----- Original Message -----
From: Kings Jazz Review
To: The Press and Journal
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 4:26 PM
Subject: Inverness Stop Moaning and Enjoy
The Editor, The Press and Journal
Inverness Edition, Lang Stracht,
Mastrick, Aberdeen, Scotland AB15 6DF
Sunday the 13th of January 2008
Sir
On leaving the Glen Mhor Hotel, Saturday evening the 12th of January, the last day of Highland Culture 2007, delighted with its support for Jazz there, which drew a full house to capacity never before happening in my time, the headlines of your paper read “Inverness urged to stop moaning and enjoy”, which read further that the latter referred to the torchlight procession and fireworks display on the Kessock Bridge, Inverness, costing £250,000 from the Common Good Found.
The Chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Professor James Hunter states that the battle ready Highland Clans race of people who I
(Ian King) know, hold their heads held high whatever the Edinburgh Lowlanders think, or say of them, and their worth, has an “appalling inferiority complex” just because they have chosen to complain (moan) about the cost of a Guy Fawkes 1605 plot like shoot up celebration in their city.
Your editorial mentions that “people have a right to ask questions” on that point and more, the Professor owes them an apology.
I happened to be walking along the Ness Bank from the bouncy bridge when the fireworks rockets started, yes, they were spectacular, but let Edinburgh keep them for they are not a patch on what we get free from the aurora borealis or Northern Lights so, one may say – what is the point of asking the French again by inference for riches to come with professorial conning, when they put two fingers up at us in Forty-Five.
An analogy – a young lady knows that her legs will not match wearing a mini skirt but does so whatever the cost.
In finding that she suddenly becomes attracted to, but - because it’s for all the wrong reasons - she ditches the fireworks skirt.
The people’s choice is the better approach, rather than have a thing foisted on them.
When people hear that Inverness has in its midst a £23 million theatre, their thoughts will be of it being of a multi-times, art designed, magnificent building of grandeur - putting their Cathedral close to it no blocks away into shame.
On their visit to this re-developed Eden Court Theatre, some will note that the original outside has been defaced.
I can’t think of what others will on first sight of it say for the value of that £23m cost.
See the KJR webpage of the Eden Court Theatre below:
Ian King, 1 Ardross Court,
20 Ardross Street, Inverness,
Scotland IV3 5NH
Monday the 18th of February 2008