Winter Finally Arrives in Caithness
It
has been a long time coming but winter finally caught up with Caithness
and the highlands this morning. this photos is of Wick early this
morning. If you have some photos of the snow in Caithness or
Sutherland send them to
bill@caithness.org over the next few days to add to this gallery.
The weather forecast suggests more snow over the next few days and low
temperatures for the north of Scotland. Brrrr.
A New Era For
Thurso Town Hall As Councillors Hold Last Meeting Before Closure
The
doors of Thurso Town Hall were locked this week - marking the end of the
current use of the Victorian building and a start to a £3.5 million
redevelopment to create a new community, cultural and tourism centre.
Last users of the building were The Highland Council's Caithness Area
Committee, who met there on Monday (27 February 2006). They will meet at
Thurso College until returning to the town hall following refurbishment
in early 2008. The first phase of the facelift will involve the
letting of an enabling works contract, which will include stripping out
of fixtures and fittings and further structural and condition surveys.
This work will allow the detailed design to be completed ahead of the
letting of phase two which will see a contract let for the major
refurbishment of the town hall and the museum. Go to
Caithness
Horizons to see what it will look like after it reopens in 2008.
Caithness And Sutherland Enterprise Approvals For Grants - January 2006
The latest list of grants to businesses has just been published
MINISTER RESPONDS TO NORTH MSP OVER CENTRAL
HEATING PROGRAMME
Highlands
and Islands Labour MSP Maureen Macmillan has received confirmation from
Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm that the successful Central
Heating Programme for pensioners will continue beyond 2006. Mrs
Macmillan said,"The Minister has advised that the scheme will continue
after the current programme is due to end next month. This is good news
for those over 60 who qualify and have still not taken advantage of the
programme; which provides insulation and new central heating systems
free of charge.
Is This A Chance
For Northern Actors As New Online Media Company Go For Online Auditions
OK
everyone in the film world is struggling at the start and you cannot
afford to trek to the big centres for auditions.
Grass Roots Media are a young company breaking new ground in film
and in the way they are going to cast their next film. Their latest
production The London Affair is available to see for FREE online.
The BBC are to show some of their work and they are definitely innovative
in using the web to promote themselves and now to cast their next film.
Yet another change coming via the web. Any Caithness actors fancy
their chances for a starring role?
27 February 2006
Halkirk Brownies and Guides take part in World Thinking Day on the Air
Halkirk Brownies, Guides and Guiders joined up with local Amateur Radio
enthusiasts Donnie McKay, Erik McKay, John Crowden, Denny Morrison and
Laurie Dickenson in the Ross Institute, Halkirk on Sunday 19th February to
take part in ‘World Thinking Day on The Air’. This is an annual event held
on the third weekend in February where members of Guiding from all over
the world send greetings to each other over the airwaves to celebrate
World Thinking Day. World Thinking Day (22nd February) is a special day in
the Guiding calendar as it celebrates the birthdays of the founder Lord
Baden-Powell and his wife Olave (World Chief Guide).
Walk A Mile In My Shoes - BBC Scotland Radio
Programme - Listen Again to the
programme broadcast on Sunday
Edie Stark speaks to MSP Jaimie Stone -
Click on the tiny speaker beside Walk A Mile
In My Shoes
Hear George Bruce at Stepping Stones, North Action Group and others speaking
to Jaimie Stone about representing
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross.
Jaimie Stone takes Edie Stark out into his
constituency - speaks to Thrumster mums on
their nursery campaign and more...
ROADS
CLOSED TO TRAFFIC DURING INVERNESS HALF
MARATHON Sunday 12 March
The Inverness Half Marathon and Fun Run
takes place on Sunday 12 March and motorists
in the city are being warned that during the
event roads along the route will be
temporarily closed to traffic.
Vacancies In Our Jobs Section Just Updated
- Employers Advertise Free On Caithness.org
PhD Studentship - Thurso - Postdoctoral
Research Associate (1 post) - ICT Technician
- Thurso
Research Fellow / Senior Research Fellow (3
posts) - Clinical Nurse Manager, Grade I,
Sutherland
Social Worker (Community Mental Health Team)
- Teacher of Mathematics (temporary)
Test Technicians - Social Worker, Wick -
Community Care Assessor - Temp - Bettyhill
Cleaning Operative, Halkirk Primary School -
Cleaning Operative, Wick High School
Art Residency - Stained Glass
Caithness & Sutherland Tourist Businesses - VisitScotland – coming to a place near
you
Following on from the success of the
December road shows, where Business
Relationship Managers visited every location
in the Highlands to speak directly to our
tourism businesses, the format has now been
extended. On one particular day of each
month, barring July and August, a Business
Relationship Manager (BRM) will spend an
hour at each Tourist Information Centre or
other location, specifically to meet anyone
in the tourism industry and to offer help
and guidance.
26 February 2006
Message Board Folk Set Up FREE STUFF - Now
You Can Give Away What You Don't Want
Recycling takes another leap forward thanks
to some a discussion via our Message Board.
Thanks to the Orgers on the board a new
Free Stuff section has been set
up in the Classified Ads for anyone to
advertise things they wish to give away.
The idea is already running in other places
and its growing as a way to pass things on
that you no longer have use for. You
can offer anything within reason and await
offers to pick up the goods at suitable
time. You cold also offer to make it
available only to charities etc and see if
any groups are interested. Obviously there
is still the charity shops and Homeaid who
are always on the lookout for things you do
not want but it may be something they could
not use. Its bound to grow.
