Events

Santa’s Grotto 2017

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issue-1-xmas-marketThis year Santa’s Grotto at Linton, Fintry Road, Kippen will be taking place on the weekend of 2nd and 3rd of December from 2-00PM-6.00PM.

There will be the usual 10 minutes spent with Santa for stories, a chat and a special present.

Cost per child is £5.00 and to book contact 01786 870231. Please ‘phone as soon as possible as places went very quickly last year.

There will also be soup, mulled wine, home baking, raffle and of course- Santa’s Elves.

The charities to benefit from this event are-Start-up Stirling and Downs Syndrome.

Shirley and John Lamb

Police Report

Police Report

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PC Steven Graham and PC Scott Craigie are the Police Scotland Ward Officers for the Forth and Endrick area, which incorporates Kippen and surrounding areas. They are based at Balfron Police Office, and can be contacted at the office, on 101 or at ForthEndrickCPT@scotland.pnn.police.uk.

They regularly publish information and appeals online. The local Twitter feed can be found at @StirlingPol, and the local Facebook page can be found at ‘Forth Valley Police Division’.

The current ward priorities for the Forth and Endrick area continue to be Antisocial Behaviour, Road Safety, Theft and Community Engagement and Reassurance.

 Antisocial Behaviour

Recently, there has been very little antisocial behaviour reported in the Kippen area.

A male was found in possession of cannabis on the road between Kippen and Fintry.

Road Safety

Since the last edition of The Wee Vine, there has been one minor damage road accident where details were exchanged.

The Central Scotland Safety Camera Partnership and Police Scotland have continued to perform speed enforcement and hi-visibility patrols in and around Kippen, resulting in a number of motorists being given advice regarding their vehicle or manner of driving, or prosecuted where appropriate. Regular such patrols and checks will continue in an effort to improve road safety and driver behaviour.

Recently a driver was reported to the PF at Stirling for doing a speed of 93mph.

Theft

There have been no thefts reports in the Kippen area since the last issue of The Wee Vine.

There have been reports of suspicious vehicles in the Kippen area which were investigated however no criminality was evident. These reports are welcomed by Police and each will be investigated accordingly. Suspicious activity can be reported to Police Scotland or CrimeStoppers anonymously,

 Community Engagement and Reassurance

As well as regular high visibility patrols in the area, PC Graham and PC Craigie attempt to regularly visit Kippen to carry out road safety duties, including speed enforcement, assist with local community issues and visit community partners within the Kippen area.  These visits are backed up by our colleagues within Balfron Police Office, who regularly carry out routine patrols within the area.

Your View Counts

Our online public consultation process ‘Your View Counts’ launched on Friday 4 August. Members of the public are invited to help inform our policing priorities across the country by telling us what’s important to you.

This is the second year we have run the ‘Your View Counts’ consultation. Analysis of survey results, together with crime stats and other community and partnership meetings are used to determine our priorities.

http://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/decision-making/public-consultation/local-policing-consultation/

The confidential survey only takes 15 minutes to complete and is open all year round meaning that if an individual’s priorities change a survey can be re-submitted.

The response to the consultation process will be continuously monitored and quarterly progress reports will be published on the Police Scotland website and the intranet.

Rural Watch Scotland

“‘Rural Watch Scotland’ is an extension of the Neighbourhood Watch Scotland movement and endorsed by  the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC) and Forth valley Rural Crime Group aimed specifically at the rural communities of Scotland and aims to bring all the benefits of Neighbourhood Watch to all rural communities irrespective of location, size or demographics.

Rural watch is an online community for any member of the public where appeals, crime prevention tips and safety alerts can be posted by those who subscribe which can be viewed by all members. Subscription is free and the sharing of information on the forum is a great example of real time crime prevention in action.

The objectives of Rural Watch Scotland are to:

  • Reduce crime and the fear of crime by providing the right information, to the right people, at the right time.
  • Encourage people to think about safety and security for themselves, their neighbours and their community.
  • Improve community cohesion and well-being by supporting communities to develop ‘their watch, their way’.
  • Work in partnership with national and local service providers to develop more resilient communities that are better prepared against threats, intentional or unintentional, such as crime or extreme weather.

