Issue 105 Oct/Nov 2013

MARYBURGH ROUNDABOUT

DEVELOPMENT OF OLD SCHOOL SITE AND COMMUNITY

FACILITIES

UPDATE

Progress so far:

Funding successfully obtained to employ a consultant to update the

“needs analysis” that was completed in 2009 and to complete a business

case by October 2013 which we will submit to the Council. We hope that

this will result in the site being made available to the community to

develop.

The group hope to develop a plan for the old school site, the community

centre and the green space at the centre of the village that will provide

effective and sustainable community facilities for the future.

The project is in it’s infancy at the moment but we will try to keep up to

date information on the website about progress.

Watch this space!

DATES FOR THE DIARY

NEXT ROUNDABOUT- deadline is 20th November 13

HALLOWEEN – The Cottage Bar will be holding a

Halloween fancy dress disco/party on Saturday 2nd

November 7pm till late. All goblins and ghouls welcome.

VINYL NIGHT – On Saturday 16th November a Vinyl

night will be held in the Cottage Bar. Further details

from Traci at the Cottage Bar.

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

A SPECIAL THANK YOU

Thank you very much for the fantastic Gala this year.

Really good activities on the field with lots of different

things to try out for all ages. Kids loved the bungee jumps…

even caught a few adults on it too.

Yummy WRI cake stall…. Just never enough. Imagine if only

half the village baked a few cakes each year we could fill

the hall…..mmmmm.

Scone eating competition was good fun to watch and it

would be great to see the adults taking part next year.

Well done Eilidh & team just keeps getting better each

year.

MCC

The community council are seeking a new chair. At present we have 8 councillors

with the option to co-opt 4 more members. Unfortunately the last few meetings have

not had a quorum due to extenuating circumstances. In order for the CC to function

properly and for Maryburgh to have a voice we need more volunteers who are willing

to be co-opted. We want to hear from you about your thoughts/suggestions about the

village and outlying areas. Please contact postmaster@maryburgh.org.uk Thank you.

Please note a revamped community website will be online in the near future.

MFG news. (Maryburgh’s Future Group)

Thank you to all who attended the open meeting on the 14th August. The options put

forward by the group were on display with an opportunity to speak to members of the

group. The business case for the proposed future use of the old school site, hall and

green space will be presented to the Highland Council in October. MFG continue to

meet weekly in the Cottage Bar Wednesdays 8pm. Please check the Maryburgh

website for updates.

Maryburgh in bloom

Last year it bucketed down this year hardly a drop! So we were kept busy with the

watering of the tubs and baskets we had a go at growing our own in order to save

money so we could fix/purchase more barrels. We had moved a barrel to the bus stop

at Wrightfield but sadly this was vandalised. The barrel was stolen and the liner

broken with the flowers uprooted. However our spirits were lifted when we spotted all

the sunflowers which have appeared, they have been a delightful little bonus. The

birds around here must be well fed! It will soon be time for winter pansies. If you

have some free time we should be planting up near the end of October please feel free

to come and help.

Gala Committee

An enormous thanks to everyone who helped out , who took part in providing the

entertainment, the volunteers who manned the stalls, the helpers who set up and tidied

away , people who helped out during gala week. We really are very grateful and

appreciative of your kindness and time given.

It was great to finally have a day of sun (well overdue). We hope you enjoyed the

entire week and we think “Deek your Scone” should become a regular feature.

RYAN CAMPBELL

Carpentry & Joinery

Mobile 07720636313

Email Ryancampbell8382@yahoo.co.uk

Kitchens,doors,windows,

renovations etc

ARK

Domestic and commercial plumbing

services

Kitchen and Bathroom installations

All types of gas services

All types of oil services

Plumbing, Heating & Drainage services

Under floor heating

Renewable energy services

Solar thermal hot water systems

Biomass heating services

heat pumps, Solar PV

Service repair/renewal

Water treatment services

Free Estimates

Contact us on: 0844 335 8992

Email: info@arkphr.co.uk

www.arkphr.co.uk

24 hour emergency service

the courtyard coffee shop & gift gallery

we offer a warm welcome and invite you to

relax in a pleasant atmosphere and enjoy the

following:

delicious homemade cakes and tray

bakes

Specially blended coffee Expresso,

Cappuccino, Latte

Homemade soup

Sandwiches, Toasties & Paninis

Baked potatoes with various fillings

Salads & quiche

Our gift gallery is fun innovative and there is

something for everyone!

