Pitlochry Life January 2025 by Pitlochry Life

The Pitlochry Tipple

Ewan gives us his choice of tipple for the coming year.

Your Community

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

Setting Your Goals

Grace is back, giving advice on setting and keeping your New Year resolutions.

The Pitlochry Garden

Sheila gives good advice on choosing trees for your garden.

Fitness With Alan Clinch

Alan looks at strengthening your core, to help with... everything!

Willie's Wonky Computer

Willie looks at the rise in popularity of Bluesky as an alternative to X.

Sudoku

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

Top Price For Your home

Some great advice on getting the best price when selling your home.

Recipe

This month we have a fairly simple but tasty recipe for sausage and Gnocchi one-pot.

The Pitlochry Crossword

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

Porch Pirates

Don't let someone steal you delivered parcels from your doorstep.

Welcome to the January edition of Pitlochry Life. We hope you all had a lovely Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

January kicks off with the famous street party on New Years Day - but that’s only the start of another busy month. We have LIVE music at The Atholl Palace, The Coach House and The Old Mill Inn. We have great productions at The Pitlochry Festival Theatre and a new member of their team - Alan Cumming.

This month Ewan has looked at predictions for 2025 in the Pitlochry Tipple. Sheila gives advice on suitable trees for your garden, as we all do our bit to secure the tree population, Willie looks at Bluesky - the fastest growing site for chatter - is it taking over from X? Alan Clinch looks at the CORE in the Fitness Column. Simple movements that give you a strong basis for going on to bigger things. In the recipe this month we have gone hale and hearty with an easy one-pot sausage dish. January is often a time of “looking forwards” and so we have an interesting feature on All Year Round Resolutions. Hopefully you will be able to keep going all year!

With so many hospitality and entertainment venues here in the town why not indulge yourself with breakfast, lunch or even dinner whilst soaking up the atmosphere and taking part in all the great productions and events? There is so much to see and do in Pitlochry it’s tough to fit it all in.

Have a great January and a fantastic 2025!

Dinner is served from 5.45pm - 8.00pm

Dinner is table d'hote and the menu is changed daily to introduce dishes and produce which are at their best on the day, and y ou can view the latest menu on ou r website. Special dietary adjustments can be made wi t h sensible prior notice.

£45.00 for 3 courses I £50.00 for 4 courses

Prices include complimentary s herry or soft drink on ar rival with coffee & homemade shortbread after dinner.

My Predictions for 2025

In 2025, whisky trends in the UK are expected to reflect broader global influences such as exchange rates, trade tariffs and evolving consumer preferences. Here are some of my predictions for the coming year.

Premiumisation and Craft Expansion: Demand for high-quality, rare, and craft whiskies will continue to grow as consumers seek unique drinking experiences. Scotch whisky, known for its heritage and premium offerings, will likely dominate this segment, with independent bottlers continuing to offer exciting variations from the core distilleries.

Sustainability and Innovation: Eco-conscious production practices will become more prominent, with brands focusing on sustainable sourcing, energy-efficient distillation, and recyclable packaging. Innovations like alternative maturation methods and new whisky styles may also emerge but these will not be from Scotland or even the UK. Whisky Tourism and Experiences: Distilleries are investing in visitor experiences, such as tasting events and tours, to engage consumers. This trend supports whisky education and helps brands build loyalty. As consumers want to learn more about whisky and Scotch, education will be key. Dispelling myths and correcting misdirected beliefs will be the job of the industry. I suspect this will come more from the smaller independent retailers/distilleries and bottlers who pride themselves in their handcrafted whiskies rather than looking upon it simply as a commodity.

Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Whisky Beverages: Whiskybased RTDs are gaining popularity, offering a convenient and affordable way for consumers to explore the category. Partnerships with premium mixer brands are driving innovation in this space. Eco credentials and practices will play a huge part in the acceptance of this developing market. I’m also not sure that this category will be accepted by the purists, however with 80% of all whisky being drunk being blends, there is a massive opportunity for brand extension.

Regulatory Changes and Global Influence:

Countries like Japan and Wales are tightening whisky production standards, while others are experimenting with looser regulations. These shifts might inspire new interpretations of whisky in the UK market. Scotland are ‘tied’ by the Scotch Whisky Association into what we can do, which is great news for our Scotch, so I don’t foresee any changes for us other than possibly the addition of new cask types for finishing.

Digital and E-Commerce Growth: Online platforms are making it easier to access and purchase premium whiskies, providing a boost to the market. Virtual tastings and digital whisky education programs are also likely to expand. This is an area that we at Robertsons of Pitlochry are focusing on for 2025. The continued diversification of whisky styles, coupled with a focus on premium experiences, sustainability, and digital innovation, will shape the UK whisky scene in the coming years. A warning to all the major brand owners about pricing. I believe that the ceiling has been broken with regards to pricing. Scotch, particularly in Scotland, due to rules and regulations, has reached a point where consumers will not accept the retail prices. If they continue to push up prices, consumers will stop buying and look for alternatives, of which there are many, from either within the sector or other spirits.

Ewan McIlwraith

Robertsons of Pitlochry 44-46 Atholl Rd, Pitlochry PH16 5BX www.robertsonsofpitlochry.co.uk

Hearing Aid Drop-in Clinic - 7th January

Hearing Aid Drop-in Clinic at Pitlochry Community Hospital.

Do you or someone you know use NHS hearing aids? Do you need new batteries supplied and/ or fitted? Do you need the tubing replaced on either your mould or open fit NHS hearing aids? If yes, then NHS Tayside volunteers will be here to help you on Tuesday 7th January 2025 between 10.00am - 12.00 noon at the Pitlochry Community Hospital.

Blair Atholl & Struan Community Council - 7th January

Looking back over 2024

It’s been a busy year in Blair Atholl, as our community councillors have dealt with routine business - planning issues, road safety matters, complaints - and also worked on three projects, all of which emerged in the 2023 Community Action Plan.

• Blair Atholl station project – the Friends of Blair Atholl station want to recover the empty stationhouse for community use in the future; affordable flats are one possibility being considered. Funding will be sought for a feasibility study to be conducted next.

• A path project – in partnership with Atholl Estates and Blair Atholl & Struan Initiative, the CC has been exploring the idea of an accessible path around the far perimeter of the Memorial Park, allowing for people with wheelchairs, buggies, bikes etc. to be able to access the park. Funding is now being sought and consultation will take place when this is in place.

• An affordable housing project – a housing needs survey was conducted by the Communities Housing Trust on our behalf in September 2024 to assess what is needed going forward. Findings from this are now being analysed.

We look forward to working with the community on this and all other matters. Our next meeting is 7th January at 7.30 in the Armoury at the Village Hall. All are welcome to attend!

Tryst Walking Group - 7th January

Tuesday 7th January: Inver Walk (£2). From the Hermitage Car park near Dunkeld (Grid ref: 012422) the walk is on good paths and takes in the “Pinecone” and “Torryvald” (an old Victorian view point). Height climbed 100m. Distance 7 miles. OS Map 52. Please contact Maureen Holmes on 01796 473153 for further information. Please note: the walk organiser/contact cannot be held responsible for any accident. Everyone walking does so at their own risk and should take due care.

Hearing Aid Drop-in Clinic - 8th January

Aberfeldy & Kinloch Rannoch Medical Practice (Wellbeing Room), Aberfeldy

Do you or someone you know use NHS hearing aids? Do you need new batteries supplied and/or fitted? Do you need the tubing replaced on either your mould or open fit NHS hearing aids? If yes, then NHS Tayside volunteers will be here to help you on Wednesday 8th January 2025 between 10.00am - 12.00 noon at the Aberfeldy & Kinloch Rannoch Medical Practice, (Wellbeing room), Aberfeldy.

Continued on page 16

Dementia Cafe - 8th January

North Church Hall, High Street, Perth

The cafe will be open from 10-12 on Wednesday, the 8th January and all are most welcome to attend whether worried about their memory or bringing in someone with a diagnosis of dementia. It is an opportunity to discuss with professionals or just relax with a cup of tea or coffee. There are also some delicious biscuits and cakes to enjoy.

Usually, the Cafe is open on the 1st Wednesday of the month but as January’s cafe falls on New Year’s Day, a holiday, our next cafe will be held on the 8th.

We look forward to welcoming not only our regular visitors but some new faces too!

Mindfulness Evening - 8th January

Mindfulness Evenings, Pitlochry. You are welcome to join our informal group sharing time for relaxation through meditation, a cuppa and a laugh. We meet in the vestry behind the Episcopal Church, Atholl Road, on the first Wednesday of the month at 7pm.

Next dates: 8th January, 5th February, 5th March.

Pitlochry & Moulin History Society - 11th, 13th and 27th January

The Society has a bumper range of activities in January. First up on Saturday 11th January at 2.30 in Pitlochry Tryst Lounge is the re-arranged talk by Viv Cree and Sandra Cairncross on "Life,work and death on the Highland Railway". The coming of the Highland Railway brought changes in who lived and worked along the route. This talk looks at Blair Atholl station and those associated with it. This is the rearranged talk from December cancelled because of Storm Bert.

Next up is the Society Festive Supper on 13th January in the Moulin Hotel at 7 for 7.30, at an inflation free £30 for 3 courses with mulled wine on arrival. If you have not already booked, contact Alan Crombie on alan.crombie@gmail.com by 5th January for booking details.

We round off the month on Saturday 27th January with our scheduled talk on "Mackinlay's Scotch Whisky on Shackleton's 1907 Expedition" by Nial Mackinlay. Ernest Shackleton took 25 cases of Mackinlay's malt whisky on the 1907 Antarctic Expedition, 100 years later 3 cases were discovered in an icy tomb at the expedition hut at Cape Royds. To find out more, the talk is at 2.30 in the Pitlochry Tryst Lounge. Entry for all talks is £3 and all are welcome.

Litter Action Group - 14th January

The tourist season has almost finished but there are still some visitors about. It would be nice for residents and visitors if the town is really clean for the festive period 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 14th January Dates for litterpicks in 2025 are: February 11th, March 11th, April 8th, May 13th, June 10th, July 8th, August 12th, September 9th, October 14th, November 11th, December 9th.

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We would like to thank those residents of Pitlochry who are not members of the litter picking 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

Mid Atholl & Strathtay SWI - 15th January

The first meeting of 2025 to be held in Grandtully Hall on January 15th at 1.30pm. We are having a Scottish Afternoon with music from Peter and Drew.

Competitions Leek and Potato Soup and a Scottish Themed Corsage/Buttonhole.

Pitlochry & District u3a - 15th January

The next whole-group meeting of Pitlochry & District u3a will be our Winter Blues Lunch on Wednesday 15th January. Our regular meetings with speakers will recommence in February.

The u3a primarily brings together people, who have finished working full-time or raising their family, to develop interests and to continue learning in informal and supportive environments. The focus is on sharing and learning from each other. In addition to our whole group talks we also offer interest groups which are led by one of our members - the emphasis is on learning from each other and having fun while doing so.

In between whole-group meetings, members take part in specialist interest groups. For further information please visit our website https://pitlochry.u3asite.uk or contact our secretary on smcairnx@hotmail.com with any queries.