Otters Spotted On River Thurso
They
are always around somewhere along the
riverbanks in Caithness but you may need to
be careful and quiet to spot them.
This pair were seen on the River Thurso but
several other places such as the Wick river,
golf course, streams and others are places
where they be spotted especially in the
early morning or before it gets dark.
Sometimes to be seen swimming about or
playing around the banks and great to watch
the antics of this agile swimmer.
More Caithness Wildlife
Nature And Environment
Sunset From The Causeymire
Thanks
to Robert Bain for this set of sunset photos
taken a few days ago. The open
Caithness countryside certainly makes for
long uninterrupted views.
Home - The First Production Of Scotland's
New National Theatre A Huge Success In Wick
Home
in Caithness was one of 10 themed plays
across Scotland to mark the historic start
of Scotland's new national theatre that is
to operate without a theatre of its own. its
firs production collaborated with local
groups and was a stunning success taking
folk on a journey of an old lady at the end
of her life looking for her old and final
home. Great ideas put together with music
and full of vivid sets and superb acting.
Vicky Featherstone the national theatres
first director came to Caithness to see the
new production last night and she must have
been over the moon about its success.
It was first for Caithness and hopefully we
will see them here again often. In
only 4 weeks they had put together the
production with the cooperation of many
local groups and businesses. Well done to
everyone concerned.
National Theatre Of Scotland
A Few Items From The Sunday Papers
City Prepares To Clean Up On Nuclear -
Telegraph
Call To End Lifestyle Surgery -
Sunday Times - Freedom of Information gets
figures including highland
Curtains Rise On National Theatre -
BBC The story of the new Scottish National
Theatre that will have no buildings and
perform across Scotland. They did so
over the past couple of days with packed
houses especially here in Caithness where
they were performing in the old Caithness
Glass factory. A big hit with everyone
who saw it.
Brodie McHaggis Goes Under The Hammer For
Local Charities
Update
on Brodie McHaggis. He is quickly capturing
the hearts and minds of those who have
followed him through his first adventure and
they are asking when they can read his next
adventure. He's turning into a right wee
star! Brodie continues to create more mayhem
in his second book, which is due out later
this year. A copy of "Brodie McHaggis and
the Secret of Loch Ness" will be auctioned
at the MFR Charity Auction 2006 which runs
from 3-5 March. The First Edition Book is
number 299 of 300. All other copies have now
been sold by Chloe Publishing Ltd. A unique
framed copy of the book cover illustration
will also be auctioned with the book. The
picture has been signed by the Author, Helen
Campbell, and has been dedicated to the MFR
Charity Auction. It is the first of its kind
and is the only one in existence.
25 February 2006
Residents Welcomed Back To Bayview Home
Residents at Bayview House, Thurso, were welcomed back to the residential
home this week following a £380,000 refurbishment to meet new standards.
Councillor David Flear, Convener of The Highland Council's Caithness Area
Committee, and Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of the Caithness Area
Social Work Committee, greeted the first residents to return to the home
following an eight-month absence. The home was closed in
June last year to allow contractors to upgrade bedrooms by removing sinks
to create more space and installing showers instead of baths. Separate
entrances have been created for day care users and residents while
doorways have been widened for wheelchair access and a full sprinkler
system installed.
Fight To Wear his Kilt End With Nathan
Warmack Getting His Wish To Visit Scotland
Come True
Syndicated Travel Expert Stephanie Abrams
Waves Travel Fairy Godmother Wand Over
Nathan Warmack, Sending Him and Kilt to
Scotland
You may all remember a few weeks ago the
petition to support Nathan Warmack and his
quest to change the school dress code at
Jackson High. Well click through the
link to see that an American Radio host
Stephanie Abrams has made it all come true
with the help of various companies in the US
and the UK. Nathan and his parents are
being sent on a nine day trip to Scotland
where they will stay in 5 Scottish castles
be driven round for the whole stay in a
mercedes, get new kilt outfit and much more
.
Story as at 5 January
The petition reached almost 12,000
signatures and the school changed
its dress policy. Clan Gunn members
particularly in the US rallied behind the
petition and we here at Caithness.org joined
in and soon it was roaring around the globe.
Well done to Stephenie Abrams for putting
together this great trip for Nathan and his
parent. Enjoy the trip Nathan.
Helmsdale - Painting The Town
Dropping
in on Helmsdale the other day you could not
help noticing the bright colours. La Mirage
has been brightly painted in red for many
years and the Bridge Hotel and Tackle shop
have sported a green and white for the past
couple of years. Now the former Bunullidh
restaurant has had a makeover, changed it
name to Wayfarer under new management and is
now a rich shade of blue. The colours fairly
lift the spirits on a cold winters day.
Wonder if they have been watching Balamory
the children's TV programme based on
Tobermory? It works for them so
why not Helmsdale. Go for it -
we love it Helmsdale. And now for
Wick!!!!!
24 February 2006
Job Ads - They Cost A Fortune But Not On
Caithness.org - Check It Out It's FREE
Employers just need to register and then
post the jobs completely FREE. What's
the catch? None. Simply we get
more traffic and other businesses maybe even
yours buys one of our
low cost banner ads. Does it
work. Well something is as our traffic
continues to soar with over 4 million
visitors last year and rising all the time.
Not sure? Well check the
P & J for 28 days We
do not demand anything - no partners no
number of jobs. Simple - just
post any number of jobs - even one - same
cost (FREE) same services for everyone.
Employers have nothing to lose and you can
reach a wide audience at no cost.
Takes minutes.
