Editor’s Bit Balquhidder’s in the spotlight this month with the Bike Fest being yet another great community occasion and another example of people being prepared to give up so much of their time. Thanks go to Iain and Gillian Ramsay-Clapham and all the marshalls, burger flippers and coffee makers on the day; also the volunteers involved before and after the actual event. Another article looks back a few years to when Balquhidder’s school was a very busy place. It was lovely to receive the article and photos from a family who still have a great love for Balquhidder, even if they have reservations about some of the changes. We would love to have more tales from people who have moved away from the area but still have history and stories to share. Balquhidder and Strathyre now have some shiny new road signs which will hopefully help unsuspecting drivers who are following their satnavs in an attempt to get to ‘the Glen’! Hopefully now they will avoid the turn off at Strathyre and the very narrow back road to Balquhidder - meaning that not as many cars will need pulling out of the floods in winter. The big Church debate continues. We would welcome more debating points/personal accounts to further expand our thoughts and experiences. JJ
Traditional Games Night Lochearnhead Village Hall
Saturday 14th November 2015 7.30pm till late H H H H H Carpet bowling (no need to bring a team and no experience necessary)
Play dominoes and cards or just come along for a blether! Free entry 2
H Bar H Supper
BALQUHIDDER COMMUNITY BROADBAND Local Stuff Slow but steady, tending towards frantic, best sums up this month: Having agreed funding with Community Broadband Scotland, we still have three potential suppliers in the frame, two of which are proposing wireless solutions for our broadband, but we’ve put a lot of effort into trying to make the installation of fibre broadband to every property (or as near as possible) not only financially viable but a community project. So, once we’ve got final costs refined with all three, we’ll be able to make a choice about just what is doable and practical. Right now, various technical surveys of the glen are taking place, so do try not to run down blokes in hi-vis jackets - they’re trying to help! In the meantime, we’ll be coming out to talk to businesses in the glen, with the intention of having a public meeting later in October. At that point we’ll have a good idea of when things will be happening and what it will cost. Broadband Voucher Scheme We’ve also met with the folks administering the broadband voucher scheme, and… PAY ATTENTION AT THE BACK THERE! …thank you - if you have a business in the area we’ll be servicing, you’ll likely qualify for a grant of up to £3,000 to help get you connected to our network. Now this is where it gets important: you don’t have to be a limited company, or even an incorporated business. You do have to demonstrate that your business is properly accounted (with accounts, a tax reference or similar), at which point we’ll be able to get you a quote for connection, from which you can apply. And, as soon as we have all the costs worked out, we’ll be in touch, in any case in the next couple of weeks - the timescale on this is really quite short. As always, if you’ve any questions, please contact us at broadband@balquhidder.net or check the web site (balquhidder.net) for semiregular updates. RH
KEEP CALM IT’S NEARLY
Balquhidder Christmas Market! If you’d like a stall contact Janet on 0781794808 or jan123et@madasafish.com
Sunday 6th December Balquhidder Hall £7 small table
£14 large table
Could you make a Christmas tree? Out of (practically) anything? Take up the challenge - and come along to a great afternoon of seasonal celebrations, with music, mulled wine and festive food. All proceeds will go to a very worthy cause - so please, if you can, add your support. Watch out next month for more information about Balquhidder’s new Christmas event.
Making Music Again Eileen Fashae, Gill Allan... and a rather large chocolate cake!
Choir Occasional met for the first time this year on 24th September with a spectacular ‘Hooray’ cake. It was decorated by Eileen to celebrate our heroic choir leader, Gill, who has had a rubbish nine months of cancer treatment. She bore her treatment with grace and humour and we are so thrilled that she’s feeling well enough to start the choir again.