Pitlochry Life October 2021 by Pitlochry Life

PITLOCHRY

LIFE

October 2021 Issue 377

The Best of Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire

E E R

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CONTENTS WELCOME

Welcome to the October edition of Pitlochry Life. This year is flying by and soon the clocks will be changing and the nights drawing in. It’s time to think of cosy fires and scented candles, but just before then there’s still time for one last hurrah in the garden and the great outdoors. In this edition we have Willie’s computer update on the new Windows 11. Good news is it is a free upgrade. Sheila Drummond looks at north v south gardens and Alan Clinch takes a look at parkrun in the fitness column. There is a parkrun group setting up in Pitlochry – so why not give it a go. Hospitality venues are working harder than ever and the new menus coming in sound delicious. We have Live music again at The Old Mill Inn, The Atholl Palace Hotel and Food in the Park. Halloween will be upon us soon and we have two fun recipes for you this month to try out. It’s not long now until Christmas and we have some amazing places for your celebrations all through November and December. Next month we will be looking at the predicted top selling best toys – we are all children at heart ! Thank you to everyone who has contributed this month - enjoy and good luck to every club that is having face to face meetings for the first time in… ages!

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

Saving Our Planet We look at the ways we can reduce our use of plastic and help with global warming.

Happy Halloween We take a look back at the ancient history of Halloween

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

Willie's Wonky Computer Willie looks at the release date of Windows 11 and how to get yours.

The Pitlochry Garden Sheila looks at how climate change is already affecting our garden.

Saving Our Planet

Computer

Deadline for November

Recipe

The Pitlochry Tipple Ewan looks back at the inaugural ‘Spirit of Perthshire’ Whisky Festival.

Fitness With Alan Clinch This month Alan looks at parkrun. What, where and how to take part.

Crossword AandA are back to not only test your crossword ability, but also your local knowledge.

Recipe This month we have some easy treats for Halloween.

Pitlochry Crossword

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Pete Wishart MP - Perth & North Perthshire - SNP Covid has impacted all of our lives in many different ways. So it was with relief and trepidation that when the safety precautions started to relax I was able to get back out in to the communities of Perth and North Perthshire again. My first full day of surgeries was in Highland Perthshire and what a glorious day it was. I started at the Queen’s View to discuss labour shortages that continue to affect many of our businesses. Hospitality venues have been working with reduced opening times and a skeleton staff just to ensure that the best that Scotland has to offer is open for the public to enjoy. To find that Shiehallion was still standing proudly where it has always been was reassuring. In Pitlochry I stopped at the Boat Station, whose use of the Loch was flourishing, but who had been unable at that time to open their café. This was sadly a frequent story for many Highland businesses and indeed across the whole constituency. It is with admiration that I could see for myself the lengths people were willing to go to and their adaptability to our new reality of living with this deadly disease. Despite manifold personal and collective deprivations it is heartening to see the resilience of the people of Perthshire working to restore our lives to some kind of normality again. I was also delighted to be able to pop in on the last day of Grace Grant’s 28 year service to the Perth and Kinross Library Services in order to thank her. As everyone who uses the library knows, the resources are not only books, but go way beyond to offer a diverse range of support services to the community. The relatable and friendly face of Grace accompanying the library at Pitlochry will be much missed by many people, but I wish her a long, healthy, and happy retirement, which she has more than earned over the years. The vaccination programme has been swiftly rolled out across Perthshire and while most of us have now been double jagged we still need to be mindful to keep the number of infections as low as possible. NHS Tayside staff continue to work with dedication to protect us and I would urge you to repay their efforts by keeping yourselves and others safe. You can contact me by email at pete.wishart.mp@parliament.uk or call 01250 876576.

Murdo Fraser - Mid Scotland & Fife - Conservative Highland Perthshire is set to benefit from a job boost as a result of two major energy construction projects. This is positive news for the whole area, with Perth and Kinross Council approving the planning application for the substation on the Beauly-Denny power line just north of Loch Kinardochy. Council officers believe that the substation is required at this location to address an identified technical constraint in the electricity grid network. It is acknowledged that this will be a major construction project and concerns about disturbing local wildlife have been addressed. It is felt that the substation is needed to improve the electricity infrastructure in the area and also, to support future additional green energy supply to Scotland. This plan, combined with SSE's recent announcement of the planned refurbishment of the nearby Tummel Bridge Hydro Power Station, will create a significant number of construction jobs with associated benefits locally for jobs, accommodation providers and suppliers. The £50 million refurbishment of the 1930s-built hydro power station will create around 65 jobs alone. The last two years have been like none we have known before due to the impact of the pandemic, so positive news like this has to be welcomed. Continued on page 12

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I’m sure readers of Pitlochry Life will have been as saddened as I was when we received news that the Scottish Crannog Centre had suffered a devastating fire that destroyed its Iron Age roundhouse back in June. I was deeply heartened by the local community spirit following the blaze and also pleased that the Centre had been inundated with offers of financial support from a variety of organisations and bodies. With this in mind, I was delighted that Perth and Kinross Council agreed to provide £51,000 towards the cost of the Crannog Centre's Strategic Business Case to allow them to try and achieve their vision of moving the Crannog Centre across to the other side of Loch Tay at Dalerb. Murdo Fraser always welcomes feedback from constituents. He can be contacted at The Control Tower, Perth Airport, Scone, PH2 6PL, by email on murdo.fraser.msp@parliament.scot or by telephone on 01738 553676.

John Swinney MSP - Perthshire North - SNP Recently, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party reached an historic co-operation agreement. I was privileged to be deeply involved in the negotiations, and I am pleased that a deal could be reached after careful dialogue and reflection. I was also delighted that the deal was overwhelmingly endorsed by the membership of both parties. Despite the protestations of opposition parties, the SNP and Greens’ decision to leave our comfort zones in search of political co-operation and common ground is no bad thing, and in fact reflects the founding ethos of the Scottish Parliament. Indeed, the horse-shoe shape of the Scottish Parliament’s debating chamber pays tribute to this idea, and was designed in such a shape so as to promote a less adversarial, more constructive style of politics. And while the SNP and the Greens have not agreed to enter a formal coalition, it is worth noting that between 1999 and 2007 the Scottish Government was comprised of a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition. The SNP/Green deal will deliver a fairer, greener and more prosperous future for our country. It will see bold action on housing with a “new deal” for tenants. This will enhance the existing rights of tenants and offer greater protection from eviction, whilst also giving tenants more freedom to decorate their home and keep pets. We will also introduce a national system of rent controls to ensure that cost of housing is affordable. We will take decisive steps to tackle the climate emergency by investing over £5bn to maintain, improve and decarbonise Scotland’s rail network, and commission a Fair Fares Review to ensure that the cost of public transport is affordable. We will also provide a £500m Just Transition Fund to protect jobs whilst we support and accelerate the transition towards more sustainable energy sources. And we will continue to work towards making Scotland a stronger, fairer place to raise a family with aggressive action to eradicate the scourge of child poverty. This will include a significant increase to the level of the Scottish Child Payment, with a full £20 per child payment being achieved within the lifetime of this Parliament. Make no mistake, the SNP and the Scottish Greens are two distinct parties, and often our views will differ. But we were brought together by a common belief that politics can and should work better, and that we can unite around a progressive agenda to improve the lives of Scots. Continued on page 14

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I wholeheartedly support this deal, and I firmly believe that such a bold approach is necessary to tackle the challenges that our nation will face in the years to come. And with the United Nations Climate Change Conference taking place in Glasgow later this year, the notion of different parties coming together to address common areas of concern is more appropriate and timely than ever.

John Duff - Councillor Highland Ward, Conservative Recently, I attended the awards ceremony for Rural Perth and Kinross LEADER fund projects where I heard about various initiatives helping deliver regeneration of our rural economies. I was delighted when two projects in the Highland Ward took first prize in their respective categories – The Workshop Aberfeldy for championing skills development particularly for young people and The Atholl Centre Pitlochry for developing community-based support networks and active communities. The Highland Fling Bungee Killiecrankie also received 3rd prize for Best Project Animation. Congratulations to all three! Council has approved the formation of a Climate Change Commission which will have diverse and knowledgeable representation from public, private, civic and third sector organisations including youth representation with at least 25% of members being under 25 years old. The Commission will work collaboratively to help drive, guide, support and monitor climate action in communities, businesses and organisations, complementing the work of local government. In that regard, public transport will play a critical role in tackling climate change, making it all the harder to understand ScotRail’s decision to reduce services locally from next May. The level of promised rail services travelling through Blair Atholl, Pitlochry and Dunkeld will not materialise and services between Perth and Edinburgh/Glasgow will be downgraded, adding 10 minutes to journeys to Edinburgh via Fife or requiring a change of trains at Stirling. These proposals are short-sighted and hopefully the travelling public will have made their views plain at ScotRail’s consultation, Fit for the Future. Following the devastating Crannog fire, I was delighted that Council supported the Administration’s proposal to donate £51,000 towards completion of its Strategic Business Case, aimed at moving the Centre to its new site at Dalerb. There’s still a lot of hard work to do but its vision is a step nearer. The COP26 Climate Change Conference being hosted in Glasgow by the UK Government starts on 31 October. In preparation for this major international event, which will see up to 10,000 police officers deployed on some days, Police Scotland has been training for all eventualities. Recently, I attended a police training session where I got to put on some protective equipment and stand behind a riot shield being pelted with missiles – taking me back to my early police days! However, we were impressed by the levels to which our police officers go to make sure they can keep us safe and secure and police events such as COP26. Last month, I was privileged to be present at the Black Watch Monument in Aberfeldy for the Service of Thanksgiving for the 282nd Anniversary of the Raising of the Black Watch Regiment where brave former Black Watch soldiers stood giving thanks for their regiment and paying tribute to their fallen with an Act of Remembrance and two minutes silence. Lest we forget! If I can be of any assistance to constituents, groups or local businesses on any matter, please contact me on jcduff@pkc.gov.uk Office Tel: 01738 475095 or Mobile: 07826 908542. Continued on page 16

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Pitlochry and District Neighbourhood Watch Association Make sure your home is fire safe By February 2022, every home in Scotland must by law, be fitted with interlinked fire alarms. Being interlinked means if one alarm goes off, they all go off, thereby keeping you safer. You will need: •

One smoke alarm in the room you spend most time in, usually your living room

•

One smoke alarm in each hallway and landing

•

One heat alarm in the kitchen

All must be mounted on the ceiling and interlinked. If you have a carbon-fuelled appliance like a boiler, fire, heater or flue you also need to have a carbon monoxide detector but this does not need to be linked to the fire alarms. 2 types of interlinked fire alarms meet the new rules: Sealed battery alarms, which can be fitted by a competent DIYer; and Mains-wired alarms, which should be installed by a qualified Electrician. Smoke alarms need to comply with BS EN14604:2005; Heat alarms with BS 5446-2:2003; and Carbon Monoxide detectors with British Kitemark EN 50291-1. Homeowners are responsible for making sure their home meets the new standards. Sealed longlife battery alarms can be bought at various retail outlets and online. The cost depends on the number needed and the brand, so shop around. If you rent your home, your landlord is responsible for ensuring that these alarms are fitted to the required standard. In addition, from March 2022, every landlord in Scotland has to carry out an electrical inspection of all the installations, fixtures and fittings in their rented properties at least once every 5 years. If you are a public sector or council tenant, you have the “Right to Repair”. This means any small urgent repairs (up to £350) that might affect your safety or your health have to be carried out by your landlord quickly. This new law presents opportunities for fraudsters to take advantage of those who are unsure about the requirements or concerned about meeting the installation deadline. Beware of cold callers who say their products are endorsed by the Scottish Government or who say you may be eligible for financial assistance. Never deal with cold callers, only with trusted sources of information such as: Care & Repair Scotland: 0141 221 9879 www.careandrepairscotland.co.uk (financial help available to eligible older and disabled homeowners.) Scottish Fire & Rescue Service: 0800 0731 999 www.firescotland.gov.uk (choosing and installing alarms.) Scottish Government: www.mygov.scot/home-fire-safety (detailed information.)

