Scotland's Foremost Folk Band - Recently Been On TV and Gaining A Huge Reputation
The Unusual Suspects - At Wick Assembly Rooms  Friday 4 November 8.00pm
Eden Court is delighted to bring one of Scotland’s most incredible live acts, The Unusual Suspects, to Wick for a concert at the Assembly Rooms. The Unusual Suspects are a 22 piece “Folk Big Band” famed for their exciting performances: It's big, bold, brassy, and adventurous... Is this the best live folk orchestra Scotland ever saw? For further information on The Unusual Suspects please contact Eden Court Box Office on 01463 234234 or visit the websites www.eden-court.co.uk  and www.unusualsuspects.uk.com
 Scotsman On Unusual Suspects "If you witnessed this extraordinary performance, you can look back years from now and say: "I was there." Unforgettable."

Full Steam Ahead For New Ironing Service
A new Caithness business aims to offer a very welcome alternative for those tired of hours spent at the ironing board. Janet Crossley and Lorna Gunn from Watten have started ‘Press On’, which will offer a complete ironing service, including collection and delivery, throughout Caithness.  Before taking the plunge into starting their own business, Janet and Lorna did a lot of research into different ideas, and, as they both work full-time they were looking for something which they could do on a part-time basis, from home and with relatively low start up costs.  Having struck on the idea of an ironing service they tested the market by circulating a leaflet to homes to gauge what demand there might be. Encouraged by the positive response they received they decided to contact Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) for advice and assistance on starting their business.

Unusual Pets Gallery - Another New Gallery In Pets Corner
Another new gallery for unusual pets is kicked off with this photo of three toed crab landed recently at Wick.  the third toe can be seen clearly on the left mandible and is fully functional - ouch.  Do you have an unusual or exotic pet to show in the new gallery?

National Free Concessionary Fares Scheme In Scotland
More than 20,000 Highland senior citizens and people with disabilities, who qualify for free concessionary travel in the Highlands, are being invited to register their interest in taking advantage of free bus travel throughout Scotland, with effect from 1 April next year.  The Scottish Executive, through its Improvement Service, is writing to everyone in Highland with a concessionary card over the next few weeks seeking verification of their details.  The first batch of letters arrived over the weekend and Council Service Points have been very busy dealing with enquiries from card holders as forms have to be verified by the Council or at a Post Office before being returned to the Improvement Service.

Pets Still Piling In With Plenty Of Variety


Send pet Photos For the Galleries To bill@caithness.org

EARLY YEARS SERVICE: LOCAL SOLUTIONS FOR LOCAL ISSUES
The Highland Council has agreed to seek local solutions through local consultations to provide a sustainable network of quality early years services throughout the Highlands, which integrates child care with pre-school education in what is known as wraparound care. Members have promised that consultation with parents and providers of services in key communities will be completed by March of next year in time for parents to enrol their children for the school session starting in August. Local issues are to be discussed at area-based workshops involving elected members and other interested groups, who are asked to make proposals for local solutions. And a special seminar, hosted by the Joint Committee on Children and Young People but open to all elected members, is to be held to discuss the matter.

New Forum - Message Board Now In Place
the new message board has been set up and all of the old messages have been transferred across.  this change was necessary due to hacker problems at the server.  We hope you all find it as easy to use as the last set up.  The move has been made but there are quite a few tweaks still to come to get it the way we want it.  the Message Board has now got a URL as follows - http://forum.caithness.org  Update any links you have to it.  We will be updating our links to it as we go along and the drop down menu will be updated shortly.  Niall will be tweaking the system over the next few days and the front page links may take a little longer to put back in place.  Otherwise its business as usual again.

Does Anyone Have Information Or Photos?
Thurso Branch of The Church of the Latterday Saints are undertaking a project to research the family home of David O Mckay 9th President of the Church. The house is at Janetstown anyone who can provide information or has photographs of the building. Please contact Kenneth Miles kenny@halkirk.org.uk

30 October 2005

Join Us On The Trip From Lairg To Lochinver Road - A837
 
this is the second longer part of the journey from Mound To Lochinver.  This section takes you from Lairg to Lochinver along the A837 - one of the emptiest routes in the UK.  Single track road for most of the way but in excellent condition with recent resurfacing works.  Driving along this road last week we hardly saw another vehicle on the move.  Fabulous day in the brilliant autumn weather with summer temperatures - amazing.

