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- Written by Craig McKay
- Category: Static
- Hits: 428
WHEN? From 1st May 2021 I am no longer on Whatsapp. Instead, I'll be on Signal (and Telegram, as some have switched to this platform).
WHY?
The new terms and conditions of use of Whatsapp were the final straw that broke my Facebook camel's back. The new T's&C's probably don't have a material impact on me - certainly not right now - although with the UK's departure from the EU no doubt GDPR will be unpicked and replaced with something that enables the Facebook machine to harvest yet more data, even if it's only metadata.
I'm not a subscriber to conspiracy theories. Facebook and its many tentacles had just secured too tight a stranglehold over me that I needed to cut myself loose:
- Instagram. Instead of just seeing pictures of my friend's activities, I was seeing adverts at a ratio of 2 friends to 1 ad. Jeff became a distinct problem; his products were things that interested me but in which I had expressed no previous interest. Temptation. Instagram app deleted.
- Facebook. Verbally discussing the need for a leaf blower to tidy up the front lawn, suddenly Mark is presenting me leaf blowers - and not just any leaf blower, but the Makita compatible with a few of the LXT products that I use. Facebook and Messenger apps deleted.
- I do still use Facebook on a browser as we have a community page I need to access
SO WHAT?
Not really a big deal is it? Or more precisely, who cares what I do? Well, you've clicked this link and I haven't lost you so far...
The reason for writing this post is not to attempt to influence anyone else - far from it. It is primarily an explanation for why I have left and won't be able to receive your messages any more.
Switching off Whatsapp is not an insignificant change for me personally. I hadn't realised how useful it had become. I have dozens of groups and use Whatsapp as a vital link - particularly in Lockdown (and until normal gatherings resume).
I have moved platform to Signal. A small number of my contacts have also installed the app. It's a non-profit - funded by donations - and the only viable alternative. It offers everything Whatsapp does except a web interface.
So... here's the rub: I obviously can't tell you to install the Signal app just to keep in contact with me. If you do: great! If not... we still have SMS and email.
STILL READING?
When a friend first told me about Whatsapp - in 2009 - I was sceptical. What did the platform have to benefit? Particularly once end-to-end encryption was added in 2016. So why did Facebook pay $21.8 billion in 2014? Let me just repeat that - 21.8 BILLION DOLLARS. That's more than the GDP of Estonia. Ok, that means nothing to me either. How about, that's more than the G20 pledged to fight Coronavirus? It's more profit than Shell, BP and Chevron made last year. However you look at it, it's colossal number. I am no longer comfortable using the platform.
COMPARISON OF SIGNAL VS. WHATSAPP
In a nutshell, Signal does almost everything WhatsApp does, with one significant improvement:
| Feature | Signal | Comments | |
| Groups | Yes | Yes | Signal offers a lot more control around group membership. |
| Reply and Forward | Yes | Yes | WhatsApp has "Reply Privately" from a group, which Signal doesn't. |
| React to a message | No | Yes | Signal allows you to 'like' with a thumbs up (or any emoji). This often saves "ok" replies, particularly in groups. |
| Bold/Italic/Underline | Yes | No | Feature request for all clients... |
| Desktop Client (Win/Mac) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Client | Yes | No | Signal discussion suggests the web client is a security issue. |
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- Written by Craig McKay
- Category: Static
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- Glen Cruick, Afflochie
- Capo Cottages, near Edzell
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- Written by Craig McKay
- Category: Static
- Hits: 773
Crovie — take a break and drink in the tranquility of the Moray Firth Coast
We couldn't find a complete listing of all the holiday cottages available for rent in Crovie, so we created this page... we hope you find it useful! If we've made any mistakes, please let us know at
The page contains three sections:
- Rental Properties, with links to the rental website — click on the House or Address to jump to the Details section
- Full listing of all properties — for interest
- Details of each of the rental properties, with a photograph — click on these to visit the rental website
Note: at the bottom left of every page on this website there is an up arrow that you can use to return to the top of the current page.
