FEBRUARY 2014
Make your smile a memorable one...
S TR ATHS P E Y & D I S T RI C T THE NORTH’S FAVOURITE FREE WEE MAG
Welcoming all new and existing patients to Inspire Dental in Kingussie
Gynack Street Kingussie I PH21 1EL T: 01540 661280 inspire-dental.co.uk
Property Maintenance and Handyman Services Garden SHUYLFHV General Handyman & Repair Services ,QWHULRU ([WHULRU 3DLQWLQJ Moving Services www.keltpropertymaintenance.co XN KHllo@keltpropertymaintenance.co.uk
Phone 01479 810733 Mobile: 07587 581592
CLUBS & SOCIETIES 423 (SPEYSIDE) DETACHED FLIGHT AIR TRAINING CORPS Meet every Monday & Thursday, 18:30 - 21:00 in the Grant Hall, Rothes. Age group - 13 - 18 Enquiries can be made to oc.423df@aircadets.org ABERLOUR TENNIS CLUB New members welcome. Two excellent clay courts. Available for visitors, 7 days a week. For information contact Graham Pook on 01340 871835. AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS Free, confidential help & support to the relatives & friends of problem drinkers. Local weekly groups. Call 020 7403 0888 for a contact number for your area or visit www.al-anonuk.org.uk ARCHERY IN ABERLOUR GLENLIVET ARCHERS Target Archery club, for Recurve, Traditional & Longbow archers. Small, friendly club, junior to senior, all abilities. We shoot every Wednesday and Sunday. Affiliated to Archery GB (GNAS) & Scottish Archery Association. For details or general nformation call Michael on 01807 590493, or email: m_cooper13@sky.com
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page 2 - February 2014
AVIEMORE & ABERNETHY ANGLING ASSOCIATION Season: 11th February to 30th September (no Sunday fishing) Contact Eileen Troup (Treasurer) Tel: 01479 831615 AVIEMORE BOWLING CLUB Club nights on Mon & Wed at 6:45pm, play at 7pm. Outdoor May - Sept, Indoor short mat Oct - April. Dalfaber Drive, Aviemore. Bingo every Thurs at 7pm. Call Ally on 01479 81064, Norrie on 07974 033036 or email : norriemacleodabc@gmail.com. BADENOCH GARDENING CLUB Meet on the 3rd or 4th Wed each month in Newtonmore Village Hall (Lesser Hall) starting at 7.30 pm. Annual membership £10.00. Meetings free for members. £2.50 for visitors, who are most welcome. CAIRNGORM BRIDGE CLUB Meets most Tuesday evenings, arrive by 6:45pm for a prompt start, at St John's Church Hall, Rothiemurchus (opposite tennis courts, on the ski road). All welcome. It would be helpful if visitors could contact Ian on 01479 821075 to let us know. CAKE WALK & STORY GROUP Regular walks for all ages. For more details call Guy on 07724 992790 / www.guyandjocelyn.org GRANTOWN ON SPEY LAWN TENNIS CLUB Junior & adult coaching is run throughout the year. The club also participates in the Highland District Leagues. Call 01479 873120 GRANTOWN PARENT, BABY AND TODDLER GROUP Twice weekly at Inverallan church hall for fun & play for children & parents/carers alike. All welcome to pop in for a chat and a coffee. Call Emmeline on 01479 873166 for information. HEAVENLY PIECES Wednesdays 2pm - 4pm, June to September at Knockando Church. Afternoon teas, home bakes and Traidcraft stall. All welcome. www.moraykirk.co.uk
GRANTOWN YOUTH GROUP Tues - Girls Night 6-10pm. Fri Youth Drop-in 7-11pm. Sat Youth Drop-in 6-10pm. Sun 26pm. Grantown YMCA/ Community Centre 80 High Street. Call Jennifer Tiller on 01479 872262
MORAY & NAIRN FLORAL ART CLUB Wednesdays, 7.30pm, Ramnee Hotel, Forres. Friendship through flowers. Demonstration exhibits raffled. New members welcome. Contact Chrissie on 01309 673431 or Jean on 01309 673552
HARMONY MUSIC THERAPY SCOTLAND Individual and Group Music Therapy sessions to encourage, enable and empower all ages and abilities through interactive music experiences. Will travel to private homes, facilities and schools. Call Kristen Macleod on 07770427396.