Pitlochry Town & Country Club - 16th January

The first meeting of the new year is on Thursday 16th January 2025 when we look forward to being entertained by Drew Scott singing Songs of Scotland.

The meetings are held in Aldour Hall from 2pm till 4pm with tea & some traditional fare.

The Community Bus will be available for those who need transport if you contact me at least the day before the meeting on Pitlochry 01796 472765. Thank you, Kathleen Scott.

Pitlochry & District Climate Café - 16th January

Happy New Year and best wishes for 2025 from the Pitlochry & District Climate café

Here are suggestions for a few sustainable New Year resolutions for 2025 – Conserve water by shortening showers and installing water efficient taps and appliances. Eliminate single use plastics by using a reusable water bottle, cup and utensils instead. Grow our own food or join a garden share group and eat less meat. Choosing to buy food and items locally helps to reduce our carbon footprint.

Dates for Climate Cafés in 2025. They normally take place on the second Thursday of the month, 7pm unless otherwise stated. Therefore, the next one is Thursday 16th January, then Thursday 13th Feb, Thursday 13th March, Thursday 10th April, Thursday, 15th May and Thursday 12th June. Venue is the Pitlochry Library, 26 Atholl Road, PH16 5BX. For more information please contact: Carol Aitken pitlochrydistrictcc@gmail.com

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The Big Land Question has been launched by the Revive Coalition of social, environmental and animal welfare organisations. Searching for The Big Land Question - Revive takes you to a video by David Hayman with the chance to give your views on land holdings (425 people own half of Scotland), land tax, carbon land tax, who can own land, management plans including animals etc. https://revive.scot/

Cloichard Depot, Sprout, a community eco & social organisation in collaboration/partnership with Pitlochry & Moulin Men’s Shed, The HEAT Project, Tayside Woodland Partnership along with support from our local Climate Café and Repair Café, is applying to PKC to become the new owners of Cloichard Depot and create a place where people can learn how to live more sustainably. Its main purpose would be as a Reuse/Repair/Repurpose project and if this is of interest to you, we would really appreciate your comments by completing our online community survey. https://bit.ly/4fjwboI

The Breadalbane Heritage Society - 17th January

The Breadalbane Heritage Society continues its regular autumn and winter programme on Friday 17th January at 7.30pm. Stefan Sagrott, the Senior Cultural Resources Officer responsible for Historic Environment Scotland's Dumfries and Galloway properties, will present an illustrated talk on the abbeys and castles in the Galloway area. Please note that this talk and the one in February will be presented on Zoom. For details of the Zoom talks contact Ian Stewart at bhsaberfeldy@gmail.com

The BHS’s website https://breadalbane-heritage.org.uk features a video of local scenes of interest, and provides up-to-date information about talks and activities, events and publications. Ongoing Society projects include the maintenance of the Killiehassie private burial ground in Strathtay, and the recent publication, in association with the Aberfeldy Museum Group, of an illustrated leaflet, The Aberfeldy and Weem Heritage Trail, with a trail map and information on the many places of interest in the area. QR codes with information at each of these sites are currently being installed. The BHS also provides a free service of assistance with family history research. Recordings of all the recent talks are available on the website.

Rannoch History Society - 18th January

Rannoch History Society starts the new year with a very unusual and interesting topic, the story of the launch of the district nursing service in Rannoch in 1909, nearly fifty years before the creation of the National Health Service. The records, which have been listed in the newly-created Rannoch Archive, allow us glimpses of the Rannoch and Tummel of yesteryear – and there is no-one better suited to introduce us to them than Fiona Findlay, district nurse in Rannoch and Tummel from 1981 to 2008. Fiona will give an illustrated talk entitled ‘Bicycles, Boundaries, Babies and Bandages’. The meeting will take place in Kinloch Rannoch Village Hall on Saturday 18th January 2025 at 2.30pm. Parking is straightforward, and light refreshments will be served at the close of the meeting. All are warmly welcome. Admission for non-members will be £5.

Heartland Film Society at The Birks - 19th January

Heartland Film Society at the Birks Cinema Aberfeldy 6.30pm Sunday, 19th January 2025

Kneecap

Of the 80,000 native Irish speakers, 6,000 live in the North of Ireland and three of them became a rap group called Kneecap. This is the real-life story of how this anarchic Belfast trio

Continued on page 22

became the unlikely figureheads of a civil rights movement to save and reinvigorate their mother tongue.

The combination of the profane and the political, the riotous humour and punchy editing makes for one of the more energising viewing experiences of the year, and possibly one of the funniest. The Guardian

To find out more about The Heartland Film Society, what’s on and how to become a member please visit www.heartlandfilmsociety.org.uk For details of The Birks Cinema and its growing programme of cultural and community events and activities (including films) go to www.birkscinema.co.uk

Killiecrankie, Fincastle & Tummel CC - 20th January

Killiecrankie Fincastle & Tummel Community Council will hold the first meeting of the year in Killiecrankie Village Hall at 7pm on Monday, 20th January 2025. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting and the last ordinary meeting are on the website: www.killiecrankievillagehall.co.uk/community-council

If you prefer to have Minutes and news sent directly to you, then please join our mailing list. Just email info@kftcommunitycouncil.co.uk and we will add your name. Updates on projects that can cause considerable disruption are sent when necessary.

Scottish Wildlife Trust - 20th January

Battling for bats!

Ranging from the tiny pipistrelle weighing about the same as a 2p coin to the noctule, which comes in at a ‘hefty’ four £1 coins, we have 18 different species of bat in Britain -but of those only half are hardy enough to survive in Scotland.

The only true flying mammals, bats are warm-blooded, give birth and suckle young, and are long-lived intelligent creatures with interesting social lives!

Sadly this incredible animal has seen significant decline in Scotland and beyond, with loss of habitat, building and road development, cat attacks and even fly paper among the threats they face.

But there are people dedicated to protecting this remarkable species, including the amazing Jean Oudney. Jean not only teaches biology to neurodiverse children part time, she is also owner of her own bat ecology business AND a beaver tour guide for Perthshire Wildlife!

A committee member of Tayside Bat Group since 2015, Jean now carries out and oversees commercial bat surveys. After training for her roost licence she also trains ‘bat carers’ and holds education bats under licence which she uses for training purpose and outdoor education talks. You can get an insight into her work - and find out how she first became involved in bat rescue and protection - at the next talk hosted by the Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire branch of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Date: Monday 20th January 2025, Time: 7.30pm - 8.30pm

Place: The Tryst, Church of Scotland, Church Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5EB. Suggested donation: £3 for non-members, £2 for members (you can donate in person on the day). Contact markandrosie@btinternet.com for more information. Sign up to hear about events and find out more about activities on the numerous reserves in our area and beyond. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/sign-up-to-our-mailing-list

WINTER WORDS

FESTIVAL 2025

21-23 FEBRUARY

Val McDermid, Douglas Stuart, Andrew O’Hagan, Liz Lochhead and Kirsty Wark are to feature in exciting lineup for Winter Words Festival 2025 at Pitlochry Festival Theatre

Running from 21 to 23 February and curated by new Artistic Director Alan Cumming, Winter Words Festival 2025 features authors, poets, broadcasters and chefs from around Scotland for a celebration of the country’s rich artistic, literary, and cultural life. The programme of authors includes Booker Prize winner Douglas Stuart, celebrated crime writer Val McDermid, Mayflies and Caledonian Road author Andrew O’Hagan and broadcaster and journalist Kirsty Wark, who will all be in conversation about their work with Alan Cumming, whose own career is the subject of a Q&A on the opening morning of the Festival. Conversations with the former Scots Makar Liz Lochhead, in conversation with Andrew O’Hagan, as well as the current Edinburgh Makar Michael Pedersen; Scottish Indian writer, musician, and academic Arun Sood; Scotland’s Geographer Royal Jo Sharp; author James Jauncey in conversation with First Minister of Scotland John Swinney; and broadcaster and author, the Highland Hutter Peter MacQueen also feature as well as Fierce Salvage: Contemporary Scottish Publishing, with the award-winning independent publishing house 404 Ink and author Titilayo Farukuoye chaired by Heather Parry.

For food lovers, there are opportunities to enjoy a literary lunch with cuisine writer, restaurateur and food ambassador Carina Contini, MasterChef 2022 finalist and food writer Sarah Rankin and chef, author, and Café Canna owner Gareth Cole. Writer, broadcaster and Food Tourism Ambassador Ghillie Bașan will talk about food, whisky and life accompanied by whisky tastings.

For an energetic start to each day, there is the opportunity to join Finlay Wilson, the author of Kilted Yoga, for a morning yoga session, or to join the runner and author Chris Carse Wilson on a 5km run with readings from his book Fray.

For theatre lovers, there is a rehearsed reading and a performance from our Associate Company, the Borders-based Firebrand Theatre; A Room of One’s Own, dramatised by the company from the writings of Virginia Woolf and performed by Ellie Zeegen. The rehearsed reading The Race to 1984 by Richard Baron celebrates author George Orwell’s momentous novel, the women in his life, and the battle to complete his masterpiece in a Scottish hospital.

For tickets and further information call the Box Office team on 01796 484626 or visit Winter Words Festival 2025

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

All Year-Round Resolutions :

Can

you make achieving your wildest dreams possible by setting goals throughout the year?

New Year’s Eve is the one day a year when people from all over the world set resolutions, something they want to achieve in the year to come. But, let’s be honest, how many people actually achieve all of their resolutions every year? Instead, setting reasonable-sized goals each month can give your longterm resolutions more potential to become a reality.

Goal Setting

Goals can be defined as ideas for the future or the first steps towards desired results. New Year’s Resolutions are a common way of setting goals and can be a good way to set your priorities straight and gain a sense of purpose in your life. However, they are often massive, and in reality, unachievable. Instead of setting a target for the year in general, breaking down resolutions into smaller, monthly goals as a success stepping stone can help you maintain your original motivation and focus all year round. This way, it is more likely for the habit of your resolution to stick in your schedule and make you feel more fulfilled and determined to complete more and more of your goals as time goes on.

Goals can range from simple, instantly achievable goals to larger goals that might take all month to achieve. Setting goals you can complete every morning, like reading for ten minutes or making your bed, can set your day off to a productive start and motivate you for the rest of the day. Even making a to-do list is a form of goal setting by thinking through your day and setting tasks to complete. Crossing off the list leaves you feeling satisfied and proud.

At the start of each month in 2025, re-evaluate your goals and take a moment to feel proud about your achievements. Then, set a couple more to replace them and start achieving all over again.

Process Goals

Types of Goal Setting

Process goals are short-term, specific milestones which take action towards success. For example, studying for 2 hours every night, or watering your plants every day. Both of these are small steps towards a main, end goal like getting an A on an exam or growing the garden you have always wanted. Process goals are easily controllable and entirely down to the individual.

Outcome Goals

New Years Resolutions are mainly outcome goals, which are longterm and based on the success or end point of the goal. For example, earning that promotion or winning a medal in sport. Without process goals, these are very hard to achieve, as they are reliant on other surrounding factors and influences and so are very difficult to control.

To maximise your chances of achieving your resolutions, it’s important to break down vague outcome goals into distinct process goals. In itself, just thinking about the steps you will have to take to succeed can inspire you to get started.

