Issue #233 | Tain & District Picture Post | April 2020 by K & N Concepts Ltd - ePublishing

COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR THE ROYAL BURGH OF TAIN AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS

TAIN & DISTRICT PICTURE POST

#233

STAY SAFE. STAY AT HOME.

APRIL

depths of this crisis have already been felt by many deemed to be “non-essential” businesses as a part of the nation’s effort to reduce the spread of the disease. Tain’s bars, cafes and leisure facilities have been closed since the Government’s directive on 20th March which ordered these outlets to shut their doors, albeit with some continuing to offer a delivery service for those in self-isolation. Sunflowers Cafe who have been a fixture on Tain High Street for over ten years, shared a poignant “That’s us folks” video on Facebook, which suitably captured the emotions likely felt by many during the present crisis. But the overriding feeling is one based on a growth in community spirit. Appeals on social media have prompted some to speak to local businesses to ask how they can help. Suggestions have included buying a voucher that can be redeemed at a later date, or simply offering donations. Not every business has come to a standstill though. For some, they have come to the fore, as the need for deliveries of essentials such as food and medical supplies has ramped up dramatically. Munro Fruit Merchants, who have been feverishly working through orders for fruit and veg baskets to keep up with demand were overwhelmed

2020 DARKENED shop fronts and closed doors. Some with signs or letters attached to them explaining why they are closed -- even though there are very few people around to read them. Shelves looking sparse in the stores which remain open, run by the brave shop workers among the few leaving their homes to ensure essential supplies remain available to us all. Roads much quieter than we’ll ever see again. This surreal state of flux is what most of us will remember when we cast our minds back to “lockdown” in the years to come. Others shall remember it so differently. They are the brave frontline NHS staff who are dealing with the horrors of COVID-19 head on, working hard to help those who have succumbed to the severe effects of the virus. They continue to make unimagineable sacrifices to save lives. For this, they must be applauded and appreciated and when we come out of the other side of this horror, they must be recognised. The public cannot thank them enough. Many of Tain’s small independent businesses and self-employed face a walk into the great unknown. The APRIL 2020

with over 80 offers of volunteer assistance to help them meet the needs of those in self-isolation, including an offer of assistance from Network Refrigeration who put their fleet and workforce on standby to help. Several restaurants have been keeping on with deliveries of meals to those in isolation. The Carnegie Lodge Hotel, who started out offering takeaway and delivery, are now providing essential ready meals for key workers each day. Platform 1864 were also among the first to offer their services, advertising a lunch and evening service, initially by take-away or delivery before unnecessary travel

TAIN & DISTRICT PICTURE POST

was ruled out, and many of the usual takeaway eateries have followed suit. Primary schools across the Highlands officially closed on Friday 20th March, despite both Knockbreck and Craighill having been closed temporarily several days earlier on a precautionary basis. For Knockbreck and Inver pupils, “school at home” began the following Monday and they were helped along the way by teachers who worked feverishly to prepare paper based learning folders for all pupils to collect. For most primary schools, paper based study is set to be (Continued on Page 4...)

PRICE FREE

WELCOME TO THE

DISTILLERY EXPERIENCE

The Glenmorangie Distillery Tain, Ross-shire IV19 1PZ, Scotland. On the A9, 45 minutes from Inverness, 1 mile north of Tain.

Tain Inverness

Perth Glasgow Edinburgh

THE ORIGINAL TOUR

1 hour, £8 per person

June - August: Monday - Sunday, every 30 minutes, 10am - 4pm April - May & September - October: Monday - Saturday, every hour, 10am - 3pm

By the tranquil shores of the Dornoch Firth, amidst the golden barley fields of Ross-shire, lies the Glenmorangie Distillery. Here you will find a warm Highland welcome from the legendary Men of Tain, the skilled craftsmen who ensure that Glenmorangie is made in the same unhurried and uncompromising way it has always been through its long and distinguished history. We offer a range of tours with unparalleled access to the Distillery and its warehouses. With the help of our expert guides you will experience all stages of the whisky making process from mashing and fermenting to distilling and maturation. Within our Still House (we call it our Highland Cathedral) stand the tallest stills in Scotland, their long copper necks are the same height as a fully grown giraffe! As a result only the lightest and purest vapours make it to the top, giving a smoother, more elegant whisky. On your visit to our traditional earth floored warehouses we will explain why Glenmorangie has for many years led the industry in the pioneering use of only the finest casks in which to mature our whisky. As part of your tour, why not visit our own distillery shop?

January - March & November - December: Monday - Friday, 10am & 2pm THE SIGNET TOUR

1.5 hours, £35 per person June - August: Monday - Sunday, 2.15pm Wednesday, 6pm, New for 2019 April - May & September - October: Monday - Friday, 2.15pm (January - March & November December: not available) THE MEN OF TAIN TOUR

2.45 hours, £95 per person

May - September: Tuesday, 9.45am (October - April: not available) THE SUNSET TOUR

1.5 hours, £45 per person

June - August: Wednesday, 6.00pm (September - May: not available) For more information call 01862 892477 email: tain-shop@glenmorangie.co.uk or visit www.glenmorangie.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND ONLINE BOOKINGS PLEASE VISIT WWW.GLENMORANGIE.COM Pre-booking is recommended and essential for some of the tours or large groups. The Glenmorangie Distillery is a working distillery. For a few weeks a year we undergo essential maintenance when tours may be restricted. Closed for the 2 week period over Christmas & New Year. The information on this advert is valid throughout 2019. The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking. Please savour our whiskies in moderation.

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APRIL 2020

EDITORIAL Dear readers, Unprecedented times call for unprecedent measures and at the TDPP, we’re no exception. For the period of time most of us are stuck indoors, we have decided to bring you the Picture Post free of charge, so for the first time ever - we come to you online in eMagazine format via issuu, on our website tainpost.co.uk. For those readers who enjoy a bit more content and maybe haven’t read a TDPP for a while, we have also uploaded issues from January to March. It’s all we can do just to keep busy during times of isolation, while trying to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy and safe. But we aren’t all at home, as expressed in our front page article this month. There are few words that can fully express the gratitude we must have as a nation for those working for the NHS, along with those volunteering to help them. But also to all the people who can’t stay at home. We are so proud of our Katie doing her bit for the cause in retail still bravely serving those who need essentials. It is rarely the case that society pauses to sing the praises of shop workers, along with many who are working in the essential sectors who continue to enable access to supplies, such as the brave posties, delivery drivers, farmers, public transport workers and of course those caring for the elderly and vulnerable in our society. We can only admire these people who are out making that sacrifice as they keep our world turning. In our household, we’re all too familiar now with the process of Lucy coming home and trying to make it to the shower and the washing machine before one of the kids can grab a hug! That said, with all that is going on, we are still pleased to bring you a 32 page magazine for April. The one good thing to come out of a situation like this is that everyone has come together in mutual support, and we have certainly been inspired by that when trying to find stories and items to share in the Picture Post. Happy Easter to everyone for when the weekend arrives. It shall be a different holiday for us all - but one we will celebrate regardless. Thank you once again for continuing to support the magazine and for bearing with us for this issue.

