KCN - Issue 36 Apr-May 2019

Kings wells

Issue 36 Apr-May ‘19 Free bi-monthly magazine

Community News a gazette magazine

Successfully introducing local people - local businesses since 2005

admissions@rgc.aberdeen.sch.uk +44 (0)1224 646346 www.rgc.aberdeen.sch.uk/nursery Charity No. SC000123

Get in touch...

Sue Gregory phone : 01383 279 355 email : kingswells@

gazettemagazines.com web : www.gazettemagazines.com

Bi-monthly magazine Issue

37 38 39 40 41 42

Deadline

20 May ‘19 20 Jul ‘19 20 Sep ‘19 20 Nov ‘19 20 Jan ‘20 20 Mar ‘20

Mag date

Jun-Jul Aug-Sept Oct-Nov Dec-Jan Feb-Mar Apr-May

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A thank you to our delivery team ...

Bruce, Carol, Gillian, Catherine, Zander+Nicola, Meg, Marie, Wendy, Karen, Gillian, Fiona, Rosemary, Aimee, Chelsea, Suzanne, Peter, Jim+Val, Stuart, Carol-Anne, Catrina, Tina, Larry+Brenda.

Disclaimer : Whilst we’d be flattered if you would like to borrow something from the gazette be polite and ask first!

Thank you. We try our hardest to ensure accuracy of editorial content but no responsibility can be taken for any errors and/or omissions. The views expressed within the gazette are not necessarily those of the publisher or advertisers.

When replying to offers, competitions and other correspondence, we would strongly recommend that you check published information with each organisation beforehand. All artwork is accepted on strict condition that permission has been given for use in this publication.

We thank you for taking the time to read the small print.

OMG it’s Easter...

I really must be getting old as the year is already into the second quarter! Just feel’s like yesterday I was celebrating Christmas.

Thank you for taking the time to enter last issue’s competition. The winners were W Campbell, S Miles and M Mills - I do hope you all had a lovely evening.

So let’s kick start April by popping along to see the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra on 27 April following on with Kingswells Primary School Fair. Then delight the whole family by paying a visit to the Mayfest - lots of exciting things to do there. End it with an animal blessing at Craigiebuckler Church on 02 June.

For all the designer people out there then Scott Gilmour is delighted to let you know he has the new collection of Mulberry glasses as revealed at London Fashion Week in February.

Sometimes you want to move but not out of the area - well why not take a look at the new houses being built by Stewart Milne. If you are happy where you are then I’m hoping the weather will be kind and you can endeavour to get the garden back in shape.

I’ll be back with a new magazine for you in June, please do get in touch if you have anything you would like included.

Deadline is 20 May.

New

contact details for Kingswells Public Hall Call Alison on 07512 470 689

Sue x Do you need general garden maintenance?

Private garden Commercial Turf prep & laying Tree/shrub planting & pruning Snow clearing and gritting Contact :

Sam : 07947 640 147

SG Gardening Solutions Home and Commercial Services

How to Wake-up Refreshed Do you spring out of bed each morning with the bright eyes and energy of a five-year-old on Christmas morning? No, me neither.

But there are a few tips which might help: Get enough sleep – It’s so obvious it actually does need stating: most of us do not get anywhere near enough sleep. Sleep needs vary from person to person, but most of us need at least eight hours uninterrupted shut-eye. I haven’t slept like that since my children were born, and the oldest is now eight!

Make your room dark and quiet – Too much extraneous light and noise is not conducive to good sleep. Invest in thick curtains or a sleep mask if light is an issue and soft earplugs if your neighbour has noisy dogs or a twitchy car alarm.

Renew your mattress – Mattresses do not last forever. They become saggy and less supportive with age, which makes us fidget and interferes with the quality of our sleep. A good mattress should support your spine and allow your body to relax totally.

Have a bath – Yes really. A soak before bed will relax your muscles and calm your mind. Lavender bath products are especially good at inducing sleep.

Clear your head – It’s difficult to sleep if your head is still whirring from the events of the day.

Concentrate on your breathing and allow thoughts to float away. Anything you are dealing with will still be there tomorrow and you’ll cope better if you’ve had a good night’s sleep.

By Louise Addison

Pushing Out the Boat Issue 15 has landed!

Launched at Newton Dee on 7 April, the latest edition of North-East Scotland’s unique magazine of new writing and visual arts boasts an array of inspiring work by talented writers and artists, from far away and ‘just aroon the corner’.

