbler - including television comedian Seann Walsh and indie-rock favourites, Hunter & the Bear. As the nights draw out and holidays approach, their events look likely to become busier & busier.

This month they have the welcome return of Patrick Monahan for his ‘That 80’s Show’ tour (23rd & 24th). After the huge success of last year’s ‘The Disco Years’, which told the story of his parents meeting in Iran in the 1970’s at the height of disco, this sequel hilariously details what it was like living as an immigrant in Britain after escaping the Iraq-Iran War. Full of his usual funny and heartfelt stories and lots of audience interaction, this will be a great show.

Sticking with comedy, Wednesday the 29th is the monthly Drouthy Cobbler Comedy Club, featuring some of the best comedians from around the country.

March is a good month for music lovers. For folk and trad fans, they are hosting the wonderful Siobhan Miller (5th). Siobhan, performing here as part of her trio, is the only vocalist to have won Scots Singer of the Year at the Scots Trad Awards twice and has also been noted for her beautifully crafted songs. Full of jazz inspired rhythms and punctuated by her fantastic voice, she is not to be missed.

For those looking to take a walk on the louder side of things, you won’t be disappointed.

Inverness based band, Lional will be showcasing their own unique brand of Indie Noir (17th).

After years of touring and building their name across the U.K., last year saw them being invited to perform in Los Angeles, making inroads in a hugely important market. They are supported by Cold Years, a rock and roll punk band from Aberdeen who have become known for their energetic live performances.

They end the month (31st) with two of the best up and coming bands from the north of Scotland. Ralia are an Inverness indie band, whilst The Roov are from Lossiemouth. Both bands have been paying their dues by gigging any chance they get, and it’s great to see them getting the recognition they deserve, proving again that the future of Scottish music is in safe hands.

12 sunday the inverness ½ marathon & 5k fun run inverness, 12.30pm, open to all ages & abilities, 01463 667500 dougal's jumper @hootannay, inverness 9.30pm. great glen walking club: brora from the sea up the river to the loch 9am (please arrive 15 minutes early), highland council car park, glenurquhart road, inverness. grade c. distance 8.6 miles.

13 monday rsgs lecture: to frack or not to frack? energy security in the making? a dangerous diversion? an impartial geologist's view. prof iain Stewart. 7.30pm – 9pm, highland council chamber, glenurquhart road, inverness. email robert preece at rpreece@onetel.com or visit www.rsgs.org light & life 7-9pm, costa coffee, 66 high st. elgin. free spiritual readings, dream interpretation, spiritual art, personality styles, massage, healing, nail art, music. contact: alyson sim on 07733127539 or at malalysim@lightlife.org.uk. visit www.lightlife.org.uk

13 monday - 18 saturday nethy bridge annual charity shop mon 10am - 4pm & 6.30pm - 8pm; tues to friday 10am - 2pm & sat 10am - noon at church hall, dell road, nethybridge. selling clothes, books, furniture, bric-a-brac anything & everything. tea, coffee & home baking

will be served throughout the week. Goods can be dropped off in the Church Hall the week before. No electricals, video cassettes or books please. A bag collection will be organised in due course so start clearing out all unwanted items now!

14 tuesday inverness botany group: fungi 7.30pm, smithton culloden free church. all welcome

15 wednesday inverness field club: the monster that wasn't - or was it? followed by agm 7.30pm, milburn academy hall, inverness. visit www.invernessfieldclub.org.uk

16 thursday the temperance movement@ironworks, inverness, tbc. www.ironworksvenue.com rspb highland group: abriachan walk 9.30am, depart inverness retail park car park (opposite burger king) all welcome.

17 friday st patrick's day party @ironworks, inverness, tbc www.ironworksvenue.com. musicinverness: attard zerafa duo 7.30pm, smithton culloden free church. saxophonist philip attard hails from gozo & pianist christine zerafa is maltese. inverness gaelic society: an taigh ceilidh 7.30pm,

You can now register to vote online at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN SCOTLAND WILL BE HELD ON 4 MAY 2017 DON’T LOSE YOUR CHANCE TO VOTE For more information please go to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk It may affect your credit rating if you are not on the Register Highland & Western Isles Electoral Registration Office For further information please visit: www.highland.gov.uk/hwi-vjb email:ero@highland.gov.uk Freephone: 0800 393 783

Go to: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote It only takes a few minutes! page 18 - March 2017

tel: 01309 690063

admin@winterburnmedia.co.uk

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eden court theatre, inverness. with sineag macintyre, ellen macdonald, james graham, robert nairn ceilidh band & piper euan maccrimmon contact: alice macdonald (secretary gsi). visit www.eden-court.co.uk

18 saturday stiff little fingers @ironworks, inverness, 7pm www.ironworksvenue.com lost in the riots @mad hatters, inverness, 9.30pm schiehallio@hootananny, inverness, 9.30pm. great glen walking club: ruthven - moy wind farm via tom na slaite 9am (please arrive 15 minutes early), highland council car park, glenurquhart road, inverness. grade b, distance 7.5 miles.

