Pitlochry Life April 2023

PITLOCHRY LIFE

Pitlochry - Aberfeldy - Dunkeld - Birnam - Kenmore

Kinloch Rannoch - Blair Atholl

CONTENTS

The Pitlochry Tipple

This month Ewan looks at the use of peat in making whisky.

Your Community

All the news from our MPs, Clubs, Groups and Churches.

Spring Trends

We have some great ideas to brighten up your home this Spring.

Sudoku

Our Sudoku is also online this month, play every day and keep your brain active!

Willie's Wonky Computer

Willie looks at different types of music files and the best use.

The Pitlochry Garden

Sheila looks at planting and looking after seeds this Spring.

Advertising

Debbie - 07545299491

Photography & Design

Lynsey - 07305577953

Editor

Willie - 07906375953

www.facebook.com/pitlochrylife

Pitlochry Life Manse Road, Moulin

Pitlochry PH16 5EP

info@pitlochrylife.co.uk www.pitlochrylife.co.uk

WELCOME

Recipe

This month we have a One-Pan Lamb with Hassleback Potatoes.

Fitness With Alan Clinch

This month Alan looks at all the benefits of Nordic Walking.

Are You a Gas Guzzler?

We look at various ways you can save fuel when driving.

The Pitlochry Crossword

Lesley is back, to test your crossword ability, along with local and Scottish knowledge!

Welcome to the April edition of Pitlochry Life.

The clocks have changed and this month sees us looking forward to some good weather and getting out and about again. I’m looking forward to new lambs in the fields, daffodils and buds on the plants!

For you this month we have walks, trips, theatre shows and great choral concerts as well as all our live music venues. The Pitlochry Tipple looks at peat in your whisky - love it or hate it? In our fitness column we look at Nordic Walking and in the Computer page Willie explains the different types of music files and where best to play them. In the garden Sheila Drummond gives tips on sowing seeds - the key to successful gardening. Lesley has produced a great crossword and we have the old favourite sudoko. Give it a go - you may be surprised!

We also look at new home trends for 2023 and take a look at economical ways to drive - a budget beater!

Happy Easter, have a great April and see you next time.

The Pitlochry Garden

For Peat’s Sake

Peat has been used in whisky production since commercial distilling began in Scotland in the 18th century. Peatland covers roughly 23% of the country, mostly in the Highlands and Islands but it is also found in Ireland, northern England, Scandinavia, parts of Russia and the U.S. Internationally the largest supply of peat can be found in Canada, according to the International Peat Society – yes, such a society does exist. It's role in whisky production is twofold. Firstly, it is used by burning to dry the barley out during the kilning of the malt, stopping the germination process. It helps to keep the heat down on the fire but also, and secondly, it produces huge amounts of smoke which contains wonderful aromas from coal tar to bacon fat. Did I mention that peated whisky is polarising? The smoke from the peat infuses the malt with compounds know as phenols, guaiacols, and syringols.

Each of these compounds introduces their own unique flavour, with phenols adding medicinal notes (think TCP). Guaiacols add woody notes and syringols add sweet spicy notes. All combining to give you the wonderful character particularly associated with scotch from Islay. The measurement of the level of peat in a whisky is Parts Per Million (PPM) Ardbeg ranges typically between 50-55 PPM whilst Octomore varies up to 208 PPM for its standard whiskies.

Micky Heads, retired Ardbeg Distillery Manager says ‘You’ve got peaty smoke, earthy smoke, bonfire smoke. Different types of smoke come through depending on your process, your shape of still, and the level of peat.’

Did you know that the peat on Islay contains Sphagnum Moss which was used in field hospitals during times of war, to pack wounds due to its antiseptic and healing qualities.

The whisky industry does use significant quantities of peat however it equates to less than 1% of all peat that is extracted in the UK annually and there

are numerous sustainability initiatives being led by industry leaders and the Scotch Whisky Association with their ‘Peat Action Plan’ to ensure considerate management of peat bogs, moving towards netzero carbon emissions and the restoration of the peat bogs. For example, Diageo has already funded the restoration of 700 acres of peatland on Islay as part of the Lagavulin 200th Anniversary Legacy Fund.

There are environmental concerns about the use of peat in whisky production, however, the combination of low usages levels and the increase in awareness and sustainability projects to manage and restore peatland shows that the industry is taking it seriously. There are murmurings in political circles banning the use of peat in whisky production which would deal a destructive blow to the industry as well as affecting tourism and the economy.

Hopefully sense will prevail and getting the industry to a carbon neutral position will demonstrate that that there is no need to take such action. Love it or hate it, peated scotch is pivotal to the breadth of flavour and styles we love from our Scotch.

Ewan McIlwraith Robertsons of Pitlochry

Atholl Rd, Pitlochry PH16 5BX

Closure of Blair Atholl Branch Surgery - March 2023

Following the Atholl Medical Centre’s application to Tayside Health Board to close the Blair Atholl branch surgery, we confirm this has now been agreed by the Board.

The GPs at Atholl Medical Centre would like to reassure patients that services will continue from the main surgery in Pitlochry.

Drs McEwen, Anthony, McCoy & Harvey

Coffee Morning - 1st April

We are having a coffee morning on 1st April, 10am - 12noon in the Moulin Hall, in aid of ICP Support and Alzheimer Scotland.

Kids Crafts Table, Guess The Weight Of The Cake and more. Baking donated by Hettie’s Tearooms, Cafe Calluna and The Bakery, Pitlochry. £2 entry, £1 for children.

Call Gillian 07825290168 for more info.

Pitlochry & District Choral Society - 1st April

Our uplifting Spring Concert “Eternal Light” will take place on Saturday 1st April in Dunkeld Cathedral at 7pm. This concert has been facilitated by the Community Lottery Fund and to comply with the conditions of receiving this generous funding, entry to the concert is free but everyone is encouraged to ‘pay as you feel’ on leaving.

Come along to hear Howard Goodall’s glorious requiem “Eternal Light” sung by the choir and soloists Jessica Leary and Phil Gault. We will be conducted by Colleen Nicoll and accompanied on piano, organ and harp by Andrew Johnston, Kevin Dugganand Gwen Mairi. Don’t miss it!

Killiecrankie Village Hall - 1st April

Technology update: Killiecrankie Village Hall now offers WiFi. The hall is available to hire for all sorts of events and now provides a better meeting space with internet access together with a stage, fully equipped kitchen and parking.

Details of how to book plus special events, such as the Not So Foolish Quiz on 1 April 2023 and public meetings are on the website www.killiecrankievillagehall.co.uk

Pitlochry Repair Cafe - 2nd April

What do you do with a broken chair, an ornament with a crack, a jacket with a hole, or a bike with a punctured tyre? Bin It? No Way!

Bring it to Pitlochry Repair Cafe! Our friendly team of volunteer repairers will do their best to fix anything (except phones)!

Sessions take place in Moulin Hall on the first Sunday of the month from 12-3pm. The next sessions are 2 April, 7 May and 4 June.

Our talented repair volunteers have already successfully fixed over 100 items, preventing them from going into landfill.

While you wait, you can enjoy homemade baking, soup, hot drinks and good chat, with our friendly front of house and baking volunteer team. Repairs and refreshments are all free and donations are welcome.

Find us on Facebook and Instagram @PitlochryRepairCafe. Interested in volunteering? We are always looking for skilled repairers, receptionists, bakers and cafe helpers!

Email us on repaircafe@sprout-community-eco-hub.com

The Pitlochry and Moulin Heritage Centre - 3rd April

The Pitlochry and Moulin Heritage Centre, located in Moulin Square, will reopen again on Monday 3rd April for the 2023 summer season. This year we will be open Monday to Saturday from 2-4pm. Come along to our wee museum and take a step back in time through our fascinating local history. We have refreshed our displays this year with some new donations and a new research corner, with reference books and photos for budding historians and genealogists. Come and take a look - there is something for everyone in the family. We also have a kids corner, with some historic costumes to dress up in and colouring and books to explore. Moulin Yarns are here every Monday with their live spinning displays.

The Heritage Centre is a great afternoon out for the family, local and visitor! £3pp entry or free for members and under 16s. To join as a member see our website below for more details - £10 for an individual, £16 for a family and £20 for a corporate membership. Great value!

Calling out for Volunteers!! The Centre is run through the day by volunteers and stays open only through local support, visitors and donations. If you have some time on your hands, an afternoon a week, and would like to get more involved, we love to welcome new volunteers.

For more details, please contact us by email at pandmheritage@gmail.com through our Facebook page “Pitlochry and Moulin Heritage Centre” or our website www.pitlochryandmoulinheritagecentre.co.uk We hope to see you soon!

Mid Atholl Indoor Bowling Club - 4th April

Mid Atholl Indoor Bowling Club will change to Tuesdays from 4th April we meet in Mid Atholl Hall Ballinluig from 2pm - 4pm.

For more information telephone 01796482240

Pitlochry Garden Share - 8th - 9th April

We are a community food growing organisation that tackles food security, strengthens the community by working together towards a common goal, provides a safe place to look after our physical and mental health and enables us to care for our environment, while enjoying fresh, tasty, local pesticide free produce! We started in May 2022, and our group of volunteers has been growing ever since.

We share gardens around Pitlochry to grow food for our families and friends; any excess is donated to the community larder. We work as teams sharing the time, tools, knowledge and harvest! We are hosting a Permaculture course on the 8th to 9th of April (a real bargain at £50 for the 2 days) and we still have a couple of spaces left.

If you are interested in signing up, or for more information, e-mail us at pitlochrygardenshare@ gmail.com or markandrosie@btinternet.com

Continued on page 14

Enjoy a sensational dining experience at 1892 On e Loch at Fonab Castle Hotel. It’s the perfect place to while away the hours whatever the weather, with a contemporary, light and airy interior. e oor to ceiling windows gives the impression of the garden and the restaurant being as one, with unrivalled views of Loch Faskally and our breathtaking surrounds.

Whether you are looking to enjoy a light lunch or a full a la carte menu, our talented chefs have created a mouthwatering selection using the best seasonal produce, sourced from local suppliers wherever possible.

Non-residents always welcome. Pre-booking essential.

www.fonabcastlehotel.com

We are looking for new households/individuals to join any of our three beautiful veggie gardens in the spring; you don't need any experience or tools; just enthusiasm and a commitment of at least 6 hours a month.

Get in touch via e-mail or our Facebook page – Pitlochry Garden Share.

Pitlochry & District Climate Cafe - 11th April

"Adopting sustainable practices, whether large or small, can have significant impacts in the long run. If every office worker in the United Kingdom used one less staple a day by using a reusable paper clip, 120 tonnes of steel would be saved in one year" University of Alberta.

A Climate Café is the space where everyone meets to chat about climate change, the issues we face and the actions we can take. Date for Climate Cafés:- Take place second week of the month - Tuesdays, 1pm and Thursdays 7pm. The next ones will be Tuesday 11th April & Thursday 13th April, (virtual or in person). Venue: Pitlochry Library, PH16 5BX.

Carol Aitken caaitken.naturaldesign@gmail.com

Repair Cafe in Pitlochry: There won't be a Repair Cafe in July or August to give volunteers a break! But here are the rest. Date - Sunday 2nd April. Times - 12pm to 3pm. Venue - Moulin Hall. For more information, please contact Julia Harriman repaircafe@sprout-community-eco-hub.com

Sprout, Company Limited by Guarantee You may remember me speaking at October's Community Council meeting last year regarding submitting a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) application for the old Burnside Toilets as a permanent venue for Sprout, an umbrella community organisation for all things sustainable in Pitlochry and area, with some workshop space for the Mens Shed.

As part of the CAT process, we are contacting as many residents as possible in our community to promote Sprout and ask if you would like to become a member and/or write a letter of support? If you sign up as a member, which would be gratefully appreciated, the only commitment would be your attendance at one meeting per year. For more information on how to help us, please contact: Carol Aitken info@sprout-community-eco-hub.com

Pitlochry Litter Action Group - 11th April

The tourist season his about to start again. It would be nice for residents and visitors if the town is really clean with no litter disfiguring the streets and green spaces. If you agree that this is important do join our team of litterpickers. All equipment is provided including gloves, black bags and grabbers. We do try to separate recyclable waste from the other litter.

Litterpicks take place on the second Tuesday of the month and we meet at 10.0am in the Recreation ground carpark.

The next litterpick is on Tuesday 11th April

Dates for litterpicks in 2023 are: May 9th, June 13th, July 11th, August 8th, September 12th, Octoer 10th, November 14th, Decemer 12th.

We would like to thank those residents of Pitlochry who are not members of the litterpicking group and who also pick up litter when they see it. We know you do this and we are very grateful. For further information contact Roger West (rogerwest7@btinternet.com) 01796 474255 or Catherine Holmes (c.p.holmes47@btinternet.com) 01796 473400

Pitlochry

Life

Pitlochry Bowling Club - 11th April

Happy Easter to Everyone.

The winter season of short mat bowls comes to an end this month. We have enjoyed friendly internal and external competitions.

We have now closed the warm hub days and Carol and John Anderson with Fay and Willum MacNicoll deserve our grateful thanks for all the time and work they put in every week to serve up delicious homemade soup, bacon rolls, home baking and a friendly welcome. We hope everyone who came along enjoyed their visit.

