Free ISSUE 8 August 2003 Donations Welcome THE VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY Midgies No More! inside No, nay never, no more! The midgie machine works on this The more expensive, which most Or at least we’d like to think so! principal. It runs on both gas and hotels use now, covers an acre and P2 It has been a particularly bad summer electricity. A tablet of buffalo a half and comes in at £1,000. The Editorial for all of us this year mainly due to the essence is added (Yes, yes, I know smaller, which eradicates the P3 early warm spring and the midgie, but please bear with me). The gas beastie over half an acre costs which usually hits a peak in July and spreads the scent, driven by the fan, around £500. Its not cheap, but CC Report August, was out in late May this year. and attracts the female midgie which we’re not being eaten alive P4 It has affected everyone. It has not becomes trapped. It is calculated anymore. Sylvia only invaded the villages in greater that one bag can hold two million Some are making a profit out of the midgies. midgie, however. One entrepreneur Jackson numbers, such as Aberfoyle Bowling club where the players’ whites were I believe it. My wife and I have in Orkney has started up producing P5 black with clouds of the insects on bought such a machine and it does gifts of amber resin-encased Playgroup some occasions, but has actually hit seem to work. We have had two midgies which she hopes to sell to P6 the cities in greater numbers. bags of the little pests. Now, the tourists as a memento of their As most of us are now aware, there apparently you are supposed to lay holiday in Scotland. Ranger’s now appears to be a means of the bag out in the sun to dry them Further, it would seem that, due to Corner controlling the blight of the midgie, if out and which kills them before possible climate changes in P7 not quite eradicating it. It originated in binning them. However, one friend Scotland, with rainier winters and Letters the United States where they have of ours decided to speed up the drier summers in the future, the always had a mosquito problem. The process with the ‘appliance of midgie problem could be on the P8 same technology had been adapted to science’ and microwave them. decrease. The bad news is that this Futures combat the Scottish Curse and, by all Never again, he was heard to say. could lead to a corresponding rise in P9 accounts so far, seems to be effective. He reckoned the smell of them will the number of ticks. Sorry, but still With the Scottish midgie, most species stay with him forever! no good news for you dog walkers in The Garden of the insect do not bite and of those The machine does seem to work, our community, then. P10 that do, only a few feed off humans. even after such a short period of Finally, on a more technical note, I Owen KcKee Many feed off other warm blooded trial. We bought the machine have been told that the word is P11 creatures which is little, if no, because we figured our ‘quality of ‘midge’, not ‘midgie’. I’m sorry, but consolation to the victim. Of those of life’ was being affected. We couldn’t when you have been plagued all Health Care the species that do go for humans, it is go out in the garden in the evening, your life by the wee beastie, ‘midgie’ the female that bites. It can only lay let alone leave an outside door is the word that springs to mind - its eggs after it has had a blood meal. open. Now it is quite different. We one of them anyway. ‘Midge’ may The male has a different type of mouth can and do have a barbecue after be grammatically correct, but it does suitable for eating only vegetation. So five in the evening. A revelation! not convey the same loathing. it is the female of the species that is You can get cheaper midgie Midgies no more! more deadly (Cue for a song there, machines as we did. somewhere!). Dougie McPherson We offer an extensive menu which includes an excellent Vegetarian Selection. Coffees∙Teas∙Snacks∙Main Meals∙Full Dinners MAIN STREET ABERFOYLE 01877 382248 Strathard News is grateful for funding received from Stirling Council EDITORIAL Aberfoyle Surgery [email protected] Looking After Womens' Health The Old Stone Bridge over the River We encourage all women in the practice to take care Forth in Aberfoyle is a listed building and we have been told in the past that of their health by eating a healthy diet, having a sensible alcohol intake, taking regular exercise and by because of its importance it would be unthinkable to build a modern safe not smoking. We would welcome your attendance if you care to discuss any health problems or wish advice on pedestrian bridge alongside it. Taking maintaining a healthy lifestyle. We would also like to check your this into consideration can anyone blood pressure regularly. In addition, we offer a comprehensive please explain to me why this Bridge system of health checks for women specifically. has been allowed to fall into a state of • All women aged 20-60 years are invited at least 3 yearly for a disrepair through neglect? Not only is cervical smear test. This is an important test which can detect proper visibility of the Bridge obscured minor changes in the cells of the cervix, allowing prompt, but also there are a number of trees effective treatment before serious disease can develop. We actually growing out of its Ramparts would urge all women to take up our invitation to attend when and foundations. When a local it pops through your door. We will do our best to provide a member of the public called Historic suitable appointment time. Scotland to bring this to their attention he was told don’t tell us try Stirling • If you take HRT you will be invited, at least annually, for a Council who in turn told him to try The check-up to make sure your medication is effective and National Park who in turn told him to causing no problems. If anyone has any concerns over the try Historic Scotland. recent media coverage about HRT, please don't hesitate to I’m sure that the offending trees would 'phone or call in. We will be delighted to assist in your be better cleared away before any enquiries. lasting damage is done to the Bridge. • Patients with intra-uterine coils are invited yearly for review. Public visibility of Aberfoyle Bridge We are very interested in preventing OSTEOPOROSIS • would also be enhanced if a number of (thinning of the bones - it is NOT the same as arthritis) which trees were selectively thinned along affects 1 in 3 women. (1 in 10 men are affected). the riverbanks on either side. Osteoporosis increases the risk of bone fracture, particularly An old friend once told me that if you of the wrist, spine and hip, after menopause. Hip and spine want to get things right in the future fracture can result in disability, loss of independence then look to the past for reference. Our and pain. Signs of possible osteoporosis are loss of height Bridge wouldn’t have lasted this long if and "widows' hump". There are various factors which may our forefathers had neglected to indicate that you are more likely to develop osteoporosis e.g. maintain it properly. The river is also family history, early menopause (before 45 years), smoking, showing signs of neglect with fallen Crohn's disease, Coeliac disease and long-term steroid use. trees, debris and discarded rubbish in If any of the above apply to you or you would like to come for a full view, which if left to build up could chat we offer regular Well Women Clinics each month in eventually disrupt the free flow of the Aberfoyle and Buchlyvie, or the Practice Nurse can see you river. outwith these times if more suitable. Please 'phone the appropriate surgery for an appointment. Take responsibility for your health - it is well worth the effort! Jimmy Campbell See you soon. Editor Reduce your stress Main Street levels and promote Aberfoyle relaxation with 01877 382 849 Reflexology Newspapers♦ Cigarettes Something Special… Dairy Products♦ Groceries A fabulous selection of gifts, silverware, ceramics, Boxed Chocolates ♦Toys jewellery, glassware, toys, home accessories, new & Over 100 weigh-out Sweets Pamper yourself second hand books, greetings cards and gift wrap. High Class Confectionary Hair Accessories♦ Bedding♦ Gifts Or a friend Gift wrapping service, using best quality handmade Price £20 per session paper, ribbon, etc. Hardware♦ Pots’n’Pans Tea Room - sit in or take away Susan Cadle Children’s play area Italian Ice-cream Balfron (01360) 440609 Friendly Service in a Traditional setting OPEN 7 DAYS 8am - 10pm (Member of the Federation of Tel 01877 389000 2 Holistic Therapists) Community Council Report On a beautiful summer evening in August what better logging traffic, particularly during school times. They place to hold a meeting than at Kinlochard? The loch were also able to give the meeting an update on the was looking glorious and it was quite an effort to drag progress of the new access road on to Glasgow Road ourselves indoors! which will divert a large number of the wood lorries The main item on the agenda that night was a from our villages.