Within its pages 'nd humour, pathos and drama in Doric, Scots and English, next to stimulating works of art.

Read about POTB and where to buy your own copy at http://www.pushingouttheboat.co.uk.

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Care @ Home Aberdeen Nursing Agency provides the highest quality of care, leading the field in customer service. We believe that care matters and we are committed to providing the highest quality Homecare across Aberdeenshire so that customers can remain in their own home.

What makes our homecare services different is that we put you first. We aim to provide you with the same standard of care that we would expect for our own families. This means offering a bespoke service to each of our customers.

We offer flexible homecare and support services tailored exactly to your care needs. These could be anything from a 1 Hour visit to 24 hour live in care. Whatever your needs, our dedicated team are happy to talk to you about your requirements.

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Kingswells Primary School News Young Leaders of Learning We are delighted to be part of The Young Inspectors Programme, which has been designed by Education Scotland to involve children and young people in school improvement activity. The aim is to support schools’ own self-evaluation as pupils learn to share reflections from their own environment and become more familiar with the language and processes of school improvement.

Our team of 8 Young Leaders of Learning have attended 2 training sessions; one at Bucksburn Academy with their Young Leaders of Learning and one in school with Maxine Jolly from Education Scotland. Following this training we teamed up with Hazlehead Primary School and both groups of Young Leaders have now visited each school, focusing on Relationships during the visits.

Pupils from Hazlehead praised our use of Class Dojo for building relationships between staff, pupils and their families, our sensory room because it allowed pupils a space where they could build relationships with peers and members of staff aswell as a private space where they could have support to manage their emotions. Our cross-stage work was commended along with our celebrating diversity board which highlights the huge number of languages spoken by pupils across our school.

Our pupils enjoyed learning how pupils at Hazlehead come together for House time and praised their Improvement Tree, their Incredible Work Board and their list of ’95 things to do at Hazlehead.’

We are looking forward to our weekly meetings in school to work on our next steps as a result of these visits. This is a fantastic opportunity for our Young Leaders of Learning to develop skills for life and be involved in a new Scottish initiative. Pupils were thrilled to receive their letter of thanks for their work on the project from Education Scotland.

Child Protection and Safeguarding As part of your local community Kingswells School would like to share their Child Protection and Safeguarding Policies with you. These policies are available on the school website via the following links: Child Protection https://kingswells.aberdeen.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/Child-protectionpolicy-2018.pdf Safeguarding https://kingswells.aberdeen.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/SafeguardingPolicy-2018.pdf If you ever believe a child is at immediate risk you should call 999 or 101 immediately.

£20–£22 Under 16s £7

(including booking fee)

SATURDAY

27 APRIL

BOX OFFICE 01224 641122 or visit

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Kingswells Primary School News Kingswells School Vision, Values and Aims Kingswells School staff, pupils and parents, have been working hard to develop an updated Vision and Aims for the school. These will be on display at our upcoming Parents’ Evenings where parents and carers will be invited to share any feedback. If any members of the local community wish to share any thoughts on our new Vision and Aims we would welcome this via email to the school office; kingswells@aberdeencity.gov.uk . School values remain unchanged but have been included for your reference.

Kingswells School Vision At Kingswells School we aspire to have learners with a growth mindset who believe in themselves. Through promoting a culture of belonging they will be able to celebrate differences and be truly inclusive. In providing teaching and support of the highest quality, we will create an environment where children are happy, safe, motivated to learn together and embody our school values.

Kingswells School Aims Through a nurturing, inclusive environment Kingswells School Aims to: »» Promote creativity, innovation and aspiration; »» Develop independence, resilience and confidence; »» Equip all with skills for success in the wider world; »» Empower all to achieve potential; »» Build effective partnerships within and beyond our school community.

01224 594588 32 Ashley Road, Aberdeen AB10 6RJ

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Latest News

Readers are reminded that a full account of Community Council business and other local and Aberdeen news is available on our website at http://www.kwells.org

Defibrillators -

Did you know that there are 4 units in Kingswells?

They are located outside the Chemist, inside the community centre, at the doctor’s surgery and more recently at Kingswells church. We hope that these Defib units never need to be used, however regardless it is important that we know where the units are located and how to use them. Whilst the unit itself will guide you through the process, additional training has recently been carried out by both Kingswells Community Council and Westhill and Kingswells First Responders. We will be holding more training sessions in the future so watch out for these dates being advertised.