Set ‘SMART’ Goals

The acronym SMART is a handy way to remember the basics of goal setting, and to make sure your goal is possible to achieve. The goals you set should be specific with clear details on how to achieve them. This can make your goals more effective and successful.

Specific

The goals you set should be specific with clear details on how to achieve them. This can make your goals more effective and successful.

Measurable

Setting a deadline, amount or duration makes your goal measurable. This means you should know exactly when you succeed, for example competing a thirty-minute run or working until you have finished your project.

Achievable

Make sure your goal is possible to achieve in the timeframe you set. It’s important to set goals that challenge you slightly but are not unreasonable or impossible to achieve.

Relevant

Set goals that relate to your ambitions or values. This can make them more motivating because they contribute to larger purposes in your life.

Time-Bound

Goals should have a start and end date or a deadline for completion. This means you have a clear timeframe to work on your goals and are more likely to be successful.

So this year, as well as setting New Year resolutions, think about the steps you have to take to achieve them. Maybe next year can be the year where all of your resolutions become a reality…

Grace Conisbee

Inner Wheel Club of Pitlochry - 23rd January

We are looking forward to welcoming Helen Kirkwood to our meeting on Thursday 23rd January and finding out more about the work of the Atholl Centre. Members will also be marking Inner Wheel Day on 10th January by coming together for a potluck lunch and collecting donations for the local Food Bank.

Another of our quizzes will be taking place on Saturday 1st March

Inner Wheel is an international women's organisation with an emphasis on service with friendship and international understanding. We use our skills to raise money and support communities locally, nationally and internationally. We achieve this through monthly supper meetings with informative and entertaining speakers, social gatherings and community service.

If you would like to know about Inner Wheel then please email innerwheelpitlochry@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook Page www.facebook.com/InnerWheelPitlochry

Tryst Walking Group - 25th January

Saturday 25th January: Millpond Circular (£1). This walk starts on the B898 on the west bank of the River Tay, near Kinnaird House (Grid ref: 982497). The route follows a good track all the way, initially giving open views of the Tay Valley. Millpond is a lovely tranquil spot, which feels remote. From Millpond we will return by same route to avoid having to walk along the B road. Height climbed 150m. Distance 4.5 miles. OS Map 52. Please contact Maureen Holmes on 01796 473153 for further information. Please note: the walk organiser/contact cannot be held responsible for any accident. Everyone walking does so at their own risk and should take due care.

Killiecrankie Village Hall Burns Supper - 25th January

Killiecrankie Village Hall is hosting its 'world famous' Burns Supper on Saturday, 25th January 2025. Ticket price is unchanged at £20 per person. Numbers are strictly limited. For details email info@killiecrankievillagehall.co.uk or phone/text 07517 065397.

As always, the Hall welcomes enquiries for any event - large or small. See the website www.killiecrankievillagehall.co.uk for details.

Pitlochry Community Action Trust - 29th January

Happy New Year!

Preparations are well under way here at PCAT ahead of our AGM on Wednesday, January 29th at 7pm in Pitlochry Town Hall, when we’ll be looking back at what we’ve been doing over the last 12 months and looking ahead to the coming year. Everyone is welcome to come along - we’ll try to keep the formalities brief and there will be an opportunity to chat to the Trustees over refreshments. You can also become a member of PCAT at the AGM - membership is free and helps to progress the aspirations identified in the community action plan for the area.

We’re also continuing to work on ensuring that PCAT has all the policies and procedures it needs to have in place to best serve the interests of our community, and to support Pitlochry Town Hall Group in its ongoing efforts looking into the feasibility of a potential community asset transfer of the building.

The Pitlochry Garden January

There are a lot of trees in the world but in some places they are being cut down faster and faster. Along with plastic in the oceans and air pollution, deforestation is only making things worse. If you are going to plant a tree in your garden as part of your response to climate change then here is some help to find a good one.

There is no point putting in a forest tree unless you have acres, so large oaks, beech trees and field maples are not for the back garden. The longest boundary in your garden will be a guide to the suitable size of the tree.

If the longest side is about 25 to 30 feet then choose a small tree like a multi-stem birch or a large Japanese maple like Acer palmatum atropurpureum or A Osakazuki, all of which grow to about 15 feet. Slightly taller at about 20 feet is Amelanchier Ballerina – a good year round choice. Fruit trees are excellent choices because the rootstock determines the height.

A medium garden has a boundary between 40 and 50 feet long. Cercidiphyllum japonicum is a beautiful specimen tree; its leaves turn butter yellow in the autumn and smell of burnt sugar.

Another good specimen tree is a multi-stemmed Betula jacquemontii with snow white bark; being multi-stemmed limits growth to about 35 feet. You could also choose any hawthorn or rowan or small holly like Ilex J C van Tohl which is self-fertile.

In a large garden with a 100 foot long boundary you can plant a big tree but place it sympathetically if

your neighbours also enjoy the view.

A copper beech or a pin oak (Quercus palustris) will suit that scale but never forget how wide they are. A tree is permanent and should be given the right amount of space to grow into. Imagine it in ten years and don’t plant it where it will block the driveway or overhang the house or push the wall over.

Conifers terrify people but some very graceful ones should be considered for their structure and year-round presence. An elegant small conifer, especially for a courtyard, is Cedrus Atlantica Glauca Pendula which makes a silver blue arch about 10 feet high.

For medium gardens try a Cryptomeria Japonica Elegans - a golden pillar to about 26 feet, or Abies Koreana, with tiers of dark green branches, decorated with big purple cones. In a large garden Picea Breweriana will slowly make 50 foot as will Pinus Wallichiana.

A six to eight foot tree in a 10 litre pot is a good size. Bare root deciduous trees can be planted in frost-free conditions up to bud break. Container trees are best planted in mid-spring. Trees need well-drained soil, good light and shelter from cold wind. Stake single-stemmed trees to windward and don’t let them dry out for the first two or three summers.

Sheila Drummond

The last few weeks of 2024 saw us attend a dedicated ‘Meet the Funder’ event in Perth hosted by Perth and Kinross Council, which was an interesting and informative session, and the ‘Keeping Warm Fair’ at the Town Hall hosted by our local MP, Dave Doogan, who has partnered with key organisations across the region to deliver support and advice to people throughout the winter.

PCAT is a charitable development trust dedicated to working with and inspiring the community of Pitlochry and Moulin. Everything we do is informed by the aspirations set out in the community action plan for the area, which you can read online at www.pitlochryaction.org.uk/community-action-plan

Find out more about PCAT – including how to become a member and support the work of the Trust - on our website www.pitlochryaction.org.uk or by following ‘Pitlochry Community Action Trust – PCAT’ on Facebook.

And please join us at our AGM!

Pitlochry Repair Cafe - 2nd February

Pitlochry Repair Cafe is taking a break in January and will return on Sunday 2 February from 123pm at Moulin Hall.

Bring your items for repair - textiles, bikes, electronics, appliances, woodwork, furniture, toys and more! Enjoy hot drinks, homemade baking and soup while you wait. Repairs and refreshments are all free and donations are welcome. Kids and dogs are welcome too! Please don't bring a car unless you have to. Happy Festive Season and thanks to everyone who has supported our project in 2024! Here's to another year of fixing, learning and smiling!

Email: repaircafe@sprout-community-eco-hub.com or on Facebook / Instagram @ PitlochryRepairCafe

Dave Doogan MP - Angus and Perthshire Glens - SNP

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Core Exercises to Improve… Everything

It’s not uncommon to hear people talking about developing core strength, but why is it important? Core strength helps to encourage body stability and mobility, so the target is to develop the core and spinal muscles, and then progress to movement.

This article looks at some basic exercises concentrating on stability. If you can, start with a target of 20 seconds for each exercise (bear in mind that this is likely to be quite difficult, so less is fine). Over a period of weeks, aim to slowly increase this. Don’t try too hard initially – one set will do, but look to build up to 30 seconds and two sets.

The hip bridge - lie on the back, place feet hipdistance apart. Keep arms by the sides with palms facing the floor. Lift the hips upward to feel the contraction into the hamstrings (back of your thighs), gluteals (bottom) and lower back. Hold as suggested above and slowly release back to the floor. To make it harder, try lifting a foot off the floor.

Activate and brace the core (it’s important to ensure that the spine doesn’t arch). Lie on your back and

bend the knees 90°. While keeping one knee high, lower the other leg to tap the floor. Alternate the leg movements while concentrating on keeping the core stable and the back flat to the floor.

Core Bracing: This helps to stabilise your trunk during all of the exercises. Stand tall, feet hipdistance apart, arms by the sides with palms facing forward. Contract the abdominal muscles for 10 seconds, but continue to breathe deeply. Get used to how this feels before you try the exercises. Progress this by bracing the core and slowly lifting one leg at a time to 90° in front of the body. Try to only move the hip joint, and not the torso. The slower the movement, the more effective the exercise. Start on all-fours, hands shoulder-width apart and knees hip-distance apart. Brace the core (see above) and extend the right leg behind you, foot level with the hip. Next, extend the left arm forward with the thumb facing upward, hand level with the shoulder. Hold, and repeat on the opposite side (times as suggested above).

The plank - the position can be as in the picture left (like a press up but held stationary), hands in

the position indicated or in fists (better for the wrists). It can also be done as in the picture right with the elbows on the floor and the forearms out in front. Resist the temptation to look up – the spine should be in line.

Usually referred to as a side plank - this is a quite difficult exercise, so should only be tried when you’re quite proficient at all of the others. Lie on the right side and place the right forearm on the floor. Bend the right knee to 90° and lift the hips off the ground. Reach the left arm above the shoulder, with the palm facing forward. Hold and repeat on the other side.

Finally, and as always, if you don’t normally exercise, 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. If you’re unsure of any of the suggestions above, get some advice from a qualified gym instructor or personal trainer.

Willie’s Wonky Computer Factory

Bluesky

Bluesky is an alternative to X (Twitter). It’s not new as it's been around since 2021. You’ve probably just never heard of it.

It is however taking the (western) world by storm just now, thanks to the election of Trump and his association with Elon Musk, the owner of X, as people look to move away from them. It certainly is catching on, with over a million new users every day.

Bluesky functions in much the same way as X, but it has some unique, exclusive features such as starter packs, domain-based user names, custom algorithmic feeds and community-driven moderation lists that let you block or mute accounts en masse. It does have a safer feel than X, which lives up to its name and is pretty X-Rated with a reluctance (apparently) to act quickly on complaints.

Anyone over the age of 13 can join Bluesky (as long as it's legal in your country). To sign up, visit the www.bsky.app from a browser or install the app on your phone or tablet from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

To create an account, just hit the "Sign up" button on the website or the "Create account" button in the app. First up, you will need to select your "hosting provider" (Bluesky Social is the only option currently available) and provide your email address, password and birthdate.

Next you'll need to pick your Bluesky account name (handle), which must be at least three characters and use only letters, numbers and hyphens. If you have your own website, you can use your domain as your handle. Unfortunately, Bluesky won't tell you that your chosen handle is already taken until you hit the "Next" button.

Once you've got your account name, you need to complete a captcha to prove you're human and then you'll be given the option of uploading a profile photo or creating an avatar from one of 20 emojis, plus one of six colours as the background.