18 saturday - 19 sunday newtonmore 10 mile road race tbc, newtonmore the weekend also includes a 2 mile fun run, entertainment on the Saturday night & the "Hangover Mile" race on Sunday. visit www.newtonmore.com. highland forum: drop in sessions sat 18th 9am 5.30pm; sun 19th 11am - 5pm, outside 'waterstone's', eastgate centre, inverness. free all welcome. come & explore the website. contact: david gordon on 07953 222222 or email 2hiforum1@gmail.com admin@winterburnmedia.co.uk

www.knockomie.co.uk

Tel: 01309 673146

stay@knockomie.co.uk

19 sunday haughs of cromdale 10k road race haughs of cromdale, 1.30pm (start) £7 enter on the day at cromdale hall. contact: john diffey 01479 873488. highland ramblers: sgurr dubh (walk 1) 8.30am (please arrive 10 minutes early), highland council car park, glenurquhart road, inverness. grade a, distance 7.2 mies. highland ramblers: mystery walk (walk 2) details to be given at a later time 9am (please arrive 10 minutes early) highland council car park, glenurquhart road, inverness. contact: jane chisholm (walks coordinator) on 01463 236204. visit www.highlandramblers.org.uk

22 wednesday gàidhlig inbhir narainn /gaelic in nairn 7.30pm, nairn community & arts centre. an invitation to nairn folk of all ages to come together socially in warm gaelic style. contact: gaelicnairn@outlook.com.

23 thursday beneath the surface: fish & chips in rivers & lochs speaker - prof eric verspoor. light supper after talk 5.30pm - 7pm, inverness college uhi. email events@uhi.ac.uk

tel: 01309 690063

March 2017 - page 19

Tel: 01667 454 536

great glen walking club: above duntelchaig 9am (please arrive 15 minutes early), highland council car park, glenurquhart road, inverness. grade c+, distance 8 miles

gillian@westwoodcattery.co.uk westwoodcattery.co.uk

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Westwood, Littlemill, Nairn

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Listed in the Cattery guide as one of the top 100 catteries in the UK

FAB Moray and the Highlands only F.A.B registered cattery 24 friday cinema nairn: wadjda (pg) award winning saudi film about a young girl who is determined not to bow to convention 7.30pm, nairn community & arts centre visit www.cinema-nairn.co.uk nairn literary institute agm 7.30pm, nairn free church. members only. contact: pam sherriff on 01667 451402 or email info@nairnliterary.org.uk. www.nairnliterary.org.uk.

2017 ssafa lossiemouth masquerade ball (black tie) 6.30pm - 12am, the laichmoray hotel, elgin. £40 dress to impress, enjoy a fabulous meal, dance to live music, have a great night & support a local charity. email annemariessafa@hotmail.com

bite & blether jointly run by dyke & district village hall & dyke church 11am - 1pm, dyke village hall come & join us for a bowl of soup, cake & coffee & a blether. all welcome.

30 thursday rspb: north of scotland office update - rspb staff will report on various aspects of the rspb's work in the highlands over the last year. 7.30pm, greyfriars free church, balloan road, inverness. group members £3 visitors £4. all welcome. contact: john on 01997 433283 or email john@jmanson2.wanadoo.co.uk inverness gaelic society: “ turas afghanistan” afghanistan trip - talk by hector mackenzie 7.30pm, inverness gaelic school ( opp. asda supermarket).

31 friday what is europe: the cultural landscape of its peoples by dr. lester borley, cbe, former sec. gen. of europa nostra. 7.30pm, elgin museum hall £3, £2 for society members, £1.50 for students. moray society lecture series 2016/17, contact: mary shand on 01343 543675 or at curator@elgin

25 saturday neville staple band + bombskare@ironworks, inverness, 7.30pm, visit www.ironworksvenue.com inaugural concert of the ness sinfonia 7.30pm, inverness cathedral. all players welcome. rehearsals are on saturdays (10am - 12pm) in kenneth street hall during term time. email suelightman@gmail.com highland ramblers: beinn a ‘mhuinidh kinlochewe 9am (please arrive 10 minutes early), highland council car park, glenurquhart road, inverness grade b+, distance 9 miles. contact: jane chisholm (walks coordinator) on 01463 236204. visit www.highlandramblers.org.uk. elgin strathspey & reel society annual festival of scots fiddle music 8.45am to about 1.00pm &1.30 pm the williamson hall, elgin. entry by donation. all welcome. contact: jim hogg on 01807 590 276 or email jimlehogg1@btinternet.com.

