De Tha Dol?

is published by Harris Council of Voluntary Services, and it should be noted that some articles are contributed and need not necessarily reflect the views of the Council of Voluntary Services.

Artilces and advertisments for De tha Dol? must be in the hands of the Editor, Room 2, Old Hostel, Tarbert, Isle of Harris (phone 01859 502171) by 1pm on the Monday before production. Any material received after that cannot be guaranteed inclusion.

De Tha Dol? is published fortnightly

Above is Robert Cunningham, P7 Scalpay School, receiving his prize of skateboard and accessories from PC Donald MacLeod, Stornoway. Robert came 2nd in his age group in a recent Road Safety Awareness Competition, organised by Northern Constabulary for all schools in the Highlands & Islands.

CROSSROADS 3-A-SIDE PRIMARY FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

Above left are CLIAS Crew who were the winners in the final of the Crossroads Primary Football Tournament which this year was held at Leverburgh School. Kirsty MacLeod, Cailean McCombe and Heather MacLeod, Cliasmol School were presented with the Crossroads Shield and Trophy by Effie MacLennan, Scalpay. The runners-up in what was a very exciting final were SES Panthers. In the photo on the right is Kyle MacLeod, Cliasmol School, with the trophy he was awarded for being Player of the Tournament.

WAR MEMORIAL

I recently attended the Armistice Service at our War Memorial and was highly impressed by its refurbishment and would like to thank the operatives on my own behalf and perhaps on behalf of the Harris community for a job well and professionally carried out.

We now have a Memorial to be proud of, and it can compare with any I have seen elsewhere or indeed in any of the many lands it has been my lot to visit. While living nearby I was impressed by the number of visitors it attracted and will now, I am sure, attract even more when word gets around of its new and fresh environs.

But most of the visitors were from foreign shores and it has always puzzled me why more of our locals did not do the same. Such a visit is a rewarding experience for young and old. And that reminds me of a hope I have nourished for some time -namely to see organised school visits to the site. I do not know if School Boards have the authority to order such visits, but I am sure an encouraging suggestion from these august bodies would produce results. For young pupils such a visit would be of immense interest and would certainly make a deeper impression on young minds than any classroom lesson, no matter how skilfully delivered. I feel hopeful that such visits will occur sometime -and as the poet said "Hope springs eternal from the human breast".

John MacLeod, Harris House.

Annual General Meeting: Harris Football Club: Sat 2Sth Nov 2000

There was a healthy turnout for the Annual General Meeting of Harris FC held on Saturday 25th November 2000. The Chairman's Report focussed on the successful season Harris had enjoyed with the hope that we can do even better this year at the same time congratulating Back FC for their efforts -his report also highlighted the great loss suffered by the Club in losing their Chairman Captain JA Mackenzie.

The outgoing Manager's Report also noted that his last season in charge was -by and large -a most successful and satisfying one and hoped that his successor would carry on the good fight. The committee paid tribute to the work and enthusiasm put in over the years by the outgoing manager Finlay , Nula ' Morrison. The Treasurer's Report also illustrated the healthy fmancial state of the club in that they now had a sound basis on which they hoped to continue to develop.

The weekly draw continues to be the most important aspect of this sound financial basis and the Committee paid tribute to the Community as well as the many outlets who support the Club in a number of ways. Once again there was much discussion regarding facilities to encourage the youth of Harris including the provision of all-weather facilities ( as they have in Stomoway, Back and other areas in the Islands) It is hoped that people who have had an involvement with the Club in the past will come forward to take this initiative forward and/or liaise with Lena Morrison -Community Education Officer Harris. Donald' Sweeney' MacSween was the unanimous choice as the new Manager of the Harris Football Club for season 2001 with 'Lally' Mackay as Assistant Manager and Team captain.

Let us wish the Team well for next season. JG Mitchell ( Club Secretary )

FACAL BEAG

Gu math tric bithidh bailtean beag a' cumail feill margaidh mu'n am seo de'n bhliadhna ris an abair sinn Feill Nollaig, agus gu dearbh bha feill de'n t-seorsa sin air a cumail ann an talla baile an Tairbeart bho chionn ghoirid. Chord e ri daoine a bill coinneachadh 'sa comhradh, agus ged a bha reic agus ceannach ann, bha toileachas agus fealla dha ann cuideachd.