Next, you can select topics of interest from a set of 22 subjects including Art, Movies, Sports

or Tech, which will help inform your "Discover" feed.

The whole process only takes a few minutes and you are then free to explore the skies of blue as you choose.

When you start using Bluesky, your main "Following" feed will consist only of the official Bluesky account, and your "Discover" feed (similar to the "For You" feed on X) will consist of posts related to any of the interests you selected during the setup process.

There are countless methods for finding good accounts to follow on Bluesky. You can scroll through your Discover feed to see if any of the accounts are posting content that you enjoy, then follow them directly. Scan the top 500 most popular Bluesky accounts to see if any fit your bill, or search directly for specific people like friends or celebrities on the service.

Once you've decided who to follow, see if any of them provide Bluesky starter packs. These are a unique feature to Bluesky and can include recommended accounts and custom feeds to follow. You can follow those accounts one by one or, if the whole group looks good to you, click the "Follow all" button to add them all to your "Following" feed.

If a favourite account doesn't offer a starter pack, you can just take a look at the accounts they are following and follow the ones you like from that list.

Custom feeds are one of the coolest features

of Bluesky, and there are currently more than 50,000 of them live on the service. Consider custom feeds like social media algorithms of your own choosing or design - instead of X's black-box algorithm, you'll know exactly why you're seeing the posts you're seeing.

Subscribe to the Popular With Friends feed, which will show you favourite content from the accounts you follow. My Bangers will display your most popular posts sorted by number of likes. You can follow affinity group feeds as well, such as Blacksky or BookSky.

On Bluesky, you can block and mute accounts just like on X, but the full moderation features are far more robust. The most obvious difference being the blocking feature, which on Bluesky is often called the "nuclear block."

On X, blocking an account no longer prevents it from seeing your posts, and if that account added you to a list for harassment purposes, you'll remain on it. On Bluesky, blocking an account not only prevents it from viewing your profile or posts, but also removes any and all interactions that account previously had with you and automatically removes you from any of its lists. You won't be searchable at all to the blocked account.

The mute features on Bluesky also add a bit more. You can mute accounts and specific words, just like on X, but you can also mute entire hashtags.

Bluesky users can report any post or any account for violating the site's terms of service or community guidelines. Bluesky claims that every report will be reviewed by the site's Trust

and Safety team.

A unique feature to Bluesky is ‘curated moderation’ lists which can be shared with other accounts. Bluesky users can review these lists to decide which accounts to block one by one, or can mute or block entire lists of accounts with a single click.

Bluesky's moderation settings are set to exclude adult content by default, which can be changed by sliding the setting from Disabled to Enabled. You can also decide whether you want Bluesky to Show, Warn or Hide specific types of media: explicit sexual content, sexually suggestive content, disturbing graphic content and nudity.

Once accustomed, you can start postingpictures of your dogs, all about your hobbies, or whatever matters to you right now. You will always have something interesting to share.

Open the new post window, you will need to decide your interaction settings, which by default, are set to "Anybody can interact" but you can restrict replies to followed users or mentioned users, or allow no one to reply at all. You can also decide whether or not you want other accounts to "quote post" you, or repost your content with added commentary. You can also remove quoted posts.

Livening up Bluesky posts are still a little limited. You get a 300-character limit for each post and can add up to four photos in each one, or one video up to 50MB. Once you add a photo or video to a Bluesky spot, you'll have the option of adding a label for adult or sensitive materials.

Bluesky does support animated GIFs, but only through an integrated use of the service Giphy. If you want to post your own homemade GIFs, you will have to wait.

Once you've composed and are ready to share with the rest of the Bluesky community, or to whoever your privacy settings allow, just click the blue "Post" button in the top-right corner of the web or mobile app, and swooshyou're online with the fastest upcoming social network.

their constituents, quietly and without fanfare in the background. This is the real work of local representation which most elected members take very seriously. When we talk about public service, the private and silent duty of constituent casework is the epitome of this concept.

A journalist once said to me: “It must be terrible to work in a job where everybody hates you.” My reply was sincere. I advised them that I was no doubt a hate figure for some, but only for those who are burdened by a hate-filled frustration for most things.

In reality, elected members enjoy courtesy and good cheer from our constituents who are pleased at our desire to help, and the rigour with which we take up their case. It’s a difficult job with long random hours and long periods away from family and friends. But this politician loves every single minute of it and I’m forever grateful for my constituents’ trust in me.

John Swinney MSP - Perthshire North - SNP

As we step into 2025, I hope everyone had a joyful and restful Christmas and New Year. The festive season is a time for family, reflection and hope, and I trust it brought moments of peace and happiness to you and your loved ones.

The New Year always feels like a fresh start—a chance to look ahead to new opportunities and challenges. For Scotland, 2025 promises to be a year of progress and ambition. As First Minister, I am excited about the work ahead to deliver for our communities, tackle the big issues of our time and ensure Scotland continues to thrive.

But while my role at the national level brings great responsibilities, my commitment to Perthshire North remains unwavering. Representing this constituency is a privilege and an honour, and I remain deeply proud to serve the people of Highland Perthshire.

This year, I will continue to be a visible and active presence across the constituency. Whether it’s attending local events, meeting with community groups or visiting schools, businesses and charities, I am dedicated to staying connected to the issues that matter most to you.

I’ll also hold regular surgeries throughout the year, providing opportunities for you to speak with me directly about any concerns or ideas you wish to share. These sessions are vital for ensuring that I, and my team, can support you with any challenges you face and act on your behalf effectively.

Highland Perthshire is a truly unique and special place, rich in history, natural beauty and community spirit. In 2025, I will continue to champion our local interests, ensuring that voices from our area are heard loud and clear in Holyrood.

Looking ahead, I am filled with optimism for the year to come. Whether it’s addressing local needs, strengthening public services or working to unlock Scotland’s full potential, my focus is on delivering real and lasting benefits for the people I represent.

Here’s to a successful and inspiring year for us all. Thank you for your continued support and, should you require assistance with any issue, please contact me via john.swinney.msp@ parliament.scot or 01250 876 576

Murdo Fraser MSP - Mid Scotland & Fife - Conservative

I hope all Pitlochry Life readers had a good Christmas and were able to spend valuable time with family and friends.

I enjoyed being off during the festive season but it was also good to come back to Holyrood feeling recharged after the break. It has been a busy time dealing with

Free support for small businesses, social enterprises and the selfemployed in rural Perth & Kinross

1-1 advice ~ online learning ~ business mentoring ~ networking events ~ sustainability support ~ and more

constituents’ queries, promoting the Party’s Save Scotland’s Pubs campaign and serving on the Economy and Fair Work Committee.

Locally, we recently saw the introduction of the Pavement Parking ban by Perth and Kinross Council, which will come into force on January 6th. The initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance pedestrian safety and prevent damage to pavements.

The move is part of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 which prohibits pavement parking, double parking, and parking across dropped kerbs. This new law aims to improve the safety of pedestrians, particularly those with mobility issues, visual impairments, and parents or carers with pushchairs.

Transport chiefs feel that pavements are not designed to bear the weight of vehicles, and persistent parking can cause significant damage. Local authorities now have the power to enforce this law and issue fines through Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) of £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.

It is too early to give a definite view on this move but I have already had some constituents who have raised concerns about it. Time will tell.

Work has begun on the £1.25 million improvement works at Garry Viaduct over the River Garry, between Blair Atholl and Calvine. This aims to ‘future proof’ the 161-year-old structure on the Highland Main Line for decades to come.

The four-month programme is scheduled to run until April 2025, and, as a result, will see a full overnight road closure in place on the B847 for seven-weeks, with the main diversion route via Tummel Bridge.

The road closure will take place between 11 January and 28 February 2025, with the road closed between 10pm until 6am between Sunday and Thursday.

Meanwhile, I was delighted to hear that Dun Coillich Community Land was named overall Community Woodland Winner and recipient of the prestigious Tim Stead trophy at this year’s Scotland’s Finest Woods awards. The awards ceremony also saw Dun Coillich take home the Large Community Woodland Award.

Finally, I would like to wish all Pitlochry Life readers all the best for 2025.

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.

Pitlochry and District Neighbourhood Watch

Scammers are always on the lookout for ways to make their scams more convincing and effective. Around a dozen major types of scams are circulating at the moment as summarised below.

1. Amazon Scams --- Calls saying that there are issues with your Prime subscription or account.

2. Prize draw scams --- Emails or adverts that mimic big brands promising prizes if you enter your details in a survey.

3. Bank scams --- Pretending to be your bank and attempting to obtain your bank details or transfer money.

4. Cost of living scams --- E-mails, texts and calls related to cost of living support payments or bill rebates.

Continued on page 46

We’re hiring at Blair Castle

Join our fantastic team for the 2025 season.

We are looking for friendly and enthusiastic individuals to join us for the 2025 season. We have opportunities to suit everyone in guiding, catering, retail, reception, caretaking and housekeeping. Here are some of the great beneﬁts we o er:

- A great pension scheme, Living Wage salary, sociable working hours and sta social events

- Sta discount in our restaurant and shop, plus free entry to Blair Castle and selected Atholl Estate events

- Unlimited access to ASVA cards, allowing you access to hundreds of visitor attractions across Scotland

- Overtime available in di erent departments and during events

- Free lunch provided during your shift

Meet the team at one of our open days, or ﬁnd out more online.

Saturday 25th January 2025 at 10am - 1pm

Wednesday 29th January 2025 at 5pm - 7pm

5. Remote access scams --- Calls requesting access to your computer to fix a problem or asking you to download software.

6. Investment scams --- Adverts or e-mails which offer amazing investment opportunities or quick and easy loans.

7. HMRC Scams --- These pretend to offer Government grants, tax refunds, or threaten that your NI number will be suspended.

8. Online shopping scams --- These lead to websites offering non-existent cheap or luxury products.

9. Broadband scams --- Purportedly from your Broadband provider or Phone Company, trying to obtain your account details.

10. Family Scams --- Messages beginning with “Hello Mum/Dad” from someone posing as a family member asking for an urgent money transfer.

11. Delivery scams --- Pretending to be delivery companies asking you to click on a link to rearrange a missed delivery or pay a fee.

12. Energy grant scams --- Cold calls and adverts giving misleading information about grants or funding for boilers or insulation.

If you find yourself on the receiving end of any of the above, please do not engage with the caller/sender and above all, never give out any personal or financial information such as name & address, NI No., date of birth, account or card numbers and do not allow access to your computer or click on any suggested links.

Pitlochry Rotary Club

Unbelievably, another year bit the dust! We took a short break towards the end of December and beginning January, so our batteries are recharged and we're ready for the new year. We hope that you had a relaxing festive season with family and friends also and wish you the very best for a fantastic 2025!

Happy New Year To All Winter Coat rail 2025

Atholl Centre Pitlochry

Office hours

Atholl Centre Office open hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday – Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm. Wednesdays 10.00am – 1.00pm

Its that chilly time of year again. Please bring along any coats that you no longer wear, and donate to our Coat rail. If you’re needing a warm coat, please come to receive one completely free. We already have several coats in, they must all find new homes! See office open hours above.

Food Bank Perth & Kinross Referrals only. Please ask if you need some help to cope with the increased cost of living, or applying for your referral.