Our AGM will be held on Tuesday 11th April at 7pm. Refreshments will be served at close of meeting.

We look forward with anticipation to Saturday 22nd. The day our green opens for outdoor season. Our Bingo nights in April are Wednesdays 12th and 26th, but please check with our FB page (Pitlochry Bowling Club).

We are always pleased to welcome new members even if you have never played before. We have a good range of bowls to suit all ages. All you need is flat soled shoes. There will always be someone to guide you.

We are a friendly social club and for an introduction offer of £30. for your first year you get access to all club facilities including bar.

For further enquiries please contact John on 07833664121 or Agnes on 07918122415.

Heartland Film Society at The Birks - 16th April

Lamb

In rural Iceland a hardworking, recently bereaved couple discover a strange, unnatural newborn in their sheep barn. They decide to raise her as their own, but their initial happiness soon turns to horror. A dark and atmospheric folktale, written and directed by Valdimar Johannsson and starring multi-award winner Noomi Rapace, the film won the 2022 Nordic Film Council Prize.

Everyone’s welcome at HFS screenings, but why not become a member? The £10 subscription entitles you to 12 months of reduced prices for HFS films at The Birks, plus other benefits.

Lamb - Sunday 16 April The Birks Cinema Aberfeldy.

Full details: www.birkscinema.co.uk www.heartlandfilmsociety.org.uk

Scottish Wildlife Trust - 17th April

Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire Branch

The next meeting will be on Monday 17th April at 19.30, at the Blair Atholl Village Hall, Main Road, Blair Atholl. PH18 5SG. Dr Kerry Kilshaw, of the Conservation Research Unit at Oxford University, will talk on Scottish wildcat conservation, and how data from wildcat hybrids can help.

Everyone is welcome. Suggested donation £2 members, £3 non-members. For further information, contact Mark Aquilina, markandrosie@btinternet.com

WHAT’S NEW FOR 2023 IN THE HOME

Spring is a time to look around - the Christmas decorations come down and the place looks bare. If you want to make a change and be on trend what should you look for?

Headlines. Grey is Gone!! Bold Colours are In and for the Kitchen Black is BACK!

WAVY STRIPES

Wavy stripes are, quite literally, making waves in the design world – As the importance of the home and its role as a place of comfort continues to grow we can add waves which are often associated with water and the ocean known to evoke feelings of calm and relaxation. Go for patterns with wavy stripes as the perfect recipe, therefore, for encouraging moments of mindfulness in the home.

TOP TIP!

DE-STRESS AND HIDE THAT CLUTTER. TIDY PLACE, TIDY MIND.

PRIMARY COLOURS

With the tumultuous times we’re living in, finding moments to be playful and have fun is key – and this is reflected in our homes, as bold colours become increasingly prominent. In 2023 watch out for pops of primary colours as accessories and accents in the home. From a colour psychology perspective, the three primary colours of red, blue and yellow represent the body, mind and emotions respectfully. Loud and unapologetic, primary colours will add a playful charm to a space, bringing with them unmistakable energy. This will include hues of sage green and deep blues. These colours have grown in popularity recently along with a modern classic style which incorporates shades of wood and panelling. The theme of incorporating nature in interior elements will continue to be prevalent in finishes and fittings, we will be seeing colours inspired by nature, like softer greens and blues that are calming and pleasing to the eye. You can also go MOODY if you feel really brave. Along the lines of more dramatic themes, gothic is also said to be making a comeback. We are seeing more and more black decor and paint that creates a moody vibe. A deep moody room all in the same colour, walls, furniture and accessories.

THE RETURN OF ART DECORETURN TO THE ROARING 20’S

As interiors move away from the absoluteness of minimalism, we’re seeing a renewed interest in more decorative styles, like Art Deco. That said, hyper maximalism might not be on the cards yet – but ornate details are on the rise. Expect Art Deco’s brighter colours, geometric patterns, and symmetry to take over interior design in 2023.

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALSCORK & ALUMINIUM

From rattan and bamboo to cane and linen, there are plenty of materials that are considered environmentally friendly, and it’s cork and aluminium that experts predict will become increasingly popular in households in 2023 and beyond. Cork is an approachable material. Its natural brown colour gives it a grounding, earthy feel, instantly making you feel more relaxed, while its rugged bark appearance adds texture, warmth and cosiness. Aluminium can be recycled endlessly, making it one of the most environmentally-friendly metals you can use in your home. We are seeing a lot of people move the outside in. They want natural items in their house—baskets or plants or natural wood tables. We see a lot of live-edge tables or big stumps used as an end table. Having outdoor elements coming into the house really feeds our soul.

LAYERED LIGHTING

We’ve seen the revival of the artisan and a growing interest in locally crafted homewares. It’s good to support local skilled craft people. Don’t just buy mass produced fashion junk. More and more, we’ve seen our community looking for vintage or up-cycled pieces rather than buying brand new. With this comes quality products, and making long-term sustainable and conscious lifestyle choices when it comes to our homes.

ARTISANAL WARES

TOP TIP! LOOK FOR PIECES WITH CURVES AND ROUNDED EDGES

Lighting is the second most important design element in your home after colour. With its ability to take on new forms from different materials to sculptural shapes, we are beginning to see an increase in layering. Layering your lighting adds warmth and cosiness to a space, and it also gives you an opportunity to have fun with different lighting designs. Layer your lighting with illuminated pockets on the walls, striking linear lines in your floor lamps to zone areas for their function and style, and oversized pendants hanging from the ceiling for added drama.

WORKPLACE WITH FLAIR

The workplace, whether at home or in an office, has been redefined. Yet, only now do these spaces see highly individualised designs. The office may include elements that make work more comfortable. From furniture design to layout to indoor turf, the workspace gets a happy makeover to increase its use and employee productivity. And if you’re working from home, this means setting up the interior to your precise needs. New smart furniture is coming, meaning you can charge your tech stuff without all the cables!

Bohemian and rattan trends have continued to be popular over the last year and it seems the trend will continue into 2023. Rattan beds have also seen a surge in popularity over the past year as the bohemian interior trend has grown. Providing a textured neutral base for decor to suit your personal style, rattan is a great option if you’re shopping for new furniture with a boho feel.

BOHO RATTAN

PARQUET FLOORINGHERRINGBONE

We’re seeing strong uplifts in sales for herringbone parquet flooring, especially in lighter oak shades which works really nicely in contrast with these bold tones on the walls. This style of flooring is classic and timeless whilst giving added texture that can really elevate a room.

Summer Colour

PANTONE

This Month’s Tricky Sudoku

How to play............

Fill the grid so that every row, column and every 3 x 3 box contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition.

That’s all there is to it! Use reasoning and logic to solve the puzzle - there’s no maths or adding up.

Look carefully for what numbers can go where and with a little practice it will get easier!

Pitlochry & District u3a - 19th April

The next meeting of Pitlochry & District u3a will be on Writing and Publishing a Novel Wednesday 19th of April. The speaker will be Katy Rooke. There will be time for questions and discussions. The meeting will be followed by our AGM. Tea/coffee and biscuits will be served afterwards.

We meet in the Atholl Centre and our meetings start at 2pm.

Our special interest group continue to be active – these include Scottish History, two Book Groups, language groups and a Craft Group. A Theatre Going group and Garden Visit Group are being planned for later in the year.

The u3a brings together people in their “third age”. This is defined not by a particular age but by a period in life when full time employment has ceased and/or parenting responsibilities have diminished. There is no lower age limit for membership and people who are working part time may join. The focus is on sharing and learning from each other. In addition to our whole group talks, we also offer special interest groups which are led by one of our members - the emphasis is on learning from each other and having fun while doing so.

For further information please visit our website Pitlochry & District U3A: https://u3asites.org. uk/pitlochry/welcome or contact Sandra Cairncross (Secretary) on smcairnx@hotmail.com with any queries.

JustSingin` Birnam - 19th April

Come along and join our friendly mixed community choir which meets in the upstairs studio in Birnam Arts, Station Road, on Wednesdays 7.30pm-9.30pm. No auditions or music reading.

New term starts 19th April when we welcome back renowned Scots singer Amy Lord https://amylord.scot/about/

Please visit www.justsingin.co.uk for fees and full details or email to enquiries@justsingin.co.uk or phone Katie on 07765 405203.

Save the date: Saturday 17th June : 20th Anniversary Concert and Social in the BA. Free! All Welcome!

Scottish Charity No 36400.

Pitlochry Flower Club - 19th April

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 19th April at the Tryst Hall, Pitlochry at 2pm when Steve Ludlum will give a demonstration entitled “Spring Magic". There will also be a raffle, where you may be one of the lucky ones to win one of Steve's beautiful arrangements, and we will also have a sales table. The club competition is "Spring". Visitors will be made most welcome, a small charge of £7 is made. Do come along and have a fun afternoon with friends and flowers. For more information, please contact Janice Needham (01738 629933, needham914@btinternet.com) or Lynda Gardiner (01796 472157, lynda.gardiner@talk21.com).

We are a small club and new members are welcome at any time. We are very sorry to let you know that the club's future is in doubt as we have insufficient people who have been able to put themselves forward for next year's committee.

Rannoch History Society - 21st April

Rannoch History Society meets on Friday 21st April 2023, when we will have the pleasure of welcoming as our guest speaker the award-winning journalist, author and international correspondent John Lloyd.

John Lloyd was the Financial Times Correspondent in Russia during the Gorbachev years. His subject will be ‘Thoughts on post-Soviet Russia and Ukraine’, the issue at the forefront of our minds since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This is an excellent opportunity to share in the reflections of a man of vast experience and deep personal knowledge of today’s world.

The meeting will be in the Village Hall, Kinloch Rannoch, on Friday 21st April, at 7.30pm. Light refreshments will be served.

All are warmly welcome. Admission at the door for non-members will be £4.

Ballinluig Bazaar - 22nd April

Saturday 22nd April will be the first Ballinluig Bazaar of 2023. The Bazaar is a craft fair running from 10.00am until 3.00pm in the lovely Mid Atholl Hall at Ballinluig. Many of last year’s crafters will be rejoining us having spent the winter months developing new products and there will be some new faces and ideas too.

We use the Mid Atholl Hall because of its excellent facilities and its easy access from Aberfeldy, Dunkeld and Pitlochry.

Remember also that Ballinluig Bazaar is completely indoors. There may be gales and snow outdoors but you are well protected as you enjoy our crafts.

Breadalbane & District RDA - 24th April

With the days now drawing out and warmer weather on the way the group is busy preparing for the start of Riding on April 24th. Unfortunately because we operate on Mondays we are losing two days due to the May bank holiday followed by the King’s coronation holiday.

Schools are being contacted to assess who may be our riders and also the owners of ponies to make sure they are still available to us. Very sadly one of our much loved four legged friends had to be put down recently due to a recurring illness.

During the winter months some of the coaches have visited other groups with indoor arenas to get new ideas etc. and a Volunteers handbook is being devised as an aid and reference point. We have two training sessions for volunteers planned before the start of riding and Petra Humphrey (our regional coach) is coming to guide us at the second one.

We now have our own new website www.breadalbanerda.org.uk where you can read about the group and see some photos of activities. Also we have our own email address breadalbanerda@ gmail.com

We are always looking to recruit new volunteers and anyone interested can use the above addresses or contact directly Helen on 01796 470414 or Vicky on 07786262329.

Pitlochry and Moulin History Society - 24th April

The April meeting of the History Society will hear from Bruce Keith on “Scottish Bridgescapes”. The talk is a personal journey celebrating the long and illustrious history of bridges throughout Scotland. These form part of Scotland's cultural, historic and landscape heritage and the talk will also cover some of Perthshire`s iconic bridges.

The talk will be preceded by a very short AGM. As usual the meeting will be in the Pitlochry Tryst and will take place at 7.30 on Monday April 24th. Entry fee is £2 and all are welcome. This will be the last talk in the current season before talks resume in September.

Inner Wheel Club of Pitlochry - 27th April

Inner Wheel is an international women's organisation. Our objects are to promote true friendship; to encourage the ideals of personal service; to foster international understanding and we do this this through regular meetings, social events and raise funds to support local and international charities.

Thank you to everyone who supported our Quiz Nights, helping us raise funds for Scottish Charity Air Ambulance and Ethiopia Medical Project.

The speaker at our next meeting on Thursday 27th April will be on Dr Viviene Cree from the Old Smiddy, Blair Atholl on Collecting Oral Histories: Pitlochry Station Bookshop.

The club meets in the evening on the fourth Thursday of every month. If you are interested in attending or would like further information, then please email innerwheelpitlochry@gmail.com

Blair Atholl Bowling Club - 29th April

April is with us and in only a few weeks and we’ll be underway with the 2023 season which kicks off at 2.00pm on Saturday 29th April with an invitation to all bowlers to come along and take part in our initial game.

Mick, our greenkeeper, has been hard at work on the green, getting it in shape for the season ahead. He’s spent a lot of time and effort bringing it up to what you see today and we are very grateful for all his endeavours.

The committee has been hard at work behind the scenes organising and planning the season’s events, competitions and activities and we are hoping that 2023 will be a bustling and lively time for all those connected with the club.