Big Change Coming To Caithness.org Forums
Caithness.org is having to change the Forum - Message Board set up.  The change will take place over the next few days.  Although we will try to achieve this without losing anything this may not be possible in every case.  If there is information or email address information you require please ensure you have it al copied out as soon as possible. the change is not of our choosing and the reasons are explained on the board.

Oil Related Ships At Scrabster

Another set of oil related photos showing ships at Scrabster that are increasingly using the port.

Caithness Rugby Team Notches Up Another Victory - Caithness 17 Lismore 9
Caithness is now in second place in the BT National League Division 3.  They have the same record as leaders Falkirk with 7 wins and 1 lost.  Falkirk are well ahead on points scored.
Caithness Rugby Club Web Site

Staxigoe Hall Halloween Party On Saturday Night

We’re not Poles apart from you - Times Online
Since last May, Inverness has seen an influx of 3,000 Polish immigrants. Now the executive must help the cultures merge, writes Claire Sawers

29 October 2005

Stroma Gathering 2005

Stroma Index

Emptyhouse Launch Tonight At Weigh Inn, Thurso
Sally Edwards and Katrina Scott - two of the North of Scotland’s finest and most original folk performers.  Combined with blues-influenced guitarist Charlie McIntosh they will launch their new CD - "Gone But Not Forgotten".  Get one tonight or at the Music shops in Wick or Thurso later.

Caithness Partnership - October Newsletter

HIGHLAND COUNCIL CARE HOMES IN THE HIGHLANDS
The Highland Council faces challenges in proving quality care services for older people in the Highlands.  Chairman of The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee, Councillor Margaret Davidson said:  “We want to provide the highest standard of care for our older people in the Highlands.  Currently the Council has 21 care homes, a number of which are not up to standard.  We are in the process of refurbishing four of these care homes and next year work will begin on another four, however, we cannot afford to bring all 21 care homes up to meet the Care Commission standards.”  It currently costs the Council approximately £200 more per person per week to provide care in Council care homes as compared with the cost of purchasing that care from the independent sector.

Yes We Have A New Zealand Kune Kune Piglet Right Here In Caithness - Pets Pouring In

Reay 1933
Sent by Katrina Kirkpatrick.  Katrina has also added another name to the 1948 photo

School Days Index

Caithness Rugby Club V Lismore Today At Millbank, Thurso
Following another win last week against Newton Stewart (the farthest south club in the League the Caithness men will be looking to keep up their great run.  Match starts at 3.00pm
Caithness now sits in second position in the league chasing Falkirk only two points ahead.  See Caithness RFC for more details and reports.  Well done so far to the Caithness Rugby Team on this tremendous run having only just moved up to this league from last season.

Pets Pile In - Dogs, Donkeys and Piano Playing Guinea Pig

Yes the Pets Corner is proving to be popular and more pet photos are coming in every day. Bill is trying to catch up after being away most of the week at various meetings.  Apologies to those folk who were earlier promised photos on but they are now up.  A server problem meant they could not go up before bill headed off on his travels.  More pet photos shortly.  Send others for inclusion to bill@caithness.org   For now we are keeping it to Caithness pets but may open it later to expat Caithness pets.  If we open it to the whole world we will never get to them all.  Thanks to all who have sent in photos so far.  Missing Cat Spike Comes Home Injured - See Inside

The Road From Mound To Lairg - A839

Some fabulous weather this week in the north as elsewhere in the country.  A trip to Lochinver enabled us to get some great Autumn photos of the route showing the empty roads and a few views and places along the way.  This first batch is typical of the empty roads in the north after the summer is over.  Later Lairg to Lochinver will be added and show even more miles of empty countryside typical of Sutherland.  the last few days have been extremely warm and more like Summer than Autumn during the day we were there.

