Blazing Paddles versus the Breadcrumb Brigade.

Many Nairnites are up in arms about the proposed Inverness canoe club slalom course right in the middle of the resident swans territory and are resorting to all democratic means possible to resist the threat. Existing and prospective councillors will be getting an ear and an e-mail box full too as you read this report from the front line. If you want the full story rush out and buy a Nairnshire while stocks last, and get a loaf of bread while you’re there please. The question is will the well-fed wildlife of the river Nairn be able to cope on its own anyway?

Nollaig chridheil - Merry Christmas

Nollaige Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath ùr nuair a thig e

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year when it comes

Yeah, nothing interesting ever happens in Nairn..

Here's a very small video that captures a bit of the night, thanks to everyone that worked so hard to put on a show for us citizenery, especially the children of Nairnshire: you really got Christmas off to a good start. Looking forward to next year already.

Soap box gurn, well cornflake box type of gurn then.

I hope we get something decent coming out of the elections in May both at the regional and the Scottish Parliament level, but sadly I don’t think there’s anyone out who is going to save the world for us. We can fill the blue box up to the brim with empty tins of Tennents and past issues of the Nairnshire Telegraph but there’s still a long way to go. I was looking at a vid tonight. Pics around a tune that has just as much relevance today as it did 40 years ago when it first came out, the leaves used to fall off the trees well before November in those halcyon days.

The real worrying thing is that everyone in India and China thinks it would be a good idea if they had a car and a fist full of credit cards too, shoe shops refitted, new fancy suburbs next to the airport and a mega Tescos. Perhaps hydrogen powered go-karts will save the day. It's all beyond this blogger, he just hopes he gets the chance to vote for Bill Shand.

SNP on the move, Am partaidh naiseanta a' deànamh adhartas

Some new faces in the crowd as the SNP leafleted Nairn today. Former Highland Councillor Bill Shand is now an SNP activist, like a lot of folk he has had enough of the London parties and told the Gurn that he thinks Independence is the only way foward for Scotland.

Occasionally a shop is refitted and as part of that a guady plastic fascia will come down and for a brief moment you will get a glimpse of how things used to be; of the days when you didn't need to go to Inverness if you wanted something a bit unusual. Those days are gone now, and in the past they must remain?

Utube better than the telly?

This entry has no connection with Nairn apart from an amazing vid being seen on a computer in in the town. No need for telly anymore that's for sure. The film maker is a Scot called Ron Stirling.

Sgrìob suas a' phrìomh shràid: a stroll up the High Street

The sudden colder spell lifted for a while today and folk made the most of it with a trip down the High Street. The skies were grey but everyone seemed to be in good spirits

Autumn rather late: Foghar caran anmoch

November tomorrow and see how much greenery there is still around. I suppose in a couple of years autumn won't come until christmas. The gales inflicted serious damage and one or two old friends didn't come out of it too well. A shame to see them go. A red squirrel was still busy along by Firhall.

Achareidh Open Space Action Group (AOSAG)

Achareidh residents are fighting to keep their open space. Take a look at their web site and please consider signing their petition. This is part of the debate about what kind of a town Nairn will be, it's time to get involed citizens!

A' toirt sùil air ais - looking back

Well here’s everyone on their way down to the Links. In the background you can see the site of where, hopefully, a new community centre will emerge. It was pissing it down unfortunately and this led to a low turnout but didn’t dampen spirits of those who braved the rain. The wonderful weather of August 2005 was not to repeat itself. Good crack to be had in the bars close to the Links however and some events moved indoors. Everyone down at the showies is doing their best and kids are still having fun even if it means them going home soaked. Still a few hours of fun left before Nairn closes for the rest of the year and maybe, just maybe, this rain will stop.

Shìos aig an Links, Down on the Links

Bandstand a-raoir, last night.

Baile nam faoileagan. Seagull town

Sgrìob eile dhan tràigh, another trip to the beach

Atharrachaidhean, changes

Na h-ealanan, the swans

Dathan ùra, new colours

An rèiseamaid shìos aig an Links

An rèiseamaid shìos aig an Links. Taing mhòr gu Joe Telfer airson a’ bhideo seo.
The regiment down at the Links. Thanks to Joe Telfer for this video

Bha sluagh mòr aig an links, tha muinntir Inbhir Narann pròiseil as a’ cheangail a th’aca ris an t-arm.
There was a bìg crowd down at the Links.Nairn folk are proud of their link with the Army.

Bha caismeachd tron bhaile an diugh

Bha caismeachd tron bhaile an diugh, chaidh an reisimaid ionadail sìos a’ phrìomh sràid agus bha am probhaist agus feadhainn eile gam feitheamh taobh a-muigh an taigh cùirt.

