Great winter fest but there’s more in store

ANOTHER very successful Winter Festival is over, so congratulations to everyone who made it happen, writes Oban town ambassador Kay McDonald.

You deserve a wee rest now but, with Christmas fast approaching, you might not get the chance.

I know everyone is saying it, but I really can’t believe how quickly this year has gone by. I’m having a bit of a panic attack about how near Christmas is and how little preparation I’ve done.

As in previous years, I’m doing all my shopping locally and I am really impressed at the range of gifts available in the town. It makes it so much easier than having to trek to a city and drag yourself round boiling hot shops getting crushed and battered in the process.

Call me old-fashioned, but I also prefer to see what I’m buying if I can, especially after a few disappointments with things looking nothing like their picture on the internet. Shopping locally is also a much more sociable way to do it as you know who you’re buying from and will always bump into someone you know while you’re out, which means it might take a bit longer but also makes it more fun.

For all the book lovers or friends of book lovers among you, there is a chance this week to get signed copies of books (a very personal and unusual gift) from not one but four different authors. Christopher Brookmyre is in the Corran Halls tonight at 7pm, Graeme Macrae Burnet is in Waterstone’s tomorrow at 7pm, Lindsay Campbell will be in the library at 10am on Saturday and in the North Argyll Carers Centre on Monday at 1pm, and children’s author Alan Windram will be in Waterstones on Saturday at 10am. As usual all details can be found on Oban Town Diary.

If you’re looking for a fun evening out after all the hullaballoo of the Winter Festival, don’t forget that Rapunzel by the Spotlight Theatre Company runs from December 6-9 in the Corran Halls. You can start practicing shouting ‘He’s behind you!’ now.

Which takes us to last week’s photo which was of one of the trees outside the Corran Halls and this week’s is at the other end of the town and perhaps more accessible.