As I’m reading over the March copy, I’m reminded how the Niel Gow festival in 2020 was one of the first of our annual events to be a casualty of the pandemic. Over the past two years covid has wreaked havoc on the lives of our small community’s - its people, businesses and events. Rural community is fragile at the best of times and the pandemic has been an additional heavy strain for most of us. As we start to emerge, I hope everyone will use every ounce of energy they have left, and every penny hidden down the back of the sofa to support our recovery. Take opportunities to come together and enjoy music, art, a meal with friends or a drink down on the banks of the Tay. So please get your diary and put in the dates of the Niel Gow Festival; The Book Festival; the Birnam Games; Santa Days and whatever else takes your fancy – all these opportunities to get together and be a community again rather than locked away behind closed door and shutters.
On 26th March between 8:30 and 9:30pm a country wide event called ‘Earth Hour’ takes place. We are invited to turn off all our lights to show we care for the planet and its future. So why not take this opportunity to also stop for an hour and just look up at the heavens and wonder – and wonder whatever you want. I know it has been and continues to be difficult time – but, despite all our difficulties, we are still fortunate to be part of this wonderful community. Thank you for being part of it.

Sally Robertson