STRATHSPEY ANGLING IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION Membership open to residents of the Grantown-on-Spey, Duthil, Cromdale, Carrbridge, Dulnain Bridge and Nethybridge areas. Season Visitor Permits are available. Call us at Mortimer's shop in Grantown on Spey, from where this Association is administered. 01479 872684.
HIGHLAND SPIRITUAL CINEMA Meets last Wednesday each month at Highland Rail House, Inverness. Film group screening uplifting & inspiring films. Members can also use our postal service to borrow films for home viewing. For details call 01463 237452 or visit www.highlandspiritualcinema.net KINGUSSIE BOWLING CLUB Open daily, May - Sept. Spey Street, Kingussie. Bowls and footwear available. Club nights Mon & Thurs 6:45pm for 7pm. New members & visitors welcome. Call Campbell on 01540 662476 for info or email kingussiebowlingclub@ hotmail.co.uk
THE UPHILL SKI CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN 8 Gran Cairngorm Ski, Aviemore PH22 1RB. Call 01479 861 272 TREES FOR LIFE GREEN DAYS OUT For people in Moray & Invernessshire. Spend a day carrying out conservation tasks. Transport, tools and training free of charge. Pick ups available. Volunteers over 18 with a reasonable level of fitness. Every Wed & last Sun of the month. Booking essential. Call Mick on 01309 691292 or email mick@treesforlife.org.uk AVIEMORE & DISTRICT YOUNG CURLERS Call Mr I. Hay on 01479 870431
KINGUSSIE PARENT, BABY & TODDLER GROUP Thursdays 9.15am - 11.30am, Badenoch Centre, Spey Centre, Kingussie. Call 01540 662485 for more information.
PLEASE NOTE: Details of Clubs & Societies are published on a rotational basis.
KNOCKANDO CRAFT GROUP General interest group. Tuesdays 6:30pm-8:30pm. £2 per session. Meets at Margach Hall, Knockando. Contact Lucy: 01340 810229.
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.
LGBT 5K RUNNING GROUP Meets every Wednesday. Email jampa40@yahoo.co.uk or text/call 07941 553620 for info. MORTLACH ART GROUP Every Thursday, 1pm - 4:30pm in the Mortlach Memorial Hall, Dufftown. All welcome, 16 up.
tel: 01309 690063
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PASTORAL LETTER & CHURCH MEETINGS February can feel like a bit of an ‘inbetween’ month, where days are often dreich and we feel that we’re having to draw the curtains earlier than we’d like; on some days darkness seems to creep up and take us by surprise. By now, Christmas and New Year celebrations are a hazy memory and we’re ready for Spring... for brighter, longer days that will move into the bliss of warmth and sunshine and that all-tooshort spell where, here in the north, we have nights that hardly grow dark at all. Life too can have ‘in-between’ times ~ occasions when we have to wait for the next ‘season’ to arrive. Moving house… waiting for a baby to be born… a period of illness… the breakdown of a treasured relationship… all these experiences (and more) in our lives, mean that we have to be patient and wait for the next phase to start to unfold. The idea of time and the passing of time is a constant theme in the Bible. The very first words in Scripture are “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1) and in the very last chapter Jesus himself says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13). It can be good for us, in life, to get into