Changes within the Kingswells Community Council -

Regretfully in February Ian Cox resigned from the KCC with immediate effect. We would like to thank Ian for his many years of participation in, and commitment to, the community council of which he undertook most of the office bearing roles during his long tenure. We wish Ian all the best for the future.

AGM – The KCC held its first AGM under the new leadership of Russell Ritchie and the following people were nominated for and accepted the office bearing roles as follows ◊ Russell Ritchie – Chair ◊ John Farquharson – Vice Chair ◊ Dianne Stewart – Secretary ◊ Denise Poole – Treasurer ◊ David Simpson – Planning Officer ◊ Other Community Council members include –

Edosa Akioya, Alex Carnie, Craig Coates, Kevin MacLeod, Stephanie Jackman &

Aileen Shinnie The minutes from the AGM will be uploaded to the Website in due course.

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Local Development Plan – Consultation has now begun and its very important that every resident or business in Kingswells is aware of these proposals. Whilst a number of these proposal have already been rejected by the council they may not disappear entirely and could be resubmitted by the developer. If you don’t register your concern or comment on the proposals now, then it may be too late to do so in the future. Click on our web site for more info https://kwells. org/ Website Redevelopment – We have had a whopping 212 visits to our new temporary landing page since it was launched a few weeks ago.

Development on the design and content for this inclusive community based website has now commenced and we would like to hear from any businesses, organisations, event organisers, youth groups and residents who are based or promote groups in the Kingswells area. Please use the form on the website to get in touch.

Social Media and IT Infrastructure – Due to some technicalities it’s likely that we will have to create new social media profiles, website hosting and domain names for KCC use. We do not anticipate any disruption during transition and are delighted to be working with Brian Woodcock from local organisation SHMU who are experts in media and digital communications.

Dog mess – Despite previous articles in the KCN on this, we are still receiving complaints of irresponsible dog walker and owners who are failing to pick up after their pooches mess.

This is a statutory offence and we encourage anyone who witnesses such irresponsible behaviour to report it through the Aberdeen Council web site at https://www. aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/environment/dog-wardens/dog-fouling.

Spring is here! – Here’s some pictures of the lovely spring flowers in our picturesque suburb of Kingswells.

Huge thanks to all the residents, friends and family who volunteered and helped plant the donated bulbs around our community.

Looking to advertise ? Call Sue t : 01383 279 355

e : kingswells@gazettemagazines.com

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Grit distribution – In the most recent edition of the Kingswells Focus (issue 36) we would like to reiterate the article stating that many grit bins may no longer be refilled by the council however instead free grit will be available in 20 locations across the city including the Kingswells Park & Ride - whilst we may feel that winter is behind us, we do live in the North East so being aware of this change could be important.

Community engagement – As part of our drive to increase the profile of the KCC and be more engaged with the whole community, we are delighted to inform you that representatives from the KCC will be in attendance at the Kingswells Primary school May Fair on Saturday the 11th of May, please come along and say hello we are looking forward to meeting you!

Budget cuts – You are probably aware that the council are looking to make significant reductions to their budget. Following our AGM in March it was unclear as to what services or impact this was likely to have in our community however, we will keep you updated of this as soon as possible.

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Guess who is stocking Mulberry frames?

Mulberry, an iconic British fashion brand officially launched its Eyewear range at London Fashion Week, earlier this year.

Scott Gilmour Optometrists are delighted to announce frames are now available at their practice in Cults.

Each and every Mulberry frame can be strongly recognised thanks to its distinctive detailing and precious quality. Mulberry eyewear is a marriage in which form, light and colour are shaped by the skillful hands of master craftsmen, using state of the art production processes.

Interesting fact... Mulberry’s founder, Roger Saul, established the brand at his kitchen table in 1971, with £500 backing from his mother. His sister designed the instantly recognisable tree logo - both that, and the name “Mulberry” come from the trees he would pass each day on his way to school.

Professional eye care for all the family at Scott Gilmour Optometrists, 5 The Courtyard, North Deeside Road, Cults, AB15 9SD Telephone 01224 863344 Email : info@sgoptom.co.uk www.scottgilmouroptometrists.co.uk Free parking available too.

A

berdeen jazz singer Jill Torvaney will launch her 3rd album “Brief Encounters” on April 7th at The Blue Lamp.

The original songs are inspired by the great songwriters of the last century and draw on themes such as romance and chance meeting. Renowned guitarist Graeme Stephen features on the album. The single “Serendipity” is available online.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy7bh4_Q4gQ

Jill has been active as a jazz singer and composer for the past decade, and is looking forward to showcasing the new album’s material in forthcoming gigs. The album will be available on ITunes, Amazon, and other similar platforms. CDs are available at gigs and select outlets throughout the Aberdeen area.

