KILMALLIE Hall, in Corpach, assumed a new - albeit temporary - name this week.
The very well used local facility has become LEAK HALL.
And thereby hangs a tale.
Thanks to their own fundraising efforts, a LEADER grant and some match funding from Highland Council and its elected members in Lochaber, the hard-working Kilmallie Hall committee have embarked on a re-roofing programme for the premises.
As you can see!
Up on the roof this week were Kilmallie Hall committee chairman John Macdonald, and Martin Doran, of AJ Engineering, Forres.
The ultimate outcome of the £190,000 project will see the hall become known as Kilmallie Community Centre.
I WON'T tempt Providence by going on too much about the current spell of wonderful November weather in Lochaber...
Setting sail
HOWEVER, did you see the Hebridean Princess moored in mid Loch Linnhe last week?
With its launches taking 50 towrists over to the ferry slipway at the pier.
Shades of the old days when the Lady Killarney and the Caronia sent its liberty boats full of tourists over to town to boost the local economy.
So, could it happen again?
On a regular basis?
A 'Grand' plan in motion
YES, the Grand Hotel may still be standing, but "demolition" work DID start on it on Monday, albeit initially the men in the hard hats appear to be tackling the building side on.
It was interesting to note that, last weekend, three newspapers carried the original artist's impression of how this area of Gordon Square might look after the redevelopment.
Therefore, all of them showed the "OBELISK" as the iconic/ironic focal point rather than "sore feet"!
Back to work...
MEANWHILE, along the street, we saw and heard the arrival of what must have been the sixth contractor in as many years, to "refurbish" the interior walls and floors of the vacant half of MacLennan's!
A toffee apple
TIME to peruse Wee Jessie Jamieson's Journal:
November 15. The day was damp. Helen went to the Braxy, and I got a toffee apple from Mrs Rankin.
November 16. It was a wet day. We all went to Bible Class on the bus. At home, I ironed my apron and two blouses.
November 17. It was a dry day. We finished our Art exam. In the evening I went to Red Cross and brought silver paper and milk bottle tops.
November 18. Another dry day. The chain came off my bike again when I was coming home at four.
November 19. The shops were closed today - a general holiday for Thanksgiving.
November 20. We got calligraphy in Art. Went back into town in the afternoon for the Co-op messages.
A night to remember
DEAR Roamer,
I was up in the Sneckie for the Feis Rois concert on Friday night, celebrating its 25 years at Eden Court.
While I was sitting up in the Gods, waiting for some friends to turn up, who should walk in but Samuel Montrose Horner and his daughter, Margaret.
I said, "Oh, it's good to see a fellow Braxy Bandit in here tonight."
Then the stories started - including "Did you hear the one about the Highbridge cattle grid?" - and were only brought to a halt by the concert.
It was a great night, being entertained by Rhona Lightfoot, John Carmichael, Angus Grant and Fergie, amongst the many Gaelic superstars.
Regards,
Wishy Cameron, The Village
PS: A friend got me a signed Fergie Calendar - it's not for the faint-hearted.
Full of hot air!
THE BBC Scotland announcers have been excelling themselves recently.
What with "global warning" - and "civic litres" instead of "civic leaders".
Makes a change from "Esha" for "Ayrshire".
Many happy returns!
TALKING of the Meejah - Congratulations to West Word, the community paper for Mallaig, Morar, Arisaig, Lochailort, Glenfinnan, Glenuig, Knoydart and the Small Isles.
With this month's sterling issue, West Word celebrates its 17th birthday.
From far afield!
RICKY Salter arrived back from Taiwan and Thailand and all places Far East with a wad of newspapers.
Which is why I've been wading my way through the Gulf News, Khaleej Times, Phuket Sunday Star, et al. - you name it, I have it!.
As you can imagine, Ricky, true to form, ringed the items he thought might interest me!
Like "Bus Guidelines Needed in Kuala Lumpur", "Phuket Town Bus Terminal Hits 'Breaking Point'".
But he had cut out, and kept, all the bus and coach photographs accompanying these articles!