Heartland FM As I write this I’m just “back” from a staycation break, which was very enjoyable and proved to me what a great area we have to enjoy and hope you are enjoying it too. It comes on the back of our coverage of The Blair Horse Trials which was an amazing experience with the weather and the crowds and we also covered The Etape Caledonia this year too. We now look forward to Continued on page 18

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Halloween, the clock changes and those darker nights and shorter days, what a quick 2021 it has been so far. This lets me think ahead to 2022 already. It will be a great year for Heartland FM, it was in March 1992 that Heartland FM went on air as a regular broadcaster, so it's our 30th Birthday next year. It was very different in those days, the internet was new, so we weren’t broadcasting on the internet, it was FM only. There were only 4 terrestrial tv stations, and the reception of Channel 4 was not great, so the idea to create a community run radio station was born out of the need of local communication. It started as part time broadcaster in 1992 and now has grown to a full multimedia operation, broadcasting 24/7 on 97.5 FM in Highland Perthshire and on the internet many ways to listen and interact online. You will know we moved to our premises in Atholl Road 3 years ago and one of the things we were surprised about the move was the lack of archived materials in the studio and office at Mill Lane. So with the theme of Past, Present and Future we are looking for any old recordings of early shows, any interviews or shows you may have been involved in, or any pictures or newspaper cuttings you may have of Heartland through the years. We have footage of the TV documentary series which was made in the 90’s, which has been fun to watch and shows how people have changed over the years. So if you have anything that will help us with the “past” part of our journey from 1992 to today, we’d love to hear from you. Do you remember some of the old shows, or some of the events we used to put on, or any memories of the last 30 years? Please email me at stationmanager@heartland.scot Happy listening, Alistair Smith Station Manager.

Pitlochry Station Bookshop Some of our Bookshop volunteers, along with CHAS Community Fundraiser Ruathy Donald, met to mark the £60,000 which the Bookshop has donated to CHAS over the years. Ruathy spoke about the work of CHAS (Children's Hospices Across Scotland) and the importance of the continuing donations from groups like Pitlochry Station Bookshop. Our thanks go to Fisher's Hotel for hosting the event and for providing refreshments.

Pitlochry & District u3a Pitlochry & District u3a will be a holding a whole group meeting on Wed 20th Oct at 2 pm in the Atholl Centre. The speaker will be Simon Yearsley from the Scottish Deli who will be talking about Scottish Cheeses and, yes, there will be samples to taste. This will be followed by a hands-on Christmas Crafting Session on Nov 17th led by Linda Thomson. If you are not a member but are interested in finding out more about the u3a then please come along to find out more. The u3a brings together people in their “third age” – that is people who have finished working full time or raising their family – to develop interests and to continue learning in informal and Continued on page 24

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Did You Know There Is Plastic In Chewing Gum? Glasgow will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) on 31st October – 12th November 2021. The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The summit will be attended by nearly 200 countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – a treaty that came into force in 1994.

Take a reusable coffee cup 2.5 billion coffee cups are thrown away every year in the UK – and less than 1 in 400 are recycled. Carry a reusable cup with you – some cafes even offer a small discount if you use your own cup (and if they don’t - ask them why not!)

Bakelite, or plastic as it is known today was invented by the Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland in 1907. It was first made from Phenol (carbolic acid) extracted from coal tar and formaldehyde, to form polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride. The formula has evolved over the years and now uses about 10% of world oil production in its manufacture.

Use refill stations for products There are some products where it’s difficult to avoid a plastic container (for example washing up liquid or laundry liquid) – the good news is that there are an increasing amount of places where you can refill your old bottles. Handam in Aberfeldy and Pitlochry sell goods direct to you in your own containers.

Say no to plastic straws Plastic straws are bad news for our oceans. Next time you order a drink, think about whether you need a straw – and if you don’t, just say no! You can also ask your local pub to stop adding straws Whilst the conference will tackle climate change, to drinks as standard and offer paper straws to those who want one. greenhouse gases, renewable energy etc. to achieve a carbon net zero planet as quickly as Avoid excessive food packaging possible, most of their proposed actions will be Whether it’s making different choices in the focused on cleaning up fuel, industry and power supermarket or choosing a different place to generation. However, as individuals there are shop, we can all try and cut down the plastic we many ways we can contribute, and the easiest for buy. And as an added bonus, loose fruit and veg all is to cut down on the everyday use of plastic. is often cheaper than pre-packaged alternatives!

Plastic is a strong, versatile material found in just about everything we use today. We really can’t live without it, however if not recycled properly, we really can’t live with it, as plastic is polluting our seas and landfill. Here are a few tips to cut down on your plastic waste Carry a reusable bottle In the UK we use over 35 million plastic bottles every day! Carrying a reusable bottle is a great way to cut your plastic use and save money too! There’s even an app that tells you where you can refill your bottle for free! The newer ones are made from eco -friendly products and can keep your drink warm/cold for many hours. Be careful of some reusable plastic or aluminium bottles though, their lining can leach chemicals into your drink. 20 Pitlochry Life

Say no to disposable cutlery We’ve all been there – caught out in a cafe or at a train station when we’ve bought a snack or a yogurt but the only cutlery on offer is plastic!

Whilst it’s hard to plan for every opportunity, consider carrying a spoon or fork (or spork!) in your bag or by keeping cutlery in your desk at work. The government are currently looking at banning plastic cutlery.

in the UK, there’s been a massive 85% drop in their use. Many of us are used to carrying an extra bag with us – if you still find it hard to remember, try a foldaway one that you can carry in your normal day bag.

Get your milk delivered Although the early morning sound of a milk float is not as common as it used to be, there are still lots of places in the UK where you can get milk delivered in glass bottles – which are then collected and reused.

Swap Tupperware for Glass containers It reduces plastic and also stops any plastic leakage into your food.

Avoid microbeads Microbeads are a kind of microplastic with specific function for scrubbing or exfoliating. In cosmetics, then term refers to all types of tiny plastic particles (smaller than 5mm) that are intentionally added to cosmetics and personal care products. They are also often used as emulsifying agents or just as cheap fillers. Sea creatures absorb or eat microplastics; these particles can then be passed along the marine food chain. Since humans are ultimately at the top of this chain, it is inevitable that we will also ingest them. Microplastics are not biodegradable and once they enter the (marine) environment, they are almost impossible to remove. Carry a re-usable shopping bag Since the plastic bag charge was introduced

Wooden Pegs – not plastic. Buy soap in bars They last loads longer than soap in bottles. Stop drinking bottled water Not only does it come in a plastic bottle, but tremendous resources are used to extract, bottle, and ship it. And many brands of bottled water are simply filtered tap water. Choose plastic-free chewing gum Did you know almost all chewing gum is made of plastic? That’s right. When you’re chewing gum, you’re chewing on plastic. But plastic-free chewing gum options do exist. Read the label.w Making just a few small changes can have a big impact on the amount of plastic we use on a day-to-day basis. If you must use it, recycle it. Tips suggested by Greenpeace and others. Debbie Pitlochry Life 21

As you know, Halloween is celebrated on the night of October 31st, however, it is not celebrated in all countries and regions of the world and among those that do, the traditions and importance of the celebration vary quite significantly. For our part, Halloween’s origins date back thousands of years to the ancient Celtic festival called Samhain, pronounced sow-in. (sow as in cow) The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is the present day United Kingdom, Ireland and northern France, celebrated Samhain as their new year on November 1st. This time marked the end of summer and harvest period and the beginning of the winter.

The Christian influence spread into the Celtic lands by the year 800. About this time, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1st as All Saints’ Day; a time to honour saints and martyrs. Current belief is that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also referred to as All-hallows or All-Hallowmas, which was Middle English for All Saints' Day. Eventually, the night before it began to be called All-hallows Eve. In the year 1000, the church made November 2nd All Souls’ Day to honour the dead. This was celebrated similarly to Samhain with bonfires, parades and costumes such as angels, saints and devils. Together, the three celebrations became known as Hallowmas which in turn became Halloween.

The Celts associated the winter season with death and believed that on the night before Samhain the boundary between the living and the dead was distorted. They celebrated the The late medieval practice of "souling," when night of October 31st when ghosts of the dead poor folk would go door to door on Hallowmas were believed to return to earth causing trouble (November 1st), receiving food in return for and damaging the community’s food supply. prayers for the dead on All Souls Day (November The Celts observed the event by burning crops 2nd) originated in Britain and Ireland and is and sacrificing animals to the Celtic Gods in probably the origin of our ‘Guising’. Similar bonfires built by the Druids. They wore costumes, practices for the souls of the dead were found as typically of animal skins and heads, to tell each far south as Italy. others’ fortunes and when the celebration was Shakespeare mentions the practice in his comedy over, the Celts lit their hearth fires from the The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1593), when sacred bonfire to protect them during the Speed accuses his master of "puling (whimpering), coming months. like a beggar at Hallowmas." The Romans conquered the territory occupied The transatlantic migration of the 19th century by the Celts and ruled over the land for 400 took Halloween to America where it has evolved years. Over the course of time, two Roman further and is recognised in many States as a festivals were combined with Samhain. One was holiday. They also adopted the ‘Trick or Treat’ called Feralia, a day in late October when the element which fortunately has not caught on Romans commemorated the passing of the here, probably due to such behaviour not being dead. The second honoured Pomona, the Roman seen by our police as terribly amusing :o) Goddess of fruit and trees. Pomona’s symbol is Willie the apple and was incorporated into the celebration of Samhain. This probably explains our modern day tradition of dookin for apples. 22 Pitlochry Life

Malcolm Appleby Designer, Engraver, Silversmith, Goldsmith Shop Open By Appointment 10-5 (not Sundays) swapp@dircon.co.uk

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This Month’s Easy Sudoko 7

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

7 3 4

4 1

7 8

1 6

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!

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supportive environments. The focus is on sharing and learning from each other. In addition to our whole group talks we also offer interest groups ranging from a Book Group to Mah Jong. All groups are led by one of our members and the emphasis is on learning from each other and having fun while doing so. Our meetings will be held in accordance with Scottish Government Covid-19 Guidance. Please remember to bring a mask. For further information please visit our website (https://u3asites.org.uk/pitlochry/welcome) or contact Sandra Cairncross (Secretary) on smcairnx@hotmail.com with any queries.

Moulin and Pitlochry History Circle The next meeting of the Moulin and Pitlochry History Circle will be on Monday October 25th at 7.30 within the Pitlochry Tryst. The speaker will be Lesley Whitwood who will talk on "Where have all the churches gone?" An overview of the churches of the area from Aberfeldy to Blair Atholl, those that have survived, those that have changed use and those that have disappeared. This also considers the social and religious changes that have caused this variation.

Vale of Atholl Pipe Band I'd just like to say once again who happy we were to manage to put on 8 Highland Nights this year and hopefully we'll get the full season next year. By the time you read this, we'll have played at Scone Palace at the Scottish Game Fair so it'll be interesting to see how they organised all of it. We've also got a few “Beat Retreats” at the Royal Yacht Britannia to play at in October, so we're being kept busy. Practices are still taking place at the Tulloch Institute in Perth. Learners, novice and Grade 4 on a Tuesday night, so you can imagine what a busy night that is....... and Grade 3 on a Wednesday night. It'll soon be time to think about our Junior Solo Competition again and there are still no lets being done in the schools..... oh the problems this virus has caused!! Anyone interested in learning to play pipes and drums should contact our lead tutor, Gary Nimmo, on valetutorlead@hotmail.com for further information. Gillie McNab 07733152223 gmcnab00@aol.com

Edradour Pitlochry & Blair Atholl Pipe Band Finally back together again. We had our first get together on the day that should have been the World Pipe Band Championships. A bit of practice, a bit bag tying in and a bit barbecue in a fantastic location in Glen Tilt. We have returned to Blair Atholl Hall for our weekly Wednesday practices and had another outdoor practice and barbeque in Glen Tilt, for what should have been Pitlochry Highland Games. Many thanks to Macdonald Brothers Butchers for their excellent food. We are in the process of making plans for restarting the learners tuition and will have more information very soon. If you are interested in joining the band or would like more information, please contact Pipe Major Christy Kelly 01796 472692 or Secretary Claire Scott 01796 481456. Continued on page 26

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Walk for Parkinson's Scone Palace, Perth Sunday 10 October Join us for a 1 or 5 mile walk around the beautiful gardens at Scone Palace.