NB: Emergency contact number: 07443 738240

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. Continued

30 Fonab Crescent, Pitlochry

Are you planning to sell your property in Highland Perthshire? Who better to market it for you than agents who live and work in Highland Perthshire.

Rose Cottage, Aberfeldy

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Volunteers Welcome

Please come and introduce yourself to us, if you would be interested in becoming a Volunteer worker in the Food Bank or doing the work of the Atholl Centre. We host holiday retreats, Church retreats, disabled holidays, & Community meetings throughout the year. Call in to the office, or call 01796 473044

Changing Places Toilet

Fully equipped Restroom facility for the disabled.

Please note office open hours, or call to book in advance 07747 755 194.

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

Further information from 01796 473044.

Pitlochry Path Group

Report Card For 2024

All our volunteers have worked very hard this year 2024 has seen the Path Group go from strength to strength. We have had a few more volunteers join us this year and the Group continues to get a good turnout every fortnight on our Thursday sessions and other ad hoc work parties.

The Paths are looking good

The Group’s regular maintenance programme of vegetation management has proceeded apacethe strimmers and loppers being fully utilised. We have, this year, also had a regular loan of a local authority flail machine. (Look out for Colin steaming towards you!)

New Projects

Our larger projects this year have included:

• The installation of new steps at Broom Place/Fenton Terrace.

• 60m of new path at Lady’s Dell.

• New wee walkway at Lagreach.

• Re-aligning and levelling the “Rocky Road”. (The section of path from Black Spout Woods to Edradour Distillery). (Not so rocky now!)

Funding and Donations

The Group has been very lucky in raising funds this year. ££s are essential for our work. We have received help from individuals, from local businesses and from fellow community groups etc. It is always invidious to highlight individual donations but mention must be made of the help received from Chris Stanton’s “Picnic on the Ben” fundraiser. A majestic amount was raised and the Path Group was well chuffed that Chis allowed us a share of the total.

Constitution

Our volunteer group has, in the past, been helped by using the good offices of Pitlochry in Bloom. However, earlier this year the Group decided to formalise our arrangements and set up a new constitution with officers and our own bank account etc.

Future opportunities

The group is always receptive to new ideas and suggestions. Give us a shout if you think a path could be improved or even built. (No promises!)

If you would like some outdoor exercise in the beautiful Pitlochry countryside in friendly company don’t hesitate to get in touch. No particular skills are needed for the work sessions and there is always an opportunity for coffee, biscuits and a chat. For more information please contact either Cath Marshall marshall16@marshall16.plus.com (01796 470575), Colin Somerville batcol@sky. com (07713 148463) or Ian Sim i.sim@btopenworld.com (07772 430434).

Local Christmas Card Delivery Service

At the time of going to print, the local Christmas Card Delivery Service was just getting underway and hoping for another successful year. All funds raised will be split 50:50 between the Food Bank and the Senior Citizens’ Bus.

A note of the amount raised will be available in February’s edition and will have been posted on local noticeboards immediately after 13th December as well as on Facebook.

Dunkeld & Birnam Traditional Youth Music Group

First of all we wish everyone a lovely New Year. DB Trad group will have lots of exciting things coming up through 2025. There are plenty of concerts planned for our bands, perhaps some other fun activities, and we are very happy to announce the start of a new term is bringing free guitar and whistle classes to complement our existing instrument tuition.

Exact days and times for guitar and whistle classes are yet to be fully confirmed as this is written, however, we expect classes to fill up very quickly so please get in touch if you would like to sign up.

Running run on Mondays at Birnam Arts, our Fiddle and accordion classes and band groups still have spaces for a variety of instruments.

Huge thanks go to SSE Renewables, National Lottery, Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust, Basil Death Trust, Scops Arts Trust, The Lang Foundation, Hugh Fraser Foundation and Enchanted Forest for their funding, and our local residents who have generously donated money and instruments. If you have any small guitars about your house, we happily take them for our young members to play.

For more info: dbtradgroup@gmail.com 07958 324 766.

Pitlochry Library

Bookbug session - every Thursday 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 get in touch with the library to book a spot.

Community Knitting Group - every Thursday 11am - 12.45pm Do you like to knit or want to learn? Come along to our community knitting group that meets weekly in the library. We can provide everything you need to get started!

Books on Wheels - For individuals who cannot get out and about to visit the library, this includes books in large print and audio formats. For further information, please get in touch with the library. Recycling - All libraries accept used stamps and batteries for recycling. 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

Opening hours

Monday: Closed, Tuesday: Closed, Wednesday: Closed, Thursday: 10am - 1pm/ 2pm - 7pm, Friday: Closed, Saturday: 9.30am - 12.30pm, Sunday: Closed

Pitlochry Library, 76 Atholl Road, Pitlochry PH15 5BX 01796 474635. pitlochrylibrary@culturepk.org.uk

Pitlochry Station Bookshop

Christmas may be behind us but there is still plenty of Bookshop news around.

Our volunteers deserve a break over the New Year so the shop will be closed from Monday 30th December at 1.00pm and it will reopen on Friday 3rd January 2025 at 9.30am. Afterwards, we return to our winter opening hours from 9.30 until 4.00 each day, except Sunday when we are closed.

If you have forgotten a Christmas gift for someone, never fear because the Bookshop may well be able to help. We have a wide range of books in high quality condition covering all tastes in fiction and many non-fiction interests too. If you have not visited for a while, you may be surprised at what you find.

And, of course, whenever buying for a friend you must remember our own popular Book Tokens. Each costs £5 and can be spent in smaller sums over multiple visits and they are simple to administer with nothing electronic or digital.

Please also remember the Bookshop if you have an urge to declutter and wish to clear some books from your home. We are always looking for donations of interesting books that we can sell on to other customers, thereby increasing the amounts we can pass on to our six worthy charities. Then, having cleared some welcome space, you will have to buy some more books to fill up the shelves again.

All our volunteers wish our customers and book donors a Happy 2025.

Pitlochry Bowling Club

The members of Pitlochry Bowling Club would like to wish all readers a very Happy New Year!

We’re pleased to announce that the clubhouse will be open every Monday from 11am to 2pm as part of the community’s “Warm Space” initiative, offering delicious homemade soups, filled rolls, teas, and coffees. Whether you’re looking for friendly company or a warm space to relax, we’d love to see you there. Everyone is welcome to enjoy a few sociable hours in a warm and welcoming environment. A heartfelt thank-you goes to Perth and Kinross Council for sponsoring these vital “Warm Spaces” throughout our community.

Looking ahead, we hope to restart our popular Bingo nights in February - so keep an eye on this page for updates!

Meanwhile, our club remains busy with short mat bowls competitions, as well as darts, dominoes, and cards. Friday evenings are especially lively, offering a great chance to unwind, join in the games, or simply enjoy a drink in good company.

Continued on page 58

Life

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!

Want To Get The Top Price For Selling Your Home?

Springtime has traditionally been a high point in the housing market when many new homes are listed. Selling a home can be exciting yet daunting, especially in a competitive property market like here. So if you are considering selling your home in the coming months here are a few practical things that might be worth doing before putting it on the market. Your home is your biggest asset - so let’s get you the best price for it and hopefully a quicker sale.

First Impressions Matter:Kerb Appeal

The Borders are picturesque and historic which sets a high bar for beauty. Ensure your property’s exterior matches the charm of its surroundings. You want your house to look the best on the street so:

Clean and Repair: Start by power-washing driveways and paths, cleaning windows, and repairing any visible damage, such as cracked steps or broken fences.

Gardening: A well-maintained garden adds instant appeal. Mow the lawn, trim hedges, and plant seasonal flowers to create a welcoming vibe. Even in winter a tub by the front door with daffodils and tulips makes people want to enter.

Front Door Makeover: A fresh coat of paint in a bold yet tasteful colour can make your front door stand out. Consider traditional hues like forest green or navy blue, which complement Scotland’s natural tones or Dark Grey is still a popular trend. Weathershield / Deluxe exterior paint can be bought for under £50.

Declutter and Depersonalise

Buyers want to envision themselves living in your home, which can be challenging if personal belongings dominate the space.

Decluttering: Donate or store items you no longer need. Keep surfaces clear and remove

bulky furniture to make rooms appear larger. Remember you might not want it in your new home - so why have it here now?

Depersonalising: Minimise family photos, unique artwork, and personal keepsakes. A neutral setting helps potential buyers imagine their belongings in the space.

Neutral Decor

While a home should feel welcoming, overly bold or niche decorating choices may not appeal to everyone. If you can paint Walls Neutral Shades like white, beige, or soft grey create a blank canvas and make spaces feel larger and brighter. A previous trend for statement walls including large motif wallpaper is no longer on trend - paint over it!

Update Flooring: Replacing old carpets or refinishing wooden floors can transform a room. Expensive but has to be done if your carpets are threadbare.

Focus on Energy Efficiency:

With Scotland’s focus on sustainable living, energy efficiency is a top priority for many buyers.

Upgrade Insulation: Ensure your loft and walls are properly insulated to reduce heating costs— an attractive feature for any buyer.

Double-Glazed Windows: If your property doesn’t already have double-glazing, consider installing it. It’s an investment that pays off by boosting energy ratings and comfort. Or get a quote for it - to show buyers.

Smart Heating Systems: Consider installing a smart thermostat like Hive or Nest, allowing buyers to control heating remotely- once you have HIVE you can’t imagine not having it! Around £250 -so not the cheapest option but could be worth it.

Maximise Natural Light

Our long winter nights mean buyers value bright, well-lit homes. Clean Windows and Mirrors: Sparkling clean windows allow maximum light to flood in. Strategically placed mirrors can amplify natural light and make rooms appear larger.

Lighting Fixtures: Modernise outdated lighting fixtures and use LED bulbs for a warm, energyefficient glow. Remember you can take new lamps with you!

Stage Key Rooms

Certain rooms carry more weight in a buyer’s decision, especially the kitchen, living room, and bathrooms.

Kitchen: Replace old cabinet handles and try and invest in new appliances if possible. A clean, functional kitchen is often a deal-maker. If your oven looks truly awful consider replacing it - it might be £300 but an old cooker could be enough to put off a buyer. Buy new tea towels, fresh fruit on the table or flowers if you are strapped for cash. Weirdly kitchens with different coloured units top and bottom were believed to be more expensive to install and buyers valued them higher.

Bathroom: Replace stained grout, install a new shower head, and add luxurious touches like fluffy towels or scented candles. Keep ceilings white and flooring bright.

Embrace your Homes Character

If your property has period features like original fireplaces, bay windows, or exposed stone walls—highlight them or restore them in the time possible. These characteristics are often sought-after and can make your home stand out. Try and blend the Modern and Traditional.

Buyers often love the combination of historic charm with modern functionality - so focus on those details. Use lamps or spotlights to highlight cornicing or a fireplace.

Home Report

It’s mandatory to provide a Home Report to potential buyers. Ensure your report reflects positively by addressing any areas of concern beforehand. If you can fix Structural Issues: Tackle damp, roof damage, or plumbing problems before listing your house. If there isn’t time to get the repairs done ahead of time, then obtain quotes. These may be less scary than a buyer thinks.

