BLACK MOUNT BUGLE

As we move into the summer season and hopefully the warmer weather, we also begin the Community Council's outdoor events. We have the Sport's Evening on Friday, 28th May at Newbigging playing field at 6.30pm. There are events for all ages from pre-school to adult. We have been asked if our young people need to attend the local schools in order to participate and this is not necessary. Everyone who lives in the area is most welcome to take part.

Speaking of young people, the Community Council are in the first stage of looking at the provision of services for these. We are particularly interested in the views of 8 – 18 year olds about the things available within the area for leisure and recreation. We would like to know what you think of the things that exist already. Also, we would like you to tell us about the things you would like to happen – whether on a regular basis or as organised individual events. We hope that you will contact us if you have any ideas – the names and contact details of Community Councilors are included within this Bugle.

The Ring and Ride bus service continues to operate in the area and a number of people use this regularly to use services in Biggar and Lanark. There has been some concern about the usefulness of this for appointments such as those at the dentist or doctor, as the bus can only be booked the day before. Strathclyde Passenger Transport have listened to these concerns and have introduced a pre- booking system to help in these situations. Regular users are allowed to book two journeys per month at least two weeks and not more than four weeks ahead the day needed. These bookings need not be for appointments and can be used also for shopping trips, etc. Anyone who has a Senior Citizen’s Travel Concession Pass does not pay for this service.

The change in the water supply to Dolphinton and Elsrickle continues to concern a number of people. The Community Council has again written to Scottish Water to request the water test results which they say have not meet the required standards. We have received a number of requests for contact addresses which can be used to make personal representations. These are given below.

Mr Jon Hargreaves
Chief Executive Scottish Water,
Castle House, 6 Castle Drive,
Carnegie Campus,
Dunfermline, KY11 8GG

Mr Graeme Smith
Water Customer Consultation Panels
Ochil House
Stirling
FK7 7XE

Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland
Ochil House
Stirling
FK7 7XE
The Water Commissioner

BMCC Members

Joan Highton, Chair - 01899 810378, JoanHighton@tiscali.co.uk
Tim McLean, Secretary - 01968 682345, tanda.mclean@virgin.net
Ian Kerry, Treasurer - 01968-682239, ian.kerry@tiscali.co.uk
Anne Hutchison - 01968 682256, anne@robertonmains.freeserve.co.uk
Joan Stephenson - 01899 810272
John Hinks - 01899 810261, boo.ceramics@tiscali.co.uk
Shelagh Atkinson - 01968 682643, atkinwood@onetel.net.uk
Don Barrie - 01899 221771

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

BLACK MOUNT linked with CULTER linked with LIBBERTON and QUOTHQUAN

BLACK MOUNT KIRK NEWS April 2004

Everywhere we look, there seems to be change - goodness even the Church is changing. (There’s a new Minister in the Church, and no doubt he’ll be changing things too.) I have just come back to this area after being away near Dunoon for 9 1/2 years and then Coldstream in the borders for 8 ½ years, and I see lots of changes here. Some years ago I remember, the Labour Party were embroiled in debates over OMOV – one member one vote. Its opponents said, “But why change? We’ve always done it this way. It’s aye been!” Now where have we heard that before?

It made me think of the story about a young housewife who was cooking in her kitchen. As some husbands do, her husband was looking over her shoulder, possibly hoping to gain a few tips, or just watching to see if she did it the way his mother did it. She was preparing a piece of rolled meat for cooking and she took a large knife and cut a piece off at the end. Her husband asked to why she did that, to which she said, I don’t know, my mother always did it that way!

Next time the couple visited the young wife’s mother, they asked why she cut off a piece off at the end of the roll of meat. To which the mother replied, “I don’t know, my mother always did it like that!”

And, of course, the next time they visited grandmother, they asked her too why she did this. She also replied, “I don’t know, my mother always did it like that!”

As it happens, great granny was still alive and so they all asked her why she cut off a slice of meat at the end of the roll. And she replied, “Well you see, I only had a very small oven, and I always had to cut the meat in two to get in”.

Very often people do things in a certain way, and more often than not, they don’t know the reason why or they have long since forgotten the reason – “They have always done it that way. It’s Aye been!”

People and families, even in Church congregations, fall out with one another and even stop speaking to the folks who were once their friends. Some even keep it up for many, many years. And when you ask them why, they say they don’t know - it always been like that! It’s Aye been! The real reason has long since been forgotten.
Unfortunately, but rightly, I suppose, the church is always been accused of the same kind of thing. “We’ve always done it like this”, or “It’s aye been”, are favourite sayingsof church folks. If they only realized that some of things that are done in church, put many people off actually coming, and for some of these things, there’s no real reason behind them, other than “We’ve always done it that way, it’s aye been!