If you fancy a go at bowls we’ll be holding free informal coaching sessions starting on Tuesday afternoons at 2.00pm. You can come along and try it out and if you enjoy the experience, we have an introductory offer of just £30 membership which would give you access to all the club facilities – green, clubhouse, bar etc and the opportunity to play in club and inter-club competitions. For more information you can contact Paul 01796 481 506 or Linda 07921 264 965 who will be happy to help you.

Birnam Institute Players - 27th -29th April

A trio of Talking Heads

...iconic, dramatic Masterpieces from the legendary pen of Alan Bennett (Lady In the Van; The History Boys).

Join us for intimate performances of these hugely successful, BAFTA award-winning monologues.

Continued on page 32

Willie’s Wonky Computer Factory

I have a LOT of music. The majority converted into a format that can be stored on my computer, phone and external drives. Being a bit of an audiophile, that always presents a problem when looking for the very best sound, and I find myself duplicating a lot of it to different file types to suit house, car and phone. I know that sounds a bit geeky, if not even OCD, so let me explain.

There are basically two types of music file formats - Lossless and Lossy

If we ignore Super Audio CDs and accept the standard CD quality as the benchmark (16bit/44.1kHz), as we are all familiar with that quality of sound. CDs are encoded in the WAV format, originally developed by Microsoft and IBM and produce great sound quality, but are uncompressed, meaning huge file sizes. A CD quality WAV file will take about 10MB of hard drive per minute. WAV is also limited in fully supporting metadata, that’s the album/artist name, track names, album cover and a lot more that you probably didn’t know was possible. So, to store music digitally, it needs to be compressed to be practical for the every day user, and that’s where MP3 comes in. I believe Steve Jobs (Apple) presented his iPod in 2003, containing over 1000 music tracks and our listening pleasure changed overnight.

MP3 compresses a music file to around one tenth of its original size, by removing all the high and low frequencies outwith ‘normal’ hearing and by cutting bit sized segments out of the remainder. The result as you know is still quite impressive and when re-encoding to MP3 you can vary the sound quality from very low (128kbps) to ‘near CD’ at 320kbps to meet your requirements.

MP3 is therefor classed as ‘Lossy’ as up to nine tenths of the original file are… lost. That’s fine for phones, tablets and standard car stereos, however if you are looking for excellent sound quality, but still compressed to save on file size, then you need something that is ‘Lossless’, ie all the original sound is included.

That’s where my long time favourite choice for downloading, or re-encoding CDs comes in, and it's called FLAC

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is lossless and compressed to nearly half the size of an uncompressed WAV of equivalent sample rate, and that is a serious saving of space on a hard drive with no “loss” in terms of how it sounds. FLAC files can also provide a resolution of up to 32-bit, 96kHz, so better than CD quality, if you have that source as an original file. They can also store practically endless metadata. You will come across many other file types, and probably used them without noticing, the most common are:

AAC (Advanced Audio Coding): which is Apple's alternative to MP3. It is Lossy and compressed and used in Apple Music streaming.

ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec): which is Apple’s own lossless audio compression technology. In addition to AAC, the entire Apple Music catalogue is also encoded using ALAC, and there if you want it (change playback in Settings).

OGG (Ogg Vorbis): A Lossy, open-source alternative to MP3 and AAC, unrestricted by patents. This file format is used (at 320kbps) in Spotify streaming.

The main problem with all the above is that they are not supported by all music players. My computer, home Hi-Fi and Sonos all support my choice of FLAC, but my phone and Command system in the car do not.

The other consideration is whether or not what you play your music on, is actually capable of reproducing the quality on offer, even though it can play it.

That’s why I download as FLAC to enjoy the quality of sound at home, then re-encode to MP3 to listen in the car, or on my phone. Not geeky at all :o)

PS The free VLC Media Player App will play just about anything, and it’s available for a Mac too.

Willie

On screen with stellar actors such as Maggie Smith, Julie Walters and of course, Alan Bennett himself, they were wonderfully reprised by the BBC in 2020 with Martin Freeman, Jodie Comer and Lesley Manville amongst others.

Performed in the semi-round, BIPs will be taking on the challenge of:

A Bed Among the Lentils

Susan is a vicar’s wife suffocated by the expectations from her 'position' through her husband, and his over-zealous, passive-aggressive parishioners. She has a penchant for the odd sherry - and the communion wine, she starts going further afield for refills because she now 'owes a bit on the side' with the less-than-impressed local shopkeeper. When the Leeds off-licence owner, Ramesh, takes the time to talk, she begins to discover something about herself and God in the process...

A Chip in the Sugar

Middle-aged Graham, has a history of mental health issues, and finds life becoming complicated as his mother, Vera, with whom he still lives, reunites with an old flame. Graham becomes progressively disturbed when Frank - whose outspoken and right-wing opinions conflict with Graham's muddled liberalism - becomes an ever-increasing influence on Vera. And so, Graham's old insecurities rear their ugly heads…

Her Big Chance

Meet Lesley, an actress who knows a lot about personality (there's a chapter on it in the book she's reading). You might have seen her in Crossroads - she played woman in a musquash coat? She's also just filmed a video 'targeted chiefly on West Germany' in which she plays Travis, a career girl with her own briefcase, who enjoys life on a yacht, but strangely, spends a remarkable amount of time topless. Oh yes, and she shot a man last week …

Tickets on sale at Birnam Arts: Adult £10 | U16 £5

27, 28 April 7pm. 29 April 2pm (matinée only).

01350 727674 www.birnamarts.com

The Dunkeld & Birnam Art & Crafts Fair - 29 - 30th April

The Dunkeld & Birnam Art & Crafts Fair takes place in the Drill Hall The Cross Dunkeld on 29th and 30th April

Some exciting new crafts as well as old favourites. The fair runs from 10am to 5pm each day. Demonstrations. Free admission.

Killiecrankie, Fincastle & Tummel CC - 15th May

We will be returning to Killiecrankie Village Hall for our next meeting on 15 May 2023 at 7pm.

Minutes of the last meeting of KFT Community Council, held in Kynachan Hall, Tummel Bridge on 20 March 2023 are now on our website www.kftcommunitycouncil.co.uk

Email info@kftcommunitycouncil.co.uk to join our mailing list and receive updates.

Pete Wishart MP - Perth & North Perthshire - SNP

Since my last Pitlochry Life column, I had the privilege of attending several memorial services across Perthshire to mark the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine. They were emotional events, with many any of the Ukrainians who have since settled here gathered together with locals to mark the sombre occasion.

Continued on page 34

As Putin’s unspeakable evil ravages on, it is so important that we continue to stand up for freedom while honouring the brave men and women in Ukraine who have sacrificed their life fighting for it. It is now roughly one year since the launch of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. I was delighted, but unsurprised, by recent British Red Cross figures which found Perth and Kinross to have the highest number per capita of Ukrainians settled through the scheme out of all local authorities in Scotland, and third highest by number.

My office has been working flat out since the war began to assist constituents who have sponsored displaced Ukrainians with getting them over to the UK. Since the very start of the war, I have been astounded by the generosity of the people of Highland Perthshire who have gone above and beyond to welcome the people of Ukraine with open arms, which I am certain will continue for as long as they wish to stay.

Perth & Kinross also have the least amount of Ukrainian refugees in temporary accommodation in Scotland. This a testament to the council's outstanding work on this matter, which has set an example of what is possible when the right strategy is adopted, and which other local authorities will now be looking to replicate.

Also since my last column, the UK Government has launched the ‘Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) - Alternative Funding’, as well as the ‘Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) – Alternative Fund’. My office has been assisting with a huge volume of cases throughout winter relating to constituents who rely on alternative electricity and heating provisions, many of whom didn't qualify for the standard EBSS. This is a matter that I have repeatedly raised with ministers, so while I am glad to see the schemes finally live, I am now looking for answers from the government as to why it took so long.

The EBSS-Alternative Funding is a one-off £400 discount to eligible households who have not received the £66 monthly payments. To apply, you can make an online application at: www.gov. uk/apply-energy-bill-support-if-not-automatic or alternatively you can call 0808 175 3287. The contact centre is open Monday to Friday, 08.00 to 18.00.

The AFP Alternative Fund is a £200 support payment for households that use fuels other than gas to heat their homes, such as oil, solid fuel, biomass or bottled gas. Much of the delivery of this scheme should have happened through energy suppliers, with eligible households being paid automatically via their electricity accounts in February. This payment is in addition to the £66 monthly energy support payments between October and March.

I urge eligible constituents to check that they received this payment, and if not, to apply at: www.gov.uk/apply-alternative-fuel-bill-support-if-not-automatic or by calling 0808 175 3943 from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Murdo Fraser - Mid Scotland & Fife - Conservative

Many of us will be spending some time at Easter with family and friends, and perhaps hoping to have some time to recharge our batteries.

It has been a very busy time at the Scottish Parliament, dealing with a variety of issues. One national matter that needs addressing is the A9 dualling programme between Perth and Inverness.

Pitlochry Life readers will be only too well aware of the dangers of the road and also the time it is taking to make any progress with the £3 billion project. A recent debate on the project, brought to the Chamber at the Scottish Parliament by the Scottish Conservatives was notable by the absence of SNP MSPs who represent areas impacted by the A9 dualling. Only Fergus Ewing voted that this was a matter needing urgent attention.

Introducing J&H Mitchell to Dunkeld & Birnan1

We are delighted to announce our commitment to our new and existing clients in the Dunkeld area offering legal advice & Estate Agency.

You can now find us at Dunkeld Mortgage House where, alongside trusted Financial Advisor Amy Donnelly, we are on hand to assist with any of your legal, property, mortgage or insurance needs.

Amy, with over 20 years experience in financial services, is local to Dunkeld and can provide excellent advice and guide you through the complete process.

Alexander Innes, can offer tailored legal advice. Or, if you are looking for guidance regarding selling your property, contact our Property Manager, Louise Foley, for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION valuation. (See opposite for contact details)

Dunkeld Mortgage House

9 The Cross Dunkeld

PH80AN

Tel: 01350 727052

E amy@dunkeldmortgagehouse.co.uk

www.dunkeldmortgagehouse.co.uk

Alexander Innes

Tel: 01796 472606

E: alexander.innes@jandhmitchell.com

www Jandhmitchell.com

The Pitlochry Garden April

Growing food and flowers from seed is one of the most satisfying garden tasks. True, there pitfalls, but once you get the hang of it, you will be able to fill your beds and boxes with luscious, healthy plants that will provide you with fresh, entirely organic food that hasn’t travelled more than twenty feet to your plate.

In these difficult times, learning how to do this is more important than ever. You might be able to accommodate rising costs but lack of produce is a different kind of problem. Not only that but growing small amounts over the year will help you to deal with future weather conditions more easily than supermarkets will.

So what are the pitfalls? The first is hygiene, then timing, then providing proper growing conditions. Hygiene is important because little seedlings are very vulnerable to fungal disease which can hide in dirty pots or corners of the greenhouse or tunnel. So the first thing to do is to clean everything up. Sweep it all out and especially wash down glass with a solution that has a few drops of Jeyes fluid in it. That will also kill off any over-wintering eggs of flies that will hatch out in the summer and plague you.

Wash little pots, trays and cells with hot, soapy water. Get fresh seed compost and only open it when you are ready to go.

Timing is most important: what you want to do is plan for the seedlings to be on the bench for the shortest possible time. So don’t start too

soon. Remember that up here we are about six weeks behind the south of the country. For most things it is fair to figure two weeks to germination, two weeks to grow on and two weeks to harden off before planting out.

We can’t plant out until the last frosts at the end of May – or the first week of June if we are very unlucky. So that means sowing about the middle of April. You can sow direct into the ground from about the end of the first week of May or when the average night time temperature is 7 degrees. Choose seed of things you want to eat and look for disease-resistant, quick-maturing varieties. To begin with it might be best not to attempt vegetables that require prolonged spells of really warm summer weather. I am anticipating both drought and heat but that doesn’t mean it won’t rain all summer!

Don’t sow it all at once: plan on a couple of sowings so your crops don’t come all at once. Once under cover, once direct before mid-May and another sowing maybe mid-June. You can also use small things like lettuce as a catch crop in the space between cabbages. Otherwise, sow thinly to avoid wasting plants you have to thin out.

Spacing is important: plant too close and you will get smaller plants; too far apart and you will waste space and there will be room for weeds to get in. Pay attention to the information on the seed packet and take advantage of information available online from the seed company.

Learn to protect your seedlings and baby plants from pests. Obviously you don’t want to use chemicals on your food but there are bad guys out there and you have to deal with them. Netting over a framework is a good way to protect crops from marauding birds, particularly pigeons. They will investigate everything, eat the flowers and pull the leaves off.

At ground level, slugs and snails will make a beeline for your sweet juicy plants. If you don’t want to use pellets then make it your practice to go on a slug hunt every morning or evening. Vigilance will slow them down but you will have some losses. Flies, beetles and caterpillars will come calling too but they can be discouraged to some extent by learning to do some companion planting.

Companion planting is based on the idea that some plants have qualities that deter pests on other plants so arranging your plot to take advantage of good companions is a natural and often very pretty way of growing.

