Craigs News 23rd January 2021

Good afternoon from a crisp winter afternoon at West Lodge,

Recent newsletters have tried to give a flavour of how various sections within the club have adapted to, and found inventive ways of dealing with, the enforced isolation of Covid 19.

A number of individuals within the club community have also come up with some imaginative ways of facing the challenge of lockdown and in this newsletter we are highlighting Amy Ferguson’s pretty novel solution!

Amy is the Panthers’ co-captain and does a huge amount for the Women & Girl’s Section; she arranges the weekly zoom quizzes and keep fit/zumba sessions as well as a lot of the admin. So to add to her already impressive cv Amy wrote an e-book during lockdown. The newsletter can’t do better than quote Amy’s own words on how the project developed:

“ “Turning the Tide” was written last year whilst the nation was still grappling with lockdown. What started off as a few chapters to keep myself amused turned into a fully formed project and a daily obsession. This book kept me going through most of lockdown and I feel proud to now be able to share the fruits of my labour. The book itself is based (very loosely) on my experience teaching in a small village school in the North of Scotland. Although the plot and associated characters are fictional, my love for the North west corner is very much captured in its non-fiction. I hope this book lets me share my love for our little island with many others.

Amy approached several publishers without success( remember JK Rowling got knocked back by 12 publishers!) but undeterred and following a tip from a friend, she has now got “Turning the Tide” self-published on Amazon and if you would like to get a copy and support Amy in her first foray into fiction you can do so on the Amazon website, at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08SHYPKPV?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420  

If you have an interesting story to tell about how you have dealt with the “Lockdown Challenge” or if you know of someone else in the club how might have an interesting story to tell please feel free to email Fergus Neil at fergus.neil1@gmail.com who would be delighted to share them with our wider audience. 

Next week, the amazing story of the former President (not Donald Trump!) who braved icy waters for a good cause.

Craigs News 8th Oct

Good Morning from a frustrated West Lodge,

Once again the Scottish Government pronouncements mean that we have to re-evaluate and take stock of the current situation.

The announcements yesterday effectively shuts down our Bar from 6.00pm on Friday until 25th October. That date of the 25th October is not set in stone and that might mean that we will be not be unable to re-open on that date. Senior rugby training also cannot take place after tomorrow but all under 18 and below can continue as before. The proposed start date of meaningful contact games due on 31st October will now not take place. All Indoor group activities for adults are now stopped but those for under 18 can continue. 

This is hugely disappointing for the Club but we have to believe that this is for the greater good and will assist to make the future brighter. The Club bar will be open tonight for the big footie match Scotland v Israel from 7pm to 10pm.

As you might be aware we are taking advantage of this fallow period to improve the fabric and fittings of the Clubhouse. There are a number of items mainly clothing dotted about the club which we intend to dispose by Monday 19th October if not claimed by their rightful owners. You have been warned!

As part of the review of Club overheads, particular attention has been paid to the energy costs. The Club uses LPG (no mains gas available) and electricity and we spend circa £32,000 per annum. We have involved Zero Energy Scotland in the process and are looking at ground and air source heating as an alternative. This is a complicated area and the team looking at it, ask if there is anyone out there that has specialist knowledge of this type of energy source or other alternatives. The aim is to get someone to guide and assist us in order that we can over the long term have an energy source that will benefit the Club.

You might be aware that you have not received your subscription notice for season 20/21. These are in the process of being produced and will be with you in the next 10 days. The good news is that there are no increases in any of the rates so there is no need to change standing order amounts. Our Subscription Convenor, Kenny Agnew, is trying to modernise our system and has introduced Google forms for new members at the recent Junior days.

I wish all members and their families health and safety during these trying times. We need to obey the rules and hopefully we can return to “normal” sooner than later.

Graeme