Former employees of Nevis Bakery and The Harvester restaurant joined present-day workers, boss Archie Paterson and his family for a reunion dance in Fort William Shinty Club last Saturday. Picture: Iain Ferguson, The Write Image
AS I write this on Wednesday morning the rain is persisting down.
And that, strange to relate, is a comparatively unusual phenomenon for Lochaber in November 2011.
I mean, when, in any previous November, can you recall anyone saying: "My, the midges are bad today!"
Well, it seems that the Scottish Scourge, having been well to the fore locally, thanks to this month's mild weather, may also be around for a while, with the experts telling us that the midges could be biting right through to Christmas
Village reunion
NOW, let's look even further ahead:
Dear Roamer,
Anybody who lived in Inverlochy, who went to school in Inverlochy, or who worked in Inverlochy, and is aged 55 or over, is welcome to attend our reunion which will be held on Friday, May 25, 2012, in the BA Club.
Obviously, this is in the early stages of planning but we want to put the word out so people can get in touch with relatives and friends.
For further information or to confirm attendance, phone: Sandra 01397 704456; Florence 01397 705466; Celia 01397 702249; Ishbel 01397 703290; George 01397 703396; Jeanette 01397 772131 or Liz 01397 705410.
George Cairns.
Grand memories
MENTION of Inverlochy reminds me that one of the village's elder statesmen, Norris Galloway, is currently keeping an eye on the demolition of the Grand Hotel.
"Before the war, I took a great interest in the Grand Hotel being built," Norris tells me.
"So it'll be more than a little sentimental for me to see it coming down."
Thoo recalled
AND staying with Inverlochy, I was reminded of Thoo the other day, while reading the book, The Last of the Tinsmiths.
(Older villagers will know what I mean!).
Dear Diary
WHAT next - but extracts from Wee Jessie Jamieson's Inverlochy journal for the end of November, 1958:
November 23 It was a fine day. We went a walk up the glen in the afternoon and to Bible class in the evening.
November 24 I got a hula-hoop in the Post Office. It cost 7/11.
November 25 It was a dry day, and the ink in my pen is going dry as well. We got our English exams - an hour for composition and an hour and a half for grammer. (I think, Jessie, that maybe an hour and a half wasn't long enough! Roamer).
November 26 Mum whitewashed the cupboard and iced the first Christmas cake.
November 27 I was first in the girls in science with 84 per cent. There is a new girl in Fraser's Shop.
November 28 It was a dry day. Helen got her hair done and Mum and Dad went to a concert in the Braxy.
November 29 Marie and I went to the Pictures. It was Teacher's Pet with Doris Day and Clark Gable.
November 30 It was such a nice day I put the rabbit in the hutch in the garden. Then we went for a walk to look at the new school at Camaghael.
Signal of the times
I don't know about the likely long-term future for the Caledonian Sleeper which, I see in some of the papers, continues to be described by its Brigadoon title of the "Deerstalker Express".
But I am aware of the fact that, after almost half a century, the Annat signal box is no more.
So that's the end of another era - Pulp Mill et al.
And with it goes the art of signal box spit and polish!
Many's the time I watched, fascinated, as the Annat signalmen executed their soft shoe shuffle inside their cabin with dusters attached to their footwear, perfecting the art of floor polishing - without even having to bend down!
Headline news
WHAT the papers say.
* "Inverness calls year's halt in centre centre was the regional daily headline on Thursday - compelling you to read the story in order to find out what that was all about.
* The 50 tonne winch dwarfs Rod Buchan and Graeme Wood was another Thursday tale requiring more than a second reading.
* And the press release headed The Guild of Health Writers invite applications for the 2012 Writing Awards, kind of took the biscuit as well.
Two's ... a crowd?
LAST week's "locals" both went to great pains to stress that the previous weekend's Fort v Falkirk Scottish Youth Cup Tie boasted the "second biggest crowd at Claggan Park this season".
So why, in the accompanying photographs, each highlighting two players, were there only two spectators as well?!
Historic victory
IN the Lochaber News photographic line-up taken at the presentation of awards at Fort William Golf Club, I clocked Frank Sweeney, described as "1912 cup winner"
Go on yersel' Frank - or Tam as we know him better!
I never realised you were that old.
Panel show
HAVE you had a chance to take a look at the "information panelorama" down at the Old Fort?
20 years ago ...
NOVEMBER, 1981 and all that:
An application by Woolworth's to extend their Fort William High Street department store was turned down by Lochaber Divisional Planning Committee.
Gaelic classes, free of charge, in St Andrew's Church Hall on Wednesday evenings.
Mary Shaw, the Inverlochy Castle cook par excellence, retires after 12 years service.
(Roamer) - Interesting to learn that an executive of the firm charged with creating jobs in Lochaber has left to become a director of another company. As the local saying goes "They come to Fort William with the backside out of their trousers)
The post-Mod ceilidh in the Milton Hotel was an outstanding success, with a capacity audience.
McTavish's films. Coming Shortly. Superman 2 and Stir Crazy.
Gaelic Santa
I NOTE, festively, that last weekend, youngsters in Oban had the chance to ask Santa what they would like for Christmas - in Gaelic and English.
The Gaelic Santa took a sleigh ride to Dunollie House, seat of the Clan MacDougall, for the opening of the Oban Winter Festival.
Thus well-known Oban Gael, Freddie MacKenzie, was "Athair Chridheil" for the day.
And the local children were able to put their requests to him in "the two spokes".
But they won't know till December 25, whether they'll be getting two presents.
Oban moves
ALONG with "half of Lochaber", we were in Oban ourselves on Thursday night for the annual Ballet West opening review.
Not much Gaelic in evidence there, right enough.
But a grand night was enjoyed by all.
Gloomy site...
HALF an hour ago I came along the High Street, in the pouring rain.
And, across from House of Scotland, Lloyd's and the Clydesdale bank what a dismal ground-floor empty shops site/sight presents itself for locals and visitors to "behold".
Our councillors keep telling us they have "no locus" with regard to the retail aspects of the High Street (remember Woolworth's 1981).
But they DO have lobbying powers.
Maybe during the close(d) season they could exercise these?
Meanwhile, along at the Grand Hotel end, the barriers are up.
So, keep on watching that space.
