Shop saves the day in musical emergency
I’m writing to you with a good news story, one which I hope will gladden the hearts of your readers.
I am one of a number of volunteers who run the Dornoch Firth Church of Scotland Junior Band. On January 2 we, among others, entertained a large and very supportive audience at a concert in Dornoch Cathedral. However, before we reached that point there is a story to be told…
Anna is a flautist in the band and just 10 years old. Her mum messaged us on New Year’s Eve to say her flute was not working and that she wouldn’t be able to play in the concert. Naturally, Anna was very upset at the prospect of not now playing in Dornoch’s glorious cathedral. None of us are experts at fixing flutes, so what was to be done? Googling was suggested, but we were lost…
At 3.15pm an idea came to mind – unlikely, a long shot, but worth a go.
I phoned up The Music Shop in Inverness. They vaguely know me there as an occasional customer and that is all.
I explained the situation and asked if they might have a flute we could borrow? If you don’t ask…!
Without any hesitation, the shop person (who I now know to be Donna) said: “Yes, we’ve got one left, a pink secondhand one, you’re welcome to use it.”
“Oh thank you,” I said, taken aback, “Anna will be delighted!“
The drama was not over yet! The shop closed at 4pm and we couldn’t get there in time!
Our knight in shining armour proved to be Alison, a native of Dornoch, now living in Crown in Inverness. She just happened to be in Marks and Spencer’s at the time. She nipped down to The Music Shop, picked up the flute and saved the day.
The pink flute did its job and made a lovely sound as Anna was able to take her full part in the concert.
The generosity and kindness shown by The Music Shop and its staff lifted all our spirits at this time of goodwill, restoring our faith in the milk of human kindness. We cannot thank or praise them highly enough.
The flute is now safely back in The Music Shop, none the worse for its adventures!
Graham McCarthy
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What is your experience of the recycling centre in Inverness? Picture: Duncan Macpherson Facebook
Does Inverness need a new recycling centre?
A number of residents reported long delays to access the recycling centre in the Longman Industrial Estate over the festive period, some reporting they had to wait more than half an hour to get into the premises. Was it just the time of year or a sign of bigger problems?
“I was there a couple days before Xmas and had only two cars at the front of me. I would say it was really empty.” – Laine Rozenbaha
“For the first time in two years I was 30 mins waiting on Sunday, which is to be expected with it being festive season; apart from that I’ve never had an issue, always in and back out within five minutes. Staff are brilliant and very helpful as well.” – Hayley Cruickshank
“I waited about 45 mins in Q from gates to SSE last week, then just got told to chuck everything in landfill! Some would have gone to Barnardos, but they were closed and needed to clear it out of car that day! Last time I went on a Sunday with garden waste it was pretty busy too.” – Tracey Hamilton
“I don’t know how families cope with the small general waste bin. As for food recycling….I refuse to do it. Watched them empty a small food bin last week. The bag burst all over the road. Food left there.” – Jill Macleod
“Forres have a superb unit attached which sells items really cheaply which are too good to go to landfill. Inverness would benefit from the same.” – Louise Innes
“Not fit for purpose.” – Mark Murison
“With a small trailer you have to book ahead and one day one visit is only permitted. Don’t see the logic behind this crazy situation and neither do the staff. Perhaps an interested local councillor (if there is such a person) could enlighten me! What are the views of others?” – Willie Morrison
“Willie Morrison, couldn’t agree more, we live in an area where there is no garden bin service and we have a rather large garden but only allowed to visit the centre once a week to dispose of garden waste. Absolute joke. Need to relax the rules slightly or allow some people special access.” – Kelly Stewart
“It used to be open later at night which made it better for people that are working.” – Charlene MacPherson Stewart
Broken railings were a cause for concern.
Riverside railings damage sparks fears
Fears have been raised that barriers beside the recently officially opened Riverside Way pose a danger to the public. Broken and deteriorated railings were highlighted by a dog walker who wanted to make people aware of the damage beside the stretch near the River Ness which was opened last month following at least £2.5 million of investment.
“Wait for it!!!…Highland Council’s latest proposal…to construct a ‘fine art sculpture traffic bollard’ to link up with the castle redevelopment.” – Peter King
“Is this the same as the incredibly dangerous potholes that are all over the Highlands, I think the 2.5 would have been better spent on this.” – Charlene MacPherson Stewart
“It is the River Ness that is dangerous and so far the citizens of Inverness have done a fine job in recognising that they need to avoid it. All it needs is for the gaps to be highlighted with rope and hazard tape.” – Gerry Reynolds MSc
“‘Urgent attention’ in the town that has the eyesore in Eastgate rotting away for TEN YEARS because the bureaucrats are so tied up in pointless bureaucracy.” – Geordie Hamilton
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