GRANTS BAKERY Rolls, Baking, Sandwiches & Hot Snacks

Best wishes, Niall Niall Harkiss & Lucy Veals - Editors 5B Ross Street, Tain, IV19 1BA Telephone: (01862) 857366

Winners of the Silver Award for Scotch Pie Competition High Street Tain (01862) 892315

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(Continued from front page...) complimented by a wealth of digital learning materials made accessible via Google Classroom after the Easter break. A form of “digital registration” has also been introduced to ensure pupils are up and ready for a day of study. In much the same way that communities around the world have been adapting to indefinite isolation, many of Tain’s key groups and associations have unfortunately had to change their plans for the year ahead, which for many who seek a social outlet through community work, is perhaps one of the greatest frustrations of “lockdown”. Tain & District Museum were all set to begin their 2020 season this Easter, ready to open their doors on April 1st. But, having taken government advice into consideration, they have ruled out an opening any time soon. The Museum is hopeful that they may be able to open later in the year, but like many seasonal enterprises, the window to raise essential funds through tourist footfall may have been missed. Jason Ubych said, “Like for many others it is devastating news for the museum not to be able to welcome any visitors at the start of the season. The loss of income is going to be difficult for us to deal with but we know in this we are not alone.” On March 17th, Highlife Highland also took the decision to suspend group activities across their centres -- but due to the crisis, they announced that an intended price increase for memberships which had been scheduled from 1st April has been suspended until further notice. Organised sport too has come

TAIN COMMUNITY

to a halt across the area, with team sport such as football the first to suspend its ongoing activities indefinitely. St. Duthus FC who play in the North Caledonian League, played their last match on March 7th welcoming Orkney to Tain for a closely fought match with both teams in hot pursuit of the league championship. The cessation of fixtures followed a joint directive from the Scottish FA and SPFL to suspend all football activities in the country, from the professional game down to the grassroots and youth level. Needless to say, football honours have been put to the back of everyone’s minds for the time being. St. Duthus Bowling Club also cancelled several planned events, including their invitational fours, Dunlop triples and spoon and league games as well as their regular bingo evenings and a scheduled Race Night which had been planned for 28th March. Tain Amateur Swimming Club have suspended training and all swimming activites for the time being. Also to follow suit were Tain Tennis Club who on March 24th confirmed that all of their facilities would be closed with immediate effect. Many of us might believe we never take anything for granted, but it’s surprising just how much a crisis like this can open your eyes to how much you miss the simplest things. Indeed, the world already looks a lot different to how it did just a few weeks ago. In the weeks and months that follow, that landscape will no doubt keep changing - but what should remain constant is the keen spirit of local community, not just in Tain but everywhere - we need each other now more than ever.

COMMUNITY POLICING UPDATE The current Coronavirus has seen us all having to adapt to a new way of living in order to avoid the virus and help our NHS staff save lives. The current situation will see the police also having to adapt. You may see officers patrolling more in your area and paying attention to supermarkets and pharmacies to ensure order and reassure the vulnerable amongst us. In Scotland we police by consent and all of our activities are carried out in service of the communities in which we work. We will shortly be provided additional interim powers to enable us to act firmly to enforce the current Coronavirus guidance given by the governments at Westminster and Hollyrood. I anticipate that we will rarely have to use these new powers but if we cannot persuade and counsel individuals into complying then we will not hesitate to use them for the safety of the wider public. The guidance is clear - people should only leave the house for one of four reasons: · shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible. · one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle alone or with members of your household.

· any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person. · travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home. These four reasons are exceptions - even when doing these activities, people should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring they are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of their household. Further information regarding health is available from the NHS website. I have been greatly impressed by the measures already being put in place by colleagues in the NHS, Highland Council, Charities and volunteers in supporting vulnerable persons amongst us. Individuals within communities have also stepped up to provide assistance to the elderly and infirm. The Highlands has always been a very welcoming and neighbourly place to live and this is evident in the response we have all made to the crisis. It has brought us even closer together and it is my hope that when this is all over we come out the other side an even stronger community. Please stay safe and look after each other. Inspector James Rice (01349) 880277

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TAIN COMMUNITY

ROTARY CLUB MESSAGE

BATTLE BLOCKAGES BY BINNING TOILET UNFLUSHABLES People must bin alternatives to toilet paper not flush them away after Scottish Water teams dealt with more than 1300 blockages in 10 days. Throughout the second half of March, “choke squads” cleared a total of 1343 blocked sewer pipes across the country. Scottish Water frontline teams are working around the clock to ensure the country’s water supplies and waste water services continue to deliver for five million people. However, preventable problems like toilet and sewer blockages caused by flushing items which are not biodegradable in the same way that toilet paper does, places added pressure on resources. Customers are being asked to help protect the waste water network by sticking to the simple 3Ps guidance and flushing only pee, poo and toilet paper. Garry Kirkwood, Scottish Water’s sewer response manager, said: “Products like wipes, kitchen roll, blue roll and others are not designed to break up in the sewer system and risk causing internal flooding to homes, additional health risks and environmental pollution. “Some of these items simply won’t make it beyond customers’ toilet pipes. Wipes however are

a major cause of the blocks we see in the sewer network. “This can be an extremely distressing experience for people and cause significant damage to property. We are calling for the support of our customers to do the right thing and not contribute to avoidable sewer chokes.” Scottish Water responds to around 3000 sewer chokes every month. About 1 billion litres of waste water are treated every day in Scotland. The waste water drain which goes from a house to the public sewer is usually only about 4 inches wide, which is around the diameter of a DVD, and can easily become blocked by a build-up of un-flushable materials. Scottish Water choke squads will currently have minimal direct contact with affected customers in accordance with social distancing guidance. Scottish Water customers can learn more about what they can do to keep the cycle running, what should not be flushed down toilets or poured down sinks and how they can save their drains, protect their homes, their neighbours’ homes and the local environment at www.scottishwater.co.uk/cycle.

Due to the present Coronavirus Pandemic, the Rotary Club of Tain and Easter Ross is not holding meetings. If you have family members or friends you have not spoken to for a while, why not pick up the telephone and give them a call. If you have elderly or disabled neighbours who may be self-isolating, drop a wee note through the letter box to tell them that if they need anything, just to give you a call and remember to include your phone number. If you have elderly relatives who live alone, why not sit down and write them an old fashioned letter telling them your news (but remember to write on the reverse of the envelope a suggestion they wear gloves when opening the letter and dispose of the envelope). There are many simple ways of telling people we care. Now is a really good time to get in some extra practice. For you it takes a short time out of your day but for them it is something which makes them feel special and loved. Keep safe everyone and keep washing your hands. - Mark Sutherland-Fisher

TWITTER ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW www.twitter.com/ @TainDistrictPP @TainMuseum @TainDDTrust @TainandDistrict @StDuthusFC @hlhsocial @HLHSport @TainGolfClub @AldieBurn @TainSilver @TainPipeBand @LoudenDW @Jamie4North @KnockbreckPri @TRAOfficial

“In conjunction with other agencies, we were able to support a small number of local families living in Tain and the surrounding villages in March. This was a one off initiative and we sincerely wish we could have done more to help. We would like to remind anyone who maybe struggling for food that the Tain Food bank has extended its opening hours to every Tuesday and Thursday 10-3 and can be further extended if there is need.” - Tain Youth Cafe

ALDIE BURN NURSERY Garden Course: ‘How to take and succeed - with cuttings’. May 3rd Sunday morning (10-12.30) June 13th Saturday morning (10-12.30) June 18th Thursday morning. (10-12.30) Maximum of six people. Additional Dates can be arranged to suit. We are very flexible. This is a Practical Course for beginners. Cost: £30 You will leave with a number of cuttings that will grow into mature plants with a value that surpasses the cost of the Course . Booking and enquiries: Email: Aldieburnplants@aol. com Facebook messenger: Aldie Burn Nursery Tel: 01862 842346 Aldie Burn Nursery, East Lamington, by Tain, IV191NQ Peat-free compost, re-used pots, low-carbon footprint, natural pest control (Ducks play a valued role in this).....All plants grown from seed and cuttings on site. Given the on-going restrictions, this course could be offered on a one to one basis if desired. Contact to arrange a mutually convenient date and situation.