Rental Properties
| House | Comments | Rental Website | Address |
| 5 | Unknown | No. 5 Crovie | |
| 7 | Unknown | No. 7 Crovie | |
| 10 | 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 5 | Cottages4You W41840 | Trip Advisor | No. 10 Crovie |
| 12 | Unknown | No. 12 Crovie | |
| 13 | 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 6, Wifi | Free Scotland | Trip Advisor | No. 13 Crovie |
| 23 | Accommodation for 5 (+2), Wifi, Wood burning stove | Scottish Cottages 512064 | Dedicated Website | No. 23 Crovie |
| 25 | Sleeps 4/5 | Scotland.org.uk | No. 25 Crovie |
| 30 | 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6 | Your Hotel Alternative | No. 30 Crovie |
| 33 | 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4 | Cottages4You 28658 | No. 33 Crovie |
| 36 | Unknown | No. 36 Crovie | |
| 39 | Unknown | No. 39 Crovie | |
| 40 | 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 6 | Holiday Lettings 194460 | Trip Advisor | No. 40 Crovie |
| 53 | Unknown | No. 53 Crovie | |
| 56 | Unknown | No. 56 Crovie | |
| 57 | 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 5 | Cottages4You 26036 | No. 57 Crovie |
| 64 | 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4 | Book Cottages 1783 | No. 64 Crovie |
| Mission Hall | 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4 | Scotland Holiday Cottage | Trip Advisor | Mission Hall Crovie |
Full listing
| House | Status | Comments |
| 1 | Site | Destroyed in 1953 |
| 2&3 | Private | |
| 4 | Private | |
| 5 | Rent | |
| 6 | Private | |
| 7 | Rent | |
| 8 | Site | Garden |
| 9 | Private | |
| 10 | Rent | |
| 11 | Private | |
| 12 | Rent | |
| 13 | Rent | |
| 14 | Private | |
| 15&16 | Private | |
| 17&18 | Private | |
| 19 | Private | Garden of 17&18 |
| 20 | Private | |
| 21 | Private | |
| 22 | Private | |
| 23 | Rent | |
| 24 | Private | Last house south side of burn |
| 25 | Rent | Set back, south |
| 26 | Private | Set back, north |
| 27 | Private | Beside Phone Box |
| 28 | Site | Bench beside burn |
| 29 | Site | Garden of 30 |
| 30 | Rent | |
| 31 | Private | |
| 32 | Site | No longer exists |
| 33 | Rent | |
| 34a | Private | |
| 34 | Private | |
| 35 | Private | |
| 36 | Rent | |
| 37 | Site | Garden of 38 |
| 38 | Private | |
| 39 | Rent | |
| 40 | Rent | |
| 41 | Site | Garden of 43 |
| 42 | Private | Ruin |
| 43 | Private | |
| 44 | Private | Asbestos roof |
| 45 | Private | Behind |
| 46 | Private | |
| 47 | Private | Red roof, small |
| 48a | Private | Top half |
| 48 | Private | Bottom half |
| 49 | Private | |
| 50 | Private | |
| 51 | Private | |
| 52 | Private | |
| 53 | Rent | |
| 54 | Private | |
| 55 | Site | Garden of 54 |
| 56 | Rent | |
| 57 | Rent | |
| 58 | Private | Site + Small building |
| 59 | Private | |
| 60&61 | Private | Light blue |
| 62 | Private | Chocolate |
| 63 | Private | Dark blue |
| 64 | Rent | |
| 65 | Private | |
| Mission Hall | Rent | No number |
| 66 | Private |
Details
No 5 Crovie
No 7 Crovie
No 10 Crovie
No 12 Crovie
No 13 Crovie
No 23 Crovie
No 25 Crovie
No 30 Crovie
No 33 Crovie
No 36 Crovie
No 39 Crovie
No 40 Crovie
No 53 Crovie
No 56 Crovie
No 57 Crovie
No 64 Crovie
Mission Hall Crovie
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- Written by Craig McKay
- Category: Static
- Hits: 639
I have always been an enthusiastic fan of chutneys - what better accompaniment to a tasty cheese or ham than the concentrated flavours of preserved fruit and spices?
I made my first batch in 2008 after reading a recipe for Pineapple Chutney. I modified it significantly and it has become my favourite: Appley Pineappley Chutney.
These chutneys are made for pleasure, for sharing - if you have received one and are looking up the website, I trust you enjoy it!
A friend gave me her grandmother's book of chutney recipes and this inspired me to explore more, and I have since dabbled in several variants:
- Appley Pineappley Chutney - Pineapples are often £1 at Lidl (sometimes 85p!) and I just cannot resist this old favourite, which goes so well with many things, but especially ham.
- Plummey Chutney - We have several family, friends and neighbours with victoria plums. These make a wonderful, rich, sweet chutney that goes well with cheeses and ham. In 2013 I made a variant with brambles called 'Brummel Plum' and it was delicious - lovely colour and rich!
- Plum'n'Beetie - a variation on the plum with an equal measure of beetroot.
- Appley Figgy Chutney - We have access to a number of apple trees and in late autumn there is often some fruit spare, and makes a mild but flavoursome chutney that accompanies any cooked dish, or soft cheeses like brie and Cambazola.
- Sweet Tomato Chutney - who doesn't love tomato chutney?! There are two tricky aspects that prevent me making it often: blanching & sticking to the pan. I have mastered the blanching and actually enjoy this, but haven't worked out how to prevent the sticking, other than stirring constantly which slows the process down and means I cannot sterilise jars and do other things...
- Coull Tomato Chutney - an attempt to replicate a favourite of the Coull's, this chutney includes fennel and carraway seeds.
- Pommie Pineapple - after watching the kids eating pommegrante seeds, I thought how great they would look in a chutney... this light-coloured version highlights the bright pommegrante seeds and has all the flavour of the pineapple.
- Merry Cranberry Chutney - largely based on BBC Good Food's recipe, this is a real treat to accompany the turkey at Christmas.
Enjoy, and thanks for looking up the page!
- Details
- Written by Craig McKay
- Category: Static
- Hits: 1567
Angus Council Links
- Placeholder Page
- Map (PDF)
- All the Angus Path Networks!
BPN Waste Bins
Wondering about those orange bins that have started appearing? Maybe you're already scanned the QR code and found out... We just thought it's such a great path network and a shame when there is litter and dog waste bags lying around... and also as dog walkers ourselves we know how unpleasant it is to carry a bag back for a mile... or two!
So, we've started installing bins - 18 so far - with 26 planned (see the map below). Many of these have been suggestions from the community, and thanks to a generous donation from the Rotary Club we've been able to buy a total of 45 bins.
When you scan the code, we get an email and we've been emptying the next day. Craig & Isla go out running and have a hygenic backpack to empty and dispose at the nearest council bin.
Would you like to get involved? We can add you to the email and you can feel the obligation to collect the next time you're out!