Nasturtiums and marigolds are two excellent plants to include in any plot; marigolds deter white fly and nasturtiums attract cabbage whites who will lay eggs on the big round leaves that you can easily remove. Look up companion planting online for a wealth of information.

Providing good growing conditions means protecting plants from late frosts, both under cover and later, outside. It means watching temperature, moisture and ventilation. The last is especially important under cover. Plants need many more exchanges of air than people do so keep the door to the tunnel or greenhouse open on warm days. Be on hand to open and close up in good time every day.

Moisture should be delivered regularly, but remember: if it is cooler than normal, water a bit less to discourage soil-based fungal disease and still give some ventilation. If it is really quite hot, give maximum ventilation and consider applying shading on glass and water regularly, perhaps twice a day in the morning and evening but do not over-water because the stems will just rot.

To sow: fill your trays and pots with fresh seed compost, strike off the excess and water the containers from underneath. After sowing the seeds, cover the trays with lids, or cling film or newspaper and do not water until you can see germination starting. Then water sparingly when the trays feel light, using a small watering can with a fine rose.

Sow big seeds, like courgette, one to a three inch pot; sow medium-sized seeds, like peas and beans, singly in large cells, sow the small seeds thinly in rows in a tray. Label the seeds immediately and maybe think about keeping a wee note of what you sowed when so you can look back next year and learn. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of vermiculite. This is an inert material made of expanded mica and it will allow light through but help prevent the sort of disease that can develop on the soil.

When you move on your seedlings to the next growing stage, always handle the plants by the seed leaves and never touch the stem. A cold frame is an excellent way of putting out plants to harden off but you can equally put them out onto a table and bring them back under cover at the end of the day.

Learn how to do this and there will be years of happy gardening ahead of you.

Sheila Drummond

In 18 years, the previous Conservative UK Government delivered more than 60 miles of dual carriageway and two major firth crossings. By contrast, this SNP Government, which has been in power for nearly the same length of time - 16 years - has delivered just 11 miles of dual carriageway.

I was delighted to see that Highland Council has called for an immediate publication of a new dualling timetable for the A9 and also for a public inquiry to be held to look into the long delays that have taken place with the project. I hope the Scottish Government take notice of this Motion from Highland Council and does as they request.

Meanwhile, cuts in funding from the Scottish Government to Perth and Kinross Council have contributed to a proposal by Live Active Leisure (LAL) to close Perth Leisure Pool and the Dewars Centre in Perth. LAL is an ‘arm’s length’ organisation with the council as its sole member. If this move goes ahead it will be an absolute disaster for the county and its residents. I have written to the Leader of the Council, along with my Scottish Conservative Mid Scotland and Fife colleague, Liz Smith MSP, to ask for clarification on the future of both popular venues.

I have also lodged a Motion asking the Scottish Parliament to support the concerns raised by Scottish Curling that the potential closure of the Dewars Centre in Perth would be the death knell of a legacy of curling in Perthshire dating back decades. This proposal is partly due to the reduced funding from the Scottish Government to local authorities despite the Block Grant from Westminster being at an all-time high.

Murdo Fraser always welcomes feedback from constituents. He can be contacted at The Control Tower, Perth Airport, Scone, PH2 6PL, by email on murdo.fraser.msp@parliament.scot or by telephone on 01738 553676

John Swinney MSP - Perthshire North - SNP

Since my last column, Scotland has been processing the news that the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, will stand down from office.

Having known Nicola for nearly four decades and worked closely with her in government since 2007, I have seen first-hand her drive, determination and utter commitment to her work. This was even more apparent when she took office as First Minister in 2014. Since that time, she has worked tirelessly on behalf of the people of Scotland and poured every bit of herself into the role.

I was never prouder to serve under Nicola Sturgeon than during the Covid pandemic. In the dark, uncertain days of 2020, she was a constant source of stability, support and reassurance to millions of Scots. Moreover, she led the country with a seriousness and level of capability that won her the respect and admiration of so many people both at home and abroad. Under Nicola Sturgeon's exceptional leadership, the SNP enjoyed our greatest ever period of sustained electoral success. The First Minister won every election campaign she fought, outlasted four UK Prime Ministers and, even at the point of her resignation, enjoyed approval ratings that would be the envy of any other UK leader.

She also transformed our country into a better place to live, work and raise a family. From the expansion of early learning and childcare, to free bus travel for young people, to Minimum Alcohol Pricing, to the Scottish Child Payment - to name but a few policy achievements - she has strengthened Scotland's social contract and ensured that we do all that we can to look after our citizens.

Quite simply, she has been the most effective, capable and consequential First Minister since devolution. More than that, though, she is a wonderful friend. I wish her nothing but the best going

Continued on page 50

Ingredients

1 leg of lamb, about 2kg

2 garlic bulbs

15 sprigs rosemary

15 sprigs thyme

1.7kg medium-sized potatoes (Maris Piper work well), unpeeled

14 bay leaves

4 tbsp olive oil

1 lemon, juiced

One-pan lamb with hasselback potatoes

Method

Step 1 - Use a small, sharp knife to make at least 30 small, deep, incisions all over the lamb. Halve the garlic bulbs, so at the top the cloves fall away and at the bottom, they remain attached. Peel and slice the tops that have fallen away and keep the other halves for later. Use your fingers to push the slices into each slit. Next, pull off small sprigs of rosemary and thyme, keeping the stalks on, and poke them into the slits, too. Chill. and remove from the fridge 1 hr before roasting.

Step 2 - Heat oven to 210C/190C fan/gas 7. Sit each potato between the handles of two wooden spoons and cut widthways at 3mm intervals – the spoon handles will stop you slicing all the way through. Slot a bay leaf into the middle slit of each potato. Tip the potatoes into a large roasting tin with the halved garlic bulb and the rest of the rosemary and thyme. Drizzle with half the oil and season, then toss to coat and turn the potatoes so they’re all cut-side up. Place the lamb in the middle of the tin, pushing the potatoes to the outside, then rub the lamb with the rest of the oil and the lemon juice and season generously.

Step 3 - Roast for 1 hr 30 mins, basting the potatoes and shaking the tin occasionally, until the lamb is dark brown and the potatoes are crisp and golden. The lamb will be pink in the middle but cooked. For rare, cook for 10 mins less, and for well done, 15 mins more. Remove the lamb from the tin and leave to rest for 15 mins, putting the potatoes back in the oven if you need to. Serve drizzled with green olive & herb dressing or mint sauce.

Repairs · Virus Removal

New Systems · Broadband

Networking · Data Recovery

Verisure Monitored Alarm Systems

Clover Merchant Services

Morrison’s Academy A Proud Tradition

Morrison’s Academy in Crieff was established on a proud tradition of philanthropy. We strive to make our educational offering accessible to as many families as possible.

Our school founder, Thomas Morrison, a stonemason and master builder from Muthill, asked that the trustees of his estate ‘Erect and endow an institution... to promote the interests of mankind having a particular regard to the education of youth and the diffusion of knowledge.’ Morrison’s Academy opened in 1860 but would not exist or have thrived without the benevolence of Thomas Morrison. He wanted the children of Strathearn to attend his school and recognised that by making education open to all, he would contribute to a rich and diverse community.

Our school has evolved over the years but its focus on supporting the families and its desire for inclusiveness remains steadfast.

We believe that a Morrison's Academy education and all of the benefits and opportunities it presents should be accessible to as many children as possible. Consequently, a growing number of means-tested bursaries are awarded each year.

In all cases, the assistance is determined by the individual circumstances of the family. In some cases, full fee awards are made, but the majority of awards fall in the range of 20 percent to 60 percent of the tuition fee. In this way we ensure that bursaries help widen access to the school and assist the greatest number of families.

We are always looking for ways to increase the support we offer our school community and recently made our bursary programme available to all pupils from Primary One and older. Applications are also considered from existing parents who have experienced a change in circumstances.

We believe that every child who is committed to the values and ethos of the school should have access to Morrison’s Academy, regardless of financial circumstances. Education is life-changing and we are passionate about widening the opportunities for children now and in the future.

Our next Open Morning for Nursery and Primary School will take place on Friday, 28 April 2023.

For further information about bursaries or other general enquiries please contact: admissions@morrisonsacademy.org

www.morrisonsacademy.org

Morrison’s Academy, Crieff PH7 3AN

The School’s Scottish Charity Number is SC000458

forward and wish to put on record my thanks for her outstanding service to our country. With the First Minister's resignation, attention has now turned to who will replace her. I was humbled that, in the immediate aftermath of the First Minister's decision, my name was mentioned as a potential successor.

I have had the privilege of playing a key role in the development of the SNP's policy for the better part of the last 40 years. I am proud to have contributed to making the SNP, which had a very poor foundation in the 1980s, into an effective party of government in Scotland with a hugely successful electoral track record.

However, the UK Government's unwillingness to honour the democratic demands of the Scottish electorate to hold a referendum on independence means that the SNP must thoughtfully and carefully craft a way forward that allows us to break the deadlock caused by this democracy denial. I arrived at the view that it was important to allow fresh perspective to tackle this issue and, for this reason, I ultimately decided not to stand for the leadership.

This was a hugely difficult decision and one with which I took some time to wrestle. Indeed, I was genuinely surprised as to how open I was to the idea of standing. And I am hugely thankful for the words of encouragement I received from fellow party members, Parliamentarians and local constituents. However, I am confident that I have made the right decision for myself, the party and the country.

I am looking forward to continuing to work hard for my constituents in the months and years ahead, and to advocating for the cause that I have believed in for all of my adult life - that Scotland should be an independent country.

GrowBiz

Specialised Support Services from GrowBiz this Spring GrowBiz provides support for rural businesses, social enterprises and the self-employed in rural Perth & Kinross in many different ways.

As well as offering networking opportunities, learning events and one-to-one support to answer questions and give advice, we provide the following specialised services:

REDS: Rural Enterprise Directory Scotland (REDS) is an online directory of hundreds of micro businesses in rural and island Scotland. It’s free for eligible businesses to get listed and helps facilitate connections and collaborations. Find out more at www.reds.scot

Mentoring: Our mentoring programme is designed for clients who need help exploring skills such as setting goals, decision making, self-confidence and managing expectations. It’s an opportunity to connect meaningfully with another business owner or someone with relevant experience and skills.

Perthshire Artisans: This is a supportive platform and curated online shop for creatives living and/ or working in Perth & Kinross. Connect with other artisans, share ideas and skills, and collaborate. Two membership options are available and applications open each month. More at www.perthshire-artisans.scot

SEED: The Self-Employment and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) programme provides funding of up to £1000 and tailored support for young entrepreneurs, start ups and self-employed individuals aged 18-25 in Perth and Kinross.

The Care and Wellbeing Collective: This is a membership group of care and wellbeing practitioners who offer services in the Perth and Kinross area. It provides mutual support, learning, connection and collaboration opportunities, and helps locals to access their services. Find out more at www.careandwellbeing.scot

You can find more information on all GrowBiz support services at www.growbiz.co.uk

Pitlochry and District Neighbourhood Watch A Cautionary tale

I recently had to renew my over-70 driving licence and googled the website given in the renewal letter. I clicked on the first website on the list and filled in the form. The form was quick and easy to complete but I got suspicious when I was asked if I wanted the new licence in 2 days as this is a bit optimistic for a government department. The following page on the form asked for my credit card details so I quickly abandoned it. I found the official form which asked exactly the same questions but had a different layout, was less easy to complete but did state that it is free to renew a driving licence. The first form is apparently legal as the fee covers the request for a quick return of the new licence but I didn’t see any information to explain this. It is possible to get a quick return of a passport application for a similar fee. This is not a scam but has tenuous legality which may cause people to part with money unnecessarily. My advice is to check you are using the proper official website when renewing any similar document. Another piece of advice I was given recently is when sending bank details in an email, to send 2 emails, one with the sort code and another with the account number. It isn’t a good idea to send bank details in an email but it is sometimes necessary to get your money.

Andie Millar’s Trust

Applications are invited by 31st May 2023 for donations to either individuals or organisations to be spent in Pitlochry and District (generally assessed as being within a five mile radius of the centre of Pitlochry) for any one or more of the following Trust purposes:

1. the advancement of education;

2. the advancement of citizenship or community development;

3. the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science;

4. the advancement of public participation in sport;

5. the provision of recreational facilities with the object of improving the conditions of life for the persons for whom the facilities are primarily intended;

6. the advancement of environmental protection or improvement; and/or

7. the relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.

Generally, the Trustees will be able to provide donations of up to £2,500 but in certain circumstances may be able to consider applications for a larger amount.

Application Forms are available from www.andiemillar.org and, to be considered by the Trustees, each Application must be sent by e-mail to j@hmitchell.co.uk by 31st May 2023.

Please note that the Trustees’ decision in respect of any Application is final.

Scottish Charity Number: SC037334

www.andiemillar.org

Rotary Club of Pitlochry

Last month we had Jennifer McOmish (P&K Council) from the “Violence against Women Partnership" address our club at one of our meetings.

Jennifer's "partnership" brings together the work of several bodies, including Council, police, etc who have to deal with threats against women (as well as men). Amongst other points, she did mention an annual initiative called '16 Days' where the profile of this sort of work is raised within the community. Our Rotary Club has expressed our interest and committed ourselves to help with this year's event, which will run at the end of the year.