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TAIN & DISTRICT MEDICAL GROUP

THANK YOU FROM TAIN & DISTRICT MEDICAL GROUP So, we have to say, its been a strange few weeks here at Tain & District Medical Group. From the first rumblings which came out of China to where we are now has been such a rapidly changing picture on a day-by-day, hour-by-hour and sometimes minute-by-minute basis. Really quickly we were changing our ways of working to protect staff and patients from the partnership team phoning patients on a Saturday evening to change appointments from face to face to phone when we should have been at home with our families watching Ant and Dec along with everyone else to getting clinical staff into scrubs to maximise infection control. We have tried to keep patients and the wider community informed through Facebook and that has provided a focus point some days. We are working very hard to ensure records are as up to date, and we are trying to stay up to date report request for thing like Universal Credit/ insurances etc – we feel our patients are going through enough without delays adding complications at such a worrying time. Each day we send an email with a summary of what’s been

happening round the whole practice team with links to information which has been great for keeping spirits up and maintaining communication and this is really the most important thing – communication with each other, our patients, colleagues here in the health centre, our local community hospitals, pharmacies etc. This has certainly been a steep learning curve for us all from obtaining and using correct PPE (personal protective equipment), to dealing with the huge influx of emails from ‘higher up’ and the actual medical side of things, of course. We are so grateful by the kindness from our patients and the wider community and we are amazed at how quickly everyone has adapted to this situation. With handwashing, social distancing and selfisolating when required we are all playing our part to protect ourselves, our families and our communities from this virus. Please go to www.nhsinform. scot for more information. Dr Jesus Ferrer, Lorna MacKay (Practice Manager) and Lorna Waddell (Advanced Nurse Practitioner)

ST. DUTHUS F.C. SQUAD DONATE “FINES JAR” There might not be any football to play just now, but players at St. Duthus FC have been keeping busy in other ways. This past week the players and committee of the club put their heads together and raised a sum of £1,530 which they have agreed shall be shared between Tain & District Medical Group and Tain and Fearn Area Medical Practice, in a bid to benefit local NHS services during the difficult times that medical

staff are being faced with. The fundraising drive was started off by the players, as midfielder Jon Campbell explains. “We have a fine list for things like bookings, being late, wrong training gear, nutmegs etc and it goes into a pot for an end of season night out. Obviously with the ongoing pandemic, we weren’t going to be able to have a night out, so we thought it could be put to much better use

in the here and now, helping those in the care sector when they need it more than ever. For us, it only amounts to the odd couple of pounds each week that we don’t really notice. For them, the total amount of money could make a huge difference.” When made aware of the squad’s kind gesture, the club did not hesitate in matching the players’ offering with a donation from club funds, doubling the total. “The Tain community has been extremely good to us when we’ve had football to play.” said Chairperson Niall Harkiss. “But while we’re sat on the sidelines, it’s only right for us to do what we can for our community when it needs us the most -- and that starts with giving something back. It cannot be understated how vital it is for NHS workers to have the correct equipment and resources at their disposal.

Saints player Jon Campbell In making these donations to the Tain Health Centre practices, we hope that we can make some difference to NHS resources in our community.” On the players missing out on their end of season night out, Jon said; “Knowing this squad, I am confident we’ll make the kitty back through nutmegs and boys breaking the rules pretty quickly!”

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HEALTH MATTERS

TAIN & DISTRICT MEDICAL GROUP

Coronavirus is the biggest topic this month of course and we are all living in unprecedented times. Things have changed so much for everyone in such a short space of time. We are continuing to work with the current guidelines to make things as safe as possible for our staff and patients in light of the coronavirus situation, this includes cancelling some routine appointments and doing as much as possible by phone. There is a post box outside the health centre for repeat prescriptions and to avoid non essential footfall into the health centre. To comply and assist with social distancing we have changed our waiting room to single chairs 2 metres apart and ask that if your are attending the health centre you follow the guidance on our front door and from our staff. www.facebook.com/ TainDoctors The best source of information is www.nhsinform.scot h t t p s : / / w w w. n h s i n f o r m . scot/illnesses-andconditions/infections-andpoisoning/coronaviruscovid-19 We are very aware that with our healthcare staff having to wear PPE (personal protective equipment) and this might be a bit daunting for children. Here’s a wee picture to show some of our amazing healthcare team with their PPE -

Thanks for modelling Lorna Waddell - Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Dr Jesus Ferrer, Dr Gill Fraser Many thanks to our friends at Metalwork UK and also Terry Fraser for their kind donations of FFP3 masks to NHS Highland. If anyone has items they would like to donate please contact our Practice Manager, Lorna Mackay. Hand

hygiene

–advice

that good hand hygiene is of ongoing huge importance. Here is a poster from NHS Highland. Remember this should be for 20 seconds (2 rounds of ‘Happy Birthday’) Community pharmacies – we are aware that there has been huge pressure on our community pharmacy colleagues locally. In similar ways to ourselves they have had to change their ways of working very quickly eg less customers in their premises at one time, making use of delivery services. Stay in

touch with your pharmacy by having a look at their facebook page. Try to only order what you need and to be patient. A wee thank you to Tain & District Medical Group staff for all their hard work in these difficult times. Fantastic service from Munro Fruit Merchants Tain for helping us boost our vitamin levels. Pictured below: Dr Sarah Raymond, Lesley Cowper from our administration team and Dr Carolyn Jones

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MESSAGE FROM CLLR. DEREK LOUDEN My usual monthly surgery is cancelled at present. Please feel free to contact me at any time on: 01862892734 07876774412 Or via email at LoudenDW@aol.com POST OFFICE UPDATE We know how important Post Office branches are to our customers. And we, alongside our postmasters and branch colleagues are doing all that we can to keep our branches open, so that we can continue to provide our products and services to you and your communities. At the moment, the majority of our branches are open as usual and our supply chain is running as normal. Our priority is to keep our customers, postmasters and colleagues safe and healthy. We have advised everyone working in our branches to practice good hand hygiene and we ask that our customers do the same, as well as maintaining a sensible distance between other customers and our colleagues. We will keep you updated as the situation evolves. But please rest assured that we are doing everything we can to support our customers, communities, postmasters and colleagues through this challenging time. Nick Read, Group Chief Executive Officer

ANDREW VASS

“HEARD THE ONE ABOUT THE CORNY VIRUS?” ANDREW VASS WRITES

My sense of humour may not be as infectious as the Coronavirus which is sweeping through these isles, but humour is often one anchor for maintaining a sense of balance in times of anxiety. Our nervous system can trigger the fight and flight reactions impulsively if we don’t use our anchors to steady the ship. Mindful breathing is one anchor because one tends to slip into fast breathing when the nervous system is beginning to panic. The acronym S.T.O.P. can help us counteract that tendency and thus prevent brain networks from recycling alerts round and round in our heads. S= soften cheeks, T= take deep breaths O= observe benefits P= have presence and be present. Dialectical Behavioural Therapy focuses on shaping behaviours. It helps people

learn to regulate emotions and use distress tolerance skills. Here are some such techniques. HALF SMILE. You might not feel like having a full smile but there may be something in your day you can have a half smile about. I.M.P.R.O.V.E. I.= Imagery: visualize a peaceful calming place. M. = consider what motivates you and gives you a sense of meaning. P.= pray for help or just cultivate a sense of presence. R=Relaxation: Take deep breaths! O.=plan a One-step-Mindful strategy so you have time to do things and don’t multi-task at last minutes: V. = take the occasional short two-minute vacation to reduce pressure: E. = Encouragement: Praise yourself. NETWORK Identify how you and others can act as a support group for each other in event of one or others becoming ill. If families rely too much on the services of grand-parents that may expose the most vulnerable

to risks. Perhaps friends need to discuss how best they can help in predictable contingencies. For example, one couple may be in bed for 2 weeks but only with a kind of flu turn. Getting essential shopping of tins of food for them, may be useful. Perhaps it may not be easy to rely on public transport if drivers become ill. Network contingency arrangements may get around this problem. Groups of people can plan for contingencies and be of mutual help to each other. Anxiety can never be eradicated when we face difficulties but we can use anxiety constructively to make whatever contingency plans seem most suitable. Mindfulness is about trying to stand back a little from our thoughts and holding onto an anchor of some kind or other. We need to check that we know what is in our minds. Minds that tend to snow globe will also yaw about into various heavy emotional reactions during the storm of