the habit of taking time to reflect and to pray about the best way for us to move forward, especially when we’re not sure about which is the best way to go. Things can get messy in life before they take the kind of shape that Jesus Christ would like them to take. Think about when we have a Spring Clean and how untidy things can get in the house during that process as we clear out and rearrange everything. With Christ in our lives we have no need for the empty things like ‘luck’ or the unwholesome things like horoscopes because God has mapped out a plan for each one of us. We just have to turn to him to discover it and explore the journey with him. That’s not to say we still won’t have those ‘in-between’ times where we have to wait and struggle in difficult circumstances. We’ve become familiar with Food Banks in these hard financial days, where such help and support can be vital for folks who have so many financial commitments to juggle, and food can come quite far down the list when rent, fuel and other bills have to be paid for first. The Scots are traditionally a very independent people and, at times, we’re not very good at accepting help. We’re
Kingussie Parish Church Sundays 11am. All welcome. www.kingussieparishchurch.org.uk Knockando, Elchies & Archiestown Parish Church of Scotland Sundays 10am. Tel : 01340 831381. Mortlach Parish Church Sundays at 10.30am Tel: 01340 820049 (session clerk). All welcome. Rothes Parish Church Sundays 11.30am. Tel: 01340 831381. Rothiemurchus & Aviemore Church of Scotland St Andrews Church, Grampian Road, Aviemore. Sundays 11.15am. Website: www.standrews-aviemore.org.uk St Columba Episcopal Church High Street, Grantown. Sundays 10:30am: Holy Communion. Ven. Richard Gillings: richard.gillings698@btinternet.com or phone 01479 831365. St John Episcopal Church Sunday 10.30am: Eucharist. page 4 - February 2014
good at giving it but not at receiving it. Jesus encourages us ~ not just to give help but to receive it as well. His first miracle was changing the water into wine at the wedding in Cana; what a lovely wedding present THAT was for the family! Christianity itself is all about receiving the love of God into our hearts and along with that love we are given a new kind of life that opens up all kinds of new paths and blessings without number as we go on the new journey. Why not take time to explore these avenues and start to enjoy all the blessings that God longs to share with us as we walk with him? Because God himself has promised that he will personally go ahead of us and will never let us down or abandon us. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Sheila Wallace, DCS Abernethy linked with Boat of Garten, Duthil & Kincardine Churches
Followed by refreshments in the church hall. Email: blessings@stjohns-rothiemurchus.co.uk St Michael Episcopal Church St Michael's Episcopal Church, Conval Street, Dufftown. Family Eucharist every Sunday at 11 am. All welcome. Tel: 01343 862808. St Margaret of Scotland, Episcopal Church High Street, Aberlour, AB38 9QD. Sundays 10am: Eucharist. Tel: 01340 881764. Website: www.stmargaretsaberlour.co.uk Tomintoul Church of Scotland Sunday morning service 11.15am All welcome. Listed from K - T & regularly rotated. If you are a member of a church not listed here or if there are any amendments to existing details, please email tamsyn@spotlighton.co.uk
tel: 01309 690063
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The Editor
I saw a TV documentary recently about the Roman Invasions and whether or not the phrase veni, vidi, vici (which I am told means I came, I saw, I conquered) was actually used or not. I guess we will never know but it did make me think about my own Christmas Day and the phrase that comes to mind for me was “I woke, I rose, I survived the day!� At least for another year anyway!
