7 February 2010

Peat Experience Workshops
Castletown Heritage in conjunction with Mary Ann's cottage invite you to sign up for FREE peat experience workshops in April and May culminating in a peat experience day on Sunday 30th May. The Peat Experience Workshop will provide an opportunity for energetic, fit volunteers to learn and apply the traditional skills and techniques of peat cutting on a real local peat bank. A key output from the workshop will be to generate sufficient finished peat to support a full season of heating and cooking demonstrations at the unique Mary-Ann's Cottage visitor experience, near Dunnet. Full tuition will be provided during this hands-on event. The programme for this workshop is flexible due to dependence on weather/ground conditions and will be confirmed nearer the time, but will take place during April or May. As this event is likely to be very popular, early registration is recommended. To register interest or to secure your place, click HERE        Castletown Heritage Web Site   Mary Ann's Cottage Blog   More Mary Ann's Cottage

30 January 2010

Wick Arion Choir Night Raised £956 For Haiti Relief Fund
On a bitterly cold night on Friday 29th January the public turned out to a free concert in St Joachim's church, Wick and made donations at the door totalling £956 towards helping the people of Haiti.  After some great singing from the choir of many familiar Scottish tunes including several Burns songs the audience were surprised to be invited to an amazing buffet that had been laid on without notice.  Great home baking a huge range of scrummy cakes and sandwiches.   Tea, coffee and even a glass of wine were on offer.  It transpires that Sister Declan who used to be based in Wick for several years has for the past couple of years been working in Haiti.  The house she was living in was demolished in the earthquake but she survived and is currently living in a tent whilst helping the community there.

Caithness Branch Of The British Science Association AGM
27th February 11.00am - 2.30pm - Caithness Horizons, Thurso
Come along. There are lots of opportunities for science activities that are going begging for want of someone to grab them and run with them. We’d like to expand the committee and make the most of the opportunities. But come along anyway, even if you’re just vaguely curious and fancy a free bowl of soup and a blether on a cold winter’s day. You don’t get a job if you don’t want one!  FREE Lunch
 

29 January 2010

Caithness Mod 2010 Organisation Gathering Pace - Friday 8th  - Saturday 16th October
The local Mod organising committee are now well into the run up to the Caithness Mod 2010 - a massive logistical exercise to accommodate up to 9000 visitors to the county in the nine days Friday 8th  - Saturday 16th October.  Our section that carried some early information has now been cleared out into an archive page and a link to the new official Caithness Mod web site that is coming shortly. Other indications as to the scale of the vent can be found on the Bebo page where you can read about the involvement and tuition going on in local Caithness schools for young musicians and singers.  The Caithness Mod 2010 also has a Facebook page  You can join these pages to be kept up to date with all the latest news in coming months as we get closer to the biggest music event that has ever happened in Caithness.  For folk looking to attend from outwith the county you better get cracking to book somewhere to stay as areas with the Mod tend to get booked quickly.  Anyone with any questions can get in touch with Carol-Anne MacKay recently appointed as the full time event support officer  carolannemackay@hotmail.com   Carol-Ann will also help if anyone ahs problems finding somewhere to stay.

Old Pulteney add celebratory spirit to Cape Wrath Reunion
Old Pulteney single malt whisky has helped a separated Cape Wrath couple celebrate their reunion this week with a bottle of their whisky from their Wick-based distillery. John and Kay Ure, who run an isolated tea room in the UK mainland's most north-westerly tip, were forced to spend the festive season apart for the first time in 35 years when the 'big freeze' hit in December. Upon hearing of their predicament Scotland's most northerly distillery overcame the elements to present the reunited couple with a bottle of Old Pulteney 12 year old single malt to belatedly toast the New Year together.

PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR EMPLOYMENT
The North Highland College, Thurso
Limited places are now available on a new course running at the North Highland College, in our recycling centre. Flexible hours are available.
This project involves the recycling of textiles, making a variety of items, whilst working towards an SQA qualification.........

Business Gateway Workshops For New and Existing Businesses
Thinking of starting your own business in the next few months, or developing your existing business - then contact Jennifer Irvine, Regional Development Officer, Business Gateway, Caithness - on 01955 605360; mobile 07921758450 - or email jennifer.irvine@highland-opportunity.com - to book a place on the following FREE workshops:...............