Opening hours 10am – 4.30pm Mon to Sat

Find us at Harpers Court (adjacent to Lidl’s

carpark) DINGWALL

The Courtyard Coffee Shop & Gift Gallery

Tel: 01349 866062

JOHN SCOTT

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY

CLEANER

Windelstreaw, Lamington, Invergordon

IV18 0PE

Tel: 01862 842571

MOBILE: 07753683476

Professional service for the deep

cleaning of most carpets, rugs,

oriental rugs etc

Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie, O, what a panic's in thy breastie! .

The panic was in my breastie the day I decided to clean out the shed. It would seem that

various rodents treat the shed as their personal timeshare, attracted by the poly bags

(from that big shop in Dingwall ) which makes great nesting material if chewed up

correctly. I think the wild bird food was also a great attraction. We’d got rid of a few using

a live trap with peanut butter as bait and kindly put them back in the woods. However

they must be homing mice as they were back within a day; no doubt having become

crunchy peanut butter gourmets. They know they’re onto a good thing here!

Unfortunately the bait box for the mouse/mice had, unbeknown to me, stopped the

freezer door from closing properly, resulting in all the food thawing and having to be,

somewhat reluctantly, chucked in the bin. Having sorted that, I decided to clear the shed

of all the previous year’s accumulated debris. Henry the hoover was duly plugged in and

began sucking up the bird food that had been carelessly scattered on the floor . . . not by

me, I hasten to add! Nor, apparently, by any other member of the family – the usual

response being it wisnae me!

Hidden behind a box of redundant kitchen tiles, a box of rusty masonry nails and the

pieces of plasterboard and plywood ( which I am not allowed to throw out as they might

be of use!) was the nest! Great! I could get rid of it and, hopefully, our tenants! Henry

found its way into the corner and sucked away like mad . . . can you get a demented

hoover? Now . . . I don’t mind mice when they’re alive, but show me a dead one and I

become totally non compus mentis. In other words - a complete and utter idiot! Suddenly

Henry gave a pathetic whine and, thinking that he’d choked on a piece of plastic from one

of those plastic bags from that big shop in Dingwall, I switched him off and checked his

hose. There it was! The problem! The nightmare! A mouse head was protruding from the

hose. Its little eyes were tightly shut, its ears bent at a very awkward angle and it was

completely motionless. Assuming that it was dead, I froze . . . a bit like it, I daresay . . .

and screeched for the lesser half who sauntered from the greenhouse at his usual

leisurely pace. No Galahad he! As I stood several yards from the horror, he examined the

hose and stated that there was no mouse to be seen and what on earth was the

problem?

Okay, I thought. Time to demonstrate the Amazon in me. It would be a good idea to

empty out Henry who released his contents, somewhat reluctantly, into a bin bag. No

mouse to be seen! I can only assume that the wee thing was still alive, having a wee

snooze in its nest, when it was sucked into what must have seemed like mouse oblivion.

While I was screeching and running around like a demented banshee, mouse must have

wrested itself free from Henry’s hose and made a very successful bid for freedom . . .

until it succumbs to the lure of crunchy peanut butter and the whole tale begins again!

1st Maryburgh Rainbow & Brownie

Christmas Craft Fayre & Coffee Morning

Saturday 7th December 2013

Maryburgh Amenities Centre

10am – 1pm

Coffee and home-baked goods £2.00 per person

Concession £1.50 – served in the small hall

Remember to take your purses/wallets as we will have

lots to sell in the large hall, stalls will include:

Christmas Crafts made by the Rainbows and Brownies

Our Annual Raffle

“Guess the names” of our lovely cuddly Husky and Polar

Bear

Homebaking

Please come along and support our lovely girls and help

raise funds for the coming year.

