North Mainland Notes 28.11.08

Vidlin concert

THE VIDLIN community has pulled together to organise a community Christmas concert in the Vidlin Public Hall on Wednesday night at 7.30pm.

The evening will include a varied programme including Stewart Grains, Isobel Jamieson, the bairns of the Lunnasting School, Alex Couper, Rachel Smith, Peter Jamieson, Loris MacDonald, Margaret Robertson, Aubrey Jamieson, Lorna Hughson and the Jamiesons.

Tea and home bakes will also be available and the event is sponsored by the Vidlin Methodist Chapel. Folk can pay at the door.

Late-night shopping

For anyone who never has time to really browse the shelves at the Ollaberry shop, management and staff have organised a late-night shopping evening on Tuesday when the shop will be open from 9am until 9pm.

The shop has a huge variety of Christmas gift ideas and fancy goods, so why not pop along after teatime on Tuesday and check out the goods on offer in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere?

Play Van at Nesting

With an ever-increasing number of young families in the Nesting area, parents of pre-school children have got together to consider the needs of the bairns and the possibility of setting up a parent and toddler group in the area.

Initially the Play Van will visit the South Nesting Hall this Tuesday from 1-3 pm and the following Tuesday at the same time. Parents in the area are organising a further parent and toddler day on Tuesday 16th December and hope to set up a constituted group in the New Year. All parents and toddlers are most welcome.

Big Jock’s quiz

To mark St Andrews Night Eve on Saturday, the Delting Boating Club is holding a Scottish-themed quiz. The evening starts at 8.30pm for teams of up to four people with quiz master “Muckle Jock” Tait.

Members and guests who are keen to test their knowledge of Caledonia would be made very welcome. Various prizes will be awarded and any proceeds raised will help with the car park improvement fund.

Northmavine under-fives

The recent annual general meeting of the Northmavine under-fives has resulted in an addition to the weekly Urafirth pre-school meetings with a session in Ollaberry.

The original group started back in 2003 and attracts parents and bairns from all over the North Mainland. It is based in the Urafirth School, and pre-school bairns have a wide range of toys to stimulate them as well as a range of activities including craft days and even baking.

The group also gives an opportunity for parents to meet up while the bairns play together. The Play Van, based in Lerwick, also travels to Northmavine regularly and this helps add to the range of toys and activities on offer. During the summer, parents and toddlers take part in outdoor activities including picnics and trips and at Christmas there is a party.

Given the geographical spread of Northmavine and the range of areas folk were travelling from to attend the group at Urafirth, it was decided to add the weekly meeting in Ollaberry to the calendar.

Parent and toddler sessions will be held in the Urafirth School every Monday, during term times, and weekly sessions will be held in the Ollaberry School on Thursdays.

Both sessions will be from 1.15pm to 3pm and all North Mainland parents and toddlers will be made very welcome.

Eshaness craft fair

On Sunday produce from local craft producers will be on sale at the annual craft fair in the Eshaness Community Centre.

Northmavine has a healthy number of a craft producers and knitters with a wide range of items of superb quality. The fair will be open from 1pm to 5pm and tea and coffee will be available.

Dancing at Voe

Over the years Shetland Folkdance has done much to celebrate dance, both within and outwith Shetland. Many people have benefited from expert tuition and dance classes and the dance culture has been kept alive with help from the group and its activities.

A number of cultural exchanges have also taken place over the years, bringing Shetland dance to a wider audience and helping Shetland dancers to learn traditional dances from other areas.

Next Saturday night Shetland Folkdance is having a supper dance in the Voe Hall. The dancing starts at 8.30pm and music will be provided by Jim Halcrow. The entry fee will be £7 for adults, £5 for concessions and £3 for bairns.

North Roe auction

The annual auction takes place in the North Roe and Lochend Hall tomorrow at 3pm.

Chip suppers will be available after the auction and the hall will be open tonight from 8pm to 9pm to receive donations. All the money raised will be put towards the bairns’ Christmas party.

Congratulations to school

Congratulations to staff and pupils at the Ollaberry School on the recent shoebox appeal.

The small, but vibrant, school collected 24 boxes which have been sent on to the New Hope Trust, Aberdeen. New Hope delivers humanitarian aid to various locations in Eastern Europe, including Romania.

One of their main appeals is the Christmas Shoebox Parcel Appeal which is now in its 17th year. Each December the trust transports thousands of shoeboxes, wrapped in Christmas paper and filled with sweets, toys, hats, gloves, soap and small treats that children and orphans would not otherwise have.

The gifts are also an important way of letting these children know that people in other parts of the world are thinking of them and that they care.

Well done to the Ollaberry School for collecting such a fantastic number of gift boxes. Pupils can be assured that Christmas will be made all the more special for each child that receives these thoughtful boxes.

Maree Hay