www.hasteltd.co.uk THE WEE GOIL E-COPY UPDATE 3

HOW GOOD IS THAT? ON YOUR BIKE AT 81 EDITORS NOTES Happily, the 'Thursday evening noise' reported in the previous Wee Goil was not a one-off, and every Thursday Dear Readers. Carrick residents continue to salute those A few new words have been introduced to front line workers who are putting our daily vocabulary over the last few themselves at greater risk to provide months - lockdown, unprecedented, social everyone with care and services. distancing, face shields, masks and This Thursday saw some 20 residents shielding to name but a few. (more than a third of the permanent As we tackle a new normal it is important population of the village!) spaced around now more than ever, we stay connected the village green showing their during this time to ensure we support each appreciation, along with car horns and other and come out of this stronger than noise from other houses. ever. Meanwhile, there's clear commitment to A big thank you to The Community the good neighbour scheme, with much Emergency Plan Group who have cooperation and support between responded efficiently to offer support to residents re errands, deliveries etc. These members of our vulnerable community in may be challenging times, but they're new ways. bringing out the best in us!

I thought the front page might give you a Arthur Fairfull smile!!! Irene McAllister Editor BREAKING NEWS IN THIS ISSUE

P2 Carrick Castle P3 50 - 50 Club P4/5 Memories of VE Day P6/7 Community Emergency Group P8 How to make Masks P9 Lochgoil Food Pantry P13 Path Projects P15 What3Words P16 Right Under our Nose P21 Jetty Trust P24/25 An Appreciation LAYING OUT THE PARKING P28 Reipe - Boursin & Red Pepper BAYS FOR TWO MOTOR P29 Community Council Report HOMES IN THE CAR PARK P31 Golf News 2 As of 11 May 2020, the club operates with numbers are removed, and the monies 200 numbers at an annual value of £12 received are split 50/50 each. This is a value of £2400.00 This will result in the prize money To date 180 numbers are allocated. Out of potentially being lower than it should be. those 180 only 101 have been paid, this totals to £1197.00. A shortage of £1203.00 There are two ways to move forward for this current year and that is to continue Communications have been sent by email, with 5 prizes at a lower value or reduce the Facebook posts, The Wee Goil and the number of prizes to perhaps 3 with a community website. higher cash value.

It has been commented that some people For 2021 to 2022 we need to evaluate have not received an email, if I could keeping the 50 50 club running and please ask if this is the case, then you membership status, or reduce the contact [email protected] to membership from 200 to 100. confirm we hold the correct details for you. I will ask the council to think about the At the February Community Council options for a decision to be taken at our meeting it was agreed to allow members a next council meeting grace period until June to make payment. Zak Robb- Gillan As it stands, we cannot continue with lack of payment as we would be paying out CONGRATULATIONS more than we have taken in. 50 - 50 CLUB John Bryce, Cecilia Ferguson We propose it is put for approval that all monies received and lodged by 1st June Bridget Little, Lorraine Kamsley 2020 are accounted for. All unpaid Christine Kirk

3 VE DAY MEMORIES FROM !945 AND

MY LIFE DURING THE WAR YEARS AS I REMEMBER

I felt very emotional this year as I watched the fields. Sometimes something was the VE programmes of the war years I thrown at the Tank and there would be a remembered so much. I was 8 years old on loud bang and they would go up in the air VE day 1945. Here is a few of those and back down in clouds of smoke. There memories. were solders everywhere - a lot of Canadian troops, they would give us a I was brought up at Killellan Farm , one of sweetie. Often in the morning they would four daughters. Killellan was a dairy Farm be lying all around even on the doorstep. that supplied the schools as far as Sandbank with 1/3rd pints of milk, also At the farm we had no electricity. the daily milk supply to the Everything was powered by paraffin Toward/Innellan area as my father's lights and machinery We were 2 miles to brother was away at the war. Toward School which lay directly in line to the entrance to the Clyde. Above the The farm lay on the low side of the road School was the Battery(Guns) at Toward between Castle Toward and Loch Striven, Farm. From there they practiced on the side of Loch Striven. My shooting over the school, sometimes we father farmed in partnership with Sir had to go to the shelter but one time for a Norman Lamont on the sheep farms up to reason we had to be locked in the school. Inverchoalain, this Loch was closed completely to anyone. This was where they This was a one teacher school ,2 infant first practised the bouncing bomb. My classes and 1-5 primary all in one room. father could see it all happening as he There was an open fire which boiled the attended the sheep on the hill' water for our lunch, you had a sandwich from home and a "poke" with cocoa and Castle Toward and grounds around it was sugar or a spoon which held the tea taken over during the war from Mrs Coats leaves. That was our lunch. ( Coats the thread people)for the Royal Navy ,to be known as HMS Brontosaurus One time Churchill and some other and at one time the Germans announced official, can't remember who, were going they had sank the HMS Brontosaurus not to visit Brontosaurus and we waited realising it wasn’t a ship. outside the school to see them and the car just flashed past. As they began practising for the Normandy Landings the whole area We had to take our Gas Masks to school including the farm was taken over as a every day and if you forgot you had to lie practice area. We were allowed to stay in on the floor as you were dead. Barbara the Farmhouse but not allowed out when my younger sister had a Mickey Mouse they were doing manoeuvres and we would one. watch from the windows . They had big Churchill Tanks which went anywhere through fences, burns, water supply over 4 At Christmas time we were taken by a Talk of a German invasion was often naval lorry for a party at the Castle. There discussed, and one of the first signs of an were no toys in wartime but the Wrens invasion would be the ringing of the made gifts for us out of the blackout church bells throughout the country. One material for windows with coloured bias particularly peaceful day not long after the binding and one time used their own sugar beginning of the war church ration to make us meringues. bells were to be heard loud and clear. Panic ensued, but was soon calmed when a rather After the Clydebank Blitz the children inebriated local plumber, whose job it had from were sent to the country been to ring the bells on a Sunday, had area for safety. Many came to Toward. momentarily forgotten what ringing the church bells indicated. Order was soon If anyone had a spare room in their house restored. they were required to take in two children, from then the school doubled in size . The Land Defence Volunteers, better known as the LDV, was formed in the very I remember the teacher drawing a banana early days as a rearguard defence made up on the blackboard explaining what they of men such as my father, local tradesmen, looked like as we had never seen one. farmers and the like. They were equipped with their own rifles and shotguns, a forage When VE day was announced in 1945 all cap and an armband with the letters LDV - the ships at Rothesay and the local area that was it! Soon after, the Home Guard blasted out their horns. was formed, slightly better equipped, but more like ”Dad’s Army” than “Dad’s That night father took all the family to visit Army” depicted itself. They had a hut my Granny and Aunt at . The car between the post office and Callander was a small black car and like cars in war Cottage. time the top half on the headlights were painted black to keep as little light showing The blackout was something we had to at night as possible. contend with, but it was not strictly adhered to. This included very restricted All memories. lighting of the headlights on our cars. Jean Campbell Many were the times that the local bobby was seen trying to catch up with the odd Lochgoil Memories of the 1940s car, headlights blazing, the cover having Extract from Insight into the History of Loch “come off”, usually aided and abetted by Goil - “ A Slice Out of Paradise” the owner having had a few too many libations at the hotel bar.