Sign up now: events.parkinsons.org.uk/walksconepalace Parkinson’s UK is the operating name of the Parkinson’s Disease Society of the United Kingdom. A charity registered in England and Wales (258197) and in Scotland (SC037554). © Parkinson’s UK

C reated in RightMarket - 3/8/2021 - 12:14:18

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Riding For The Disabled Breadalbane & District Group This has been a very busy and rewarding term with much progress being made at all levels. We had 12 children attending most Monday mornings in 3 groups of four, six of whom came for the first time. They very quickly ‘picked up the reins’ and are starting to work towards Achievement awards. Some of our riders who have been coming for a while are enjoying the independence that their ability allows. We have also been lucky enough to be given the use of several new ponies giving us the flexibility to match rider to pony. More exciting news is that we have a new coach in our group. One of our volunteers has been training over the past 18 months to become a RDA coach and has now just completed all modules required and been awarded her coaching badge. She is already a huge asset to the group and achieving her qualification is a great boost for everyone. Our biggest and most worrying problem has been the shortage of volunteers. Some days we have had to cut short the riding time because of the lack of helpers. We do desperately need some more help (previous experience with ponies is not essential). If you think you could help on Monday mornings during the summer and early autumn terms please do get in touch with Jennifer Valentine on 01796 474444. Don’t forget to look out for Ed Bracher (our RDA chief executive) as he runs in the London marathon hoping to raise £25,000.

Atholl Centre Community Larder (this is not the food bank) –we are open 24/7 for anyone to come and help themselves to food. Most of the food is ‘Best Before’ ambient goods from Coop Food Share scheme, which helps to reduce food waste. Individuals may also leave any ambient food items to share with others, or even surplice garden grown veg and fruit. NB. We cannot hold meat, dairy, or frozen produce. Food Bank – We are open 2 days a week from 10am to 5pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and for emergency parcels, we are contactable out with these times. Donation can be left at the Atholl Centre entrance in the blue box, day or night. For emergency referrals phone 07397 884453. We are so pleased to receive the Community Fund donation from the Pitlochry Coop. Generous donations of food & money continue from our very supportive community. Changing Places Toilet –Our new facility is now open. This large disabled person accessible room has a toilet, a hoist, a changing couch, and a shower. It is available to anyone and their carer where extra assistance is required. This could be for a visitor to the area for a holiday or just a day visit, a member of your family wanting to visit but were unable to do so as your loo is too small, someone just out of hospital and waiting for suitable adaptations to take place. The location and details will soon be on the appropriate App. Just give Helen or Iain a phone to arrange a key. Tel. 07397 884453. Atholl Baptist Centre Ltd, Registered Charity SC015113 Iain Walker, Atholl Centre, Atholl Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5BX Continued on page 32

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Willie’s Wonky Computer Factory Microsoft have now announced that their free upgrade to Windows 11 will start on October 5th. With more than 1.3 billion devices running Windows 10 newer eligible devices will be offered the upgrade first. The upgrade will then roll out to everyone else based on intelligence models that consider hardware eligibility, reliability metrics, age of device and other factors that impact the upgrade experience. They expect all eligible devices to be offered the free upgrade to Windows 11 by mid-2022.

minimum system requirements for Windows 11, but it also noted that those requirements might change after the company factored in feedback from testers in its Windows Insider program. These requirements can be found here www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ windows-11-specifications but you will need to check back occasionally are they may change. Some of the specifications are fairly technical and the majority of us will just not understand what some of the terms mean. Because of If you have a Windows 10 PC that’s eligible for this I would expect Microsoft to iron out their the upgrade, Windows Update will let you know problems with the PC Health App and relaunch when it’s available. You can also check to see if it before 5th October. Windows 11 is ready for your device by going to If too impatient, there are a number of third Settings > Windows Update and select Check party apps that can scan your computer and for updates. check it against all the Win 11 minimum requirements, just Google ‘Win 11 compatibility check’. However, the easiest to use and understand is probably WhyNotWin11 found at https://github.com/rcmaehl/WhyNotWin11 just scroll down that page to Download and click the Download latest stable release link. It will download by default to your Downloads Folder, where you execute the program. The results are colour coded and easier to understand.

Because this is a free upgrade, Microsoft recommend that if you are currently thinking of buying a new PC - don’t wait. You can get all the benefits of a new Windows 10 PC and upgrade to Windows 11 for free when your turn comes. The upgrade experience was meant to be simplified by utility named PC Health Check to allow everyone to determine whether or not their PC was suitable for the upgrade. However, Microsoft withdrew the tool from circulation, citing issues with its “level of detail or accuracy.” If your computer won’t upgrade, keeping with In other words, it was telling many users that their hardware couldn’t run Windows 11, but it Win 10 is the right choice. Microsoft will support Win 10 until October 2025 and they recently wasn’t telling them why. announced that the next feature update to Win To partially make up for the loss of the PC Health 10 is also coming later this year. Check app, Microsoft published more detailed Willie 28 Pitlochry Life

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Rotary Club of Pitlochry Our first in-person social event, the Putting Competition, was a huge success thanks not only to the able organisation of Dougal Spaven, but the large number of Rotarians who turned out for the event. Good fun was had by all and the competition was fierce, but it was Linda Watt (Ladies’) and Neil Panton (Men’s) who were declared the worthy medal winners this year! September also saw the long-awaited resumption of our meetings at Fishers Hotel. We meet on Tuesdays, but some of our meetings will still take place via Zoom, so if you are thinking of joining us at one of our Rotary meetings to learn more about Rotary and to meet us in person, best would be to make contact with our Club Secretary via email: secretary@pitlochry.rotary1010. org to confirm the venue and time. By the time this issue lands at your door in October, we would likely also have hosted our first Fundraising Event, Rotary’s Annual Golf Challenge Day, which we will report on in the November issue! If you have not yet “LIKED’’ us on Facebook, please visit: www.facebook.com/pitlochryrotaryclub for up to date news as it happens!

Pitlochry and Moulin Heritage Centre The Pitlochry and Moulin Heritage Centre, located in Moulin Square, is open daily from 2-4pm. Come along and take a step back in time through a fascinating journey of our local history, discovering artefacts and old stories you might never have known. We have some great displays including shop and homestead displays, with a range of household items which would have featured in the home back in the day, a military display, information on our local schools, artefacts from the local Highland Games and a Sporting display, featuring some local sporting stars, kindly sponsored by RW Bell Building Services. We also have a great display of old photographs of Pitlochry and Moulin. Come along to find out more. £3pp entry or free for members and under 16s. A great afternoon out for the family, local and visitor! We’ll be open until late October, when we then close for the winter so make sure you don’t miss out. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for full details. And if you have some time on your hands and would like to get more involved, we love to welcome new volunteers. The Centre is run by volunteers and stays open only through local support, visitors and donations. So we hope to see you soon. For more details, please contact us through our Facebook page “Pitlochry and Moulin Heritage Centre” or our website www.pitlochryandmoulinheritagecentre.co.uk

Pitlochry Hospital Car Service After a year of rules and regulations the Pitlochry Hospital car service was able to provide a service to the local community once again as of the 7th June 2021. Firstly, I would like to thank all our volunteers who agreed to pick up the driving gloves again and also to some new ones who will help to share the load! We are always ready to welcome new drivers!! We intend to operate as in the past;- anyone wishing a lift to PRI or 9wells must phone the surgery

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The Pitlochry Garden October Too wet. Too cold. Too dry. Too hot. How can we deal with these extreme conditions as they alter what we can grow in our gardens and how we can use our outdoor space?

very low and even if it rains, allowing for run-off from hard clay or paved surfaces, only a few inches will be moist. Under that is a deep layer of bone-dry clay.

At times this summer it has been pretty warm for Scotland and being able to get outside the house and sit in a semi-shady spot is just bliss. Most of the time we wish for a sunny, south-facing garden but it may turn out that a north-facing garden will be much more pleasant.

Usually gardeners can rely on the fact that the lower soil levels stay damp even if the top layers are dry and that rain averages at about two to three inches a month. But now what happens is long spells of dry weather, followed by torrents.

Take a look at your shady spots now and think about using them for a cool place to sit and eat. A good shade tree, even if it is next door, may also be a blessing. Shading the house may also be a helpful ploy; even screening out direct sun with tall grasses or clumps of bamboo would help to keep south-facing rooms a bit cooler. In other hot countries south-facing windows are protected with verandahs, loggias or pergolas with vines and large-leaved climbers scrambling over the supports. Does all this heat mean we can start growing olives and grapes? Maybe in some places near the sea but in the middle of the country it will still be just as cold so stick to really frost-hardy plants. If the polar vortex destabilises and lets cold air spill southwards it is just possible that we will experience periods of intense cold. The wind is just as often from the cold, dry north and east as it is from the warm, wet south and west. Drought is becoming much more frequent in Scotland. Now, in early September, the rivers are 34 Pitlochry Life

This unpredictable water supply causes huge problems for farmers and also for gardeners. To protect plants from both extremes we need to add plenty of compost to improve the retention of moisture during dry periods and at the same time, plenty of horticultural grit to keep the soil open when there is excessive rainfall. Raising important planting areas for vegetables and soft fruits will help to protect your food crops. Cloches, greenhouses and tunnels will also help to maintain consistent conditions over the whole season. In between these extreme episodes we can expect long periods of overcast, mostly dry and fairly cool weather. While the weather during these times is not very exciting, it is also not predictable, nor is it the sort of weather that helps plants to grow evenly. Successful survival for all of us depends on reducing the things driving this change as fast as we can and mitigating for the effects that are already upon us. Sheila Drummond

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• Unrivalled knowledge of the local property market • Free market appraisal • High Street offices in Pitlochry and Aberfeldy • National advertising through Rightmove, OnTheMarket and PSPC • Virtual and video tours available • Professionally prepared floor plans • Optional professional photography, and aerial photography • In-house legal services • Honest, reliable advice you can trust What to expect Our emphasis is on delivering a high standard of individual customer service to all our property clients here at J & H Mitchell. Our Property Manager Louise Foley is here to guide our clients effortlessly onto the property market from market appraisal to conveyancing, fully supported every step of the way by our friendly and experienced team of solicitors.