The experience of Neighbourhood Watch throughout Scotland and elsewhere across the world is that members of Rural Watch Scotland will be less likely than non-members in the rural community to be a victim of crime.

By joining the Rural Watch Scotland scheme members can receive alerts and advice by phone, text or email. By keeping members informed about crime and other threats in specific areas, Rural Watch Scotland can help prevent crime, keep communities and residents safe, and member’s responses to these alerts can help catch criminals or be better prepared to deal with other threats to communities. To join Rural Watch Scotland simply:

Neighbourhood Alert.

This is a community messaging system which sends alerts regarding crime, safety and resilience to communities. Rural watch is an information platform that has been set up by what was formerly Neighbourhood Watch, however the big difference being that any members of the local community can sign up to have the relevant alerts sent to them by various means including E-mail or Text message. To receive free alerts simply register at:

http://www.neighbourhoodwatchscotland.co.uk

Did You Know

Memories

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Each of us has lots of memories, some are stronger and more vibrant than others. At times we can be caught off guard by our memories that come flooding back. Sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touch can all bring memories and history right into the present.

Some of my memories are cherished ones like my grandmothers baking with me when I was a child, running in the prairie summer breezes, the stars in Black Hills night sky at church camp, songs of my youth, the first time I met my now husband, the smell of our new-born babies, and so many more. Some memories hold pain, hurt, shame and heartache – I know each of us have memories that some of us would rather not have.

The memories, the stories, my history, have formed and shaped who I have become. I know there is a part of me that has been there all along – my spirit, my essence, my spark. However, the intricacies of life, the people, the places, the experiences, become the beautiful patchwork that becomes our life. I am grateful for all that has shaped me up to this point in time. All the joys, sorrows, and even challenges, are part of my story.

In the midst of life and especially the hard times, it is hard to see where the journey of our days will take us, but I also know from speaking to many people that even in the hardest times glimmers of hope can be seen. These glimmers are often the kindness of others, the caring touch or word, help given, or even a simple smile, and help us to remember we are not utterly alone.

As a Christian, I believe that through it all God is with us. We even have a favourite story to tell of God being with us. It is a story we tell over and over again in Church. We remember it especially in December. The Bible is filled with memories of God’s relationship with the whole world and our story is being written within that ancient story. Our bit of the story is being lived in its own unique way. The songs we sing, stories we tell, caring ways we reach out, are becoming part of the beautiful patchwork of humanity’s history. And I believe that it is also weaving into the great God-story too, of how God so loved the world. As you remember, and journey forward in your life, may you know love and joy even in the midst of heartache and sadness.  Peace, Ellen.

Kippen Parish Church invites you to join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 11.15 a.m.

We also have a few special celebrations and occasions coming up:

Messy Harvest on Sunday 22nd October at 3pm to 5 pm in Church House

Remembrance Sunday 12th November 10.50 am at the War Memorial then to Church for 11.15 am.

Messy Family Tree on Sunday 19th November, 3pm to 5 pm at Buchlyvie Church

No-Rehearsal Nativity (for young and young at heart) Sunday 17th December 11.15 am

Carols by Candlelight on Sunday 17th December at 7.00 pm

Messy Christmas at Gartmore Village Hall on Saturday 23rd December, 3pm to 5 pm followed by carols at Gartmore Church

Christmas Eve (Sunday 24th December) Morning worship at 11.15 am and Watchnight at 11.15 pm

Christmas Day Celebration of Song and Story at 10.00 am.

Rev. Ellen Larson Davidson
Minister,
Kippen linked with Norrieston
Parishes – Church of Scotland
Registered Charities: (Kippen) SC004286 & (Norrieston) SC028719

The Manse, Main Street
Kippen, Stirling FK8 3DN
elarsondavidson@churchofscotland.org.uk
01786871249 / 07412578997

 

Did You Know

TROSSACHS ENERGY SAVING TEAM

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Helping you

McLaren Leisure have recently received funding for a community home energy-saving programme called the Trossachs Energy Saving Team (TEST) project. It is based in Rural Stirling Housing Association office, Doune, with whom the project is partnered, to deliver this free service.