Saturday 10.00am - Volunteers Wanted  - Meet A Lybster Post Office 10.00am
Latheron, Lybster and Clyth Community Council have a few spaces left for keen volunteers / residents in the Lybster / Latheron area who would like to assist a small community project this Saturday. 
The project is fully supported by the Highland Council Ranger Service and involves cutting some whin bushes on and near a coastal footpath between Forse and Lybster.  If anyone is interested in sparing a couple of hours this Saturday morning (better than taking your Missus shopping lads....!) we would be delighted to welcome you.  The work is not over strenuous and should only last a couple of hours.
If you are interested, please call 07717 176002 for further details or see you at Lybster Post Office at 10am - bring your garden shears /cutters and appropriate weather gear!!

Councils & Enterprise Companies Study Into Bio-Diesel In The North
A report has been published on Friday 28 October 2005 on a study undertaken by the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) Consultancy Division on the potential for a Biodiesel industry in the north and east of Scotland. The report was commissioned by a partnership comprising Aberdeenshire Council, Angus Council, Fife Council, The Highland Council, Moray Council, Perth & Kinross Council, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise Energy. A main aim of the study is to identify the means of optimising the value of the oilseed rape (OSR) crop to growers in the study area, which produces around 75% of the OSR grown in Scotland.

MEY SELECTIONS BRAND ON A FIRM FOOTING FOR FIRST THREE YEARS
The recently launched 'Mey Selections' brand has received a major boost with the announcement that the enterprise is to receive a three year financial support package from the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD). This significant funding contribution, running from 2005 - 2008, has been approved to cover beef and lamb marketing initiatives under SEERAD's Marketing Development Scheme to ensure the development of the brand will be supported by the best available marketing and commercial expertise. The news is a second significant step forward for the brand which looks set to boost the returns to beef and lamb producers in the counties of Caithness, Orkney, Ross-shire and Sutherland as a result of the offer from Sainsbury's to supply selected food stores.

26 October 2005

Catching Up With More Caithness Pets As they Keep On Coming

Public Asked To Have Their Say On Highland Renewable Energy Strategy
The Highland Council is holding six public meetings to set out its stance on the future development of renewable energy resources across the Highlands and to invite views from the public.  The first meeting is being held at Lochaber House, Fort William on Tuesday 8 November and the last at the Averon Centre, Alness on Thursday 1 December. In between, meetings will be held at the Town House, Inverness on Tuesday 15 November; the Ross Institute, Halkirk on Tuesday 22 November; Portree Community Hall on Wednesday 23 November; and the Pittentrail Recreational Hall, Rogart, on Tuesday 29 November.  All meetings will start at 7 pm.  The Council has commissioned a number of reports to examine the potential for exploiting different forms of renewable energy (both on-shore and off-shore) in the context of various technical constraints and planning safeguards.

Youth Challenge 2006 Launched
The hunt has begun to find the Highlands and Islands' answer to Richard Branson.  The ICT Hothouse Youth Challenge 2006 is looking for young entrepreneurs with bright ideas.  The annual Challenge, launched this week, is supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and BT Scotland and invites teams of young people to submit their ideas for information technology and communications of the future.  The most promising ideas are then selected and the teams invited to pitch their ideas to a panel of experts. After a number of rounds the competition culminates with six teams being chosen to go forward to the Hothouse, an intensive week of team work and expert advice focusing on turning ideas into reality and producing working prototypes of the ICT gadgets of the future.

Miller Academy, Thurso  - HM Inspectors Latest Report On The School

From Shena McBeath the EnableLink Co-ordinator
I am the co-ordinator for a new project called ENABLElink which helps adults with learning disabilities to make new friends and increase their social skills within their communities. We are now looking for volunteers of all ages and interests who could spare a few hours a week to support a person with learning disabilities to experience the same social opportunities as other people.

£100,000 PROJECT IMPROVES WASTE WATER TREATMENT FOR HOUSES ON OUTSKIRTS OF WICK
Homes in the Newtonhill area of Wick are benefiting from a Scottish Water project worth approximately £100,000 which has resulted in their waste water being given an improved level of treatment. Until now 6 households discharged into a septic tank which was 40 years old and at capacity. Its final discharge was into a local ditch. This situation has now ended, benefiting the local environment.

