The Wee County conquers

It was hard to believe that Inverurie were 26 points above Nairn before this game started but a shock always looked on the cards, even though Nairn gave away a silly goal early on. It looks like the players that Les Fridge has brought into the team are gelling now and although it is a bit late in the season to be doing anything serious we could be odds on to be a new ‘glamour’ side in Highland League terms next season.
Well over a hundred Inverurie fans made the trip and although they were a bit peeved with their own team, they were the usual good crac and it was good to see them – they always make us welcome through there. The Inverurie fans also made their customary pre-match visit to the Legion, a place they have become quite fond of since they joined the league and started coming to Nairn, in fact they have been known to stop off there too on the way back from trips further a field. Yeah reality football up at Station Park has got a lot going for it and while you can grudge the likes of the Premiership stars the mad wages they get, the guys that work hard for ninety minutes at Station Park deserved every penny of the beer money they will earn for their efforts.

Not long before Nairn has an SNP mp?

'The new Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey constituency will be won by the SNP in a close fought contest according to the "Strategic Voter" website which combines past results with recent poll evidence to estimate the likely result of the election.'

So with a bit of luck Dave Thompson will be our MP. This blog supports Dave anyway because he is a nice chap and has learnt Gàidhlig :-)

Town centre gets Euro kick in the guts!

Breaking news in town that the £3 million community centre plan has been refused European aid of £750,000 towards the cost of the project – the reason given is that this area is too wealthy to qualify. Further money was to come from the sale of Sandown which is potentially delayed as well by a legal objection and a decision from the Scottish Land Court will not be forthcoming until at least May.
This puts in doubt the £250,000 that Highlands and Islands enterprise were willing to put in on condition of European funding being available
The town centre renewal dream drags on and on and one or two people have concerns about the direction of the whole project now. Perhaps the councillors should call another Town meeting and once again seek the blessing of the community? It would certainly save any more grief further down the line.
In the meantime does this put the proponents of the Viewfield Supermarket in a stronger position?

Raigmore Hospital – car parking charges

It seems to be morally reprehensible to charge people for visiting the sick anyway but that was an argument that was fought and lost a long time ago. However, you could drive around that car-park for long enough and still not find anywhere to park and still get charged a quid on your way out, double parking and climbing grass verges seems to be a common reaction. I wonder if anyone else has experienced similar?

A seagull pecks over last night's chip papers so majestically

A seagulls pecks over last night's chip papers so majestically, but so in vain, it wasn't the early bird today. Crocuses hold their brave heads up through a covering of snow. Overcoats necessary to fetch the papers to-day. Soon the silent bars will ring to the fortunes of an old firm game and many Nairnites will wear blue or green and sink a few bevyies and before you know it, it will be Monday but at least it won't be 5-2-3 .

Cross about the redundant Mercat cross

Ok there is the need to be thinking macro where food retailing is concerned but this blog would make a plea for the micro to be served as well. Bring back to life the ancient Mercat Cross outside the courthouse and let’s have a weekly market where the people of Nairnshire can buy and sell food from this area. We need more choice when it comes to fresh food, so why not be brave and set up a dozen stalls in the High Street once a week. The shops have nothing to fear, apart from more people coming into the town centre to spend money. Let’s be bold, so come councillors and businessmen, heed the call…..
….Just another dream - in reality better off with another consultant’s report?

Signs down and hopes back up

The parking 'two hours only' signs are down but hopes are high. The Council have been speaking to Somerfield. Sandy Park is quoted in a Nairn Weekly newspaper as saying:
'It was a very encouraging meeting.'
This contrasts badly with the disgraceful spin an Inverness Bi-weekly was trying to put on the situation last week. So if you want the latest news, stay faithful to the Nairnshire and their fearless truthseekers and put the Inverness propaganda in the wheelie bin.
But remember, like shares, signs and hopes can go up as well as down. Might be no need for a save '*****field' - please insert 'View', 'Show' or 'Sandown' according to your preferences or the latest rumour or speculative report in an Inverness paper!

Temporal distortion or simply other factors?

Sources close to a leading member of a Nairn Community Council were suggesting that many people were surprised about the parking restriction signs that Somerfield had erected and complaints were to be made. Or was, as a contributor has suggested – their removal merely a side effect of the temporal distortion that hit the town for a week. We won’t really know until 24 hours have passed. Please report any unusual events to the blog without delay. Has that bread you made yesterday suddenly gone hard?

Breaking news time flies in Nairn (contributed)

Thanks to our correspondent 'Spelding'

BREAKING NEWS!!Time flies in Nairn! It was amazing to stand in the High Street and literally watch time fly. The hands spun round from 5 to 3, to 4, to 5, to 11, and finally rested on one o’clock. With a triumphant chime, time was restored. But what has happened in those missing hours? Have we missed anything?

Sand blows past the Sand Dancer

Sand was piling up fast on the grass near Fort Apache and whistling along past the flats over towards the river. The sea was breaking over the harbour defences here and there but nothing too serious: thrill seekers could park their cars and risk a little rust without any danger at all. It had been a rough night, wet in the town but snowy anywhere higher, which saved a spate in the river. The swans were gracefully demanding their bread and pretending to empathise. The last Sunday Telegraph had been sold in the Harbour Street stores according to an annoyed friend.