Highland Convenor To Meet Youth Voice
Representatives
The
Convener of
The Highland Council, Councillor Alison
Magee, is to meet representatives of
Highland Youth Voice next week to
assure them that pupils wishing to take
Advanced Higher courses will still be able
to do so. Councillor Magee will be
joined by Councillor Andy Anderson, Chairman
of the Council's Education Culture and Sport
Committee and Director of Education Culture
and Sport, Bruce Robertson, at the meeting
to be held on Tuesday at Inverness. She
said: "I look forward to meeting with
Highland Youth Voice to explain the
background to this matter. The impression
has been given that there are to be
significant cuts in curriculum options
across all Highland schools and I will take
the opportunity to assure our students and
their families that this is not the case."
Home Start Volunteers Get the Full
Treatment At North Highland College
Local
family support group Homestart took their
Volunteers to the North Highland College in
Thurso this week for some beauty treatments
and a few hair do’s. The staff and students
at the Hair & Beauty Academy worked to fit
in 14 volunteers all of whom volunteer to
help families. Even though they were a
big group of Fourteen the Hair and Beauty
Academy fitted them all in. The
catering section provided tea, coffee,
assorted fruit juices, sandwiches and
nibbles. All in all it was a thoroughly
enjoyable, relaxing experience. A
couple of volunteers had to leave early so
missed the photo.
HomeStart Is looking For Experienced Parents
If you are an experienced parent you might
be able to help another family. Check
out Homestart for further details.
Wow - Even
We at Caithness.org Are Impressed - Cars At
Dunnets Are Already Selling
They have
barely hit the web site and they are being
marked as sold already.
Car Dealers Now On Caithness.org
Wm Dunnet who have garages and car show
rooms in Wick and Thurso are now placing
their used cars on the web site in the Cars
For Sale section. You can now have
quick look to see that they have on offer 24
hours a day. The firm are now adding
vehicles to this new section so check back
if you are looking for a used car as the
list will grow over coming weeks. The
used car section has already proved
incredibly popular with both sellers and
buyers with more cars, motorbikes and spares
going in. There have even been cars given
away for FREE for spares from owners who
wish to get rid of an unwanted vehicle.
A few bargains have passed through the
pages. But don't blink as they
disappear very fast. If you are
looking for vehicle or have one to sell then
Caithness.org is fast becoming the place to
look in Caithness.
Vehicles For Sale
'More needs to
be done to achieve a proper rail line to the
far north' - Gibson
Highlands and Islands SNP MSP Rob
Gibsonhas branded as derisory news of a new
train service from Wick to Inverness which
will be 15 minutes shorter. The new service
will save 15 minutes on the journey by
missing out certain stops on the way south.
This time saving measure will mean that the
journey from Wick to Inverness will be 4
hours. Mr Gibson says the move is far too
timid....
"I can hardly see the people of the far
North rejoicing in this announcement, the
hard fact is that this move still makes it 4
hours by train from Wick to Inverness, so it
will hardly bring in the crowds. The news of
the two jobs is encouraging, however the
question would have to be put how many extra
jobs there would be if there was an even
faster rail connection to Inverness."
Can You Help With Some Caithness Research?
We have been contacted to see if people in
Caithness would be interested helping with
sociological research. See below this
message from the researcher who will be
coming to Caithness and get in touch with
her if you would like to assist. Not too
much research on this has been done in
Caithness so this could be a very useful
exercise. -
Social Research on ‘Family’ and ‘Belonging’
in Caithness. Kimberley Masson,
a postgraduate researcher from the
University of Edinburgh, is about to begin
sociological research in Caithness. Her work
is concerned with life-stories about family
(particularly generational relationships)
and a sense of ‘belonging’ to Caithness. The
region has been largely overlooked in the
social sciences and this research, towards a
PhD in Social Anthropology, aims to tell its
story. The research is based in wider
academic concerns about ‘Scottishness’,
fertility decline, and the repopulation of
rural areas. In hearing stories of
Caithness, we might illuminate ‘Scotland’
and ask what terms like ‘family’,
‘belonging’, and ‘community’ mean at all.
Kimberley is looking at how people identify
themselves and others (who is a ‘local’? an
‘incomer’? a ‘local who left’? one who
returned?).
More...
23 February 2006
Alarm over possible exam cutbacks -
BBC
Chris Oughton, who is a representative on
the executive of the youth parliament
Highland Youth Voice, said the reaction
amongst pupils had been one of "outrage".
See yesterdays story below -
Highland Secondary Schools Staffing Levels
To Hit Advanced Highers
Comment From Mary
Scanlon MSP
Highland Youth Voice - Were
they consulted before this decision was made
and if not why not?
22 February 2006
UKAEA RESPONDS TO RESIDENTS OVER SITING OF
PROPOSED LOW-LEVEL WASTE FACILITY
Drop In Meeting Reay Village Hall - Thursday
23 February Between 7.00pm and 9.00pm
An alternative location for the disposal
of low-level radioactive waste from
decommissioning Dounreay has been identified
by the site’s operators after listening to
the views of local residents. UKAEA
has reconsidered its choice of location for
a series of shallow engineered vaults
following feedback received during the first
round of consultation meetings held with
residents and the local community in
December 2005. A better location that uses
part of the existing Dounreay site and an
area immediately beside the boundary fence
will now be put forward for formal
consultation for the disposal of wastes that
arise during the clean-up and demolition of
the former fast reactor research site. More
important is that the new area is further
away from the nearest home. The revised plan
is being outlined to local residents at
meetings being held this week with project
staff from Dounreay.