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ANDREW VASS

life. The ship can be steadied. So, we will carry on carrying on, being appropriately supportive to each other as a community and accepting the government’s plan which is to protect the most vulnerable while not taking such radical actions that the onslaught will be deferred into the autumnal flu season when it may become more difficult to manage. But we should nevertheless use techniques which help us with risk analysis. I used a C.B.T. technique of trying to guess at level of risk for various issues. You quantify the level of risk on continuum lines or bar charts. Here is the one I did for my risks. Your risks may be quite different-so do your own risk analysis. And notice that good self-management may be just as important as isolating. Not all families can rely on social distancing and isolation. Some families have a member who can’t isolate. But even if one member gets the illness it is not the case that the rest will automatically get it as well. So, it is well worth your time to make a ‘contingenciesmanaging’ analysis. One example of a contingency which may need to be managed is how do you cope if one member is hopeless at doing risk managing? Some people seem to operate on automatic some of the time, and don’t watch where they put their hands, don’t clean their smart phone before studying news on it at meal-time, or don’t put down toilet lids before they flush. Wearing a face mask and gloves can give you time to take stock. Has your partner opened a window to ventilate the room? Have the bathroom towels been changed? Competence is not the only concern, another problem to consider is vulnerability. You may be vulnerable to

becoming depressively bored with trying to be so organised and so reclusive. And if you get bored you will be the one who forgets to change the towels, and forgets the rule about using an unclean smart phone at breakfast. Planning activities might help so that you have a treat after you attend to your daily tasks. Cognitive Therapy exercises could help you stay calmer so you don’t rush around buying things which you will be unlikely to use. At their simplest these exercises involve one in writing negative thoughts on one side of a page and then trying to re-interpret them on the other side. In my case, I have been struggling with an infection. So, on the left side I wrote; ‘wheeze makes me moody, may get worse’. On the right side I wrote; ‘I’d prefer to not snow globe or catastrophise. I recall coping with severe pain during a previous hospital treatment. I can raise my game once again with trust. I am not giving advice; I am teaching skills. I find the skills to be very useful to myself, and hope that readers will use the skills while taking advice from the scientists. We can also take advice from our theologians and philosophers. Sometimes, difficulties are sent to teach us humility and gratitude. St Augustine once wrote; ‘you took me from behind my own back’. Evagrius of Pontus wrote that we should ‘resist judgements based on comparison’. C.S. Lewis said of a similar difficulty; ‘do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation.’ Likewise, Martin Luther (the theologian of the Reformation) calmly reacted to the Bubonic Plague by saying ‘If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me.’ I say; ‘we can have a plan and work it with care’.

HIGHLAND COUNCIL LAUNCH FREE HELPLINE FOR ASSISTANCE AND VOLUNTEERS The Highland Council has launched a free helpline to give assistance and to collect details of individuals and community groups looking to provide volunteering support during Covid19. The number is now live. The single line number – 0300 303 1362 – will connect callers to relevant Council specialist teams and will operate Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm. All calls are free. Callers will be able to get advice on benefits and personal support, education and social care and there will also be advice for businesses who may need help with financial support. Helpline staff will also be signposting callers to other organisations that can provide help and assistance as well as gathering offers from individuals or community groups wishing to volunteer. The service is operated by council staff and Eden Court volunteers who will be home based. Staffing levels will be kept under review to respond to the demand. Chief Executive Donna Manson said: “I want to thank everyone involved for all their hard work for getting this helpline up and running in such a short time. As well as Highland Council

employees volunteering we are also very grateful for the assistance of Eden Court staff. The Helpline is now in place to help those most in need of assistance, so we are requesting that anyone who can continue to use our on-line forms and resources do so as much as possible.” To make a payment visit https:// www.highland.gov.uk/pay To report a problem visit https://www.highland.gov.uk/ report To request a service visit https://www.highland.gov.uk/ request The new helpline is just one of several proactive actions the council is taking. Work to set up a number of Humanitarian Assistance Centres across the Highlands is underway and details are expected to be published in the next 24 hours. The Council is continuing to coordinate all offers of community group support, while the Highland’s 3rd Sector is coordinating individual offers of support. There will be close joint working to maximise the valuable offers of support from community groups and individuals.

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NOSTALGIA WITH ALEX GRAHAM

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TAIN TASK FORCE: IN PICTURES

TAIN TASK FORCE

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TAIN TASK FORCE | TCD TAIN

TAIN TASK FORCE is a group of volunteers who look after the town’s floral displays. The Task Force was set up in 1999 and since 2008 we have produced the town’s hanging baskets ourselves rather than buying them in. We now produce over 300 hanging baskets in the town each year, as well as looking after street flower planters, flower beds and the Rose Garden. The Task Force volunteers are also involved in maintaining and improving the Tain Wildlife Pond. They were central to the redevelopment of the new Rose Garden with help from the BBC’s Beechgrove Garden team in 2009. The programme was very well received and generated much interest from both locals and visitors and had a positive impact on the local economy. Our usual floral year is as follows: OCTOBER Order plants and compost for the following year. EARLY APRIL Clean the polytunnel and set up trestles ready for planting. END OF APRIL Plug plants arrive from our supplier. They are set our in the polytunnel for a few days

to acclimatise. We then spend 3-4 days planting up the hanging baskets and potting up the remaining plants so that they can go out to planters and flower beds. MAY AND EARLY JUNE The polytunnel is checked every morning and evening to make sure temperatures are correct, the plants have been watered by the automatic system and there are no dead or diseased plants. MID JUNE The hanging baskets are put out on brackets on the street and the planters and flower beds and Rose Garden are planted up. SUMMER Hanging baskets are watered 4 days a week, usually at 6:00 AM! This needs a driver for our noisy buggy and two volunteers to water. Flower beds and the Rose Garden are kept weeded. LATE SEPTEMBER Hanging baskets are taken down. OCTOBER Order plants and compost for the following year. We would like to remind all the TDPP readers that all this work is done by local volunteers,

not by Highland Council workers, and we will always welcome anyone who would like to help. You don’t need to know about plants and you don’t need to take on a large commitment; we are very flexible in our work. However, like everyone else, this year we have major problems due to the Covid-19 restrictions. After much thought we have decided that we cannot produce our hanging baskets under the “lock down” regulations. With great sadness we have cancelled our order for the hanging basket plants. However we do hope to have some plants which we can put out in the street planters and flower beds while keeping to the “social distancing” regulations which are so vital for the safety of us all. Hopefully this will add a little brightness to the town in a year which might otherwise be very colourless. Contacts: Trisha Torrance, Activities Secretary 01862 894003 David McAllister, Membership Secretary 01862 892302 Or contact us through our Facebook page.

TRUMBLE CHEER AND DANCE STARLIGHT CHALLENGE Trumble Cheer and Dance Tain had their last outing before Government restrictions on March 14th as pupils took park in the Starlight Dance Challenge which took place in Fochabers. They came home with lots

of trophies and had a lovely day! TCD Tain shared the following message on Facebook on 17th March: “We have made the tough decision to close the studio to ensure all our dancers stay safe and healthy.

Please bear with us whilst we film classes to upload so that no dancers miss out on their weekly classes. We will have more details shortly. If you can continue to support us with your regular monthly class fees we hope to keep the studio

ticking over ready to re-open as soon as possible. Dancing is our life and we believe it’s a very important part of your childs too. Take care everyone and stay safe.”

