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5 Fringe Benefits of Winning a Scottish Thistle Award

17/7/2018

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PictureKim receiving the Scottish Thistle Award for LETi's BLiSS trail -"Innovation in tourism" drawing by Jo Adamson

​You  would think that representing your local tourism group - Loch Earn Tourism Information (LETi) - to pick up the groups Scottish Thistle Award for BLiSS trail "Innovation in Tourism"  would be honour enough!  It absolutely feels like the ultimate reward in the tourism industry.  Nevertheless, the rewards just kept coming in.  
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Fraser with Thistle The Fishers Laundry mascot
Fraser and Fishers Laundry "Thistle" #Thistles25
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Fringe Benefit 1
- First of all,  during the night of the rewards ceremony in March 2018, the headline sponsor,  Fishers Laundry,  gave everyone a mascot dog in a box.

The dog was called  Thistle ( okay we worked out that he was a green facecloth with sunglasses and personality.)

This is a photo of Fraser sharing his wine with Thistle who had sneaked into his top pocket at the EICC for a better view of the stage acts.

Fringe Benefit 2:  Fishers Laundry group encouraged us to take selfies with Thistle,  to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Thistle Awards this year #thistles25.

We were asked to post them on social media during a four week period,  after the awards event. The winning photo on Twitter, chosen in April, was by Rona Burstow. Rona tweeted a lovely selfie with Thistle at Eileen Donan Castle.  A worthy winner, Rona won a £300 voucher for the Principle Hotel in Edinburgh. 
Kim Proven with thistles #BLiSStrailThistle heads galore
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Imagine my surprise then, when two enormous parcels landed on my doorstep with a message from Fishers Laundry saying that they were impressed with the creativity of my photo entry.  My runner up prize was  two of the biggest,  heaviest, whitest, quality, fluffy dressing gowns I have ever seen.  

In my photo you see A.Thistle Dog,    B. The two headed thistle of BLiSS trail sculpture "Blawn Wi The Wind" by Kev Paxton, which stands proudly in Briar Cottages garden ( we bought it for our 25th wedding anniversary celebration)  C.The Thistle Award trophy.  D. My hair! ...lets face it,  my hair looked like a thistle top that day with a filtered purple tinge completing the look. 

My question on Twitter was "How many Thistle's can you see?  The answer should really have been "one" as the dog's name is spelled with a capital T.  A huge thanks to Fishers Laundry for going one step further in the fun that they invest at the Scottish Thistle Awards. Very much appreciated.

Fishers Laundry dressing gown prize for Kim Proven
Fishers Laundry luxury dressing gown
Fishers Laundry truck photo both with Kim and Fraser Proven
Kim and Fraser posing in Fishers Laundry truck
Is that the Fringe Benefit story over?? No! 

International Fringe Benefit 3.  Fraser and I decided to take a break and visit friends in Valencia in May, following the tragic, shocking and untimely death of Fraser's 48 year old son Andy, who we miss every day. 

​
We booked into the Ayre Hotel Astoria Palace in Valencia which turned out to be in a perfect, central location, near the incredible food market and old town. We gave our business card to the receptionist to save reading out our contact details.  We then checked in before going out to explore. Can you imagine our surprise when we opened the bedroom door on return to find a dish of sugar banana jelly sweeties and the following message from the hotel reception team with a beautiful photo.

​ "Dear Kim and Fraser,  its a huge honour to accommodate the winners of... 
​
Gift gesture from reception Ayre Astoria Pa;lace Hotel
Lovely gesture from reception team Ayre Astoria Palace Hotel -Valencia

​A lovely touch and example of "above and beyond" service where the reception team recognised and applauded the significance of our team Scottish Thistle Award,  thinking on their feet to provide a unique welcome.   
  
Fringe Benefit 4 I also received many letters on behalf of LETi from tourism partners and politicians as reported in my last blog. 

Then LETI was awarded Fringe Benefit 5. The opportunity to work with Geotourist in collaboration with VisitScotland.

Geotourist were the sponsors of the "Innovation in Tourism" category at the Thistle Award regional and national finals. They are world audio tour enablers via Smartphone technology.  How perfect for BLiSS trail! You can now follow a map and listen to fab stories about the artworks on your apple or android phone as you tour. 

It has been a great pleasure to work with Lindsey Wilson from Geotourist over the last few months. My task was writing a script outline for each installation, recruiting and working with the storytellers and getting 23 recordings over to Lindsey along with photographs and their GPS locations. Lindsey used the information to set up the Geotourist website page for BLiSS trail, ensuring that the recordings would be audible at each location with a smartphone. Lindsey is one of the most positive people I have ever worked with.

Then we both worked with Visit Scotland on the official news story.