Lyra Celtica Are Wildcat Traditional
Music Group Guest Artists In Caithness
Friday 24 February 8.00pm At Pentland Hotel
Wildcat
Traditional Music, the local group who are
intent on bring quality music into the area
have pulled off another excellent choice
with an appearance of Lyra Celtica.
Lyn Tocker, Frank McGuire and Chuck Fleming
are the musicians in the usual trio of Lyra
Celtica but expanded with the talents of
Mark Canning (guitar and vocals). They
play energetic, high spirited jigs and reels
and beautiful airs with a few songs mixed in
for good measure. Switching between fiddle,
accordion, whistle and percussion each
instrument shines in its own right and then
blends seamlessly with the others to form a
rich tapestry of quality music and fun.
A lively night for those who head over to
the Pentland Hotel On Friday night.
UKAEA Donation Of £1000 Helps Thurso High
Get New Minibus
As
part of UKAEA's 50th anniversary
celebrations in 2004, UKAEA donated £1000
towards the cost of a new minibus for Thurso
High School, which has now been delivered to
the school. Funds for the minibus were
raised by Thurso High School's PTA through
various fund-raising events and other
donations. The minibus will now allow pupils
to cost-effectively travel distances to
football, rugby, athletics, swimming, young
engineers, drama and music groups. It will
give the school the convenience to transport
pupils south to further enhance the quality
of educational activities for pupils.
Calling All Hotels - Bed and Breakfasts And
Other Businesses In Caithness & Sutherland
Add Your Disabled Access Information To The
Caithness.org Business Index - FREE
All businesses in Caithness and Sutherland
can tell potential customers what their
disabled access is like at their premises
FREE of charge. Just add a short
description to your FREE page by completing
the
description box in the Submission form
Make sure you put in the business name and
we will do the rest. You do not need
to pay to let people with disabilities know
your access arrangements and you could bring
more business to your premises if access is
easy. Tell everyone about the access
to your premises and do it FREE on
the
Caithness Business Index and the
Sutherland Business Index
Ardvreck Castle -
The
MacNicols and Macleods of Assynt
By D B
Miller
Another in the Caithness Field Club Bulletin
series on Castles and Families of the north.
This article was first published in the
Caithness Field Club Bulletin of October
1978
Photo Of Ardvreck Castle
Caithness Field Club Bulletin Articles
List
Caithness Field Club Pages
The road from Lairg to Lochinver which
passes Ardvreck Castle
Sutherland A - Z
Caithness Castles Sutherland
is six times larger than Caithness but does
not have as many castles. It does have
spectacular landscapes.
We Know It Seems Like Yesterday Since The
Westminster Elections
But The Scottish 2007 Runners Are Off With
Labour Announcing Their Candidate For Our
Area
This
time it looks like Labour are pulling out
all the stops with an intellectual
candidate. Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
constituency Labour Party have selected their candidate for the 2007
Scottish parliamentary elections. He is John McKendrick, a 29 year-old
barrister. John was born in Alexandria, on the
shores of Loch Lomond almost thirty years ago. He grew up in the
countryside in Stirlingshire, where his family still live, went to school
in Glasgow and studied at the LSE and Oxford
before qualifying as a barrister.
New
2007 Election Section set up for
information, photos etc as it comes in.
Local Government Pension Changes - Boring
Topic But Huge Implications For Low Paid
Women May Fare Very Badly Under The Local
Government Pension Changes Proposed
Bill Fernie Highlights The Unison Campaign
On The Proposed Changes
Bill Fernie is a local councillor for
Wick West and is very concerned about the
impact of the changes in the Local
Government Pension Scheme being proposed by
the government and in Scotland by the
Scottish Executive. The topic is one
which most people do not think much about
until retirement is looming. However
this is one that will have a dramatic affect
on many local government workers and
especially on low paid women workers.
The changes are being instigated apparently
to comply with European legislation.
However various European spokesmen have
denied that it is necessary for the UK to do
so and that the decision is finally one for
the UK government. Unions are lobbying
to prevent the changes adversely affecting
their members as is their job. One
group in particular may fare worse than
others. They are women.
Calling All Poultry Keepers
Only Days Left To Register with the
Great Britain National Poultry Register
The new registration scheme was only agreed
in December but due to the Avian Flu virus
around the globe you must register by 28
February 2006 if you have 50 or more poultry
including ducks, geese, chickens and various
others. Failure to do so may incur
penalties. For further details see the
Veterinary surveillance: Great Britain
Poultry Register
Careers Convention At Assembly Rooms,
Wick - Wednesday 8th March 6.00pm - 8.30pm
People
living in Caithness are being offered expert
advice and information on taking the next
step in their careers. The Caithness
Careers Convention will be held on Wednesday
8th March 2006 in The Assembly Rooms Wick
and will offer people of all age’s
comprehensive information on careers,
employment, training and education.
The event, organised by Careers Scotland in
Thurso, will bring universities, colleges,
training providers and employers all under
one roof. More than 40 organisations
and businesses will be at the event.....
21 February 2006
DUNNET FOREST TREE PLANTING
Almost
30 volunteers turned out to help plant trees
at Dunnet forest last Saturday. The planting
was organised by Highland Council's Planning
and Development Service countryside rangers
and Dunnet Forest community forester, Jon
Hollingdale as part of the
Caithness Countryside Volunteer
and
Caithness Critter programme of
events. A mix of approximately 400 broadleaf
trees were planted, staked and guarded in a
recent felled area. The event was part of
the Community Service Volunteers Action
Earth supported by Scottish Natural
Heritage. After the tree planting, all the
volunteers rested at the Northern Sands
Hotel where a sandwich lunch and
refreshments were provided.