26 sunday inchberry & district community association car boot sale inchberry hall, orton, fochabers, 8.30am 12pm, free, no booking required, just turn up early in car with table before 8.30am. tea/coffee & butteries in hall & bbq from hut www.wherecanwego.com

page 20 - March 2017

tel: 01309 690063

admin@winterburnmedia.co.uk

recipe

&KHI¶V Confidential

Oatmeal Cookies Fill your cookie jar with these classic oatmeal cookies! They make for a delightful afternoon snack paired with a glass of milk. This month’s recipe is supplied by The Peppermill Restaurant in Forres. makes around 30 Ingredients: 175g butter 275g Demerara sugar 1 egg 4tsbp water 1tsp vanilla extract 375g rolled oats 140g plain flour 1tsp salt 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda Method: Preheat oven to 180 degrees, line a large baking tray or two.

Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl. Beat in the egg, water and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.

In a separate bowl, mix the oats, flour, salt and bicarbonate of soda.

Gradually stir the oat mixture into the butter mixture until thoroughly combined.

Divide the mixture into about 30 balls, and space them well on the baking tray, Bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden. Once cooked transfer to a cooling rack to avoid cookies sweating.

Why not try adding chocolate chips or chopped nuts/dried fruits, or even replace some of the oats with desiccated coconut.

118 High Street, FORRES IV36 1NP ¬

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FOOTBALL FOOTBALL CL CLUB UB

FIXTURESS FEB/MAR 2017 FIXTURE 25th Feb (A) Berwick Rangers

4th Mar (H) Arbroath

11th Mar (A) Annan Athletic

18th Mar (H) Forfar Athletic

Inverness CT

25th Feb (H) Rangers

1st Mar (H) Celtic

11th Mar (A) Partick Thistle

18th Mar (H) Ross County

Ross County

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1st Mar (A) Hearts

11th Mar (H) Kilmarnock

18th Mar (H) Inverness CT

Buckie Thistle

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4th Mar (A) Fraserburgh

11th Mar SHFL CUP

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Clachnacuddin

25th Feb SHFL CUP

4th Mar (A) Inverurie Locos

11th Mar SHFL CUP

18th Mar (H) Brora Rangers

Forres Mechanics

25th Feb SHFL CUP

4th Mar (H) Rothes

11th Mar SHFL CUP

18th Mar (H) Turriff Utd

Elgin City

Keith

25th Feb SHFL CUP

4th Mar (A) Deveronvale

11th Mar SHFL CUP

18th Mar (H) Fraserburgh

Lossiemouth

25th Feb SHFL CUP

4th Mar (A) Deveronvale

11th Mar SHFL CUP

18th Mar (H) Nairn County

Nairn County

25th Feb SHFL CUP

4th Mar (H) Arbroath

11th Mar SHFL CUP

18th Mar (A) Lossiemouth

Rothes

25th Feb SHFL CUP

4th Mar (A) Forres Mechanics

11th Mar SHFL CUP

18th Mar (H) Cove Ranger

Strathspey Thistle

25th Feb SHFL CUP

4th Mar (H) Huntly

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Does My Mower Need Sharpened ?

Chances are – yes. I know many of you dutifully take your petrol machines into the local garden machinery place each spring. They will probably change the oil, filters, plugs and sharpen the blades ready for another season. Some do this themselves. I also know however that many machines are long overdue a service. You may find it’s getting harder to start, maybe not, but what is inevitable is that most lawnmower blades only manage a season before the blade is dulled. If you have an electric or flymo type machine, the same applies. On smaller, lighter machines, often a better option is just to change the blade, which at £10-£20 might actually prove cheaper than sharpening. Also, there are many lightweight alloys used in some blades nowadays, which don’t tend to keep an edge as well as heavier metals.

When the blade loses its’ sharpness, it doesn’t make a clean cut through the grass sward. There are some obvious signs that this might be a problem. It may seem to struggle to give a decent cut at all; there may be issues with clumping and leaving material on the lawn, particularly when the grass has some wet in it (much of the time in our climate). Less understood perhaps is that a blunt blade will often end up tearing the grass leaf, rather than providing a clean cut. If you examine a few blades of grass, you will be able to see either a straight clean cut at the top, or a rather ragged, torn top. The result of a poor cut is bruising to the grass leaf, which causes the tip to turn brown, as it has been damaged. The overall effect can be to leave the grass with poor colour. Instead of an even, healthy green, it has a tinge of brown throughout. A ragged cut to the material of any plant provides a weak point, making it susceptible to diseases and moulds. You hear the same advice given for pruning and hedging shears.