The project is an environmental one designed at reducing carbon-related emissions, and therefore associated bills, brought about by home energy usage and funded by the Scottish Government’s Carbon Challenge Fund for the Trossachs & Teith region and peripheral boundaries.

TEST will be linking trained volunteers with residents by offering practical advice for reducing energy usage, tackling problems regarding condensation and help on using heating controls. We shall also be undertaking Home Energy Checks which will be referred to Home Energy Scotland for possible reductions through government grants such as for insulation.

Are you, or anyone you know of, interested in this project either as a resident needing advice or a volunteer willing to help.

What McLaren Leisure Can Offer Volunteers

Energy Awareness (6281-01) City & Guilds Level 3

First chance for home energy improvements

Training on Home Energy Checks

Training on climate change issues

Volunteering with TEST will not only improve your knowledge of home energy issues for yourself but further improve your CV for greater employability choices. It will help your community too.

If you would like to volunteer, receive energy-saving advice or would like more information please contact me.

David Payne

M: 0778 759 7012     T: 01786 841101

E: davidp@mclarenleisure.co.uk

TROSSACHS ENERGY SAVING TEAM.jpg

Did You Know

Stirling Rotary Club

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Many people in today’s society hear about Rotary from either being at events or reading about Rotary in the media whether that be through the press or the growing social media channels. However, it would be true to say that unless you were a member or related to one you really would have no idea what Rotary was about or what function it served in today’s society.

Rotary is a worldwide movement which covers the whole globe and supports the largest charity in the world (Rotary Foundation) which has also for certain projects combined with Bill Gates in achieving wonderful results throughout the world especially in Africa.

The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of Service as a basis of worthy enterprise and to encourage and foster:

  1. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
  2. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
  3. The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his personal business and community life.
  4. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world of fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

These are all lofty ideals which were set away back at the beginning of the last century when working practices and traditions were totally different from what they are now. Although they are in the main still applicable it would appear to suggest that only those in employment can be a Rotarian. Nothing nowadays could be further from the truth. Many Rotarians are retired but still wishing to be involved in a movement which promotes the objects mentioned above and their involvement is critical to the charitable work of Rotary. Stirling Rotary Club would like to encourage those who are currently in employment or retired to become members and enjoy both the charitable work and social interaction which takes place at the weekly luncheon meetings and the social events that take place throughout the year.

The Rotary Club of Stirling is involved in many fund-raising activities notably the annual Golf AM/AM (this has raised almost £275k over the past 30 years) and the club’s involvement in having a very successful stand at the annual Gardening Scotland Event held at Ingleston Edinburgh. This has resulted in particular over the past year in funds being donated to local and national charities namely:

  • Euroscola Arion Swimming Club – funding transport and providing drivers for disabled people to be taken to swimming at the Peak in Stirling.
  • Prostate Scotland
  • Artlink Central
  • 5th Stirling Company Boy’s Brigade
  • Young Enterprise Forth Valley
  • The Food Train
  • Rotary Foundation General Fund
  • Rotary Foundation Stop Polio Now
  • Castleview School Raploch
  • Stirling School of English
  • Rock Talk (an organisation that records books and newspapers and circulates to over a thousand-blind people every month who cannot enjoy reading).

These are only some of the organisations Stirling Rotary Club has supported, but the emphasis is on donations to local charities who provide vital services to the most vulnerable in our society and who are affected by the reductions in public spending and the changes to the Social Security system.

May I encourage you or even groups of you to consider coming along to one of our lunchtime meetings (12.45pm every Friday in the Golden Lion Hotel Stirling) or to contact your local Rotarian who is a very valuable member of our club and she will give you even more information. Her contact details are: Jane Wilson, Beechwood, Fore Road, Kippen FK8 3DT: Tel no: 01786 870412

Please also look at our website for even more information: http://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=56 or just simply key in Stirling Rotary Club to any search engine.

 

 

 

 

General Information

Trai Thai!

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Some of you may remember with pleasure an evening in the Cross Keys a few weeks ago, where Poom Kamolchanok Ferrier delighted us with a varied and superbly-cooked evening of Thai food.

Following that, she has kindly agreed to supply readers of The Wee Vine with one of her recipes:

Prawn with Tamarind Sauce

A delicious seafood dish with a beautiful sweet and sour sauce and easy to cook for dinner.