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Pitlochry Life 39

Walk With Me…

The Distilleries, Blair Athol and Edradour Distance - 3.25 miles. Time - 1.5 - 2 hours. Ascent - 145m. Visit both Pitlochry distilleries with an easy woodland walk, on good paths and minor roads. During the summer months both are open for guided tours, Monday to Saturday 10.00am – 5.00pm. Blair Athol Distillery is open 12noon - 5.00pm on a Sunday, however Edradour is closed on a Sunday, keep that in mind if you fancy a wee dram and guided tour. Starting from the centre of town (Atholl Road), head south, towards Perth and under the railway line, using the underpass on the right hand side. Cross back to the left and you will find Blair Athol Distillery, home of Bells Whisky and one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, established in 1798. They draw water from the Alt Dour burn to produce their famous 12 year old single Blair Athol Malt - which can only be bought at the distillery. Keep heading south and after passing a row of bungalows you will see a blue sign on a lamppost for ‘Black Spout Car Park’. Turn left here and pass under the railway again. Continue until you reach the car park and follow the clearly marked route along a dirt track to the left which takes you to a path through oak woods. The golf course on the left belongs to the Atholl Palace Hotel. After a short distance you will see a sign to Black Spout Waterfall where there is an excellent platform giving superb views of the 190feet (60m) Black Spout Waterfall and gorge below. It is quite spectacular after heavy rain. Continuing along the path following signs for Edradour Distillery, once out of the oak woods, the path follows the edge of farm fields giving spectacular views towards Ben Vrackie (2,759ft high) and the village of Moulin. As the walk approaches Edradour it passes a stone cottage and emerges at the distillery. Edradour is world renowned as the smallest traditional distillery in Scotland, established 1825. Now turn left and follow the road for a short 40 Pitlochry Life

distance until you reach a farm gate on your left just before a set of ornamental stone gate posts. Follow the marked and enclosed path (can get overgrown in summer) as it skirts the edge of a field and then heads downhill with good views over Pitlochry. The path meets a grassy track, signposted for Pitlochry. Turn left onto it and continue through a gate back into Black Spout Wood. The path then meets a larger track where you turn right, downhill. Ignore other paths until you reach a wide bend and take the path branching off to the right following a yellow marker signed for Pitlochry. Continue until you cross a wooden bridge and turn left following the Kinnaird Burn. Ignore a path to the right which leads to the Atholl Palace Hotel. You will soon come to a junction, marked by a large triangular stone, continue to the right (ignore the optional riverside loop to the left). At the next junction also keep right and you will soon come to a road where you turn left and walk down past the entrance to the Atholl Palace Hotel. You emerge at the railway bridge with the underpass. Turn right on the main road and return to the centre of Pitlochry.

For more walks, keep an eye on our website at www.pitlochrylife.co.uk/getout

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to find out which of us is currently on duty and then you phone that person. That person will then find a driver for you. The drivers have all had their vaccinations and will wear masks. We ask that all clients wear masks and that all will abide by the current rules at the time. We would like to stress that our Drivers are volunteers, we are not trained in any other way for the job. If anyone needs assistance we would ask that they get someone to accompany them. It is good to be moving into a more positive time and we are pleased to be here to help the community again. Barbara 472058.

Pitlochry Covid19 History Project – Last Call We want to gather and display material for future generations to find out what went on in the Pitlochry and surrounding area during the Covid19 pandemic 2020 / 2021. This will be stored and displayed by the Pitlochry and Moulin Heritage Centre in Moulin Kirk and curated in conjunction with them. We are looking for any stories, anecdotes, personal feelings, poems, diary pages, pictures, drawings, posters and any item which relates to how the community worked together and how the country responded during these unprecedented times. We hope to get material from children, parents, the school, students studying at home, NHS staff, care home staff, care home residents, those shielding and anyone else affected by the pandemic or who were involved in making sure that our society still functioned. The Heritage Centre can retain any items on loaned or a gifted basis, based on your choice. All items loaned or donated would be recorded on the Heritage Centre gift register. To help us record the items accurately, it would be great if you could include your name and address and confirm whether you would prefer for the item to be loaned or donated as part of the Heritage Centre collection. If you have any material, please send to Atholl Centre, Atholl Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5BX , email to admin@athollcentre.org.uk or contact Iain Walker on 07397 884453. Alternatively pop it through our letter box at the Centre which is situated behind the Baptist Church.

Growbiz Review and Reach Your Business Goals with GrowBiz After a busy summer, it’s a good opportunity to use this generally quieter period to plan for the winter ahead. It may be that you need to review your marketing plan, organise your finances or update your digital presence. Here’s how GrowBiz can help: Refocus — Get help to achieve your business aims by requesting a 1-1 session with an advisor who has extensive experience in running their own business. They can help talk through your current challenges and provide support to reach your goals. Reorganise — Do you need help making a business or marketing plan or cashflow projection? The learning resources available on our website include helpful templates to show you how to accomplish these vital aspects of running a successful business. Renew — Is it time you updated your website, got to grips with Instagram, or managed your time better? Our interactive learning sessions are just what you need to develop new skills in a relaxed and friendly environment. Revitalise — Join one of our inspirational networking events for a motivational boost. Hear from Continued on page 46

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local business owners like you who’ve successfully grown, learn from their examples, ask questions and network with other attendees. Restart — Is something in your own personal development holding you back? Perhaps you lack confidence, or find it difficult to make decisions. Join our award-winning mentoring programme and we’ll match you with a trained mentor who can help you reach your next step. Recall — Bring your business to mind by listing it with REDS (Rural Enterprise Directory Scotland). REDS is GrowBiz’s online directory and gift card scheme to help small businesses doing great things be more visible. Find out more at www.reds.scot Take a look at all of GrowBiz free and confidential services for rural businesses at www.growbiz. co.uk or email connect@growbiz.co.uk to request a session with one of our advisors.

Pitlochry Flower Club Our next meeting of our winter programme is on Wednesday 13th October at Pitlochry Hydro Hotel at 2pm. Jane Gordon is the demonstrator and her title is "Let’s Celebrate". There is a competition for members "Harvest Time". Please your entry along. There will be a raffle where you may be one of the lucky ones to win one of Jane's arrangements and there will also be a sales table, so please arrive a little early. We are a small club and new members are welcome at any time. Visitors will also be made most welcome, a small charge of £7 is made. Do come along and have a fun afternoon with friends and flowers. For more information, please contact Janice Needham (01738 629933, needham914@btinternet. com) or Lynda Gardiner (01796 472157, lynda.gardiner@talk21.com)

Climate Cafe, Pitlochry & District From small beginnings come great things” (proverb) The Climate Café network has been growing since 2015. It emerged from the heart of Scotland and now has sister cafes around the world. We are community led and provide an open space to support and encourage us to ask questions, have conversations or take action regarding climate change. The next few monthly meetings can be virtual or in person, Venue and date to be confirmed. For more information please contact:- Carol Aitken, 07932020733 or caaitken.naturaldesign@gmail.com Local Community Eco Hub: Thank you to everyone who has completed our short community engagement survey. Your opinions are very much appreciated so you can still fill it in online on our website, www.pitlochrycc.co.uk Or you can pop into Handam Refill Shop (behind Davidsons Chemist and Coffee Break) to pick up a paper copy. Climate Cafés and COP26 For nearly 30 years almost every country on earth has attended the UN global climate summits called COPs, (Conference of the Parties). This year will be the 26th United Nations climate change conference – giving it the name COP26. It is being hosted by the UK in partnership with Italy and will take place from 31st October to 12th November 2021 in the SEC along with other locations around Glasgow. In the lead up to and at COP 26, the Climate Café network will be working with Climate Reality Leaders www.climaterealityproject.org across the UK to organise climate conversations, take action and support communities and workplaces to start their own Climate Cafés. In Pitlochry, we are hoping to organise a number of workshops and a Zero Waste event over this period of time to acknowledge the importance of this conference taking place and connecting it to where we live. We will be advertising them soon.

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The Inaugural ‘Spirit of Perthshire’ Whisky Festival.

Organising a whisky festival can be a nerve-wracking experience. Organising one as we are coming out of lockdown is…. well, lets just say a few drams would be needed to steady the nerves. Sandy and I, following the success of our Virtual Whisky Festival last year decided to organise this event and teamed up with Castle Menzies in Aberfeldy to host it there. The castle is a trust and we decided that 50% of the profits would go towards the upkeep of this magnificent, historic seat of Clan Menzies. Is it a co-incidence that the clan moto is ‘Vil God I Zal’ God willing I shall?? We did decide that using the Menzies war cry ‘Geal 'us Dearg a suas’. (Up with the White and Red) was not going to be allowed on the day though, particularly as one of our exhibitors was an Englishman working for a Swedish distillery! So, what is needed for a whisky festival, we wrote a list: • Whisky • More whisky • A team of brand ambassadors to tell us about their whisky • Customers Simple really. Just to add another dimension to the festival we decided to host a Whisky Dinner on the Friday evening before the festival. So, what is needed for a whisky dinner? • Whisky • More whisky • A team of brand ambassadors to tell us about their whisky • Food • Customers The purpose of the festival was to showcase some of the amazing smaller distilleries and independent bottlers that are around delivering exceptional whiskies, predominately, but not exclusively Scottish, reference our Englishman with Swedish whisky. 50 Pitlochry Life

The festival itself comprised of two sessions 123pm and 4.30-7.30pm. We had decided to hold the festival on two floors – bottom and top, as the middle is used as an exhibition room by the castle. 64 flights and 15,000 steps were just two of the statistic on my smart watch, so not such a smart move using the top floor. Apparently, the top floor is the most haunted area of the castle. It was certainly full of spirits that day! At the time of planning, we had set out our objectives for the festival. We knew that due to the venue location, customers would have to make quite an effort to get there and would therefore be real whisky enthusiasts. We also had to take the dreaded ‘C’ word into consideration, so we limited numbers to the sessions. This worked for us on the day as the feedback was great. Customers and exhibitors were able to talk at length and learn much more about their whiskies than at a ‘normal’ festival. The atmosphere was relaxed with a constant level of conversation. Dramming was measured and controlled so everyone was able to enjoy the wonderful whiskies on offer and still be able to navigate the spiral stairs back down safely. Look out for information about the 2nd Spirit of Perthshire Whisky festival. Details will be out soon.

Ewan McIlwraith Robertsons of Pitlochry

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Climate Cafés: This article appeared recently in The Guardian and portrays the Climate Cafés as a global movement - here's the link: www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/04/anxiety-and-biscuits-climate-cafes-poppingup-around-world?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other BBC, Our planet Now. The BBC have created a public resource on their website, full of information on climate change. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5STsK03qtJ30tH41vsSNp5y/yourguide-to-life-on-earth There is masses of info about how climate change happens, how it might affect us, links to some great programmes and loads of tips about how we can help, for example through recycling, reusing, what we eat and how we travel.

Parking in the Black Spout Wood When you are visiting the Black Spout Wood please use the carpark provided. We have noticed that some visitors are parking on the side of the road which not only destroys the vegetation there but also and more seriously, damages the roots of the lovely oak trees which adversely affects their health. Pitlochry Path Group

Pitlochry Path Group Although individual members have been doing bits and pieces throughout social distancing etc – strimming and managing vegetation on their own or in very small groups, it was great to get together as the whole Path Group for the first time in a long time a few weeks ago. Loppers and pruners all at the ready our first Thursday morning task was to cut back trees and bushes on the Craigower Path from the red tin roof cottage to the main forestry track. Mission accomplished. The group had then planned to tidy up the path along the old A9. However, the powers that be (PKC Roads Department) asked us, for safety reasons, to postpone the task. This is now rescheduled for later in year. Our plan B was to clear all the cross drains on the wooded sections of the Ben Y Vrackie path. We have now also done further drainage maintenance further up the Ben. The paths have been seriously eroded by water some weeks ago. Weather conditions this year have been perfect for weeds! Strimming has continued. Please come and join us one Thursday morning. Our members meet for a few hours every second Thursday and are ably assisted and led by PKC Greenspace Ranger, Jeannie Grant. If you are interested in joining the group and fancy spending a few hours in the fresh air, helping maintain the path network, meeting new folk and making new friends please do not hesitate to contact Jeannie Grant on 01887 822 425 or 07788 190876 or Ian Sim on 07772 430434. Cheers.

Pitlochry Litter Action Group (part of Pitlochry in Bloom) There are still some visitors in Pitlochry and it is important that the town looks its best to encourage them to return and spend their money here. It is important that the town is really clean with no litter disfiguring the streets and green spaces. If you also think Continued on page 54

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this to be 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. We make sure that social distancing is maintained while litterpicking though this may not be legally required any more. 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 12th October. The dates for litterpicks in 2021 are as follows: November 9th, December 14th. We would like to thank those residents of Pitlochry who are not members of the litterpicking group and who also pick up litter when they see it. We know you do this and we are very grateful. For further information contact Roger West (rogerwest7@btinternet.com) 01796 474255 or Catherine Holmes (c.p.holmes47@btinternet.com) 01796 473400.

