Spring is in the air in Dunkeld and Birnam despite the polar vortex having split. There’s a lovely article from Loch of the Lowes, giving us excellent tips on what to look out for if we’re hunting for signs of new life. I never knew that different bird species spent such varied amounts of time building nests. It turns out Long Tailed Tits are very much the Homes and Gardens of the bird world spending at least three weeks building intricate nests before eggs can be laid. Who’d have known it? Not like the dreaded cuckoo who doesn’t bother to build a nest at all - just sitting around waiting for everyone else to do all the hard work.
The Horty Society continues the spring theme with a talk by John Mattingly, from beautiful Cluny Gardens, on ‘methods of propagation.’ That should be a real treat.
Meanwhile ‘The Bloomers’ have been busy planting bulbs so that we can enjoy some early spring colour. Look out for the newly planted tete a tetes in Torwood park. Up at the Field is also stirring back into life with people busy in the new poly-tunnel.
Why not get in tune with nature? Start with a bit of spring song of your own and join Just Singin’. Their new term gets underway on 6th February at the Institute...
So yes, irrespective of what is happening, polar vortex splitting or not, the year is getting going. If in doubt look up into the skies to see the geese, once again, heading North, and note, as you do, that the light is coming back. Congratulations to us all on the great water saving challenge– we’re doing well and are on track for our 1m litre saving by September. This month’s recommendation is to only fill our kettles with as much water as we need – and it saves energy into the bargain. Please do what you can to help.

Sally Robertson

It seem like no time since I was rushing around in the frenetic activity of Christmas preparations and I am glad to say that everything was organised in time and the festivities with family and friends were very enjoyable. It is always nice to meet up with friends old and new. It is always worth making the effort to renew friendships and keep them into a New Year.
What a year of contrasts 2018 was, a very wet spring, glorious summer then a coldish autumn and a cold winter. What will 2019 bring? The January weather is cold but we have had some very welcome sunshine.
Another ray of sunshine was our award from the Tay Cities Deal bid where we finally found out the Cross Tay Link Road would be funded as well as money for the City Hall museum and job-creating schemes. This money comes from both governments, Westminster and Holyrood.
We councillors are well into the budget setting process and as expected the portents are gloomy. We are facing an actual cash cut because some of our expected settlement will have to be spent on services as dictated by Holyrood.
We don’t as yet know just how much money we will actually have.
The decisions will not be easy or palatable but the administration is determined to keep reductions in services as minimal as we possibly can.
We are awaiting 29 March 2019, only 66 days away, with bated breath as uncertainty hangs in the air. Parliamentarians are squabbling like rats in a sack and there seem to be as many different solutions as there are MPs. What kind of deal will we have and what will we face if there is no deal?
I cannot accept the demand for a second referendum, we had one and Britons said they had had enough of Europe? People generally do not want another referendum they just want an end to it all.
The community’s involvement with the A9, project was really remarkable. Transport Scotland actually listened. Now that all the co-creative work is done and the final choices have gone to Transport Scotland to be costed and considered for suitability I hope to hear the design has come back to the A9 group very soon. Everyone is waiting for the design to be finalised and we will then get this badly needed road at last. Everyone who was involved is to be congratulated for their hard work in bringing this to a conclusion.
Something else that has been a long time without hearing is the reporter’s decision on the wind farm. We heard “in the Spring” then summer but nothing yet. Perhaps we will hear this Spring to put us at ease or not.
Since the Highland and Strathtay Partnership was divided and the new Strathtay Action Partnership was formed there have been a large number of people becoming involved. Many of them have brought projects forward and will be seeking support from the Community Investment Fund. You can get involved in the running of the partnership; the members are all volunteers or if you have an idea that would benefit your community you may be eligible for grant support.
Remember you have till 12th February to apply to the Community Investment Fund for your project. www.pkc.gov.uk/cif for information and application forms. Mairi Speedie on 01738 477866 will help you get involved or advise on your project.
I take this opportunity to wish everyone A HAPPY NEW YEAR and all my best wishes for 2019.

Anne Jarvis
As always I am happy to deal with your enquiries or help with your problems.
Contact me by email AnneJarvis@pkc.gov.uk or phone 01738 475030.

February 1st is St Brigid’s Day. According to various rather dubious sources St Brigid was born c 450, an illegitimate child of a Pictish servant woman and an Irish noble, named after a pagan goddess. As she grew up she practiced reckless hospitality – giving away not only her own few possessions but also of those around her, even including her father’s favourite sword. She became recognised as someone close to God and founded a joint abbey and monastery at Kildare, preserving an ancient oak tree that marked the ancient holy site.
Scraping away some of the later embellishments, the essential attributes of this 6th century woman are not so irrelevant to the 21st century as they might seem. A child of a refugee in a foreign land, a respecter of earlier culture and of the environment, a mould braking woman as a powerful leader – all have recognisable resonance for today.
And as for that overriding imperative of hospitality, who today would not want to be seen to be providing food for the hungry –collect for the food bank, clothes for the cold – donate to the charity shop and shelter for homeless – buy that Big Issue. But is it really so straightforward as just giving?
Offering the hospitality of our hearts and minds is also being open to receiving, something even more challenging than giving. It is being hospitable to a vision of a God that respects his creation and other cultures, taking the best of them and weaving them with our ways.
It is realising that, although not all our loved ones are still with us, by nurturing the memories of those we no longer see, we are given wisdom and strength for the future. It is being receptive to new ways of belief and living that were not conceived of in former years, but can enrich our relationships. So, by the example of Brigid, may we each offer hospitality in our lives for love, joy and tolerance in the coming months.

Jane Anderson, St Marys, Birnam