Category: Did You Know

The Stirling Members’ Centre numbers about 220 people and membership is £5 per annum for individuals or £8 per annum for a complete household at one address.  When joining you will enjoy membership rates immediately but there will be no membership charge until the start of the financial year in October 2019 and you only pay for the talks.

We welcome new members who are also members of the National Trust for Scotland, but anyone who is not a member of the NTS will be welcome to any of our talks subject to places being available. The current rates for winter talks are £5pp for members or £6pp for guests. Please come along – we are a friendly bunch!!

Our programme of talks held in the St Ninians’s Church Hall from October 2018 to March 2019

Contact details: Sandy & Margaret Moreland, Joint Secretaries, Tel: – 01259 761700 E-mail: – stirlingnts@gmail.com or see website: – http://www.spanglefish.com/ntsstirling

There are few more rewarding things in life than making a difference to the lives of others, particularly at a time of greatest need.

Strathcarron Befrienders are volunteers who give their time freely to offer social and practical support to people who have an advancing illness or a condition which limits their ability to participate in things which are important to them, often making them feel isolated or lonely. They do not provide personal care,

domestic duties or administer medication.

We are looking to recruit new Befrienders.

What we require is someone with a friendly ear, a caring disposition and a few hours to spare either weekly or fortnightly to visit a person in their local community.

Training, support and expenses will be provided.

Volunteers make an enormous difference by giving up their valuable time and sharing skills to support patients and their families, both within the Hospice and in the community.

If you would like more information on becoming a Befriender please visit the website at strathcarronhospice.net or contact Mandy Ross for an informal, no obligation chat on 01324 826222 or mandy.ross2@nhs.net Ellen Larson Davidson

Mary and I have been walking the John Muir Way in sections of 8-10 miles for the past 3 years, whenever the weather and social circumstances allowed. Unlike the famous John Muir hiking Trail in the US, which runs for 215 miles through the California wilderness, with snow and bears to contend with, the John Muir Way is a 135 mile, mostly low level route, across central Scotland from Helensburgh in the West, to Dunbar (Muir’s birthplace) in the East.

The variety of geographical, historical and industrial landscapes has engrossed and surprised us from the start. To be honest we still have 2 final sections to complete, from Gullane Bay to Dunbar via North Berwick. A challenge we look forward to before the end of 2018.

The John Muir Way is a remarkable journey as it passes through unexpected and fascinating landscapes. From Scotland’s first National Park (Loch Lomond and the Trossachs), alongside the historic canals (Forth and Clyde and the Union), the engineering wonder of the Falkirk Wheel, the Roman Antonine Wall, Linlithgow Palace, underneath (literally) all 3 of the Forth Bridges, through the Capital to the coast with its foreshore beaches and bays, before ending at Dunbar.

28  http://www.theweevine.org

With careful planning it is possible to use public transport to access much of the route, starting and finishing from Stirling bus or train station. All in all this has been a surprising and instructive walk, and one we thoroughly recommend. Among many surprises look out for the preserved ruin of James Watt’s stone workshop next to Kinneil House just past Linlithgow.

Dave Bentley

It started with a coo… well, 2 coos, named Hamish and Kyloe.

Their owner Marc Stewart had created a Facebook page for them and, obviously, I was one of over 100,000 followers having just acquired my very own Scottish Highland coos named Morven and Mhairi.

Hamish and Kyloe live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia in the USA and I’d often comment on the page, gleaning any information that might get me a step closer to grooming my gals without being gored!

After several months of following the “Hamish & Kyloe” Facebook page, Marc announced that he was travelling to Scotland to follow his ancestral trail.  He was going to be in the UK for around 4 weeks and wondered how he would cope without his cow fix.   Et Voila!  Marc asked if he could come and meet Morven and Mhairi… as if he had to ask!

Marc’s arrival at the farm was met with great excitement… the American Cow Whisperer was here!

