Community Consultation by the Scottish Crannog Centre Trust – Zoom Meeting 7pm on 22^nd April.

The Scottish Crannog Centre Trust has recently acquired the Dalerb picnic site from Forestry and Land Scotland in order to create a dynamic new Crannog Centre, replacing the existing site at Croft-na-Caber.  The Trust would like to share their ideas, to listen to, and to work alongside the community as they develop their plans.

As a first step, the Kenmore and District Community Council has organised a special consultation meeting to support this process, and you are invited to join the following scheduled Zoom Meeting:

Topic: The Scottish Crannog Centre Trust

Time: Apr 22, 2021 19:00 London

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89368663917?pwd=MXRabmtpY29hV3VuWEE0cngvTEI5UT09

Meeting ID: 893 6866 3917

Passcode: 095235

The agenda for the meeting includes a presentation from the Scottish Crannog Centre Trust followed by a Question and Answer session.

Everyone is welcome and it is hoped that as many people as possible will join the meeting.  Logging in 5 – 10 minutes beforehand is recommended so that the meeting can start as promptly as possible.

Book Club

From Zoom consultations to socially-distanced Book Club Meetings, by way of some topical titles for your bedside reading, recommended by the Fearnan Book Club:

Linda writes:

Over this last year, the Book Club has been operating through e-mails, phone calls and socially distanced chats, often on the hall car park when shopping from the local bakery or fish van. 

This has not diminished our enthusiasm and the depth of the reviews which have been, as always, thoughtful with issues and personal opinions honestly and articulately expressed (without the enthusiastic interruptions as happens in live meetings!). We have, however, missed those face-to-face extended discussions and the sharing of personal experiences related to the books – accompanied by tea, treats, the occasional glass of wine and, of course, the latest Fearnan gossip. We are also pleased to have gained two new members, which will add to the range of future book choices.

The book reviewed in March was 10 minutes, 38 seconds in this Strange World by Eliz Shafa. It was the unusual story of Leila, a Turkish woman, now a prostitute living in Istanbul, who was reflecting on her life immediately after her brutal death. 

This was a great choice that some of us may have never read had we not been part of the group. What an imagination to write it from the point of view of a dead person and how their brain function would diminish over 10 minutes and 38 seconds!

The  use of  smell  to trigger memories is something everybody can relate to and can invoke powerful feelings, which was felt to be a great way to introduce Leila’s memories. Although some found the darker aspects of this book uncomfortable reading, it was generally well received by the Fearnan Book Group for many reasons. Under normal circumstances, it would have engaged us in a lengthy, lively debate of the many controversial issues raised by the author. The beautifully written, multi-layered book explored and shone a light on this varied range of difficult and topical issues.

The setting portrayed the bustling vibrancy and ruthlessness of cosmopolitan Istanbul while the story followed a group of interesting and clearly portrayed characters – social outcasts, from a range of nationalities and religions, who found themselves living on the edge of society. The five unique friends demonstrated strength of personality and provided love, advice and a supportive safety net for each other through thick and thin. Their unique differences, and the reactions that they received from others, is what galvanised the group.

Most of us found the ending of the book light-hearted and uplifting around the hysterical antics of the friends in the Cemetery of the Companionless*, which lightened the narrative. Some found this laugh-out-loud humour and enjoyed the comedy at the end of this sad, beautiful and, at times, disturbing book. 

Our book for review in April is The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri, which is about Syrian war refugees making the treacherous journey to the UK where they seek asylum. 

While a work of fiction, it is based on the author’s experience over two summers volunteering in Athens at a refugee centre.

*Historical Footnote: The Cemetery of the Companionless in Kilyos is a real place, as is the street of brothels, and historical events such as the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam in 1968 and the Massacre in Istanbul on International Workers’ Day in 1977, where snipers from the roof of the Intercontinental Hotel opened fire on the crowds – which today is the Marmara Hotel. 

And Finally ……..

It’s April, so no excuse needed to publish some pics of lambs.

Many thanks to peter McKenzie for the photos.