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

There is much being said and written about the death of the high street. However, our high street seems to be going from strength to strength with a great range shops - many very established and other new additions. On
that note a very warm welcome to the Whisky Box – we wish Will and Helen Stockham all the very best with their
new venture.
While the summer months bring visitors to help the sales along, the winter is more reliant on the local trade – and at no time is this more important than in the run up to Christmas. So why not wander into one of our great cafes, order yourself your favourite drink, and leaf through the pages of The Bridge noting all the interesting opportunities to purchase locally both in our great shops as well as at the various markets.
There are Advent and Christmas markets in Amulree and Corbenic as well as at the Royal School of Dunkeld.
There’s late night opening at ‘Potters Junction’ at Birnam Arts as well as an on-going Christmas market opening in the mezzanine area from 6th November. And then of course there is the market on Santa Day on the 14th December to look forward to.
Or what about buying books written by local authors as a unique gift? Or you could go for an alternative ‘previously loved’ Christmas and buy second hand books from Birnam Books, a treasure from the Vintage Shop, recycled gifts at the 3 Churches Charity Shop or ‘Big Sale’ as well as toys from the second hand toy stall in the Duchess Anne on Santa Day. That reminds me to remind you ... please look out any toys that need a new home and consider donating them to the Toy Stall which raises money for Rachel House Children’s Hospice and Christian Aid.
Of course, a flourishing high street can bring some challenges with it ... particularly when cars and log lorries are competing with pedestrians and cyclists. Anyone interested in possible ways forward for ‘shared streets should join the meeting being hosted by the Community Council on the 26th November, 7:30pm in the PA. 
So, if you are buying gifts this Christmas, consider ‘buying local’ and supporting all our wonderful businesses from the very large to the very tiny and from the oldest to the newest. They are all deserving of our full support.

Sally Robertson