LATEST HEADLINES
 

HIE Launches Free Business Advice Line - Open 8.00 - 6.00pm Mon - Fri and Saturday Mornings
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) today formally launches a campaign to assist businesses to navigate their way through the current economic downturn. The agency has set up a dedicated advice line with business experts on 08000 884 884 offering free tailored advice to businesses of any size and in any sector. Callers can also get contact details of other agencies such as HM Revenue and Customs or Scottish Development International which may be able to assist them with particular issues, or go on to book a free one-to-one consultation with a business adviser.  "We want everyone that could benefit from this service to be aware of it," said Carroll Buxton, one of HIE's regional directors. "We will be running advertisements in local newspapers and on local radio during the next few weeks and will be sending details of this service direct to 17,000 businesses in our area. We also have a downloadable podcast on our website homepage which tells people a little of what they can expect from our advice line.".......... See Also HIE Business web site

International Year Of Astronomy - Caithness And Sutherland Events
Are you interested in astronomy? Then the series of events being organised by a new local group starting on Friday 30th January will be a good place to start.  There will be talks, observing sessions, hands-on-activities, gallery events, competitions and a chance to see genuine moon rocks and meteorites over the year.

Earlier Caithness Night Sky items

Reay Primary School May Be Closed On Monday Due To Burst Pipes
Burst pipes in some schools in Highland may mean they do not open as planned on Monday after the holiday.  Check the Highland Council web page for the latest information.

Congratulations To Pradip Datta For His MBE In the New Years Honours List
The MBE was awarded in the listing as "Pradip Kumar Datta, Founder, Wick Surgical Courses. For serv Medical Training."  Pradip Datta retired three years ago as a surgeon at Caithness General Hospital after many years of service there.  He continued to teach in the UK and India. A very keen squash player in the local Wick club for many years.  In May 2008 he received an award for the course he set up

 

Happy New Year From 2009
Well that's 2008 gone and we wish everyone a happy new year for 2009.  Bill was suffering from one of the bugs going the rounds and did not venture out to the Market Square in Wick to try and not spread it round more folk.  If anyone wants photos of the night in Wick, Thurso or any other events in Caithness published just email them to bill@caithness.org

Local Hotelier Completes 366 Days Of 2008 Photos
Jamie Buchanan a local hotelier and photographer has just completed a year long project to publish a photo every day for 2008.  366 photos have gone on to his Flickr web pages and show many parts of Caithness.  Jamie also runs a blog under the name North Light  Congratulations to Jamie for a great set of photos and letting us see many of the wonderful views and aspects we might not yet have had time to get round to.  The whole set of 366 photos can be viewed as a Slide Show   See how many places you can name and why not go out and see one or two in the coming year.  Great project Jamie - Visit Scotland should be paying you.  Jamie also contributes photos in our Photography section  We would also like to thank the many contributors to this section that now has a huge number of photos of Caithness and other subject matter. The section has over 1200 threads and over 14,000 posts.  The sections on Thurso and Wick old photos have had over 100,000 visitors alone.  It is easy for anyone to post photos and then draw them into the section.  If you have never done this before some tips can be found HERE  If you get stuck just ask the forum members for help.  Share your photos in 2009.

Wick Hogmanay Web Cam - Camera Goes Live By 5.30pm
the web cam this year is compliments of Paul Broadwith of Blue Ivy
Entertainment from Thrumster brothers Andrew and Craig Harvey.  Balloons will be released once again and food will be the traditional fare of black bun and shortbread from local bakers MacDonalds.  Tea and coffee will be available from Santa's Grotto.  A huge snowball waltz this year will see dancers pick partners from the crowd and it is hoped enough folk will join in to create yet another huge strip the Willow dance after that. The evening kicks off at 10.30pm.

Thurso Street Party Starts At 9.30pm
Lots of Street Parties Around Scotland
There are many parties and celebrations tonight in Scotland.  Here ar links to a few to look at what is happening around the country - Aberdeen  Glasgow City Centre Web Cams   Edinburgh Web Cams
For many more web cams go to Camvista
Maes Howe Web Cam
 

Caithness & Sutherland Women's Aid Children's Service
Caithness & Sutherland Women’s Aid— CHILDREN’S SERVICE offers a confidential support service to children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse. Published here is their October newsletter

Caithness & Sutherland Women's Aid Main Page

Don't Believe Everything You Read In The Newspapers
An article in the Press and Journal dated 15 November 2008 in an item about 999 calls and alleging Bill Fernie said etc and with a quote from Bill Fernie is completely wrong as the councillor in question was John Finnie and not Bill Fernie.  Despite a request to print a retraction the Press and Journal have so far not done so although the journalist who wrote the item phoned to apologise for the error.  Proving you need to be very careful when reading anything in papers or online.

Caithness Horizons Is Open On Wednesday 31st 10.00am - 4.00pm
If you have not been inside the new Caithness Horizons based at the former Thurso Town Hall then why not pay a visit over the holiday period.  The Centre is open on Wednesday 31st and then Saturday 3rd January and Sunday 4th January.  There is plenty to see.

Highland Hunting Lodge In Sutherland Set For Extensive Upgrade
A Victorian hunting lodge in Sutherland is to get a £1.5m facelift to allow a variety of uses including use as luxury accommodation and use for corporate events, thanks to a funding package including Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) together with the Big Lottery Fund.  Community group The Assynt Foundation near Lochinver has been awarded £250,000 by HIE and £785,000 by the Big Lottery Growing Fund Community Assets towards a £1.5 million project to renovate Glencanisp Lodge. Its renovation will create five jobs directly and another two indirectly, while also securing the six jobs already created since 2005. The Assynt Foundation acquired the 44,400 acre Glencanisp and Drumrunie estates, covering an area the size of 123 Hyde Parks and including the 14 bedroom lodge at Glencanisp in 2005.  More Photos
See the Assynt Foundation web site for more information and photos

Boxing Day Mock Hunt At Sandside Estate

The Caithness Branch of Horse Society's Boxing Day Mock Hunt Meet at Sandside House. 29 horses and riders, young and older, turned out on a beautiful morning for a mulled wine stirrup cup, mince pies and venison sausages before riding over a prepared course over Sandside Estate. They chased Charlie Inness, the "fox" on a quad bike, who they eventually caught up with at Stable Wood in the Helshetter Strath after several miles of fast going. A lot of fun was had by all and £125 was raised for Caithness Riding for the Disabled and The British Horse Society.   Sandside House

Thousands of drink driving offenders caught since 2000 - STV
The number of drink-drivers caught in the Highlands has reached 7,474 since 2000. The figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that 800 individuals charged with drink driving offences were under the age of 21. The statistics also reveal that of the drivers arrested by the Northern Constabulary one in five were in Inverness. Fort William, Lerwick, Nairn, Stornoway, Thurso and Wick also had high numbers of people caught driving over the legal limit.