MIRROR, mirror on the wall, Reflecting the past for one and all, But then into the debris it fell, Sic Transit Gloria Grand Hotel.
HAVE you noticed that the Lochaber snow always seems to start falling on a Sunday?
Precipitation prediction
AND, today (Wednesday) as I write this, several locals have been uttering the time-honoured An Gearasdan phrase: "It's nice to see the rain!".
On the subject of precipitation, November's Rainnet figures will appear here next week.
Grand dame gone forever
QUITE a few tears shed as the Grand came down, in stages, over the past few days.
Now you see it - now you don't.
The disappearing act was witnessed by many locals and, as you can imagine, some of the observations were, well, local!
Like the lady who was walking along the High Street, towards the West End, pulling her wee case on wheels.
Ian Murray and Veronica Beacham were watching the demolition job and, as lady and case drew alongside, Ian said to her in: "I hope you weren't wanting to book in to the Grand, Missus. Because you're too late!".
Missus's response was not recorded.
Hector's House is gone too
MY own two final memories of the Grand will be in seeing "Mirror, Mirror, on the wall" after the gable came down (Roamer Pic), and Hector MacAskill having a last look at all that was left of the Cromag Bar, aka "Hector's House", wherein he was barman in the late 1960s/early 1970s.
Top ten of tourist twaddle
AS we prepare for the seasonal influx of winter sports enthusiasts to Ben Nevis and Nevis range, here's a look back at the impressions of summer visitors about our neighbouring mountains.
The ice climbers, skiers and snowboarders are now arriving in the wake of hundreds of thousands of earlier tourists - whose questions to the local hoteliers, guest house operators, B&B landladies, tourist outlets and shopkeepers never cease to amaze.
Thus I've compiled a Ben Nevis top ten, and there are a few crackers, some the height of nonsense:
* We're planning to book in to Armchair View - we're told it's the guest house with a great panorama of Ben Nevis and Nevis range.
* Is the Porridge Factory at the bottom of Ben Nevis open to visitors?
lI'm planning to walk up Ben Nevis, but I suffer from vertigo, Will I be alright, and what time does the Ben Nevis path close?
* Do you know the postcode for Ben Nevis? I need it for my satnav.
* If I take the gondola cable car up Nevis range, do I have to walk back down again?
* Are there plenty of public toilets alongside the path up and down Ben Nevis?
* A few years ago we stayed at a very nice guest house in Spean Bridge, Corrie-something. We want to go there again, because they had a very nice colour picture of Ben Nevis on the wall, and we'd like to get one like it.
* Where can I buy the midge cream Mel Gibson used when he was filming Braveheart on Ben Nevis?
* What is the toll charge to go up Ben Nevis -and if I only view the mist and miss the view can I get my money back?
* How far up Ben Nevis do we need to go to see the Highland natives who live in the mountains, and wear kilts?
A seasonal delve
I'LL have a seasonal delve into Wee Jessie Jamieson's Journal for the second week of December, 1958:
* Dec 8. It was a very wet day. I went to the Red Cross, and I was put in charge.
* Dec 9. A very frosty morning, and the chain stuck on my bike. We made mince pies and got dancing at school.
* Dec 10. Very frosty again. At school Mr Chalmers told us ghost stories, and we made Christmas cards in Art.
* Dec 11. It was a damp day. I have a very bad cold.
* Dec 12. It was a cold day. Mum went to town and bought me some black ribbon for my pink dress.
* Dec 13. It was a very cold day. Helen went to the dance in the Braxy.
* Dec 14. It was a damp, cold day. We went to the Town Hall to make tea for the blood donors, and we got our photo taken.
Book a date with David
DAVID Cargill will be at the Astley Hall, Arisaig, this Saturday, from 11.30 till 12.30, and in Mallaig Heritage Centre, from 1pm till 4pm with signed copies of his book "The Statue of Three Lies" - priced at £10 (41% off the recommended retail price). David's book is selling well on behalf of local charitable causes.
Number crunch that one
THE National Lottery.
I know I keep going on about it, but could someone please explain to me the mathematical possibility (in addition to the normal odds) of choosing last Wednesday's sequence of 13-23, 24, 25, 26 -30. Out of 49 numbers!
Not to be outdone, Saturday's were 1-30-35-and 47, 48, 49!
Ah, ya dancer!
AN audience of 50 locals made it along to the Duncansburgh MacIntosh Church Hall on Saturday afternoon for the premiere of the West Highland Museum's Strip the Willow DVD.
The film and soundtrack represent a very pleasant part of Fort William's End of 20th Century history and heritage - and all for £8.
Not only that, but the members of the Mallaig contingent who took part in the dance were also well to the fore on-screen.
Back on the sledge gang
MY abiding memory of this week's snow is of Hamish Loudon walking through the High Street, carrying a sledge!
"Not for me, you understand!", said he, very quickly.
But, knowing where Hamish lives, it took me back to the days when the Viewforth gang used to sledge from the sheep track on Fort William (New) golf course, down Argyll Road and Hill Road, into Fassifern Road, down Bank Street - and headlong into Marshall's garage!
Correspondence Corner
Hi Ian,
Just wondered if you had any room in your column to give my new TV shinty series a plug!
The programmes, entitled "Caman", are on BBC Alba on Thursday nights at 8.30pm - and much of the content centres on Fort William and Lochaber.
I was the assistant producer and the reporter, and we had a great time making the series.
The good news is that every time we were in the Fort the sun was splitting the skies - so the three guys who were in my crew (all from Glasgow) think it never rains there!
I've also converted them into shinty fans now too!
Eilidh Davies
DEAR Roamer,
Banavie Primary School's Christmas Craft Fair last Saturday raised the brilliant sum of £1,100.
Everyone helped to make the event a tremendous success - the stall holders, visitors, the staff, and our pupils, their parents and families.
A special mention to the Parent Council members who organised the teas and coffees - and to Brian Hume for the use of the soup kettle!
Many thanks to everyone,
Banavie Primary School.
DEAR Roamer,
Friends of the Old Fort (FOOF) after a productive discussion at the weekend to recap on our 2011 efforts at the Old Fort, are satisfied that we have almost achieved our plans for this year.
Sadly, the "flow of work" was slowed down for a while, and partially hindered by the weather conditions.
However, it is an ongoing campaign, and we are now putting our ideas together for 2012.
Meanwhile we wish to thank again, all who have contributed in any way, and everyone who has taken time out over the past few months to give us encouragement
Season's Greetings to everybody, from all the Friends of the Old Fort.
Bargain!
Following on from supermarket "special offers" comes the Macaroni Bargain! Individual tins at 99p - or three for £4! Work that one out!