Competitive Pricing

While aesthetic and structural improvements are vital, setting the right price is equally important. Work with an experienced local estate agent who understands the local market and can provide a realistic valuation. Forecasts for 2025 suggest that the market will not be as hot as the last couple of years - so getting your price right at the start will be key!

Final Thoughts

Improving the saleability of your home doesn’t necessarily require massive investment. Small, thoughtful upgrades that enhance your property’s appeal can make all the difference. Ask a friend to view your home as a potential buyer. Ask them what they like and what they don’t. Please don’t fall out, though!

By presenting your home as well-maintained, energy-efficient, and welcoming, you can attract the right buyers and secure the best possible sale. Whether you’re selling a traditional stone cottage or a modern flat, the principles remain the same: make it beautiful, practical, and ready for its next chapter.

If you’d like to give short mat bowls a try, we’re usually playing on Wednesday afternoons and would be delighted to provide coaching for beginners. All you need is a pair of flat-soled shoes. It’s a wonderful way to spend an hour or two on a winter’s day!

For more details about our activities, visit our Facebook page (Pitlochry Bowling Club) or contact John on 07833 664121 or Agnes on 07918 122415.

We look forward to welcoming you to the club in 2025!

Faskally parkrun

Did you know that research has shown that participating and/or volunteering at parkrun really does make people healthier and happier?

There are parkrun events every weekend around the UK. Our local parkrun, Faskally Forest parkrun, meets at Loch Dunmore every Saturday at 9.20am and starts at 9.30am. It’s free, open to all ages, from babies being pushed in prams to folk 80 years young. We just ask that children under 11 years keep within arm’s reach of their responsible adult. You can decide to walk, jog or run the beautiful 5km forest route. You can even bring your dog but only one dog per person on a short, handheld lead please. We’d encourage you to register (free) with parkrun at www.parkrun.org. uk/register/ Then bring along your barcode, which will enable you to receive an email with your completion time. You may prefer to volunteer to enjoy the camaraderie, it's a great way to meet people and make friendships. There are a variety of volunteer roles, all are easy, and we will give you any training on the day if required.

Afterwards, we go to the Red Deer Restaurant for a coffee and blether. To find out, more look at our web page www.parkrun.org.uk/faskallyforest or Facebook page www.facebook.com/ faskallyforestparkrun

Vale of Atholl Pipe Band

The band was disappointed that the Perth Christmas Lights Event was cancelled, but due to the weather, it was the only safe thing to do! We had a great day the following Saturday in Aberfeldy when we led the reindeer and Santa from the Industrial Estate to the Square. What a great crowd and atmosphere.

The following Saturday we had band members playing at the Blair Athol Distillery, which was also a most enjoyable day.

The band is looking forward to playing at the New Year Street Party, which is a great way to start the New Year and we're also busy organising our Junior Piping and Drumming Competition held on the 18th January, in Pitlochry High School.

Practices continue for learners and Grade 4 in the Tulloch Institute, Perth on a Tuesday Night and the Grade 2 on a Wednesday night.

Gillie McNab 07733152223 gncnab00@aol.com

Table Tennis Tryst Pitlochry

Looking to do something different. Whether you can play or not come and join us and have a go. Every Thursday 2 - 4pm, your first time is free. Equipment is provided.

Further details contact Irene 07546479249.

GrowBiz

Thrive in 2025 with GrowBiz

Whether you’ve been running your business or social enterprise for some time, or whether 2025 is going to be the year you start, GrowBiz is here to support you. We have a number of learning opportunities for the New Year, and watch out for exciting news about the new Regional Edge competition, with £100k of awards available for Perth & Kinross businesses.

Our first learning session of the year is happening on Wednesday 22 January, 11:30 - 13:00, and will be a well-being workshop for small business success. This engaging session has been tailored for rural enterprises, where we’ll explore ways to enhance well-being and build resilience.

Then, on Wednesday 19 February, 12:00 - 13:30, learn about start up essentials with GrowBiz Enterprise Facilitators, Jenny Lyall and Angela Laurie. They will provide you with an insight into what self-employment could look like for you, the things you need to consider and how you can go about getting started straight away.

Our Thursday afternoon drop in support surgery sessions will also be available to book for the new year. If you have a question about your business or enterprise, this is an opportunity to receive an instant response from a real person.

In other news, the GrowBiz office has relocated from Bank of Scotland House in Coupar Angus to the Strathmore Cycle Hub building at 1 Forfar Road, Coupar Angus. The move means we are no longer maintaining two premises and will help us achieve our Net Zero goals. We can still be contacted on 01828 627 790, or emailed at connect@growbiz.co.uk

To find out about all our events and services, please visit www.growbiz.co.uk

Just Singin’ - Sing, Sing, Sing!

Our local Community Choir, called Just Singin’, is looking forward to another great year in 2025 with all the wonderful tutors and singers who together make our sessions at 7.30pm on Wednesday evenings in the upstairs room at Birnam Arts such fun.

We would like to extend a warm invitation to you to come along and join our friendly, informal group where we learn songs and harmonies by ear and everyone is made welcome. We have four terms of 8 weeks each in the year, and offer the choice of paying termly, or simply on any night that you attend.

Our next term begins on 5th February 2025 when we are very excited to have Emma Neck returning as our first tutor of the year. Why not brighten up your winter evenings by joining us for an evening to give it a go, we’d love to welcome you! For further details please have a look at our website www.justsingin.co.uk

Dùn Coillich

Banish the winter blues at Dùn Coillich!

So, Christmas is over, we’re in the midst of winter and maybe you’re feeling the after effects of over-indulgence….

But on the bright side we’re way past the shortest day and even better than that we’re surrounded by glorious landscapes which are stunning whatever the weather! Striding to the top of a mountain isn’t for everyone especially on a dreich day, but did you know

we have a brilliant all-abilities path at Dùn Coillich, starting from the Braes of Foss carpark at Schiehallion?

Created by the Heart of Scotland Forest Partnership the 1.5km circuit is a mix of wired boardwalk and flat hardcore, making it ideal for wheelchairs, pushchairs and those who just fancy a gentle leg stretch during these shorter days.

It’s a great way to get out and about, enjoy wonderful views and breathe in some fresh Scottish air. Visit www.duncoillich.org/explore/walk to download a map and look for the blue Foss Loop track.

Get involved!

If that’s not enough and one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get out more, then why not give our weekly or monthly volunteer sessions a go?

We don’t let the weather get in the way unless it’s blowin’ a hoolie or we’re beaten back by snow, and we carry on looking after the hill right through the winter months.

Volunteering at Dùn Coillich is a brilliant way to connect with nature, make new friends and get fit along the way. We love welcoming new volunteers of all ages, so why not give it a go?

We meet every Tuesday and the last Sunday of the month, all equipment provided - just come prepared for the Scottish weather, bring some lunch and a sense of humour!

Visit www.duncoillich.org to get involved, and to find out how we are restoring biodiversity, supporting rural skills development, and encouraging people of all ages to embrace the outdoors.

Breadalbane & District Riding for the Disabled

Our AGM took place in November and was well attended. At the beginning of the year due to retirement and illness, we had to replace our treasurer and secretary - both roles being extremely ably filled and all main office bearers were voted back into post. One trustee has retired and happily another one voted on to fill the gap. Satisfactory reports from both the chair and the treasurer were very encouraging and it was noted that there had been a larger than usual turnover of riders giving more children the chance to participate. We have been the fortunate recipient of several generous donations so our finances are very healthy. Our weakest link is the failure to find another pony to bring our number up to four. This is an ongoing search as only having three ponies really does have a big impact on the group.

There will be no more riding now until April but we continue to meet as a group and will shortly be preparing for the start of the riding year. Anyone interested in joining our group will be more than welcome. No previous experience with ponies is necessary and we do run training sessions regularly to remind us all. Contact with the group can be made by email breadalbanerda@gmail. com Or by ringing Vicky on 07786262329.

Pitlochry Garden Share

Things are quieter now in the gardens. Many crops have been harvested, and some of the plots “put to bed” for the winter. We do however still have winter crops-kale, brussels sprouts, parsnips, leeks and neeps…..

In November we had a very successful Open Kitchen event at the Atholl Centre, where we put apples and other fruit we had picked to good use. Over 100 jars of jam and fruit compote were produced. Most of this went to the Foodbank. Setting up a polytunnel and some raised beds are next on the list to organise as we move into the New Year.

There will be no market stall this month. They will re-start in the spring. As always, new volunteers are very welcome. We will be having a planning meeting to which all volunteers are invited in the New Year (date to be confirmed). This would be a great opportunity for new folk to meet other volunteers! Contact us on our Facebook page, or via pitlochrygardenshare@gmail.com for more information.

The Meeting Place

We meet every Friday morning from 10-12 in the Duchess Anne church hall in Dunkeld. Come and join us for a cup of tea or coffee, delicious home baking and good company. Further details from mascott47@aol.com

Moulin Hotel Coffee Morning Group

Formed during the pandemic due to the generosity of Moulin Hotel opening their dining room to the community we call ourselves the Moulin Hotel Coffee Morning Group. A group of around 40 mostly senior folks have met every Wednesday since for friendship, company, cake and a cuppa.

This year we approached The Enchanted Forest Community Trust regarding their discretionary community fund and we are so grateful to the Trust for generously paying for the costs of The McAndrews Sisters Vocal Trio to entertain the group at a 'The Good Old Days' Christmas Concert and Afternoon Tea at Moulin Hall on November 30th. Along with The Enchanted Forest we were supported by The Green Park Hotel, Pitlochry Community Minibus, Compere Drew Scott, Scotch Corner, Dalshian Shortbread, Moulin Hall, The Garden Cafe, the Moulin Hotel and a group of lovely volunteers which came together to give the group an afternoon of music and friendship to remember. The highlight undoubtedly being a beautiful solo rendition of 'In the Bleak Midwinter' by 8 year old Brodie, son of Loryn Cura of The MacAndrews Sisters - not a dry eye in the house!

A huge thank you to all in the community who allowed this event to be as successful as it was.

Judith Dingwall

Attached photo of The McAndrews Sisters, Brodie (8) and Compere, Drew Scott.

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.

Braes of Rannoch linked with Foss & Rannoch Church of Scotland

Interim Moderator: Mr. Lorimer Gray Phone - 01887 827 316 or 07740 378 910

Email - lorimer.gray@gmail.com

Please consult local advertising in Rannoch for likely changes in time and venue for services in 2025, yet to be confirmed.

RC Parish of St Bride

St Bride’s, Rie-Achan Road, Pitlochry PH16 5AL

Our Lady of Mercy, Home Street, Aberfeldy PH15 2AJ

St Columba’s, St Mary’s Road, Birnam, Dunkeld, PH8 OBJ

Parish Priest: Fr. Emmanuel Adindu MA MSP

Tel: 01796 472174 email: stbridespitlochry@dunkelddiocese.org.uk

Sunday Mass Times

St Columba’s Saturday Vigil 6.00pm Our Lady of Mercy 9.30am St Bride’s 11.30am

Weekday Mass Times

Our Lady of Mercy Tuesday 9.30am, St Bride’s Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 9.30am

Holy Days of Obligation

St Columba’s 9.30am, Our Lady of Mercy 12.30pm, St Bride’s 7.00pm

For further information please refer to our Facebook page.