Hugh Neilson: who grew up in the village The war did produce some hardships at in the 1940s remembers. We as a family Lochgoil, but not many. There was plenty (seven of us) were at church, and it was of fish in the sea, rabbits and hares and conducted by the Rev. Dan MacLean. He even the odd red deer on the hills. The war made the announcement from the pulpit. produced some pretty good shots in more All was despair and despondency because ways than one. those who were old enough, and most of them were, remembered the First World War an all that it entailed. 5 COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLAN GROUP

As the lockdown continues we thought we insurance and safeguarding systems in would update you on the things that the place. We thank Tricia and Rod at the Post CEPG has been doing and what you can Office for doing the Carrick deliveries and get involved in. the surgery are dealing with the village.

Please get in touch either by phone on The children are making crafts so that we 07388614978 where someone in the group can send these out to the “shielding” of the will be able to help or by emailing community to say we are THINKING OF [email protected] and we can THEM. Please drop these off at 1 get back to you Viewfield and help yourself to an Easter Egg What have we been up too:- Everyone that is over 70 or in the most “at The crafty adults of Carrick and risk” groups for COVID-19 had a letter to Lochgoilhead are making 5x5 squares in ask if they would like help with things like any medium that they like to make, wall shopping or medication uplift. Each person hanging/blankets to display hopefully in that sent back their consent were given the the village hall at the end of this pandemic. contact numbers of at least three We would expect the way the squares are volunteers. coming in that there will be at least one extra blanket that we can donate to We have 47 consented volunteers and for a possible the homeless or a care home. small village that is absolutely fantastic. This was up and running very quickly. In the same vein we are asking people of the Lochgoilhead and Carrick to write a We then focussed on activities we could lockdown letter to put in a “time capsule” come up with to keep everyone active and to be opened in 2040. It will be very amused! That included a visit by the Easter interesting to see the different perspectives Bunny around Lochgoilhead and Carrick, of how the lockdown challenge has been which I know was greatly appreciated by for all of us. From the children not being in the many emails the group received school to those having to work from home afterwards. Many thanks go to Emma for or not being able to work, to those who are dressing up and delivering and at the front line. These can be put through Holidays for donating the eggs. the letterbox at the surgery and a box in the Post Office and Costcutter. There was a The next thing of importance was to get a closing date of the 18th May but it is now chat line going. There were volunteers due extended to the end of the month. to age or medical necessity that could not physically help but could be on the end of Please can you write your letters with your a phone for a check in or chat with the name and address on the inside. On the most vulnerable. outside of the envelope if you can write. CEPG Do not open until April 2040 Medication delivery for those who cannot or don’t have anyone to pick it up is being delivered with the Council