Massive Fines and Prison For Animal Cruelty
Fines are to be raised from £5000 to £20,000
for cruelty involving animals. Prison
sentences will double from 6 month to 12
months. Tail docking of dogs will
become an offence. Tough new powers relating
to all aspects of illegal dog fights in
Scotland were announced today. The proposals
will make it an offence to make, show or
distribute film of animal fighting in the
UK. Offenders will also face increased fines
and prison sentences under the plans.
Environment and Rural Development Minister
Ross Finnie revealed the changes to the
Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill
today and said they will put an end to
criminals profiting from films to make money
out of promoting illegal fights and
gambling. He said: "We are committed to
reducing the needless suffering of all
animals in Scotland and to protecting
animals from one of the most shocking acts
of cruelty.
Highland Secondary Schools Staffing Levels
To Hit Advanced Highers
This coming school session (2006-2007) will
see teachers across Scotland spending one
hour per week less directly in front of
pupils, with 22.5 hours being the maximum
class contact time, both in secondary and in
primary schools. The impact of these changes
is now being realised throughout Highland
Secondary schools. The Scottish Executive
identified additional funding for the
implementation of this national agreement,
and in the case of Highland Council, the
allocation is £769K. Bruce Robertson,
Highland Council's Director of Education,
Culture and Sport said: "If we were to give
every school in Highland an additional hour
for each teacher, the total bill would be
£2.7M, and in the case of secondary schools,
£1.4M. It is clear therefore that we are not
in a position to allocate additional funding
to all schools for this purpose.
Comment From Mary
Scanlon MSP
Can You Help Hillhead School, Wick
Make Rag Rugs?
Hillhead primary school are looking for help
from anyone locally who knows about making
Rag Rugs. Artist Sally Orr will be
teaching the children how to make rag rugs
but help from anyone with experience would
be of great assistance. Also the
school are would be interested in hearing
about Rag Rug making in the past to build up
a picture of what it involved. Maybe
you rag rugs were made many years ago and
are still being used. Get in touch
with the school at
Hillhead.Primary@highland.gov.uk
Castletown Residents Advised Test Bore
Holes At Former Landfill Site To Be Drilled
Shortly
The
Highland Council has written to residents in
150 properties in Castletown, Caithness, to
advise them of work which will begin next
month to identify if gases are being
generated in the nearby disused landfill
site and if the gases are moving towards the
town. Work is due to start on 16 March and
continue for eight weeks. Monitoring will
continue, initially, for a period of three
months. Test bore holes will be drilled on
the perimeter of the landfill site. As soon
as the results are known, the Council will
again contact residents and businesses.
20 February 2006
Visit Lybster And Put Some Zing Back In Your
Lungs
If
you have lived in the far south for any
length of time you really appreciate living
near the sea. Take a step on any beach
in Caithness or walk on the windswept cliffs
and feel the fresh air on your cheeks and
breathe the fresh salty air. A few
breaths soon let you know that this is good
for you - Visit Lybster and see for
yourself.
Lybster index
Wick Traditional Music Day At Halkirk
It was another good day for everyone who
attended the Wick Traditional music sessions
at Halkirk. The workshops are tutored
by professional musicians ensuring that
participants are able to get first hand
practice under experienced eyes and ears.
The workshop was followed by a family dance
in the evening, with music by Gordon Gunn,
Alastair Macdonald and the dancing was
enjoyed by all. Future workshops will be
posted here and on the
Gordon Gunn web site
Place Names From Our
Mongrel Tongue
A talk by Nan Bethune - Thursday 23
February 2006 - Pentland Hotel,
Thurso - 7.30pm
Organised by
Caithness Field Club
Caithness Archaeological Trust 2006
Programme
A variety of activities for young
archaeologists and a number of digs and the
chambered cairn project that might be of
interest to anyone who would like to
volunteer to work on the projects.
Caithness Young Archaeologists
A Winter Walk In Dunbeath Strath
A few walkers ventured out with the Caithness Rangers on Sunday for a
walk through the Strath of Dunbeath. There is a considerable range
of interesting things to see on this walk as apart from the scenery with the river
flowing by the area is full of archaeology, and places made famous by
Neil Gunn's books not mention the wildlife.
Dunbeath
Index
Ranger Pages
More Caithness Walks
They Lived By the Sea - Folklore and Ganseys Of the Pentland Firth
This
booklet now out of print was written by the late Hetty Munro and we have
obtained permission from family to publish the booklet. We have
made a start with two patterns and will eventually get round to
publishing the rest of the booklet at a later date.
An example of Caithness Gansey can be seen in the
Wick Heritage Museum.
Ganseys Section
North
Airports’ Passengers Continue to Increase
Dramatic 41% Increase At Wick Due To New Early Flight
The number of passengers using airports in the Highlands and Islands
increased by 20% in January compared to the previous year, according to
figures released today. A total of 79,476 passengers used the 10
airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited in the month
compared to 66,326 in January 2005. The airports which showed the
greatest gains in the month were: Inverness (+28%); Islay (+18%);
Sumburgh (+17%) and Wick (+41%).
19 February 2006
County Singles
Snooker League
We have today added a league table for the County Singles Snooker
League. If anyone else runs snooker competitions and would like
page set up and then results added to the web site from time to time get
in touch with us.
