Deeside - Issue 15 - Oct-Nov 2012

Issue 15 October-November 2012

Deeside Edition Free Publication

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Win a Body MOT with Biomedical Clinic see pg 3

Deeside gazette thru the door : Drumoak, Banchory, Torphins and Aboyne

Issue 15 October-November 2012

Deeside Edition Free Publication

gazette ine

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Win a Body MOT with Biomedical Clinic see pg 3

deadline : Nov-Dec mag 26 October 2012 contact : Sue Simpson tel : 01224 - 318561 mob : 07813 964 875 email : gazette@fsmail.net w : thegranitecitygazette.co.uk Ad-hoc contributions from : Sarah Davey - Debbie Singh-Bhatti - Carol Brown - Lee Bestall - Bill Kirton Advertising Sales : Sue Simpson : 01224 - 318561 Distribution - thanks to : Sue - Liz - Valerie - Lewis - Stuart - Ross Allie - Ben

Distributor wanted for

Corse Road Area (Banchory) Torphins - whole of village!

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. We thank you for taking the time to read the small print. All artwork is accepted on strict condition that permission has been given for use in this publication.

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A note from Sue… Orange really sums up October, doesn’t it?

What with the squash family, the leaves on the trees, or rather the leaves on the ground, the glow from the pumpkins on Halloween – definitely an orange month!

The keen gardener amongst us will already have done the final cut on the lawn and busy planting spring bulbs, pruning and general tidying up. For those that are not so sure of what to do Lee has some gardening tips for you.

Pumpkin carving – in my day it was a “neep” you used – much, easier now. For the creative amongst you there is some unusual ideas over the page and I loved the idea of using a solar-panel night light!

There is a great competition for you, courtesy of the Biomedical Clinic, with an opportunity for you to WIN some great prizes. I’m going to give the BODY MOT a go. I’m curious to see how I’m doing inside! At present I’m doing a total detox – 30 days – 18 days in and already feeling the benefits. Skin is glowing. Hair is shiny. Plus, more energy!

Bonus – lost some inches! I’ll let you know the final results of the detox and the Body Mot next issue.

There is a great what’s on for the next few months towards the back of the magazine and don’t forget 28 October British Summer Time officially ends! Clocks back – extra hour – what will you do with yours?

Until the next time.

www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 - 318561 email : gazette@fsmail.net

Help ChildLine in Scotland make sure no child’s cry for help goes unheard At the NSPCC’s ChildLine service in Scotland we want to make sure that no child’s cry for help goes unheard - this is why we need more volunteers.

Thousands of children speak to a ChildLine in Scotland volunteer counsellor every year because they feel they have no one else to turn to about their worries or concerns. And now, in addition to the helpline, young people can also contact ChildLine about their concerns via oneto-one online counselling and email.

Last year, ChildLine’s Scottish volunteers offered support and advice to over 32,000 children from across the UK on a wide range of issues, including bullying, abuse and neglect.

Volunteers are at the heart of what we do and by joining us you can help make a difference to the lives of other young people.

Anyone can volunteer - no experience of counselling or working with children is needed and full training will be provided.

If you would like to find out more about volunteer opportunities at the Aberdeen base please contact Kerri Stewart on 0844 890 0200 or visit www.nspcc.org.uk/volunteer ChildLine is located on the 3rd Floor of Ruby House 8 Ruby Place, Aberdeen (off Golden Square)

Banchory Junior Golfers at Lumphanan Golf Club A team of 3 junior boys and 3 girls from Banchory Golf Club played in an interclub match on Saturday 15th September at Lumphanan Golf Club. The team was Scott Anderson, Reese Milne, Aiden Sangster, Cara Rough, Isla Ewart and Natalie Cowie.

They had a wonderful match against 6 junior boys from Lumphanan Golf Club in glorious sunshine and were made very welcome. The score was 2 1/2 - 1/2 to Lumphanan. They then went on to play in the junior 'olympic' fun golf event in the afternoon which was open to all junior golfers (ages ranged from 3 years upwards) - a great initiative to encourage young golfers! Banchory's Cara Rough won the girls section.

  competition  competition  competition          1st prize  BODY MOT £250.00  2nd prize  relaxing oxyjet dermabrasion + hydration + skin analysis £210.00  3rd prize  STRESS test £120.00  question: what is Biomedical Clinics ISO9001:2008 registered for? find the answer on http://www.biomedicalclinics.co.uk email your answer plus contact details to biomedclinics@gmail.com T & C’s apply. Entries close on 31st October ‘12. Winners will be announced on 2nd November. Prizes to be taken up before 25th November ’12 in Banchory. Prizes are transferrable but cannot be exchanged for cash

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Pumpkin Power How to carve a perfect Halloween Lantern Our American cousins know how to celebrate Halloween with style. One of the trademark symbols you’ll see outside almost every house at this time of year is a huge carved pumpkin, or Jack-o-lantern as they’re known across the pond.

lots of newspaper or plastic sheeting because pumpkin carving is a messy business.

There’s a knack to carving a great pumpkin lantern. If you want yours to be the envy of all your neighbours this October, follow our step-bystep guide.

Plan your design before you start. Draw a circle roughly the same size as the area you want to carve and get your children to help. If you’re stuck there are some great free templates available on the internet. Tape your design on to the pumpkin then use a cocktail stick to push through the paper to mark out the design. Then cut it out.

First choose the right pumpkin. Firm and smooth is best for beginners. Advanced or creative types might like a more gnarled and warty specimen.

Make sure there are no soft spots and that the stalk is nice and firm. Most importantly, make sure it sits up without rolling over, or your lantern will be a failure!

You can carve other veg, like turnips, though it’s more difficult to hollow them out. You can use cocktail sticks to fasten other small vegetables, like courgettes, carrots and tiny squashes to your lantern for decoration. With a bit of ingenuity you can give your pumpkin face ears or horns. Broccoli and cauliflower florets can make funky hair.

If you have to buy your pumpkin in advance, store it in a cool dry place, like the garage, to help keep it fresh.

The only limit is your imagination. The pumpkins in the photo were carved by a friend’s husband.

He hollowed out and carved a little pomegranate for his pumpkin monster to chomp on!

The best carved pumpkins require good tools. You can buy children’s pumpkin carving sets which work reasonably well for simple designs. However if you’re after something showy you’ll need a sharp kitchen knife with a long blade, a smaller paring knife and possibly a craft knife. A bradawl is useful too. These tools are adult-only for obvious reasons.

An ice cream scoop or large spoon is great for scooping out the flesh. Don’t forget to lay down

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Once you’ve created your masterpiece soak it in water for an hour. Then pop it on your doorstep for everyone to admire. If you’re worried about leaving a lit candle inside, try an electric tea light.

They flicker like the real thing but are totally safe.

Happy Halloween!

By Sarah Davey

www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 - 318561 email : gazette@fsmail.net

Well hello,

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I’m the whole of the top floor of a 3 flatted property.

I have a lounge, eat-in kitchen, bathroom and one bedroom.