6 For those who are shielding about ten tutorials - I've made lots of washable days ago we sent out letters to make sure masks using this tutorial: that they were aware of the things they https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FB-- were entitled to if they didn’t have BOyTiU family, friends or neighbours that could help. Food Deliveries/slot help, mental You can use any tightly woven cotton with health help and anything else in between. a vilene M12 interface. I purchased fabric The initiative is called Caring for People packs (£6.50 each, makes 6 masks) from and set up with the Council and HSCP. Fabric & Finery, Helensburgh. You can order packs by emailing As the time goes on people will be no [email protected] or doubt allowed to move about more but phoning 01436/672300. They are also social distancing will carry on for we selling pre-made masks for £8.50 each. suspect a long time so with this in mind for the most vulnerable and the 70s and For non-sewers, if you have an old T-shirt over if you would like a cotton facemask you don't mind cutting up, here's another please get in touch and we can get that to method:- you. Lorraine (with hopefully help) has kindly offered to make some to provide the need as long as we know how many Step 1: Cut a straight line across the width to order. of the T-shirt (front and back) approxi- mately 20cm from the bottom of the T- Please do get in touch about anything if shirt. you are struggling or just need someone to talk to we are here for you. Step 2: From a point 2cm below the top right-hand corner of the fabric, make a Kindest Regards 15cm horizontal cut through both sides of Lorna Chair on behalf of the CEPG the fabric that is parallel to the top of the Emma, Lorraine, Jayne, Catherine, rectangle. Yvonne, Stuart, Duncan and Iain.

Step 3: Cut down towards the bottom of FACE MASKS the fabric until you reach approximately 2cm above the bottom edge. From here, As lockdown restrictions begin to ease we make another 15cm cut that runs parallel to are being asked to wear face coverings in the bottom of the fabric to make a rectan- public - particularly when shopping or gle that can be discarded. using public transport.

A cloth face covering should cover your Step 4: To make the ties, cut open the edge mouth and nose while allowing you to of the 2 long strips of fabric. Unfold the breathe comfortably. It can be as simple main piece of fabric and place over the as a scarf or bandana that ties behind the mouth and the nose. The 4 strips act as ties head, however it's quite simple to make a to hold the cloth face covering in place and fitted mask if you have access to a sewing should be tied behind the head and around machine. There are several Youtube the neck.

7 The key rules to follow for safe wear of � You should wash a face face masks are:- covering regularly. It can go in with other laundry, using your � Wash your hands or use hand normal detergent. sanitiser before putting it on and after taking it off and after use. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or � When wearing a face covering, mouth at all times and store used take care to tuck away any loose face coverings in a plastic bag until ends. you have an opportunity to wash them. � Face coverings should not be used by children under the age � Do not touch the front of the face of 2 or those who may find it covering, or the part of the face difficult to manage them covering that has been in contact correctly. For example, primary with your mouth and nose. Once age children unassisted, or those removed, make sure you clean any with respiratory conditions. surfaces the face covering has touched.

HOW TO SEW A MEDICAL FACE MASK // TUTORIAL

8 The Food pantry was set up following the ● Reilly and Son Butchers have offered a idea from neighbouring communities to £50 voucher which is currently the support our local community during this prize in a free raffle. period of COVID 19. ● Argyll and Bute Oral Health have I am delighted to report that the pantry has donated dental kits for children truly been a success and being used my members of the community. ● HeyGirls.co.uk- are donating sanitary products for ladies To date we have had very little to no waste of items being donated and going out of The food pantry has expanded to offering, date. books, DVDS and games which are proving very popular within the We have received donations from not only community. members of the local community but local businesses. Lochgoilhead post office are also very kindly sanitising the door handles after ● Costcutter use. ● Lochgoilhead Stores Hopefully after these uncertain times the ● Asda Dumbarton are donating in June. pantry can continue to support the community and also help reduce food ● Morrisons Dunoon donated 5 bags of wastage and encourage recycling of items shopping. such as books and DVDs. Zak Robb – Gillan

9 LOCHGOILHEAD LOCK DOWN

COVID-19 BRINGS SILENCE!

Empty

Closed

Not the usual view of the loch at the time of the year

10 Empty

Closed

Closed

Closed

Closed Closed 11 12 PATHS PROJECT UPDATE

A local network of paths is such a valuable Although it is still a ‘muddy boots’ walk, community asset, especially when this work enables our project team to opportunities for outdoor exercise are continue making improvements along the limited by the current lockdown. As well path and makes for a more pleasant all- as maintaining the River Walk, a firm weather walk for the community. favourite for so many, our Paths Project volunteers are developing further low- When restrictions permit, we hope to level walks along the old coach path develop a number of nature trail ‘loops’, towards Drimsyniebeg. This extends the along the river bank and back to the coach River Walk, opening up access to some path. It really is going to be lovely. beautiful sections of the River Goil and ancient native woodland. We encourage everyone who can, to pull on their boots and get walking! After the current phase of forestry, harvesting along the first 500m stretch of the route was completed and the final lorry loads of timber collected, Forestry and Land donated two large trailer loads of loose stone to the project and removed trees that had been blocking our progress. Thanks to a generous donation from Marion and Rory McCune and a successful application to Lochgoil Community Trust for a small grant, we engaged Andy Russell from CamKat Excavations to construct a path through a notoriously boggy section at the end of the forestry works.

With his faithful sidekick ‘Soda’, Andy removed a further 750m of vegetation from the old coach path, donating many hours of his own time. Path volunteers, contributed by clearing and trimming trees along the way during their daily walks.

Tim King 13 GLEN CROE LANDSLIP STABILISATION WORK

couple of days sooner than we’d anticipated.

“As an additional failsafe, we designed the catch pit with two outflow pipes – one above the other – so that we’ll know, when water flows from the upper pipe rather than the lower pipe, that the pit has become silted up and needs to be cleaned out.