TAIN

Now at 9 Geanies Street

Wednesdays 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm

Tel: Evelyn 07511 133 108

Highland Heatsave Limited BOILER SERVICING AND COMMISSIONING PLUMBING AND HEATING INSTALLATION

Jim Oman, 2 Port Street, Balintore, IV20 1UH TEL 01862 832116 | MOBILE 07803 610838

Tain & District Branch Cats Protection Telephone: (0345) 371 2737 Email: taincats@aol.com www.tain.cats.org.uk

EMPIRE FOODS TAIN WHOLESALE

FRUIT VEGETABLES POTATOES AND FREE RANGE EGGS CONTACT MICHAEL ON

0790 095 8665

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TAIN & DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT TRUST

TDPP

ISSUE #28

‘THROUGH THE LOCKDOWN!”

THROUGH THE LENS

Garden and indoor plant photography can be a great choice when self-isolating

Well, what a change a few weeks brings. Last month I was writing about getting out into the Spring weather, which is now with us in abundance, with longer days, more sun and a welcome respite from the rain. BUT… well, you know the rest! As a mainly outdoor photographer, the Lockdown has hit me quite hard and I’ve had to think creatively about how to satisfy my photo urges while complying with the new (and very necessary) rules. So, if you’re in the same boat, here are a few ideas for how to make productive use of your time with a camera: 1. DOCUMENT YOUR EXPERIENCE The pandemic event is unique in our lifetime. There is no doubt that it will be regarded as a major historic event by future generations looking back. Any historic event is marked by landmark memorable moments, but also a myriad of personal stories and experiences. So keep a diary. Maybe try to take a photo per day which captures how you feel. What does your household look like in this new world? Try a “day in the life”, in which you capture how you spend your day. Just try not to become the “photography bore” who irritates everyone else in the house by putting a camera in their face!

from one of the online retailers, which will allow you to get much closer with your normal lens. Try setting up some table-top stilllifes. There is an American photographer who has developed a huge Instagram following by taking “fashion shoots” using vintage Barbie dolls, for example!

2. THINK SMALL Now is a great time to try garden photography, or Macro. If you don’t have a Macro (close up) lens, consider investing in a low cost set of extension tubes

3. REVISIT SOME OF YOUR OLD PHOTOS This is a good time to clear out your back-catalogue of photos and clear some valuable space on your computer ready for when

THROUGH THE LENS WITH MARK JANES you can get out and about again. You might uncover some hidden gems that you wrote off when you first took them but, with a little bit of editing, could make decent photos. 4. LEARN AND EXPERIMENT There is a phenomenal amount of material online to help you develop and refine your photography skills. The thing to do is make a list of what you’d like to learn. Think about your photos and how you’d like to improve them, then start a focused search on YouTube

for relevant tutorials. I am moving my own photography tuition on-line until the Pandemic crisis is over. If you’d like to be kept up to date with new online tutorials and courses from a local photographer, just email me at markjanesphotographer@ gmail.com Above all folks, stay safe and think about your responsibility to others. The scenery will still be there when the current crisis is a distant, if unpleasant, memory!

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TAIN FIELD CLUB

FIELD CLUB SPRING/ SUMMER ON HOLD Members of Tain & District Field Club have seen their Spring and Summer programme put on hold due to necessary restrictions.

In the last week the field club should have been having a pleasant summer walk at Rosehall with a visit to the falls at Cassley, probably followed by cake in the local cafĂŠ. However like everyone else our spring and summer programme is on hold due to necessary social restrictions of Covid-19. The TDFC summer programme has always been about the social aspects of the club as much as the natural history and we will miss that greatly. However despite the restrictions on humans the natural world is moving rapidly into spring mood: willow and hazels have catkins covered in pollen,

birds are singing and setting up territories in our gardens and spring flowers and migrant birds are beginning to appear. There have been sandwich terns along the coast and ospreys have been seen in Speyside and the Beauly Firth so soon should be appearing in the Dornoch Firth possibly accompanied by a few early swallows. TDFC canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t meet but we have members scattered throughout the area and records of what they have seen are being posted on our Facebook page (https:// www.facebook.com/tain. fieldclub)

HUNGRY? RESTAURANTS/DELIVERY/TAKEAWAY: Platform 1864 (delivery by arrangement) email platform1864@gmail.com between 9am & 5pm Tues, Thurs & Sat 3388 Chinese (delivery/car park pickup) call 01862 893388 open 4pm till 9pm (cash only), Tues to Sun Top Tain Fish & Chip Bar (collection/delivery) call 01862 894090 open 4pm till 9pm Fyrish Tandoor Indian Cuisine (delivery) call 01349 883583 Carnegie Lodge Hotel (key workers only) call 01862 894039 Trentham Hotel (takeaway) call 01862 810551 Mon - Sat 5pm - 8.30pm, Sun 12pm - 8.30pm

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TAIN’S TOLBOOTHS

TAIN’S TOLBOOTHS (PART 1) If the Mercat Cross was an important element in a Medieval burgh, even more so was the Tolbooth usually located nearby. It was so called because that was where the tolls (payments on goods sold) and customs (on goods brought into the town) were collected. This was an important source of income as Tain had a number of trading rights including that of holding annual fairs and weekly markets. As with the current Mercat Cross, the tower we see today was not the first. We know of at least 3 tolbooths on roughly the same site, the first being in the 16th Century when there are references to “ye tolbuith” in the 1580s & 1590s, which tell us that “burrow” (burgh) courts were held there when the “provest of Tane” was “Walter Ros of Moirynche” (Morangie). Early tolbooths doubled as townhouses and it was not till the 19th Century that separate townhouses were built. We do not know what form this tolbooth took, nor do we know when it was built. However, it has been recorded that when fire destroyed one of Tain’s two old chapels in 1428, most of Tain’s early documents were lost. The fact that they were being stored there, perhaps suggests that there was no tolbooth at that point as one of the functions of such a building was as the storage place for court and council records, as well as the burgh’s weights and measures and other burgh paraphernalia such as weapons and drums. What fate befell this first tollbooth is also unknown. Possibly it too was destroyed by fire, an all too common story throughout Tain’s early and even more recent history. Whatever, a replacement was built in the 17th Century, the date for which we do know, as it is literally “carved in stone”. The following inscription appears on a stone set into the cone of the central turret of the current tower – THIS WARK/ BIGIT 1631/ JHON MACKULLOCH/ BEING

PROVEST. The building was probably square in shape and it had a steeple with a bell which, apart from the inscribed stone and one other similar stone, is the only surviving feature. The bell still hangs in the current tower and bears the inscription ANNO . 1630 . SOLI . DEO . GLORIA . MICHAEL . BVRGERHVYS . ME . FECIT – (In the year 1630 Glory to God alone Michael Burgerhuis made me). Michael was a Flemish master founder whose family’s foundry exported numerous bells to Scotland. As to its site, the following there appears in a fragment of an 18th century paper, a petition for the use of the “vacant place in the Kirkyeard where the steeple of the burgh formerly stood (….) for a burial place.” MacGill* came to the conclusion that it was located “between the present Tower and the Church yard” and from probing, the ground there, found a space of at least 16 feet square, which seemed “full of stones at a depth of a foot or so below the sod.” [*Author of “Old Ross-shire and Scotland….”] This steeple also housed a clock (knock), another important feature of the burgh, and necessitated the appointment of a clock-keeper (knock-master) whose duty it was to see that the clock was properly maintained. In 1665 this duty earned the yearly payment of “fourtie merks Scots” and an allowance of “ane ston of tallow” plus “so much oyle” as was needed for keeping the clock in good order. It is possible the steeple had a lower adjoining building as there is a list, dated 1660, of people appointed to pull heather from the “muir” for the “tolbuith”, and another of people who were to transport it to the town with their horses. The heather would have been for thatching which would not have been necessary for the steeple crowned with its stone spire (or turret). This adjunct would possibly have contained the court-room. Whatever form