Entertainment will be provided at 12.00noon by

the Rainbows, who will be performing some Christmas

carols

GARRY BOWIE

Painter/Decorator

6 Stuarthill Drive

Maryburgh

Dingwall

Tel: 01349 866768

Mobile: 07850841013

Painting – papering –ceramic tiling etc

TLT GARDENS

Free quotation for all types of gardening

work including grass cutting, pruning,

hedges, borders etc.

BOOK NOW for this season’s

garden maintenance and all

garden maintenance.

Call Jim Thomson – 01349

861402

Mobile: 07922187912

wags n’ walks

Contact Louise on 07415 571798 for free

consultation or email :

louise@wagsnwalks.co.uk

Dog walking (group/individual)

Pet taxi (vet and grooming

appointments)

House visits ( for all pets needs)

House sitting

Puppy visits/socialisation

Horse care

Personalised service

*20% off your first visit*

Discounts for more than one dog or more

than one service requirement

Wags n wallks staff are very experienced,

qualified and insured

BRIAN A CAMPBELL

MARYBURGH SCHOOL OF

MOTORING

NEW FOR 2013

Driving Assessments available

to help deal with modern high

speed traffic and eliminate any

bad habits

For further information call

Brian on

Tel: 01349 861161

www.briancampbelltraining.com

SYT Summer Festival Hi folks. My name is Kinnon Clark. I am 17 years old and I would like to

tell you a bit about what I did this summer.

I am currently a 6th year pupil at Dingwall Academy and in May 2013 was

lucky enough to successfully audition for a place at the Scottish Youth

Theatre’s 3 week course at the Summer festival 2013 in Glasgow.

I stayed at the Student Accommodation, Liberty Living Building which

provided very comfortable accommodation, with an ensuite bathroom and

a shared kitchen, which was conveniently a few streets away from the

Scottish Youth Theatre building at the Old Sheriff Court.

We started each day with a strenuous 45 minute warm up both physically

and vocally which set us up for the busy rehearsal schedule. Nearly the

whole day would be spent rehearsing lines, songs, dances and blocking

scenes (arranging people and positions) in preparation for the

performances in the final week. It was hard, and repetitive, work but I

knew it was necessary for the show to be at its best. The show was called

Now’s the Hour which explored the questions surrounding Scottish

Independence.

The final week’s performances were unique in their own way and received

excellent reviews (see the Herald and Fringe Reviews). It was so

successful that we were asked to perform the production at the Festival

of Politics in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, which was a fantastic

experience. As a result, there is also interest from the BBC, who may

be looking to film the production as an Educational Video for Schools due

to the current relevance of the production’s topic as the Scottish

independence referendum is in 2014.

I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Maryburgh

Community Council, Rector Mrs. Cormack and staff at Dingwall Academy,

Dingwall Academy Drama Society, Dingwall Players and the Highland

Council for their generous contributions towards funding, which

considerably helped my trip to take place. Overall, it was a tremendous

experience. I’ve met and made lots of new friends and know it will

provide valuable experience towards my future career in Acting.

Yours Sincerely

Kinnon Clark

Hillside House

Knockfarrel Dingwall

FRASER MACKENZIE

Electrical contractor

30 Rosshill Drive

Maryburgh IV7 8EN

Tel: 01349 861857 Fax: 01349 863596

Mobile: 07050234999

ALL ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION AND

MAINTENANCE WORK CARRIED OUT

Total control heating system; Low voltage

lighting; Security lighting; Electric smoke

detectors; TV and telephone points

****FREE ESTIMATES AND ADVICE****

SMITHS GARAGE

CONTIN

Tel : 01997 421472

SERVICE AND REPAIRS

Pre MOTs and MOTs carried out

Friendly reliable service at all times

WORK GUARANTEED

CONANVET

Veterinary Surgeons

Ardlair

Conon Bridge

Tel: 01349 861203

Fax : 01349 865181

DINGWALL TYRES

Strathpeffer Road

DINGWALL

Tel: 01349 863760

TYRES

EXHAUSTS

BATTERIES

Maryburgh Amenities Company Ltd

The above new company has been formed to take over the responsibilities and

functions of Maryburgh Amenities Association. The Company will take over the

assets of the Association and will be a recognised Scottish Charity with the same

charitable purposes as the Association.