Fancy Dress For Big Heart Day At North School, Wick
Big
heart day Overall winners of the fancy dress competition were Lee -Anne
McAdie and Owen Harrold and the total raised was £220.
North School Index
Caithness Schools Index
Crimson Tide CD Competition Winner
There was plenty
of interest in this CD competition with over 100 entries. The
winner selected at random was Alana Macdonald from Lybster and the CD
will be sent out shortly. This is signed copy of the CD so maybe
it will be worth a lot when the band hits the big time. Watch out
for more competition on Caithness.org
Winners Of the
Build Your Own Web Site Book Competition
The
winners randomly selected in our Free book competition were
Ian Westmorland, East Kilbride
Matthew Thain, Wick.
Joyce Farquhar, Bristol
David Mitchell, Thurso
We are arranging to have the books sent out.
Let us know if you get a web site up and running
Caithness Night Sky Section Begins
Gordon Mackie has long been interested in astronomy and has kindly
offered to contribute to this new section.
This section will consist of a bi-monthly newsletter with photos and
information about what might be seen in the night sky over Caithness. A
photo gallery will shortly be added where anyone can send in their
photos of the Caithness Night Sky. Gordon has offered to answer
questions which can initially be emailed to
bill@caithness.org for
forwarding. To start the section going Gordon has prepared a
February
March 2006 newsletter with details of what he has seen recently. At the
end of the newsletter are details of events or items to look out for in
coming weeks. Anyone can contribute to this new section and Gordon
is keen to stimulate interest. Let us have your suggestions and ideas
and we will consider them. Another easy web site address
www.caithness.org/nightsky
Early Evening At Dunbeath As Breakers Crash In
Dunbeath
Index
Caithness A - Z
for thousands of photos of the county
From The Sunday Papers
Caithness Family Stage Demonstration - Grampian TV
How The Baby Shortage Threatens The Future - Observer
This article echoes pretty well what is happening in Highland.
Women putting off having children, more single men and women living at home, less
children in schools - the rolls are now dropping fast, more elderly
people in the population and rising fast, harder to get housing and more
expensive leading to two income mortgages, leaving it too late to have a
baby - yes that's exactly Highland now.
Dream Theatre Becomes A Reality - Scotsman
This item is all about the new National Theatre for Scotland and its
first production taking place in 10 locations including Wick called
Home
18 February 2006
Caithness Heat And Power Makes First Move To
Reduce Heating Costs In Pulteneytown
Over
250 People See New Heating System At Open Day
Over
250 people from Pulteneytown and other parts of Wick attended the open
day to find out if they could benefit once the new wood chip heating
system is in place later this year. With gas and electricity
prices about to be increased by 22% there was no doubting the potential
savings that users of the new system could make once it is installed.
Council house tenants will have the system installed free by the
Highland council. House owners can have the system installed by
purchasing the equipment. Most folk agreed that they would all
save money on the system once installed. Highland Council formed
CHaP to take forward the £5million development and work will start on
the ground in Pulteneytown in March. The Heat And Power system
produces electricity as well as heat for homes and other buildings.
If you are looking for the Heat and Power web pages on the site in
future check the left hand column or simply type chap after
www.caithness.org as per -
www.caithness.org/chap
CHaP is going to be around for a long time as the pipe system is
expected to have a 100 year life.
Are You Paying
Over The Odds To Advertise Property - Why Not Do It FREE On Caithness.org?
One of the busiest sections in our Business Index is the property for
sale and rented property sections. currently we have 70 properties
advertised for sale and how much did the owners pay to advertise on our
extremely busy web site - Absolutely Nothing. Properties
are moving through our pages all the time and for these ads the owners
are saving a fortune. Try our FREE ads yourself and it is easy to
do. Just complete the
Online Form and add a photo and your ad is up and running
immediately for anyone anywhere in the world who might want to buy a
house in Caithness. Now it is possible to do your own advertising
without incurring huge bills. Its FREE for now. Why pay
more? You have nothing to lose. Remember your ad can stay on
the site until it is sold even if it takes 52 weeks. Do the sums
yourself.
How is this all possible you might say. Well its the internet!!!!
Changing things faster than ever.
Exciting New
Music and Media Project For Young People
A great new opportunity for young people to take part in music and film
workshops over the next two years will soon be available in a new
project Music
Link Media. This well funded project will have five part time
staff led by Douglas Cowie a well known local musician. Young people
from age 14 upwards can take part in the drop in workshops running from
6.00 - 10.00pm on Thursday evenings from early March.
A wide range of topics will be covered including playing instruments.
but the project is much wider and will cover recording, use of
amplifiers etc. in addition the media side will include filming and
cameras and sound equipment has already been purchased. The project will
be FREE to participants and will include borrowing music books and other
manuals. Other consumables used such as recording on CD or DVD will also
be FREE.
There are
several jobs currently being advertised in connection with the project
Kevin - Missing Harrow Hill, Wick Since 12 February
Kevin
is a large brown/grey male stripey tabby who has been missing since
Sunday 12 February. He lives in Harrow hill but is known to wander
towards Albert street and Kennedy Terrace. He is well known in this area
but appears to have disappeared without a trace. He is very partial to
cars and may have wandered into one and been transported elsewhere. His
distinguishing features are his white whiskers, quite a small head for
such a large body, almost non existent meow and sooty paw pads. Contact
us at 01955 605865 if you have seen him or know anything about his
disappearance.