Jennifer also mentioned several other matters that came as a surprise to many of us and made us aware that we should learn to keep our eyes open and remain vigilant to some of the tell-tale signs of crimes that occur even in our own, generally safe environment. This year could be a busy one for our club as our calendar is filling up fast! We have received a good few nominations for our "Citizen of the Year" nomination and will announce the worthy winner next month.

We will again be incolved in some youth projects, one of which will once again involve our financial support of the "Young Chef " Competition.

Arrarngements are already underway for the celebration of our Club's 70th Charter Dinner!

In the photo (L to R): Gordon Conacher, Jennifer McOmish & Councillor Mike Williamson.

Atholl Centre Pitlochry Office Open hours

The Atholl Centre Office open hours are Monday – Friday 10.00am –4.00pm.

Atholl Centre Household Hardship Fund, supported by Corra Foundation & Lottery Community Funding

If your are struggling with the ‘cost of living crisis,’ assistance is available, from Atholl Centre Office, contact 01796 473044 or email manager@athollcentre.org.uk

Food Bank Referrals & self referrals all welcome. Please ask if you need some help to cope with the increased cost of living.

NB: Please note; our Emergency contact number: 07443 738240

Pitlochry Baptist Church – Friday Soup Lunch.

We meet again weekly, every Friday at 12 midday, in the Atholl Centre, behind the Church. All very welcome. Come & enjoy a hearty Soup Lunch and meet new friends.

The Community Larder - is quite separate from the Food Bank; it is Open 24/7 for anyone to ‘give’ or ‘take’ food items along with other household items, avoiding food waste & supporting many with the rising prices at this time. New Fridge & Freezer Community Larder located by the back door of the Atholl Centre.

Changing Places Toilet - New and fully equipped Rest room facility for the disabled

The Coat Rail - Please come along to choose one that is right for you. If you are struggling, this year to replace your old Winter coat, or if you would like to swap it for another. The Centre is open Monday – Friday.

Warm Places - Pitlochry Churches is providing the following venues where you can be assured of a free friendly and warm welcome, serving tea/coffee/soup & snacks.

Atholl Centre Mondays 10.00am – 1.00pm

Pitlochry Church of Scotland Tryst Wednesdays 10.30am – 3.30pm

Pitlochry Baptist Church Cosy Café in Atholl Centre Fridays 10.00am – 2.00pm

Look out for the posters around Town, or call 01796 473044 for more info.

Cookery & Baking Classes - Every Monday evening in March 7 – 9.00pm in the Atholl Centre Kitchen. Come along to learn the basics, learn new skills & recipes, reduce food waste, money saving specials. Four local catering experts invite you to join them. Sign up at the Atholl Centre Office to book your place. All free of charge, and all welcome. Funded by PKC Warm Places Community Fund.

C.A.T.H. Churches Action For The Homeless

The outreach service will be at the Atholl Centre, Pitlochry on the first Tuesday of every month, between 10.00am and 12 midday. We can provide support with Housing issues and Benefit queries/applications. We also provide support to access a range of available services. Please feel free to drop in for a chat, or phone Helen Tilly 07739 858 987

Helen Kirkwood

Atholl Baptist Centre SCIO15113, Atholl Centre, Atholl Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5BX

Further information from 01796 473044.

Pitlochry Community Action Plan

New Local Charity.

Pitlochry Community Action Plan has received fantastic news in achieving charitable trust status, opening up new opportunities for funding and support. To celebrate, the team plans a launch event coinciding with Volunteer Week in early June.

Now known as Pitlochry Community Action Trust, the team looks forward to launching its new website. Look out for details on the Pitlochry Community Action Plan Facebook page or in the press. In other news, volunteers in the Town Enhancement and Traffic Management group were pleased to see the Victorian awnings on Atholl Road cleaned. Atholl Road car park has also been resurfaced following a meeting with council officials. In addition, work continues towards a memorial to mark the end of the Rob Roy Way.

The Economy and Housing group represented Pitlochry at the Highland Perthshire Housing Group, which tackles availability of housing stock and affordable housing issues. While, the Environment and Sustainability team was delighted see the Men's Shed receive funding for a tool library.

The group also supports Pitlochry Garden Share and continues to work with the Repair Café. Not surprisingly, their recent Energy Advice event received significant interest, resulting in 14 households receiving free energy surveys.

Finally, the Arts, Culture and Events group looks forward to Perthshire Open Studios starting later in the year, with the John Muir Trust already agreeing to display the work of local artists. New volunteers are welcome. Meetings are advertised on the 'What's On' page at www. heartland.scot For more information, contact info@pitlochryaction.org.uk

Pitlochry Station Bookshop

Our first news will delight our many volunteers, customers and book donors as we announce that we have now achieved a new milestone. This month our total of money raised has reached £400,000. When the Bookshop started in 2005, volunteers were astonished that they raised £200 during their first season. Little did they realise how their £200 would grow. Nor did our six charities know that we were committed to them for the long term and to the tune of £400,000.

So, thanks to everyone who has contributed to the Bookshop’s success. Raising the sum of £400,000 from selling second hand books at £1 a time (50p in our earlier days) is a magnificent achievement. Of course, our next fund-raising phase starts now.

Another Bookshop project has been running in the background. One of our members has conducted interviews with some of the key people who have played a part in the Bookshop’s history, since books were first sold from a trolley on the station platform and a cardboard box in the ticket office in 2005.

The interviews will be available as a podcast series on our website, with thanks to Heartland fm for technical help and for hosting the series for us. This space will feature more information about the project soon.

With the promise of better weather, the Bookshop has reverted to normal opening hours which are Monday to Saturday 9.00am until 4.30pm. We are happy to accept book donations during these hours also.

In February, our stall at the four days of Winter Words raised a further £700 for our charities. Thanks to everyone who helped.

Pitlochry Library

Opening hours: Thursday 10am-1pm & 2pm-7pm, Saturday 9.30am-12.30pm

Basic Digital Skills Course. A new beginners’ digital skills course will be starting soon at Pitlochry Library. Course content includes computer/ tablet basics; internet navigation; online safety; public services online; and e-mailing. If you are interested in participating or have any questions, please contact learningcurve@pkc.gov.uk (01738 47792), or alternatively contact Pitlochry Library.

Bookbug sessions are held at Pitlochry Library every Thursday from 9.15am-9.45am. Come and join us for a session of songs, stories, and rhymes for under 5s. Prebooking for each session is essential. Please contact Pitlochry Library to book a spot.

Princh Printing. Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries have installed Princh, a new printing solution in libraries across Perth and Kinross, including Pitlochry Library. With Princh, it is now possible to print from any mobile device, tablet, or laptop from home or in one of our participating libraries. Just print, pay online and pick up your items. You can send your print jobs at any time from any place, and what's more, you no longer have to wait in line at the printer.

Details can be found on our website www.culturepk.org.uk/libraries/internet-and-computers/ princh-printing/

The Soutar Festival of Words. An exciting line-up of well-known and well-loved authors, poets, musicians, broadcasters, and TV personalities will descend on Perth as the much-loved Soutar Festival of Words returns this month.

Pitlochry Life

FITNESS

with Alan Clinch

Nordic Walking

In last month’s article I summarised a piece of recent research which pointed to the potential benefits of a round or two of golf. You may remember that the piece also mentioned walking with poles, sometimes known as Nordic Walking. This month I’ll take a closer look at Nordic Walking: what it is, and how it can be beneficial.

You may have seen people out walking with poles, but this may not be Nordic Walking - there is actually a quite significant difference – a basic walking pole is really designed to help with stability, and spread the load in order to take weight off the knees and ankles, whereas a Nordic walking pole is similar to those used in cross country ski-ing. The poles have been specially designed to allow users to develop upper body strength, and can turn a walk into whole-body exercise that can be done by anybody, anywhere. Another piece of research analysed the effects produced by the use of Nordic walking on functional abilities in elderly women. Three months of walking led to reductions in the pulse rate at rest and blood pressure, and an increase in maximal oxygen consumption. General upper body strength was enhanced, all of which meant that the test group were better equipped for everyday living.

Using the upper body results in a significant increase in energy use - around 50% more calories can be used than if simply going for a normal (ie without poles) walk. It’s common knowledge that regular moderate exercise can help reduce risk of heart disease, stroke, and help with weight loss: when done correctly, Nordic Walking will use most of the muscles in the body, particularly targeting core, hips, thighs, buttocks and triceps. Correctly moving the poles whilst walking requires moving arms in opposition with legs, so balance and coordination will be improved. Looking forward whilst doing the exercise should also help develop visual coordination and posture.

Using poles helps absorb some of the body weight,

taking pressure off the joints in the legs, which makes it an ideal exercise for older people, or those with knee problems such as arthritis.

The set up and grip of the strap and handle allows the user to push through the movement, and increase stride efficiency by using extra power from the upper body. The video clip below gives an overview of the basics of Nordic walking.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZBF1cg7Ggc

A number of advantages occur when using Nordic Walking poles:

• It’s generally recognised as safe – it uses biomechanically correct movements, together with appropriate body alignment and posture, which in turn reduces the pressure on knees and other joints.

• It’s possible to burn up to 40% extra calories over that used in simply going for a stroll, which in turn is potentially good for weight control

• Government guidelines for aerobic exercise suggest rhythmic and dynamic movements –Nordic Walking uses these, so will use both large and small muscle groups to increase blood circulation and metabolism

• Improved posture and movement should be transferred to everyday movement.

If you’re interested in Nordic Walking, this site will provide more information. As ever there are a large variety of resources on the web, but try to stick to recognised organisations where possible.

https://nordicwalking.co.uk/

www.nordicwalkinghighlandperthshire.com

As ever, if you haven’t exercised for a while, or have any medical conditions which might cause problems, check with your Doctor to ensure it’s safe to increase your activity levels. Remember, pain is a sign that something is wrong….

alan@pitlochrylife.co.uk

The Festival, produced by Culture Perth and Kinross, runs over three days from 28-30 April 2023 and will feature a diverse array of literary events – from poetry and spoken word to author interviews, performances, talks and workshops, all celebrating Scots language and contemporary Scots culture.

Highlights include prize-winning journalist and BBC presenter Sally Magnusson, the renowned Scottish author Sara Sheridan, Graeme Macrae Burnet, author of His Bloody Project,and the acclaimed novelist James Robertson who will not only deliver this year's Soutar Lecture but also present the Gruffalo in Scots – not to be missed!

Full details and tickets can be found on the Culture Perth and Kinross website www.culturepk.org.uk/soutar23

Pitlochry & Moulin Men's Shed

The Pitlochry & Moulin Mens Shed (PAMMS) provides a community space for men to meet, connect, chat and create. Our activities centre on those that groups of men can enjoy together to help reduce loneliness and isolation. Equally importantly, we aim to make them enjoyable. Our Men's Shed can give purpose to those who have either retired or who just have some time on their hands. Activities such as ours aim to improve mental health, knowledge, skills and confidence in a informal environment.

We are located in the old Handam Shop in Burnside Road in Pitlochry, postcode PH16 5BP. Once in Burnside Road, you can’t miss us!

At present, we open every Thursday 2 - 4 pm and also operate as a warm space where people can gather for free in a warm, safe, welcoming place, where they can enjoy a hot drink and some company.

We extend an invitation to adults of all ages to come along and join us.

For more information, please contact Peter or Ray via email on pammensshed@gmail.com

Vale of Atholl Pipe Band

The youngsters in the band had a great day at Landrover Experience doing a photo shoot. They were taken up the hill in the Landrovers and stopped off for various photos. More photos beside the loch at their headquarters at Butterstone, then a delicious spread of cakes and hot chocolate! Many thanks to Landrover Experience for giving the pipe band such a great day and for their support with our Highland Nights and tuition programme. Look out for the fliers advertising the Highland Nights to see the result of the photo shoot!

We're so looking forward to getting back to our Highland Nights. The 29th May seems a long way away, but it'll be here before we know it. We're hoping to have a visiting band, the Knox Grammar School from Australia, on the 26th June. What a night that will be.

In the meantime, it's lots of practising. The first Major Competition (The British Championships) in May is unfortunately not going ahead, but we're hoping to do some minor competitions instead.

If you're interested in learning to play pipes or drums, please contact either me or our lead tutor Roddy Weir on pipemajorrhf@gmail.com All lessons are free of charge.

Gillie McNab 07733152223 gmcnab00@aol.com

Are You A Gas Guzzler?

Modern cars are far more fuel efficient than we give them credit for, maybe it's the way we drive them?

When I was wee, I remember walking down the High Street with my dad when we passed some fancy Italian sports car parked there. I turned to him and said ‘Wow, that looks really fast!’ Quick as a flash his reply came back...‘Yeah… pass anything but a petrol station’. Back in the day, we never seemed to worry about the price of petrol; cars were a luxury and you could either afford one, or not. Today however, cars are an essential part of our lives, with many families having to run two (or even three), and with the cost of fuel just now, thanks to Putin's 'Military Exercises' and the threat of a 12p rise in the next budget, it’s now a serious monthly outlay.

I now find myself driving not with the old ‘how fast can I get there?’ but with ’what’s the best miles per gallon I can achieve?’ - which has become an enjoyable challenge on regular journeys.