After several hours in the fields with Morven and Mhairi we had success… no tying up required… just a good old scratch with a stick to begin with then progressing to a full body massage!

Thanks to Marc I am now “The Heifer

Hairdresser” Ali Thom

Here you go Auntie Bunty, we hope you like them

A young man was walking through a supermarket to pick up a few things, when he noticed an old lady following him around. Thinking nothing of it, he ignored her and continued on.

Finally he went to the checkout line, but she got in front of him. “Pardon me” she said. “I’m sorry if my staring at you has made you feel uncomfortable. It’s just that you look like my son, who just died recently.”

“I’m very sorry” replied the young man, “is there anything I can do for you?” “Yes” she said. “As I’m leaving, can you say ‘Good bye mother? It would make me feel so much better.” “Sure” answered the young man.

As the old woman was leaving, he called out “Good bye Mother”. As he stepped up to the checkout counter, he saw his total was £127.50. “How can that be?” he asked. “I only purchased a few things!” “Your mother said that you would pay for her” Said the clerk.

Best Ever Senior Citizen Joke

A woman brought a very limp duck into the veterinary surgeon. As she lay her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird’s chest.

After a moment or two, the vet shook has head and sadly said, “I’m sorry, your duck, Cuddles has passed away.” The distressed woman wailed, “ Are you sure?” “Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead” replied the vet. “How can you be so sure?” she protested. “I mean you haven’t done ant testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something.

The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the ducks owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the
vet with sad eyes and shook his head.

The vet patted the dog on the head and took him out of the room. A few minutes later he returned with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and also delicately sniffed the bird from head to toe. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook his head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room.

The vet looked at the woman and said, “I’m sorry but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck!”

The vet turned to the computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman. The duck’s owner, still in shock, took the bill. “£150!” she cried. “£150 just to tell me the duck in dead?”

The vet shrugged, “I’m sorry. If you had just taken my word for it, the bill would have been £20, but with the Lab report and the Cat scan, it’s now £150.”

You’ll love this one!!

An out-of-towner drove his car into a ditch in a desolated area. Luckily, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse named Buddy. He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled “Pull Nellie, Pull!” Buddy didn’t move. Then the farmer hollered “Pull Buster, Pull!” Buddy didn’t respond.

Once more the farmer commanded, “Pull Coco, Pull!” Nothing. Then the farmer nonchalantly said “Pull Buddy, Pull!” and the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch. The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times. The
farmer said, “Oh, Buddy is blind and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn’t even try!!”

Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford has received assurances from First Bus that busses based in Balfron are to be upgraded in coming months.

Around 8 First Bus vehicles are to be “substantially refreshed” – with around £6,000 per vehicle to be spent on average.

The refreshed busses will have a new two-tone appearance, some of which have already arrived and are in operation.

Mr Crawford met with James Harvey of First Bus last week to discuss the changes, following concerns that had been raised by members of the local community about vandalism and damage caused to a number of vehicles on the fleet.

Mr Harvey assured Mr Crawford that all vehicles operating Balfron routes had received a 100% MOT pass rate and were maintained to the same standard as busses operating in urban areas.

Commenting, Bruce Crawford said:

“Over a period of time, busses can begin to look tired and can sustain damage – it is clear that this has happened with a number of the fleet based in Balfron.

“I am pleased that First Bus has responded directly to the complaints raised with me, and I am confident from the discussion I had that this is a matter they take seriously.

“An average of £6,000 per bus on refreshing 8 vehicles is a considerable investment from the company, and will make a substantial difference.

“As much as I’d like to see a brand new fleet of busses for the Balfron area, I have to be realistic about what’s achievable. This investment in the current fleet will go some way in addressing the concerns that have been raised with me.

“I look forward to seeing more of the refreshed and two-toned branded busses in the area over the next few months.”