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New s SPARES s REPAIRS s SERVICE
NEW YEAR PUBLISHER ..............David Nelmes SALES ..........................Peter Evans ACCOUNTS ...................Wendy Day DESIGN .................Alistair Davidson LAYOUT .................Tamsyn Dickson
March Issue Deadlines Editorial - Friday 31/01/14 Advertising - Wednesday 05/02/14
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USEFUL INFORMATION Local & Bank Holidays and Special Days Chinese New Year Valentine’s Day Mothering Sunday British Summertime Starts Good Friday Easter Sunday Easter Monday Early May Bank Holiday Spring Bank Holiday
Fri 31st Jan 2014 Fri 14th Feb 2014 Sun 30th Mar 2014 Sun 30th Mar 2014 Fri 18th Apr 2014 Sun 20th Apr 2014 Mon 21st Apr 2014 Mon 5th May 2014 Mon 26th May 2014
Father’s Day Longest Day Summer Bank Holiday British Summertime Ends Halloween Bonfire Night St Andrew’s Day St Andrew’s Day Observed Shortest Day
Sun 15th Jun 2014 Sat 21st Jun 2014 Mon 4th Aug 2014 Sun 26th Oct 2014 Fri 31st Oct 2014 Wed 5th Nov 2014 Sun 30th Nov 2014 Mon 1st Dec 2014 Sun 21st Dec 2014
School Term Dates MORAY COUNCIL SCHOOLS
HIGHLAND COUNCIL SCHOOLS
for 2013/2014 (all dates inclusive) Mid-Term Holiday Fri 14th Feb 2014 Mid-Term Holiday Mon 17th Feb 2014 Spring Term Ends Fri 28th Mar 2014 Spring Holiday Starts Mon 31st Mar 2014 Spring Holiday Ends Fri 11th Apr 2014 Good Friday Holiday Fri 18th Apr 2014 Summer Term Starts Mon 14th Apr 2014 May Day Holiday Mon 5th May 2014 In-Service Day Thurs 22nd May 2014
for 2013/2014 (all dates inclusive) Holiday Closure Mon 17th Feb 2014 Holiday Closure Tues 18th Feb 2014 Regional Closure Wed 19th Feb 2014 Regional Closure Thurs 20th Feb 2014 Regional Closure Fri 21st Feb 2014 Spring Term Ends Fri 4th Apr 2014 Good Friday Holiday Fri 18th Apr 2014 Easter Monday Holiday Mon 21st Apr 2014 Summer Term Starts Tues 22nd Apr 2014
Useful Contacts Aberlour Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01340 871693 Aberlour Post Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .01340 871201 Aviemore Citizens Advice Bureau. . . . . . . . 01479 810919 Aviemore Library. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01479 813141 Aviemore Post Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01479 811056 Aviemore Registrar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01479 813146 Aviemore Social Work Services . . . . . . . . . 01479 810251 Aviemore Tourist Information . . . . . . . . . . . 01479 810363 Badenoch Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01540 661596 Badenoch Learning & Resource Centre . . . 01540 662420 Dufftown Post Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01340 820244 Dufftown Library. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .01340 820272 Grantown Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01479 873175 National Rail Enquires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08457 484950 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 VETS Aberlour Veterinary Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01340 871385 Andrew Rafferty Veterinary Centre . . . . . . . 01479 872272 Morven Veterinary Practice Ltd . . . . . . . . . 01975 962837
PHARMACIES Aberlour Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01340 871279 Aviemore Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01479 810259 Clark Munro Ltd (Grantown) . . . . . . . . . . . . 01479 873711 Davidsons Chemists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01339 755409 Lloyds Pharmacy (Grantown) . . . . . . . . . . . 01479 872006 Rothes Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01340 831233 VILLAGE HALLS AND COMMUNITY CENTRES Archiestown Village Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01340 810442 Aviemore Church Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01479 810280 Boat of Garten Community Hall . . . . . . . . . 01479 831213 Dufftown Community Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . 01340 871641 Dufftown Mortlach Memorial Hall . . . . . . . . 01340 820287 Edinvillie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01340 871745 Fleming Hall (Aberlour). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01340 871853 Glenlivet Public Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01807 590486 Glenrinnes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01340 821061 Grant Hall (Rothes). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01340 831578 Speyside Sports and Community . . . . . . . . 01340 871641 Tomintoul Richmond Memorial Hall . . . . . . 01807 580709
Rotated on a regular basis. To add a contact or amend existing details, email tamsyn@spotlighton.co.uk
page 6 - February 2014
tel: 01309 690063
admin@spotlighton.co.uk
re All gi n ste ew re an d pa d p tie rev nt io s w us el ly co m e
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PARLIAMENT BLOG Our seasonal Highland Burns’ Suppers are always a welcome treat through the cold winter months. I’m very lucky this year, as I have two suppers to attend in February! For 2014 I was keen to invite the new Secretary of State for Scotland, Alistair Carmichael, to join us in Inverness for the Highland Lib Dems’ Burns’ Supper. He, of course, agreed, but only on the condition that I join him in Orkney for their evening. To my delight! Alistair is always the life and soul of the party, and it will be a real pleasure to hear him speak in Inverness, and host in Kirkwall. I cannot think of better words for the new Scottish Secretary to usher in 2014 than those of the immortal Rabbie Burns’ poem ‘Does Haughty Gaul Invasion Threat?’: ‘O, let us not, like snarling curs, In wrangling be divided’. Whether you’re attending a Burns’ Supper or not I hope all spotlight readers have has the opportunity to enjoy our most celebrated poet this winter.