MARGARET URQUHART

it took, we know that, as with other early tollbooths elsewhere, it was not only the town house but the guard house (jail). Prison sentences were generally short as the burgh had to provide a jailor, food and perhaps fuel for any prisoner detained in the tollbooth so a range of other punishments were usually preferred. The case of Alexander Ross of Pitcalnie (mentioned in “Tain’s Mercat Cross Part 2”) who occupied the premises for c10 years was a rare exception. It would seem, however, that this Tolbooth was not very well built. In 1661 “reparations of church and steeple” are mentioned as being one of the “burdens” on Tain; in 1666 a burgess is convicted of the down casting of three “bartisanes (parapet) stones from the top of the stible” (steeple), so part of that structure was loose; in 1669 it was even proposed doing without the Tolbooth to save expense but were told that as a free burgh they were obliged to keep prisoners; in Tain’s report to the Convention of Royal Burghs in 1691 the town is seemingly

OLD FILE:

TAIN OVER 60s Above: The “kitchen” team preparing to serve the Tain Over 60s Christmas lunch c.1978.

appealing for a grant stating that the “councill and prison house….. are so ruinous and demolished” that they could not be properly restored “without payment”. About 12 years later, in 1703, part of the structure was blown down in a great storm “whereby the prisoners were in great hazard of their lives”. Soon afterwards the remains were finally demolished. As the town, for various reasons, was in a poor state and unable to afford to rebuild without “ane voluntary contribution”, a petition was submitted to the Privy Council resulting in Tain not having to accommodate prisoners for five years and a collection being taken in all parish churches of the Kingdom being authorised. In addition, the Convention of Royal Burghs gave a grant of 500 merks and local donations and loans were promised although not all were received. Eventually this tollbooth was replaced by the current tower which will be the subject of Part 2.

They are: Mrs Chrissie MacKenzie; Mrs Mary MacLeod; Mrs Mary MacKenzie; Mrs Jana MacDonald; Mrs Marjory Strachan; Mrs Bunty Fialka; Mrs Anne Zimmerman; chef ; Mrs Jessie Stewart; Mrs Amy Longhurst; Dr Roy MacKenzie

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Sweets & Confectionery, Ice Cream, Hot Dogs Snacks, Kids Toys Newspapers & Magazines Stationery, Hardware, Electricals, Handmade soaps, candles, cards and gifts, made on the premises by young people preparing for work, are available to browse and buy in our shop in Tower Street, Tain. Opening hours: 9.00am – 4.00pm (Monday to Friday) 10.00am – 4.00pm (Saturday) Seasonal plants and produce available to buy at the shop or directly from the Garden Project at Edderton – open Mondays and Thursdays 9.00am – 4.00pm 24 Tower Street, Tain, Ross-shire, IV19 1DY. Telephone 01862 892221 Email madeintain@gmail.com Find us on facebook

DIY

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GIZZEN BRIGGS / OLD FILE

GIZZEN BRIGGS PLAY FOR MARIE CURIE On Friday the 13th of March, Gizzen Briggs, once again, played for Marie Curie in the Eastgate Centre. The group was very kindly transported to and from Inverness by Stagecoach who are also supporters of the Marie Curie charity. Although the centre was very quiet, local

organiser Vonnie Stevenson, was amazed and delighted that £1650 was raised. The group always look forward to supporting Marie Curie in Inverness and their participation increases the money raised considerably.

OLD FILE: 1ST ST. DUTHUS TAIN SCOUTS Thank you to John Gordon for the following photos: 1960 Football Team Back Row L – R: Iain MacLeod, Trevor Moir, Gordon Morrison, Charlie Ross, Joe MacLennan, Dan Finlay. Front Row L – R: Robin Moir, Peter Sellar, Charlie Cooler, M Skinner, Ian Cooper. Coach - George MacKenzie. 1962 Football Team Back Row L – R: Dan Finlay, John Connal, Iain MacLeod, Charlie Ross, Fraser Morrison, Trevor Moir, Joe MacLennan. Front Row L – R: Gordon Morrison, Robin Moir, Fran McKeown, Peter Sellar. Coach – George MacKenzie.

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OLD FILE

SCOUTING FRIENDSHIP & MEMORIES This story began when Wilma Dargavel, now Sommer, left a photo of Scout Leaders with Vivianne Reid, a wellinformed Tainite, before she returned to her home in Germany last year. As Vivianne was only able to identify three Tain Leaders in the photo, she approached Marjory Strachan who now lives in Inverness to see if she could help. Marjorie’s late husband Donald was very involved with Scouting in Tain for many years. Marjory was unable to help but she arranged for a copy of the photo to be sent to me. I subsequently worked out that it was a commemorative photo taken at the end of a training course for Scout Leaders at Fordel Firs, which is Located on the outskirts of Dunfermline. There were only three Tain leaders in the photo, Alix Tulloch, Elizabeth Buchanan and Wilma Dargavel who are easily identified in the photo by the Scout Hats they were wearing, as can be seen in the attached Photo. Vivinne then established contact with Alix Tulloch, now Husain, who lives in Pennsylvania, USA and it was established that when Rhoda Hood left Tain to get married, Alix took over from her as Akela of the Wolf Cub Pack in Tain. Alix was born and brought up in Tain, she did Highland Dancing and was a member of the Youth Club, so old photos associated with these activities were sent to her, some of which already

OLD FILE appeared in past issues of the T&DPP. Even the one with me in it, where Stephen Burgess called me ‘Joan’. Through this correspondence, Viviann’s contact list of old Tainites has now grown. Alix has fond memories of her time as Akela, so when I received my copy of the Anniversary Issue of the T&DPP, I sent her a copy of Stephan Pater’s article on page 23. I asked her for comments and if she had any memories of her time as Akela. In her reply, Alix explained that she had left Tain before 1961 but that she noted that Wilma was still wearing what turned out to be the wrong uniform. She explained: ‘’Rhoda was not that into wearing a uniform every Friday but when I took over, I wanted to change that. We did not have anyone to guide us, so we ordered the same uniform as the Scouts

and were very happy with them. We did not realize that we were wearing the wrong uniform, until we went to Fordal. The three of us stood out like a sore thumb. However, for me there was one redeeming factor. We were put into separate patrols and mine was assigned to trek into the woods and collect certain items. No one had given a thought on how to keep and carry all we had to collect and that’s where my hat became very useful’’. ‘’Unfortunately, my memory is not that good. However, one thing does come to mind and that was when I was taking down the names

of new boys who were joining the Pack. I came to Wattie Loudin’s nephew and he started off by telling me his name was Walter Wlodarczyk. I wrote down Walter and then asked him to spell his last name. He started then stopped, started again and stopped and started one more time but stopped again. He looked at me and then said, just write down ‘Wee Wattie’. I don’t know how I managed to control myself and not crack up’’. Hopefully, this story ends with a laugh or a smile. John A Gordon

NOTES ON PREV. ISSUE: Further to the article in the Anniversary Issue about some Tain Scouts having a ride on an Elephant in the Edinburgh Zoo, Ian Cattanach who lives in Gloucestershire has a better memory than me. Ian has confirmed that Ian Ross, Robin Cattanach & Terry Duncan had rides before the Zoo Keeper said that was enough!

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PUZZLE PAGE

TDPP - PUZZLE PAGE SUDOKU - MEDIUM Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.48)

6 4

Can you name a city or town you have visited for

9 5

8 9

each letter of the alphabet?

3 4

7 8

5 1

6 4

SUDOKU - HARD

9 2

1 2

F. H.

Puzzle 1 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.71)

E. G.

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Sun Mar 29 23:13:28 2020 GMT. Enjoy!

K. L. M. N.

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Sun Mar 29 23:13:33 2020 GMT. Enjoy!

