Something For The Weekend - The Oban Times

The sun has got his hat on hip hip hooray and we are getting ready for a bright and brilliant  weekend with banter from the Oban Times crew Kathie, Fiona, Ellis and a little extra input from our IT marvel Stephen Day - accompanied by special guests - the builders!    In this week's podcast Kathie catches up with Angie Bird who, along with a group of other mums and supporters, has been taking a daily dip in the sea this month to raise funds for Oban Toy Cupboard. We also  have musical royalty on the show  in the form of a chart topping tune from Moidart's very own ceilidh king Fergie MacDonald and last but not least Ellis manages to gets a word in - ScottishWord of the Week to be exact.

Despite some off air technical issues Fiona, Kathie, Ellis and Steevie celebrate the latest Covid restriction news in this week's Something for the Weekend broadcast. Ellis lets us know what we will be able to do over the course of the next week while Kathie tells us why her anonymous acquaintance was feeling a bit flushed and Steevie gauns for a dauner. Keep Oban Beautiful's Maurice Wilkins gives us some ideas on how to smarten up the town during the Big Spring Clean and there's music from Heron Valley's Abigail Pryde.

Kathie, Fiona, Ellis and Steevie discuss the latest lockdown restrictions from the comfort of their own homes as Martin fiddles with buttons in the SFTW studio. This week there's drama in Benderloch and Connel as director Mike Rowell reveals a new project that will have everyone talking while our musical interlude showcases a stunning new track by Blazin' Fiddles and the Scottish Folk Orchestra, including many local musicians, in aid of Doddie Weir's MND charity, details of which you can find on the Blazin' Fiddles Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/blazinfiddles/posts/251586163193400 Benderloch and North Connel Drama club's play can be heard at  https://vimeo.com/520992325 And you can visit their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Benderloch-North-Connel-Drama-Club-144716882258775 There's all the usual banter from the team and Ellis has everyone in a bit of a boorach with his Scottish Word of the Week.

Spring is in the air and The Oban Times crew are definitely feeling it in this week's podcast. While Kathie, Ellis and Fiona celebrate nature all the extra chirping and frenzied bird feeding going on in our gardens - Steevie is not so chirpy and is after those pesky squirrels who have been stealing and stashing away his conker collection from which he had hope to sprout some trees.  Thanks to Edinburgh based Castle Chorus we bring you a sublime recording of their Lullaby of Unknowing, a piece of music created for Argyll's amazing coast and waters - and an official Hope spot - for caring and protecting all the species who make that underwater world their home. Keeping to the nautical theme, Kathie has a chat with Jack MacGregor who has come to the rescue of stranded North Kerrera residents by putting on a ferry service funded by emergency resilience cash to connect them to the mainland during lockdown and we've also been catching up with mum of two Nikki Wasik who set up Oban Buggy Club, all Covid restriction approved, to throw out a lifeline to new parents and other caregivers for tots longing for a bit of normality at such a testing time.

Happy Valentines! While Kathie, Ellis and Steevie keep an eye out for the postie ever hopeful of sacks of cards being brought to the door - the trio caught up with each other virtually speaking to talk about romance and needle phobia! There's also a wee bit of serenading going on from the wonderful Oban Gaelic Choir and friends - Enjoy!

After a frantic start, where Kathie looks for somewhere to sledge and Fiona prepares for a weekend of rugby action, the Something for the Weekend team relax with some Golden Years zumba and some wise words from Seil poet Kenneth Stevens. Ellis and Steevie add their calming influences before the gang drift away to more magical music from the Celtic Connections 2021 Big Band and guests.

It's all happening on the podcast this week as the OT team give January a good kick up the backside and look towards spring for some eternal hope. Kathie is joined by adventure sport enthusiast Andy Corbe who is off on a watery magic carpet ride while Fiona chats to Breege Smyth about the future of festivals. Ellis is crying over spilt cocoa and Steevie holds everyone together (literally) from base camp. Music this week comes from the 2021 Celtic Connections Big Band.

There's nothing sleekit, cowrin or tim'rous about the Oban Times team this week as Steevie, Fiona, Kathie and Ellis launch into their Rabbie Burns special to celebrate the birthday of the national bard on Monday. The quirky quartet discuss the merits of the haggis before putting their own stamp on some of Burns' best kent works. Joining in the celebration are Lerags couple Rab and Michelle Woods, who have muckle ado this weekend at their own Burns night ceilidh, and Oban High School pupil Megan Day who closes this week's edition with a beautiful rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

Happy New Year everyone! Goodbye 2020 and hello 2021 with wide open arms. We've high hopes for the next 12 months with expectations and resolutions from Fiona, Kathie, Ellis and Steevie from going more bananas (if that's possible!) to embracing creativity and getting a move on when it cones to keeping active and getting fit'ter' Discussing the best Christmas cake recipe we have Nadine and Andy We've got a chat with retiring boat skipper Duncan Phillips from Croab Haven who has notched up enough nautical miles in his 31 year career to go round the world eight times - and a musical gift from a talented chap from Barcaldine.

Ho ho ho, it's Christmas Day at the Oban Times and we have an absolute 'cracker' for you. Tune in to our fun-packed festive edition of the internationally popular podcast Something For The Weekend. Backed with a Christmas ditty from Tunes in the Hoose, join Steevie, Fiona, Kathie and Ellis as they unwrap a very special gift...but what's in the box?? We also have a chat with Oban Pride organiser Phill Dexter about Christmas for him and his 'tinselitis!' With light-hearted banter about traditions, films and food, listen in to our merry-making and raise a glass! You can get in touch with us by emailing somethingfortheweekend@obantimes.co.uk Now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts as well as Youtube, on our Website www.obantimes.co.uk/podcasts and other podcast providers.