The local regiment marched down the High Street today and the Provost and a few others were waithing for them outside the courthouse.

Seo na bhideos dhut.

Aw shucks.... Ducks 'n Stuff

Tha Joe air a bhith trang a rithist, seo blog eile a chur e air dòigh. Mholainn-sa gu dearbh e.
Joe has been busy again, here's another blog he set up. I would certainly reccomend it.

Na h-ealachan, the swans: bhideo a rinn Joe (Joe's Video)

Tha e caran goirid ach ma tha sibh a' leantail cuisean bidh sibhse toilichte ris tha mi cinnteach às.
It is a little short but if you are following events you will be pleased with it I'm certain.

Oidhche mhath - good night :-)

Tha an cleoc againn ag obair a rithist. Oor clock is working againn.

Viewfield Feasgar Dihaoine/ Friday evening

Oifis-ghuail - Coal office

Chòrd e rium gu mòr a dhol sìos Sràid Dhùghlais airson a bhith a’ pàigheadh mo chunntas aig oifis Frank Milne. Bha daonnan beagan còmhraidh ri fhaighinn agus air sgath s gu robh iad a’ reic guail b’ àbhaist dha a bhith teine blàth a’ dol ge b’ e an aimsir taobh a-muigh. A-nis tha e dùinte agus a-rèir coltais bidh e ga leigeil a dh’ aithghearr agus bidh taigh ga chuireadh na àite. Tha an t-seann mhillennium an ceana fada air ar cùlaibh saoilidh mi.

I used to really enjoy going over to Douglas Street to pay my account at Frank Milne’s office. There was always a little conversation to be had and because they sold coal there was always a fìre going no matter what the weather outside was doing. Now it is shut and it appears that it will be coming down and a house going in its place. I reckon the old millennium is already far behind us.

PS. Chan eil mi cinnteach ma bhios mi a’ sgrìobhadh air a’ Ghurn gu tric ach bho seo a-mach ma nochdas dad idir, bidh e càil dà-chànanach: Gàidhlig agus Beurla

I don’t know if I will be writing often on the Gurn but from now on, if anything appears at all it will be bi-lingual: Gaelic and English

Looking upstream from the A96 Bridge

A dull kind of a day but reasonably warm and the recent boost the trees got with the spell of warm weather is evident.

Swan Blog opens up again!

HI citizens. Joe has opened up his Simply Superb Swans blog againn and he has some cracking pictures. Take a few minutes off from this cruel life and see how Nairn's wildlife is getting on. Please spread the word.

Message from the swan mannie

Hi, good news......the resident swans are back with 5 cygnets !
They arrived this afternoon about 3 ....i was passing the harbour when they came in....mother with all 5 on her back....they headed straight for the 2 young swans that had lost their nest, and proceeded to oust them...( i hope they find a new site).
I went down into the harbour basin and they came over to show me the brood....gave them a good feed of wholemeal bread....think it was the first bread since the 17 march when they left. the cygnets are gorgeous...and i reckon they are older than the ones last year when they arrived...probably a week old ! It's great to see them back....i think they were pleased to be back too ! enclosed pic i took this evening.

Another duck pic from Joe

Happy scenes here captured by Joe. Meanwhile further down in the harbour a potential tradgedy was in progress. Seven ducklings were seen alone in the habour basin, later on 6 were heading out to sea but turned back at the last minute. Unfortuneatly this is a regular feature of late spring/ early summer on the river, families of ducklings just hatched can get seperated by heron or dog incidents etc.

No further sightings tonight but then hardly any ducks around at all. This year's star brood had already gone to bed. Thanks again for the picture Joe.

PS no not a comeback for the gurn, infact not a gurn at all. Gurns are history on the gurn.

News from the swan blogger

No this is not a gurn comeback, just a response to interest in how the Nairn swans are getting on. The swan blogger, has been taking pictures but not published any yet. So the above pic is a sneak preview of what is, hopefully, to come. It shows the intruders taking up residence. This is Joe's message.

I may blog those at some time in the future.....as for the Swans....those are a new pair in the river.... probably 3 or 4 years old...and this will be their first attempt at nesting ...there will be a 4.2 m tide on the 27th of this month....and providing it does'nt flood the nest ...and providing kids or dogs dont attack her on the nest..then maybe we will see some new cygnets around the 6 th of june..which should be about the 35 day incubation period.
The big problem will be when the resident pair get back from lochloy with their offspring....i hope they can co exist for this season....it may be the first time we will have two lots of Swans and cygnets on the river at the same time !
There should be enough food supply...at least during the summertime.....and if they share the territory, 2 up the top area...and the other two towards the harbour and pier..it could work out ...if only they could reason like us !!!!

I read a blog the other day...

I've started to read Wind on the Heath . Quite enjoyable.