When traffic lights break down do things improve?

We've heard a couple of reports of the traffic lights at Moss-side Road being out of action this week. Has that caused problems for anyone or did it improve things? 

One of our regular readers sent us a link to an article entitled: "All FORTY-TWO traffic lights break down at Britain's most-chaotic junction - and guess what happens? The flow of cars IMPROVES." 

More details here in a Daily Mail article.  And here it is in the Independent for all those that don't like the Daily Mail. 

There was music in the cafe at night and the sound of geese was in the air

Singer/songwriter Karl Broadie, Edinburgh born, but now living in Sydney Australia, sang a few songs from his new album this evening in the Putting Green Café and recorded an interview with Rob Ellen that will be broadcast on the Medicine Music site. A few magic moments and nice coffee available too.

Karl has a facebook page here and details of the broadcast will appear on Medicine music here.  A video of part of the evening's music here. 

Geese over the Fishertown - video

The Geese have obviously had a good breeding season this year. There seem to be a lot more of them on their regular evening flight across the town to their overnight spot further east. 

"Nairn hotel with strong links to movie legend Charlie Chaplin put up for sale for £4.5 million"

A scoop for the Inverness Courier, more here. 

No Community Council elections for Nairn River and West and Suburban as one candidate withdraws in each area

No elections as the number of candidates in each area is equal to or less than the number of candidates to be returned. A candidate in each area took advantage of the chance to withdraw which was available until 4 pm today. Your new CC make up in each area is as follows and they will be in position from 18th November. 

"The Path to Cawdor" and the road to rehabilitation for Macbeth?

Firhall resident Brian Lockey has combined his love of photography with his interest in history to write a book about the much maligned former king of Scotland who has endured centuries of bad press due to the spin that Shakespeare put on the monarch’s life. Brian hopes that " readers will learn enough about the real Macbeth to appreciate that his reputation, and that of his wife, have been done irreparable harm by Shakespeare."

“Macbeth” has entertained theatre goers for some considerable time but the truth of the matter is that he was a king who brought a measure of peace and prosperity to his reign. After Brian’s summary of the manufactured myth followed the reality then this observer is tempted to wonder that if Shakespeare

were alive today he would be a Westminster spin doctor? The industry that as grown up around depicting Macbeth as a blood-thirsty monster continues and shows no signs of abating. According to a review of a new film version of Macbeth, it seems there might even be more impetus to darken his reputation: "As a result, Marion Cotillard’s Lady Macbeth is both more sympathetic and more sidelined than one might expect, no longer the driving force behind the bloody deeds, more a damaged partner in crime." More here.

Brian diligently examines the Shakespeare version of Macbeth and then looks into other legends and crumbs of knowledge that we know including the Monarch’s birth in the Moray area– maybe it might even have been closer to Nairn than some think? There are so many gaps in the Macbeth story it leaves us all the chance to fill them in for ourselves and imagine a different time in Nairnshire and even Macbeth going about his business, journeying through this area – maybe he was almost a Nairn resident at one time?

Brian looks at the local connections to Macbeth, the Scottish dimension and beyond; his writing is coupled with quality photographs that catch more than passing attention to add to the informative and pleasurable read. For Brian his book began with a haunting image he took on the footpath to Cawdor that lies just across from Firhall, it inspired him to start writing. It’ll be hard for Macbeth to ever take his true independent place in history given the inventions of Shakespeare that hid the true life but every step on “The Path to Cawdor” will assist that goal.
Brian's book is available on Amazon here. 

The Northern Lights from Nairn Links by Kenny MacLeod

Kenny MacLeod resisted the temptation to go through to Aberdeenshire last night to take pictures of Nairn County in action against Formartine and instead opted to head down to the Links on Aurora Watch. Here's what he saw. Click the image to enlarge

Grace Lily Lingerie to host iconic fashionable affair at the Newton on Thursday night (8th October)

A leading independent Highland lingerie boutique is getting set to take to the catwalk to coincide with the Highlands and Islands largest fashion event.

Grace Lily Lingerie, which was established in December 2014, and has boutiques in Nairn and Inverness, will host an exclusive lingerie fashion show on Thursday 8 October, at 7pm, at the Newton Hotel in Nairn, as part Highland Fashion Week.

The fashion show, which has been organised as one of the flagship events of Highland Fashion Week, will celebrate female icons with a twist, wowing audiences with gorgeous locally sourced models and showcasing some of the latest fashionable trends in the lingerie industry.

The boutique, which boasts an exclusive territory license in Scotland for the luxury lingerie brand, Agent Provocateur, has also pledged its support to local children’s charity, Children 1st, raising vital funds for the charity on the evening.

Highland Fashion Week runs from 7-11 of October with a fairytale theme and will see five separate events showcase local and national fashion designers, as well as locally sourced models. The week was initially set up to help bring new talent into the Scottish fashion industry, and to 

highlight the range of talents throughout the area.

Grace Lily, owner of Grace Lily Lingerie, said: “Getting involved in Highland Fashion Week again is something we are very excited about. We have a fantastic selection of lingerie in our shops and the fashion show will give us an excellent opportunity to present the gorgeous new lines exclusively to those attending the event.

“Fashion is meant to be fun and playful so what better way to celebrate the stunning lines we have other than with a themed fashion show. Grace Lily Lingerie is all about embracing all shapes and sizes so this year we decided to focus on iconic females which I’m very excited about showcasing in a fun and fashionable way.”

Highland Fashion Week director, Garry James, said: “We are absolutely ecstatic that Grace Lily Lingerie is hosting this event with Highland Fashion Week. This is the fourth time Grace and her team of beautiful models have been involved in the fashion-filled week and it is one of 

our most popular events.”

Standard tickets for the event cost £15 and include a goody bag. VIP tickets are also available for £25 and include VIP seating, VIP goody bags and a glass of prossecco on arrival. Tickets can be purchased from both Grace Lily boutiques or alternatively you can call 01667 454114 or access tickets online at: 

http://www.highlandfashionweek.com/thursday-8th-october.html.

Highland Councillor wishes all the Community Council candidates the best of luck

Stephen Fuller told the Gurn tonight re the Community Council elections for Nairn :

"It is fantastic to see a growing interest in local affairs with so many new names wishing to stand for community council. I look forward to the upcoming election and wish all candidates the best of luck"

Sailing Club and Kayak Club to share boatyard extension?

The Gurn understands that talks between the Sailing Club and the Kayak Club to share an extension to the boatyard are at an advanced stage and plans have been drawn up and discussions held with Highland Council. 

It appears that the new area is in fact simply that piece of land next to the boat yard that has been fenced off over the winter for several years now once the sailing season is finished. The popularity of the Kayak Club has led them to search for premises in the harbour area. The sailing club also need to accommodate the dingy section which has been very successful in recent years. 

This move has been mooted for a wee while now - flashback two years to a Gurn report of a NICE meeting in the Sailing Club:  

A symbiosis seems to be rapidly developing between the dingy training element of the Sailing Club and the Nairn Kayakers. Both expressed their desire to continue training local young people and dispel the myth that Sailing and Kayaking are elitist sports. Presently both organisations are based down at the former McDermotts yard at Ardersier and given the possibility of industrial development there again they both face an uncertain future in that location.

More here. 

Nairn Kayak Club website here.   Nairn Sailing Club here.