“I’d like to say thank you to the team for doing such a fantastic job, and doing that job safely both in terms of the engineering works and with regards to their adoption of COVID-19 health guidance Traffic management at Glen Croe on the to keep themselves and their colleagues A83 has been removed (2nd of May) safe.” thanks to the completion of landslip protection work at the roadside. Work on the top road is ongoing, The catchpit - large enough to capture the with concrete volume generated in the original landslip reinforcement at the end of January – has been installed now visible at to collect any residual material from the the first of the landslip channel over the coming months four sections of and years. forest road that are to be FLS Planning Manager, John Hair, said; strengthened. “The minor delay arising from lockdown issues with supplier turned out not to be as long as had thought and we got the job completed and traffic management lifted a 14 What3Words

In this area many of us live in houses that Of course the best way to use it is to strangers can have difficulty finding. download the App on your smart phone. “House Name, Lochgoilhead” doesn’t It’s free. You can use it to find a location, give a clue as to where it is and even save it on your phone, share it with postcodes can cover a large area. In the someone else and navigate to it. You can current situation with many more online also take a photograph and the what3words deliveries being made there is an location will be incorporated in it. You can advantage in having an easy system to then share the photo, if you wish describe your location. Such a system is has been in existence since 2013 and is being more and more used. It is helpful in sparsely populated areas and is even used by the Mongolian Postal Service. (It’s good for finding nomadic people who may pitch there yurts anywhere in the wilderness)

The system is called “What3Words” and the whole world has been divided into 3 metre squares each of which is identified by 3 words, eg. ///bunks.roughest.uplifting is the location of the entrance to the village garden.

It is now being built in to the Sat. Nav. systems of several makes of car and is particularly useful now as the emergency services can use it. It is easy to use. You can go to https://what3words.com on your Bear in mind that the GPS on your phone PC and find the address of any location or is only generally accurate to within 6m so use eg. you may find yourself in an adjacent https://what3words.com/bunks.roughest.up square but given that the squares are every lifting to see the location of a particular 3m you won’t be far out. address on the map. If you’ve downloaded the App and are out for your daily exercise in the village see if Find a square on the map that identifies you can find this nice, new place to sit. your house and make a note of it. Because ///heartburn.fishery.addicted the squares are so small you’ll have several to choose from. Pick the most memorable Dennis Bolt one. 15 RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSE

It was a quiet Thursday morning during coming from its neck. But the seal wasn’t Lockdown. The waters of were going to let it get away that easily. Just as flat calm except for the occasional violent the eider duck reached the seaweed of the sounding splash. I’d seen the swans and had shallows it pounced again – like ‘Jaws’ gone down to the pontoon to feed them powering up behind an unwitting surfer. when the noise of these splashes made me turn to investigate. It dragged the now exhausted duck out to deeper water and dived with it in its I couldn’t quite make out what I was seeing. mouth. Two minutes later the duck was At times I caught the glimpse of a seal’s dead but the seal continued to ‘play’ with it head and then at others I spotted a duck. – mouthing it, pulling it under, releasing it, And then it occurred to me – this seal was nudging it. The seal did not appear to eat attacking an eider duck. Completely natural, the duck. a seal is a carnivore after all but not very pleasant to witness. The whole episode took quite a while as I had chance to run back to the house to get We all know about the crueller side of my camera and the photos aren’t great but nature - predators stalking and killing their serve as a reminder that our seals are loved prey and when I first starting learning about but we must respect them – they are the seals on our loch, I had come across powerful carnivores with sharp teeth full of pictures of seals killing other animals apart bacteria and clawed flippers. All our from fish but hoped to never actually see boating customers are advised not to feed it… the seals or encourage them over to their boat but it still happens. Maybe this article Once the seal had originally ambushed the will serve as a reminder that these aren’t duck, it bit it and pulled it under the water. cuddly animals to be petted like a dog … But it flapped and flapped and managed to they bite! escape and swam towards the shore, blood Michelle Hall, Loch Goil Cruisers