Time: 20 mins                    Rating: easy                    Serving: 2

Prawn-with-tamarind-sauce

Ingredients

  • 8-10 Tiger Prawn
  • ½ Onion
  • 2 Cloves garlic
  • 1 ½ tbsp Fish sauce
  • 1 ½ tbsp Tamarind paste
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1 ½ Palm sugar
  • 2 shallots
  • chopped coriander (optional)
  • chopped fresh chilli (optional)
  • 4 tbsp of frying oil
  • Jasmine rice (optional)

Method

Put 2 tbsp of frying oil into the pan with medium high heat, then put shallots into the pan and cook quickly until they are golden brown colour, rest in the side plate.

Do the garlic the same as topic 1

To make a tamarind sauce, put fish sauce into the pan with medium heat, add palm sugar, tamarind paste and water until boiling, then simmer until it looks sticky, then take off the heat.

Deep fry tiger prawn, put the sauce on and garnish with crispy shallots, chilli and coriander and serve with rice.

Bunty's Thoughts

Bunty’s Thoughts

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Just a line to say I’m living that I’m not among the dead. Though I’m getting more forgetful and so mixed up in the head.

I got used to my arthritis to my dentures I’m resigned I can manage my bifocals. But, Oh God, I miss my mind.

For sometimes I can’t remember when I stand at the foot of the stairs. If I must go up for something or I just came down from there.

And before the fridge so often my poor mind is filled with doubt. Have I just put food away or have I come to take some out?

And there’s times when it is darkened with my night cap on my head. I don’t know if I’m retiring or just getting out of bed.

Supporters

Rhubarb Lime

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Rhubarb Lime.jpg

In May 2013 Shona and Greg Sanders opened “Rhubarb Lime”

RL? Inspired by “Blue Lemon” in Luzern; a favourite of Shona’s. Switzerland remains a favourite transit point for Greg and Shona en route to product quality testing in the Italian vineyards.

Shona has an eye for lovely gifts and attention to detail. Greg is an avid wine lover and sources unusual wines. Monthly wine tastings are a sell out.

After over four years the business has gone from strength to strength thanks to (i) a rapidly expanding and diverse customer base, (ii) excellent and loyal staff, (iii) providing an excellent customer experience, and (iv) quality, as opposed to chasing a price point, being the ethos (excellent bread and bacon).

Every order is freshly made. Home made soup, Margaret’s lovely macaroni, superb home baking and the best “Italian Aroma” coffee are just part of the attraction.

Rhubarb Lime is homely and has charm. Shona and her staff try to welcome customers as if they were being invited to their own homes. Greg will not sell a wine unless he’d happily serve to his guests at home.

The future?

Rhubarb Lime is a labour of love. Consolidate, keep welcoming customers and valuing that custom.

Greg Sanders – visit our new website                       www.rhubarblime.co.uk

Supporters

Skinner of Kippen

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Skinner_logo

Skinner of Kippen is a long-standing butcher’s business located in Kippen, with a reputation that extends far beyond the village.  Within the past couple of years, they have moved their retail operation from the shop in the Main Street to premises with the Woodhouse deli and café down at the roundabout close to the station.  However, for those for whom this is not easy to access, much of their product is available in McNicoll’s shop.  Any items not directly on sale there can be ordered at the shop, and will be delivered there to be picked up.

Their Main Street premises are now the production centre for the business, where their award-winning products are produced under strict quality-controlled conditions under the watchful eye of Cameron Skinner.  The business ethos has much in common with that of Rhubarb Lime, featured elsewhere in this magazine – focus on quality.

This quality results in recognition at a national level – Gold Medal at the Meat Federation National Championship for the steak pie, with a couple of Silver Medals (mince round and steak/ black pudding/ chorizo sausage) in addition.

It is further recognised in the widespread use of Skinner to provide catering resources for an extensive variety of events:

Arnprior Pumpkins, running to the end of October

Balfron Woodland Light Experience running from 25th October to 12th November

Santa’s Woodland Experience in Balfron at weekends from the end of November onwards

“Big Feed” street food events in Glasgow

A local business with a national reputation!

Stuart Thomson