On a wider plane, there was the tale of the "236,000 Fish Fry Released into Sungai Perak", which makes familiar reading. Various species, including freshwater prawns, are being stocked in selected rivers in an ongoing programme to increase the fish population.
Perfect poppy release
INGENIOUS!
That was the watchword applied to the poignant cascade of poppy petals at the close of Sunday's Remembrance Day Service at the Duncansburgh MacIntosh Church.
Somehow, Rev Donald MacQuarrie had devised a way of releasing the petals - which, amazingly, he had managed to locate among the high ceiling beams - to ensure that they fell softly and silently down onto the children in the front pews.
Reminiscent of the Royal Albert Hall from the night before.
And particularly pleasing in Fort William's Parish Church.
Thanks to top runners!
DEAR Roamer,
We would like to say a big thank you to everybody who sponsored us in our "Big Fun Run" in Edinburgh last month in our bid to raise awareness and funds for "Sands" the stillbirth and neonatal death charity.
We raised over £2,000 for the charity, which was fantastic.
Thanks also to Maggie and staff at the Volunteer who had a race night on November 4, and raised a further £1,000 for "Sands".
The Just Giving website is still open for donations http://www.justgiving.com/Rebecca-Stewart0
Many thanks
Rebecca Stewart, Denise Kirk, Bryony Smith.
Brilliant bingo night!
DEAR Roamer,
Hello!
Just wondering if you could mention the great success of our prize bingo at Caol Community Centre on November 4.
We raised over £2,000 for Roy Bridge Primary School, and would like to thank everyone who donated prizes and came along on the night.
Regards,
Roy Bridge Primary PTA
Blowing a fuse?
THE trial run of the public address system and its two microphones at the Nevis Centre in advance of the ward forum there on Monday was a very "testing" experience.
Everything was hooked up, but only one mike was working.
Cue the Nevis Centre's electronics experts as, one after another, they gave the cry of "Let me at it!".
Twenty minutes elapsed, during which time local companies, not to mention Google, had been canvassed.
The definitive response was: "Sounds like the integrated current has gone." But no joy with the mike.
It was back to first principles when Adam was summoned.
After a cursory examination, Adam announced: "If somebody can get me a fuse, I'll put it in the plug which is empty at the moment!"
Zero-ing in on the problem
MEANWHILE, other locals were battling with an automatic timer.
No matter how they tried to programme it the figures 0000 came out on top!
The timer was taken apart, but nothing doing - well, four nothings, actually.
The purchasers were on the point of taking it back for a refund when a younger member of the family - aged eight - suggested that, if the clear plastic strip covering the four 0s was removed, then the correct numbers would appear.
How right he was!
Elvis has spoken
A FOOTBALLING finish.
Elvis WAS in the building...
Tynecastle legend and Falkirk boss, Steven Pressley, that is.
Partaking of half-time tea, along with his No 2, Alex Smith, in the Claggan Park clubhouse along with the Fort William FC committee, during Sunday's Fort William 0 Falkirk 2 Youth cup-tie.
The banter was good, as you'd expect.
Came a question from Calum MacLean: "Which club did you enjoy playing for most, Steven, - Rangers or Celtic?",
"HEARTS!", was the deadpan response.
Then John Corbett snr enquired, with just the slightest hint of facetiousness: "How did you enjoy your day out in Dingwall, yesterday?"
"Aye they're a very well run club, Ross County," replied Stephen, who was perhaps, still all shook up from the previous day's 3-1 defeat by his main rivals.
Scoreline confusion!
IN the meantime, our Fort William FC official and online guru was at it again.
You'll recall that, last weekend, he tweeted too soon, telling the world of Fort's "defeat" by Strathspey Thistle.
This time, our man in the club blazer and tie - whom I can confirm is NOT Davie MacDonald - was in a rush to update the Fort's web page.
"Rothes 1 Fort William 3", read the pleasing headline for the Fort victory.
Fort had won, right enough, but by scoring 2 to the Rothes 1.
Another "official correction" quickly followed.
Mind you, in its results column, the Sunday Mail gave us "Rothes 0 Fort William 2".
