6 September 2008

Local Police Bring In More Officers To Caithness And Tain
Northern Constabulary intends to increase the number of police constables in Thurso, Wick and Tain. Superintendent Ian Arnott, Divisional Commander for Northern Constabulary's North Division said: "Over the last 18 months we have undergone a structural review that has identified a number of savings which the Chief Constable has reinvested in extra officers for our communities. I am pleased to say that four extra officers will be coming to my Division over the coming months. There will be one additional officer based at Thurso, one at Tain and two in Wick."
Northern Joint Police Baord  Northern Constabulary Web Site

5 September 2008

Second Memorial Gary McLean Open Bike Run and Dance
Monies raised will go to McMillan Nurses and NABD (national association for bikers with disabilities) Thank you Ray The Run Will Be Held On The 27th Of September, Gathering At The Norseman Hotel Car Park At 12:30 For 1:30 Start, Soup And Sandwiches will be provided by the hotel following the run. The Dance will commence at 9.oopm at the above venue With Two Local Bands performing: "Evil Intention" and "Prolific". Tickets Are Priced At £6 for the run and £6 for the dance or why not purchase both for just £10. Payment on the day is also acceptable. If enough interest is shown from people from Thurso and outlying area for the Dance a bus will be laid on. Please Contact Either Ray Or Paul at The Locations Or Numbers Below For Tickets.   Ray, Longreen Farm, South Keiss 077333225557 or Paul, AMS Motorcycles  Coach Road Wick Tel  Tel. 07884185015

Caithness Celtic Supporters' Club Bus Availability
The next buses are:-
versus AalBorg (Champions League) on 17/09/08 - 7.45pm kick-off. Bus leaving Wick Safeways @ 09:00 and Thurso Skinandis @ 09:30.
versus Aberdeen (League) on 27/09/08 - 3.00pm kick-off. Bus leaving Wick Safeways @ 05:00 and Thurso Skinandis @ 05:30.
Senior = £30 and Junior = £20. Contact, Stevie King = stephen@sking30.wanadoo.co.uk

3 September 2008

Make Nuno-Felt Scarves Just In Time For Winter
Joanne B Kaar is offering this day course in making nuno-felt scarves on Saturday 15th November-  10.00am - 4.00pm.

2 September 2008

Blas Festival Kicks Off In Caithness On Friday
Friday 5th September 2008 - Fred Morrison and Friends - MacKay's Hotel, Wick- 7.30pm
Leading the line up is phenomenal piper and whistle player, Fred Morrison who has carved himself an international reputation with a powerfully exuberant, highly improvisational style which combines the Gaelic piping tradition of the Uists with contemporary and eclectic influences.
 
Wednesday 10th September 2008 - Chasing the Sun by James Ross
Assembly Rooms, Wick - 7.30pm - James Ross | Mr MacFall's Chamber | Fraser Fifield
The Blas Festival is proud to present the world premiere of this new commission by Wick born musician and composer, James Ross. This follows on from a successful "New Voices" commission at Celtic Connections and debut CD in 2006.
Saturday 13th September 2008 - Ùrachadh - Mill Theatre, Thurso - 7.30pm
This stunning show is a journey through the story of North West Sutherland, using music, song, poetry and visuals. Featuring the talents of Mod gold medallist, James Graham, fiddler Rhona Sutherland, pianist James Ross, multi-instrumentalist and singer Catriona MacLeod and piper / accordionist Carol-Anne MacKay from Ḍchas, this promises to be an unforgettable show.
Blas Web Site

1 September 2008

North Highland Connections News - September 2008
North Highland Connections the latest arm of the North Highland Initiative is beginning to gather force and has issued it's news bulletin for September setting out music and drama events that they are presenting for the month. On Saturday, September 6th, at 8:00pm, we will be presenting what promises to be a truly lovely concert in Dornoch Cathedral. The Scottish Ensemble's annual Highlands & Islands Tour is always popular with both players and audiences, and this year's programme of music provides a real musical treat. Two gems from the classical repertoire, Bach's Double Violin Concerto and Mendelssohn's String Symphony No 9 in C minor partner David Horne's Double Violin Concerto and Shostakovich's Two Pieces for String Octet. See the whole newsletter for later events.......
North Highland Connections Web Site