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The Fairley

Dream of having space for a home gym? Enjoy working from home but need room for a home office? Would love a separate space to relax and enjoy your 50” flat screen television? Or just want a room for all the kids’ toys!

T

hese are just some of the options you could consider when deciding how to use the fantastic space in the stunning Fairley townhouse, exclusive to the highly sought after neighbourhood of Den View, Kingswells.

As well as the additional room on the ground floor the Fairley boasts a spacious utility room, an integral single garage with light and power and attractive paviour driveway giving this home instant kerb appeal.

Upstairs features a well-appointed, modern and spacious dining-kitchen, complete with high specification integrated appliances, and your choice of cupboard and worktop finish. This space is fantastic for entertaining, with room for a dining table plus French Doors that open directly to your own private garden. Perfect for hosting barbeques during summer months.

To the front of the house is a generous lounge with spectacular picture windows filling your home with natural light. For added convenience this floor also features a wc/cloakroom, with storage.

The top floor has a generous master bedroom with fitted wardrobe and en-suite shower room, plus 2 further bedrooms, both with fitted wardrobes. The family bathroom includes a separate bath and shower enclosure finished with your choice of superior quality Porcelanosa tiles.

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Den View is a small neighbourhood of luxury homes ideally located just 6 miles from Aberdeen’s west-end, near the urban village which features a gym, swimming pool and Starbucks. A few minutes’ drive and you are in Westhill which boasts amenities including Tesco and Marks and Spencer. Kingswells itself also has shops, a doctors surgery, primary school, café and restaurant.

If you’re looking for a luxury lifestyle in a quiet, friendly neighbourhood, with all the benefits of urban living, Den View, Kingswells is the perfect place to call home.

Stewart Milne Homes offer a range of support and incentives to help you move home. From Part Exchange to 5% deposit match, LBTT support to flooring packages, we have a solution for you.

Visit our sales centre and let us make your dream home a reality.

3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes £310,000 to £429,000 The showhome and marketing suite is open Thursday to Monday from 11am - 5.30pm.

For further information call 0845 900 3676 or visit stewartmilnehomes.com

Read Right!

Could your child benefit from a binocular vision exam?

When Sarah’s 10-year-old daughter complained of headaches after school, she did what any sensible parent would do and booked an eye test. After a 15-minute exam she was told that Maisie did not need any glasses and that there was nothing wrong with her.

After a few months, Maisie’s symptoms hadn’t disappeared, and her grades were suffering.

“She didn’t want to read and was falling behind in class.”

Sarah took her back to the optician, who this time gave Maisie some glasses.

“She wore them for a couple of weeks but gave up after that as they weren’t helping, in fact she said that they made things worse for seeing the whiteboard.”

Sarah’s friend advised her to take Maisie to

AS SEEN ON

see the optometrist who had helped her son when he had struggled with similar issues.

“Immediately I could see that this was a different kind of eye exam.” We didn’t feel rushed. The optometrist was really interested the type of difficulties Maisie was experiencing, when they happened, and how she coped with them. She performed a whole battery of tests and explained everything as she was going along. She told us that Maisie was having difficulty co-ordinating her eyes so was having to put in more effort to ‘see’, and as she became more tired with the effort of school and study, it became harder and harder for her to keep up the co-ordination, so she just gave up. It all made sense. She’d come home grouchy, rubbing her eyes and with a headache. It was all too much for her.”

Optometrists who specialise in what is known as Behavioural Optometry, or who run specialist binocular vision clinics understand that an eye examination should be about more than whether a child can read the bottom line of a chart some distance away. In a classroom eyes need work as a team at all distances. They should be able to point accurately at the same point on a page, then be able to refocus quickly and

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accurately on the whiteboard and back again, hundreds of times per day. They need to be able scan across lines of text without drifting off to another line. If eyes can’t work as a team, children might try for a while but often develop unhelpful coping mechanisms like turning their head, screwing their eyes up, and excessive blinking. Eventually they give up and may become disenfranchised from learning.

Some groups of children, like those with dyslexia, or those with underlying health conditions are more susceptible to the binocular vision system malfunctioning.

Binocular vision examinations measure the ability of the child’s eyes to work together, and then the optometrist can make helpful suggestions, such as glasses, or exercises (sometimes called vision therapy), or a mixture of both. Occasionally coloured overlays might prove useful too.

