‘Compassion fatigue‘ has become a familiar phrase of late. We are bombarded throughout the day by images of suffering and misery. Even at home we are frequently reminded of our social responsibility by television appeals and frequent phonecalls regarding various miseries around the world and on our doorsteps. One thing of which we are rarely informed is smoked salmon fatigue. Some socialites have reported this new phenomenon – after years of buffets and parties they have simply had too much smoked fish. Here, we catch up with a ‘victim’ of this new trend.

Ophelia, from Kensington, has been a small scale ‘it girl’ for years. She tells us ‘My life has just been a blur of parties since I was a teenager. At first it was amazing… I’d go to all these amazing places and meet all these cool people, and there’d always be well stocked buffets there. That’s how it started: the buffets. ‘The people around me just didn’t know when to stop, and I sort of got the habit from them. When no one was looking, we’d collar a waitress or sneak off to the buffet and stuff ourselves with smoked fish. It didn’t matter whether it was smoked Scottish salmon or smoked mackerel… it was just a matter of having the fish and eating it.’

Sadly, Ophelia’s obsession got out of control in the late nineties. ‘It was at a millennium party that I realised I had a problem,’ says Ophelia ‘and that I had to get it under control. It was at this party on the Isle of Skye for the weekend, with a group of friends. As the clock struck midnight, everyone else was kissing and hugging each other… I was in a corner, kissing and hugging a piece of wild Scottish salmon. The morning after, I woke up with a portion of salmon, some smoked swordfish and four tins of caviar in my bed. I knew then that it had to stop.’

But it didn’t stop there. Despite worried pleas from friends, Ophelia kept on feeding her habit, and herself, with fish products. Then, thankfully, smoked salmon fatigue saved Ophelia from a life of obsession. ‘One night I got home from a nightclub and was heading to the fridge for my usual post-club salmon and cream cheese bagel. I opened the fridge door and saw shelf after shelf of smoked fish products. I just stood there staring at the smoked halibut and smoked salmon pate for about half an hour without moving. All of a sudden, I couldn’t bring myself to eat any more smoked fish. At that point I realised that my smoked salmon days were behind me and I was in a position to make a fresh start.’

Now, Ophelia has occasional smoked salmon dinners but describes her habit as ‘completely under control.’ Smoked salmon fatigue saved her from a life of addiction and fishy breath.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Tuesday’s & Saturday’s at 8pm in St Martin’s Church, Mill Street, Ullapool, If your drinking is costing you more than money, you may have a problem we may be able to help and support you and your loved ones. Come along and meet us.

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)
Mandie Smith 01463 790518
Susie Iredale 01463 226273
www.childreninthehighlands.com

Highlands & Islands Autism Society

Contact: Sheena Crumlish

Tel: (07773) 596005

Careers Scotland

This service will assist with job vacancies, learning and training opportunities, information about the labour market, advice and guidance on career plans and developing skills to increase job prospects links to other agencies. The careers service also has the authority to refer people with special needs between the ages of 15 and 19 to the Keyworker Service. This service, covering the Highlands and Islands, provides intensive, holistic support to ease the transition from school to sustainable further education, training and employment.

2B Fodderty Way
Business Park
Dingwall
IV15 9XB
Tel: 01349 864914
E-mail: info@careers-scotland.org.uk
Website: www.careers-scotland.org.uk

Childline Scotland Bullying

ChildLine is the UK’s free, 24-hour helpline for children and young people in trouble or danger. If you want to talk to someone, call ChildLine free on 0800 1111. The lines can be busy so please keep trying. Or visit the Website

Citizens Advice

The Citizens Advice Bureau Service offers free, confidential, impartial and independent advice. The CAB helps solve problems which are central to people’s lives, including debt and consumer issues, benefits, housing, legal matters, employment, and immigration. Advisers can help fill out forms, write letters, negotiate with creditors and represent clients at court or tribunal.
Call 01349 883333 or Visit the Website