25 October 2005

Captain Slater's Monument on Holborn Head - G. Watson
Another From the Bulletins of Caithness Field Club  - October 1977
A fortune teller once forecast that Captain Slater would meet his end at 2 p.m. Over the years this prediction preyed on the Captain's mind and for a few weeks before his final accident, Thurso Town Clock was stopped each day after striking one and restarted just before three. This extraordinary measure was instigated by Dr. Laing who was the Captain's physician and an influential member of the Town Council.
Bulletins Listed To Date     Main Caithness Field Club Index

Venture awards Subsea 7 Goosander tieback - Oil & Gas Journal - More Good News For Caithness
Venture Production Plc has awarded Subsea 7 near Wick its first major EPIC (engineering, procurement, installation and construction) contract under their recently announced partnership agreement.  The contract, valued over $50 million, is for the installation of a tieback from the Goosander production well to the Kittiwake platform.

24 October 2005

Rounding Up Those Pets

If you would like your Caithness pet included in the section email a photos to bill@caithness.org

THURSO RECYCLING CENTRE TO OPEN
A new Recycling Centre at Janetstown near Thurso is due to be opened on Monday 7th November 2005. Funded by the Scottish Strategic Waste Fund, the Centre will employ 2 new members of staff to operate the facility which will be open 7 days a week.  Local firm, John Gunn & Son was contracted by the Council to build the new facility which took approximately 12 weeks to complete.  Householders will now be able to take cans, car batteries, cardboard, electrical appliances, engine oil, garden waste, gas cylinders, glass bottles and jars, paper, rubble & soil, scrap metal, textiles, tyres, white goods and wood to the site where separate containers and skips will be available to collect the material to be recycled. A special container will be provided for people to donate furniture and household goods to Homeaid Caithness for reuse.

Wick Traditional Music Workshops
The traditional music workshops have rapidly become a popular feature of the music scene in Caithness.  The chance to have lessons from the top musicians in celtic music and have an enjoyable day playing has encourage more people to come along.  If you are interested in the day to be held at Wick High School check out the web site where you can download an application form.   Photos From 2003 Workshop

Birth Choice UK - A Web Site With Maternity Information To Help Women Make Choices
The web site shown above was notified to the North Action Group for wider dissemination as contains lots of useful information about births and intervention rates at hospitals in Scotland.  It also has lists of questions that women might wish to ask when visiting units or doctors.  The stats show that intervention rates at Raigmore are quite high compared to other hospitals and no doubt there are reasons for this but North Action Group would like to know why more mothers in the Highlands should require intervention than elsewhere.  The caesarean rate is higher than the national average.  Links to this site will shortly be made on the North Action Group web site and the Eye On Health Services and in other places on Caithness.org to make it easy to find later.

Memories - 25 Years Of Bobby Coghills Music On 3 CD's
Ross Records are releasing three CDs featuring a total of seventy tracks of accordion, fiddle and pipe music recorded by the late Bobby Coghill. The series is entitled “Bobby Coghill – Memories” Volumes 1, 2 and 3.  The new CDs are compiled from recordings made by Bobby for Ross Records over a period of 25 years, starting with Bobby’s first LP “Far Fae Hame” and they also include the tunes from the videos “Come Over The Ord” and “Caithness Connections” where Bobby played a leading roll.  See All 3 CDS Here   Available from 4 November in local shops or order direct from Ross Records.

Caithness And Sutherland Enterprise - September Grants Approvals Listing

23 October 2005

NHS HEROES IN CAITHNESS SHORTLISTED FOR SCOTTISH HEALTH AWARDS
Two Caithness health workers have been short-listed for the Scottish health awards. A diabetes specialist nurse in Caithness, who has revolutionised community diabetes services in the Highlands by bringing care to patients in more remote and rural areas has been short-listed for a high-profile honour at the this year's Scottish Health Awards. Pamela Campbell has taken the lead in developing the specialist diabetes care team at North Highland Community Health Partnership in Caithness.  Henrietta Simpson a domestic supervisor in Caithness has also been rewarded for the dedication and drive she has demonstrated in increasing staff morale at Caithness General Hospital and improving the hospital environment for patients in the wake of a tragic event.  In honour of her hard work and sunny attitude admired by staff and patients, Henrietta Simpson has been short-listed for the Support Workers' category at the Scottish Health Awards.  Congratulations to both ladies.