Unfortunately, these types of examination are not available on the NHS, but Sarah says that her money was well spent. “Maisie had some new glasses and a short course of exercises. Within weeks her grades had picked up and she was coming home more cheerful and with no headaches. I would recommend that all parents should take their child for a specialist eye examination if they feel something is wrong.”

Useful websites: babo.co.uk

By Kath McLean

Professional eye care for all the family

5 The Courtyard, North Deeside Road, Cults, Aberdeen AB15 9SD T: 01224 863344 E: info@sgoptom.co.uk www.scottgilmouroptometrists.co.uk FREE PARKING AVAILABLE Looking to advertise ? Call Sue t : 01383 279 355

e : kingswells@gazettemagazines.com

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Lifting the taboo on death planning Scotland’s first event dedicated to life and death planning is to be held at the Aberdeen Treetops in August 2019.

‘Dying Matters : Planning Ahead 2019’ aims to lift the taboo and encourage visitors to the event to talk to local and national experts about life and death planning such as end of life care, funeral arrangements and wealth management.

Gavin Esslemont of event organisers Etiom Events, comments “It was Benjamin Franklin who said, ‘Nothing is certain except for death and taxes’, yet death is such a taboo subject that no-one wants to talk about. Unfortunately, in most circumstances, unlike a wedding for example, you don’t get any notice. When your time is up, it’s up. And quite often, arrangements are left to distressed family and friends who have to make important decisions very quickly.

We have designed this event to make it easier for people to access experts that can support in planning ahead for life and death matters.”

Over forty industry experts will be on hand to discuss matters such as funerals, will-writing, palliative care, bereavement counselling, funeral officiants, wealth management and tax planning organisations.

Karen Farquhar, celebrant and co-founder of the event, comments “Most, if not all, of the clients that I meet on a daily basis to discuss a funeral service have so many questions that remain unanswered, yet are expected to make huge decisions whilst being in a distressed state.

They want to know what the difference is between a religious humanist and celebrant service, how much the funeral is going to cost, what happens if there is no will in place, inheritance tax, etc.. Dying Matters : Planning Ahead will help to answer these questions in a relaxed informal venue.”

Visitors to the event will be able to engage with exhibitors all day, attend seminars and leave being much more aware and in control of their life and death planning.

Further information on this event can be found at http://dyingmattersaberdeen.co.uk.

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HS

Anxiety/High functioning anxiety

can bring about a hidden anxiety. Meetings, presentations and public speaking are common issues for which people seek support, even if they are physically able to get through them.

Anxiety is one of the issues I see plenty of in my Aberdeen clinic but in recent years, I’ve worked with a growing number of clients with a specific type of anxiety - High Functioning Anxiety.

The oil and gas downturn in the local area has created a significant amount of stress and anxiety, which sets the scene for this type of anxiety disorder. This is characterized by anxiety that bubbles away under the surface and isn’t visible to other people. Many people with High Functioning Anxiety continue to perform well at work and also appear “normal” in their home and social lives. Eventually, the underlying anxiety reaches a tipping point.

Here’s a testimonial from a client struggling with anxiety and public speaking:

The stressful corporate world is another big trigger for anxiety and High Functioning Anxiety. The pressure to succeed and hit certain targets can be hugely stressful and

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Looking for something interesting to do?

The Gordon Highlanders Museum would like to welcome more Volunteers to our Tea Room, Reception, Education, Museum Guide and Maintenance roles.

To find out more please contact: volunteering@gordonhighlanders.com

Why do we Love a Superhero?

The Hancock household is eagerly awaiting the release of Avengers: Endgame (current release date April 26th). It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say my entire family are hooked on the whole superhero genre.

And we’re not alone. All over the country there are regular debates about whether Superman would beat Thor in a fight, or why Iron Man is two words while Batman is only one.

Our kids dress up like them and carry packed lunches in plastic boxes emblazoned with their images (actually some adults do this too.) But why?

According to recent research from Kyoto University in Japan, our love of superheroes starts before we can talk. In a series of experiments, infants as young as six months were shown short animations in which one figure chased and bumped into a second.

Meanwhile, a third figure watched from afar. In version A, the third figure steps in and prevents the collision, while in version B it runs away without intervening.

After watching the clips, the infants were presented with replicas of both the intervening and the non-intervening third figures. They consistently preferred the one who saved the day. These results suggest that babies are capable of understanding and recognising heroism.