We can’t all afford a new electric car, with some costing up to £20k more than their petrol equivalent, but we could all save fuel, money and the planet by driving smarter. So, let’s bust some myths, then talk about Hypermiling!

Don’t Buy a Fuel Economiser

You will see these advertised on the likes of Facebook. The vast majority are a scam. The ones that might save you a couple of miles

per gallon do so by interfering with exhaust emissions, could damage your engine, and could be illegal.

Don’t Change Your Air Filter More Often Than Recommended

Unless you live in a particularly dusty area, just stick to the recommended interval. Otherwise an air filter changed on an annual service will not get dirty enough to alter your MPG.

Don’t Change Your Oil More Often Than Recommended

Modern synthetic/semi synthetic oils are designed to outlast your service interval. Changing early will make no difference to your MPG whatsoever.

Just make sure you stick to the service interval to keep everything in your car running at peak performance, and don’t change to a heavier grade engine oil. They take longer to heat up and longer to circulate around the whole engine from a cold start, so don’t offer the same protection.

Hypermiling

This is an American thing and is simply the art of squeezing every last inch from a gallon of petrol. A lot of it is common sense that most 6litre V8 owners seem to lack in the first place, but maybe there’s something we could learn. Here are their most popular tips:

Remove bike racks, ski racks and roof boxes when not using them, they play havoc with weeks of testing in a wind tunnel to get your car as aerodynamic and fuel efficient as possible. Then empty the boot, junk might get a free ride, but you are paying for it.

If your car holds 90 litres of fuel, that’s 90kg and that’s the weight of an average adult passenger. Don’t fill it all the way unless you really need to, like when taking a long journey and a full tank will let you sail past motorway bandit stations.

Avoid idling to warm up the engine, even in winter. It’s unnecessary and wastes fuel. A modern car is ready to go after 10 seconds, so start it up, put your seatbelt on, choose your radio station and off you go.

Avoid prolonged idling in general. If your car will be stopped for more than 60 seconds, shut the engine off. If you have an Eco Start/Stop system, let it do it’s job.

However, recent research that measured the amount of fuel an average car uses per second when idling, and compared that to the amount it uses to restart, found that 7 seconds of idling used the same as a restart of a warm engine. So, if you are stuck in heavy traffic moving at a snails pace and the engine is constantly stop/startingswitch the Eco function off.

Acceleration guzzles fuel, so take it easy, build up speed smoothly so you are not working the engine hard. If the car is manual, change up as soon as practical. If automatic, it will change up much quicker when accelerating slowly, keeping the revs down and saving fuel.

Use the fuel consumption display if you have one. Keep an eye on it and learn.

Stick to the speed limit. You are not going to get there any quicker. When you get to traffic lights a few miles up the road, the boy racers that shot past will be 3 or 4 cars in front.

Use the Cruise Control. If on dual carriageway, motorway or any good fairly straight road, use the Cruise Control. Constantly accelerating and

braking just wastes fuel. Contrary to belief - car manufacturers are not in cahoots with the oil companies, they are in competition with each other to give the best drive with the least fuel. Let their inbuilt technology take care of that for you. Just don’t use it in snow or icy conditions. When driving in town look ahead. There’s no point flying up to a red light or stop sign and braking hard. Take your foot off the accelerator in plenty time and let the engine brake for you. Coast. Get used to easing or even lifting off on the accelerator when going downhill. Cars nowadays recognise this and all but stop the

uncomfortable above a certain speed. The drain on power of a car running efficiently at a high speed with air-con on is significantly less than at low speed.

So, if the temperature is bothering you, run with a window open up to 40 - 45mph, then use the air-con above that. Obviously if really hot, just use the air-con. Also, don’t forget that using air-con in winter dries out incoming air and stops the car from misting up, even with the heater on.

Keep your tyres inflated to the correct pressure and check them regularly. Soft tyres create more friction and waste fuel.

Plan ahead. If you have some shopping or errands to do around town, do the farthest away one first. That allows your engine to warm up properly and run more efficient. Then plan your route back so you’re not having to go back and forth. Also consider combining trips so you are only out once and not two or three times over the following days, then try to avoid rush hour traffic so you are not stopping and starting all the time.

fuel flow - if you do have an MPG readout available on the dash, keep an eye on it! Just don’t do it the old way, like when trying to get your dad’s car home without running out of petrol and free-wheeling down all the hills in neutral. The car doesn’t recognise that game and just idles, wasting fuel.

Air-con or windows? There’s always great debate over this. The air conditioning unit is driven by your engine so adds extra strain and uses fuel.

Car prototypes spend hours in wind tunnels perfecting their aerodynamics to make them as economical as possible. Driving with a window open completely destroys this and drops your MPG quite significantly.

There is, however a play off between the two: At lower speeds the turbulence from an open window is fairly insignificant and you will know when it’s not, as the draught and noise becomes

Don't waste time and fuel looking for a parking space. As you approach your destination just take the first space you see. It's odds on that the closer you get, the less chance you will find a space, so park earlier and enjoy the walk. In fact, if you could have walked in the first place, maybe that's the best option?

Don’t treat your car to premium grade fuel. Unless your car is high performance, you don’t need it. It will not make any noticeable difference to your MPG and is just a waste of money. If in doubt, check your handbook, or inside the fuel filler cap for recommended fuel. Your car is set up to run on that.

Your Goal. Your handbook will give you the fuel consumption figures advertised by the manufacturer. These are always at 56MPH as anything above that sees a sharp increase in wind resistance. Whilst the figures quoted are achieved by an award winning weight watcher driving the car stripped of anything not screwed down or bolted on, that figure is your target. Go for it :o)

Willie

This Month’s Easy Sudoku

How to play............

Fill the grid so that every row, column and every 3 x 3 box contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition.

That’s all there is to it! Use reasoning and logic to solve the puzzle - there’s no maths or adding up.

Look carefully for what numbers can go where and with a little practice it will get easier!

The Importance Of Fire Safety In The Workplace

What are the fire safety rules and why is fire safety importance in the workplace. As a business owner, you are responsible for taking the appropriate steps to prevent fires and guarantee your workplace meets all required health and safety standards. Fire safety is of the highest importance in any building, to ensure safety of your employees and the protection of your building. Fire protection systems and procedures are a legal requirement and need to be put in place in buildings to make employees aware in the event of a fire.

Fire Safety: The Law & Your Responsibilities

Buildings must comply with The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and The Fire Safety Regulations (Scotland) 2006, which applies to general fire safety across Scotland. Business premises are required to provide a minimum fire safety standard, the owner/responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment and keep it up to date, this will identify, manage and reduce the risk of fire, to also put in place a fire prevention and emergency evacuation plans.

Fire extinguishers and Fire safety signage

Fire extinguishers play a crucial role in protecting buildings, by fighting fires in their early stages. Located in easily accessible spots, fire extinguishers can be used by anyone to eliminate fires, using chemicals such as, water, powder, foam, Co2 and wet chemical. Fire extinguishers must be installed, commissioned and serviced annually, to BS5306-3 code of practice, by a trained engineer. Fire safety signs provide clear guidance to mark the location of equipment, fire alarm activation points, warning signs and fire exits. Through imagery and text, employees are aware of where they can find the correct equipment in case of an emergency.

Fire Safety Training and Awareness

It is detrimental to the safety of the staff and business if your employees aren’t educated on potential fire hazards and safety protocols. A lack of knowledge is dangerous and can lead to casualties. The more people know, the less likely a fire will occur. All staff should be trained on both the fire prevention and emergency evacuation plans or have access to these documents for review. It is also essential that they understand following these plans and procedures are imperative to the safety of themselves and their co-workers. There should also be a minimum of one employee who is in the premises who is Fire Marshall

Trained and has the

responsibility of this important role.

Fire Safety Logbooks

The Fire safety logbook and maintenance record should always remain on the premises. The register will assist you in proving compliance with your legal responsibilities in relation to fire safety and should be completed following the inspection, test, and maintenance of any of the items required by the legislation. The fire safety logbook should be available for inspection by any Fire Officer who inspects your premises, you should record regular checks and record findings on: All escape routes are clear, and the floor is in a good state: You record any faults in systems and equipment: All fire alarm systems are working: The emergency lighting is working: Fire doors close correctly and in good working order: Fire extinguishers and the fire safety signs are in the right place: Training and Fire drills are logged.

Fire safety is important and necessary in the workplace in order to prevent and protect against the destruction caused by fire. Fire safety reduces the risk of injury, death and building damage that fires can cause. Developing and implementing fire safety protocols in the workplace is not only required by law but it is crucial to everyone’s safety that may be in the building during a fire emergency.

For advice or a free survey and quotation, please contact Graham Fire Protection on 01250 833104 or at info@grahamfireprotection.com

Last Month's Sudoko Answers

Edradour Pitlochry & Blair Atholl Pipe Band

It’s been a busy start to the year for several band members, Annabel & Joseph Charlton competed at the Vale Solos, Lennox Munro and Annabel played at the opening concert of Celtic Connections with the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland and Leading Drummer Ryan King competed with Bagad Ronsedmor Locoal Mendon at the Breton Championships, picking up 3rd place. Practices on a Wednesday night in Blair Atholl are also very busy for the competition season ahead of us.

At our recent AGM both Pipe Major Christy Kelly and Chairperson Stewart Smart reflected on last season’s success and thanked all the committee and parents for their continued support of the band. Everyone is looking forward to competing in our new grade over the summer. Office bearers for 2023: -

Chairperson - Stewart Smart, Vice Chair - Katrin Munro, Secretary - Claire Scott, Treasurer - Tracey Cudworth, Child Protection - Caitlin Charlton.

Many thanks to Perthshire Highland Games Association for their donation of chanters and drumsticks and we were also delighted to receive a grant from The Basil Death Trust. If you would like more information on the band, please contact Pipe Major Christy Kelly 01796472692 or Secretary Claire Scott 0179648145 or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Senior Badminton

Monday afternoons 3.30-5.30pm at the Atholl Leisure Centre. £5 per session. New members welcome. Come along to a session. Rackets can be hired. If you need more information call David Ramsay on 01796 472781 or Pam Sim on 01796 470160.

Pitlochry Golf Ladies

With the beginning of the new season in sight Pitlochry Golf Club Ladies held a fun get together in the Red Deer on 7th March. The morning consisted of indoor golf games to get everyone back in the swing and a soup and sandwich lunch. A great time was had by all and it was lovely to see such a good turnout and catch up after the winter. We are all looking forward to a new season and our opening match took place on Saturday March 18th followed by a meal in The Red Deer. We urge everyone to dust off their clubs and get out on the course. We hope that some new members will join the ladies in the weekly competition on a Tuesday. Despite some very difficult weather conditions over the winter the Green Staff have done a brilliant job and the course is looking in brilliant condition. See you all on the course!

Blair Atholl & Struan Community Council

We had our first steering group meeting in March to take forward a Community Action Plan for the area, to include Blair Atholl, Struan and Calvine. This is a great way to bring local organisations, groups and residents together to say what we like about living here, and also what we see as priorities for the area going forward towards 2030.

Pitlochry Life

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We offer a generous discounts for repeat adverts in blocks of 3 ,6 or 12 issues. To advertise in Pitlochry Life, to discuss your requirements, or for more information - please contact Debbie on 07545299491 or info@pitlochrylife.co.uk

The first step in the Community Action Plan process is a survey and focus groups, so look out for a short questionnaire, which will be delivered through your letterbox in early April and will also available for completing in lots of other places in the village. After the results have been collated, there will be a series of ‘big conversation’ events in the village hall, to be held on 1st, 2nd and 3rd June (TBC). We are delighted to have the support of Karen Derrick and her team at Voluntary Action in Badenoch & Speyside, who have been commissioned by Cairngorms National Park to lead on our Community Action Plan process.

Any questions about this or any other aspect of community council business, please email Miranda on blairathollstruancc@outlook.com

Grandtully Gala Day 2023

After a very successful Gala Day 2022, Grandtully & Strathtay Village Hall Trustees are delighted to announce Gala Day 2023 will be held on Sunday 11th June from 12noon at The Grandtully Village Hall and Recreation Park.

We still have some stall spaces available for the day. If you are a local producer or crafter, we would be delighted to welcome you – for more information please email: still42@btinternet.com

Volunteers for the day are also very welcome working alongside The Village Hall Trustees and Local Junior Agricultural Club Members. For more information on volunteering opportunities please email: captain.roddy@gmail.com

We are also inviting Food Producers along, if you would like a stall please do let us know. We are particularly interested in suppliers who can offer food options on the day. If you would like to know more, please email: fionasloan@aol.co.uk

There will be all the usual favourites at Gala Day 2023 and we are hoping to welcome even more of you through the gates this year for a Fun Filled Family Day.

Dissolution Of Pitlochry AEA

It has been resolved to dissolve the “Pitlochry and District Adult Education Association” with the remaining funds being donated to local charities.

A public meeting will be held on Saturday the 22nd April in Moulin Hall at 10am to approve the resolution. All past tutors and students are invited. Kevin Handford, on behalf of the AEA.

Dementia-Friendly Aberfeldy

On Friday 24th February the Committee Members of the Aberfeldy Highland Ball presented Dementia-Friendly Aberfeldy with a cheque for £4,000, the sum raised from the fantastic 2022 Highland Ball held on Saturday 3rd December at Blair Castle.

