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Radio Orkney's Diary for Friday, 16 May 2008.

Weekend diary

Evie Primary School is holding a Plant Sale today when the P6s & 7s are offering their own lettuce, tomatoes, beetroot, cauliflower, broccoli and lots more at 30 pence each.

There’s just one Library Van out today when it’s back over the Barriers stopping at the Burray School, Leaburn, Herston and Olad Brae.

Alistair Carmichael and Liam McArthur will hold Surgeries today, the first in the Constituency Office on Broad Street between 5 o’ clock and six, and then in the Stromness Community Centre from half past 6 till quarter past 7.

There’s Buddhist Meditation at The Strond in Holm this evening at 7 o’ clock.

The Cromarty Hall Film Club is showing I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry tonight at 7 for a half past 7 start. Admission is £3 for adults and £2 for under 16’s and bring your own refreshments.

Amnesty International is hosting a Talk & Film about Palestine tonight when Gaynor Jones and Ian Bell, will describe their recent visit to the West Bank. There’ll be a chance to ask questions, and see the film The Iron Wall. That’s at half past 7 tonight in the St Magnus Centre.

There’ll be a Reading in the Stromness Academy Library this evening to launch a book of poetry called Alias Isobel written by Morag Macgill, and everyone’s welcome for a half past 7 start.

At the Gable End tonight will be a varied programme of short films introduced by Mark Jenkins, who’ll speak bout his own work as a film editor & maker. And to co-incide, Rebecca Marr will have a presentation of her Photos in the Foyer to illustrate her photographic project with Orkney’s agricultural community. The doors will open at 7 to give folk a chance to meet Rebecca and see her work, and Mark’s programme will start at 8 o’ clock.

Mid May Blues can be heard in The Reel on Castle Street tonight from 8 till late. It’s a jam session so take along an instrument or just come and listen. Then on Saturday at The Reel there’ll be a Traditional Music Session also from 8 till late, and again – come along and play or listen.

It’s Norwegian Constitution Day tomorrow and a Procession led by Kirkwall City Pipe Band will leave the Pierhead at half past 2 making its way to the Cathedral to welcome the Norwegian visitors. There’ll be entertainment from local dancers, the Papdale Primary School P4 Choir, the Kirkwall Town Band and the Pipe Band. Anyone who’d like to join in the Parade should be at the Pierhead by quarter past 2, and weather permitting everything will take place outside the Cathedral but if it’s wet the events will move inside.

The Orkney Traditional Music Project WILL be inside the Cathedral tomorrow to give a Constitution Day Lunchtime Concert between 1 o’ clock and 2. And tickets for the Buffet Dance in the Stromness Hotel tomorrow night are on sale from the Orcadian Bookshop or Connie Grieve on 850 636.

There’s an invitation to join the Rangers and the RSPB this Saturday for a Guided Walk at Brodgar. It’s suitable for all ages and levels of appreciation, and you should meet at the Ring of Brodgar car park at half past 10, and you can get more details from the Rangers on 841 732.

And Sanday’s Ranger will take anyone interested in looking at Dunters, Shelducks, Seals, Flowers & Shells to Colliness tomorrow. Meet at Nearhouse at half past 2 or phone Rod on Sanday 600 341.

The Waterfront Gallery in Stromness has its new summer exhibition the Orkney Mix opening this weekend, with work from lots of local artists & craftsfolk and from a few specially invited southerners!

The Water Garden at Seaforth in Burray is open each day till next Sunday the 25th, when there’s Exhibitions by local artists and fund raising tables from local organisations.

It’s Storytime this Saturday at the Kirkwall Library when everyone’s welcome to come and enjoy the stories from 11 o’ clock.

Orkney Cats Protection is having a Plant Sale tomorrow in the Stenness Hall and it’s open from 11 o’ clock till one.

Harray Community Centre will be open between 11 o’ clock and two tomorrow offering Soup, Filled Rolls, Tea, Coffee & Biscuits and a Sales Table of Plants, and it’s all in aid of the RNLI.

The Firth Church Coffee Shop will be open as usual tomorrow from 11 o’ clock till 2, serving homemade soup, baking & light lunches and fairly traded goods.

Orphir Church is holding a Car Boot Sale this Saturday from 12 noon till 2 o’ clock, with a Soup & Sandwich Lunch for £2.50. Boot spaces are £6 for one or £10 for two and can be booked from Gavin on 811 312, and if it’s wet the event will move indoors.

Something that’s not on tomorrow is the Rendall Lifeboat Guild Coffee Afternoon & Car Boot Sale, it’s been postponed till June the 14th when the Photo Competition will judged.

Kirkwall Swimming Club has no Saturday swimming this week either, back as usual next week though.