School Disco Revival On Bonfire Night 5 November In Thurso
This for those older folk with a wish to get back to the 70's and 80's discos.  This one is on bonfire night in Thurso. Starts at 9.00pm after the bonfire  Tickets from the organiser or Royal Hotel, Thurso.  ah to be young again.  The party never seems to end in Caithness.

Caithness Biodiversity Newsletter October 2005
Biodiversity is one of the ‘buzz’ words that seems to pop up all the time these days. It simply means the "variety of life on earth”. This includes all living things, from the tiny garden ant to the giant redwood tree. You will find biodiversity everywhere, in window boxes and wild woods, in roadsides and rain forests, on seashores and snow fields. The concept is a relatively new perspective on the natural world and how we as humans relate to it, which has developed over the last couple of decades.  Catch up on a few of the Caithness biodiversity projects helping to keep the county's varied wildlife and natural habitats. - Main Biodiversity Index

PPP Schools  - Do You 'Know what Is Happening?
Public Private Partnerships are coming in to nearly all parts of Scotland.  But many people are worried about the implications for the schools  and aspects such as the loss of Green Spaces which in come places are being turned over to developers to build houses and other buildings on as part of the deal.  HWCAG (Holmhills Wood Community Park Action Group), based in South Lanarkshire have produced a comprehensive survey of PPP schools projects in Scotland and we have now published this inside. The survey was carried out during August-October 2005 through FOI requests for details of open space loss associated with PPP schools projects.  PPP is being used to finance many projects that would once have been paid for by public sector borrowing but now are being financed in partnership with the private sector. If you have any thoughts on PPP head for the Message Board

Pet Photos Flowing In

Latest In Pets Corner

Wow what a range of pets already - in today are a cat, two goats, a barn owl and a dog.  Send you photos for inclusion to bill@caithness.org   for the moment we are keeping it to Caithness pets but if we may open it up and set up other sections for our surfers around the globe.  For now we have to keep the workload within our ability to process the photos.

Hire A Bouncy Castle From Staxigoe Hall For Events And Parties
The castle is available for hire within the hall at the cost of £20.00 for booking details contact Sybil on 01955 605417. 

A testing time for women's rugby as Miller eyes long-term success - The Scotsman
Lucy Miller who started her rugby career aged 8 in Thurso is making the headlines playing in Edinburgh.

22 October 2005

Fountain At Wick Riverside Reopened

The fountain at Wick was reopened after a refurbishment and the addition of flood lighting to make a show at night.  the Wick Town Improvements committee had raised the money from the the Gala night and funding applications to the Lottery and help from the Coop and Highland Council.  Ashlie Cormack the Wick Gala Queen pulled a lever to get the things going and Ann Dunnet the lord Lieutenant said a few works about the fountain and revealed that nearly one hundred years ago it had been built by an earlier Wick Town Improvements Group.  Jan Banks the Wick Town Improvements chairman said she was pleased that things had worked out so well and that not only the fountain was back working but that they had also managed to build disabled access pathway to the fountain and improve paths and picnic tables nearby.  The Town Improvements group now have their eye on the possibility of lighting the main Wick Bridge and more work on the paths network on the riverside and improvements to the islands..