26 January 2010

Over 700 Businesses Registered For Council Contracts By The Deadline
An open invitation for consultants, contractors and skilled trades businesses to submit an application to work for The Highland Council on contracts with an individual value of up to £25,000 and consultancy work for projects of all values has received a considerable response.  Over 700 (476 contractors and 242 consultants) submitted an application by the deadline of Friday 22 January for the Council's framework agreement which will begin in April 2010 and will last for two years, with the option of a one-year extension.

23 January 2010

Exciting Job Opportunities Open Up With £4million Programme At ERI Thurso
Marine Energy has long been talked about but now something is stirring as the Envronmental Research Institute in Thurso announce research jobs in both Thurso and Oban for a research programme.
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland have some of the world's best natural resources for marine renewable energy. These provide unrivalled opportunities for developing new energy markets and the ‘green economy’ in the coming years.  The Environmental Research Institute (ERI) of the North Highland College in Thurso together with the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban, have successfully secured £4million funding for a unique multi-disciplinary research programme, Marine Renewable Energy and the Environment (MaREE). Both organisations are partners in the UHI Millennium Institute (UHI); the ‘emergent university of the Highlands and Islands’.
We now have a number of exciting opportunities for dynamic, enthusiastic and self-motivated technicians with experience in one or more of the following areas:  Click HERE for more details

Are You Interested In A Veg Box Scheme In Caithness? - Then Check It Out Here

22 January 2010

Scorries Play Nairn At Home This Saturday - Last Minute Fixture Changes
Head for Harmsdworth Park, Wick On Saturday For Another Great Game
Wick Academy Saturday Game changed To Home Game Against Nairn
Rothes V WAFC has been cancelled on Sat 23rd Jan and now WAFC has a home match against Nairn County KO 3pm.

Wick Academy Web Site

20 January 2010

Darwin Miller Dick - Connected Lives          For More Information Click HERE
Saturday 13th February - Caithness Horizons - Thurso

Starts 10.00 am and finishes 4.00pm and you can attend all or part of the day.  The event is FREE

Digital Camera Training Course - Sunday 7th February
Award winning photographer John Baikie will share his knowledge with all you folk who are new to using digital cameras and all those features and buttons.  Just sign up for his one day course on Sunday 7th February

CLAN GUNN SOCIETY CAITHNESS ART PROJECT
Art Competition Open To Primary Schools In Caithness
The Clan Gunn Society is holding an art competition for children in Primary schools in Caithness.  The theme for the competition is: MY CAITHNESS: Land and Sea
There are two categories for entrants: · Ages 7 - 9  · Ages 10 -11
There will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in both categories
1st Prize will be a package of art materials for you, a digital camera for your school and a free session for your class at the Clan Gunn Heritage Centre in Latheron, Caithness.
The winners will be awarded their prizes at the Gathering and Halkirk Highland Games in the summer.   Closing Date Friday 2nd April 2010.

19 January 2010

Caithness Bloggers Getting Into 2010
Surfin North
If you want to see how great surfing can be in Caithness just head over to another blog from local photographer Martina Cross. to oo and ah at her other photos head for her Landscape Blog  Plenty more great Caithness views in her main web site
Meanwhile North Light from Jamie Buchanan has set out on a journey for his third year to add a photo a day and head for his ultimate target of over 1000 local photos.  Catch up with his 2010 collection HERE or put your feet up and watch the slide show HERE
Rain On My Window by Maurice Pottinger continues his essays on local farming life on his blog with his latest piece Papay Boatmen and their skills
Home In The Highlands has also posted three updates since the turn of the year once again reflecting on the Caithness landscape and a few thoughts on this and that from an American resident in the county.
Over at the Mary Ann's Cottage blog more colourful contributions continue to be added by Joanne Kaar who does not seem to have run out of steam after completing the highly successful paper boats fundraiser for the cottage. (Bill's string of paper boats from Taiwan are now draped across his office here at the Org)

Need some time out? - Want to learn to relax?
Alternative Vitality - Beginners Meditation Class
Starts - Thursday 4th February - @ 6.30pm for 5 weeks - Places are limited to please book early to avoid disappointment - To Book Contact - 01955 604759 - info@alternativevitality.co.uk

Fund Raiser For HAITI Earthquake Disaster By Arion Choir Wick
Wick's recently reformed Arion Choir are to hold a special concert on 29th January at 7.30pm in St Joachim's church, Breadalbane Terrace, Wick (Opposite Assembly Rooms).  Entry is to be by donations at the door so everyone can contribute any amount they can.  If anyone else is organising fund-raisers for HAITI let us know and we will advertise them on this page - just email details or posters to bill@caithness.org