I’m situated in a quiet street which has “free parking” (but we’ll whisper that so the council doesn’t hear). I am easy access to the beach and all the amenities it has to offer. Two large supermarkets. The University of Aberdeen. King Street which is great if you work at Bridge of Don or Aberdeen City and a fantastic bus service.

So what makes me so special...

Like I said, I’m the top floor of a 3-flatted property and my neighbours are all friendly. I have nice double-glazed windows and gas central heating to keep you toastie and a security entry system to keep you safe.

My present owner bought me six year’s ago as her first flat. At the time she had to pick social space over bedroom space and guess what - I won - as I had the social space she craved as a first time buyer and entertainer of friends! My bedroom maybe compromised but it still takes a double bed, a triple pine wardrobe and a chest of drawers and I can still get access to the bed!

My kitchen will take a table and chairs and comfortably sits four. I have shared outside space within a walled garden. I have ample storage space for all your extra bits and bobs and access to the loft space too!

I would be an ideal purchase for a first time buyer. A nice mummy and daddy looking for an investment whilst their children are at University. A buy-to-let opportunity for the would be entrepreneur.

So why not pick up your phone and book a viewing right now ... telephone 07746 669234. If I can get you through the door i don’t think you will be disappointed. I’m a snip at offers over £98,000 My full particulars and home report can be viewed at ASPC Reference: 294195 URL For This Property: http://www.aspc.co.uk/cgi-bin/public/SINGLE?ID=294195 I look forward to welcoming you as my new owner. please do mention the deeside gazette when responding to adverts

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The Big Draw The Big Draw. Have you heard of it? I hadn’t until I started doing the research for this article. All kinds of possibilities passed through my mind. Is it a lottery? Some kind of cowboy duel? Maybe a stalemate in some sporting activity? Or what about a huge pull-out storage compartment (although we all know this would be spelt ‘drawer’)?

No it’s not any of those things! The Big Draw is the world’s biggest celebration of drawing, organised by the charity Campaign for Drawing. Its aim is to raise the profile of drawing as a tool for thought, creativity, social and cultural engagement, and it plans to continue its work until the words ‘I can’t draw’ are dropped from our vocabulary!

The Big Draw is a month-long festival running throughout October in all parts of the UK and twenty other countries internationally. Over a thousand organisations are involved, running events that create opportunities for families, children and adults to draw with a large variety of media about a wide selection of subjects.

Big Draw organisers include educators at national, regional and local museums, galleries, heritage sites, libraries, parks, schools, universities, shopping and community centres, art clubs and village halls, who together run around 1,300 drawing events to engage their communities in creative activities.

By encouraging wide-scale public participation, The Big Draw aims to show that drawing can be a positive collaborative activity as well as a private passion. The Big Draw also encourages engagement with museum and gallery collections and increases civic participation by uniting people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures.

The Campaign for Drawing sees drawing as a basic human skill that is useful in all walks of life and that helps people see, think, invent and take action. This year the theme for the Big Draw is ‘Lines’, and participants are encouraged to do as Swiss artist Paul Klee once suggested, by ‘taking a line for a walk’.

The festival kicks-off with a free national launch at the Victoria and Albert Museum on 30 September. Big Draw, Big Make will bring together leading teams and individuals from some of the UK’s top design practices to show the importance of drawing across the creative industries.

If you are interested in taking part in the Big Draw and would like to know more about the events planned in your area, go to www.campaignfordrawing.org.

So many hobbies and pastimes these days are either difficult to pursue or afford, but drawing is neither. Both accessible and economical, it requires nothing more than a pencil and paper. If that isn’t reason enough to give it a try, I don’t know what is!

By Debbie Singh-Bhatti Venue: National Trust for Scotland Address: Drum Castle Drumoak, Aberdeenshire AB31 5EY Tel: 0844 493 2161 Website Event title: “Hear the Drum” Description: Visitors to the property are invited to contribute to the development of three storylines in our Sharing Stations through creating drawing inspired by the Castle (6th),

Tower (7th) and Old Wood (13th). Based on these creative ideas, community musician Petra Vergunst will compose three operainspired pieces of music that will be rehearsed in three hour-long workshops on Saturday 1st December.

Audience: All ages This event is open to the public Dates: October 6, 7, 13 11am-3pm Cost: No admission charge Event: Saturday 6th October - £4 adults; £2 concessions; Sunday 7th & Saturday 13th - no admission charge -------------------------------------------------------------Venue: Woodend Barn Address: Woodend Barn Banchory, Aberdeenshire AB31 5QA Tel: 01330 825431 Website Event title: “Collage & Drawing workshops in Lang Byre” Description: We will lay a table for a feast, and use this for inspiration to create collages using coloured papers, oil pastels, marker pens and graphite pencils. It will be a celebration of colour, and all ages are encouraged to join in. Each class will be taught by Lisa Gribbon or Hilary Duncan.

Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult Audience: All ages This event is open to the public Dates: October 22, 23 - 9.30 to 11am & 3pm-4.30pm Cost: No admission charge Event: £10 per head per session -------------------------------------------------------------Venue: Woodend Barn - Buchanans Bistro Address: Woodend Barn Banchory, Aberdeenshire AB31 5QA Tel: 01330 825431 Website Event title: “Drop-in Drawing Sessions in Buchanans Bistro” Description: Pick up a pencil and draw while enjoying your refreshments in the stimulating environment of Buchanans Bistro.

We’ll be collecting drawings to hang on bunting and banners in and around the restaurant during and after the Big Draw.

Artists Lisa Gribbon, Nicola Chambury, Helen Smith, Hilary Duncan and others will be in the Bistro to help inspire you.

Free no booking required.

Audience: All ages This event is open to the public Dates: October 18, 19, 21 .30 to 11am & 3pm4.30pm [21 Oct 9.30-11am only] Cost: No admission charge Event: No

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Let’s talk wine...

I is for Italy Well, where to start? Named by the Greeks as Enotria or ‘land of the vine’, this diverse wine country offers a wide range of styles.

Grapes vary from region to region influenced by a range of soils, topography and micro climates.

Pinot Grigio is probably Italy’s most famous white export but the country has a wealth of other white varieties that are well worth exploring and won’t break the bank. Here is a selection.

Fiano: Found in the south especially in Campania and also in Sicily. Typically fresh, a little floral with notes of honey and a good mouth feel.

Falanghina: Another one from Campania, showing a balanced acidity, citrus and apples and sometimes minerality.

Greco: As the name suggests this lightly peachy, zesty variety has its origins in Greece.

Grechetto: The almond scented grape behind the whites of Umbria including Orvieto Grillo: Used for Marsala in Sicily, Grillo also produces fresh, citrus inspired dry wines too.

Verdicchio: Found in the Marche region, It’s fresh with scents of nut and lemon and is a great seafood wine.

Vermentino: Found in different regions across Italy, look out in particular for wines from Tuscany and Sardinia. It’s lively and fresh with a good mouth feel and similar aromas to Verdicchio.