Danny Alexander MP
We know that each year is brought in by singing Auld Lang Syne. But how many know that this song is reputed to be the best known song in the world. Sung in versions in China Russia India and Japan, it is a curious fact that whilst few people may understand far less know all the words, nonetheless it remains the tune that is most commonly associated with friendship and remembrance of times past. Singers as varied as Shirley Temple Bing Crosby and our own Andy Stewart have sung it, though Hollywood films such as "It's a wonderful life" have made it known all over the globe.The song was rescued as so many were by Robert Burns, whose immortal memory I recently had the honour to toast, in Boat of Garten. In this year when Scotland is on the world stage with the Games and the Ryder Cup, this song is one that will receive I am sure a rendition or two, and will bring peoples together from all round the world. In that respect, like our history heritage tartan, the clans bagpipes haggis and shortbread, it is part of Scotland and a part of our culture of which we can be proud.
Fergus Ewing MSP
Friday
Tuesday
5-7pm Drive Time
7-8pm Shirley’s Choice Wednesday
107.1fm
Saturday
8-9pm Folk ’n’ That
Monday
7-9pm Pete’s Beat 9-10pm John’s World
www.speysound.com to listen live
7-9pm Alison’s Allsorts 8-10am Malky in the Morning
Thursday
8-10pm Home Grown Sessions
5-7pm Ceilidh in the Park
Sunday
7-9pm Classics For Pleasure
8-10am Grant Sunday Breakfast
9-10pm Speysound Scottish
7-9pm Sunday Rock
Kirsty Wright Sports and Remedial Massage Therapist Tel: 01479 821184 or 01479 861256 Mobile: 07855 909314 Kinloss HIVE and Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore www.kirstywrightmassage.com
This space could have been promoting your business! SpotLight covers six areas along the Moray Firth Coastline from Buckie & Keith across to Inverness and then down to Aviemore - and all the places in between!
Contact us for details of rates and sizes: (01309) 690063
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page 8 - February 2014
tel: 01309 690063
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easy to call • easy to click • easy to go ONLY SCOTTISH COMPANY LIKE US OPEN ‘TIL 9PM! include leisure facilities. Hotels with DBB = Dinner, bed & breakfast BB = bed & breakfast.
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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. Booking protection does not cover Dancing on Ice and West Side Story breaks and is non-refundable. *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.
Let Us Know ‘What’s On’ In Your Area *Deadline for the March Issue: Friday, 31st January* Email: tamsyn@spotlighton.co.uk Telephone: 01309 690063 Inclusion of events in What’s On is free. We do not accept submissions for classes, courses or workshops.
7 friday - 8 saturday buccaneer theatre club presents 'sleeping beauty' Fri at 7.30pm, Sat 2pm & 7:30pm at raf lossiemouth tickets £6 adults /£5 concs, family and group tickets available. box office:- 07930 361721
8 saturday
Contact venues & organisers first as there may be changes to events.
scooty & the skyhooks @ ironworks 7:30pm. u16s must be accompanied by a responsible adult. call 0871 7894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com
9 sunday
JANUARY 2014 30 thursday spanish film night: volver 7pm, the iona gallery duke street kingussie. spanish themed night featuring 'volver' (starring penelope cruz) sangria and tapas! call 01540 662900 for more information.