Probationer Teachers Welcomed In The Highlands
Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of The Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee, Drew Miller Vice-chairman and Hugh Fraser, Director of Education, Culture and Sport welcomed 109 probationer teachers, who will be working in Highland schools in the new session, at their induction day in Inverness on Friday 15 August. The new teachers will be started work in schools across the Highlands on Monday (18 August). Pupils return to school following their summer break on Tuesday. In total, 47 probationers have been allocated to secondary schools and 62 to primary schools.  Full Size Photo HERE

Catching Up With Caithness Floral Art Club - Three Meetings Now Added
Global Extravaganza - August 2008 - Caithness Floral Art Club
Caithness Floral Art Club were delighted to welcome Sharon Stevenson from the Flower Shop in Thurso to demonstrate for them. Using a lovely selection of blooms, some sprayed to fit her theme, along with a wide variety of florists' foliage Sharon made arrangements entitled Antarctica, Mexico, China, South Africa and Egypt to give us her interpretation of a Global Extravaganza.
 

Nature's Palette - June 2008 - Caithness Floral Art Club
A welcome return visit by Irene Parker from Hexham helped Caithness Floral Art Club celebrate their 39th Birthday. This talented flower arranger with her clever use of both colours and interesting foliages beautifully illustrated Nature's Palette to an appreciative audience.

Melody Time - May 2008 - Caithness Floral Art Club
Moyra Turnbull from Crieff, SAFAS Education Officer enjoyed a return to Caithness in May to demonstrate to the Caithness Floral Art Club. Her title Melody Time was illustrated in mainly monochromatic arrangements. Candle in the Wind, Goldfinger, Teddy Bears' Picnic, Anyone Who Had a Heart, and Congratulations were the well known song titles the audience had to guess.

Extra Swimming Lessons Available At Bettyhill Swimming Pool
The pool currently runs beginners swimming lessons for primary age children on Friday evenings and Sunday mornings but due to overwhelming demand they are expanding to start another lesson on Saturday mornings. There are now spaces for those wishing to enrol their children in these lessons, and there will also be spaces in the mother and toddler classes and adult learners. Anyone interested should call on 01641 521400 or email nclc@bettyhill.org.uk
 

The !GUBI Family At The Mill Theatre, Thurso
The !gubi Family are a true family of 6 San musicians, ranging in age from 18 to 80, and are the keepers of a vanishing tradition of San Musical Culture. Their home is Corridor 18, in the Sands of the Kalahari Desert, Namibia. The San are the originators of trance dance and their music is specifically designed to evoke an altered state of consciousness through the rhythms and beats, enabling the musician to enter trance and perform healing on both individuals and the tribe. They traditionally sing and dance throughout the night playing the mouthbow, the mbira and the zuma (four-stringed instrument). The music of this family has captivated the ear of top international artists. Most notably was their collaboration with Pops Mohammed, and Zena Williams, who worked with the elders of the family to produce his internationally acclaimed album, SanScapes. With over 10,000 years of ancestry and knowledge, the San of the Kalahari represent one of the oldest surviving indigenous cultures in the world..............

31 August 2008

Relay For Life Caithness - Biggest Fund-raiser Ever In The County - Heading for £100,000

The Relay For Life Caithness At The Dammies, Thurso on Saturday 30th August was a huge success with the funds raised for Cancer Research UK looking to be one of the biggest fund-raisers ever in Caithness.  the staggering total was heading for £90,000 last night as hundreds of people in many teams set out to walk in Relay for 12 hours from 6.00pm to 6.00am.  the organisers had done a fantastic job with tents and stalls surrounding the track which itself was ringed by candles in bags in memory of a loved one who had passed away from the effects of cancer.  The public turned out in droves enjoying something of a carnival atmosphere.  Plenty of music was provided throughout the evening.
More Relay photos in the Forum  Yet More photos at Angus Mackay's Web Site

Caithness Field Club Winter Programme - 2008 - 2009
The programme starts on Monday afternoons with a visit to Girnigoe Castle.  Talks and walks, bus trip, club weekend.  Plenty to keep you interested until next summer.  Walks and talks are open to non-members.

28 August 2008

Email Problems At Caithness.org
We have had email problems here and any email sent since 22 November has not arrived.  We had hoped it might be stored and come down when the problem was fixed but this has not happened.  Therefor if anyone has sent an email since 22 August to bill@caithness.org can you resend it for action.