Carol Brown is a member of the Association of Wine Educators and the Circle of Wine Writers. She runs a range of wine courses and workshops, the informal Aberdeen Wine Appreciators Tasting Group and corporate wine entertainment events. www.wineuncorkededucation.co.uk carol@wineuncorkededucation.co.uk 01224 312076 Carol Brown WINE COURSES I will be running the following wine courses in Aberdeen this autumn :

WES 1 Day Wines of France Workshop Saturday 3rd November I am also planning Wine and Spirit Education Trust Courses Levels 1 and 2 Gift vouchers available for Wine Education Service courses and workshops and Aberdeen Wine Appreciators memberships.

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Carol is an Aberdeen based member of the Association of Wine Educators and the Circle of Wine Writers.

www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 - 318561 email : gazette@fsmail.net

Parkin This is a super tasty Halloween or Bonfire Night treat.

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Parkin Ingredients 225g plain flour 2 level tsp ground ginger 1 level tsp bicarbonate of soda ½ level tsp salt 225g medium oatmeal 115g black treacle 115g golden syrup 115g soft light-brown sugar 115g butter 150ml milk 1 egg - beaten Method Preheat the oven to 180C / Gas mark 4. Grease and line a 30cm x 25cm x 5cm tin with nonstick baking paper. I have a 30cm round tin which, though not traditional, works just as well.

Sift the flour, ground ginger, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a bowl. Stir in the oatmeal and make a well in the centre.

Put the treacle, golden syrup, butter and sugar into a saucepan and heat gently until the butter has melted.

Remove from the heat and stir in the milk and the beaten egg. Add to the dry ingredients and beat thoroughly.

Pour into your chosen tin and bake in the centre of the oven for 25-30minutes until firm, and a skewer inserted into the Parkin comes out clean.

Leave to cool in the tin. When cold wrap in greaseproof paper and store in a airtight tin.

Serves 12

This really does improve in flavour after a few days maturing so make it in advance and hide it!

Preparation time 20 minutes

Cut into squares or slices for serving.

Cooking time 25-30 minutes

Image courtesy of Caroline Hadilaksono

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www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 - 318561 email : gazette@fsmail.net

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Be Kind to Your Boiler Boilers, like cars, can run for years without being serviced, but if they aren’t checked regularly it could be costly in the long run. Boilers are subject to gradual wear and tear and if minor problems are left unchecked they could lead to major damage, hefty repair bills and even boiler replacement.

An annual service takes about an hour and should be carried out by a fully qualified Gas Safe engineer, who will calibrate the boiler and check for leaks and soot build ups.

The result will be a boiler that is operating efficiently and safely – and saving you money because it is using less energy!

Along with the financial benefits, annual boiler servicing is essential to the terms of some warranties and is a legal requirement if you are a landlord. It could also be a matter of life and death should a leak be discovered. Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to serious illness and even death if it is not detected. Known as the silent killer, there are no obvious signs, so a safety test could literally be a life saver.

Getting your boiler serviced may seem like a waste of money – especially if you’ve had it done in the past and all was well – but is it really worth taking that risk?

By Debbie Singh-Bhatti

Flu Jabs Most of us know that certain groups of people should visit the GP for a flu jab: the elderly, diabetics, asthmatics etc.

What many people don’t realise is that even if you don’t fall into one of the ‘at risk’ categories a flu jab is still a sensible precaution. You’ll have to pay, but it’s inexpensive (generally under £10) and many pharmacists administer the vaccine on their premises so you won’t have to book an appointment with your GP or take time off work.

Why might an otherwise healthy person request a flu vaccine? Well, seasonal flu is a substantial and unpleasant illness, far worse than the common cold, with which it’s sometimes confused. Flu generally requires a week or so off work to recover and can trigger other conditions like bronchitis or pneumonia.

The average person with flu infects one or two other people through sneezing, coughing and touch. If you work with the general public, in a shop for example, you are more at risk of being exposed to the virus so you might consider a flu jab a worthwhile investment.

A business owner may consider the impact a week off sick would have on his business and opt to protect himself or herself for that reason.

Children are much more likely to pick up and pass on bugs as they are in such close proximity to each other all day. For this reason teachers and parents might think it wise to have a jab.

Flu jabs are generally safe unless you have an allergy to eggs or have had a previous allergic reaction to a shot. So discuss protecting yourself with your pharmacist today.

By Sarah Davey

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Kids’ Winter Health – Naturally Don’t let the bugs win the health battle this winter. We have an innate power to heal ourselves as long as we take care and prepare.

We thrive in happy, stress and pollution-free environments, with sufficient healthy foods and drinks, fresh air, sunshine, exercise and sleep. However our immune systems can take a battering at this time of year and children are particularly vulnerable.

Vegetables and fruit are essential eating, due to the antioxidants, vitamins and minerals they contain, especially vitamin C and the B vitamins that help deal with stress. They are also alkaline-forming, neutralising acids formed by fizzy drinks, additives and high sugar levels associated with junk food. If your children won’t go for the greens try hiding them by finely chopping and mixing with minced meat. Make smoothies and blend soups. They can even grow their own cress for egg and cress sandwiches.

Sprouted seeds contain many more enzymes than just fruit or vegetables. Enzymes are destroyed in cooking so some food should be eaten raw. Try carrot, celery and cucumber sticks.

Children need 3 meals and 2-3 snacks a day to sustain energy levels. Tiredness reduces immunity. Choose wholegrain cereals for breakfast such as oats, rather than refined sugary cereals. Soak overnight and then top up

with honey and hot milk, preferably full fat and organic. Try goat or buffalo milk if your child is hyperactive and over-emotional, as this may indicate difficulties digesting casein, the cow protein. Add chopped nuts, seeds, fruit and live yogurt. Protein breakfasts will fill them up and aid the brain. Scrambled eggs or sardines on wholegrain toast are healthy options, with fruit for morning playtime. Muesli bars are useful standbys but check for excess sugar, which lowers immunity.

Buy the homeopathic remedies, Aconite and Gelsemium 30c, helpful at the first signs of a cold. Give one Aconite pill if they come home chilled and can’t seem to get warm. Chills lower immunity so stock up on warming spices. In America cayenne was sprinkled in shoes, so lots of cosy orange feet! You may prefer to add it to stews and soups? Homemade chicken soup with drumsticks and extra onions is very nourishing. Add fresh garlic, sage and thyme to boost immunity. Lemon, ginger and honey tea will keep them warm and ease sore throats and coughs, as will Propolis lozenges.

The herb Echinacea aids healing and regulates the immune system. Echinoforce by Vogel is suitable for children over 5 years of age. Give the maximum dose at the first sign of a cold and once a day as a preventative. A vitamin D supplement is also a good preventative. Always follow instructions for children and remember that any aspirin based cold treatments are unsuitable.

Sue Blain Naturopath

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Garden View

Seasonal treats The nights may be getting longer, but produce in the garden is still in abundance. Due to the later start of the season most plants, especially vegetables, got off to a really slow start, but when it did finally warm up in late July it meant the crops came in bumper sized!