The company has over 90 members at present but we would like to see as many

residents of Maryburgh as possible joining the company.

YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR COMPANY, JOIN US

Please take the time to apply to join the Company by completing the form below and returning it to Maryburgh Amenities Company Ltd. Maryburgh Amenities Centre, Back Road, Maryburgh, Dingwall, IV7 8DS

The Articles of the Company are available to view at www.maryburgh.org.uk

First Name (s): Surname:

Date of Birth:

Address:

Post Code:

Contact Details

Phone:

Email: I wish to apply for membership of Maryburgh Amenities Company Limited

I support the purposes of the Company, understand the requirements for membership and confirm that I meet these requirements Signed: Dated:

Membership forms can also be completed and submitted at www.maryburgh.org.uk

CALLING A SPADE, A SPADE . . .

It was the school “blog” ( as we must say now) in the June edition of The

Roundabout that reinforced my belief there is a wee man, sitting in his

office somewhere, whose sole task is to think up high falutin’ names for

the old and familiar.

‘Facilities Management Assistant’ does not conjure up images of the

much loved ‘ jannies’ we have known in school life. Imagine it: teacher

to pupil, “Pleases ask the FMA for some more paper towels.” Pupil:

“Eh?”

Some months ago a newspaper advert sought a ‘Director of Equipment’

suggesting ‘our- man- in- the- city’. But no, this grand sounding

description was for what most would picture as a brown-dust-coat-pencil-

behind- the-ear store man!

Replacing the somewhat derogatory term ‘scaffies’ with ‘binmen’ was

appropriate, although now we have ‘cleansing operatives’. Sounds like a

group doing the weekly wash!

But all is not lost! Highland Council intends to send staff on training

courses to enable them to communicate in plain English, but then it

appears the matter will be discussed at the Community, Safety, Public

and Equalities Committee. Plain English?

I despair, but then, as a plain speaker, I’ve always called a spade a

horticultural implement . . .

TO BEETLE, OR NOT TO BEETLE . . .

It was all Dot Prasher’s fault! ( “Of course the Gala Beetle Drive isn’t confined

to children”) and there I was, a – never-see-70-again, facing a crowd of young

mums, dads, plus primary aged children, and ready to flee back home.

“There’s a table with three wee ones needing a fourth – off you go!” So, feeling

somewhat uncomfortable, I sat down, but these 5-6 year olds took me in hand,

got pencil and paper for me, explained the rules ( they’ve changed from those I

knew), chatted cheerfully all the time, kept me right and not once did I feel that

I was an intrusion. And so it continued with children of all ages. I had a

wonderful time!Maryburgh parents, you have raised lovely young people-

happy, helpful, considerate, articulate and full of fun- and I hope to be the first

in the queue at next year’s beetle drive!

MARYBURGH SENIOR CITIZENS CHRISTMAS PARTY Once again “mine hosts” at the Cottage Bar, Traci, Di & Team invite you

to be wined and dined.

MONDAY 2ND DECEMBER 2013 7PM To accept your invitation please complete the form below and return it to

Gillian Meikle

Before 19th November Alternatively you can call Gillian on 865081 and give your name &

choice of menu.

Santa will be visiting us again this year, the recession hasn’t improved in

Lapland so any donations (gifts) less than £5.00 will be greatly

appreciated.

If you’re new to the village or have never joined us before you are very

welcome to come along.

I wish to attend the Christmas dinner

Name Block

Capitals…………………………………………………………

Please tick your choice of menu

STARTER SOUP PRAWN COCKTAIL

MAIN COURSE ROAST TURKEY ROAST BEEF

SWEET BLACK FOREST GATEAU

VANILLA ICE CREAM

If you would prefer small portions please tick here