My top tip for this month is to get your mower down to the workshop. If you wait until Easter weekend like everyone else, it will sit in a long queue, and you might not get it back for some weeks !

Incidentally, I heard an interesting question on QI last year.

Q In the UK, what travels north at 8 miles per day ?

A Spring !

(I think the actual measure used was the opening of daffodils, but don’t quote me on that.)

Something else of interest; GreenThumb celebrates it’s 30th Anniversary this year. I think (and so does the industry), they’ve done very well to start from scratch back then in North Wales, to grow to be the largest lawncare company in Europe, with over 5 500,000 customers, and still growing. I cant take a we’re quite a small much credit though, as n franchise (award-winning nonetheless), with around 1,000 customers rround here.

For more information tio o about our annual lawncare planss ffrom just £11.25 per mth, plus useful downloads and photos, go to wnlo www.greenthumb.co.uk. greenthumb.co.uk. Although multi-award winning GreenThumb is a multi-awar national franchise, and is the runaway leader in the sector with half a million customers, we are the family-run local franchise covering the wider Moray Firth area.

Contact Alastair or Fiona for a FREE LAWN C ANALYSIS on 01667 460012, or email Alastair us at:Watt AL inverness@greenthumb.co.uk es

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www.spotlighton.co.uk

The Free Community Information website - Free to view and Free to upload your listings.

View our entire database of Clubs and Societies, Trades Listings, What’s On Diary, Restaurants, Reviews and articles, Schools, Holidays Tides, Useful Numbers and more...

USEFUL INFORMATION

Local & Bank Holidays and Special Days Shrove Tuesday Tues 28th Feb 2017 Ash Wednesday Wed 1st March 2017 Valentine’s Day Tues 14th Feb 2017 Mothering Sunday Sun 26th Mar 2017 British Summertime Starts Sun 26th Mar 2017 April Fool’s Day Sat 1st Apr 2017 Palm Sunday Sun 9th Apr 2017 Maundy Thursday Thurs 13th Apr 2017 Good Friday Fri 14th Apr 2017

Easter Sunday Sun 16th Apr 2017 Easter Monday Mon 17th Apr 2017 Early May Bank Holiday Mon 1st May 2017 Longest Day 21st Jun 2017 British Summertime Ends Sun 29th Oct 2017 Halloween Tues 31st Oct 2017 Bonfire Night Sun 5th Nov 2017 Remembrance Sunday Sun 12th Nov 2017 St Andrew’s Day Thurs 30th Nov 2017

School Term Dates for 2016/2017 (all dates inclusive) Mid Term Holiday Mon 20th Feb 2017 Mid Term Holiday Tues 21st Feb 2017 Spring Term Ends Wed 5th Apr 2017 Spring Holiday Starts Thurs 6th Apr 2017 Spring Holiday Ends Fri 21st Apr 2017 Summer Term Starts Mon 24th Apr 2017 May Day Holiday Mon 2nd May 2017 Summer Term Ends Fri 30th Jun 2017

for 2017/2018 (all dates inclusive) Autumn Term Starts Tues 15th Aug 2017 Autumn Term Ends Fri 6th Oct 2017 Autumn Holiday Starts Mon 9th Oct 2017 Autumn Holiday Ends Fri 21st Oct 2017 Winter Term Starts Mon 23rd Oct 2017 Winter Term Ends Fri 22nd Dec 2017 Christmas Holiday Starts Mon 25th Dec 2017 Christmas Holiday Ends Fri 5th Jan 2018

Useful Contacts Nairn Community Centre ..............................01667 453476 Police Station ..................................................................101 Stagecoach Inverness ...................................01463 239292 Citizens Advice Bureau .................................01667 456677 Nairn Museum................................................01667 456791 Dalcross Airport ...............................01667 464000/462280 Inverness Job Centre........................01463 888100/888200 Highland Council ..........................................01667 458500 Victim Support................................................01463 710806 Samaritans ....................................................01463 713456 Gas - Emergency ............................................0800 111999 Water - Emergency ........................................08456 008855 British Red Cross Inverness ..........................01463 231620 Crossroads ....................................................01667 455369 National Rail Enquiries ..................................08457 484950 Railway Mission..............................................078419 85768

VETS Moray Coast ..................................................01667 453161 Inshes Veterinary Clinic Inverness ................01463 711777

DOCTORS NHS 24 ...........................................................................111 Nairn Hospital A&E .......................................01667 452101 Nairn Healthcare Group ................................01667 452096 Nairn Sports Medicine Clinic ........................01667 454523 PHARMACIES Lloyds Pharmacy ..........................................01667 453100 Boots The Chemist ........................................01667 453169

If you would like to add a contact or if there are any amendments to be made to existing details, email linda@winterburnmedia.co.uk

page 26 - March 2017

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