The month of October is a colourful one in the garden and the onset of autumn marks the start of the celebrations and traditions which unite friends and family and where we can share good times within our community. Take the humble pumpkin for example. Prize winning or not, it’s a fruit which when picked at the beginning of the month and left to ripen in the greenhouse, is perfect for eating, just in time for Halloween.

The act of carving out the pumpkin is a family event in our house and not a bit goes to waste. The outer skin is used to create a scary face, topped with a pumpkin hat, the flesh from the centre makes amazing soup (if seasoned well) and the seeds can be toasted and sprinkled in the soup or even better onto a loaf of home made bread. A family activity and meal in one … what other fruit offers so much for so little time and effort?

Autumn is the time to tidy up the garden, but don’t think of it as outdoor housework. Putting the garden to bed should be an enjoyable task, a time spent alone outside in the brisk fresh air, where you can generate your own warmth through hard work, culminating in a great sense of satisfaction. It’s also an opportunity to be creative and plant out winter/spring bedding schemes. If traditional bedding is not your cup of tea, and you prefer something a little more ‘Earl Grey’, why not try this. Take a couple of evergreen grasses, a few attractive twigs (from the red Cornus or twisted Hazel) and some dried Allium stalks (with heads) and have a go with a little outdoor flower arranging. Then introduce some autumn flowering plants, such as a lovely rust coloured Chrysanthemum, shocking pink Cyclamen or a more subtle dwarf Aster and you’ll have an impressive display to welcome your guests when they come to share in your seasonal treats.

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www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 - 318561 email : gazette@fsmail.net

Lee Bestall www.inspiredgarddens.net

Other jobs to do this month: •

Divide herbaceous perennials and rhubarb crowns by lifting out with a fork and chopping into pieces with a spade. Replant with plenty of well rotted compost or manure.

•

Plant out spring cabbages and harvest apples, pears and nuts.

•

Clear up fallen autumn leaves regularly.

•

Ensure plant pots have good drainage, and consider standing pots on feet.

•

Pot up tender plants such as Fuchsias and Pelargoniums and place these in the glasshouse for overwinter protection.

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15

Sat Nav Savvy Choose the right device and drive from A to B with ease What do Brian Blessed, Kim Cattrall and Victor Meldrew all have in common? They are all voices of sat navs!

Satellite navigation systems – or sat navs – are an invaluable aid to driving in unfamiliar areas. Gone are the days of struggling to see a tiny road in an enormous atlas as you realise you’re in the wrong lane, going the wrong way. Now you can simply type in the postcode of where you want to go and concentrate on driving, while your chosen voice gives you directions and a map of your route is shown on the screen.

There is a huge range of sat nav solutions available, costing anything from a couple of pounds to several hundred. So how do you choose the right one for you?

All sat navs work in the same way. The ‘magic’ comes from the network of global positioning satellites that orbit the Earth. They can lock onto the receiver in your sat nav and locate its position to within 10 metres. This position is then overlaid on to a map to reveal your location.

The first decision is which of the three basic types you want to go for.

Integrated sat navs are part of the car’s dashboard and are fitted by the manufacturer. They normally have the best quality screens and sound systems. They are also secure, as they can’t be removed from the car.

Dedicated sat navs are fitted to the car using either a suction pad on the windscreen or a stand on the dashboard. A lead into the car’s cigarette lighter provides the power. Their big advantage is that you can use them in any car. However, they are very popular with thieves, so you must always remove your sat nav from the car when you leave and wipe away any marks left on the windscreen.

The cheapest option is an app for a smart phone. Bear in mind, though, that the quality may not be as good as other options. You will also have to buy a holder so you can see your phone as you drive, and you may need an in-car charger.

It’s then a case of investigating the additional services that sat navs can offer, and trying out a few. Many will calculate how long your journey is likely to take and let you know of any traffic problems up ahead. You can also use them to locate nearby facilities such as petrol stations and restaurants. Finally, check the cost of software and map updates, and maps of other countries that you may need to download from the manufacturer’s website.

And remember, sat-navs are not infallible and should not be a replacement for common sense. If the road suggested looks too narrow, dangerous or apparently cuts through someone’s front garden, choose another route!

By Alex Brown

Rocket Man Firework Safety and Etiquette Hosting and planning a party can be stressful, what with checking there’s enough food and drink to go around and organising the entertainment. Fireworks are a brilliant way to entertain guests, but whilst they may look pretty in the night sky, they can also be extremely dangerous.

Make sure that in between shopping for party-poppers and paper plates, you also have the right safety equipment needed for your display.

Gloves and eye protection are a must have, as well as a taper for setting off fireworks at arm’s length - you don’t want to burn off your eyebrows by mistake! Make sure that everybody stands well back, and do not approach fireworks that have been lit - even if they haven’t gone off – as there’s a chance they still could.

Store your fireworks in a metal box, away from flames, so that your party doesn’t go off with the wrong kind of bang, and always keep a bucket of water nearby to put out sparklers safely.

Last of all, don’t forget to tell your neighbours in advance that you’re having a party so that they aren’t inconvenienced by the noise, and if your party is not on November 5th itself do not set fireworks off after 11pm as it’s against the law and you could be fined! On November 5th you have until 12 midnight. Most importantly, make sure you have fun, enjoy yourself, and stay safe!

Debbie Singh-Bhatti

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A Good Read The Shining – Stephen King Even if you have seen and loved Stanley Kubrick’s film, maybe even especially if you’ve seen and loved it, you should read the book.

The book is not the film. The book is a deeper (and scarier) experience altogether.

Stephen King is a master story teller, and in The Shining he created a classic novel of possession and isolation.

The Torrances are a damaged family. Jack is an ex-teacher and sometime writer with a drink problem, who takes the only job he can find – the winter caretaker at a hotel called The Overlook. He takes along his wife, and young son Danny. They are welcomed by the chef, Dick Hallorann, who has psychic abilities which he calls ‘the shine’, and Dick quickly realises that Danny shines too. He has to leave but forms a powerful connection with Danny promising that wherever he is if Danny calls to him he will hear and come – a promise he later honours.

Ostensibly Danny is the main character and the book is about his father’s descent into madness, but it is the hotel which dominates the story. King paints an incredibly detailed picture with undertones of American Indian burial grounds, multiple homicides, hauntings and sightings. Jack appears to become possessed by forces at work there.

The tension and claustrophobia build a threatening atmosphere. Prepare to be transported into the long, dark corridors at The Overlook Hotel and know that something dreadful awaits you there. There’s a plot twist or another dimension on every page, as you explore King’s carefully crafted nightmare landscape, populated with the spectres of dead children and their maniac father.

As the plot develops, we question whether Jack is really possessed or simply an alcoholic

losing his mind, and whether Danny is psychic or whether what he sees is because he’s been so damaged by his dysfunctional family. King’s skill is to weave together the demons, both real and imagined without drawing any distinct boundaries between the two. As the story builds to its terrifying conclusion you will be on the edge of your seat.

The Shining is a book that doesn’t only deserve a place on the bookshelves of horror fans, but of anyone who enjoys a well-crafted, fast-paced story with plenty of depth. Read it and you won’t be disappointed.