Further experiments showed that extremely young babies couldn’t tell the difference

between a saviour who was simply in the right place at the right time, and one who actively stepped in to help. They didn’t grasp the nuances. But by just 18 months old they did understand that difference and preferred the hero. This suggests that our concept of justice, and heroism develops very early on.

As we grow up superhero stories seem to resonate with us. We identify with the themes, with the dilemmas and problems that superheroes face, and we aspire to their noble impulses and heroic acts. We identify with them because often they are created in our image, albeit a larger than life version of that image.

It helps that most superheroes are flawed.

They are not bloodless examples of ‘goodness and virtue’ but real individuals who are prey to their emotions and environment yet who strive to overcome their foibles and triumph anyway.

Some characters like Batman and Iron Man have overcome trauma to become superheroes. In psychology this is called post-traumatic growth and it gives us hope that we too can overcome difficulties in our lives and become stronger people.

There is something both empowering and uplifting about watching your favourite superhero emerge victorious at the end of a story, which is why I will be queuing at the cinema on April 26th with Mrs. Hancock and all the little Hancocks. See you there.

By Tom Hancock

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Kingswells Community Centre It’s coming up to spring and nicer weather (hopefully!) The MUGA at Webster Park is available for football or basketball, so whether you want a game or just a kick around its free to use.

The Centre donated £1000 towards new playground equipment at Kingswells Primary. City Swinging Steps with Trapeze Walk and a Loud Speaker has replaced the climbing wall that was originally there.

In the Coffee Shop we thought we would introduce milkshakes, look out for our new Sweet Centred chocolate and Heart of the Community strawberry shakes.

This quarter the activities we are focusing on are Happy Hands Craft Group and Marie Law’s Pilates.

Happy Hands Craft Group

Happy Hands craft group is now running weekly at Kingswells Community Centre on Wednesday afternoons from 1 - 3 pm.

Studies have shown that there are health benefits from social ties so come along !!

Knitting, crochet, cross stitch,sewing and other handicraftsare catered for and we are happy share our skills.

It is open to all interested in craft from beginners to skilled. If you love a creative activity and getting together with friends you will be warmly welcomed.

Marie Law Pilates I’m Marie Law and I have been teaching Pilates at Kingswells for the last 3 years, running classes at both Webster Park and the main Centre. When living in Norway and working in the Oil Industry I started attending Pilates classes due to lower back pain. I found it so helpful that when I returned to Aberdeen I decided to learn to teach Pilates myself and spread the word! My classes are small, maximum 10 people, as for me it’s important to get to know my clients and give them individual attention.

I run 4 classes at the moment, a Beginners Class, an Intermediate and 2 mixed level classes. In Pilates it’s always possible to give various options for the same exercise so that within a class people can work at their own level. I have undertaken additional training so that I can work with ante & post natal clients either within a class or 1:1. All classes are 55mins and I provide small equipment such as balls, resistance bands and blocks.

Webster Park Tuesday 5.30pm Beginners Tuesday 6.30pm Intermediate Kingswells CC Wednesday 5.30pm Mixed Level Wednesday 6.30pm Mixed Level Law4Pilates@gmail.com mob. 07450052060 www.facebook.com/Law4Pilates

The fee is £1 pppw.

Contact : Community Centre - 01224 741806 / Wendy Whyte - 07931 403478

Looking to advertise ? Call Sue t : 01383 279 355

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25

News from Councillor Delaney...

It’s uncanny how I started out last time talking about Brexit and two months later, as I write this, nobody is any the wiser.

March 29th will have come and gone and some decisions will have had to be taken by then, but I’m not going to dwell on that when so much is going on locally.

given further assurances that the situation as reported was “most certainly understood”, being “closely monitored” by their technical advisers and “should the monitoring indicate that enhancements to the junction are required, then these will be considered accordingly”.

With the AWPR finally open along its complete length, the new road is having a positive effect on journey times within the city, not to mention the benefits seen by residents who need to travel north of Bridge of Don or south of Milltimber.

However, there is increased congestion on the A944 as a principal feeder route at peak times.

There have been mixed views as to whether or not the suggestion of traffic signals would help resolve matters. I’m presently open minded as to how best to resolve matters as long as public safety remains at the heart of any decisions.

However, I have said that if a traffic light is to be the favoured solution they should be operational only at peak times and light sequences should be triggered by demand related to traffic flows on these two roads, rather than on fixed timings.