The Dementia-Friendly Aberfeldy Collaborative (DFAC) is a group of people who recognise the potential benefits of a dementia-friendly community, who have a number of valuable skills, and the professional and personal experience, to help take Aberfeldy forward on its journey towards achieving dementia-friendly status.

Janette Barrie, a volunteer with DFAC said, we are completely overwhelmed by the generosity of those who attended the Aberfeldy Highland ball and would like to thank everyone who kindly donated and purchased raffle tickets on the evening.

A dementia-friendly community is made up of the whole community, people who are committed to working together and helping people with dementia to remain a part of their community and not become apart from it. The process involves learning a little about dementia and doing very simple and practical things that can make an enormous difference to people living with dementia (Alzheimer Scotland).

The Dementia-Friendly Aberfeldy team deliver and facilitate a range of the activities and are currently exploring the possibility of opening a local meeting centre based on the Kirrie Connections model. Evidence shows the benefits of having a regular dementia-friendly meeting place where people with dementia and their carers can attend 2 days per week. People who attend report improved quality of life, reduction in social isolation and loneliness, improved emotional wellbeing and ability to cope. www.kirrieconnections.com

Local Charities can apply to the Aberfeldy Highland Ball Charity Convener at donald@56north.info

The Charity will be asked to demonstrate a project within Perthshire where all the funds raised in connection with the Ball will be spent. Of particular interest is that the funds would be used practically and not on administration.

Picture shows members of the Ball Committee and Dementia friendly receiving the cheque.

Left

right - Nicky McDiarmid, Al Irvine, Jannette Barrie, Meg Dougal, Judy Ewer, Donald Riddell, Colin Smith and Lorna Ross.

Tenandry Kirk, Killiecrankie

Interim Moderator: Rev. Neil Glover

Session Clerks: Marion Faulds - 01796 472415

Edward Elworthy - 07770842502

Every Sunday service at 10.30am

1st Sunday of the month Coffee/Tea following the service

All Welcome

Aberfeldy, Dull and Weem and Grantully, Logierait & Strathtay Parish Churches

Minister – Rev. Neil Glover - nglover@churchofscotland.org.uk 07779 280074.

PA - Judy Ewer - judy.ewer@adwgls.org.uk 07836 565528.

Regular Sunday Morning Worship

Dull and Weem Parish Church – 9.30am

Please consult the website for the current information on our services www.dullandweemparish.org

Strathtay, Grantully and Logierait Parish Churches -10.30am

Continued on page 78

to

The Pitlochry Crossword

ACROSS

7 Kudos - you finally cracked puzzle (6)

8 Football team apparently cancel tickets (6)

9 Scottish architect - the first man? (4)

10 Pitlochry road bins rude misprint (8)

11 Move! It’s a bee - could well be! (7)

13 Reportedly quittin’ loch (5)

15 Jedburgh, perhaps, opens bidding amongst ebay scramble (5)

17 Boss put convertible beside the clock on Atholl Road (3,4)

20 Dodgy Tom scans newspaper (8)

21 Mr Swinney, perhaps, rocket man (4)

22 Those from Auchtermuchty for example, who play the flute? (6)

23 Irritate plant (6)

By Lesley

DOWN

1 Shockingly denude Scottish city (6)

2 Move speedily - something we got used to during lockdown (4)

3 Locum, Brian found, just over the border (7)

4 Crashed car on potential tree (5)

5 Loose bristles - they can be painful! (8)

6 Wee feathered friend, below par (6)

12 Dogs disturb the isles (8)

14 Perthshire village opens deeply unpopular, noisy nightclub in neighbourhood gym (7)

16 Male beast, odd ibex, near Lossiemouth (6)

18 Hill range loch is turbulent (6)

19 Hippopotamuses welcome tickle (5)

21 Project with last of fibre, once made in 1 Down (4)

Answers for March on page 71

Please consult the website for the current information on our services

www.glschurchofscotland.org

Aberfeldy Parish Church – 10.30am

Please consult the website for the current information on our services

www.aberfeldyparishchurch.org

We ‘meet up’ at our weekly Zoom Service - details can be found on all the Church Websites. 1st Sunday of the month is a joint service with Aberfeldy, Dull and Weem, and Grantully, Logierait & Strathtay (GLS) – 10.30am

April - Dull and Weem, May – Aberfeldy, June -Strathtay

Easter Services

Holy Week

Tuesday 4 April - Logierait Parish Church - 7pm

Wednesday 5 April - Strathtay Parish Church - 7pm

Maundy Thursday 6 April - Aberfeldy Parish Church - 7pm

Good Friday 7 April - Weem Parish Church – 7pm

Easter Sunday

7.00am Dawn Service – General Wade’s Bridge

9.30am - Weem Parish Church

10.3am - Aberfeldy Parish Church

10.30am – Strathtay Parish Church

Church Based Activities

‘Warm Welcome Cafe’ and Stay and Play in Aberfeldy Parish Church on Tuesday mornings -teas, coffee, biscuits and homebaking - all free thanks to grant funding from Perth and Kinross CouncilCost of Living Fund and the Church of Scotland – Small Grants

Stay and Play 9.30 – 11.30am

Warm Welcome Café – 10am – 12pm

If you would like to be involved in any way, please contact Judy judy.ewer@adwgls.co.uk

Aberfeldy Prayer Meeting – Aberfeldy Parish Church - 5pm every Wednesday evening in Farragon – all are welcome to come along

Aberfeldy Alcoholics Anonymous – Aberfeldy Parish Church, Kitchen -7.30 – 9pm every Tuesday

Contact –- 01887 820936

Aberfeldy Quilting Group – Aberfeldy Parish Church, Lawers Hall – Thursdays - 11.am – 3pm

Contact Jane – 07771641390 or Annette – 07736384035

Dull and Weem - Chit Chat Café – is 1st Monday of the month in the Macdonald Room, Dull and Weem Kirk.

For further information please contact Liz Bruce –elizabeth_1_bruce@btinternet.com

Strathtay Coffee Break

The group meet every Wednesday in the John Kyd Hall, beside Strathtay Church at 10.30am - all are welcome to come along and join in!

Continued on page 80

Strathtay Quilting Group – John Kyd Hall

7 – 9pm on 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month

Contact Marie MacLeod – stytchandturn@btinternet.com

Please look at the church websites for the latest information.

The Scottish Episcopal Church in Highland Perthshire Offers All a Warm And Inclusive Welcome

Part of the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane

Rector: The Rev Canon Liz Baker 01796 472005: Email: bethmaybaker@yahoo.co.uk

Lay Reader: Lesley Whitwood 01887 840416: Email: lesleywhitwood@btinternet.com

Website: www.hplc.scot Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/highlandperthshirechurches

The Episcopal Churches In Highland Perthshire April 2023

All are welcome at services in our churches and on Zoom. Check our website for updates.

Holy Trinity Church, Perth Road, Pitlochry -Contact – Robin Baker - 01796 472005

Holy Trinity is open daily throughout the year

Sunday services – Normally 9.30am Holy Communion or All Age Communion

Holy Week & Easter Services

3rd April Tuesday from 10.30am Creation of Easter Garden

5th April Maundy Thursday 8.00pm ‘The Eucharist of the Lord’s Supper’ with Handwashing and Watch.

Good Friday 12.00 to 2.00pm Private Prayer & Contemplation

2.00 to 3.00pm ‘The Final Hour’

Holy Saturday 8.00pm ‘The Easter Vigil’

Easter Day 9.30am Sung Eucharist

Kilmaveonaig (St Adamnan’s Church), opposite former Tilt Hotel, Blair Atholl.

Contact - Mrs. Lavinia Gordon 01796 481230

Kilmaveonaig is open daily throughout the year

Sundays at 11.15am – First Sunday Holy Communio or All Age Communion, third Sundays, Holy Communion. Second and fourth Sundays Matins/ Morning Prayer or Communion by Extension

Holy Week & Easter Services

Good Friday 7.00pm at Blair Atholl Parish Church ‘Words from the Cross’ with Church of Scotland

Easter Day – 11.15am Sung Eucharist (this will be a child friendly service)

St Andrew's, Church, Strathtay, opposite the local shop.

Contact - Ms. Lesley Whitwood 01887 840416

Sundays at 11.15am - First Sundays Mattins, second and fourth Sundays Holy Communion; third Sundays Service of the Word/Communion by Extension; fifth Sundays Joint Service Church of Scotland.

House Group – Last Wednesday of the month contact Ms. Lesley Whitwood 01887 840416 for details

Holy Week & Easter Services

2nd April 7.00pm – Iona Evening Service

Good Friday 2.00 to 3.00pm The Final Hour

Easter Day 11.15am Holy Communion

All Saints, Kinloch Rannoch Square Contact – Reverend Canon Liz Baker 01796 472005:

1st April 9.30am Palm Sunday Holy Communion with distribution of Palms

4th April 10.30am to 4.00pm Church Open for Stations of the Cross & Private prayer

Online Zoom Services

Sundays - 6.00pm Evening Services (see Website for details)

Thursdays - 10.30am Morning Prayer – from Holy Trinity

Good Friday – 10.30am ‘Stations of the Cross’

Contact the Rector for details and Zoom invitations.

Pitlochry Baptist Church

Atholl Road, PH16 5BX

Pastor: Rev David Barrie pastor@pbcweb.net www.pbcweb.net

Keep up to date with us on both Facebook and Instagram

Holy Week Events In Pitlochry:

Thursday 6 April - Passover Seder Meal (7pm) at PBC.You are invited to attend a Passover Seder meal. The Seder meal is the traditional Passover meal to remember the suffering and persecution of the Jewish people in Egypt and the miraculous way that God brought them out of slavery. This experience can help us prepare for Easter by deepening our understanding of Passover and the way that it set the stage for Jesus – the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Contact admin@pbcweb.net to book your seat.

Friday 7 April - Walk of Witness (8am) beginning at the Church of Scotland.

This is a silent witness walking behind the cross and stopping at prearranged spots around Pitlochry to read the familiar events of the last hours before Calvary. Please mark this important time in our calendar and join us for this poignant and powerful walk.

Sunday 9 April - Sunrise Communion Gathering (7am) at Ladies Dell.Our pastor David Barrie will be leading this time of communion at Ladies Dell.

Sunday 9 April - Day Family Celebration (10:30am) at PBC. We gather to celebrate that Christ is risen! Together, as a whole church family from all walks of life.

Sunday 9 April - Easter Egg Hunt (3pm) at Delta Road Park. Our Easter Weekend events finish with a community Easter Egg Hunt at Delta Road Park with games and bubbles and lots of happy children.

Introducing:

New Youth Group - for school years P5 to S2 launching on Friday 28th April from 7.30pm until 9.00pm. It’ll be a weekly event during term time only, held at Pitlochry Baptist Church on Atholl Road. Join us for a fun evening of games, tuck shop, chill out zones and discussions about life and God. We would love to see you there.

Blair Atholl & Struan Linked With Braes Of Rannoch And Foss & Rannoch

Interim Moderator: The Rev Grace Steele. Phone – 01887 820025. Email - GSteele@churchofscotland.org.uk

Session Clerk Blair Atholl & Struan Harold Ingram 01796 481275

Session Clerk Braes of Rannoch ~~

Session Clerks Foss & Rannoch Robert and Elizabeth Anderson 01882632272

Blair Atholl & Struan Church - Weekly service in Blair Atholl Church at 11.15am.

Coffee Corner in Blair Atholl Church Hall every Thursday at 10.00am - 12.00. All welcome.

Easter Services

6th April Maundy Thursday service, with Communion, in the Church Hall at 7.00pm.

7th April Good Friday service, joint with Kilmaveonaig, in Blair Atholl Church at 7.00pm.

9th April Easter Sunday. Early morning service at St Bride's Kirk at 8.00am.

Easter service in Blair Atholl Church at 11.15am.

Services in Rannoch are held weekly, at 9.45am at Braes of Rannoch and 11.30am at the Old Church, Kinloch Rannoch

Easter Services

7th April Good Friday Vigil 12 noon - 3.00pm in the Old Church, Kinloch Rannoch

Church open for prayer and meditation with readings every 15 minutes. Please, come and go as you wish.

9th April Easter Sunday services at 9.45am at Braes (with Communion) and 11.15am at the Old Church.

St Bride’s Catholic Church

Parish Priest: Fr. Emmanuel Adindu

Rie-Achan, Pitlochry PH16 5AL Tel. No: 01796 472174

E-mail address: stbridespitlochry@dunkelddiocese.org.uk

Also served by St. Brides;

Sunday Masses:

St. Columbia’s, St. Mary’s Road, Birnam Vigil Mass 6p.m.

Our Lady of Mercy. Sunday 9.30am.

St. Bride’s. Sunday 11.30 am.

Weekday Masses:

Our Lady of Mercy. Tuesdays 9.30am.

St. Brides Wednesday, Thursday, Friday at 9.30am.

Stations of the Cross

Aberfeldy - Tuesdays after morning Mass

Pitlochry - Fridays after morning Mass

Birnam - Saturdays 5.00pm.