Pitlochry Bowling Club The continued, and unexpected, good summer weather allowed many good days for the bowlers to enjoy being on the green. Club competitions continued with the Jubilee Vase, which was played for on Friday 13th August, being won by Evelyn Humphrey and Zeke Muir (1st photo, Evelyn on the left) and the Club Pairs was won by John Greenshields and Campbell Durnian (2nd Photo, Campbell on the left), which was played on the 28th August. The 2 bowl pairs competition was held on Saturday 11th September, the winners being Val Wilson and Joe Osborne, (3rd photo, Val on the right). A friendly match on Sunday 12th September against Newtonmore was organised by Agnes Naylor, although Pitlochry lost the match an enjoyable day was had by all. The finals of the ladies and gents singles will be played on the 25th of September. All trophies will be presented at the season’s closing day on the 2nd of October. With the winter season soon upon us the club committee are confident that indoor short mat bowling will resume this year. Initially the club will be open on Friday evenings and hopefully thereafter short mat play will take place daily. New members are always welcome to come along, give bowling a try and join the club for unrestricted access to bowling events.

Mid Atholl Indoor Bowling Club Mid Atholl indoor bowling Club starts on Monday 4th October at 2pm in Mid Atholl Hall Ballinluig New members welcome Bowls can be supplied .Flat shoes must be worn. Frances Davidson Continued on page 56

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Blair Atholl Bowling Club Our Finals Weekend due to inclement weather was extended to over a week. They were some very close matches throughout, and most of the games were played under sunny skies. The results are as follows. Men's Pairs - Winners Ian Page / Sam Davie, runners up Paul Figures / Jim McCallum. Ladies Pairs - Winners Elizabeth Brown / Linda Newns runners up Maureen Walker / Tina Ashton Jones. Handicap - Winner Paul Figures / runner up Gwen Figures. Seniors - Winner Paul Figures / runner up Jim McCallum. Ladies Championship final - Winner - Elizabeth Brown ( our new Ladies champion) joint runners up Tina Ashton Jones / Maureen Walker. Men's Championship final - Winner Ian Page / runner up Sam Davie. ( Ian is our brand new champion ) Ian has had a great season and deserves to come out on top. A great final - very close ( 21 - 19 ) Finally, the club Triples was played a week later on a Sunday and the Winners were Ian Page / Gwen figures / Linda Newns and the runners up were Elizabeth Brown / Norrie McLaren / Jim McCallum. The season is coming to a close shortly but they are still only two games left to play. Watch this space.

Faskally Forest parkrun Come and join us on Saturdays at 9.30am by Loch Dunmore, Pitlochry to experience the joy of parkrun. parkrun is a free, weekly, timed 5km event which people may walk or run. It is open to all ages and abilities, aiming to increase participation in regular exercise. It is organised by the community, building friendships and improving confidence, mental health and wellbeing. The event is organised entirely by volunteers from the community, and aims to build healthier, happier lifestyles by encouraging regular exercise in fresh air, positive engagement with the local community to build relationships and friendships. The event is timed but is not a race, and encourages people to work towards their own goals, rather than it being a competitive event. Afterwards we go for a coffee and chat to a local venue. See www.parkrun.org.uk/faskallyforest for more information. We look forward to welcoming you.

Pitlochry Golf Club Ladies Section. As our season comes to an end our Club Championship Scratch and Handicap Finals took place on Sunday 29th August and the Senior Scratch competition on Saturday 4th September. The winner of the Club Championship was Janette Kennedy with Audrey Smith winning the Margaret MacCallum handicap trophy for a record 5th time. The Senior Scratch was won by Lynne Sweeney. We are also pleased to report that two of our young members Lauren Cameron and Isla Johnston are through to the final of the Coronation Foursomes to be played on the Eden course at St Andrews on 20th September. This is a national competition and a great achievement for our young members. Continued on page 58

56 Pitlochry Life

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We have played our remaining 2 friendly matches against Blairgowrie and Alyth with both ending in a very friendly draw. The annual putting competition held at the town putting green on 2nd August was won by Janette Kennedy. The closing game will be on Sunday 17th October and our Winter league will begin on Tuesday 19th October.

Pitlochry Tennis Club Pitlochry Tennis Club have been able to resume our Club Competitions this summer. Our American Tournament which was held on Sunday 22nd August was well attended and enjoyed by all who took part (the thought of a Pimms during the afternoon helped no end). After many tight games, the overall winner was Giles Conisbee who was presented with the Silver Plate. The Men's Singles Final which was a hard fought match, took place on Saturday 5th September between Giles Conisbee and Rob Thompson. Giles started very strongly in the first set but ultimately Rob clawed his way back to take it on a tie break. After such a challenging first set the second went more easily for Rob who prevailed to take the title of Pitlochry Singles Champion this year. Rob was presented with the Mercantile Association Shield. Our thanks go to all who took part in the competition, all those who came down to watch and to Jimmy Robertson for organising the competition.

Heartland Film Society At last our programme’s coming together and we’re looking forward showing our first film, The Truffle Hunters, on Sunday 17 October - the long-awaited arrival of the latest Bond movie, No Time to Die, having made it rather later than originally planned. (See The Birks Cinema website for details.) The Truffle Hunters is an unusual, funny and enchanting film, ostensibly about seeking out the precious delicacies in the forests of Piedmont, but as much about the gnarled old hunters themselves and their relationships with their beloved dogs. So do come along to enjoy the film and maybe a few wee treats. You don’t have to be a member to attend HFS screenings, but we’d love you to join. Membership is still just £10.00 for 12 months and can bring special prices for HFS films, free access to our extensive library of films on DVD and the chance to engage with other film lovers. We’re also looking for new committee members – your chance to help plan programmes and special events. Contact us at: oscar@heartlandfilmsociety.org.uk or speak to any committee member. www.heartlandfilmsociety.org.uk and Facebook.

The Dunkeld & Birnam Art & Crafts Fair The Dunkeld & Birnam Art & Crafts Fair takes place from 1st to 3rd October in The Drill Hall The Cross Dunkeld from 10am to 5pm each day. An opportunity to get something different for Christmas gifts most crafts not seen on the High Street. Admission to the fair is free. Continued on page 60

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Pitlochry Life 59

Dunkeld & District Strathspey And Reel Society After a gap of 18 months since our last actual meeting we were delighted to resume our regular Monday evening music practices and to hear the sound of a fiddle orchestra once again – so much better than a practice by Zoom! Our meetings for the time being are in the Duchess Anne, The Cross, Dunkeld on Mondays at 7.30pm. We play an interesting variety of traditional Scottish music, old and new, under the direction and guidance of the well known local fiddle player and composer Pete Clark. We aim to focus for the coming months on music with a Perthshire connection, from Niel Gow to the present day. Potential new members are always welcome and further information can be obtained from our secretary Duncan Thomson. 07531 520476, duncanwthomson@yahoo.co.uk

Moulin Scottish Country Dance Class Moulin Hall, Pitlochry 7.30pm Come along and join us for some Scottish Country Dancing and the odd Ceilidh dance. No experience required, all levels of dancer welcome. Great exercise and fun, proven to be beneficial for both mind and body!!. No partner required, wear soft soled shoes. Class commences on 14th October and will also be on 21st & 28th Oct, November 11th 18th and 25th and 9th December. Admission £3.00 nightly. Further details contact June 01796 473488.

The Tryst Scottish Country Dance Group The Scottish Country Dance group will meet on Tuesdays from October 12th to December 7th, 2021 at 7.30pm in The Tryst Hall, Church of Scotland, Pitlochry, PH16 5EB. We are delighted to be able to meet up again to dance, have fun, enjoy the music and get fit. There will, of course, be some COVID restrictions and we will operate as safely as possible. Unfortunately we won’t be able to serve tea and coffee at the moment. Everyone will be made most welcome. £2.00 for RSCDS members, £2.50 for non-members For further information: Tel Linda on 01796 472366 or email the.gauls@btinternet.com

Rannoch History Society The Rannoch History Society has not met since February 2020 because of the Covid health crisis. The committee has now agreed that meetings will recommence in the spring of 2022. We are delighted that at our first meeting in March Mrs May Kennedy has agreed to give her recollections of changing life in Rannoch over the many decades since she came to live in Highland Perthshire. In April we will be honoured to welcome Professor Jim Hunter, a good friend of the Society. He will speak on ‘Insurrection’, the title of his book which tells the harrowing story of the winter famine of 1846 in the Scottish Highlands. Further details of both meetings will be publicised in due course. Continued on page 64

60 Pitlochry Life

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FITNESS with Alan Clinch

parkrun: What, Where, and Why? You might have heard of parkruns – at the beginning of September this year, there had been over 171,000 parkruns with nearly 2.5 million finishers. Add to that 320,000 volunteers who help run the events, and you begin to see that it’s something of a phenomenon. Since Covid restrictions were eased, parkruns in Scotland have been back on the calendar since August - pre-Covid there were 59 events in Scotland, and nearly all of them have been granted permission to restart. People of all ages, genders and ability are able to attend the event, and can choose to run, jog or walk alongside others in their community. What is it? The concept of parkrun is brilliantly simple: it’s a free to enter 5km run, which takes place every Saturday morning. In some locations there are 2km junior events on Sundays. Here’s how it works: First of all you need to find out where the nearest event is – for Pitlochry there is an event at Faskally Forest Park. This event started in March 2020, but sadly only managed to run two events before lockdown. After restarting in August 2021, there has been an average attendance of around 60 people. This is an excellent number, but the organisers are keen for more people to take part. Details can be found at www.parkrun.org.uk/faskallyforest/course and on page $$. There are also junior parkruns in Crieff and Perth, though certainly in my own experience there are plenty of youngsters eclipsing the adults in the 5k event at my local run!

www.parkrun.org.uk/register There are a whole series of FAQs on the page, so I won’t go into detail here. All of the links above are taken from the parkrun main page, so the easy thing to do is simply put parkrun’ into your search engine and take it from there. The parkrun’s website describes the event as ‘a positive, welcoming and inclusive experience where there is no time limit and no one finishes last. Everyone is welcome to come along, whether you walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate.’ The website also offers links to a blog and the dedicated parkrun YouTube channel….. so off you go! As ever…. if you haven’t exercised for a while, or have any medical conditions which might cause problems, check with your Doctor to ensure it’s safe to increase your activity levels. Remember, pain is a sign that something is wrong….

How can I take Part? That’s straightforward – first go to the parkrun registration page at - 62 Pitlochry Life

alan@pitlochrylife.co.uk

If you are visiting Pitlochry - You can’t miss it. Ben Vrackie (sometimes known as Ben Y Vrackie) forms part of the scenic background overlooking Pitlochry. Ben Vrackie translates as `speckled mountain` and comes from a time when white quartz rocks were scattered across its slopes. On a good clear day the view from the summit of 2,757 ft (841 m) is tremendous, with the Beinn a Ghlo range to the north and the sweep of Strathtay and Strathtummel to the west. In exceptional conditions, apparently it is possible to even see Arthur’s Seat to the south in Edinburgh. Ben Vrackie is a Corbett (a separate hill of between 2500 and 2999 feet in height). Thanks to the work of the Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust and the Pitlochry Path Group, the path is well-constructed for most of the route and offers a delightful walk by the Moulin Burn and then across heather moorland. Red grouse and red deer live on the hillside and even the shy mountain hare can sometimes be seen. Depending on your starting point, the walk is either 6 or 8 miles there and back.