By The Light of the Halloween Moon – Caroline Stutson and Kevin Hawkes Caroline Stutson’s infectious graphic story, full of rhythmic repetition and alliteration, simply bounces along. It all begins on the night of a full Halloween moon, when we see a wiggling toe being stalked by a black cat.

The cat never reaches the toe, because it is stopped by a witch, and so the scene is set for a succession of scary creatures, including a bungling, bouncy, breezy bat and a grumpy grungy hobgoblin sprite, who are all thwarted in their various attempts to reach the toe.

The repetition of key lines makes it a terrific book for reading aloud and encourages younger children to join in, while Kevin Hawkes’ scary-comic illustrations make By the Light of the Halloween Moon an appealing book for children and adults alike.

The ending, where we finally meet the owner of the wiggling toe, is delightful and sure to leave everyone smiling.

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A crime story in an hour.

Writing’s mostly a wonderful, solitary pursuit, sitting at a keyboard but interacting with characters elsewhere in time and space, being surprised by their words and choices and, on a good day, getting so lost in the fiction that you’ve no idea of the passage of time, who or where you are or what’s going on in the real world.

But then there are the extras that turn you into a different person. At the end of August, for example, I was at the inaugural literary festival in St Clémentin in France, with temperatures in the thirties, giving a talk on short stories, then holding a workshop called ‘Write a crime story in an hour’. And in October, I’ll be repeating that workshop in very different circumstances at Haddo House. The beauty of it, though, is that it’s different every time because the content is provided not by me but by the people who come along.

In general terms, it works like this. I talk about the basics of crime novels, breaking off now and then to ask the group for random objects, settings, names, all of which I list. Then I get them to make another completely random choice from the list and that gives us the elements of the story.

From then on, it’s up to them.

I ask questions, nudge the group into possible directions and, surprisingly quickly, we’ve got a bunch of characters with back stories, links with one another and consequent motives for murder. In St Clémentin, the arbitrarily chosen setting was a château and they had also to include two objects – a heavy thesaurus and a leg of lamb. In the event, the unfortunate owner of the château was bludgeoned to death with the lamb, which was then roasted and eaten by the perpetrator, thus destroying the evidence. Happily though, the thesaurus was open at

an ‘L’ page and the word ‘lamb’ was heavily underlined.

A few years ago, the version which emerged from a session with students at RGU was set in a health club and had to include a freezer.

They solved the problem by having someone discover the corpse on the sun bed of the club. It was there because the killer had hidden it in the freezer after the murder and wanted to thaw it out to dispose of it.

But it doesn’t just work for crime stories. A while ago, I was asked to go to Middleton Park primary school during their literacy week to read stories to the pupils and get each class to devise a story of its own. It was as much fun and just as creative as the crime workshops. There were many delights but the one I remember most clearly came in a story in which they had to include a mermaid, a fairy, a shark and a caveman. At one point, the caveman was fishing from the beach and he caught the shark.

‘Wow,’ said I. ‘What did he say?’ A girl said (scornfully) ‘He can’t talk. He’s a caveman.

He just said “Ugg”.’ Then the boy sitting beside her said ‘But the shark came up the beach and said “Hi. I’m Steve”.’

I’ve given these workshops to all sorts of groups and the real pleasure is seeing how people who say they’re incapable of being creative join in and soon start getting very enthusiastic and contributing faster than I can accommodate their suggestions.

It sounds weird to say so, but writing about crime can be lots of fun.

Bill Kirton

Haddo workshop is October 20th. It’s part of a crime weekend at Haddo. http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Haddo-House/ News/1960/

Before taking early retirement to become a full-time writer, I was a lecturer in French at the University of Aberdeen.

I also used to be a presenter on Grampian TV and I’ve been a Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at universities in Aberdeen, Dundee and St Andrews.

I’ve written stage and radio plays, short stories, novels, sketches and songs for revues, and five non-fiction books for Pearson Education aimed at helping students with their writing and study skills. My five modern crime novels, Material Evidence, Rough Justice, The Darkness, Shadow Selves and Unsafe Acts are set in north east Scotland and my historical crime/romance novel, The Figurehead, is set in Aberdeen in 1840. My spoof mystery, The Sparrow Conundrum, was the winner in the Humor category of the 2011 Forward National Literature Awards and The Darkness won silver in the Mystery category.

My short stories have appeared in many anthologies, including three of the CWA’s annual collections and the 2010 anthology of Best British Crime Stories.

Writing as Jack Rosse, I’ve published a novel for children called The Loch Ewe Mystery and, as Jack Lefebre, a satire about online role playing games called Alternative Dimension, which has rude words in it and is definitely not for children.

My blog and website are at www.bill-kirton.co.uk.

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Tickets from boxofficeaberdeen.com or tel : 01224 641122 on the Nile, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm with 2pm Thursday and 2.30pm Saturday matinees.

Wednesday, October 24: Looking for love is the Master of Camp Julian Clary in Position Vacant: Apply Within, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 8pm. Tickets from boxofficeaberdeen.com or tel 01224 641122 Wednesday, October 24: Meet three skeletons as they go adventuring to find fun, frights and fellowship in Funnybones by The Puppet Lab in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 2pm. Suitable for threeseven year olds and their families, Thursday, October 25: The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra presents In the Spirit of Duke, directed by Tommy Smith and celebrating composer, pianist and band leader Edward Kennedy ‘Duke’ Ellington, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm.

Thursday, October 25: London-based duo Public Service Broadcasting, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 8pm.

Thursday, October 25: As part of DanceLive 2012, David Hughes Dance presents The Chinaski Sessions, as choreographer Kylie Walters coaxes six testosterone-crazed men to live through an evening of debauchery and revelation, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm.

Friday, October 26: Enjoy an evening of traditional Scottish dancing in Ceilidh with Shindig, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 8pm.

Friday, October 26: Aberdeen-based Fat Hippy Records’ 10th Birthday Party featuring Gerry Jablonski and The Electric Band plus support, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 8pm.

Friday, October 26: As part of DanceLive 2012, Company Chameleon presents Gameshow, a production packed with physical movement, fearless dancing and athletics with prizes, power, money, fame, celebrity and a cult following up for grabs, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm.

Saturday, October 27: In the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s first performance of the season, popular conductor emeritus Joseph Swensen directs Walton’s two pieces from Henry V and Schumann’s final symphony, the Rhenish, and American cellist Ralph Kirshbaum performs Barber’s Cello Con, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30 pm.

Saturday, October 27: As part of DanceLive 2012, Rosie Kay Dance Company presents There is Hope, a

timely, exciting work that speaks of today, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm.

Monday, October 29: The Jasmin Vardimon Company present the world premier tour of Freedom, directed and choreographed by award-winning choreographer and Sadler’s Wells associate artist Jasmin Vardimon, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm.

Monday, October 29: As part of 10-date autumn UK tour Scottish rockers Twin Atlantic, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, doors at 7.30pm.