Artists, locals, school and university students, Sustrans Scotland and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park all collaborated on reading various stories and facts to complement the installations on the trail along with yours truly. I represent Stan The Stag at Briar Cottage and Drover's Bho in Strathyre and... shhh top secret...  I am the voice of the MHOR coo. A fun coo! A pun coo! You have been warned, listen! https://geotourist.com/tours/2040/points/7058

​The audio tour was launched last week and has already attracted 880 visitors to date, with around 100 new people discovering it daily. Have you looked and listened to it yet? Check out the website here https://geotourist.com/tours/2040 

​VisitScotland went on to release the news story from their media centre on July 14th  NB: Full story here A Touch Of BLiSS  

So, I would encourage others to take part in the Scottish Thistle Awards. The discipline of reviewing your goals and achievements is rewarding enough. A trophy at this event nicknamed "The tourism Oscars" is definitely worth trying for,  though the fringe benefits of recognition, gifts and a bonus business opportunity can make you and your team feel like Hollywood Stars.  

None of it has gone to our heads though. Its Briar Cottage and LETi business as usual for me,  with extra adrenaline oomph from the feel good factor of the Scottish Thistle Awards win to spur me on. 

We are in the midst of launching the new Geotourist BliSS trail audio tour and will be announcing our first international artist on the BLiSS trail in conjunction with a new partner soon. 

That should give us enough material to enter the 2019 Thistle Awards when they open next June.  Best of luck to everyone who has entered this year though....missing it already.

This weekend is the Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathyre Highland Games in the Games Field opposite the Lochearnhead Village Hall - 21st July 12.30. 

​McLarens,  MacGregors and other local clans will gather for what is one of the best wee Highland Games in Scotland.  Guests from both of our cottages will be there as will Fraser and I.  Hope to see some of you too.

Let the BLS Highland Games begin where the Scottish Thistle Award fringe benefits end...for now!  Slàinte mhath! #ScotlandIsNow
BLS Highland Games march of the committee
President Angus Cameron on The March of The Committee - Highland Games Lochearnhead
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Loch Earn Tourism Scottish National Award For BLiSS trail Innovation

25/3/2018

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PictureFraser and LETi Chair Kim Proven with trophy sponsor's from GeoTourist, picking up the Scottish Thistle Award for Innovation In Tourism - BLiSS trail. Photo by Chris Watt

If you think we were excited picking up the regional Scottish Thistle Award trophy for BLiSS trail in 2017, imagine our shock and delight when Visit Scotland announced our local tourism group as the Scottish national winner in March 2018 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre!
KimProven with LETi trophy #Thistles25
Kim Proven Chair of Loch Earn Tourism Information (LETi) at the Scottish Thistle Awards
LETi (Loch Earn Tourism Information representing Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Strathyre and St Fillans tourism businesses) was crowned winner of the "Innovation In Tourism" category in the National grand final of the Visit Scotland, Scottish Thistle Awards.  The trophy was presented by the couple in the photo above, representing sponsors Geotourist.

The Scottish Thistle Award finals are referred to in the industry as the "Tourism Oscars".  I am delighted that our four village tourism business group was able to compete on the big stage with larger companies and organisations who have healthy marketing budgets and dedicated experts working full time. We represented Central (and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park) and emerged as winners amongst entrants from Fife, Tayside. Lothians, Borders, West, Highlands and Islands, Aberdeen City,  and Aberdeenshire. 
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Ewen Westies of Craggan by Kev Paxton, Craggan Rd, St Angus Church Lochearnhead
Drover's Bho
Drover's Bho by Kev Paxton, with Strathyre Primary School children on Sustrans NCR7, Strathyre
The LETi group delivered three new sculptures to the Scottish regional and now, national award winning BLiSS trail during 2017 Year of History Heritage and Archaeology ( #HHA2017 ) - while securing the fun roadside art and architectural trail as a permanent attraction all year round. 

​Two of the sculptures 
Drover's Bho and Ewen Westies of Craggan were made by TV personality artist blacksmith Kev Paxton paid for with a Sustrans Scotland ArtRoots grant.

The sculptures mark the entrance to National Cycle Route 7 in Strathyre and Lochearnhead and it is possible to cycle from one to the other passing the BLiSS trail "Cockerel" Mile Marker by Iain McColl, on route. 

​Drover's Bho is a steel cow sculpture acknowledging the hard working drovers who gathered in Strathyre on their way to the Falkirk Tryst.

"Ewen Westies of Craggan" is named after a local tourism hero - Ewen Cameron OBE - who kick started water sports on Loch Earn in 1955, revived the BLS Highland games in Lochearnhead and so much more. The west highland terrier dog sculpture also marks Sustrans Cycle Route 7 from the grounds of St Angus Church in the Craggan Road where they were once bred by the honorable Torfreda Rollo (sister of Lady MacGregor of MacGregor) in Lochearnhead.