More Caithness Pets - This Group All Live Together
To get your pet in the galleries send photos to bill@caithness.org

Pet Photos Begin To Trickle In
Pet photos are beginning to come in for the new galleries to enable you to see the range of pets that live in Caithness.  There are lots of pets around and Linda has sent in picture of her Great Dane on a day out in Sutherland and her daughters Buzzard at Rumster Forest.  No wonder folk love living in the north with plenty of space to take your big dog out or your pet buzzard for a few flights in the forests.  Great photos and you can send yours for the galleries to bill@caithness.org

More Support For Maternity Campaign From The Weigh Inn Staff In Thurso
Support for the north Action Group's fight to save consultant led maternity and gynae services was given another boost by when John Fairweather, the management and staff of the Weigh Inn, Thurso held a raffle in aid of the North Action Group's Maternity Campaign. All prizes were kindly donated by the Weigh Inn and they raised £123.50. 24/7 badges are still available here and can be bought in the bar. Iain Ednie left and John Fairweather of the Weigh Inn are pictured here handing over the cheque to Karen Munro of North Action Group.
North Action Group are continuing to have regularly meetings to discuss the latest developments that are mainly surrounding the Maternity Action Team set up by NHS highland to try to find away forward.  NAG members are disappointed at the extremely slow progress pointing out the North Action Group was formed nearly two years ago in 2003 when the Calder report on Caithness General Maternity and Gynae services was published.  This is the third time in the past few years that the Health Board have reviewed the services with a view to downgrading and each time the Caithness and Sutherland populations have protested louder than the previous time.  The review process via the Maternity Action Team has been beset with problems from poor administration, badly timed meetings, lack of communication to sub group members and the departure of the temporary staff member appointed to run the the process of meetings and reports.  Meeting are back on track but there is still no end in site to the process. North Action Group members are as determined as ever to continue to campaign for the 24/7 cover not to be removed.  The NAG committee (Name was well chosen we think) would like to thank everyone from individuals,  local businesses, local voluntary groups and Highland Council for their continuing support in terms of donations and a wide range of other services from meeting rooms to paper and copying and much more.  Turn outs to public meetings have been excellent and no doubt there will be more to come.  Contact details for North Action Group can be found on the North Action Group web site or in the Eye On Maternity section on this web site.  Donations for the campaign can be sent to the chairman of North Action Group  - George Bruce.  Items for the web site on the maternity issue can be sent to the North Action Group Press Officer - Bill Fernie bill@caithness.org

Report On Highland Group Badminton Competition From Shetland Today
Young Caithness badminton players mentioned in this article written for the Shetlanders. 

21 October 2005

Bulldozers Begin To Prepare Site At Old Wick For New Housing Development
Wick seems to be finally getting its act together as yet another development gathers steam. M M Miller contractors have their machinery on site preparing the site at Old Wick for up to 70 new houses.  New Developments are coming fast in the past few months with Tulloch preparing to buy the old Fountain Forestry building at 14 Telford Street from Highland Council - agreed on 5 October. 14 Telford Street will be a £400,000 development to turn the building near the harbour into shops and office units for lease or sale.  The signs are all there that confidence is building for further developments in Wick in the near future.

Preparing For Another Neil Gunn Weekend At Dunbeath
Next month Dunbeath Heritage Centre is hosting another weekend of events entitled Light in the North to celebrate the anniversary of Neil M. Gunn's birthday on 8th November.

Vision of the future for Highlands - The Herald
A VISION of the future for the Highlands was unveiled yesterday by the chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.  William Roe put forward his proposals to the 50th Ramsay Garden Seminar in Edinburgh.

Caithness Glass Factory Acquire By New Park & Tulloch

The former Caithness Glass factory gets a new lease of life with the announcement today that a joint venture company New Park Tulloch have acquired the property.  A formal launch of this the latest venture in Caithness takes place later today.  This following a number of new developments points to an upturn in the fortunes of the Caithness business scene.  New Park already run the properties at the former American base and Tulloch is looking to a £20 million development complex at Upper Dounreay Farm including hotels, a swimming pool and self-catering apartments and other businesses.

North Coast Jazz Band At The Redwood Again
The North Coast Jazz Band are having another go at the Redwood, Thurso on Saturday 29th October from 2-5.  Why not make date and go along and help to keep the only regular jazz gig in the county going.

First Meeting Of Caithness Socio Economic Strategy Group
The Caithness Socio-Economic Strategy Group held its first working meeting on Friday 14th October.
The future economic well being of the north will depend on there being a clear strategy to develop alternative economic activity over the years of Dounreay’s decommissioning. There are many agencies and departments of government who have varied responsibilities for delivering this but it is clear to all concerned that a common, agreed, strategy is vital if their work is to be effective.