16 NATURE

The merry month of May is upon us and it yellowhammers, to raid their nests, steal or is bluebell time again with that lovely hue destroy the eggs and generally act carpeting our woodlands and the heady aggressively towards them. No specific scent that goes with it. Sadly, I’m afraid it reason was given for this particular hate is something under the current lockdown campaign but apparently in the north of that only a few will be able to experience Scotland it was an act carried out with but in the Highlands years ago, May Day some enthusiasm. would have been a signal that strange The antipathy in the north towards things were about to happen, as described yellowhammers may well have emanated in the following verse:- from the crazy scribbling markings on the eggs of the birds, which it appears were The brock and the toad and the yellow thought by some to be supernatural. It was yorling believed that the name of a future lover Tak’ a drap of the devil’s blood ilka May could be deciphered from the scribblings! morning. Hopefully plans to plant wild flowers - For reasons best known to older many of them regarded as weeds - in generations of Highlanders, this was a various parts of our local countryside will signal for the persecution of the soon be in hand and hopefully that will yellowhammer - the yellow yorling of the result in us being able to hear that familiar verse, sometimes also known as the yellow little ditty once again. yite. Boys were encouraged to harass 17 LOCAL CHIMNEY SWEEP ARGYLL SWEEPS Information on Waste ANDY ROBSON Collection Fly Tipping and Safe Chimneys & Flues Swept 28 years Handling of Waste During Coronavirus Scotland experience, SFAS certified, full inspections and reports carried out Information on Waste Collection Fly Tipping and Safe Handling of Waste Chimneys and Stove Flues, swept During Coronavirus Scotland and smoke tested.Chimneys Neighbourhood Watch Scotland hope that the below information may be of interest to Lined, multi fuel stoves you. supplied and fitted. Cowls and Chimney Pots supplied Local authorities across Scotland are being and fitted. affected differently and at different times Clean professional Service due to coronavirus. It is important that you check your local authority website 07786368729 regularly over the coming weeks, to keep up to date with any changes to waste and recycling collection services that may affect you, including what materials are being collected and when to put your bins REPORT ROAD & LIGHTING out for collection. FAULTS Zero Waste Scotland have launched a new website and if you follow the below link you will find information on Instead of suffering in silence, it’s easy To Are My Waste And Recycling Services report potholes, damaged road signs and Affected. Here you can check on every lighting faults to the council. Local authority in Scotland for the latest state of play. Just pick your authority and For those online just go to the Argyll & follow the link to your information Bute website www.argyll- bute.gov.uk and Tackling Fly Tipping click on to Transport and Streets menu. Handling Your Waste Safely There is a simple online form to https://wasteless.zerowastescotland.org.uk/t complete. Alternatively you can email: opics/coronavirus [email protected] or simply telephone 01456 605514 Message Sent By You can also report street lighting faults Mark Armstrong (NHWN, Community Support Officer, NW Scotland)

18 Throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Loch Goil area is only £10 pa and woodlands paths have remained open and Associate membership, if you live will continue to be as long as local elsewhere is £5.00 pa. Membership walkers observe the minimum 2 metres subscriptions are our only income to run social distancing requirements and that the organisation and maintain the 63.9 ha our 'Leave No Trace' policy is continued of ancient woodlands for conservation, to be adhered to. education and recreation so we rely on the community's local support. The Cormonachan Community Woodlands needs two types of support:- 2) The other type of support we need are volunteers. We need volunteers to run the 1) For you to renew your membership organisation and also to maintain the subscriptions that were due on 1st April woodlands and the paths network. We also 2020 or to become a member (visit need donations to help achieve the various http://www.cormonachan- projects that we try to achieve with the aid woodlands.co.uk/ and download the 2 of external funding from applied for forms on the bottom left of any page). grants. Please look at our Future and Past Full individual membership, if you have a Projects page - http://www.cormonachan- primary or secondary residence in the woodlands.co.uk/cormonachan- 19 history/future-projects/ to see what has Scotland, Community Woodlands been achieved so far. Association, Woodlands Trust Scotland, Argyll Small Woods Cooperative, ACT – The Cormonachan Community Argyll & the Isles Coast & Countryside Woodlands are described as 'Ancient Trust, Argyll Holidays, Rhumhor Holiday Semi Natural Woodlands' and are Lodge, Carrick Castle Estate & Lodge, ancient Atlantic oak and hazel Lodge on Loch Goil, Ardroy Outdoor woodlands recorded on Roy's Map of Education Centre, The Scout Centre, 1747. The Settlement at Upper Lochgoilhead Primary School, Loch Goil Cormonachan dates back to the 16th Kayak Hire, Carrick Farm, Lochgoilhead century and this has recently had a grant Holidays, Loch Goil Trails, Two Walking funded archaeological investigation Groups in Lochgoilhead, Lochwood House carried out and shortly to have the report Guest House, The Shore House, Rowan and plan published. House Bed & Breakfast & Loch Goil Cruisers & the Boat Shed Cafe. Our latest project is the 'Upper Cormonachan Paths Project' that We hope that you will support the includes 2 km of new paths to connect Cormonachan Community Woodlands as a the existing paths at the Contemplation member and those that can, become Shelter by the existing Squirrel Trail to volunteers when we are able to resume the forest road to the west, the volunteering again. Settlement (old village), the beautiful waterfalls at Cormonachan Burn and Douglas Locke, with an additional car park below the .Secretary@cormonachan- waterfalls and Settlement. Planning woodlands.co.uk approval was obtained in July 2019 with some conditions that have now almost been completed. Local donations have reached £14,662 towards our paths construction cost target of 5% that is £16,175, leaving just £1,513 to find before we can apply for 95% funding of the total project cost of £269,570 + VAT = £323,484 that is £307,310 from October 2020.