We are very happy to welcome visitors to our Parish to worship with us and each Tuesday and Wednesday we light candles and pray for their needs and intentions.

The Scottish Episcopal Church

Offers all a warm and inclusive welcome to all

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

Episcopal Churches in Highland Perthshire January 2025 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 regularly from Easter to Christmas

Serenity Garden is open Daily

Sunday services 9.30am Holy Communion/Communion by Extension/ Café Communion

5th Sundays Joint Service with Kilmaveonaig & All Saints (see Website for details)

25th January 12.30am Burns Lunch

Book Group. Contact - Ms. Lesley Whitwood 01887 840416 for details.

New Patchwork Group Patchwork and Quilting by machine for beginners but all levels welcome. Every Friday from 2-4 pm. at Holy Trinity (in the hall). For more information phone Isabel on 07856 339230.

Garden Group 11.00am to 1.00pm on Tuesdays

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

Contact - Mrs. Lavinia Gordon 01796 481230.

Kilmaveonaig is open daily

Sundays at 11.15am Holy Communion/Matins/ Communion by Extension

5th Sundays Joint Service with Holy Trinity & All Saints (see Website for location)

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

Contact - Ms. Lesley Whitwood 01887 840416

Sundays at 11.15am Holy Communion/Matins/Service of the Word/Communion by Extension;

5th Sundays with Church of Scotland (see website)

House Group 10.00am Last Wednesday of the month

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

First Sunday of the Month 9.30am Holy Communion

5th January 9.30am Holy Communion for Epiphamy

5th Sundays Joint Service with Holy Trinity & Kilmaveonaig (see Website for location)

Zoom Services

Sundays - 6.00pm Evening Services (see Website)

Thursdays - 10.30am Morning Prayer

Jehovah’s Witnesses

How to cope with injustice? Global peace—from what source? You are welcome to join us to hear these talks which are held at the Grandtully Village Hall, while our Kingdom Hall is completely refurbished. If you have a Bible, bring it with you; if you would like a Bible, we offer copies without charge. If you would like a lift to the meetings, get in touch.

Thursday 2nd January, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: Psalms 120–126, ‘They Sowed With Tears, but Reaped With Joy’, ‘Take Delight in God’s Promises’, ‘“Growing and Prevailing” Despite Opposition’ Part Two—Acts 18:23–19:1–10.

Sunday 5th January, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘Why Show Self-Sacrificing Love?’. A discussion: ‘How to Overcome Doubts (1 Thessalonians 5:21)’.

Tuesday 7th January, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: Psalms 127–134, ‘Parents—Continue to Care for Your Precious Inheritance’, ‘“Growing and Prevailing” Despite Opposition’ Part Three—Acts 19:11–41.

Sunday 12th January, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘Why True Christians Must Be Different’. A discussion: ‘How to Cope With Injustice (Romans 12:21)’.

Thursday 16th January, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: Psalms 135–137, “Our Lord Is Greater Than All Other Gods”, ‘“I Am Clean From the Blood of All Men” Part One— Acts 20:1, 2.

Sunday 19th January, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘Why Did Jesus Suffer and Die?’. A discussion: ‘Learn From the Parting Words of Faithful Men (Job 12:12)’.

Thursday 23rd January, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: Psalms 138, 139, ‘Do Not Let Nervousness Hold You Back’, ‘How Can I Overcome Shyness?’, ‘“I Am Clean From the Blood of All Men” Part Two—Acts 20:3–12. Continued on

Sunday 26th January, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘Global Peace—From What Source?’. A discussion: ‘Brothers—Are You Reaching Out to Be a Ministerial Servant? (Acts 20:35)’.

Thursday 30th January, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: Psalms 140–143, ‘Act in Harmony With Your Pleas for Help’, ‘“I Am Clean From the Blood of All Men” Part Three— Acts 20:13–38.

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 will find the Bible’s answers to life’s big questions.

Pitlochry Baptist Church

Atholl Road, PH16 5BX www.pbcweb.net

Pastor: Rev David Barrie (pastor@pbcweb.net)

Sundays - Our Worship Gathering takes place every Sunday from 10:30am at our building on Atholl Road - next to the Tourist Information Centre and across the road from Heartland FM. If you’re exploring faith or looking for a place to call home, come as you are and join us. For the children, we have a full programme for babies through to teenagers. We look forward to welcoming you.

Highlighted event:.

The Welcome All Soup Lunch is every Friday in the Atholl Centre (behind Pitlochry Baptist church) at 12 noon; there’s no charge, though donations are welcome. Come join us and meet up with old friends or make new ones.

For quick & easy access to information on our website and social media pages, scan this QR code (the black and white box thing). Do this by: (1) Open the Camera app on your phone. (2) Hold your phone so that the QR code appears in view. (3) Tap the notification to open the link in your browser.

Alternatively, if that gives you a headache, go to our website or check us out on Facebook and Instagram for current up-to-date information.

The Baha’i Faith

On the Nature of the Soul

The Baha’is in Aberfeldy are presently running a study group (to which anyone is welcome) on the theme of “Reflections on the Life of the Spirit”. The emphasis is on understanding the purpose of prayer and the purpose of Life and Death. Picking up on the latter, in this season of celebrations of Christ’s life and of new beginnings in a New Year, we are looking at the challenge of this statement: “True life, the life of the soul, occurs in this world for a brief time and continues eternally in the other worlds of God.” Sounds far-fetched maybe to an atheist but Baha’u’llah, the latest Manifestation in the millenia of God’s Messengers to mankind, throws some light on the nature of the soul:-

“And now concerning thy question regarding the soul of man and its survival after death. Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God…. It will endure as long as the Kingdom of God.”

How do we humans come to have a soul? It has its origin in the spiritual worlds of God. It is exalted above matter and the physical world. The individual has his beginning when the soul associates itself with the embryo at the time of conception. … The soul does not enter or leave the body and does not occupy physical space. It does not belong to the material world. Its association with the body is similar to that of a light in a mirror, reflecting an external source but not being inside it.

Continued on page 72

The special relationship between the soul and the body, in coming together, form a human being. Perhaps another description of the soul could be ‘ the breath of life’. Nothing we can look at with a scalpel but we can use our powers of reasoning and our experience of finding harmony -or not- in our own lives.. This leads logically to Baha’u’llah’s words: “Death proffereth unto every confident believer the cup that is life indeed. It bestoweth joy, and is the bearer of gladness. It conferred the gift of everlasting life.”

To explore this side of life further you can contact Rachel on rachelhelenab@ hotmail.com or Hilarie on hilarieburnett@clara.co.uk

Pitlochry linked with Blair Atholl & Struan Churches of Scotland

Minister: Rev Mark Foster (MFoster@churchofscotland.org.uk)

Pitlochry Session Clerk: Ginnie Wilkie 01796 472791

Blair Atholl & Struan Session Clerk: Harold Ingram 01796 481275

Pitlochry Website: www.pitlochrychurchofscotland.org.uk

Sunday Services: Sunday worship is at 10.00am in Pitlochry Church and at 11.30am in Blair Atholl Church.

At Pitlochry, 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. Tea/ coffee and biscuits are served in The Tryst Lounge following the service.

Day Care: This continues in The Tryst Lounge on Tuesdays from 10.00am – 2.00pm and on Thursdays from 10.00am – 3.00pm. The community bus is available. If you, or anyone you know, would benefit from these activities, please contact the Day Care Team at The Tryst for details. If you wish to volunteer to help at these sessions, please contact Lynne Cunningham LCunningham@pkc.gov.uk

Scottish Dance Group: This will recommence on Tuesday 14 January in The Tryst Hall at 7.30pm. All welcome.

Wednesday Coffee & Chat and Warm Spaces: Tea, coffee and biscuits from 10.30am – 11.45am and soup from 12.00noon – 2.00pm in The Tryst Lounge. Everyone is very welcome to catch up with friends, neighbours and to meet new people.

Church Choir: Choir practices will be announced shortly.

Pitlochry & District Choral Society: Rehearsals for the Spring Concert begin on Wednesday 8th January at 7.45pm in The Tryst Hall.

Table Tennis: Meet weekly on Thursdays 2.00pm until 4.00pm in The Tryst Hall.

At Blair Atholl, we invite you to our Coffee Corner, in the church hall on Thursdays from 10:30am –12noon.

Church Office: The Tryst, all enquiries (including hire of the facilities) and deliveries contact by email thetryst@btconnect.com or telephone 01796 474010. The office is open from 9.30 –11.30am Tuesday to Thursday. Emails and telephone messages are checked regularly.

Pitlochry Life

• Pitlochry Life - Delivered FREE to over 6,500 homes and businesses every month.

• 3500 Extra copies (max) each month for visitors to pick up from over 100 outlets.

• 100 % Coverage from Kinloch Rannoch to Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Birnam and Aberfeldy.

• Free magazine - no cover charge for readers.

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• Established - Perthshire’s favourite magazine has been running for over 30 years. Our advertisers stay with us - because it works and generates lots of business!

• Price - Pitlochry Life is a cost effective way to reach all the residents and businesses in the Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and surrounding areas and with big discounts - you can save more.

• It is truly local - our advertisers operate in, or close to the area.

• Longevity - Everyone keeps it ! *Up to 10,000 copies during Summer, 8,000 in Winter.

Advertising Rates - In Full Colour Hi-Definition (+VAT)

of 3 ,6 or 12

advertise in Pitlochry Life, to discuss your requirements, or for more information - please contact Debbie on

Sausage, kale & gnocchi one-pot

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil

6 pork sausages

1 tsp chilli flakes

1 tsp fennel seeds (optional)

500g fresh gnocchi

500ml chicken stock (fresh if you can get it)

100g chopped kale

40g parmesan finely grated

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large high-sided frying pan over a medium heat. Squeeze the sausages straight from their skins into the pan, then use the back of a wooden spoon to break the meat up. Sprinkle in the chilli flakes and fennel seeds, if using, then fry until the sausagemeat is crisp around the edges. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon.

2. Tip the gnocchi into the pan, fry for a minute or so, then pour in the chicken stock. Once bubbling, cover the pan with a lid and cook for 3 mins, then stir in the kale. Cook for 2 mins more or until the gnocchi is tender and the kale has wilted. Stir in the parmesan, then season with black pepper and scatter the crisp sausagemeat over the top.

3. Great with crusty bread.

DOMESTIC ABUSE IS A CRIME

If you are experiencing physical, emotional, sexual or financial abuse or are being intimidated or threatened by a current or previous partner, you are being subjected to domestic abuse. You may be feeling frightened, isolated and ashamed. You are not to blame for what is happening to you, it is NOT your fault. Above all, you are not alone and you don’t need to suffer in silence. Help is available to you.

If the incident requires immediate attention please contact your local police station. In an emergency always call 999 (if the incident is ongoing or life is in danger)

If you have been the victim or witness to domestic abuse, or have concerns regarding a victim of domestic abuse there are several ways you can report this to the police:

At your local police station. If the incident is urgent, this is the best way to report it. If someone is in immediate danger always phone 999.

Use an online domestic abuse form. If you are unable to go to your local office (or prefer to remain anonymous) you can submit the form directly to the police.