The Three Sisters sculpture Lochearnhead
The Three Sisters by Perth College UHI students
Miami and Shayna, The Three Si
Artists Miami and Shayna
The Three Sisters sculpture Loch Earn
The Three Sisters, Lochearnhead
The third sculpture to be added as a permanent attraction in #HHA2017 is The Three Sisters by Perth College UHI art students; Miami Mohsin, Shayna MacLean and Amy Butler.  A larger than life steel fishing rod can be seen at Lochside Cottages jetty in Lochearnhead, with three fish hanging from it.  The fish were crafted using clan tartans, MacGregor, McLaren and Cameron of Lochiel as well as professionally turned wooden heads, fins and tails with Celtic Carving. You can see the current list of 23 installation in the BLiSS trail slide show and follow the trail on the BLiSS trail art map

LETi finished the themed year by launching the BLiSS history map full of interesting facts surrounding the four villages in its constitution
​
PictureFraser + Kim Collect the LETi trophy for BLiSS trail
This year marked 25 years of the Scottish Thistle Awards for Tourism achievements #Thistles25. The evening was fantastic.  Expertly hosted by ex Miss Scotland and STV host Jennifer Reoch alongside Still Game and River City star and funny man Sanjeev Singh Kohli.  

Lovely singer and BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2018 Hannah Rarity kick started the entertainment. Ventriloquist and comedian Paul Zerdin, winner of America’s Got Talent 2015 was brilliant with his suitably cheeky co-star puppet pal. 
Paul Zerdin Ventriloquist
Paul Zerdin Ventriloquist
Fraser and Kim Proven at the Scottish Thistle Awards
Fraser and Kim at the Visit Scotland #Thistles25 + sponsors photobooth for winners - photo copyright Chris Watt Photography
Scottish Thistle Award for Innovation In Tourism
Innovation In Tourism
Kim with the LETi trophy for InnovationLETi Chair Kim with the Innovation trophy

​ 

Loch Earn Tourism Inforamtion Trophy #Thistles25
Geotourist Innovation In Tourism #Thistles25
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Fun on the Fishers Laundry Truck
The Scottish Thistle Awards main sponsor was full of fun. We had photos taken in the Fishers Laundry Truck photo booth. The laundry company also gifted all tables with "Thistle" a green dog with ears, sunglasses and a purple tartan bow. (Don't tell Thistle he's really a facecloth!)  They challenged us with a Twitter competition to take a selfie with Thistle.  Fraser and I have put in the following entries if you want to RT @Briarcottages ​
Kim Proven with Thistle the Fishers Laundry Mascot
How many "Thistle" heads can you see? #Thsitles25 @FishersLaundry
Picture
Coo-l Coo's News Thistle @FishersLaundry with Fraser @BriarCottages and Brunas the @CrazyColor coo
We could not have shared a flavour of the awards without the assistance of the official photographer Chris Watt  He quietly worked the room to record the event on behalf of Visit Scotland. Have a look at Chris Watt Photography, his commissions, portfolio, awards, accolades and achievements. Simply Amaaaazing and he is charming too.
Innivatin In Tourism trophy for LETi
Sanjeev Kohli, Kim + Fraser Proven, Geotourist team and Jennifer Reoch - photo copyright Chris Watt
Picture
Kim and Fraser photo c Chris Watt Photography
We won!!! Scottish Thistle Awards 2017/2018 copyright Chris Watt
Have a read at this lovely letter from Malcolm Roughead OBE, Chief Executive of Visit Scotland.  
Picture

...and another letter of congratulations from Fiona Hyslop MSP -Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs
Letter from Cabinet minister for Tourism -Fiona Hyslop
Another lovely letter, this time from Roseanna Cunningham MSP
Letter of congratulations from Roseanna Cunningham MSP
Finally, have a look at this delightful drawing of me and the Scottish Thistle Award Trophy by "JoSunshineArt". Jo is a visually impaired artist who records moments in history as they happen in Scotland and sometimes further afield. She is constantly drawing people, animals, nature buildings and events from every day life around her in Glasgow and in the the news. Jo draws in bright colours on a large A1 scale. She always manages to create lovely compositions with warmth, playful characters and plenty of #ScotSpirit humour.  Jo can not actually see! All she sees is a misty blur in one eye. Find out more about Jo on Twitter @JoSunshineArt or read this about the wonderful Jo Adamson.
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Kim with the Scottish Thistle Awards Trophy, by Jo Adamson
​ 
​LETi is now working on 
Year of Young People 2018 promotions
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    Author Kim Proven. 

    Welcome to my blog on life around Briar Cottages. We invite you to share our experience living on the banks of Loch Earn either by booking  a holiday or short break here in any season or by keeping up to date with our news, stories and photographs depicting this stunning location and way of life within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park of Scotland. 

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Briar Cottages,
 Lochearnhead, Perthshire, Scotland, FK19 8PU  Tel: 01567 830 443  Mob: 07917 416 497
website: www.stayatbriar.co.uk  email: briarinfo@btinternet.com


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