Monday, October 29: DF Concerts present Birmingham indie rock band The Twang, following the release of their two studio albums, Love It When I Feel Like This and Jewellery Quarter, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7.30pm.

Tuesday, October 30: BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Singer of the Year, Joan Armatrading, with special guest Chris Wood, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm.

Tuesday, October 30: Explore the spooky past of Aberdeen’s Edwardian theatre with the HMT Ghosts Tour, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 6pm, 7.30pm and 9pm.

Wednesday, October 31: After a twoyear break, the demonic scarecrow and stand-up funnyman Ross Noble is back with Mindbender, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 8pm.

Wednesday, October 31: In association with DanceLive 2012, Federation of the Disco Pimp and the Chandeliers, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 8pm.

Wednesday, October 31: As part of DanceLive 2012, Citymoves Dance Agency presents East Coast Moves, a showcase of locally produced work and new commissions, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm. includes entry to the end-of-festival party, featuring Federation of the Disco Pimp.

Christmas 2012 At the Lemon Tree the Scottish Youth Theatre will be putting on another Christmas show - It Wasn’t Me, It was Goldilocks (December 3 - 24) Brass Jaw Christmas Tour (December 14) Rock ‘n’ Roll Hogmanay (December 30) Christmas with the Rat Pack (December 23) Hogmanay Concert (December 31)

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Music Theatre Live Entertainment

Thursday, October 18: Lead singer of the British rock/indie act, The Charlatans, on a rare tour as a solo artist Tim Burgess, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 8pm.

Thursday, October 18: As part of DanceLive 2012, Marc brew Company presents Triple Bill, featuring Fusional Fragments, a collaboration with percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, Nocturne and Remember When, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm.

Friday, October 19: After more than a decade since his last stand-up show, Jonathan Creek and QI star Alan Davies with Life is Pain, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 8pm.

Friday, October 19: The People’s Theatre Company presents There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, a magical new show for parents to enjoy with their children, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 2pm.

Friday and Saturday, October 19 and 20: Scottish Ballet present an extraordinary triple bill tracing a line through dance from the highly physical to the seductively graceful in Autumn Season 2012, with Martin Lawrence’s Run For It, William Forsythe’s Workwithinwork and Hans Van Manen’s Five Tangos, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm.

Saturday, October 20: In their 40th anniversary tour featuring their most memorable hits from their break-through debut single Donna in 1972 to their final No1 Dreadlock Holiday in 1978, 10cc in Concert, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm.

Saturday, October 20: Loud, hairy and unpredictable, Three Blind Wolves delivering country rock with razor-sharp edge, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7.30pm.

Sunday, October 21: The ultimate tribute to ABBA and the Bee Gees, Thank You for the Music, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm.

Sunday, October 21: Legendary British band Wishbone Ash, with support from Gerry Jablonski, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7.30pm.

Tuesday, October 23: As part of DanceLive 2012, 2Faced Dance Company presents In The Dusk, an unpredictable, fierce and visceral new work by the company’s artistic director Tamsin Fitzgerald, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm.

Monday to Saturday, October 22 to 27: The Agatha Christie Theatre Company present a stylish new production of the queen of crime’s classic thriller Murder

What’s On Aboyne ...

Donnie Munro At MacRobert Memorial Hall, Tarland Friday 16th November 2012, 20:00 Daniel's Beard, Chamber Ensemble At Deeside CEC Theatre,Aboyne Friday 7th December 2012, 19:30 What’s On Banchory ...

Ranger Guided Children's Event: Autumn Quiz At Crathes Castle Saturday 13th October 2012 - Sunday 28th October 2012 Breakneck Comedy Night At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Sunday 14th October 2012, 20:00 Ranger Guided Children's Walk: Simply Squirrels At Crathes Castle Tuesday 16th October 2012, 10:30 - 12:00 sound: One Ensemble At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Friday 19th October 2012, 20:00 Kathleen Coessens and Ann Eysermans At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Saturday 20th October 2012, 19:30 Swan Lake - live from the Royal Opera House At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Tuesday 23rd October 2012, 19:15

Ranger Guided Children's Events: Autumn Crafts At Crathes Castle Tuesday 23rd October 2012, 10:30 - 12:00 Film: Black Swan At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Wednesday 24th October 2012, 19:30 Red Note Ensemble: Noisy Nights At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Friday 26th October 2012, 20:00 F.O.C.U.S (Festival of Crafts Unique to Scotland) At Banchory Town Hall Saturday 27th October 2012 Saturday Storytime at Banchory Library Saturday 27th October 2012, 11:00 - 11:30 Aly Bain, Ale Moller, Bruce Molsky At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Saturday 27th October 2012, 20:00 Continental Market at Banchory In Banchory Sunday 28th October 2012 Traditional European Food and Craft Fair In Banchory Sunday 28th October 2012, 09:00 - 17:00 Doug Scott CBE, “ Moments of Being At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Monday 29th October 2012, 19:00 Film: Nosferatu

At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Wednesday 31st October 2012, 20:00 The Scarlet WWWeb At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Saturday 3rd November 2012, 19:30 Banchory Bonfire and Fireworks Night In King George V Park Saturday 3rd November 2012 Ruth Wall: The Girl with 3 Harps At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Wednesday 7th November 2012, 20:00 WMS: Schubert Ensemble At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Friday 9th November 2012, 19:30 Sound: Matthew Herbert Quintet: One Pig At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Saturday 10th November 2012, 20:00 Saturday Storytimes At Banchory Library Saturday 10th November 2012, 11:00 11:30 Saturday Storytime at Banchory Library Saturday 10th November 2012, 11:00 11:30 Simon Thacker's Svara Kanti At Woodend Barn Arts Centre

Drama/Film Groups for children aged 7-16 years Why choose Script to Screen & Stage?

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Sunday 11th November 2012, 13:00 Film Night: The Mirror (Russia 1974) At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Tuesday 13th November 2012, 19:30 Sound: Red Note Ensemble & Michael Popper At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Saturday 17th November 2012, 20:00 Breakneck Comedy Night At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Sunday 18th November 2012, 20:00 Saturday Storytimes At Banchory Library Saturday 24th November 2012, 11:00 11:30 Saturday Storytime at Banchory Library Saturday 24th November 2012, 11:00 11:30 Woodend Arts Festive Craft Fair At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Saturday 24th November 2012, 11:00 17:00 Woodend Arts Festive Craft Fair At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Sunday 25th November 2012, 10:00 - 16:00 Film Night: Brave (USA 2012) At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Wednesday 28th November 2012, 19:30 Michael Marra and The Hazey Janes At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Friday 30th November 2012, 20:00

Holly Fest and the Elves' Toy Factory At Drum Castle Saturday 1st December 2012, 11:00 - 16:00 Hear the Drum At Drum Castle Saturday 1st December 2012, 11:00 - 15:00 WMS: The Triplice Trio At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Saturday 1st December 2012, 19:30

Tuesday 11th December 2012, 19:30

Holly Fest and the Elves' Toy Factory At Drum Castle Sunday 2nd December 2012, 11:00 - 16:00