This project has letters of support from the following - Argyll & Bute’s MP, Brendan O’Hara and MSP, Michael Russell, Cowal Ward Councillor, Alan Reid, Lochgoil Community Council, Scottish Forestry, Forestry and Land Scotland, Argyll & Bute Council’s Economic Development Dept., Lochgoil Community Trust, Loch Lomond Community Partnership, Friends of Loch Lomond & Trossachs, Ramblers 20 JETTY TRUST UPDATE

The Jetty Trust are working in the units more within our budget, the VAT background during the Covid-19 element of second hand units versus new lockdown. We have been very pleased with units is a huge difference, VAT being a the positive comments and feedback from major cost in any new purchase. the community our project has received over the last year. Funding for the In addition to this saving of buying replacement Jetty project has been difficult refurbished, we as a Trust and during the last two years. Several funding community will be keeping materials out applications to major players were of landfill and create less pollution, unsuccessful and we have been informed making our project more recently one funder has withdrawn their environmentally friendly. Currently, this offer, although this can be re-applied for in is a very important message to project to the future. the wider community and our financial backers. We must ask ourselves do we Due to this, the Trust has worked hard at raising their own funds. With the generosity of the Lochgoilhead community supporting our events, collection boxes in local outlets and donations from local residents and organisations, we have managed to raise in Tayvallich Jetty - this is what to expect excess of £10,000, hopefully, you will Lochgoilhead’s new marine facilities will look agree this is quite a feat and we must thank you all for your continued support. need a brand new pontoon when a pre owned refurbished unit at lower cost Our original vision of a brand new pontoon would suffice. to replace our existing one appears to be out-with our funding capabilities. Once the lockdown is over, we will be However, we have sourced pontoons that contacting our proposed suppliers in can be re-furbished to suit our needs. Rothesay to further discuss our project These pontoons are of the same design as and way forward. As usual, the Jetty the new units and once re-furbished will be Trust will keep you informed of our perfectively serviceable for our progress through the pages of the Wee requirements. The units are Goil. interchangeable and can be added to if required. Not only are these re-furbished Ian Graham 21 CYBER RESILIENCE DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK

As a result of the significant rise in of the fact that many users have the same COVID-19 related scams, the Scottish password over multiple accounts. Government Cyber Resilience Unit shares some important information. If your password for video conferencing is the same as a password for any other ‘Zoom Bombings’ service that has been leaked then there is the risk that your account could be There have been cases globally of video comprised. Use a unique password. conferencing broadcasts and meetings being hijacked by malicious users As ever, National Cyber Security Centre including a recent incident where obscene (NCSC) guidance for strong passwords content was broadcast during an online applies – choose 3 random words and swimming workout aimed at children in consider the use of a password manager to Scotland. ensure that each online account has its own discreet passphrase. Further guidance is This event, along with other events that are available in the password section of the open by design are vulnerable to being NCSC’s Small Business Guide. hijacked as anyone can join them. There A Quiz too far? are steps which can be taken to minimise the risk of intrusion which include using a Online COVID-19 focussed quizzes being unique meeting ID for each meeting and used to harvest personal details for enabling a ‘waiting room’ feature so participants which could be used for meeting hosts can add guests fraudulent activity. These quizzes appear manually. to be checking our knowledge but are also asking for details such as maiden names, family information, telephone and email Zoom Security | Skype Security | addresses – even pet names. This may Microsoft Teams Security | Cisco Webex appear harmless, but this information allows scammers to build up a picture of a There are numerous platforms out there target which could be used subsequently and it is recommended that you research for identity theft. As always, be mindful of and select a platform that meets your needs the information you share online. and has appropriate security Functions. Further details on this and other scams are Is your video conferencing password for available in the latest Trading Standards sale online? Scotland Scam Share newsletter.

It is reported in Forbes and other trusted If you’ve been a victim of coronavirus sources that up to 500,000 hacked Zoom related or any other fraud, report it to account passwords are available on the Police Scotland by calling 101. dark web. Whilst the passwords appear to be quite old, the aim from the cyber criminals perspective is to take advantage 22 23 AN APPRECIATION

Hi Lochgoilhead community! I’m not a When the pandemic struck and all her resident (though I wish I was) but my coping mechanism channels were taken granny lives at Carrick and I’ve grown up away, I wasn’t sure how she would cope. spending long summer breaks there... shout However, the kindness her community has out to Calum in the house behind and shown to her have been a lifeline. From Eleanor up at the castle for being my regular provisions, natters and shortbread childhood Carrick pals! off Trish from the Post Office, to Easter bunny delivering a chocolate egg gift I wanted to say thank you. Unfortunately, (though her poor eye sight meant she my granny has found herself living alone. thought the bunny was an astronaut...), she Her sight has continually deteriorated and has felt very loved throughout the she is almost completely blind. My community. granddad is no longer around and her only child (my dad) passed away a couple of Recently, she has been using The Boat years ago. Shortly after his passing, I Shed “plates 4 mates” service. I get a very became very unwell and I’m still detailed review (always stellar) of the continuing treatment today which has delicious food and details of the upcoming subsequently meant my visits to Carrick menu for the following week. A really have been few and far between. I live on special thank you to Michelle who not only the south coast of England and it’s rare to delivers the meals, but took the time to talk find myself well enough to travel far. She for my granny and understand her has kept herself busy and well by taking situation. Michelle very kindly painted a the bus to Dunoon and joining the yellow line on the steps at my granny’s befrienders for weekly lunches. front door enabling her to see the step to safely sit outside in the sun. She also

24 STUNNING, BEAUTIFUL bought my granny a favourite dessert that GLASS ART WORK BY she had been missing (apple pie)! ELAINE BROADBENT FOR Last Christmas, the thought of my granny THE RIVER WALK spending Christmas alone was so awful that I took a chance on my health and travelled up for the holidays. My whole family decided to join me - It was almost impossible to find a place at Carrick so last minute and out of season! So a massive thank you to the family at the farm who kindly lent us their trust and let us stay at the rental flat in their absence. Perfectly situated, a mere 2 minute walk from granny’s house!

