Last year I was down in The Square the afternoon after Santa Day clearing the nativity scene that had been set up in the Chanonry. The place was deserted except for Gillian, Lachlan, and their two boys sweeping up after the event. They were all in remarkably good spirits given the endeavour – however it was a reminder that much of the work that goes into this special day is not always so magical. With that in mind may I extend a very big vote of thanks from the community to all those who have been involved in organising Santa Day over the past thirty years. Let’s hope that this anniversary year creates a winter wonderland and that snowflakes fall on Santa and his reindeer as they wend their way from the Birnam hotel to the Square accompanied by us all.
Santa Day is always a great opportunity to buy some unique Christmas gifts as well as stock the larder with homemade chutneys and jams. Another unique gift idea is to purchase a signed edition of a book written by a local author. We have put together a selection of some of the titles written by members of our incredibly talented local community - click here. Browse and buy these books from Frazer in The Birnam Reader on Station Road – and you can also leave messages here for the authors if you would like a special dedication written in the book of your choice.
I hope you are able to get out and enjoy many of the events and activities over the Festive period. A particular shout out for the Birnam Arts Fundraising Quiz on 28th December – a great chance for a community get together between Christmas and Hogmanay. Just find yourself a team of four and it’s game on!
On behalf of John and myself may I thank you for all your support and encouragement you have offered us over the past year. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2020. I look forward to catching up in February when the days will lengthening and the snowdrops starting to appear.
 
Sally Robertson

Due to the calling of a General Election there will be no councillors column in this edition of The Bridge.
Don’t forget to vote!
Registering to vote:
• You can now register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote You can also register to vote by post by downloading and printing off a voter registration form.
• Everyone is responsible for registering themselves.
• You will need to provide a few details to register - including your national insurance number and date of birth. This makes the electoral register more secure.
• Look out for a confirmation to say you're registered.
• To find out more go to www.gov.uk/yourvotematters

Celebrities on reality television programmes often talk about the ‘J’ word as it has become known. They are referring of course to the journey they have been on as they have learned to dance or bake or live in the jungle… the list could go on. We may think of journeys in the more conventional meaning – an exciting holiday to a destination that we have longed to visit, or a voyage on a cruise liner visiting exotic named ports, going to a place nearer home because we have never been there before…
There are other types of journey too – to visit a new grandchild for the first time, to meet up with a friend we haven’t seen for ages. Or to see someone who is ill, or to attend the funeral of someone dear to us…
At this time of year we may think of ourselves on a journey towards Christmas, with all its fevered pace and preparations, lists of dozens of things to do, and the countdown of the Advent calendar.
The journey we usually think about at this time is the Journey of the Magi, or Wise Men. We may be more familiar with their arrival at the Stable, we may have been a Wise Man in our school production of the Nativity Play, although the Church makes their arrival happen at Epiphany in January. Late for the main event.
Of course, we are not certain.
The Journey of the Magi – what a treacherous, difficult journey that must have been for them.
TS Eliot’s poem The Journey of the Magi:
‘A cold coming we had of it,
Just the worst time of the year
For a journey and such a long journey
The ways deep and the weather sharp,
The very dead of winter….
A hard time we had of it.’
All to find a poor, dank, smelly stable, the beasts sharing the space with the Babe in Bethlehem, not at all the surroundings the three Kings were used to. But nonetheless they worshipped Jesus, bringing gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh. They joined with the angels and the shepherds in the presence of the Saviour of the world, the Prince of Peace.

Rev Frances Forshaw,
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Birnam