I have been giving thought to how we can make our Bulletin a bit more punchy. If you have ideas or interesting items to submit, please let me know. We are very aware ofthe people who help with things in and around town and I feel we can never thank them enough.We now have a willing provider of lovely photos to use on the front covers of the Bulletin. Previous illustrations were down-loaded. Now we hope to have items of local beauty. Our thanks to Heather Wood for these. We are grateful to the team of folk who deliver the Bulletins, and to those whobatch them up.
One poor chap had to deliver 350 copies of the Winter issue but we have managed to put that right now and have enrolled extra people. I was pleased to hear that our Chairman, Ron McKail. sent a card to every distributor thanking them for their efforts. Getting people to help with the Christmas tree and Christmas lights was not so easy and to overcome the problem we think a list should be drawn up of residents who would be prepared to help with various things over the year so that we can call on folk if we need them. This list will be passed round for completion at the AGM initially or you can give your name to any of the committee named on page 2. There is quite a bit of work involved with the Christmas tree, for example. There’s a lot more to it than bunging it on the roof of a car and sticking it in the ground. (Actually the most time consuming and difficult part is erecting a flippin’ fence round it to keep off louts who take delight in destroying it if they can - sick). That was a moan in case you didn’t notice. Ron McKail had the splendid idea of rewarding the young Hungarian chap, David, who has kept the shopping centre clean and tidy. Ron McKail collected money from the shop keepers and gave David a hamper and a cheque. To say he was delighted would be an under-statement. Some of the shop keepers really made a big effort to dress their windows beautifully for Christmas and that was delightful. Perhaps next year we could have a competition for the best - excluding the large stores due to open.We have a new Minutes Secretary – so what, you ask? But our lady, Heather Robertson, is 14 years old, she lives in Drumoak and is raising funds for a World Challenge expedition in 2008 to Tanzania, to help with a community project, and to climb up Mt Meru. We pay Heather a modest fee each month for doing the Minutes. Her mother came along with her to the first meeting and the Minutes produced were excellent. Thank you Heather.

The name of the hotel continues to dismay people but it seems nothing can be done. Although I think this constitutes a moan it is nothing to do with the local management. Ian Forsyth and his team have made a tremendous difference to the litter problem but it is on-going of course. The latest problem is items being whipped out of our sacks and boxes and strewn round the area by high winds. It would be wonderful if each house owner could pick up this litter from their front gardens/drives. Has anyone noticed the CCTV camera outside the Bank, on the corner? There  as been a supermarket bag stuffed in the protective cage round the camera for well over a year and a bird brought up a family there last summer. If the camera is working, I would be amazed. I think that is the end of my ramblings. Please keep supporting the wee shops at the centre during the lull-before-Markies. It is difficult for them but they are made of stern stuff.

Bulletin Secretary, Tel. 740637