The Papdale School FACTFinders – Fathers & Children Together – meet this Saturday in the Infant Hall between 2 and 4 o’ clock for the usual mix of games, fun and food. All Papdale dads and their children are welcome to attend.

Firth Community Association is holding a Car Treasure Hunt on Saturday evening with Cars to leave the Firth Community Centre between 7 and half past 7.

Orkney Camerata has a couple of Concerts this weekend, they’re in the Cromarty Hall in the Hope at 7 o’ clock tomorrow night and in St Magnus Cathedral on Sunday night at half past 7. It’s a Concert of English Music with Singers and admission is at the door.

Also performing this weekend is the Pennsylvanian singer-songwriter Eric Andersen. He’s the guest on Radio Scotland’s Iain Anderson Show tonight at half past 10, and he’s scheduled to play live at the Gable End in Hoy on Sunday night and at Woodwick House in Evie on Monday. Phone the venues direct to book tickets.

This Sunday is the Vintage Club’s Orkney Cavalcade – a long run for old cars & motorbikes – starting from the Glaitness School car park at 10 on Sunday morning. They’re heading for the Sea Life Aquarium in South Ronaldsay before Lunch at the Fossil Centre. They’ll stop off at Kirkwall Pier at 2 o’ clock and then head West to enjoy an Ice Cream in Stenness around half past 3, before heading to Alan Clouston’s to admire his garden in Orphir, and then it’s to the Noust for dinner. It’s a grand day out for “old crocks” – but we don’t know if that’s the folk or the vehicles!

Orkney Motocross Club has a Cup Meeting for the Brian Thorpe Memorial Shields this Sunday at Heddle Hill. Practice starts at 11 and the Racing gets underway at 12, and refreshments will be available.

Stromness Archery Club will be Shooting on the Market Green on Sunday afternoon between 2 and 4 o’ clock, weather permitting. Anyone wanting to Have a Go at Archery is invited along, equipment & coaching is provided.

There’ll be a Short Service at the Norwegian War Graves at St Olaf Cemetery on Sunday at half past 10 and anyone who’d like to join this should be there for twenty past ten.

There’s Mass at the Catholic Church at 11 o’ clock, the Service for South Ronaldsay & Burray is also at 11 with Sunday Club in the Hope School. The Birsay, Harray & Sandwick congregation is in Twatt this Sunday at 11 o’ clock. And the United Evening Service in Westray is at 7 o’ clock in the Parish Kirk.

And a reminder from the Riding Club that tomorrow is the closing date for the next Dressage League which will be held on Tuesday evening next week.

Orkney College is offering a whole host of Summer Schools including Chinese Mandarin for Starters, Orkney Cultural Traditions & Folklore (coupled with Shetland Cultural Traditions being held in Shetland through Nordic Studies), and also a wide variety of Art & Design Courses. Visit the College Website for full details or phone on 56 9000.

And the Art & Design Department at the College has an early summer school NEXT Saturday the 24th when Ann Ferguson will give an Introduction to Leaded Stained Glass, and introduce the basic techniques of traditional stained glass making. To book or get more details speak to Morag Tweedie on 569 221. Ann Ferguson’s work is currently on display in the exhibition Offshore at the Loft Gallery in the Hope.till next Saturday.

Other exhibitions that are on just now include Photos by Annie Harcus, Tom Hughes, Graham Maben and Rosemary Rendall are on display at the West Manse, Westray, every afternoon till June the 1st. And in Stronsay, Jenny Flett’s Paintings & Prints are on show at the Fish Mart Café & Interpretation Centre.

In Stromness the Porteous Brae Gallery is now open offering a varied programme of exhibitions over the summer. The Pier Arts Centre has various displays including work by Dounby Primary 1’s till this Saturday the 17th and an exhibition by S1 & 2 from Stromness Academy till Tuesday the 20th. Also on show is Shared Sculptures by Richard Deacon and Bill Woodrow.

The Orkney Wireless Museum at Kiln Corner in Kirkwall is open 7 days a week through the summer. And as we heard the Loft Gallery in the Hope has Coastal Recollections in Paint & Glass by Anne Ferguson and Carol Paterson till the 24th.

Now we’re calling on everyone who started at Kirkwall Grammar School in 1980 - a School Reunion will be held on Friday 8th August in the Kirkwall Legion. Details of the Reunion Weekend Events are available on the Orkney communities website on Reunion 2008, and tickets are on sale now till the 1st of July and are available from Fiona Baillie on 861 275 or Bruce Moar on 87 6168.

And advance notice from the Burray PTA who’re holding a Car Boot Sale next Sunday the 25th and to book a table costing £5, phone the Burray School on 731 208.