30 january - 2 february kingussie food on film festival for full programme and details visit www.kingussiefoodonfilm.co.uk
31 friday scottish rock garden club, moray group members’ night 7:30pm, new elgin hall annexe, land street, new elgin. short talks on plants, flowers and gardens in a variety of localities plus a quiz. call 01340 871504
FEBRUARY 2014 1 saturday - 2 sunday
orienteering at altyre 10:30am - 12pm at altyre sawmill, near rafford. moravian\'s big winter event with a choice of 8 different routes to tackle from 2 km to 10 km. a great day out for everyone from toddlers who love the outdoors to hardened adventure runners! messy church 4pm - 6pm, lhanbryde community centre. join us for crafts, games, songs, bible story and ending with a celebration family tea. all welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult. for further details please contact 01343 843765 or see www.salucofs.wordpress.com
10 monday “an american journey, part 1: across wyoming and montana from south to north” 7:30pm, boat of garten community hall. an illustrated talk by chris carter. £5 admission.
14 friday
buccaneer theatre club presents 'sleeping beauty' 2pm at raf lossiemouth tickets £6 adults /£5 concs, family and group tickets available. box office:- 07930 361721
2 sunday
the rat pack is back! valentines special @ ironworks 7:30pm. u16s must be accompanied by an adult. call 0871 7894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com
15 saturday cake walk with story loch morlich. 4 miles. call 07724 992790 or visit www.guyandjocelyn.org
orienteering at lossiemouth high school all ages and abilities welcome. come and have a go. euromeet take 2 . 3 courses. refreshments. for more info visit www.moravianorienteering.org. this is a fundraiser for lossiemouth high school india 2014 trip.
20 thursday
5 wednesday
‘hms defiant’ - moray inshore rescue organisation film night 7pm for 7:30pm, milne institute, findhorn. bring your friends to come and enjoy a glass of wine and an evening out.
inverallan guild meeting 2:15pm in the inverallan church hall. cake decoration with ann leishman.
page 10 - February 2014
paper aeroplanes @ ironworks 7:30pm. over 14s. call 0871 7894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com
21 friday
tel: 01309 690063
admin@spotlighton.co.uk
22 saturday orienteering at lhanbryde - the crooked wood 10:15am - 11:15am at lhanbryde primary school. 2 km short course or more challenging 4 km route. refreshments in aid of lhanbryde primary school. visit www.moravianorienteering.org aberlour fairtrade town campaign coffee morning 10am - 12noon, fleming hall, queens road, aberlour. joint venuture by the local primary and secondary schools, the community association, aberlour parish church and local businesses. banana barbecue by the scouts and a 'banana rap' competition for primary school children.
MORAY GOLF CLUB ww w. m o ra ygo l f. c o . u k
Come and Celebrate our 125th Anniversary with us Country Memberships Available with many additional benefits
24 monday “an american journey, part 2: from montana to the black hills of south dakota” 7:.30pm, boat of garten community hall. an illustrated talk by chris carter. £5 admission.
26 wednesday scottish rock garden club, moray group 7:30pm, nairn community centre. cliff booker, srgc travelling speaker “definitive dolomites”. call 01340 871504 for details.