Shout out to Bill and Jim for your continued support too. Absolutely priceless.

I’m so grateful and moved by the community for eradicating some of her loneliness, grief and anxiety through acts of kindness.

What a community to be proud of! Lots of love to all up there, stay safe.

Chloe Frances

P.S. my dad LOVED the time he spent at Lochgoilhead. The double rainbow photo was taken from my granny’s house on the morning we buried my dads ashes under a rose tree in her garden.

25 Portknockie- Thank you Tom Evans for Sharing

MICK EVES JOINERY & SMALL BUILDING WORKS All joinery work undertaken including:Double Glazing

Wood / Laminate Floors Fitted Kitchens / Decking Wooden / UPVC Fascias Free no obligation quotation Tel. 07789 274996 or 01301 703522 26 TIPS FOR GARDENING AND GROWING IN MAY

Our gardens have never looked so good! With extra time on our hands, beautiful weather and the midge season not yet upon us, people have been enjoying the opportunity to get out into the fresh air. For keen gardeners and amateur gardeners alike here are some tips on how to make the most of your outdoor space.

In The Garden When to Prune Fruit Trees ● Liquid feed young plants regularly to The best time for pruning fruit trees is in keep them growing strongly early spring before buds break and trees ● Sow half-hardy annual seeds outdoors are still dormant. Pruning should be where they are to flower undertaken at planting time where you cut ● Tidy up Clematis montana once it has the new stem off 24 to 30 inches (61-76 finished flowering cm.) from the ground and remove any side ● Clear pots and containers to make way shoots for summer displays Basic Rose Pruning ● Prune spring-flowering shrubs once 1. Remove all remaining leaves. they have finished flowering This allows you to see the structure of the bush and clearly see all the canes (stems). . In the greenhouse ● Introduce biological controls at the first 2. Start with dead wood. sign of problems How do you know its dead? Cut into it — ● Move tender plants out of the brown is dead, green is living. Cut any greenhouse once the risk of frost has dead wood back to the base. passed ● Pot on seedlings as soon as they are big 3. Open up the centre of the plant. enough to handle Take out crossing branches which can rub, ● Sow French beans in individual pots causing damage and encouraging disease. for planting out next month The goal is to have upward-reaching branches with an open structure in a vase- On the allotment/vegetable garden like shape. ● Plant out tender vegetables once the frosts have passed 4. Remove any thin, weak growth. ● Tie in tomatoes and keep liquid feeding The basic rule of thumb is to remove them anything thinner than a pencil. ● Put straw under strawberries to prevent 5. Prune the remaining canes. young fruit rotting Prune by cutting 1/4” to 1/2” above an ● Sow sweetcorn in blocks to aid outward-facing bud eye (a small bump pollination and sow root vegetables found where a leaf would meet the stem). ● Earth up potatoes once growth reaches New stems grow in the direction of the bud about 25cm and the goal is to encourage them to grow ● Plant out dahlias at the end of the outward, not inward. Make cuts at a 45- month degree angle sloping away from the bud, allowing water to run off. 27 RECIPESOF THE MONTH LOCAL QUIZ 13

BOURSIN AND RED PEPPER Test your knowledge of Lochgoil and the CROSTINI surrounding area with the following questions. Then rearrange the letters INGREDIENTS corresponding to your answers to discover something used by gardeners as a deer Makes 24 deterrent. ½ long thin baguette 1.How long is The Loch Lomond & a little butter softened Cowal Way? 1 tablespoon olive oil 57 miles (e) 1 small onion, finely chopped 79 miles (a) 95 miles (o) 1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped 2. What is the time shown by the old into 1 cm dice garage clock face at 150g boursin cheese Lochgoilhead Pierhead? METHOD 6 o’clock (r) 8 o’clock (s) ● Cut the baguette into 24 slices about 10 o’clock (t) 5mm thick and spread one side each 3.On the banks of which loch would you with a little butter. find the unconventional ● Arrange the slices buttered side down and much-visited St. Conan’s Kirk? on a baking sheet lined with non stick Loch Fyne (c) paper. Loch Awe (d) ● Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the Holy Loch (g) onion and fry for about 5 mins or until 4. The SECC is situated on the north it is starting to soften. Then add the bank of the River Clyde in pepper and fry over a high heat for Glasgow. What do the letters stand another 5 mins until the pepper and for? onion are golden brown. The Scottish Exhibition and Conference ● Allow to cool and then season to taste. Centre (i) ● Spread the boursin cheese on the tops The Scottish Events Clyde Campus (u) of the pieces of bread, then spoon the The Scottish Events and Concerts Centre pepper mixture on top of the cheese. (y) ● Bake at 220 degrees for 8 mins, until 5. Who starred as the main character in golden brown and the bases are crisp. the television adaptation of the Para Handy stories? Thank you Shona Crawford For sharing Rikki Fulton (m) QUIZ 13 ANSWERS Robbie Coltrane (n) Gregor Fischer (e)

Word: diesel 6. What wild animals were introduced

5. Gregor Fischer (e) 6.Wallabies (l) 6.Wallabies (e) Fischer Gregor 5. to Loch Lomond in the

Conference Centre (i) Centre Conference 1940s?