20 October 2005

Caithness.org Pets Corner for Fun And Help
A new section  - Pets corner will gather together information and photos of pets in Caithness.  The section will feature photos of pets so send in photos of your pet if you live in Caithness.  To help with the number of pets who go missing we have also set up a missing pets photo gallery to keep all the photos of missing pets in one place and make them easer to find if you think you have an animal that is lost or strayed.  If your pet goes missing we will add a photo to the gallery for others to check and look out for the missing animal.  Send any photos or pet stories to bill@caithness.org   Check out the new Barney Gallery

Tritium Users Group Meeting At Dounreay
Dounreay recently hosted the fifth meeting of the Tritium User Group (TUG), a forum for the exchange of information on topics of common interest to the UK Tritium community.  Representatives from UKAEA Dounreay, UKAEA Windscale, AEA Technology, BNFL Magnox, NPL, Rutherford, AWE Aldermaston, BNFL Sellafield, NNC, GE Healthcare, BNFL Chapelcross, UKAEA (JET), MoD-DPA and RWE attend the meeting. UKAEA Dounreay's involvement in the Tritium User Group has provided direct support in the tritium removal from steel researches into heating and smelting and setting up a tritium laboratory.

Last Two Days Sees Rapid Progress At Wick's New Shopping Complex

Phones and Internet Access To East Caithness Cut Off After Morrisons Break The Cable
A digger cut the cable to the north today at Berriedale.  The accident happened at about 11.30am during road works. Normal service was resumed at just after 7.30pm after a team from BT had carried out repairs to the cable for Caithness

Dounreay waste pit clean up moves forward with planning application - Nuclear Engineering Int
Last week on the planning application with photos

19 October 2005

Caithness Knitters Make It On To National Hand Knitters Web Site
A bit more fame for the ladies from Caithness and the Highlands who took part in the National Knitting week event at John O'Groats recently.  Photos from Caithness.org have been carried on to the UK Hand Knitting Web site  We hope to get some photos of the Lands End ladies who competed against the north to knit a jumper from a fleece.  Click Here to see what it was all about.

Cant Cook Won't Cook At Keiss
A great night was had by all at Keiss Hall to raise funds in order to obtain a new village hall as the old hall is now falling down. One of the latest events to be held was a can't cook won't cook with local villagers Chick Sutherland and Robbie Begg. Alison Mc Donald and her son Calum staged the show using Pampered Chef utensils.  Keiss villages tried the results and voted on who was the best.  Chick believes he is the new Floyd in the kitchen. James Davidson was relegated to the dishes.  Looks like it was a fun night all round.

Wick Fountain To Be Reopened On Saturday
Wick Town Improvements have invited the Lord Lieutenant Ann Dunnet to officially reopen the Wick fountain after many years of it being off.  The fountain is the centrepiece of the whole project that has involved new paths and a lot of work around the fountain area putting in disable access paths and flood lighting.  The opening will take place on Saturday a3.00pm and everyone is invited to be there.  The Wick Town Improvements group have invited the residents of the Riverside Home which is nearby in Bridge Street as their guests.

Two More Vehicles Commonly Seen In Caithness
Another two vehicles commonly seen in Caithness.  One is the Reliance security vehicle that transports prisoners to and from the court in Wick and the other one of many Horse transportation vehicles taking horses to competitions and other events.

Another Missing Cat - Have You Seen Spike?
Spike has been missing from Upper Larel Farm for the past few weeks and may have wandered off and got lost.  If you have seen this tabby cat get in touch and we will pass on the details.  Due to the number of missing animals being notified to us we will shortly set up a photo gallery specifically for missing animals to make it easier to check if you find one and it has been sent in here.

Dunnet Forestry Trust - Log Sales, Saturday 22nd October from 10 am to 1pm.
And monthly through the winter. Splits £2 per bag, Rounds £35/cu m, Logs £25/cu m. Jumping poles etc, prices on application.  Why not help the forest trust and stack up for the winter at the same time.