R. S. T. U. V. W. X. Y. Z.

HOW MANY SQUARES ARE IN THE PICTURE ABOVE? Challenge your mind by solving this ‘Visual’ puzzle.

RIDDLES 1. What goes up but never comes down? 2. What occurs once in every minute, twice in every moment, yet never in a thousand years? 3. What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries? 4. What has a head and a tail, but no body? 5. I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I? 6. What is always in front of you but can’t be seen? 7. What can travel around the world while staying in a corner? 8. What word in the English language has three consecutive double letters? 9. You see a boat filled with people, yet there isn’t a single person on board. How is that possible? 10. What month of the year has 28 days?

HOW MANY SQUARES? Answer: 12 RIDDLE ANSWERS 1. Age 2. The letter ‘M’. 3. A towel. 4. A coin. 5. Seven. 6. The future. 7. A stamp. 8. Bookkeeper. 9. They are all married. 10. All of them.

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FOR THE KIDS

TDPP - FOR THE KIDS

fish?” A: “You can’t tuna fish.” Q: Did you hear about the race between the lettuce and the tomato? A: The lettuce was a “head” and the tomato was trying to “ketchup”! Q: What do you get from a pampered cow? A: Spoiled milk. Q: What gets wetter the more it dries? A: A towel. Q: What did Bacon say to Tomato? A: Lettuce get together! Q: How do you make holy water? A: Boil the hell out of it!

JUST FOR FUN!

Q: What happened to the dog that swallowed a firefly? A: It barked with de-light!

Q: What do you call a fake noodle? A: An Impasta

Q: Why did the banana go to the Doctor? A: Because it was not peeling well

Q: What do you call an alligator in a vest? A: An Investigator

Q: What do you call a sleeping bull? A: A bulldozer!

Q: What happens if you eat yeast and shoe polish? A: Every morning you’ll rise and shine!

Q: How many books can you put in an empty backpack? A: One! After that its not empty!

Q: “What’s the difference between a guitar and a

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NOTICES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jacqueline McCafferty started A Helping Hand in the Highlands back in 2015 as a Facebook group designed to help close friends seeking additional support from food banks. “I find it astonishing that in 2020, there’s still people going hungry, not able to eat most night, and the amount of sanctions and rules surrounding foodbanks are getting worse. I don’t expect this to save the world, but if I can help just one family or one pensioner or just one person then at least I know I’ve made a slight difference to someone.” People seeking support can email us at Ahhith1@ gmail.com or they can contact Jacqueline directly at 07380343850. The link to their Facebook group is www.facebook.com/groups/ahelpinghandinthehighlands and their Facebook page is located at www.facebook. com/Ahhith1.

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COMMUNITY CAFE

COMMUNITY CAFE OPENING

TAIN & DISTRICT COMMUNITY CAFE Let’s get talking On Saturday the 7th of March the first Tain & District Community Cafe was held at Tain Royal Academy, the event was open to members of the public where they could come and have a cup of coffee and then speak to a range of different community groups and organisations. Sarah MacKenzie, the chairwoman of the Tain and District Development Trust opened the event with a short presentation talking about the importance of events like the Community Cafe and how it will

benefit the local area. Ruth Gagan from Silverback Gym attended the event and also gave a presentation on the day, after she said “The Community Café was a brilliant day. There was a real openness and people were chatting continually. Silverback Gym would be delighted to be part of any future events held and fully support it.” Throughout the day there was different workshops that attendees could participate in, like short Mindfulness sessions and book bug sessions for the younger visitors. Adrian Munro the area coordinator for Pets as Therapy who also attended the event said “I felt the day went well. We had quite a few people come to our table to enquire about the work

the charity does also to ask what they can do to become a volunteer, it seemed to be a successful day and I am looking forward to the next community cafe.” Pupils from Tain Royal Academy were there on the day to help with teas, coffees and the different workshops. Some of the school’s pupils who were trained in Mental Health First aid also attended and shared what they were doing within the school. The aim moving forward is to make the Community Cafe a regular event and to branch out into the surrounding villages, creating pop-up events in the local area. If you would like to be part of the next Community Cafe you can get in touch via tainroyalacademypc@ gmail.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR I got Alex Morrison’s book for Christmas and it is an excellent read. Very interesting being a Tainite. Then, I got Alex’s “Must Get”. I bought “Ring around the Morrich”, which was the only one that took my interest as Tain was in it. I am always interested when Tain is in a book as they are very few out there. I always knew that our old house “Lynhurst” had a ballet school attached to it at the back. There was a door in what was our wee toilet downstairs which seemingly took you through to the ballet school. Any

more info out there? As I get more into “Ring around the Morrich”, it is getting better and better. Gosh, the memories. Sandy Blinks - I knew him as a neighbour in Esther Place. Fairy Bell, Teacher, Pussy foot, Robert Hay of course, Juke Box as “Pers”. I recommend the book to anyone! Best wishes to all readers, Liz Craig

Whist in Tain on the 12th March raised £45.00 for Alzheimer Scotland in a game held at the Dementia Resource Centre. The winners in the Gents were: 1st Andrew Buchan with 191 points, 2nd Margaret Nic, consolation Catherine Hoatson. In the Ladies, 1st was Isobel Bain, 2nd Susan Weir and consolation Jamsie Keith. In view of current restrictions, Tain whist is cancelled till further notice.

Moo Music Highland are running LIVE and online sessions on a Monday and Friday at 11am. Join our Moo Music Highland Live and Online VIP group to access our online classes, hints and tips, Messy play, craft and recipe ideas to keep your little ones entertained and happy whilst at home. Our Music is all original and everything we do has science behind it and is specially tailored to suit your wee onesie and stage of development. Your little ones are learning whilst having lots and lots of fun,burning off some energy and engaging and stimulating their amazing brains. Please PM Moo Music Highland on Facebook for details.

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TAIN MUSEUM

Museum Closed Like many other businesses, the Museum has had to close its doors because of the Covi-19 Virus. In our case, before we have even opened for the season, having our opening day on the 1st of April was always going to be a little risky. We hope that we can open the doors at some point this season to welcome visitors but due to the impact of the virus we would not expect to see many tourists this year. The museum has been working for almost a year now on grant applications for funding to upgrade its 25-year-old visitor centre and replace the old Audio Tour of the town. So far we have been unsuccessful but we have had really good feedback for our proposals and hope we will get the opportunity to get our projects going soon. I am sure I have bored many people already with our plans but felt this was a good opportunity to share our ideas with everyone.

New Clan Ross Gallery For many years the museum has also been home to the Clan Ross Centre and has welcomed returning Rosses from all over the world back to Tain. They are, by far, our best customers and it is essential we better meet their needs. The Museum is proposing to create a Clan Ross Gallery replacing the James IV Gallery in our visitor centre, using information panels, maps, replica items and new digital content to give the history of Easter Ross from the 12th Century through to the 19th Century. There will be opportunities for everyone to get involved as we look to create content for our Gallery including:

Armorial Bearings of Queen Euphemia Ross

Heraldic Shields Project; We will create medieval shields, with the help of local primary schools, artists and the Milton’s Men’s Shed, to make a display, on the walls of our stairwell, showing the heraldry and families found in this this area. (Would love all the primary schools to make one or two for display)

Massacre of the Rosses Film; we plan to commission a short film on the incident known as the ‘Massacre of the Rosses’ highlighting the leading part played by the women of Easter Ross during the Clearances. Clan Virtual Reality Game; with the help of TRA pupils we plan to create an Angry Birds- like virtual reality game based on the historical 16th century incident when Alexander Ross of Balnagown attacked Cadboll Castle with his cannon. This would help attract a younger audience and be really good fun. Ross People; we plan to create information boards on important and inspirational Ross people from home and around the world. Easter Ross Myths: with the help of the St Duthus School we plan to characterise local myths and legends to add to our information panels in our new Clan Ross Gallery.