48% of Kippen residents say their mobile tariff is not good value for money

A recent survey of Kippen on 4G coverage from Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford has shown that there is widespread dissatisfaction about what local people are paying for in mobile phone tariffs when they are unable to connect to the most up-to-date mobile internet services.

Mr Crawford received hundreds of responses which also showed that 59% of local people are unable to connect to 4G in their own home, and 65% could not connect elsewhere in Kippen.

48% of people in Kippen said that their mobile phone tariff was not good value for money as a result of the inability to connect to these services.

Commenting, Bruce Crawford said:

“Firstly, I’m grateful to everyone who took time to fill out and return my survey on 4G in the area. The large number of responses that I received alone tells a story about how important this issue is.

“There are obvious challenges within rural communities in terms of mobile internet coverage – however, I do not think enough has been done to connect rural Stirling communities such as Kippen.

“The fact that 48% of local people here do not feel that their mobile phone tariff is good value for money because of an inability to connect to the most up to date services is a very serious matter and one that I will be raising with individual mobile network providers in coming weeks.

“4G access is an important way of modern life, both socially and economically and, as I pursue this issue, I hope to see better coverage of 4G across the whole rural Stirling area, including in Kippen.”

Notes to the Editor:

Photograph attached: Bruce Crawford MSP

SB/PR

SNP MSP for the Stirling Constituency Bruce Crawford and the Stirling Council Environment Convener Cllr Jim Thomson have met with Helen Wilson of Kippen Community Council and Polly Douglas of Kippen Primary Parent Council, to discuss the local campaign for speed limits throughout the village to be reduced to 20mph.

Mr Crawford then met with Kippen Primary P7s, who have been running their own campaign for speed limit reduction, with their teacher Mrs Stone.

Councillor Thomson confirmed that the SNP Group on Stirling Council supports 20mph zones in communities where there is a want and a need for it and highlighted that there is £40,000 available in this year’s local Budget to invest in ground work for reducing speed limits in residential areas.

Pending the expressed support from local groups such as the Community Council, Parent Council and the Toddler’s Group, the Council will take into consideration what work can be carried out to reduce speed limits in the village under the current Budget.

Stirling Council have carried out a survey on traffic in the village, following a letter from Mr Crawford, calling for the local authority to look into introducing 20mph throughout Kippen.

The findings of the survey are:

By far the majority of traffic comes from cars, whose behaviour would be most affected by a change in speed limit.

The average speed of traffic is above the 30mph speed limit.

There’s a peak in traffic on a Saturday – indicating that the 20mph during start and finish times at school just isn’t going far enough.

Commenting, Bruce Crawford MSP said:

“I fully support the efforts of the local community, including the Community Council, the Parent Council and the superb work that Primary 7 at Kippen Primary have been doing with Mrs Stone to campaign on this issue.

“I am pleased that the SNP Partnership Administration on Stirling Council has committed funding to delivering 20mph zones, and it is clear that there is a desire within the local community to have this implemented throughout Kippen.

“The meetings I had with various local goups were very positive and I look forward to supporting the Kippen community throughout the next stages of this campaign.

“I must make special mention of the Kippen Primary P7s, who have shown incredible determination and have run a fantastic campaign themselves. Raising awareness of this issue has got the local community to this point and, as they prepare themselves to leave Primary School to begin High School after the summer, they should be very proud of all they have achieved.”

Could you spare a couple of hours a week as a volunteer befriender?

We are looking for volunteer befrienders to build relationships with people living with the early stages of dementia in the Stirlingshire area. We match befrienders with people who have similar interests so they can be encouraged to pursue loved hobbies or supported so they can build the confidence they need to take up new hobbies. This might be visiting a garden centre, having a walk or even just having a coffee and chat in the person’s home for two hours per week (full training, ongoing support and expenses paid).

If you are interested, please contact Gisele at Town Break on (01786) 476797 or by email gisele@townbreakstirling.org.

Town Break is a Registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation  SCO20526