Missing Caithness Pets
Pets Corner Send photos
and details of missing or other pets to
bill@caithness.org
17 February 2006
'Listen fully to the crofters' - Gibson
Highlands and Islands SNP MSP Rob Gibson has pressed the Scottish
Executive to listen carefully to crofters before they publish the
Crofting Reform Bill at the end of this month. See
Crofting Reform Bill Consultation - now closed. M r Gibson has
lodged a question with Rural Affairs Minister Ross Finnie after he
became concerned that the Executive has so far ignored crofters
responses to the Scottish Executive during consultation on the Bill
because SEERAD has only published its views last December on submissions
that directly answer the specific questions that were laid out in the
consultation.
Win A Copy Of the Latest Crimson Tide CD
- Last Few Hours To Enter FREE Competition
Closing Midnight on Saturday
Local Photographer John Baikie Snaps Up New
Techniques Overseas
Local
photographer John Baikie has just returned
from an intensive International photography
training programme held on the beautiful
sub-tropical island of Madeira. The course
was aimed to improve technical skills,
artistic awareness and creativity in
photography. The training included many new
aspects, including digital imaging, advanced
lighting, composition and business acumen
together with presentation and image
manipulation skills.
Scottish Gas prices rise by 22% -
BBC
Electricity and gas prices are being raised
by 22% by Scottish Gas from 1 March.
If you live in Putlenytown you better get to
the
Caithness Heat and Power Day on
Saturday to find out if you can save money
on your heating bills
Caithness And Sutherland Women's Aid On Hand
For Women and Children
Caithness
And Sutherland Women's are now firmly
established with premises in the area to
offer temporary accommodation to the victims
of abusive relationships. We have
revamped their web page with all the
relevant contact details for women seeking
advice or who need to escape from a
situation where they are under threat.
Women's Aid in Caithness and Sutherland are
in close contact with all the relevant
authorities and have an outreach worker
locally based for advice. The message
is loud and clear - don't put up with abuse
in silence - get help as soon as possible.
Thurso Gala
Dates for Diaries - 5 - 13 August 2006
Caithness Amateur Radio Society Members
Contact the International Space Station
Amateur Radio Enthusiast Interview On Radio
Scotland News Drive Programme This Evening
Caithness amateur Radio enthusiasts have
shot to fame after managing to contact
American astronaut Bill MacAthur on the
International Space Station. Denny
Morrison from West Murkle and Donald Mackay
of Sarclet near Thrumster both managed to
make contact. Denny Morrison has been
interviewed today for the BBC Radio Scotland
News Drive programme and will be on about
4.25pm. If you miss it live you can
hear the programme by clicking on the Listen
Again button. Denny has recorded his
conversation with the astronaut. Other
members of the Caithness Amateur Radio
Society also managed to make contact.
They also managed to make contact with an
old space suite released about a month ago
as it has battery powered transmitter.
Click Here For The International Space
Station Web Site Well done
folks. Send us more details and copy
of your recording.
Latest Newsletter From Pulteneytown Academy
School, Wick Hot Off The Presses
8 Caithness Pupils At Scottish Schools
Swimming Championships
Recently,
eight pupils from Caithness competed in the
Scottish Schools Swimming Championships in
Tollcross Glasgow. Only swimmers who had
first qualified in their Regional Events
attended. The Highland Event had been held
in Inverness last November. Four pupils from
Hillhead Primary, Rhona Plowman, Lauren
Sinclair, Rachel Munro & Erin Mackay & four
from Thurso High, Craig Spargo, Ryan
Sutherland, Ashley Mackenzie & Martin Cowie.
Craig Spargo from Thurso High took a bronze
medal in 100 metres fly.
Wick Gala Week 22 - 29
July 2006
The Wick Gala committee are looking for
new ideas from the public for Gala Week and
any groups wanting to put something on
during the week should contact a committee
member to be included in the new programme
being prepared. Wick Gala Art
Exhibition will once again be held in Wick
Youth Club From Sat 22 July until Thursday
27 July. Items for display to be
handed in on 20 July. Details will be
sent to previous exhibitors but nay new
exhibitors should contact Marjory Mackenzie,
19 Smith Terrace, Wick.
16 February 2006
CAITHNESS HEAT and
POWER
Installation work for the Community Heating
scheme in Pulteneytown is due to start in
the next few weeks. To let the public
know what this means for them Caithness Heat
& Power (CHaP) is holding an open day at
South Primary School on Saturday 18th
February. This is an opportunity to ask
questions about the system. It will run from
11.00am to 5.00pm Everyone from
Pulteneytown is invited to drop in anytime
during the day. Representatives from CHaP,
the Council and the contractors installing
the under road pipe network and the heating
systems within the houses will be available
to answer questions. The house fittings can
be seen at the PPP flats in Murchison St. To
recognise interest in the scheme CHaP will
have two free draws, one for the tenants who
answered our initial questionnaire last year
and one for those who have had their houses
surveyed. The prize in each section is
£100.00.
National Theatre Of Scotland Offers Free
Theatrical Events Including Caithness
In Caithness 23 - 26 February - A
unique Scotland Wide Simultaneous Project of
Events
A
completely unique, never-to-be-repeated
event: ten inspiring directors, ten
surprising locations, ten brand new pieces
of simultaneous site-responsive theatre
created across the country to mark the
launch of the National Theatre of Scotland.