From the car park the path is clearly marked here, through the trees lining Moulin Burn, until it reaches a deer fence at the edge of the moor where there is a gate. You’ve had it easy so far, but pretty soon you will get a good view of the summit and the task in hand - it is worth it! Along the way you cross some fairly bleak landscape, but there’s always a great view back to Pitlochry and the River Tummel below. Just stick to the main path all the way. You will see signs for the ‘Bealach Walk’ on the left, just ignore them and keep going. On the summit there is a horizontal dial indicating what’s visible from that point, including Ben Lawers, Schiehallion, the Cairngorms and like I said, Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. The view is simply spectacular and one of the best in the southern Highlands. Return by the same path and a well earned Braveheart Ale, or two, at the Moulin Inn.

As with all hill climbs, try to pick a clear day, as low cloud will obliterate your view. In spite of the accessibility of the mountain from Pitlochry, Starting from Pitlochry, follow the A924 road to the safety precautions and the equipment always Moulin (a distance of under a mile) and turn left required for mountain walks are just as essential at the Moulin Inn. Follow the road and signs as on more isolated hills - weather conditions for a few hundred yards to a small car park. It is can change just as quickly here, so take good however worth remembering that the car park care and always be well prepared. at Moulin is very small and, on busy days, it Willie might be wiser to leave your car in Pitlochry.

The Hair Studio On Friday 24th of September The Hair Studio closed its doors for the last time. After 37 Years service Anne is laying down her scissors for a very well earned retirement. Unfortunately due to ill health at the moment, Anne did not work with us for these last few weeks. Mixed emotions all round, sad to be closing, happy for Anne to be getting to put her feet up and devastated that she won’t be able to work with us as everything comes to a close. 37 years service for Anne, 16 years for Pauline and 10 years for Iona! We would all like to thank you for your loyalty, support and friendship over the years. The many, many ladies who came in to the salon week on week for the last 37 years for Anne to keep them looking smart. Each and every one of you whether you were in the salon every week, reluctantly twice a year or everything in between, it has been an absolute pleasure. Although Anne is hanging up her hairdryer, Pauline and Iona can continue to look after your hair should you wish them to. A daunting prospect for many of you to have to trust a new hairdresser after all this time but we have had the best role model in Anne. We will all miss The Hair Studio and remember our time there fondly. Thank you all - Anne, Pauline & Iona.

Pitlochry And District Choral Society After our enforced break due to Covid restrictions, we are resuming our choir rehearsals again, albeit in a different form. In order to comply with Covid rules the choir is split into two groups: Choir A from September 15th and Choir B from September 22nd. The rehearsals for each choir are on alternate Wednesdays in The Tryst at 7.45 and we urgently need more basses! For our Christmas Concert we are hoping to perform Vivaldi's Gloria plus Christmas Carols in Fishers' Hotel under the direction of our Conductor Colleen Nicoll and our accompanist Andrew Johnstone. Some of us, however, managed to sing in an outdoor session at the Serenity Garden in the summer. Contact for further information - lesleywhitwood@btinternet.com

Music In Blair Atholl 2021 Sunday 31st October 3pm, The Ballroom, Blair Castle. Recital By Emmanuel Despax, Bach-Busoni – Chaconne in D minor, Liszt – Ballade no.2 in B minor, Schubert – Fantasy in C, D760 (Wanderer). There will be no interval, tea and shortbread will be served after the recital. All welcome. Tickets: £15. Under 16s £7.50 www.musicinblairatholl.co.uk alaviniagordon@gmail.com 01796 481230. Continued on page 66

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Pitlochry Life 65

Arthritis Awareness In Atholl (AAA) Early in 2020, after many years in operation ,AAA sadly, held its last meeting. However, due to Covid 19 restrictions, it is only now that the committee have been able to meet in order to finalise the organisations finances. In addition to meeting monthly, a key objective of AAA was to raise monies for the Scottish Network for Arthritis in Children (SNAC) plus smaller sums for locally based charities and initiatives. To that end over the past 7 years, AAA donated a total of £8100 of which £5800 went to SNAC and £1600 to the Community Bus. Other recipients were donations to Moulin Hall, Air Ambulance and Lovat Lodge. A final donation of £829.96 is being forwarded to SNAC. The long standing AAA committee did sterling work over many years and much thanks is due to them plus immediate past Presidents - Dr Christopher Grant and latterly Dr David Cruikshank. Thanks also due to past Chairs, the membership and the numerous individuals and organisations who gave highly interesting talks and entertainment during the life of AAA. Hugh Mackintosh.

Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Threat to Perthshire’s red squirrels as greys reappear in Aberfeldy Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is urging local people to be on high alert and report sightings of grey squirrels in Aberfeldy, following worrying reports in recent days. Known as a safe haven for red squirrels, grey squirrels are not typically seen in the Aberfeldy area. The main threat to the red squirrel’s future in Scotland is the spread of grey squirrels. A non-native invasive species, grey squirrels out-compete reds for food and living space and can also carry squirrelpox, a virus which doesn’t harm them but is fatal to red squirrels. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) is working in key areas across Scotland to reduce the spread of grey squirrels. In Tayside, the project is focused on what is known as the ‘Highland Line’ – a 10km-wide strip which runs from Montrose, through Kirriemuir, Dunkeld, Crieff and beyond to the west. Thanks to ongoing conservation efforts along the Highland Line, Aberfeldy and the surrounding area has typically been considered a safe haven for our native species. This changed in the summer and autumn of last year when there were at least three grey squirrel sightings near Crieff Road and ‘The Birks of Aberfeldy’. With support from the local community a grey squirrel was removed from nearby Pitlochry, but despite concerted efforts the Aberfeldy greys had not been spotted again until this month. Now two confirmed sightings on Chapel Road have raised the alarm once more. Tayside Conservation Officer Ann-Marie MacMaster said: “These recent sightings are a cause for concern because it could suggest that the grey squirrels spotted last year have now bred. If grey squirrels established themselves in the area, this would have devastating consequences for the local red population. “We are asking everyone in the Aberfeldy area to keep their eyes peeled for grey squirrels and report any sightings direct to our project website, www.scottishsquirrels.org.uk” Ann-Marie added: “To those in Aberfeldy who have grey squirrels visiting their garden and wish to take a proactive approach, SSRS staff can lend traps and provide training and ongoing support. Those with a trap will be paired with an experienced dispatcher. Continued on page 68

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Do You Have Fruit Trees In Your Garden? Last autumn on our lockdown walks round the town we noticed many unpicked fruit trees in Pitlochry gardens and thought this to be a great waste. This year we would like to ask fruit tree owners if they would like someone to pick the fruit for them and give the surplus to those in the community who would like it. If you have fruit trees which you cannot pick yourself and would be willing to donate the fruit please let me know. Alternatively we can arrange for the apples from your trees to be professionally made into apple juice and bottled in 1 litre bottles at a cost of about £2 a litre. This will not be mixed with other apples, will keep for a year and can be labelled with your name or house name. Also if you would be willing to join a team of fruit pickers do get in touch. Catherine Holmes (c.p.holmes47@btinternet.com) 01796 473400.

St Bride’s Catholic Church Parish Priest: Fr. Neil Gallagher Rie-Achan, Pitlochry PH16 5AL Tel. No: 01796 472174 E-mail address: stbridespitlochry@dunkelddiocese.org.uk Also served by St. Bride’s: St. Columba’s, St. Mary’s Road, Birnam, Dunkeld, PH8 0BJ Our Lady of Mercy’s, Home Street, Aberfeldy, PH15 2AL Sunday Mass Times: St. Columba’s Birnam, Saturday Vigil Mass at 6.00pm Our Lady of Mercy’s, Aberfeldy Sunday at 9.30am St. Bride’s, Pitlochry Sunday at 11.30am Fr. Neil is continuing to make steady progress following his accident and is hoping to resume the usual weekday Masses in November.

Aberfeldy, Dull and Weem and Grantully, Logierait & Strathtay Parish Churches Minister – Rev. Neil Glover – nglover@churchofscotland.org.uk 07779 280074. PA – Judy Ewer – judy.ewer@adwgls.org.uk 07836 565528. Sunday Morning Worship Dull and Weem Parish Church – 9.30am Please consult the website for the current information on our services www.dullandweemparish.org Strathtay, Grantully and Logierait Parish Churches - 10.30am Please consult the website for the current information on our services www.glschurchofscotland.org Continued on page 70

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Aberfeldy Parish Church - 10.30am Please consult the website for the current information on our services. www.aberfeldyparishchurch.org We continue to hold weekly online services through our YouTube Channel - Churches Together Upper Tay and Tenandry. We also ‘meet up’ at a weekly Zoom Service - details can be found on all the Church Websites. Church Based Activities Unfortunately, most of other church - based activities are currently suspended. Prayer meetings, coffee mornings, lunch clubs etc. However, two groups have been able to start again in Aberfeldy Parish Church Aberfeldy Alcoholics Anonymous – Aberfeldy Parish Church, Lawers Hall Tuesday 7.30 – 9pm (Please note, this announcement reflects a change in day and time) Aberfeldy Quilting – Aberfeldy Parish Church, Lawers Hall Thursdays - 11.am – 1pm on a fortnightly basis. Contact Jane – 07771641390 or Annette - 07736384035 Please look at the church website for the latest information. Funerals Aberfeldy, Dull and Weem Parish Churches and Grantully, Logierait and Strathtay are able to offer funeral services. These services follow the latest guidelines from the Scottish Government and The Church of Scotland. Weddings Please contact Rev. Neil Glover if you want to hold a wedding. Church Website Information Aberfeldy Parish Church www.aberfeldyparishchurch.org Dull and Weem Parish Church www.dullandweemparish.org Grantully. Logierait and Strathtay Parish Church www.glschurchofscotland.org

Pitlochry Baptist Church Atholl Road, PH16 5BX www.pbcweb.net Pastor: Rev David Barrie (pastor@pbcweb.net) Keep up to date with us on both Facebook and Instagram Sundays: We gather from 10:30am at our church building on Atholl Road. If you’re exploring faith or looking for a place to call home, come as you are and join us. Our provision for the younger ones include crèche (babies and pre-school), His Kidz (primary-aged children). We look forward to welcoming you. Community: We love being a part of our community - whether that’s Pitlochry, Kirkmichael, Kinloch Rannoch, Blair Atholl, Aberfeldy, and so on. Below is a selection of initiatives we thought you would like to know about: •

Community Larder - situation outside the Atholl Centre. Bring, or take, whatever is there. Everything is free and for the benefit of the community. Continued on page 72

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•

Food Bank - situated in the Atholl Centre behind our building. Contact 01796 473044, 07397884453, 07747755194, admin@athollcentre.org.uk for information. • Heart & Soul - hosted by regular presenters Howard Simpson and David Wilkie who bring a topical mix of music, chat, news, community focus and issues, plus interviews every Sunday from 8-9am • Sounds Inspirational - regular hosts bring an hour of spiritual and Christian music, with a wee bit of chat thrown in as well. Every Tuesday from 7-8pm on Heartland FM. • Stay & Play (babies and toddlers group) - relaunching on Wednesday 25th August 10am12noon. Stay & Play is a meeting place for anyone caring for a child or children under nursery school age: mums, dads, grannies & granddads, child-minders and all the rest. For the children there is plenty of play, crafts, singing and energy sapping fun. Events: Pitlochry’s Alpha Course - Beginning Sunday 3rd October. Alpha is a place to share your thoughts and explore the meaning of life. The course is designed primarily for people who don’t go to church or who haven’t been to church in a long time and are interested in exploring aspects of the Christian faith. For more information check out our website at www.pbcweb.net and keep up to date with us on Facebook and Instagram.