F.O.C.U.S (Festival of Crafts Unique to Scotland) At Banchory Town Hall Saturday 15th December 2012

Fred Morrison At Finzean Hall, Finzean Sunday 2nd December 2012, 20:00 Dreich House At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Thursday 6th December 2012, 19:30 Daimh Christmas Show At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Friday 7th December 2012, 20:00 Saturday Storytimes At Banchory Library Saturday 8th December 2012, 11:00 - 11:30 Holly Fest and the Elves' Toy Factory At Drum Castle Saturday 8th December 2012, 11:00 - 16:00 Film Night: It's a Wonderful Life (USA 1946) At Woodend Barn Arts Centre

Film Night: The Bishop’s Wife (USA 1947) At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Wednesday 12th December 2012, 19:30 The Nutcracker - live from the Royal Opera House At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Thursday 13th December 2012, 19:15

Breakneck Comedy Night At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Sunday 16th December 2012, 20:00 Film Night: Die Hard (cert. 18) At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Wednesday 19th December 2012, 19:30 Film Night: Elf (cert. PG) At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Thursday 20th December 2012, 19:30 Saturday Storytimes At Banchory Library Saturday 22nd December 2012, 11:00 11:30 Saturday Storytime at Banchory Library Saturday 22nd December 2012, 11:00 - 11:30

Deeside Tiler and Underfloor Heating “One Job at a time” Mobile: 07786 936 037 Email: thehotstepper@btinternet.com

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Relaxed atmosphere Personal attention Weddings our speciality

Tel : 322000 Devonair Hairstylists 2 Devonshire Road Aberdeen (off St Swithin St)

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clubs and classes...

1st Aboyne Brownies Brownies is part of Girlguiding UK and caters for girls age 7 - 10 years www.girlguiding.org.uk/home.aspx Mon 4.30 - 6.00pm, Tues 5.30 - 7.00pm Aboyne Scout Hut 1st Aboyne Guides Fees £10 per quarter Wednesday, 6pm7.30pm Aboyne Scout Hut 1st Aboyne Rainbows For girls aged 5-7 years. Names can be added to waiting list 6 months before 5th birthday. Fees £10 per term.

Tuesday , 3.45-4.45, Aboyne Scout Hut 2nd Aboyne Brownies Brownies is part of Girlgiuding UK and caters for girls age 7 - 10 years www.girlguiding.org.uk/home.aspx Mon 4.30 - 6.00pm, Tues 5.30 - 7.00pm Aboyne Scout Hut 1st Aboyne Scout Group Waiting list for all sections. Aboyne Scout Hut Beavers 6-8 year olds - Thursday Cubs for 8-10 year olds - Wednesday Scouts for 10-14 year olds Aboyne 50+ Ramblers Walking group for the over 50s. Walks normally between 5 - 10 miles Friday, 10am Car Park, Deeside Community Centre Aboyne Baby and Toddler Group Friday, 10am-11.30am Babies and Toddlers 0-3 years Deeside Comunity Education Centre, Aboyne Aboyne Badminton Club Ages catered for 25 yrs+.Play all year round.£3 per player per night. £40 half year membership Tuesday, 7.15 - 8.45pm Aboyne Community Centre Aboyne Bowling Club Disabled Access. During summer Aboyne Bowling Club Aboyne Craft Club Disabled access, for all ages and all abilities.

Bi-annual exhibition, speakers, outings, demonstrations,outings and fun!

Wed 10-12noon Aboyne Bowling Club Pavilion Aboyne Playgroup For ages from 2 to 3 and a quarter years. £7 per session, £5 concession for second child Tuesday - Thursday, 9.30am - 11.25am Gallery in the Deeside Community Education Centre, Aboyne

Aboyne Primary School Chess Club Primary 4 - 7 aged children. Disabled Access.

Monday, 3.15pm - 4pm Term time only Aboyne Primary School Aboyne & District Probus Club For retired professional & businessmen.

Club meets fortnightly on the second and last Tuesday of the month at 10:00 for 10:30 in Victory Hall, Aboyne from September to April. 12/13 AboyneTennis Club Further information regarding coaching, competitive tennis, social tennis and social events can be found on our website www.aboynetennis.net Aboyne Youth Group For ages 12-18 years. Drop in, tuck shop, pool table etc. Free Friday, 7pm - 9.45 pm Term time only Deeside Community Education Centre, Aboyne 1st Torphins Beavers Thursday, 3.30pm-4.30pm , Ages 6-8 years Torphins Primary School 1st Torphins Rainbows For girls aged 5-7 years, Wednesday, 4-5pm Term time only, Learney Hall 1st Torphins Scout Group For ages: 10.5 - 14 years www.deesidescouts.org.uk 2nd Torphins Brownies For 7-10 year old girls Wed 5.45 - 7.15pm Learney Hall, Torphins 2367 (Banchory) Squadron - Air Training Corps

The Air Training corps is a uniformed youth organisation supported by the Royal Air Force. For young people aged 13 and 17. www.2367sqn.org.uk Mon & Thur 7pm 9.30pm McCombie Cadet Centre, Woodside Road, Banchory Awana A free childrens club (Nursery to P7) www.bcfchurch.org.uk Wed, 6.00 - 7.30pm Banchory Christian Fellowship Church, Burn of Bennie, Banchory Banchory & District Bridge Club For new people coming into the district, we can help with a bridge partner Tuesday, 6.50pm for 7pm start Burnett Arms Hotel, Banchory

Banchory & District Round Table For men aged 18 - 45 years www.bad-rt.org Thursday, 7pm for 7.30pm Every 1st and 3rd Thursday, Banchory Lodge Hotel, Banchory Banchory Boys Football Club www.banchoryboysclub.co.uk Last Sunday of the month, 7pm Caters for children from last year in nursery to P7 for Saturday training sessions from 10 11.30am at KGV Park Banchory and then for development and competitive teams from U8 to U19 levels Banchory British Legion Banchory Community Badminton Club All abilities and ages welcome, Friday, 1011.30am, Banchory Sports Centre Banchory Cricket Club Cricket available from 8 years of age through to seniors Burnett Park, Banchory Banchory East Badminton Club For age 14 years and upwards. Mon, 8-10pm, Banchory Academy Games Hall Banchory Gymnastics Club Girls from Primary 2 upwards. Waiting list in operation Tuesday , 3.30pm - 5pm Banchory Sports Centre Banchory Singers Meet during school term times. All ages welcome. www.pinebrae.co.uk/bs/ Wed, 7.30pm - 9.30pm, Lesser Town Hall 1 Kinneskie Lane, Banchory Banchory Sports Centre Banchory, AB315XP Phone: 01330 825269 E: banchory.sportscentre@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Banchory St Ternan Football Club www.eteamz.com/banchorystternan Tuesday, Thursday , 7 - 9pm Games on Saturday 1pm Milton Park, Crathes Banchory Stonehaven Athletic Club For ages: 9 years to adult www.banchorystonehavenac.co.uk Monday Mackie Academy, Slug Road Stonehaven, AB39 3DF Birse Community Trust Exists to promote the common good of the inhabitants of Birse Parish and deliver wider public benefits. www.birsecommunitytrust.org.uk The Old Schoolhouse, Finzean

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ache?