Pole recruits bridge dentist gap  - BBC

Fear for maternity services in the Western Isles - North Tonight Grampian TV
There are fears that essential maternity services in the Western Isles may be facing cuts.  Proposals to reduce cover could lead to some pregnant women being flown off the island to give birth at a mainland hospital.  Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway is just the latest health service to face cuts.  The board have £1.4 million deficit.

18 October 2005

Glassblowing At Dounreay, Caithness
Although, sadly, no longer in existence, many will be familiar with the setting up of the Caithness Glass Company in 1961, less will be aware that glassworking existed in the county several years beforehand. In September 1956 Caithness saw the arrival of the first glassblower at UKAEA Dounreay.

NEW PARTICLE DETECTION TECHNOLOGY TRIAL
A laboratory-based trial of different monitoring systems for detecting particles on beaches near Dounreay has been launched at UKAEA’s Harwell site.  Alternative technologies offered by six different companies from the UK and USA are being tested for their sensitivity towards buried point sources on a simulated beach environment over a period of seven weeks in September and October 2005.

New & Existing Low Active Drain Connected
As part of the enabling works required for the shaft isolation project, approximately 150metres of the Dounreay’s low active drain (LAD) adjacent to the shaft had to be diverted. At the end of September the tie-ins operation to connect the old and new LAD were carried out and the system commissioned. The LAD diversion required the creation of a new reinforced concrete duct, some 158 metres long, containing stainless steel pipework and secondary containment.  Over two days approximately 30 UKAEA and contractor staff worked together to complete many of the intricate parts of the project, linking the new to the existing LAD. Due to the nature of the work staff were required to wear airline suits and all operations were carried out within a radiological containment called EREC

The Caithness Partnership Updates
Just added newsletters and details of the Community Regeneration Fund

17 October 2005

Fresh safety alert at Dounreay - BBC

Old Photo Leads To More information On Mackays Dance Band
An early photo sent in by one of our readers a couple of years back has led to the band getting in touch with information on what has been happening to them.  Starting in 1957 they are still playing with new generations in the line up.  Recently they played at Auckengill Hall and Jim Mackay has sent in a couple of photos from that gig to go with a short history he has written.

Ormlie Community Association Shortlisted For Dynamic Award
The search to find the winners of this year's Dynamic Place Awards, the only awards in Scotland that recognise the country's leading design, innovation and regeneration projects, has taken a leap forward with the announcement of this year's shortlist of entries.  The awards judges have reduced the list of nearly 100 entries down to 26 projects. Judges are currently visiting each of the remaining contenders to identify the winners in the three award categories; Built Environment, Community Development and Connections.  Ormlie Community Association (OCA) has been shortlisted for the Community Development category.  The Association was formed by residents of a housing estate in Thurso to work in partnership with the public and private sector to improve the well-being of the area.

Highland Airports Reports 10% Passenger Growth in Second Quarter
Total air passenger numbers in the Highlands and Islands have increased by 9.8% in the past six months, according to figures released today by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited.  HIAL’s 10 airports handled 612,740 passengers from 1 April to the end of September compared with 558,024 in 2004/05. Nine of the company’s 10 airports have increased their passengers in the past six months with only Islay showing a small drop of just over 100 passengers over the period.  Wick was up 3.2% on last years total to date.

Highland 2007 Major Events
Highland 2007 today announced event details forming part of the programme for the year long celebration of Highland culture in 2007.  A world class events programme spanning the entire year of 2007 from January through to December will raise the profile of the Highlands on an international stage.

HOUSING SURVEY FOR SOUTH-EAST CAITHNESS
During October every household in the two Community Council areas that make up the south-east Caithness Initiative at the Edge area will be given the opportunity to take part in a housing survey to establish the housing needs and views of the people who live there.  The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust (HSCHT) has been asked to carry out the survey by the south-east Caithness Initiative at the Edge Area Steering Group, Dunbeath and Berriedale Community Council and Latheron’ Lybster and Clyth Community Council. Every household in south-east Caithness will receive a questionnaire from the HSCHT, the results from which are expected to provide a much clearer understanding of the different kinds of housing problems being experienced locally.