Ten places including Wick with ten directors
- Mathew Lenton at Wick. The National
Theatre of Scotland has commissioned ten of
the best theatre directors working in
Scotland today to each explore the theme of
‘Home’, one of the most evocative words in
the English language. Each director will
offer their own unique vision and
interpretation, working together with
artists and local communities and drawing
inspiration and relevance from their
surroundings. The 10 projects include
physical spectacle, intimate story telling,
multimedia installations, verbatim theatre,
children’s theatre, live music, documentary
film and sound-scapes. HOME CAITHNESS -
Former Caithness Glass Factory & Visitor
Centre. Get on the phone as this is
going to be very popular and ion Caithness
there is chance they put on an extra
performance if demand is high but they need
to know soon. Here is an ideas for all
you Message Board folk - Why not go
along to the show in your area and then
compare notes on the Message Board so we can
hear about the event in your area.
This is free event by professional cast with
input from local folk in your area.
Big experiment but it should be fun. We have
published all ten events in the Arts page.
The events are being held in Aberdeen,
Caithness, Dumfries, Dundee, East Lothian,
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness Shetland and
Stornoway. Go on book a couple of
tickets now. Book at Lyth Arts Tel
01955 641270
15 February 2006
WILDCAT TRADITIONAL MUSIC ASSOCIATION -
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER No. 38
Good News As Runrig the Cat Missing In
Thurso Turns Up 4 weeks Later
There
are celebrations in one house in Thurso
after Runrig missing since the beginning of
January has turned up at his old house.
Lost a lot of weight and very skinny but
apparently nothing else wrong. Some
good feeds ahead in the next week or two.
Caithness Arts Week 2006 - Dates Confirmed
As 16 - 24 September
Sandside Landowner bans
experts from beach - Scotsman
14 February 2006
Transport Minister
Tavish Scott Announced Up To 40% Discount On
North Air Fares
Transport Minister Tavish
Scott, announced innovative proposals
to deliver lower air fares for people who
live in the Highlands and Islands. (Tavish
Scott is the Member of the Scottish
Parliament for Shetland) In a UK first, the
devolved Scottish Government plans to employ
the Aid of Social Character scheme. This
allows public sector support to reduce air
fares in remote and peripheral regions on
approval from the European Commission,
improving access for remote communities. Under the ground
breaking scheme, residents of Shetland,
Orkney, Western Isles, Islay, Jura and
Caithness will be eligible for an estimated
40 per cent discount on trips to Inverness,
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. These innovative
proposals are a crucial step in delivering
on the commitment made by the First Minster,
Jack McConnell in 2002. They will stimulate
the market and open up competition -
boosting the capacity,
frequency and number of air routes available
in these areas. An annual budget of £11.2
million has been allocated to deliver the
scheme over the next two years (2006/07 and
2007/08).
1. Eligibility
- a. Discounts will be available to people whose main
residence is in one of the defined eligible geographical areas - Western
Isles, Orkney, Shetland, Islay and Jura, Caithness.
- b. Discounts will be available on any scheduled air
service to and from any airport within the eligible geographic area to:
* One of four main population centres within Scotland - Glasgow,
Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness; and to
* Another airport within the eligible geographic area
- c. There will be no restriction on the number of
trips per eligible person.
- d.The discount will be available for both single and
return journeys.
Bill Fernie who coincidentally was in
Edinburgh met Tavish Scott and spoke to him
about his announcement earlier in the day
and he said " I am confident this will make
big impact on the areas where the new fares
structure applies". Tavish Scott is a
Scottish Liberal Democrat and in addition to
being the transport minister is the MSP for
Shetland. Bill congratulated the
minister on his announcement that will be
welcomed by the business community and
people in the areas concerned who would like
to use air travel to shorten the long trips
to the centres in the south.
13 February 2006
Win A Copy Of the Latest Crimson Tide CD
We
have one of Crimson Tide's latest CDs on
offer. We will randomly select a winner from
whoever can answer the following question -
12 February 2006
Sodexho Staff & Rolls Royce Health
Promotions Group Raise £570
Sodexho
Staff & Rolls Royce Health Promotions Group
at the start of there wheelie Bin Push on
Friday at Vulcan which raised £570.00.
The campaign supports charities operating
within the UK & Ireland that combat poor
nutrition in our local communities.
Soaring Prices For Gas and Electricity
Are You On the Cheapest Tariff With The
Cheapest Company?
ScottishPower announced higher
gas and electricity prices, but extended
availability of its Capped Price Offer
shielding customers from further increases
until October 2007. From 1 March 2006
electricity prices will rise by 8% and gas
by 15%. We know its a drag but you
really need to get calculating those prices
and use the price comparison sites such as
Uswitch or Energylinx. Think about a
direct debit as there is often a reduction
if you pay by this method as it saves the
company money in collection.
Have your latest fuel bills handy before you
go to the comparison web sites as they need
this to check your fuel usage to be able to
tell you which supplier is best for you.
Scottish Power also has capped price scheme
if you are with them but you need to sign up
for it and that will keep prices level for
you until October 2007. Check out all deals
as they often do not come automatically and
you could save if you sign up. There
is no option but to do your homework.
If you don't check then you could be paying
more than you need to for gas and
electricity. If you have your bills
handy it will probably not take more than 10
or 15 minutes and maybe less. Since
the potential savings might be over £100 a
year it is worth spending a few minutes on
this. Once you have done it its easy
to check it again in another year. Do
it now.
Still Seeing Spectacular Skies From Dunnet Last Night
The
cold weather continues to gives us extremely clear skies and spectacular
light shows as seen by these photos from Martina Cross.
For more recent stunning Dunnet photos
Start Here
Dunnet Main
Index
More Sky and
Weather related photos
Caithness A - Z
Farming Round Up From The Web