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The Chronicles - Bringing the story up to date
February, 2009
Progress is not a word that sits easy with the good burghers of New Saint Even's Town, but they have excelled themselves this time. They have increased the number of pedestrian crossings by 100% in anticipation of increased tourism numbers this year. Originally there was one set of pedestrian controlled lights in Carfin Street, put there after Taylor High School was built to protect innocent motorists from the school weans, but they have now installed another set on Jerviston Street just outside the Co-op in the 
main village shopping centre. This expectation of an increase in numbers of tourists and pilgrims was encouraged by national Government predictions that British sun-worshippers and cheap lager lovers will refrain from trips to foreign beaches and holiday at home this year because the Pound has weakened against the Euro. A view that has also been fostered by First Minister Alex Salmond in his 'Scottish Homecoming' campaign to attract foreign domiciled Scots, and those of Scottish descent, to come back 'home' for a holiday and the chance to dig up information on their roots. There is just one flaw in New Saint Even's Town plans. They rejected plans to build a new upmarket Travel Lodge in favour of the extra set of pedestrian controlled lights. So they may have the means to control the influx, but they will not be able to stay overnight in the place they came to see, a fact which deterred the new President of the USA from visiting New Saint Even’s Town last year when he was merely a presidential hopeful seeking divine inspiration and support.
26 July, 2008
US Presidential hopeful Barack Obama was unable to visit New Saint Even's Town on his recent whirlwind world tour. Although he dropped in on the resident of number 10 Downing Street, London, his schedule was just too tight to allow him time to stop off in Scotland. Although only 400 miles to the north and not too far from the England / USA flight path over Prestwick, the Democratic nominee's entourage felt that the visit would not have been worthwhile as the stop would have been too short to fully allow him to explore all that New Saint Even's Town has to offer. The hoped-for trip also coincided with the latest air scare, whereby a Boeing 777 on the London to Melbourne flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Manila when a fuselage panel fell off. If this caused further anxiety in the Obama entourage then it is entirely understandable. Perhaps one other factor which mitigated against the visit was the lack of sufficient and suitable overnight accommodation in the area. Initial plans to erect a 'tented city' in the town's Coronation Park were regarded as unsuitable. The tents were still unwashed from the 'P in the Park' music festival some weeks earlier.
Picture shows: Mr Obama's plane flying over the outskirts of the town. That's Mr Obama looking out of the fourth window from the back.
26 June, 2008
At their monthly meeting the NSET (New Saint Even's Town) Historical Society raised the issue of seeking 'World Heritage Site' status, given the town's important links with the introduction of christianity to Scotland. This is not as outrageous as might be first thought. The village of New Lanark, 12 miles to the south was granted 'World Heritage Site' status in the year 2001. This followed a letter of nomination from the 'Historic Scotland' organisation, submitted by the First Minister for Scotland Donald Dewar. Previously, St Kilda (1986) had achieved similar recognition as had Edinburgh's Old and New Towns (1995), and a Neolithic site in Orkney (1999). The Committee felt that despite Robert Owen's 'saintly efforts' in establishing the New Lanark village and society in the years 1800 to 1825, Saint Even's efforts were even more worthy of world recognition. To that end, the Committee recommended that a written request to commence the process of nomination be sent to present First Minster of Scotland, Alex Salmond. The Committee also felt that since Robert Owen had established a co-operative shop in New Lanark, and Scotmid currently has a branch of its own 'co-operative retail chain' in New Saint Even's town, that there were distinct links between the two towns.
16 May, 2008
In May of this year a delegation from New Saint Even's Town visited France with the object of seeking a 'twin town' for cultural exchange purposes. After a long search, the delegation made its choice and settled on the town of Arsy due to its size and the fact that both town names are in keeping with their origins. Arsy is situated in the Picardie region of France, just 65 kms north east of Paris, covers an area of just over 7.3 sq.kms and has a population of slightly more than a 1,000 inhabitants, which provides it with ideal twinning potential for New Saint Even's Town. Following a civic reception and an open-air DIY buffet off the back of a truck, the Scottish delegation returned home clutching souvenir post cards and fridge magnets from Arsy. 
The proposal to twin with Arsy will now be the subject of a meeting in the village hall at which the delegation will make a PowerPoint presentation of their trip, thereafter seeking approval for their choice. The local school children are already working hard on projects ahead of the anticipated twinning pageant, but such is the scarcity of French teachers in the area, the present school staff are struggling. As the Head Teacher at the Primary School observed: "My staff don't know their Arsy from their elbow, but we'll manage."
Pictures show: The Delegation minibus on the outskirts of Arsy, and the mouth-watering natural buffet provided by the locals.
28 July, 2007
As severe flash floods blighted parts of England, primarily in Edgbaston, Birmingham where 86 mm (3.4 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours, and 71 mm (2.8 inches) fell on Bingley, West Yorkshire, also in England, flooding fears were prevalent in New Saint Even's Town. Apparently, the Neighbourhood Watch group have been keeping a wary eye on the Shirrel Burn. Fears were expressed that if it were to flood, it would force the closure of Salina's Store and the Lucky House takeaway on the edge of the village where the bridge carries the road north over the Burn towards Holytown. At one point the flood levels rose dangerously high cascading over the top of children's wellingtons as they waded to Primary School. A spate of thefts were also reported in the village that same morning when householders reported that they had received no daily papers and no supplies of morning rolls. It was later discovered that they had all floated away on the flood waters!