Vintage roots specialises in organic wines. This simply means that the wines are produced by organic methods and avoid the addition of chemicals in the process. They’re just as punchy or just as light as non-organic wines. Their legs are every bit as long. They’re just less likely to leave you with a hangover.

You don’t have to be at one of Linda’s wine-tasting sessions for long before understanding why she is Salesperson of the Year. She doesn’t ’sell’. She just loves what she does. She loves the wines, the vineyards, the producers, the links with food - and she loves talking about them. So she’s conversational rather than lecturing, informative, tuned in and has the gift of a light touch at this sort of session.

This time she was showcasing wines with a seasonal relevance and as the tastings went on, her audience felt more and more seasonal. Funny, that.

Vintage Roots wines can be ordered direct from Linda and Ian by the case; or from Mike at the Village Shop either by the case or by the bottle.

Mike has been talking to her about another session - and some interesting ideas are emerging about what that might be. Watch this space.

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‘Scottish Water was delighted with the attendance at a community information day for customers in the Furnace and Minard area ahead of a £700,000 project which will provide improved services for hundreds of customers.

‘About 50 people attended the event at the Community Hall in Furnace on Wednesday November 12 to help communicate the project to customers and explain what the work will involve. The meeting also included a display of drawings related to the project.

‘Mrs Jane McKenzie, Scottish Water’s regional community manager, said: “We were very pleased with the turnout at the community information day. We were able to immediately answer the majority of concerns raised, but have also taken away a number of action points which will be followed up with the individuals concerned”.

‘Scottish Water is about to start the mains rehabilitation project in the area on the western shores of Loch Fyne, which has suffered from a number of burst pipes and disruption to the water supply.

‘The project will involve improvements to more than 4km of water main in the Furnace area and more than 3km in the Minard area.

‘Contractors Carillion, working for Scottish Water,will start the project in mid-November and are expected to complete the work in the summer of next year.’

The wind and rain made this an uncomfortable day but at least both held off for the service at the War Memorial at 2.00pm on Sunday 9th November.

In Furnace Rob Irons laid a wreath on behalf of the British Legion; and Robbie Bell laid one on behalf of Furnace Community Council. The Rev Dr Roddy McLeod recited the names on the memorial, calling to mind those who died and the names of local families left bereft of loved ones. He suggested movingly that the gift of lives lost might drive our efforts for peace today and intensify our service to the living.

The Inveraray & District Pipe Band, which had already played at the Inveraray ceremony that morning, were double booked. They had agreed to play in the afternoon for Furnace and for the Combined Operations Service at HMS Quebec, now the Caravan Park - and discovered that both services were at 2.00pm.

They divided the band and sent a team to each service. Pipe Major Stuart Liddell led the team in Furnace. Dee Mather and Megan Howarth from Furnace are now in the new Novice Band - known as ‘the wee band’, which will play in competition for the first time this year, while ‘the big band’ moves up to Grade 2. John and Julianne at The Furnace Inn have been raising funds for the band. Stuart Liddell offered two of the pipers who are now over eighteen to come and play in the pub one night, if the Mathers would like that.

The video above is no more than a scrap of a memento of the event. Two new camera batteries turned out to be duds and it was a case of salvaging some scraps of clips the camera managed to catch. The wind all but tears Dr Roddy’s words away and the band are shot into the light in a desperate attempt to catch something with the last dregs of one duff battery. But we were there - and Lynda Syed (who should be appointed official photographer to Furnace since she gets so many great shots of events) was there and will have some quality images we’ll ask for and post later.

• Question: ‘What was Elvis’s first hit in the UK?
• Answer: ‘Heartbreak Hotel’.<br />

and

• Question: \What was ABBA’s 1978 hit?
• Answer: ‘Take a Chance on me’.

Another theme was ‘Rank’ - a round in which all answers had titles in them. Example:

• Question: ‘Which politician appeared on stage in a coffin?’
• Answer: ‘Screaming Lord Sutch’.

Quick-on-the-draw winners were Mike, Syb and Lisa Masters and Lynda Syed.

This will be in the Village Hall at 7.00pm on Friday 14th November. There will be the usual range of stalls and the usual great tea with hiome baked goodies. This year the Bazaar will not also run on the Saturday morning. However, the Cuild are running a Coffee Morning on 6th December featuring a side sales stall including home baking.

Davie Sinclar, bright in white and smiling brightly. Rain can’t keep a good man down. But quite what has he in mind for those gloves? They look awfully gynaecological! And so masterfully does he draw them on!

Brollys essential - but it’s all a good laugh for this group.

And nothing was ever going to keep Spock down, was it? Off with the oilskin jacket. He’s not letting the rain cramp his swing.

Spock again - in the dry this time and with Andrew Sinclair caught in mid-snack and warning off the photographer. And all she wanted was a few crumbs. Photography’s a hungry occupation. Or should that be thirsty?

This one gets the Furnace For Argyll ‘Style Award’. Duncan Sinclair, protected against pretty well everything, cool, comfortable, cheerful and, with yellow and black brolly, ready to strike.

Dear Mike,
Thank you so much for sending the Furnace newsletters, you don’t know how happy you have made an 81 year old.  I sent them to my sister in Ohio, you can expect a letter from her.  She was thrilled.  My father used to play the accordion at all the dances in Furnace when they couldn’t get a band.  He also mended watches and soled shoes, worked in Furnace Quarry then for the Forestry.  He was quite a character!
Yours sincerely,
Bertha Bradley.

If you have any, please would you contact them at the house or ring Lucy at 01499 500535? THey’ll copy the p[hotos and let you have them back quickly and in good order.