4. The Scottish Exhibition and Exhibition Scottish The 4. Wolves (s)

3. Loch Awe (d) Awe Loch 3. Wallabies (l)

1. 57 miles (e) 2. 8 o’clock (s) o’clock 8 2. (e) miles 57 1. Llamas (t) 28 LOCHGOIL COMMUNITY COUNCIL REPORT - FRIDAY 10TH APRIL, 2020

Message from the Chair, Mr Iain MacInnes Donich Hydro Scheme : Welcome to your Community Council TM advised no change since meeting in April meeting …… A meeting with a March. difference to take into account social distancing and Government restrictions. Trust Reports: Whilst living in very different and difficult Jetty Trust - TM advised that the jetty had circumstances at the moment, we must been pumped out last week. continue to support each other, our N H S and frontline services. Closer to home we Carrick Castle Trust – TM advised that the must also support and thank our local AGM due to be held on 24th March, 2020 medical team, community emergency plan had been postponed due to current group, local shops, staff, and neighbours. Government guidelines on Covid-19. The message is clear to all - Stay at home - Don’t visit friends and family in their Hall Trust - IMacI advised that the Village homes - Always follow government Hall was closed to the public in line with guidelines. Stay safe. Government guidelines re Covid-19.

General Update Lochgoil Community Trust – Trust meetings have been suspended as a result Village Enhancement – KP advised there of the lockdown; however the Directors are no significant updates since the meeting remain in contact via phone and email. in March. All volunteer days and activities have ceased for the time being in River Goil Project - In line with line with the current guidelines. government advice all non-essential Forestry & Land Scotland: IMacI activity is on hold. As soon as there advised that the Arboretum was closed. is more clarity on the length of lockdown we will be following up on the implications for our project Planning: TM advised the following and the funding we have received. planning applications:- ● Proposal: Construction of 2350 metres Lochgoilhead Park and Gardens - Funding of ATV access track. Location: Land at application for curling rink regeneration Argyll Forest Park South West of completed and submitted to Sport Lettermay, Lochgoilhead Scotland. We expect a decision within 3 months. ● Proposal: Construction of 2350 metres of ATV access track. Location: Land at River Walk - Volunteer activity to repair Argyll Forest Park South West of the path has been postponed. Lettermay, Lochgoilhead Letters: Argyll & Bute Council emails re Covid-19 updates – circulated throughout the community.

29 general plumbing GHR GORDON HEATING ENGINEER. Bathrooms, Central Heating Installation, Service and Repairs: Oil, Electric, Gas and GEORGE GORDON Leadwork. TEIGEN PORTINCAPLE 24 hour Emergency Service NR HELENSBURGH No call out charge k. carmichael & son ltd Email: [email protected] 10, Upper Riochan PA32 8UR Telephone: 01436 881 1045 Tel. 07795224994 Mobile: 07917433064

ENTERTAINMENT HOME WILLIAM MORRIS & SERVICE 8 DONICH PARK, LOCHGOILHEAD PA24 8AB SONS LTD

Full Freeview systems supplied and fitted E.H.S supply local TV services in the Lochgoilhead area. Freesat provides over KEEPING YOU WARM WINTER 100 channels without subscription. Realignment of aerials, satellite receivers AND SUMMER! and general repairs. High definition digital TV without monthly bills. REGULAR AND RELIABLE For all your audiovisual needs book a free visit/survey or just call for advice on DELIVERIES TO LOCH GOIL available systems. Site accredited supplier

FOR ALL TYPES OF FUEL DIGITAL TV SERVICE, FREESAT, FREEVIEW, SKY TELEPHONE: 01324 851746 SUBSCRIPTION FREE TV 07771 844786 MOBILE: 07889 241 977

30 LOCHGOILHEAD GOLF CLUB

Well the golf season start is possibly options and we will make sure you are all almost with us and the committee is hard at aware of what we need to do to keep safe. work trying to put together a fixture list for 2020 sees the biggest change in golf that the remainder of the season. As you will Scotland has seen with the introduction of realise the dates cannot be announced until the New World Handicapping System and we get the green light to re-open courses we as a club are one of the early birds in throughout Scotland but we do have a joining up with the new Scottish Golf draught plan which we will amend and Website and App, which will be the way announce when the season start is we will be controlling both competition announced. entry and match scoring and handicapping. We are well under way with As you can see from the photo of the first all the preparations in the background and we need the help of all members to provide the information requested by our hard working secretary Dianne, so if you have still to respond to her emails please do so as soon as possible.

Over the first few months of the new season we will need to run both the old tee our new green keeper has been hard at Masterscoreboard and the new Scottish work to prepare a course fit for the Golf systems but we will be advising all exceptionally talented members of our club members on how we proceed as soon as it and I can assure you the rest of the course all becomes clearer. is looking great also. When we get back The committee are all desperate to meet onto the course there will be certain issues up with you all once again and catch up we will need to address as advised by with all the gossip and renew auld Scottish Golf such as, not touching the acquaintances and obviously watch the Flags or cups, the bunker rakes and the ball attempts on the first tee to remember how washers and ensuring that we maintain the we used to swing a club. required 2 metre gap at all times. The committee will be carrying out discussions Best wishes and keep safe with Argyll Holidays to consider any Stewart Lynch

31