Down’s Syndrome Scotland

Highland & Islands Branch
Josie Aitken
Tel 01463 790367

Dyslexia Scotland – Highland Branch
(Office manned part-time at present)
Unit 5, 15 Lotland Street, Inverness IV1 1ST
Tel 01463 717315

The National Society for Epilepsy

Helpline 01494 601400
www.epilepsysociety.org.uk

HAIN

Highland Advice & Information Network
Welfare Rights Information
www.hain.org.uk

Highland Developmental Co-ordination Disorders Group (HDCD),

Arlene Maxtone, Unit 6, 15 Lotland Street, Inverness IV1 1ST,
Tel: 01463 709 907 (10.30am-1pm),
e-mail: hdcd.org@tiscali.co.uk
Web: http://www.hdcd.org.uk
Provide support and information for parents. Hold regular evening meetings at Birnie Child Development Centre, organise talks and social events, produce a newsletter and run a swimming group for children with DCD.
Area(s) covered: Highland (but also have members from other parts of Scotland)

Health Information & Resources Service

Library offering a wide range of health related materials for loan, free of charge to those working or living within the Highlands.
Tel 01463 704647
www.healthyhighlanders.org.uk

Highland Deaf Education Service

Dingwall Primary School
Tulloch Castle Drive
Dingwall
IV15 9ND

Highland Education Vision Support Service

38 Ardconnel Street

Inverness

IV2 3EX

01463 226062

Positive Parenting

Provides support and training for parents

Scottish Development Manager, 19 Bellfield Road, North Kessock Inverness IV1 3XU

01463 731 508

colinwilson@parenting.org.uk

www.parenting.org.uk

Ross-shire Carers Support Group

Fiona Poulson Mackenzie 01349 854812

Scottish HART (Heart At Risk Testing)

Wilma Gunn, PO Box 14103, Selkirk TD7 LYA,
Tel: 01750 721 297,
e-mail: info@scottishhart.com
Web: http://www.scottishhart.com
Information and support for families affected by Cardiomyopathy and Heart Disorders. Newsletter, awareness raising and fundraising.

Scottish Law

Huge Resource including Dial-a-Law, which is the Law Society of Scotland’s information and referral service. With a library of over 40 different legal topics from family law to employment law, from making a will to choosing a solicitor, it gives you clear down-to-earth information about a wide variety of situations we come across in everyday life.

Scottish Association for Mental Health

www.samh.org.uk

Samaritans

If you need someone to listen & support you with impartial advice who wont tell anyone. No matter what your age you may find talking helps.
Tel: 0345 909090 (charged at local rate)
or pop in for a friendly chat or write a letter to:
The Samaritans, 66 Tomnahurich Street, Inverness

NHS A-Z Help-Direct

NHS A-Z Help-Direct is an easy to use Internet database, covering support groups and organisations all over the country, as well as help in accessing health and social care services http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/a-z/

Highlands

• Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board
• Wester Ross
• Feis Rois
• Taxi, coach hire, and tour services in Ullapool
• Lochbroom Self Drive
• Lochbroom FM
• Scottish Landscape Photographs
• Ullapool Guitar Festival
• Ullapool Virtual Tour
• Buy Scottish Smoked Salmon

Finding People or Businesses

• BT Directory Enquiries
• World Online Phone Books
• Yellow Pages Online
• Royal Mail postcode finder
• Royal Mail address finder
• Friends Reunited
• companies house

Useful websites

• Make Money With Your Pc Guide
• The National Lottery Results
• NHS Direct Online
• Health File
• UK GIG GUIDE
• The countryside Agency
• North Highland Forest Trust
• What’s on stage
• Timetables for all UK Train Companies
• UK wide directory of WebCams
• CIA Factbook about the United Kingdom
• National grant scheme for local groups
• The World Clock

UK Travel Sites

• Enjoy Britain