If you suspect some else is suffering domestic abuse, you can report it anonymously and in confidence to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

For more information or to seek help, call the Safer Scotland Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 027 1234 or visit www.saferscotland.co.uk www.scotland.police.uk

This Month’s Tricky Sudoku

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

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

The Pitlochry Crossword

ACROSS

1 Wrapped up dispute in final (7)

5 Care about the size of sixteen tennis courts (4)

9 Steal from tenors performing in Pitlochry Crescent (9)

10 Oddly thumps sheep (3)

11 Go, go, oh sorry - coming back apparently (4)

13 Were any out of sorts after Hogmanay? (3,4)

14 Publicity result when jumping into loch (6)

15 Kiss mischievously, embracing right and left - makes a high-pitched sound! (6)

18 Make-up discovered amongst Grandma’s caramels (7)

20 Blue or white wavy line (4)

22 Spring in Spain (3)

23 Showing off and on, odd urn in moat at fairy castle (9)

25 Exhibited obscene, epic vegetable (4)

26 Black and white piece of kelpie? Balderdash (7)

DOWN

By Lesley

1 Loch starts emitting awful, revolting niff (4)

2 Horse, retired, spotted in knickerbockers (3)

3 One’s Mrs feverishly talks (7)

4 Setter perhaps admitted offence, administering drug (6)

6 Possibly Dunkeld claret had gone off (9)

7 Former wines sold overseas? (7)

8 Winter weather - start sleeping immediately (4)

12 Village dame - she’ll misbehave (9)

14 Family is no different, having members of parliament (7)

16 Relations split Aberdeenshire town (7)

17 Pat can freely snooze (6)

19 Murray perhaps useful according to a Cockney (4)

21 Hagrid’s frame? (4)

24 Jasmine possibly - alternately the oak (3)

Porch Pirates Are On The Rise

What should you do if your parcel is stolen?

We are not always home for a delivery, and as more and more people now shop online, parcel theft is becoming increasingly common, with new data showing more than £370 million worth of parcels were stolen from doorsteps across the UK in the last year.

In fact, more than three million homes had at least one parcel stolen in the past 12 months, with the average value of stolen goods increased by 52%rising from £66.50 in 2023 to £102 this year. However, only one in 333 thefts are reported to the police.

So what should you do if your parcel is stolen?

Contact the seller

You are protected by consumer law. The seller is responsible for making sure your parcel is delivered, so, if you think your parcel has been stolen, you should contact the person or company that sent the it.

The retailer should then offer you a refund or replacement if the parcel is stolen, missing or damaged.

If a courier was used to deliver the item, you should also contact them to find out what's happened to the parcel, it may just have been left at the wrong address and will possibly have a photo of the location. It is their responsibility to retrieve it for you, although you will often see pictures posted on local Facebook pages of delivery locations and this may help retrieve it.

What if your parcel was stolen from a 'safe place'?

If you have opted in to have your parcel delivered to a ‘safe place’ like your shed or ‘at the back door’ and it was stolen, then it is your responsibility. However, if the courier did leave

the parcel in a place you didn't agree to, and it was stolen, the responsibility lies with the retailer.

Speak to your credit card provider

If you used your credit card to buy something and it was stolen, your credit card provider may be able to help get you your money back. Under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, the credit card provider has equal liability if something goes wrong with your purchase. However, the purchase has to be more than £100 and under £30,000.

Check with your card provider to see if they can help refund the money.

If you paid through PayPal, you can also contact them for help - as long as the purchase was within the last six months.

Contact the police

If you think your parcel has been stolen, you should report it to the police or call 101. It would be helpful if you had doorbell footage or CCTV when filing the police report. Without any evidence, it will be difficult for the police to investigate unless there is a spate of local thefts and some have been captured on camera or witnessed. The thief may eventually be caught, but it’s very unlikely that your parcel will be recovered. In any case, contact the retailer.

What steps can you take to prevent parcels from being stolen?

• Track your parcel so someone can be home for the delivery.

• Install a video doorbell.

• Install a security light.

• Arrange for parcels to be delivered to a trusted neighbour.

• Use an off-site locker service or pick-up service in busy locations, for example, a supermarket. Many retailers offer this service.

Answers to the December Crossword

Across

7 ADVENT 8 BEHOLD 9 PEAL 10

CHESTNUT 11 PLUCKED 13 ELVES

15 HOLLY 17 PUDDING 20 MINCE PIE

21 DATE 22 INSTIL 23 OPENED

Down

1 EDZELL 2 BELL 3 STACKED 4 ABBEY 5

WHITTLED 6 CLAUSE 12 COLD CUTS 14

YULE LOG 16 ORIENT 18 NUTMEG 19 APPLE

21 DIET

Repairs · Virus Removal

New Systems · Broadband

Networking · Data Recovery

Refurbished Laptops and Towers

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

Visiting Hours:

Pitlochry Community Hospital Ferry Road, Pitlochry. Tel: 01796 472052

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

Whilst

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

Thursday 10am-1pm & 2pm-7pm, Saturday 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, Deaths & Marriages Mon - Fri: By Appointment 01796 474645

More Helpful Numbers to Hand

HOROSCOPES

BY CHRISTINE CHALKLIN

For January 2025

Happy New Year and all good wishes for personal happiness and success during 2025.

2025 will be a year of transformation, guided by major planetary shifts such as Saturn, Uranus and Neptune transitions into new signs, as well as Jupiter's return to the sign of Cancer. This doesn’t look like an easy ride, particularly as the first half of 2025 will be marked by struggles, instability and crises, both economically and politically. The conflict signifies a battle between the old and the new; the old system has run its course and must now give way to the new. Fortunately, other cosmic indicators show the potential for optimism and enthusiasm for a new way of living; these planetary cycles remind us of how important it is to be patient, stay true to ourselves and trust our inner wisdom. Mars, the planet of action and motivation, retrogrades from Leo into Cancer on the 6th, indicating that tempers, passions and energy levels will be on an emotional roller coaster. Fortunately, love planet Venus arrives in mystical Pisces on the 3rd assisting us all to connect with our intuitive guidance and be more aware of our actions. Change and opportunity are the themes of the first full moon of the year, arriving in the sign of Cancer on the 13th. The first new moon of 2025 falls in individualistic Aquarius on the 29th, signifying that the time is right for following and honouring your intentions for new beginnings.

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

Abundant Jupiter illuminates your communication skills, urging you take risks and be the best that you can be. Both your ambition and your career are in the spotlight as the radiant Sun in Capricorn shines brightly at the highpoint of your chart. Mercury arrives in Capricorn on the 8th, suggesting that some interesting opportunities are coming your way. The Cancer full moon on the 13th brings up a domestic issue that will need sorting out before the end of the month.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 21

Venus, your ruling planet, arrives in mystical Pisces on the 3rd inspiring you to make some consolidated effort to review your spiritual goals. Taurus is a fixed sign, try not to get stuck in a rut as a more intuitive approach is now necessary. Use your uncanny knack for spotting new opportunities to help you get ahead. Venus meets responsible Saturn on the 19th, offering a great opportunity for a change of heart.

GEMINI MAY 22 - JUNE 21

Mighty Jupiter, although still retrograde in your sign, is offering a new perspective on your life. Take this opportunity to lay the groundwork for some grand and far reaching plans in 2025. The radiant Sun, joined by business minded Mercury on the 8th are illuminating the finance and resource sector of your chart. Some important decisions will very likely have to be made this month, fortunately your ruler, in practical Capricorn is well placed.

CANCER JUNE 22 - JULY 22

Transformation Pluto is the highest and most powerful planet in your chart this month, 2025 looks like it will be an extremely important year for you, particularly in financial areas of your life. Embrace change as your ideas can now take off as you put your point of view across where it is most needed. An important relationship could also help you to capitalise on your talents and push you forward, the full moon in your sign on the 13th looks auspicious.

LEO JULY 23 - AUGUST 23

Your health and wellbeing are high on your agenda this month as the Sun, joined by Mercury illuminate this sector of your chart. Current trends urge you to take stock and put more energy into a good life balance. Venus arriving in Pisces on the 3rd offers enhanced intuition and the pivotal new moon in your opposite sign on the 29th suggests a challenge, but also helps you to reach a new understanding by following your heart.

VIRGO AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 22

The Capricorn Sun shines brightly in the love and romance sector of your chart this month, suggesting that you’ll be taking a closer look at more serous relationships. Joined by communication planet Mercury after the 8th when asking for what you want should be easier. The Cancerian full moon on the 13th encourages challenge and change, your keen intuition should serve you well as this might be the right time to bring your plans to a head.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 23

Your home and family are important themes for this month as the Capricorn Sun, later joined by Mercury are strongly positioned to ensure that you can afford to be more decisive and put some faith into your innovative ideas. Venus arrives in mystical Pisces on the 3rd firing up your intuitive side and preparing for the exciting Aquarian new moon on the 29th, both suggests the start of an exciting new friendship or romance.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22

All forms of communication are in the spotlight this month as the practical Capricorn Sun illuminates the way you come across to others, both privately and in business. As professional minded Mercury changes sign on the 8th, you’ll be guided to examine some alternatives in order to help you reach a more secure career position. The Cancerian full moon on the 13th offers an interesting opportunity, very possibly connecting with overseas.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 21

This is the month to maximise your potential and put your powers of judgement to the test. Transformational Pluto in innovative Aquarius, indicates that your style of communication is ready for a radical overhaul. With the Sun in responsible Capricorn you should see the culmination of an ambitious project. Expansive Jupiter is in your opposite sign, challenging you to be courageous and to be prepared for some interesting encounters.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 20

It’s your birthday month and it’s the start of an exciting new year, packed with challenge, change and opportunity. Venus arrives in your communication sector on the 3rd indicating that financial prospects might be on the rise and your ability to attract the good things in life is enhanced by a well aspected Jupiter. Opportunities could come out of nowhere as you are able to turn ideas into reality. The full moon on the 13th in your opposite sign, suggests an exciting meeting.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 18

Transformational Pluto in your sign opposite confrontational Mars in Leo indicates two very powerful forces clashing and you may even have felt this tension building for a while. As 2025 unfolds you’ll feel ready to leave what’s stagnant and heavy behind and shift your awareness toward developing more spiritual growth. Promising new developments could arise in social matters and your charitable instincts may come to the fore.

PISCES FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20

Friends and social life will become more important to you during January, particularly after the 8th when Communication planet Mercury moves into Capricorn. The love planet Venus arrives in your sign on the 3rd, be prepared as the cosmos is indicating that it’s time to make way for a new romance, or the rekindling of an old one! The Cancerian full moon on the 13th looks particularly promising for exciting encounters.

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 what’s coming up for you in the year ahead. Be more positive and plan with in-depth knowledge and cosmic awareness as you tune into your highest potential and be alerted to when positive and productive planetary cycles are working in your favour. Consultations are available on Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp or telephone.

Please contact me for more information.

Christine Chalklin, Inspirational Astrologer and Life Coach

Email: christine_chalklin@hotmail.com

Website: www.yourguidinglight.org

Mobile: 07813 483549

Distance in Miles

Pitlochry

Inverness

Aviemore Perth Blairgowrie

Kinloch Rannoch

Rannoch Station

Kenmore

Aberfeldy

Dunkeld

Blair Atholl

Pitlochry Inverness