Welcome back after the summer break. I hope you have managed to relax, put your feet up and let the sunshine soak into your bones. As the leaves start turning it is a reminder that it won’t be long before we’ll need to dig out the winter coats and woollies. However, before that there’s still lots to enjoy in the early autumn particularly with this late warm spell after the lock-down of the last 16 months.
Why not start off with a trip to one of Perthshire’s Open Studios – the week-long festival taking place between 4th and 12th September. This is a great opportunity to see and buy artwork as well as meet some brilliant creators in their workspaces. Birnam Arts are also joining in with the event with a free exhibition in their upstairs space for most of the month.
Throughout the year there are so many examples of local groups and organisations thinking about sustainability and how this community can do more. Additionally once a year we have a real focal point with the ‘Dunkeld and Birnam Unplugged Festival’ which this year takes place between the 18th -25th September. There are all kinds of events going on – click the link and look on-line for all the latest details of events.
Somewhat coincidentally this is the same week as the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey. Between 20-26 September (also National Red Squirrel Week) we are being asked to get keep a lookout for both red and grey squirrels and submit your sightings on-line. The greatest threat to the red squirrel’s future in Scotland is the invasive non-native grey squirrels which out-compete red squirrels for food and living space, making it difficult for red squirrels to successfully breed and for their young to survive. Each sighting creates a snapshot of the situation, helping us understand how populations are changing over time and to decide where to focus our conservation efforts. So please join in with the survey.
Looking a little way ahead please put Saturday 2nd October in your diaries and make time to pop into Birnam Arts between 10am and 4pm and contribute to the ‘Big Community Conversation’. This event is a key e opportunity to find out more about the draft Action Plan being developed out of the survey many of us participated in earlier in the summer. The event will also offer us the opportunity to volunteer to get involved in areas of community life that we are interested in.
A plea to stay vigilant and prevent further dog thefts in the area. As you may be aware there have been several heartbreaking stories of dog thefts in the local area. Please read the advice offered us by Giil Mcgregor up in Amulree. Their family, sadly, were victims of this heinous crime – however at least in this case there was a waggy end to this tail-y tale.
Those of you who have read this column over the years will have followed the exploits of my two boys through nursery, the Royal School of Dunkeld, and Breadalbane Academy. This year sees them both, like our migratory birds, flying away to university and me becoming an ‘Empty Nester.’ Lots of people tell me not to worry because, like the migratory birds, they will be back, but I am feeling very sad to see them go.
On the bright side it might mean that my squirrelled nuts might last a little longer into the winter months than usual.

Sally Robertson

One day a couple of weeks ago, sitting in front of my laptop, looking for inspiration I looked out the window; the sun was splitting the trees and longed to be out in the warmth. I glanced down then at the wee weather icon on the tool bar at the bottom of the screen which gives you the weather in your area and it said that it was cloudy and raining. It shows how accurate that is – because just a look out the window proved that it wasn’t!
I would have looked a right idiot if I’d believed the computer, donned my wellies and jacket and headed down to the shop in the blazing sunshine.
Of course, you wouldn’t do that. You wouldn’t use the computer to tell you what it is like outside – just stick your nose out the door and see for yourself. It would be ludicrous not to!
And yet ……. how much of life we do view and interpret through the prism of what others force feed us, rather than looking at reality ourselves?
More and more life is lived through the prism of what we are fed through TV, internet and social media. Of course, that has always happened to one degree or another through newspapers etc., but it has accelerated in recent years. The worrying thing now is that what you look at is analysed through algorithms and then you are fed a diet of similar minded articles and videos, thus confirming your world view  rather than challenging it.
For a while (out of professional interest!) I was watching a lot about the religious right in America. Next time I signed on – guess what it suggests might interest me? Things about the religious right in America. That is not too bad if you are aware it is happening, but it can immerse you in a particular world view which subtly influences your thinking so that you think whatever you are being fed is normal reality.
What are presented on TV as ‘reality shows’ are precisely not. They bear no relation to the kind of life I live but if that is our window on the world we are going to get a very distorted view of reality and maybe think we are lacking, or missing out in some way. We are open to so many subtle and not so subtle influences.
One of the things lockdown has confirmed for me is how much we miss mingling in ‘the real world.’ For so long we have been isolated from others and our view of reality has been shaped much more through screens. I long to get out amongst real people and experience reality for myself again – and not through someone else and be able to make up your own mind about things as far as possible.
From a Christian perspective the view of reality is, ultimately, through the prism of Jesus Christ. To see other people are brothers and sisters. To see the world as his loved creation given to us for our blessing.
I think I’ll stick to looking out the window to see the weather!

Fraser Penny

Well the last few mornings have had an autumnal feel to them and right on cue at Committee this week we will be discussing the winter maintenance scheduling for this winter.
Last year I asked for and was successful in getting our resources to be used in a more demand response way rather than just following set routes, our assets should be able to travel and be used in local areas where snowfall and ice is present rather than sticking to specific areas. With PKC being such a large area snowfall and wintery conditions can be quite localised.
Residents were helpful in pointing out areas of concern and help was sent there if possible.
Looking slightly backwards towards Summer the dirty camping situation in our immediate area definitely improved from last year. Community groups working alongside the police and PKC staff helped greatly to improve things and hopefully this improvement can be built on again next Summer.
One area which does need serious attention and action now, is the parking and traffic situation in Dunkeld and the overnight parking of motorhomes within Council car parks. This allied to the tail backs through the village of traffic trying to access the A9 creates a headache for locals and visitors alike. I was pleased to see the Roads Dept. acted swiftly on my request which came to me via DBBC, that the road signage be refreshed throughout Dunkeld.
The schools will start this week and certain Covid restrictions will be in place but these will be constantly reviewed as the term progresses. Unfortunately the current Administration have forced through the end of fresh school meals in PKC, these will be getting replaced by frozen meals shipped in from Dundee. I opposed this proposal for 4 years and still do not think it is the correct way to feed our young people.
Over the last 8 months I have been sitting on the Appointment Panel for the new Chief Executive of PKC. Last Thursday Thomas Glen was offered and accepted the post. I wish Thomas all the best and hope he proves to be an innovative and inspiring leader as we come through the difficult period ahead. Thomas is currently the Depute Chief Executive of East Dunbartonshire.
Having had Covid last year I was glad to receive both my vaccinations this Summer and hope that this allied to a possible booster inoculation will enable us all to fight off this virus and that life can return to what seems a normal way of living. Many people within the Community can be proud of what they have done individually throughout the pandemic but the Community as a whole can be proud of how they have tackled this scourge together.
Just waiting for someone to mention the C*******S word anytime now!!!

Best Wishes and good health to All.

Grant Laing
Councillor Grant Laing
Scottish National Party (SNP)
Ward 5 – Strathtay
Perth & Kinross Council
glaing@pkc.gov.uk or Tel: 07881 500501 or 01738 475023