Yes, the church still very much needs to come up-to-date. Many things we do - perhaps some of the ways in which we worship - need to be looked at and changed - brought up-to-date. At the same time the Church has indeed changed much over the years. However, if you are someone who doesn’t come to church because – well because you just don’t like some of the things that have happened and still happen, then really, you are the only people who can change them. And you can change them, but only by your presence.

Perhaps you don’t come to church because last time you came you were met by someone at the door that thrust a hymn book into your hand and who didn’t even look at you, far less acknowledge your presence. I can only apologise to you if this has happened to you, and I can assure you that a very warm welcome awaits you at any of our services. Why don’t you give us another chance? Give it another try.

Or perhaps you are someone who doesn’t come to Church just because – well just because you never have and you don’t really know why. You have always done it that way too. “It’s aye been!” It doesn’t have to be like that. Give it a try. Come and find that illusive thing you have always missed.

Jim Coulter (Minister at Black Mount, Culter, Libberton and Quothquan)

____________________________________________

Session Clerk: Mr Don Barrie Tel. (01899) 221771
Treasurer: Mr Stephen Harvey Tel. (01968) 682292
Organists: Mrs Alice Barrie, Tel. (01899) 221771
Mrs Margaret Leiper Tel. (01555) 841400
Clerk to Congregational Board Mrs Grace Allison Tel. (01899) 220525

____________________________________________

Other Local Christian Denominational Services

St Isadore’s Roman Catholic Church, Biggar.

Holy Mass Sunday 12 noon and weekdays (Tues-Fri) 9.30 am

St Mungo’s Scottish Episcopal Church, West Linton

Sung Communion Sunday 11.00 am, Said Communion Wednesday 10.30 am

Elsrickle Post Office has moved up the brae!

On the 8th March 2004, we scaled the heights from Townfoot to Townhead and into a brand new Post Office.

The Post Office is an essential part of everyday rural life. So please pop in and see for yourself what the modern Post Office has to offer:

· Pay a wide range of bills under one roof
· Keep in touch with our Phone and Postal Service
· Don't get caught short – Top up here with O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile & Vodafone
· Take out cash free here from selected Current Accounts, most basic Bank Accounts & Post Office Card accounts
· Wide range of Savings and Investment products
· Collect Benefits and State Pensions in cash here
· Bureau de Change and Travel Insurance, both 0% interest
· Local Collect – Collect your parcels and packages when it suits you
· Convenience Store with Stationary, Cards for every occasion, Gift Wrap, sundries for that occasion when you run out, Papers to order, Confectionary and Taylor's of Biggar Ice-cream

Isa Ramsay, Postmistress

Enquiries: Tel. 01899 810281
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9am – 1pm
Saturday 9am – 12 noon

DOLPHINTON W.R.I.

December 20th was the children’s Christmas party with invitations to all children in the area. We started with a lovely tea, lots of party games ice cream cones midway; then a visit from Santa, with a present for everyone, completed the day.

January 21st - April Noble, a holistic therapist, gave a very interesting demonstration on Indian head massage where we all got involved; it was very therapeutic.

January 31st was our bowling tournament for charity. Carmichael were the winners with Elsrickle runners up.

February 18th - Carrefraw Wildwood Project. Philip Ashmole from the Borders Forest Trust gave an interesting talk with slides on Carrefraw Valley - how they are restoring it back to its wild wooded state.

March 10th - this took the form of a games open night.
We all took part in bowls, Dominoes, table tennis whist and a quiz.
We took part in the Bulb show at Peebles on the Saturday where a number of members showed their bulbs, and we also took part in the Community effort where we received first prize.

April 21st - This is the last meeting of the season, and we are having Alpine planting for spring by Mr Jim Pitt (Hopetoun Gardens). The flower show schedules are available from Cathie Brown, Loanend, or any committee members.

Children who would like to grow a potato in a pot for the flower show in August should collect them at the hall on Wednesday 21st April at 7 o’clock.

ELSRICKLE WRI

In January, the Rural invited Mr Niall Robertson, a photographer with the Scottish Farmer, to give a talk on his experiences with the Scottish Farmer. He brought along a portfolio of photos taken all over Scotland in the course of his work and gave interesting talk of his life at the paper.

In February, the Rural held “A Matter of Opinion” with Alex Allison as chairman. Anne Hutcheson, Fiona Wight, Jim Sparrow and Ron Harris were panelists. The night was an “At Home” with eight other Rurals, four members from each. Some of these folk asking the panel questions they had already prepared. This was a most enjoyable evening’s entertainment.