The Scottish Episcopal Church in Highland Perthshire Offers All a Warm And Inclusive Welcome Part of the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane Rector: The Rev Canon Liz Baker 01796 472005: Email: bethmaybaker@yahoo.co.uk Lay Reader: Lesley Whitwood 01887 840416: Email: lesleywhitwood@btinternet.com Ordinand in Training: Rachael Wright Email: rwright.hplc@gmail.com Website: www.hplc.scot Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/highlandperthshirechurches/ The Episcopal Churches In Highland Perthshire October 2021 We are open and are delighted welcome you back into our churches as well as offering a continual programme of services and events online. But please check our Website for any updates or new developments which may occur. Holy Trinity Church, Perth Road, Pitlochry - Contact – Robin Baker - 01796 472005 . Family Service for Harvest Festival Sunday3rd October at 9.30am- Please bring produce suitable for the Food Bank. Paint the Sky with Stars – A Service on All Souls Night Tuesday 2nd November at 7.00pm. All welcome. Sunday Service – 9.30am Holy Communion or All Age Communion. Thursday Services – 10.30am Morning Prayer (also on Zoom) followed by Open Church. Tuesdays Serenity Garden Group – 10.30 am All welcome. Kilmaveonaig (St Adamnan’s Church), opposite former Tilt Hotel, Blair Atholl. Contact - Mrs. Lavinia Gordon 01796 481230. Family Service for Harvest Festival Sunday3rd October 11.15am – Harvest Produce welcome. Sundays at 11.15am – First Sunday Holy Communion or All Age Communion third Sundays, Holy Communion. Second and fourth Sundays Matins/ Morning Prayer or Communion by Extension. Continued on page 74

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Pitlochry Life 73

St Andrew's, Church, Strathtay, opposite the local shop. Contact - Ms. Lesley Whitwood 01887 840416. Harvest Festival Sunday 10th October at 11.15am – Harvest Produce welcome Sundays at 11.15am - First Sundays Mattins, second and fourth Sundays Holy Communion; third Sundays Matins/ Service of the Word/Communion by Extension; fifth Sundays Joint Service with Logierait Church of Scotland. House Group – Last Wednesday of the month contact Ms. Lesley Whitwood 01887 840416 for details. All Saints, Kinloch Rannoch Square Contact – Reverend Canon Liz Baker 01796 472005. 3rd October – 3.00pm Service for Harvest Festival - All welcome to bring harvest produce and good for the food bank Online Zoom Services And Events Sundays - 6.00pm Evening Services Thursdays - 10.30am Morning Prayer – from Holy Trinity Contact the Rector Liz for further details and Zoom invitations.

Jehovah’s Witnesses Can love conquer hatred ? The talk on the 10th will answer that question. You are welcome to join all of us at our meetings via Zoom; do get in touch for details. See you soon. Sunday 3rd October, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘Are You Conscious of Your Spiritual Need ?’, and a discussion: ‘Cherish Your Place in Jehovah’s Family (Psalm 8:5)’. Tuesday 5th October, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: Joshua 8, 9, ‘Lessons From the Account of the Gibeonites’, ‘What Can We Learn From the Covenant That Joshua Made With the Gibeonites ?’, ‘Show Humility (1 Peter 5:5)’, ‘Jehovah Loves Those Who Love His Son’. Sunday 10th October, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘Can Love Conquer Hatred ?’, and a discussion: ‘Are You Willing to Wait on Jehovah ? (Micah 7:7)’. Sunday 17th October, 10.30 a.m. A discussion: ‘Strengthen Your Faith in the Creator (Hebrews 11:1)’, and a series of talks: ‘Why Strengthen Our Faith Now ?’, “Faith Follows the Thing Heard”, ‘Help Others to Strengthen Their Faith’. Thursday 21st October, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: Joshua 12–14, ‘Follow Jehovah Wholeheartedly’, ‘“I Will Bring an End to Your Prostitution” Part 1 (Ezekiel 16:41)’. Sunday 24th October, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘Bearing Up Under Persecution’, and a discussion: ‘Find Joy in the Privileges You Have (Ecclesiastes 6:9)’. Thursday 28th October, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: Joshua 15–17, ‘Protect Your Precious Inheritance’, ‘Share the Good News That a Better World Is Near !’, ‘“I Will Bring an End to Your Prostitution” Part 2 (Ezekiel 16:41)’. Sunday 31st October, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘Trust in the God of All Comfort’, and a discussion: ‘“Taste” Jehovah’s Goodness—How ? (Psalm 34:8)’. Enjoy a free study of the Bible at a convenient time—ring or text 07 802 753 193. At www.jw.org you can study the Bible in the language of your choice, and you can find the Bible’s answers to life’s questions. 74 Pitlochry Life

The Pitlochry Crossword 1

By AANDA

10 11

14 17 19

18 20

ACROSS 1. Happen at the same time - dice icon in a way (8) 5. A chartered accountant and the C.I.A. makes a tree (6) 9. Edinburgh has one (8) 10. Group of trees (6) 12. Someone who delights in French, a French song and the Queen (9) 13. Two companies with a hot chocolate drink (5) 14. Old Scots (4) 16. In English it’s English, in French it’s la Manche (7) 19. Shopping malls Da cares about (7) 21. Movement of the sea produces diet (4) 24. Come in and take part in a competition (5) 25. Still made a winner (9) 27. Pitlochry river (5) 28. Enjoyment from pure sale anyway (8) 29. Distance or duration of time (6) 30. Expectation from props etc (8)

DOWN 1. A hundred away – ee! For a drink (6) 2. Bug found in special group (6) 3. Crockery from the country (5) 4. Called up for compulsory military service in the States (7) 6. Choir clad differently in Pitlochry (9) 7. Knockard’s one in Pitlochry (8) 8. Lay a cult out in fact (8) 11. He can make rice (4) 15. The carpet covers it (9) 17. Pearl tan divided the generation above (8) 18. Edinburgh newspaper or one born in Pitlochry (8) 20. Additions in books, um. Seriously (4) 21. A baby walker! (7) 22. Make weaker – girl with a musical instrument (6) 23. Atholl ------- in Dunkeld (6) 26. Gives out money (5) Answers for September on page 81

Pitlochry Life 75

Blair Atholl & Struan Linked With Braes Of Rannoch And Foss & Rannoch Interim Moderator: The Rev Grace Steele. Phone – 01887 820025, email – GSteele@churchofscotland.org.uk Session Clerk Blair Atholl & Struan Harold Ingram 01796 481275 Session Clerk Braes of Rannoch Mrs Veronica Grosset 01882 633344 Session Clerks Foss & Rannoch Robert and Elizabeth Anderson 01882632272 Services in Rannoch are held weekly, at 9.45am at Braes of Rannoch and 11.30am at the Old Church, Kinloch Rannoch. For services at Blair Atholl, please see the church noticeboard or contact the Session Clerk.

Pitlochry Church of Scotland Minister: Rev Mary Haddow (01796 472774) Website: www.pitlochrychurchofscotland.org.uk Sunday Service – 10.30am Government guidelines have moved us into another phase, and while much has been said about the removal of social distancing in certain situations and venues, within the church we are being encouraged to continue to observe 1m distancing in our buildings (as before, family groups/bubbles can sit together). Singing has been reintroduced in our worship services, although we continue to wear masks. In the meantime, phoning the church office on 01796 474010 by Friday lunchtime to give your name and phone number helps those on duty taking the details for Test & Protect, which is still in operation. We continue with Sunday Reflections on Facebook via video on the Pitlochry Church of Scotland Page. You can also access this on our YouTube Channel, while the on-line audio can be found on our website - www.pitlochrychurchofscotland.org.uk For those without internet access our dial-in audio can be reached by phoning the local number 01796 517004. We’re pleased that The Tryst is now open once again. For details and availability of hire for groups and classes, please contact the office: 9am – 12 noon Monday - Friday; tel 01796 474010; email thetryst@btconnect.com Rev Mary Haddow.

The Baha’i Faith Our Concerns and Our Activities The local Baha’i community warmly invites you to join in with our community prayer gatherings (online or in person), when we choose a theme of current or ongoing interest. You can also get in touch at any time to learn about the Baha’is and their beliefs and community activities. On Wednesdays we have a Junior Youth Group in Aberfeldy with a trained leader which has outdoor and indoor activities, open to all of 11 to 15 years old. On November 25th to 27th we’ll be entertaining, with a new film out, to celebrate the centenary of one of the three great early figures of the Faith. Regular readers will remember the story of His visit to Edinburgh in 1913 as the guest of the Moderator and his wife, Mrs Whyte, who were passionate about the unity of mankind. Information on the Faith is available on www.Bahai.org or we can lend books. For contact in your own area ring Hilarie on 07967 601423 or Rachel on 07707 994812 or rachelhelenab@hotmail.com 76 Pitlochry Life

NEW FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS By February 2022 ALL homes in Scotland are required by law to have smoke, heat and CO detectors fitted to meet the new regulations. The new regulations apply to ALL domestic properties regardless of tenure. Scan this For more information on the regulations ( QR code ) At R.W. Bell we have the knowledge, skills and experience to advise, install and maintain fire detection systems keeping you, your family and your tenants safe. All homes in Scotland must comply with the new regulations by 1st February 2022 Not only could you be saving lives but you could be protecting your home insurance and, if you are selling your property, improving your Home Report. Get your property ready now - If you need advice or want to book a free survey Call 01796 472263 or Email: general@rwbell.com

T : 01796 472263 E : general@rwbell.com www.rwbell.com

Pitlochry Life 77

Halloween Gingerbread Men Ingredients

300g plain flour 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 tsp ground ginger ½ tsp ground cinnamon 125g butter

100g soft dark brown or dark muscovado sugar 2 tbsp golden syrup 2 tbsp black treacle 100g royal icing Black edible food colour pen (optional)

Pitlochry 78 78 Pitlochry Life Life

Method Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Mix the flour, bicarb, ground ginger and ground cinnamon in a bowl. Put the butter, sugar, syrup and treacle in a pan and heat gently until melted. Pour into the flour mix and combine to a dough (if it feels too stiff, add a drop of water to help bring it together). Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work-surface to about ½cm thick. Cut into biscuits using a gingerbread man cutter, then gather up the off cuts, reroll and keep cutting until you have used up all the dough. Lay onto two baking-paper-lined baking sheets and cook for 12-14 minutes until dark golden brown. Cool completely. To decorate, put the royal icing in a bowl and mix in enough water (about 1-2 tbsp) until the texture resembles toothpaste. Use a piping bag with a very thin nozzle to pipe skeleton outlines on the biscuits. Leave to set, (then add faces with an edible food colour pen or writing icing, if you like) These will keep for 3-4 days in an airtight container. If transporting to a party, put sheets of baking paper between the biscuit layers to keep the icing from being damaged.

Halloween Cupcakes Ingredients

200g caster sugar 200ml vegetable oil 2 medium eggs ½ tsp vanilla extract 200g plain flour 20g cocoa powder ½ heaped tsp bicarbonate of soda 150g natural yogurt Marshmallow Meringue Icing 2 medium egg whites 100g caster sugar ¼ tsp cream of tartar Chocolate chips

Method Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with cupcake cases. Beat the sugar and oil, then beat in the eggs one at a time, adding the vanilla with the last egg. Mix the flour, cocoa and bicarb, then add half to the oil mixture, beat in well before adding the yogurt, then add the remaining dry ingredients. Divide between the cases and bake for 20 minutes. Leave to cool for a couple of minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. When you’re ready to serve, make the marshmallow icing. Put the egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar in a heatproof bowl and put over a saucepan of simmering water. Beat the mixture for 4-5 minutes with an electric whisk, until the sugar has dissolved, the whites are puffed and warm to the touch. Remove the bowl from the pan and put on a tea towel and continue to beat for another 2-3 minutes until the mix is glossy and stiff peaks form. Spoon into a piping bag with a large, round nozzle (or simply snip off the end) and pipe onto the cupcakes. Leave the ghosts to set for a minute or two, then use the chocolate chips to add spooky faces!

