Christmas 2009

Recycling Christmas Trees

With the festive season drawing to a close, you can help the city’s recycling effort by arranging a special collection of your real Christmas Tree by phoning the City Council’s Waste Management Department on 01382 432776 or 432770.
Alternatively, if you have a brown wheelie bin, the tree can be cut up and placed in it for collection, or it can be taken to council recycling centres, such as the Riverside Civic Amenity site.

Last couple of days …

Above : A very cold but beautiful morning on Madgalen Green earlier today

Having said on Boxing Day that normal blogging would resume the following day, it didn’t! IT problems I’m afraid, but now resolved. Janet bought me a wireless network audio system for Christmas, a jolly good piece of kit, but getting it to recognise my laptop proved to be a significant challenge. I’ll not bore you with the technical details, but the bottom line was that Vista had to be reinstalled on my laptop, together with all programs. All worked out in the end and the audio system is now happily playing my downloaded music from Napster, but oh, what an effort and no e-mail or internet access for 48 hours!

A super and relaxing Christmas & I hope all residents had a lovely Christmas too!

The main issue raised by residents over the past few days has, unsurprisingly, been winter maintenance and I am continuing to raise with the City Council on all issues raised. One specific issue that I agree with residents does need addressing is the lack of gritting at many bus stops, making it difficult for elderly folk in particular to get on and off buses.   I have raised this with the City Engineer and the Head of Transportation.

I was speaking with the Courier this afternoon (on an unrelated matter) and was advised that the Dundee man who died just before Christmas after falling on the station concourse at Edinburgh’s Waverley Station has just been named as James Clark of Rosefield Street in the West End. Our thoughts must be with Mr Clark’s family at this very sad time.

Caring Christmas Trees Scheme

With the permission of Hillcrest Housing Association, I’m highlighting the Caring Christmas Trees Scheme to help support the work of Gowrie Care, who support people with learning disabilities, mental health issues, autism or people who are or have been homeless.
Here’s a bit of information about the scheme :

The concept is simple. All profits from the tree sales will go directly to Gowrie Care. By purchasing one tree you could provide people with opportunities. Money raised will be invested in projects to improve the lives of people we support. Previous money has been used to access courses, short breaks, set up a new home, take up a sport and reunite people with families.

It’s easy and convenient too – you buy your tree online at www.caringchristmastrees.com or by phone on 0845 111 8733. Just choose the local collection point that’s most convenient for you, pick a date to collect it, and tell us what size you want – we have trees from 4ft to 8ft tall. As payment is by credit or debit card when you order, all you have to do when you go to the collection point is pick up your tree. That’s all there is to it.

Do you want to give something back this Christmas? We need volunteers for as little as 2 hours to help out on various collection dates to make Caring Christmas Trees a success – see website for details.

All our trees are Fraser firs, grown in sustainably managed forests in Scotland, and as they’re harvested later than many other Christmas trees, they’ll be of the highest, freshest quality when purchased.

Trees can be purchased via the website or dedicated phone line until December 14th so why not buy a tree now, and help a life this Christmas?

www.caringchristmastrees.com or 0845 111 8733.