Pay by Direct debit instalments
Moray Golf Club with its Championship Courses is a great place to be! Contact us on: 01343 812018 or email: secretary@moraygolf.co.uk
27 thursday moray society lecture 2pm, elgin museum hall. a lecture on ‘church interiors in moray’ by marion yool, nadfas. df concerts presents: the stranglers + nine below zero @ ironworks 7pm. over 14s (u16s with adult). call 0871 7894173 or visit www.ironworksvenue.com
admin@spotlighton.co.uk
28 friday macmillan cancer support (forres) ceilidh with 'the dunphail ceilidh band' 7:30pm, mosset tavern, forres. £10, includes stovies. tickets from beaver travel, the washington, committee members & forres gazette office. contact sue hellon on 01309 678875
tel: 01309 690063
February 2014 - page 11
WHERE TO EAT IN MORAY
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There were so many superlatives bouncing across the dinner table that fittingly describe our visit to The 1629 Restaurant in Lossiemouth on the last weekend of the Old Year. These included “stunning,” “magnificent,” “heavenly,” “superb,” “exquisite” and many more – not only in recognition of the delights eaten, but also to reflect the marvelous friendliness and impeccable service offered by all the staff involved in creating a memorable evening. From the outset we were made to feel really special with every attention to detail. There are menus to suit all tastes; ‘Supper,’ ‘A la carte’ and ‘Specials’ - each with a mouth-watering array of delights to tempt us - and friendly staff to explain the dishes where necessary! As starters we tried three dishes which were Lobster Bisque, Cullen Skink and Haggis Cannelloni. The Lobster Bisque was “to die for” especially as, tucked under the surface, was a whole lobster claw (shelled of course) that was “huge” and “gorgeous” to eat. My Cullen Skink was more than excellent (and I am a bit of a Cullen Skink expert!). It was full of delicate flakes of smoked haddock and other fish too, I believe, together with generous pieces of potato, and it was probably the creamiest of soups I’ve ever tasted. The Haggis Cannelloni was selected from the ‘Scottish Specials’ board and was accompanied by typically Mediterranean sauce – tomatoes, chorizo, herbs, spices and more. What a terrific start!! The Wine List was most extensive, and those who wanted wine enjoyed a pleasing and smooth carafe of the house red. Again we had three different main courses; a Salmon dish, Scampi and a Chicken with Wild Mushroom sauce. That sounds like simplicity itself, but the way these simple foods were prepared, cooked and served left us swooning with pleasure. My Chicken with Wild Mushroom sauce on a bed of rice was divine – slices of chicken breast in a creamy sauce of really tasty baby wild mushrooms, all infused expertly with basil and other herbs. The Salmon was cooked to perfection and was lying on a bed of crushed prawn and mackerel pieces aided by yet another deeply and well-flavoured sauce. The Scampi were large, succulent and lightly battered (though bread crumbed scampi was also available) and the accompanying chips were “beautiful.” The homemade Tartare Sauce was so creamy that fingers were constantly being dipped into it!! Homemade Lemon Meringue pie was our choice of dessert which we shared between us. It was deep and dreamy - the lemon filling was not tart and seemed to include a hint of mango, and the meringue not overly sweet, which can often be the case. Mmm! The whole evening was an absolute delight. No less than 6 friendly faces regularly appeared to ensure that our evening would pass without a hitch and that we would leave happy. There was no waiting to have dirty plates removed or empty glasses taken away. Similarly there was only a short break between courses. Our grateful thanks go to David, his daughter’s Erin and Julie, the chefs and all the waiting staff for making one meal an experience to remember. We recommend that you go there soon – and remember to book as it can get quite busy!
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CONTINENTAL & SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
DATES TO REMEMBER
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disappointment Book your table early to avoid
Book your table early to avoid disap pointment
2 COURSE EARLY BIRD MENU
TRADITIONAL 3 COURSE SUNDAY LUNCH
£15.50
£17.50
per person
per person
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
5.30 - 7.30pm Sunday to Friday
12.30 - 4pm
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La Caverna LOSSIEMOUTH
ITALIAN TAPAS BAR & PIZZARIA
01343 813027
SUNDAY LUNCH 2 Course...£9.50
FISH SUPPER TEA* 9.50
4pm-6pm..£
*Fresh Local Fish cooked to your liking served with Bread & Butter, finished of with delicious Homemade Sticky Toffee Pudding
travel
Dreaming of...