With just seven more sleeps to go until Christmas morning, the Something For The Weekend Team are getting festive with a little help from Seil Sound community choir and  Ellis getting retro with his lookback at Top of the Pops Christmas Specials - remember Father Abraham and the Smurfs? Or what about a Womblin' Christmas? Bringing us up to Christmas present....Kathie catches up with Morvyn Finlayson from the Salvation Army to chat about the phenomenal response they have had  to the 2020 Christmas Appeal, receiving hundreds of donated gifts for this area's most vulnerable and needy of all ages. We also hear from Connel 20-year-old and rap artist Stewxrt with his music straight from the heart.

More journalistic jolly japes from Fiona and Kathie interspersed with some moments of sanity from IT whiz Stephen Day, who won't be talking sci-fi this week, and by our somewhat more sensible guests. This week we have Dee Bradbury and her husband Nick to tell us a heart stopping story with a thankfully happy ending as well as a wee bit music from Dunbeg singer songwriter Mike Nisbet. Fiona and Kathie talk Christmas decorations, or the lack of them, while Steevie sits back with his baffies on admiring the Lochavullin tree. Good chat and fun from the Oban Times team.

Something for the Weekend 4th December 2020 Ellis leads us in this frantic podcast from The Oban Times "Fab 4" with Kathie, Fiona and Steevie following meekly behind.... The crew are in good festive form discussing amongst other things the Oban Christmas tree, the lights at the tower, Lismore Christmas market, RNLI Pop ups as well as a new telling of "A Christmas Carol" and the upcoming screening of the Spotlight Musical Theatre Group 2015 Pantomime "Puss In Boots" starting on the 12th of December both at the Oban Phoenix Cinema. Kathie has a very personal thank you for some local heroes and she also has her "Scottish Word Of The Week" challenge. Steevie might have something to say about an upcoming festive special of Doctor Who.... With contributions from and Maggie Dougall from Oban Link Club and music from Kirsty Fisher There is plenty on your plate in this tasty bite of a podcast - tuck in and enjoy! Presented by Ellis, Fiona, Kathie and Steevie

Something For The Weekend is a bit of a winter warmer so put on the kettle and coorie on down with the OT team for a merry splattering of the usual banter and cheer taking a look at what events are coming up, a chat with Oban FM stalwart Campbell Cameron and his lovely lady Joy who have been  conjuring up a disappearing act - in Campbell's case four stone! We've got a tune all the way from Spain courtesy of Connel's Neil Armstrong who despite being miles away from home has no intention of forgetting his roots and if you want to know what a 'moggan' is - keep listening to find out! Presented by Fiona, Kathie, Ellis and Steevie With contributions from Campbell Cameron, Joy Cameron and Neil Armstrong

Plenty of chit chat and cheer in this week's Something for the Weekend. We're a cultural lot at the Oban Times so listen in for news about a panto for Oban and what was happening on Luing this week to mark Book Week Scotland. Merriment  as a  Welsh castle and celebrities were also in the pot ..... so to speak! Oh and beware...the dolphins!   Presented by Fiona, Kathie, Ellis and Steevie With contributions from Kevin Baker and Norman Bissel

We're back with the banter and laughs, spreading a bit of Friday cheer with Something For the Weekend! Hip, hip, hoorah! From a toon in the hoose to Scottish word of the week ...your guess is as good as ours - to what's on - and getting ready for Christmas supporting our local businesses...and more.    With Ellis,  Kathie, Fiona and Steevie with additional material from Martin MacLeod

Ellis, Kathie and Steevie are back with some more weekend banter  Kathie is getting all her supplies in for winter including candles and firewood, Steevie is busy gathering in all the good TV he can find and Ellis is having  retro fun with his new 19” TV and DVD player…   Good  chat and fun from the Oban Times team.   You can get in touch with us by emailing somethingfortheweekend@obantimes.co.uk  

This week the team discuss taking more photos after lockdown (or indeed taking more photos during lockdown) , doing the “tourist” thing and watching the world going by, Fiona is off to a boat launch, The delicacy that is Chicken “ping” , driverless cars and all the top films that will be coming out soon  - including Daniel Craig’s last outing as James Bond and  the joy that is a mouse and a cat on a big screen outing.  Fiona tries to keep control of Steevie and Ellis in our weekly podcast (will she succeed?)  You can get in touch with us by emailing somethingfortheweekend@obantimes.co.uk   Now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts as well as Youtube, on our Website www.obantimes.co.uk/podcasts and other podcast providers   We are passionate about our community and would love you to get in touch and tell us your ideas for the weekend and what you think of the podcast and what you would like to hear on future episodes email.   During the Covid-19 crisis our stories on our website a free – You can still pick up paper copies of the paper at supermarkets and petrol stations and newsagents and we have a special offer for the digital page turning version 3 months for only £4.80

Join Fiona, Kathie, Ellis and Steevie with their cheerful banter about what they have been up to and some thoughts for things to do at the weekend. This week avoiding the jelly fish – getting stung and strange tastes for rats and mice. Gordon is definitely alive as Flash Gordon heads back into cinemas nationwide – Steevie is excited about the Oban Cinema reopening soon and wondering if Flash! Might be heading to Oban soon and what films the crew might want to see back on the big screen as lockdown continues to relax. Fiona is heading out to the golf course and the team contemplate a delicious location for an outside (future) broadcast which might include cakes and scones…. www.obantimes.co.uk

Good news Friday! Fiona, Kathie, Ellis and Martin deliver happy tidings during their regular Friday morning chat. New arrivals, exam results and weather are just some of the topics discussed by the team this week