A number of concerns have been raised in respect of getting on or off the AWPR/A944 at the Kingswells South junction at peak times. My understanding is that there’s been at least one accident and several near misses. The response to my initial enquiry was that it takes time for people to get used to new roads and a full evaluation would be undertaken after 12 months looking at various factors including accident statistics.

This concerned me as it seemed like Transport Scotland were going to sit back for 12 months waiting for accidents to happen.

After pursuing matters I was

26

On a related matter I have once again stepped up efforts to get the hatched area on the A944 on the westwards approach to the Kingswells roundabout either reduced or removed as it artificially restricts traffic movements at peak times.

I had previously been advised this area would be shortened by about 5-7 cars lengths last Spring. Personally I never could understand why it was put there in the first place.

Unfortunately this shortening never happened and the matter

is currently on hold pending clarification of certain proposals connected to the Countesswells development. I am expecting further clarity in the next few weeks.

On a completely different issue, I have been informed that a proposal on the removal of recycling facilities at Kingswells Park & Ride will go to committee in June. The logic behind this proposal is based upon the fact we can now recycle more items through our household recycling and those items which are not recyclable through those means can be recycled at the Hazlehead Recycling Centre and others across the city.

Currently recycling is only collected from Kingswells every two weeks. When it starts to overflow some people leave their recycling dumped beside the bins and it blows around making a real mess at the Park & Ride.

My own view is that the facility should be enclosed and more frequent collections made.

Ideally I would not like to see the facility go, but the current situation cannot continue with rubbish being blown all over the place. It is however more than likely to go in the current financial climate.

Last but not least is the ongoing saga regarding the poor condition of the road beside the Co-op, one which has been

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raised by a significant number of residents.

This road is neither owned nor maintained by the council. I have been in touch with the organisation responsible for its upkeep and I am working towards a hopefully positive outcome with them.

The time taken to resolve this is as unacceptable as the condition of the road itself, but please rest assured I will continue to pursue this matter.

As always, please get in touch to raise any concerns you may have. I am easily contactable by email or telephone and I hold regular surgeries

Kingswells SWI February12th President Margaret Farquhar welcomed members who enjoyed a talk and slide show by author and historian David Northcroft on Grampian lives living through the 20th century. One member recognising herself in one of the photographs.

Competition winners.

2 Butterfly Cakes.

1st Margaret Bruce 2nd Margaret Robinson 3rd Pam Stuart.

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at Kingswells Community Centre. Please check out the local press or my website for details.

Regards Steve Delaney Councillor Steve Delaney Home Tel: 01224 694469 Work Tel: 01224 346614 Email: sdelaney@aberdeencity.gov.uk Web: www.delaney.org.uk Facebook: CllrDelaney Twitter: CllrDelaney

Photograph of a Bridge.

1st Audrey Mitchell 2nd Margaret Farquhar 3rd Nora Campbell.

March 12th President Margaret Farquhar welcomed members and introduced Rebecca Buchan who gave a talk on Sue Ryder’s purpose built care centre it’s the only one in Scotland at Dee View Court Aberdeen, that provides 24/7 care for 18-65 year olds.

Competition winners.

Mocktail.

1st Margaret Farquhar.

2nd Stella Gauld.

3rd Audrey Mitchell.

Painted Glass.

1st Stella Gauld.

2nd Mary Sheran.

3rd Audrey Mitchell.

Meetings are held in the Kingswells church hall on the second Tuesday of the month new members welcome.

Margaret Bruce

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27

Mark McDonald MSP

people of the North East and the economy as a whole, it is not without its problems.

Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeen Donside Constituency

A number of road users have contacted me regarding excessive congestion experienced when leaving the AWPR to join the Kingswells roundabout at the A944. Drivers report traffic build up blocking the inside lane of the AWPR on its approach to Kingswells from the North, as drivers struggle to negotiate the traffic volumes on the new roundabout. I recently asked Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity whether the Scottish Government will consider traffic management options, including peak time traffic lights, for this junction. I am assured that technical advisors are closely monitoring this location, and that if enhancements are deemed necessary, this will be reported to Transport Scotland, and consideration will be discussed with the local authority. Meantime, drivers are advised to travel with additional caution not only until they are fully familiar with the new route, but presuming that other drivers may not be quite so familiar.