MOROCCO A very popular destination currently is Morocco. This amazing country has thrived on being at the north end of the Sahara Desert and on the trade route to Europe. We spent three nights in Marrakech, 3 nights in the Atlas Mountains and 3 nights on the West coast. In Marrakech we walked for miles taking in all the sights, sounds and smells which make it such an extraordinary and vibrant city. We enjoyed the Djemaa El Fna Square with its music, snake charmers, street entertainers and stalls selling delicious freshly squeezed orange juice and in the evening hundreds of barbeques seem to appear from nowhere. The rabbit warren of the Souks are unlike anything we had seen before. We stayed in a wonderful Riad within the Medina. The staff were incredibly welcoming and friendly and our room combined Moroccan style with a contemporary twist and we enjoyed being able to lie back and rest on our own roof terrace. It was one of the best places we have ever stayed in but was a world away from what we found outside the Riad and by the time we moved on we had really had enough of being hassled endlessly to buy things. Beware the carpet stores, serving peppermint tea and being very persuasive! From Marrakech we went into the Atlas Mountains for three nights of peace and tranquillity. The weather was lovely and we enjoyed a few walks through the hills passing small hamlets where children who appeared from nowhere were not sure whether to hide or ask for 'bonbons' and ‘stylos’ (pencils). We were then driven west across the country to Essaouira, a charming fortified emplacement created by the Portuguese in the 15th Century, which is now an unspoilt fishing port – not a bar or club to be seen! We found excellent fish restaurants and stayed in another excellent Riad with a roof top pool. There are miles of lovely beaches and at other times of the year the Atlantic breezes attract windsurfers. The early morning drive back to Marrakech was fantastic – it was market day in one of the towns and we watched hundreds of men riding across fields on donkeys draped with panniers bringing their wares to market – it was an unforgettable and almost biblical sight. Morocco is ideal for a long weekend or for longer multi-centre journeys as we did. Riads are smaller boutique hotels with central atriums open to the skies and roof terraces, negating the need for widows to the exterior, and Kasbahs are larger guest houses with grounds – both are generally very characterful and certainly a contrast to a normal city hotel. Temperatures in the towns and cities are comfortable all year round, becoming hotter from June to October, and being really at their hottest from July to September. Evenings tend to be cooler, and in the mountains it can also be cooler all of the time. The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham, not generally available outside the country, but it gives good value for money.
14
Information kindly supplied by
2-6 South Street, Elgin 01343 548844 ‡ +LJK Street, FRUUHV
ABERDEEN
INVERNESS
Lake Garda Lake Garda 19 October .................from ÂŁ499 12 October .................from ÂŁ527 Sorrento and the bay Sorrento and the Bay of Naples of Naples 21 June.......................from ÂŁ599 18 October .................from ÂŁ599 Dubrovnik Riviera Sicily 04 October .................from ÂŁ699 13 October ................from ÂŁ605
All prices are for direct departures, for per person, per week B&B based on 2 adults sharing.
ELGIN 01343 548844
beaver Travel
FORRES 01309 672203
Beaver Travel, 2-6 South Street, Elgin
$OVR DW +LJK 6WUHHW )RUUHV ‡ www.beavtrav.com Beaver Travel is also a ticket agent for Eden Court Theatre, Inverness - No booking fee.
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Inn of the Year 2012’ N.E. Scotland
TO BOOK YOUR TABLE PHONE
01309 641605
recipe
Chef’s Confidential Spiced Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup Ingredients 2 medium size sweet potatoes (peeled) 1 red pepper 1 small onion (peeled) 1 clove of garlic crushed 1 carrot (peeled and grated) 1 table spoon of curry powder 1 table spoon of paprika A knob of butter 1 tin of chopped tomatoes 1 litre of vegetable stock Salt and pepper Small handful of fresh coriander Method Roughly chop the sweet potatoes, onion and pepper. Heat a thick based pan and slowly sweat all the vegetables with the butter, curry powder, paprika and garlic for 10 minutes. Add the tin of tomatoes and vegetable stock, simmer for 1 hour until all the vegetables are soft ensure the soup does not go too thick. Add a little water if necessary. Take off the heat and liquidise. Return to the heat; chop the coriander and add it. Season with salt and pepper. If the soup is too thick add a little more vegetable stock.
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Recipe supplied by Head Chef, Steven Munro
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EIGHT ACRES HOTEL & LEISURE CLUB, ELGIN
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