Castletown virtual café set for a century of singalongs
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Organisers of a virtual café in Caithness are set to reach a milestone next week with their 100th online singalong programme.
Although ’e Peedie Café in Castletown has been closed since the beginning of the pandemic, an online presence has been maintained through a weekly video slot on social media.
Tuesday (February 22) will mark the 100th programme in the series, and another landmark occasion will follow on March 22 when it reaches the two-year mark.
Christine Stone, a board member of ’e Peedie Café, said: "We've sung our way through programmes that last for around one-and-a-half hours each week and which include local news, a round-up of information, sharing of recipes, sometimes a quiz or similar, as well as a weekly set of 20 songs for our audience to join in with or listen to.
"Our song resources have grown to around 100 from which we select a different 20 each week. The programme is crafted by our listeners who constantly encourage and also suggest new songs for us to learn together.
"It is a community of its own, reaching out to folk in all walks of life, at home and abroad, and also affords an opportunity for companionship, music and friendship for those who may feel more isolated, lonely or unable to leave their homes."
The singalong programmes are usually posted mid-morning each Tuesday on the Facebook page Castletown Community Hub – ’e Peedie Café.
The café opened in the village's Drill Hall in the summer of 2019 in an initiative led by Castletown and Community Free Church, with the aim of being a hub for the community. However, it has been shut since March 2020 because of Covid.
Another community café is run from the church building, called the Gateway Café. This was set up in the summer of 2015 and restarted last month following the easing of restrictions.
It meets every Thursday afternoon and is open to everyone. People bring crafts such as knitting and crochet, while other activities include chess, draughts, dominoes, playing cards, board games and jigsaws. There is soft seating too for anyone wishing to have a cup of tea and a chat.
Mrs Stone added: "Our audience has grown on social media over these past two years of Covid. Such is the demand that although we have started back at one of our community cafés – the Gateway – our listeners are very keen to keep the online presence going from week to week. This we shall do."