Holy week Activities 2023

Palm Sunday 2nd April 2023

Birnam: 6:00pm, Aberfeldy 9:30am, Pitlochry 11:00am

Chrism Mass: St Andrew’s Cathedral.

Maundy Thursday

Birnam 4:00pm, Pitlochry 7: 00pm.

Scotland Prestige Awards

Winner of Mortgage Broker of the Year 2022

Finalists in the 2019 and 2020 Scottish Mortgage Awards for both Best Mortgage Broker Edinburgh & Scotland categories and Shortlisted for the 2022 Awards for Best Regional Broker: Edinburgh and Best Regional Broker: Central Region

Good Friday

Aberfeldy 10:30am (Stations of the Cross). Pitlochry 3:00pm (With stations of the Cross).

Holy Saturday

Pitlochry 8: 00pm.

Easter Sunday 9th April 2023

Aberfeldy 9:30am, Birnam. 11:00 am (If we are able to get a Supply Priest), Pitlochry 11:30am.

Pitlochry Church of Scotland

Interim Moderator: Rev Fraser Penny 01350 727 249

Session Clerk: 01796 472791

Website: www.pitlochrychurchofscotland.org.uk

Sunday Service: Morning Worship at 10.30am.

We invite you to join us, whether you live locally or are just visiting the area. Worship begins with a warm welcome, followed by a mix of music and words, ancient and modern. The wearing of masks within our building is now optional. Everyone is welcome for tea/coffee and juice in The Tryst after the service.

Easter Services: Good Friday April 7 “Walk with the Cross”, come and experience the special day, we meet at the Church at 8.00am, walk through the town carrying a Cross and back to The Tryst Lounge for tea/coffee and hot cross buns afterwards.

Easter Sunday April 9 Early morning Communion at the Ladies’ Dell at 7.30am (to be led by Rev David Barrie of The Baptist Church) and Worship in the Church, with Communion, at 10.30am. All are welcome.

Tryst for Prayer: is on Wednesdays from 10am – 10.30am in the Tryst.

Wednesday Coffee and Chat: 10.30am – 11.45am Everyone is very welcome to catch up with friends, neighbours and to meet new people over tea, coffee and biscuits in the Tryst lounge.

Table Tennis: meet weekly on Thursdays 2.00pm until 4.00pm in the Tryst Hall.

Church Office: The Tryst, for all enquires and deliveries contact by email thetryst@btconnect.com or telephone 01796 474010. The office is open from 9.00 – 11.00am Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Emails and telephone messages are checked regularly. For details and availability of Tryst hire also contact by email thetryst@btconnect.com or telephone 01796 474010.

ScotThoughts Podcast – Thoughts for the day, short stories, Parables, inspiration, Reflections, Hymn writers, sermons. Listen on Spotify or Anchor podcasts.

Weekly Sermons are published on the Church website.

Jehovah’s Witnesses

On the night before he died, Jesus instituted an anniversary for Christians—the Memorial of his death. This anniversary is on the same date every year, on the lunar calendar. Today we use a solar calendar, so the date looks as if it changes every year. It doesn’t. It has always been on the 14th Abib. This year, the anniversary falls on 4th

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April—after sunset. Your local congregation will be holding this special service at 7.30 p.m. Please join us to show appreciation for what Jesus achieved. Do get in touch for details.

Sunday 2nd April, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘You Can Face the Future With Confidence’. A discussion: ‘“The Love the Christ Has Compels Us” (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15)’.

Tuesday 4th April, 7.30 p.m. The Memorial of Christ’s death.

Sunday 9th April, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘Work What Is Good Towards All’. A discussion: ‘What the Bible Reveals About Its Author (Jeremiah 30:2)’.

Thursday 13th April, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: 2 Chronicles 8, 9, ‘She Valued Wisdom’, ‘Prayer Is a Gift From God’, ‘Daily Bible Reading and the Search for Wisdom’, ‘What Does the Bible Say About Singleness and Marriage?’.

Sunday 16th April, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘God Comes First In Family Life’. A discussion: ‘Get More out of Your Bible Reading (Luke 10:26)’.

Thursday 20th April, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: 2 Chronicles 10–12, ‘Benefit From Wise Advice’, ‘How Should Christians View Alcohol?’.

Thursday 27th April, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: 2 Chronicles 13–16, ‘Rely On Jehovah—When?’, ‘Make Time For Prayer’, ‘Decisions That Show Reliance on Jehovah’, ‘Do All Celebrations Please God?’.

Sunday 30th April, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘How Godly Wisdom Benefits Us’. A discussion: ‘Cherish God’s Gift of Life (Acts 17:28)’.

Jehovah is the name of Jesus’s father; to witness is to share the truth. Enjoy a free study of the Bible at your convenience—ring or text 07 802 753 193. At www.jw.org you find the Bible’s answers to life’s questions.

The Baha’i Faith On Prosperity, Wealth and Poverty

There is widespread, uncritical acceptance of the idea that wars, greed and inhumanity to man are inevitable as human beings are incorrigibly selfish and aggressive, the converse being that peace, harmony, and human virtues are pie in the sky!

Baha’is believe that a prosperous civilisation in which all people share IS possible but only when the material and spiritual aspects of life are in tandem. Abdu’l Baha, the son of Baha’u’llah, puts it this way: “Material civilisation is one of the means for the progress of the world of mankind [but until it is] combined with Divine civilisation, the desired result, which is the felicity of mankind, will not be attained… Without the spirit the world of mankind is lifeless.”

The highest standards of social principles are required. To name but three such: we must choose justice as the ruling principle in human affairs; we must achieve universal education; and extremes of wealth and poverty must be abolished. New patterns will emerge - and are emerging- as we embrace these goals.

When a moral dimension is applied to the generation, distribution and utilisation of our wealth and resources, more equitable economic structures will develop and voluntary individual behaviour will surpass that of the few we have now. Playing their part in this are all of us, individuals, communities and institutions. There are fine traditions in UK and every disaster brings out the characteristics that tell us there’s hope for us yet!

Find out much more on www.bahai.org or contact baha’is in your area.

The Atholl Medical Centre

Ferry Road, Pitlochry.

Tel: 01796 472558

Mon - Fri 8.00am - 6.00pm (Doors open at 8.30am)

Except Wednesdays Closed 12.15 - 1.45pm

Out with Surgery Hours NHS 24 - 111

Prescriptions - tay.amcprescriptions@nhs.scot

Pitlochry Community Hospital

Ferry Road, Pitlochry.

Tel: 01796 472052

Pitlochry Post Office

Within Premier Store

63 Atholl Road, Pitlochry. Tel: 01796 474301

Blair Atholl Post Office Tel: 01796 481233

Ballinluig Post Office Tel: 01796 482220

Strathtay Post Office Tel: 01887 840203

Kinloch Rannoch Post Office Tel: 01882 632347

Pitlochry Library

26 Atholl Road, Pitlochry

Tel: 01796 474635

E-mail: pitlochrylibrary@pkc.gov.uk

Visiting Hours:

GP Unit - Contact for further info.

MIIU - Temporarily closed until further notice.

Kinloch Rannoch Medical Practice

The Surgery, Kinloch Rannoch.

Tel: 01882 632216

The Reception is open Mon - Fri 8.00am - 6.00pm

Surgery Hours 9-10.15am, 2-3pm and 4-5pm. For all urgent appointments please phone reception

Out with Surgery Hours NHS 24 - 111

Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri - Closed

Thurs 10.00am - 1.00pm & 2.00pm - 7.00pm Sat 9.30am - 12.30pm

Housing & Community Safety and Registration Services

26 Atholl Road, Pitlochry

Mon, Tues & Fri 8.45am - 12.30pm & 1.30pm - 5.00pm

Appointments arranged out with these days 01738 476000 (select option 2)

Registration of Births,

More Helpful Numbers to Hand

Whilst every care is taken in preparing this magazine to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot be held responsible for loss, damage or omission caused by an error in an advert. Artwork is accepted on the condition that it is legal and copyright free and that the advert is fair and accurate. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of claims made by the advertisers or the views expressed by contributors, nor do the publishers necessarily share such views. We reserve the right to refuse articles and advertisements. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

HOROSCOPES

BY CHRISTINE CHALKLIN

For April 2023

The month of April moves the fiery sign of Aries to the forefront, emphasising the need for decisive action in all areas of life. Never very good at waiting, Aries is impatient and immediate. The line-up of planets in Aries also means that there could be lots of irritation and resentment building up on a grand scale. Major players Pluto and Saturn have now switched signs and both planets suggest that as more and more hidden information comes to the surface there will be a great deal of shock and tension. Globally we will continue to see some very challenging events and upheavals. On some levels the necessary qualities of patience, kindness and compassion are now needed more than ever. The Libra Full moon on the 6th offers the opportunity to see where we might need a more balanced and harmonious viewpoint. Mars, the planet of courage and enterprise, remains in emotional water sign Cancer all month. Venus, the planet of love and romance, is in sensual Taurus until the 11th, we can all use this excellent placement for injecting more passion into new or long-standing relationships. The powerful new moon in Aries on the 20th is an opportunity for enterprise and new beginnings.

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

Your ruler, dynamic Mars, is rather emotional in the watery sign of Cancer and highlights your family and home life this month. Take a deep breath and try to stay calm and patient should any difficulties arise. A financial review could also be in order, preferably before Mercury turns retrograde on the 21st. Communication becomes easer after the 11th.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 21

Venus, your ruler, sheds her bountiful light on your sign until the 10th, take advantage of this positive time by making the most your enhanced feelings of confidence, particularly in the relationship department. Dynamic Mars in Cancer, assists with intuitive communication as you recognise it is time to turn up the pace in many areas of your life.

GEMINI MAY 22 - JUNE 21

Your finances and assets loom large during April as energetic Mars moves through this area of your chart. A reassessment is on the cards as you take stock and review your options. Stern Saturn, newly arrived in Pisces, is at the highest point of your chart, indicating that a career movie is possible as you start to see a much more realistic path ahead.

CANCER JUNE 22 - JULY 22

Your career area is illuminated by the powerful line up of planets in the dynamic sign of Aries. If you have been wanting to make a change now might just be the best time. It’s best to get your plans up and running before Mercury goes into the retrograde phase on the 21st. The Aries new moon on the 20th offers new beginnings and abundant Jupiter shines a helpful light if you trust your intuition.

LEO JULY 23 - AUGUST 23

The powerful line up of planets in fiery Aries shine a spotlight on higher learning and inner growth for you this month. Perfect timing is on offer as you strive to make sense of things that have recently arrived in your life. Beneficial Venus is strong at your career highpoint until the 11th; make the most of favourable opportunities with positive financial rewards.

VIRGO AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 22

Mercury, your ruling planet, arrives in practical Taurus on the 4th, revitalising your mind and bringing clarity on restructuring some financial issues. It’s a good time to capitalise on professional matters as people around you will appear receptive to your plans. Do try to get these plans underway before Mercury enters the retrograde phase on the 21st.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 23

Partnerships and relationships are high on your agenda during April as the Sun, Jupiter and Mercury all illuminate Aries, your opposite sign. Some important and lasting decisions may need to be made, but remember Aries is a volatile sign, so be sure to proceed with caution and have any major changes in place before the Mercury retrograde on the 21st.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22

The Sun, Jupiter and Mercury are highlighting your health and wellbeing sector this month suggesting that some major changes will need to be set in motion. Aries is a powerful fire sign urging you to look at new ways to feel and look your absolute best. The dynamic Aries new moon on the 20th brings breakthroughs and exciting opportunities your way.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 21

Creative new ways of earning your living are important this month. The power of the Aries Sun and Jupiter both push you forward to open your mind, try new things and show you that you can turn dreams into reality, providing that you follow your intuition and your passion. Your love life also looks exciting, especially around the enthusiastic new moon on the 20th.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 20

This is a pivotal month for Capricorns as Pluto has left your sign, for a few months anyway! Mars, in your opposite sign, is challenging you to recognise that all sorts of new and innovative ideas are on the horizon. The Sun and Jupiter in Aries add to this combination and offer you great courage and desire to push forwards in a totally new direction.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 18

Communicating your ideas in a big way is the theme for this month, as bold and courageous Aries energy plays a major part in your future. Harmonious Venus adds the perfect creative boost as she arrives in Gemini on the 11th, enabling some major shifts to take place. The Aries new moon on the 20th offers the potential for a positive breakthrough.

PISCES FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20

Finances are set to improve this month as the combination of the Sun, Jupiter and Mercury in Aries indicate some new insights are coming to the surface. Beneficial Venus remains in practical Taurus until the 10th, best to get any plans well underway by then. The fiery Aries new moon on the 20th could turn out to be pivotal as your creativity reaches a new height.

Christine is a professional astrologer offering private consultations in astrology, life coaching and Bach flower essences.

NAVIGATE YOUR WAY THROUGH these challenging times, discover your unique birth map and take a refreshing new look at this important year ahead. Find out when positive and productive planetary cycles are working in your favour. Aim to reach your fullest potential in 2023 by booking an astrological reading now - Consultations are available on Zoom, WhatsApp or by telephone.

Christine Chalklin

Inspirational Astrologer and Life Coach

Email: christine_chalklin@hotmail.com Website: www.yourguidinglight.org

Mobile: 07813 483549 Find me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/restyleyourlife

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