March saw Jean Donaldson demonstrate silk painting, bringing along material and paints for members to have a go! She brought some items of her own work to show the members the handwork she had made.

April is our annual general meeting, also Bring, Taste and Try night, an exchange of new recipes to try.

12th May - our Rural trip is going to manderstone House, Duns. Members of Kaimend rural will join us for this event.

In September we are going on a three night trip to St Annes.

News from Walston Primary School

Last term, we organised some very successful events which were extremely well attended by both pupils, parents and the wider community.

The Ceilidh held in Dolphinton Hall in February was great fun and we were very grateful to Keith and Ross for providing the wonderful music. Once again the young people excelled themselves in showing their dancing skills and many people said how much they had enjoyed the poems written in Scots by Mrs Ramsay’s class. These poems can be found on the website – www.itchy-coo.com.

Again the young people were able to show off their skills, when a Beetle Drive in Elsrickle Hall was organised. This event was also very well attended and if the noise and general excitement is a criteria for success this was an event worth having.

Our Easter service in Blackmount Church, Dolphinton, gave everyone the opportunity to listen to the young people and also to join in with the singing. Thanks to the generosity of those attending, we were able to give a donation to the church of almost £80.

We have a few more events planned for this term so you can look forward to reading about them in the next Bugle.

We are happy to hear from anybody in the community and can be contacted on
Tel – 01899 810234
Fax – 01899 810318
E-mail – headteacher@walston-pri.s-lanark.sch.uk

Councillor Tom McAlpine’s Ward News

At the request of Blackmount Community Council, I nominated Anne Hutchison of Roberton Mains farm for a Community Service Award, and I am pleased to advise that Anne will receive her award at a ceremony in May to be held in the Banqueting Hall, Hamilton. For years as social convener of the Community Council, Anne has organised the annual children's sports day, the Christmas dinner for older citizens, the bonfire and fireworks display in November and many other events, including healthy walks, etc. She certainly deserves this recognition.

Biggar Community Council also asked me to nominate Lady Clydesmuir for a Community Service Award, and my nomination has likewise been accepted. Among other work, Lady Clydesmuir helps each week in the Biggar Youth Project, serving meals to the children who come to the centre.

It will be my pleasure to accompany both of them to the ceremony.

We are making progress in having some of our telephone exchanges upgraded to provide Broadband and, having achieved the necessary number of subscribers, Biggar will provide this service from the 28th July, Symington from the 29th September and Carstairs from the 4th August. The smaller exchanges require extra work for the conversion but we are still pressing BT to upgrade them. Thanks are due to David Roberts, chairman of Biggar Business Group, and the other members who have worked hard on this project.

Surgeries

Newbigging Village Hall - 5.30 - 6.00 p.m.1st Monday of each month.
Dolphinton Village Hall - 6.15 - 6.45p.m. 1st Monday of each month.
Elsrickle Village Hall - 7.00 - 7.30p.m. 1st Monday of each month.
Gillespie Centre, Biggar - 10.30 - 11.30 a.m. 1st & 3rd Friday of each month.
Gillespie Centre, Biggar - 5.00 - 5.30p.m. 2nd & 4th Friday of each month.

WHAT IS MEDITATION?

Meditation is an experience where you make the choice to identify yourself with the Universe instead with your separate sense of self, your feelings or thoughts.

Your feelings and thoughts will arise as usually in your awareness but your position is a position of freedom so you just let them be. This conscious decision and ability to direct our attention to a context greater then our own 'private' world as we know it can inspire us to live a life free of boundaries and conflict.

Starting May 2nd, Sunday's 4.30 - 5.45 pm, Village Hall in Dolphinton, Price: £4.
Also meetings possible in Peebles and Biggar.

Telephone: 01968 - 682242

DOLPHINTON VILLAGE HALL

We've had an active autumn/winter at the Village Hall, with more and more activities becoming available, along with the established groups. It's very important for the Hall to be used so that the Council continue to fund us.

Carpet Bowls continues until Easter on Thursday evenings, and will then re-convene in the Autumn. If you would like information about Bowls phone Anne Ross on 01968 682227.

The WRI hold monthly meetings until April 21st. They re-start in September, not forgetting the Flower Show which this year is on Saturday August 21st. Schedules for the Show are available from WRI members or at the Hall. Anne Ross is the secretary of the WRI so you can contact her if you require any further details.

There are now three yoga classes running at the Hall. Julie Anderson, on 01968 661204 is the teacher. Tuesday evenings she runs two classes, one for beginners, the second for intermediate pupils.

Belly Dancing on Monday evenings, 7.30 - 9.0 pm is flourishing. Classes will continue until the end of June and in the autumn Angela Morton, the teacher, hopes to start two classes - one for total beginners, the other for experienced beginners. If you would like more information please phone Pam on 01968 682203.