Pitlochry Life 79

The Atholl Medical Centre Ferry Road, Pitlochry. Tel: 01796 472558

Mon - Fri 8.00am - 6.00pm (Doors open at 8.30am) Except Wednesdays Closed 12.15 - 1.45pm Out with Surgery Hours NHS 24 - 111 Prescriptions - tay.amcprescriptions@nhs.scot

Pitlochry Community Hospital Ferry Road, Pitlochry. Tel: 01796 472052 Visiting Hours: GP Unit - Contact for further info. MIIU - Temporarily closed until further notice.

Kinloch Rannoch Medical Practice The Surgery, Kinloch Rannoch. Tel: 01882 632216

The Reception is open Mon - Fri 8.00am - 6.00pm Surgery Hours 9-10.15am, 2-3pm and 4-5pm. For all urgent appointments please phone reception Out with Surgery Hours NHS 24 - 111

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 Sun, Mon, Tues - Closed Wed 2.00pm - 4.00pm & 5.00pm - 7.00pm Thurs 10.00am - 12noon & 2.00pm - 7.00pm Fri 2.00pm - 4.00pm. Sat 9.00am - 1.00pm

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 Pitlochry Police Station

101

Perth & Kinross Council

01738 475000

Crimestoppers

0800 555 111

Adult Care Services

0845 301 11 20

Scottish Hydro

0800 300 999

Anti-Social Behaviour

01738 476173

Gas Emergency

0800 111 999

Council Housing Emergency

0845 301 11 10

Perth Royal Infirmary

01738 623311

Environmental Health

01738 625411

NHS 24

111

24hr Domestic Abuse

0800 027 1234

Infinityblu Dental Pitlochry

01796 470001

Infinityblu Dental Dunkeld

01350 729198

Citizens Advice Bureau

01738 450580

Homelessness

0800 917 0708

Roads & Flooding

01738 475000

Mental Health Services

0845 301 11 20

Samaritans

0845 909090

SSPCA 24Hrs

0300 999 999

Childline

0800 1111

Perthshire Women's Aid

01738 639043

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

80 Pitlochry Life

Answers to the September Crossword Across

1. UNSADDLE 5. ABLAZE 9. MOUNTAIN 10. PALACE 12. WAREHOUSE 13. HYDRO 14. BRAE 16. ALUMNAE 19. RED DEER 21. SPEW 24. SWARM 25. CRAIGOWER 27. OPORTO 28. KINNAIRD 29. DARACH 30. INTRIGUE

Down

1. UNMOWN 2. SQUARE 3. DUTCH 4. LEISURE 6. BOATHOUSE 7. ABANDONS 8. EYESORES 11. FETA 15. RHEUMATIC 17. FRESCOED 18. EDRADOUR 20. RACE 21. STATION 22. OWNING 23. BRIDGE 26. GONER

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with ONE magazine! Call Debbie on 0754 5299491 to secure your space Pitlochry Life 81

YOUR HOROSCOPE

For October 2021 By Astrologer Christine Chalklin October starts off with a potent new moon in Libra on the 6th. New moons are magical times of new beginnings and they are important for major lifestyle changes. Libra is the sign of the scales and this new moon offers an excellent opportunity to check out your sense of balance and take some time out to reflect on your overall wellbeing. The warrior planet Mars, also in Libra, helps us to weigh up our options in any challenging situations that we may find ourselves in. Communication planet Mercury moves back into direct motion on the 19th, clarity returns and many of us will take the plunge in search of truth, wisdom and untapped resources. Love planet Venus arrives in adventurous Sagittarius on the 7th, time to ramp up the passion in your relationships! The Aries full moon on the 20th suggests a peak in physical energy and the opportunity for enhanced activity and personal drive. ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 An exciting relationship opportunity appears to be up for grabs during October as the powerful Libra new moon on the 6th challenges you to up your game and reach out to take some risks. The full moon in your sign on the 20th suggests that some new adventures could be coming your way. TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 21 Health and wellbeing are your top priorities this month as the Sun, Mars and Mercury emphasise the need for Libran balance in all areas of your life. Venus, your ruling planet, arrives in the financial area of your chart on the 7th, some important decisions may have to be made. GEMINI MAY 22 - JUNE 21 Love and romance are in the spotlight during October as the Sun, Mercury and energetic Mars stir up any issues concerning your relationships. Finding balance is a key issue this month and some soul searching is needed; it may be best to think carefully before you express your opinion. CANCER JUNE 22 - JULY 22 The powerful Aries full moon on the 20th highlights a career opportunity as your thinking becomes much clearer and you are ready to forge ahead with an important decision. This is a really good month to revise what your unique qualities are and to use your imagination and creativity. LEO JULY 23 - AUGUST 23 October is looking very positive for communication and negotiations on all levels. Your mind should be open but focussed in order to expand your knowledge. Expansive Jupiter is in a pivotal position and enhances your creativity, optimism and good luck; but take extra care that you don’t overstretch yourself. VIRGO AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 22 Exciting new beginnings are evident as the month commences, firstly a positive Libra new moon on the 6th and then Mercury, your ruler, turning direct on the 19th. Enhanced planetary activity bring your attention to what is really important and help you to ignore and dismiss what is no longer valid.

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LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 23 As Venus, your ruling planet, moves into Sagittarius on the 7th your communication skills come to the forefront. Creative planning is necessary as you consider new and exciting ways to get your message across. Energetic Mars, in your sign nearly all month, gives a strong boost to achieving goals. SCORPIO OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22 Love planet Venus is in the last week of your sign, any partnership or relationship issues that need resolving should be dealt with now. Three planets in the most introspective part of your chart indicate that you need to take care of your physical health as your vitality may not be at its best. SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 21 Love planet Venus enters your sign on the 7th highlighting your need for a new adventure, and even a new romance! Steer your energy towards realistic targets that can be completed with hard work. The powerful Aries full moon on the 20th suggests an important breakthrough. CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 20 October suggests there is a challenge to your work and career situation as the Sun, Mars and Mercury all highlight this area of your chart. Try not to give in to unnecessary self-criticism as your task this month is to balance logic with imagination. Opportunities arrive after the Libra new moon on the 6th. AQUARIUS JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 18 This month the planets are urging you to take up a new form of study that can eventually lead to spiritual growth. Energetic Mars is strong, indicating that your life goals are highlighted and the powerful full moon in Aries on the 20th facilitates new projects that require your concentration and endurance. PISCES FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20 This month highlights the need for balance and stability in all things to do with your investments, finances and resources. Venus arrives in Sagittarius on the 7th suggesting that luck is changing and some important new insights could be on offer. Jupiter turns direct on the 18th - expect breakthroughs! NAVIGATE YOUR WAY THROUGH these challenging times, discover your unique birth map and take a refreshing new look at all aspects of your life - relationships, career, wellbeing and your spiritual path. Understand more about your unique characteristics and how you can make the most of positive and productive planetary cycles. Reach your fullest potential by booking an astrological reading now! Consultations are available on Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp or telephone. Christine Chalklin is a professional astrologer offering private consultations in astrology, life coaching and Bach flower essences. Email: christine_chalklin@hotmail.com

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

Pitlochry Life 83

Blair Atholl

Kinloch Rannoch 21

Aberfeldy

Blairgowrie 26

Rannoch Station

Perth 26

Inverness

Aviemore

Perth

26 112 83

Blairgowrie

26 108 80

Kinloch Rannoch

Dunkeld

Pitlochry

Miles

Kenmore

Inverness

Pitlochry

Aviemore

Distance

30 112 108 80

Rannoch Station

Kenmore

Aberfeldy

Dunkeld

Blair Atholl

84 Pitlochry Life

Pitlochry Life 85

The Spray Factory

Accommodation Fisher's Hotel The Atholl Palace Hotel The Green Park Hotel The Old Mill Inn

3 1,44 6 2,88

Attractions Blair Athol Distillery

Blair Castle

Food in The Park Live

Killiecrankie Visitor Centre

The Atholl Palace Hotel

The Old Mill Inn

2,88

Building Services Aber-Con

29,35

Business Services ABSS Print & Design

Advertise With Us

GrowBiz

REDS

XL Training

Churches

Heartland Film Society

Heartland FM

Mid Atholl Indoor Bowling

Moulin Scot County Dance

Moulin & Pitlochry History

Music in Blair Atholl

Neighbourhood Watch

Pipe Bands

Pitlochry Bowling Club

Baha'i Faith

Pitlochry Choral Society

Blair Atholl & Struan

Pitlochry Covid19 History

Grandtully Logierait

Pitlochry Golf Ladies

Jehovah's Witnesses

Pitlochry Hospital Car Service

Pitlochry Baptist Church

Pitlochry Moulin Heritage

Pitlochry Church of Scotland

Pitlochry Flower Club

Barry Sanderson Plumbing

Scottish Episcopal Church

Pitlochry Litter Action

Brodies Timber

St Bride's Catholic Church

Pitlochry.org

Duncan McLean

Pitlochry Path Group

Ewan McAdam Joinery

Pitlochry Rotary Club

Highland Perthshire Plumbing

Pitlochry Station Bookshop

J W Lang Painter

Pitlochry Tennis Club

J W Lang Tiler

Rannoch History Society

Matthew Carr Plumbing

Riding for the Disabled

McKenzie Strickland Architect

Computer Services

Saving Red Squirrels

Morrison Joinery

Computer Services

The Tryst Scot Country Dance

Murthly Sawmill

U3A

Riteway Contracts

Walk for Parkinson's

Roofcare

R W Bell Electric Car Charging

R W Bell Electrical

S.L. Decoration Services

S Saint Electrical

Stevie G Roofing

Suthers Stonemason

86 Pitlochry Life

Cleaning Services Aberfeldy Steamie

Clean Cars

Homefresh Cleaning

No Pressure Cleaning

Community Arthritis Awareness

Atholl Centre

Crossword/Sudoko

Atholl Medical Centre

Crossword

75,81

Blair Atholl Bowling Club

Sudoko

23,69

Climate Cafe

Dunkeld & Birnam Art Fair

Dunkeld Strathspey Reel Soc

Faskally Forest parkrun

Dentist iBlu Dental Care

Features

Funeral Directors

Pest Control

Fitness

Gaulds

Happy Halloween

Strowan Cemetery

Horoscopes

W&K Gerrie

Map

Pitlochry Garden

Pitlochry Tipple

Recipe

Saving the Planet

Garden Services

Up The Ben

Aber-Con

Useful Numbers

Chris Mitchell Landscapes

Walk With Me

Duncan McLean

Willie's Wonky Computer

Gatehouse Nursery

Pitlochry Garden Care

Reid Tree Garden Services

Riteway Contracts

Tree Maintenance Services

Financial Macintyre Wealth

Malleny Mortgage Solutions

Food and Drink

Garage Services Blair Atholl Garage

Clean Cars

29,35

Fern Cottage

Fisher's Hotel

Food in the Park

Karelia House

Killiecrankie Visitor Centre

Macdonald Bros Butchers

Rannoch Station Tearoom

Homes For Sale

Redwood Wines

J&H Mitchell

Saorsa

Parc Royale

The Green Park Hotel The Old Mill Inn

1,44 6 2,88

The Tulach

The Wee Choo-Choo

Victoria's

Repairs AA Appliance Repairs

Perthshire Guitar Services

Schools Strathallan School

Shopping Gatehouse Nursery

Hardware Centre

Hearing & Mobility

Karelia House

Macdonald Bros Butchers

Malcolm Appleby

Redwood Wines

Solicitors & Estate Agents

Health & Beauty

Blair Athol Distillery

The Atholl Palace Hotel

Andy Law

J&H Mitchell

Macnabs

Elaine Burns Podiatry

GRM Podiatry

Hearing & Mobility

Taxi

Lesley McLean Footcare

Highland Travel Taxi

Nordic Walking

The Hair Studio

MPs & Councillors John Swinney MSP

Murdo Fraser MSP

Pete Wishart MP

Councillor John Duff

Vacancies The Green Park Hotel

I N D E X

Pitlochry Life 87