Bha feill Nollaig mar sin anns a' bhaile seo agus smuainich am fear seo gu 'n cuidicheadh e leis a chuis ann an doigh annasach. Chroch e da dhealbh mhor a bha coltach r' a cheile air gach taobh de'n dorus far an robh an fheill. Chuir e tiotal air gach dealbh, air an darna te, " A dol a steach", agus air an te eile, " A dol a mach". Bha sluagh mor anns gach dealbh, fir agus mnathan, og agus aosda. Ach bha an fheadhainn a bha dol a steach cho leibideach le anthainneachd air choireigin, cuid le bataichean , gan draghadh fhein air eigin. Bha iad uile cho bronach muladach.

Cha robh fiamh a ghaire air aon aodann, bha iad craiteach air am pianadh. Bha na h-aon daoine anns an dealbh eile cho tur eadar-dhealaichte. Bha iad uile cho toilichte. Cha robh feum air na bataichean. Bha iad a' coiseachd cho sunndach, fiamh a ghaire air gach gnuis, a' failteachadh a cheile cho gradhach cridheil. , Se seo an leasan a bha na dealbhan a' feuchainn r'a thogail, gu'n toireadh feill na Nollaig toileachas do na h-uile a thigeadh a steach, gu'n dichuimhnicheadh iad na h-uallaich.

Gu'n teagamh cha'n eil sin uile gu leir ceart, ach tha e cinnteach gu bheil an fheadhainn a theid a mach as an rathad gu bhi a toirt toileachais do dhaoine eile a deanamh oibre a tha ion-mholta agus cliu thoillteannach ann an saoghal nam buairidhean an diugh. Ann a bill a toirt seachad agus a gabhail thiodhlacan Nollaig, cuimhnicilldh sinn le taingealachd air an Tiodhlac do labhairt agus air sgeul a mhor aoibhneis a sheinn na h-ainghlean.

CROSSROADS (HARRIS)

The Crossroads Committee are deeply indebted to the community for their generous response to the Sale of Work held on Friday 10 November. The total raised was �1,718.

We would like to thank everybody who donated items, and all who came to buy on the evening. Our thanks to all the helpers who worked hard to make the evening such a success. Special thanks to our Auctioneer, John ~urdo ~orrison who encouraged people to buy, with his customary humour .Moran taing.

AWARD FOR TARBERT SURGERY

Two thirds of the Team from the Tarbert Surgery travelled down to York on the l2th November to the annual meeting of the Dispensing Doctors Association when they were awarded I st Prize for Innovator in Dispensing Practice.

This involved the setting up and running of near patient warfarin management. Despite getting lost several times on the motorways of England, due to the inadequacies of the navigators, they eventually arrived back with a vase, plaque (now on proud display in the Surgery) and a cheque.

SCHOOL PHOTO IN LAST ISSUE

Back row:- Roddy MacLeod, John A MacLeod, Kenny J MacPhee.

Middle Row:- Calum MacKenzie, Calum MacAulay, Cathie Bell Morrison, Ishbel MacKie, Roddy MacAskill, Donnie Munro.

Front row:- Beth MacLeod, Margaret Morrison, Nellie Campbell, Mabel MacDonald, Annie MacDonald, Cathie Black.

WINTER WEATHER WARNING TO DRIVERS

'Keep Speeds Down' Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is reminding drivers to take care when driving in winter weather conditions. The message will be backed up by a leaflet to be delivered to every household in the Western Isles.

The Comhairle provides a winter maintenance service which aims to allow the safe movement of traffic and keeps to a minimum the delays caused by adverse weather conditions. However, drivers are reminded that in winter conditions particular attention is required and more time should be allowed for journeys. In severe conditions, the necessity of driving at all should be considered.

In addition, attention should be paid to tell-tale signs such as frosty windscreens and icy puddles as drivers may be travelling on a road which is not part of the main gritting routes or which has not yet been gritted.

The emergency out of hours number is:- 01851 701702.