Representing the people of Aberdeen Donside my role includes meeting with constituents, local organisations and groups to hear about the issues that affect their day to day lives and raise these with the most relevant agencies. From education to health, housing to employment and many other areas beyond, I receive a wide variety of correspondence and always stand ready to support constituents in achieving positive outcomes for and with them. If you feel that there is an issue that I can assist you with, please do not hesitate to contact my office or come and see me at one of my regular surgeries. I am always happy to do what I can to try and help people, no matter what their issues may be.

Reflecting constituent concerns, I repeatedly addressed the long overdue completion of the AWPR to the Rural Economy & Connectivity Committee and via questions to the Transport Secretary. The entire 36-mile route fully opened on Tuesday 19th February following months of delays to the project.

Whilst the overwhelmingly positive feedback to the new route demonstrates the positive impact that infrastructure can bring to the

Mark McDonald MSP - Your Local Voice for Aberdeen Donside.

L

et me start by introducing myself I am one of the Sergeants based at Bucksburn Police Station. Kingswells is one of the areas that my officers and I cover.

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I started working as a Police officer 18 years ago in Bucksburn, I’ve worked in a variety of areas however feel most purposeful when working in uniform policing and in local communities.

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My officers and I are always appreciative of any information we receive from residents in the area and are keen for that to continue. If you see anything suspicious then please contact 101 to report it. Your information may be the missing piece in our jigsaw.

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If you receive a caller to your home and you are unsure of who they are, use a door chain, if you have one, ask to see their work identification and if still in doubt don’t let them in and call 101 to let us know your suspicions.

I’ve been told better weather is approaching and I’m sure some of us will start work in the garden soon. Can I ask that you be aware of leaving doors open whilst working in the garden that no one else takes advantage of this.

Also, help us in making sure that your vehicles and homes are locked at night even during the day when you are there. Try to leave keys out of reach from the front door and out of sight to those looking in.

Kingswells is a vibrant and safe community and my officers and I are keen to assist you in any Police relevant matters.

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Bob the Grass Man Call 07813 029 083 Regular Grass Cutting & Maintenance.

Artificial Grass Laying and Maintenance.

Aberdeen City Libraries @ Kingswells Community Centre

Aberdeen City Libraries deliver a fortnightly service to the Kingswells community on Fridays from 2.50 pm to 3.50 pm in the hall at Kingswells Community Centre on Kingswells Avenue.

A selection of books and DVDs, suitable for all ages, are available for loan and library staff are on hand to answer enquiries and assist with reading choices. Reservations may be placed for stock that is not on display. Theme events will take place at libraries throughout the holidays; further details are available at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ Library For further info : Home Service Library tel. 01224 498930

RUGBYTOTS ABERDEEN

Classes weekly – age 2 to 7 [Free Taster Sessions Available] Banchory AM – Saturday Airyhall - AM Sunday Craigiebuckler - AM Sun

Westhill - AM Sunday Cults - AM Wed/PM Thurs

For more information contact : aberdeen@rugbytots.co.uk or www.rugbytots.co.uk

Next deadline 20 May for the June/July magazines

Gordonians Hockey Club - Youth Coaching

from 27/28 Aug until late May - Children attending any school Copper Squad (typically age 6-7) TueS - 5.45 - 6.45pm Bronze Squad (typically age 8-9) TueS - 5.45 - 7.00pm Silver Squad (typically 10-11) - TueS 5.45 - 7.00pm Gold Squad (typically 12-13) - Mon 5.45 - 7.00pm £80 for the entire season (family discounts apply) RGC Astroturf pitches, Countesswells Road, AB15 8AR Contact John Mowat tel: 07525 811 039

Grampian Woodturners

Last Sun of each month (except Dec) at 2pm St Devenick’s Church Hall, Bieldside.

Experienced turners and novices are all welcome and training is available. Contact: (01651) 863 007 e: themackay@gmail.com www.grampianwoodturners.co.uk

for neighbourly advice...phone Phil

Did you know that two of our staff members, Ryan (Finance Monthly’s UK Pension Adviser of the Year 2017 and 2018) and our mortgage adviser Kenny live in Kingswells and Westhill?

And did you know that along with our office in Westhill we offer home visits to make discussing your finances as convenient as possible?

So if you live in the local area and fancy a neighbourly chat to discuss how we can help then get in touch on 01224 330570.

Our first visit is totally free. All you need to do is put on the kettle, we'll try and remind them to bring along some biscuits.

philandersonfinancial.co.uk web | admin@philandersonfinancial.co.uk email Westhill Business Centre, Arnhall Business Park, Westhill, AB32 6UF 01224 330570 office Phil Anderson Financial Services Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

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