Tango on a Saturday has now been running for a year. There are only five regulars but we have learnt a great deal and enjoy it immensely. A new class for Beginners will start on Thursday, 23rd April, at 7.15. Also, Pete, the teacher, is offering individual lessons for couples - this is a good way for those more hesitant members of the community to have a few private lessons before joining the Saturday group! Pete can be contacted on 01968 682381.

Paul du Buf, who has recently moved in to Dolphinton, is offering meditation at the Hall on Sundays at 4.30 pm. He can be contacted on 01968 682242 if you would like to hear more. He may be able to offer meditation at other times to suit individual requirements.

Pilates is coming to Dolphinton in April - Keeley Craigie is starting classes - Thursday April 22, at 9.30 a.m. and 10.45 am and Wednesday 28th April at 6.15. and 8.15. If you are interested in joining her classes you can phone her on 01721 729301.

Several families have chosen to hold their children's birthday parties in the Hall over the past few months. It is an excellent space for children to let off steam in, and a cheap option, so do consider it.

If you would like to book the Hall for any activities or you are interested in a new group of any kind being started, please phone Pam on 01968 682203

Walston Pre 5 Group

The Walston Pre-5 Group meet at Walston Primary School on a Wednesday morning, for children from 2 1/2 years up to school age. Each session runs from 9.15am until 11.30am. We would welcome interested parents with children of this age to come and see us, and if your child will be 2 1/2 during the next session (from April '04) and you would like to register them, please telephone Vanessa Starling at the number below, or call in on a Wednesday morning.

The children have had a good term and the theme they have been focusing on were the senses - touching, seeing and smelling. However Easter is upon us and the making of many an Easter Egg has taken over. In the summer term the group will be looking to learn more about new life (flowers and animals).

The group would like to thank the Co-op in Biggar for their generous donation which will be used to invest in more games, puzzles and art materials. We are always in need of these things and, just to add to that, we continue to collect the Persil tokens which will help us to acquire more Art and Craft Materials. So please save your tokens for us, and hand in via a parent or the school. Thanks.

If you wish to contact the playgroup, please call either

Sheena Dickson 01968 682272 (Playgroup Leader) or
Vanessa Starling 01899 229229 (Committee Chair)

LAMBING TIME

It’s lambing time at “Blackmount” Mains

240 Labour pains,

All mothers know just what that means -

The pain for the pleasure of having weans.

We’ve had our jags for this and that,

We’re not too lean and not too fat.

The winter’s been kind; just a bit snow

Now in from the fields to the shed we go,

Plenty of hay , made in the summer,

But no fresh air-that’s a bummer.

Nothing to do but eat twice a day;

Who’ll be first?..A week’s delay,

Wait till the girls have time to help

They’ll be there to give junior a skelp,

Just in case we don’t get it right

Help is at hand, by day and by night.

The time has come!…a grand pair of twins,

Both of them boys-just for my sins!

Penned up for a day to make sure we are “ bonding”

No chance at all to try absconding!

My aching foot is given chiropody

So I don’t walk like Hopalong Cassidy.

A hurl in the trailer down to the field;

I hope it’s the one that has a bit bield,

This is still April-the wind can be cauld

And my wee bairns are still a bit bald

.The grass starts to grow, the lambs start to skip.

Summer is coming…But I need a kip!

Baabaara.

Dates for Your Diary 2004

Mondays (except School Holidays): Black Mount Luncheon Club: Elsrickle Hall: 12 noon
Alternate Wednesdays :Black Mount Church Coffee Morning: Church Hall, Dolphinton: 10.30 am
Monday 10th May: Community Council Meeting: Village Hall, lElsrickle: 7.30 pm
Friday 28th May: Black Mount Sports, Newbiggin: 6.30 pm
Monday 7th June: Community Council Meeting: Village Hall, Elsrickle: 7.30 pm
Monday 5th July: Community Council Meeting: Village Hall, Elsrickle: 7.30 pm
Saturday 17th July: Duck Rac:e Dunsyre
Saturday 24th July: Biggar Farmers Club Show, Biggar
Saturday 31st July: West Linton Pipe Band: Beating the Retreat - Please note change of date - The Grange, Dolphinton: 6.30pm

Please send all articles, dates, reports, news and advertisements to:-

Ian Kerry, The Beehive, Dolphinton, EH46 7HH.
Tel 01968-682239, Email Ian.Kerry@tiscali.co.uk

The Black Mount Bugle is published by the Black Mount Community Council, however views expressed therein are not necessarily those of the BMCC.