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TAIN MUSEUM

Augmented Reality Tour The old Audio Tour of the town is terribly dated, but with the use of modern technology, replacing it will give us the opportunity to bring the whole Churchyard and Church to life like never before. We, with the help of West of Scotland University, plan to virtually recreate the Collegiate Church as it was at the time of James IV’s Pilgrimages to the Tain. Customers to the visitor centre will be offered a Tablet Computer which will take them on a wee tour of our site, guiding them from our Pictish Stone, to our Viking Graves and around the graveyard into the church. Using the tablet computer screen to interact with what they see. A huge part of this will allow the customers to view the interior of the Church as it was in the 1500s, complete with the paintings, missing relics of St Duthac, statues and the carved wooden rood screens and stalls.

King’s College Chapel in Aberdeen.

The Augmented Reality Tour would be a unique attraction in the Highlands for visitors and give the museum and the town a much needed boost. It could also be used as an educational tool for the schools in our area and further afield. It would have the potential to become a real focal point in the newly proposed pilgrimage trail between Orkney and Tain ‘The Northern Pilgrims Way’. The new Clan Ross Gallery will have a far broader interest for all people from Easter Ross, whilst it will give us an opportunity to advertise internationally to the huge Ross and Easter Ross diaspora all around the world. The museum have had a few very generous offers of help and support from local people and businesses but the more we can show that we have the backing of our community, the better chance we have of getting funding. If anyone would like to help out in anyway with any of our projects please do get in touch.

Social Media Museum Having taken all the trouble to get a ‘lightning bolt’ and a ‘fairies arrow’ in a case in the museum for this season, we hope things will get back to normal soon and you can come and visit before the season is finished. Over the next few months we plan to share some of the museum archives, photographs and items out to you using our Facebook page and website. If there is anything you would like to see or hear more about please drop us an e-mail or post to us using Facebook.

Please follow our new Twitter account @TainMuseum

TDPP

SWIMMING

SWIMMERS OF THE MONTH: DEC, JAN & FEB

Swimmer of the Month for December 2019: Awarded to Katie Vass for her continued progress in all her strokes. Katie come to swim club most nights, has a smile on her face and a fantastic attitude towards her swimming. Well done Katie!

Swimmer of the Month for January 2020: Awarded to Eilidh Charnley who has been promoted to silver squad due to her dedication to her training. She always gives 100% and when given feedback, listens well and takes it on board and applies to her strokes. Eilidh you are a pleasure to have in the pool!

Swimmer of the Month for February 2020: Awarded to Cora MacAngus who was our standout performer at the Club Champs. The improvements across all her strokes has been amazing and we hope it continues. Keep it up Cora!

NORTH DISTRICT LONG COURSE Two Fantastic days were had once again for Team Tain over the weekend at the North District Long Course Age Group Championships R2 in Aberdeen. đ&#x;?&#x160;â&#x20AC;?â&#x2122;&#x20AC;ď¸?đ&#x;?&#x160;â&#x20AC;?â&#x2122;&#x201A;ď¸? Great Swimming & Lots of Fun had by all. The team was: Alison, Eleanor, Sophie, Olivia Macleod, Jess, Maree, Louie & Lewis. The whole team were on fire achieving lots of personal bests, Club records, final placings, some medals and a fab relay swim on Saturday night. The results from age categories 11-13, 14-15, 16-17, 18+: (Age at end of year) were as follows: Lewis (14) 6 Swims, 6PBs (Evening Final for 100 Fly -10th) and a number of club records. Louie (12) 2 Swims, 2 PBs Alison (13) 5 Swims 5PBs

Olivia (15) 2 Swims 1 PBs Sophie (14) 5 Swims 5PBs Eleanor (14) 5 Swims 5 PBs (Bronze in 200 Freeđ&#x;Ľ&#x2030;,Silver in the 400-IM) and a number of club records. Maree (17) 9 Swims 4 PBs, (Evening Finals in 50 Breast2ndđ&#x;Ľ&#x2C6;, 50 Fly- 6th, 100 Breast 6th and 100free 8th) and some club records. Claire (16) 3 Swims 2 PBs. Jess (16) 6 Swims (Evening Finals in 50 Breast 7th, and 100 Breast 5th) Medley relay Team (15+) 4x100: Maree, Jess, Olivia, Claire A big thanks to coaches poolside Viv, Jane, Kats, Jon and not forgetting our great support team in the stands. Great Job Team you should be very proud!

TDPP

FOOTBALL

NORTH CALEY FA SUSPEND FOOTBALL ACTIVITIES The North Caledonian Football Association (NCFA) can confirm that as per the Scottish FA and SPFL joint response group update, all football has been suspended until further notice. For the avoidance of doubt, this suspension applies to all football matches under the NCFA’s jurisdiction. The full statement can be read at the link below: https://www.scottishfa. co.uk/news/coronavirusjoint-response-groupupdate-13-march The decision to suspend or continue training is at each club’s discretion at this time, however clubs must ensure to follow current medical guidance when making this decision. https://www.hps.scot. nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/ covid-19/ Under no circumstances will friendly matches or ‘bounce games’ be permitted, even if these take place within a scheduled training session. We will provide a further update should this change. The NCFA office bearers, along with consultation with it’s members clubs, have decided that any immediate decision on the outcome of season 2019-20 shall be deferred until June 30th, or such a time before this, should the SFA/SPFL response group confirm a date for resumption. We appreciate your patience at this time, and continue to wish you and your families safe and well. - North Caledonian FA

PREMATURE END TO FOOTBALL SEASON Just days before the universal shutdown of football activities across Scotland, St. Duthus were feverishly trying to rearrange their Sportsman’s Dinner. An annual dinner event which has become a popular date in the Tain calendar for some. This year’s special guests were set to be sports personality Rob Maclean and former Scotland and Celtic defender Tosh McKinlay. Needless to say now, the event has been shelved, along with the prospect of any football games for the forseeable future. A representative for the club committee said, “It was the right decision to suspend all football, and the sporting authorities deserve some praise in Scotland for grabbing the bull by the horns a good bit before a lot of other event organisers had done the same. Football is a contact sport, and even without a crowd gathering in great numbers, social distancing in changing rooms, on a field or in any situation is near impossible in team sport.” The club can take great pride

in their efforts during the 2019-20 season though. For a large part of the season, they led the way in first place in the North Caledonian League before being overtaken by rivals Invergordon. Were it not for defeats to Golspie and Orkney, they may have been able to catch up and be in with a chance, should the season have been completed. Even at the time the league was suspended, they were still in with a chance of forcing a playoff game, at least arithmetically. They also, albeit by means of a bye, have a chance at winning the North Caledonian Cup, with a place in the semi finals awaiting them. The highlight though, was undoubtedly the winning of the Football Times Cup in January. Man of the Match Ben Bruce, who recently committed to remaining with St. Duthus for their next season also, stole the show with two great goals in a memorable day at Dudgeon Park, Brora, as Saints came back from 1-0 down to beat Golspie Sutherland by 3 goals to 2 in a grandstand finish. In doing so, they lifted the trophy

for the first time since 1982. Off the field, the club took great strides in developing their new Grant Park home, down by the Links. The installation of two new team shelters, or “dugouts”, have added to the park’s arena feel. Once football resumes, the intention of the committee is to continue the development further with the building of a refreshment and storage hut next to the pitch, where teas and coffees can be supplied, and equipment can be kept in safe keeping. The club now await news from the football authorities on when they can begin to prepare for a new season, or to play in the previous season, should it be resumed. The “final” league standings for 2019-20 are as follows: PL

Pts

Invergordon

Thurso

Golspie Suth.

ST. DUTHUS

Orkney

Halkirk United

Inverness Ath.

Bunillidh Thistle

Bonar Bridge

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