Want help?

Consult with an experienced chiropractor in a modern professional clinic?

We are delighted to announce the opening of the Go Health and Beauty Studio based at Banchory Business Centre.

Our mobile service will still be available.

Please come along and see us on

Suite G4/1 Banchory Business Centre Burn O’Bennie, Banchory AB31 5ZU Tel : 01330 826511 email : info@banchorychiropractic.co.uk

Monday, 5th November, our official opening day.

For booking or advice on our treatments contact 077 9617 0022

www.gohealthandbeauty.co.uk

Make A Gift That Will Make A Difference DAWGS finds loving new homes for abandoned and unwanted dogs, and for those whose owners due to frailty or ill- health find they can no longer take care of them.

We have given thousands of dogs a second chance over the last 15 years.

We receive no statutory funding and rely on donations and legacies to fund our caring work.

Recent legacies have helped fund emergency vet bills, emergency kennel care and animal behaviourists and trainers in special situations.

Please help us give more dogs the chance to live out their lives in a safe and loving home through a donation or legacy.

For more information contact:

6 Small Holdings Lang Stracht Aberdeen Tel 01224 208989 email: dawgs@dawgs.co.uk Scottish Charity Number: SCO22666

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clubs and classes...

Birse Community Trust Exists to promote the common good of the inhabitants of Birse Parish and deliver wider public benefits. www.birsecommunitytrust.org.uk The Old Schoolhouse, Finzean Campfield & Glassel WRI 1st Tuesday of each month. September April, 7.30pm , Glassel Hall, Glassel City of Roses (Sweet Adelines International) Ladies singing group. Being able to read music an advantage but not necessary cityofroseschorus.co.uk Mon, 7.15-10.00pm Drumoak Church Hall, Drumoak Corse SWRI Tuesday, Evening , 3rd Tuesday of the month Corse Hall, Corse, Lumphanan Deeside Childrens Music Group From 9 - 15 years, Thursday, 4pm - 5.30pm In term time only, Aboyne Academy, Aboyne Deeside Community Transport Two community minibuses for hire by community groups and non-profit groups.

Both 17 seats and wheelchair adaptable.

Charges are £1.00 per mile (as at July 2012), with a minimum invoice of £20.00.

Deeside Gliding Club Instruction available to all ages groups (subject to a minimum weight / height) in flying gliders. New members welcome www.deesideglidingclub.co.uk Deeside Heritage Society Disabled access. Members and guests welcome. Tea and Coffee available.

Third Wednesday of month, September to March, Bowling Club Pavilion Deeside Musical Society We cater for ages 16 years onwards, but depending on productions we also cater for children e.g. if we are performing a pantomime. Fees £40 per session, concessions £30. Monday, 7.30pm Aboyne Academy Community Centre Deeside Orchestra Any age from 16 years and upwards. http://www.deeside-orchestra.co.uk/ Tuesday, 7.30-9.45pm Victory Hall. Ballater Road Aboyne

Deeside Hillwalking Club An informal but active group, based around Banchory who focus on climbing munros and corbetts around Scotland. Minimum age 18 years We have a programme of events throughout the year, meeting approximately every 3rd weekend Deeside Rugby Football Club Membership is open to all Games played at Aboyne Green, Aboyne and Tillybrake Playing Fields, Banchory Deeside School of Dance All types of class and singing and drama from 3yrs to adult Rdsd.co.uk Mon-Sat, Hill of Banchory South Banchory Deeside Youth Musical Theatre Age range 10 - 17 years. Theatre and musicals group performing one show per year usually in March Thurs, 6.30 - 8.00pm Deeside Community Centre Deeside Steam & Vintage Club Promotes the collection of steam and vintage machinery. Various events in the summer months from tractor runs to our annual rally The Deeside Village Hopper service is open to everyone!

A scheduled service running Mon-Friday.

Please call for details 013398 85222, or see: www.mid-deeside.org.uk.

Deeside Writers First meeting free. £2 per meeting thereafter. Annual membership £10 www.deesidewriters.co.uk Tuesday, 7.30pm 3rd Tuesday of the month Woodend Barn, Banchory Drumoak & Durris Playgroup beehive.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/default. asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=5230 Tuesday-Friday mornings, 9.15am-11.15am Crossroads Nursery, Slug Road, Banchory Drumoak Durris Crathes Bowling Club Fees: Outdoor £50. Indoor £10, Juniors £12, Young Bowlers £25, Hats £1.50 Hat nights / Afternoons Tues & Frid 7pm or Wed & Sat 2pm. All ages welcome. Bowling Pavilion, Off North Deeside Road, Drumoak Durris Junior Agricultural Club Fees - depends on the age. Ages 14-26 to compete in competitions Varies, Usually 7.30pm Kirkton Hall, Durris

Durris SWRI Disabled access. Fees £12 per year.

Monday , 7.30pm 2nd Monday of the month Kirkton Hall, Durris Finzean SWRI Thursday, 7.30pm 3rd Thur of every month from Sept until April Finzean Hall, Finzean Fitness for the Over 50s Monday, 11am - 12.30pm Weekly, Sept to June, Victory Hall, Aboyne Footstars A fun football and fitness activity for boys and girls aged 2-6 years. Currently running sessions 7 days a week in Banchory, Stonehaven and Westhill www.footstars.co.uk Friends of Durris Forests We work closely with Forestry Commission Scotland to monitor the use, accessibility and state of Durris Forest and its outliers. www.friendsofdurrisforests.co.uk Girlguiding - Banchory 3 Rainbow Units aged 5-7, 4 Brownie Units aged 7-10 and 3 Guide Units aged 10-14 but due to Waiting Lists we would like to open further Units when we can get the Volunteer Leaders www.girlguiding.org.uk Kincardine O Neil Bowling Club Any age welcome. No disabled access. £30 per annum. The club enters and plays in all local competitions. Access to the green available at all times. Tues & Sun, 7pm Summer only Bowling Green, North Deeside Road, Kincardine ONeil Kincardine O Neil SWRI Wednesday - 2nd Wednesday of each month September -May only Meeting Room Kincardine House Kincardine O Neil Under 5s Fees £2/ week includes coffee/ tea, homemade scones/ pancakes and fruit snack.

Ages 0-5 welcome. Parent/ guardian must accompany child Mondays, 10-11.30am Term Time only Kincardine O Neil Primary School Hall Lumphanan Rainbows For girls aged between 5 - 7 years Wednesday, 5pm - 6pm Lumphanan Church Hall Lumphanan SWRI Last Thursday in the month, 7.30pm Lumphanan Church Hall

please do mention the deeside gazette when responding to adverts

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Holiday Let Holiday property to rent? Book a holiday let advert... Cost? £24 + vat for Deeside for one off £100 + vat for five OR £35 + vat for West End for one off £140 + vat for five OR Both Magazines : £50 + vat one off £200 + vat for five

• Domestic cleaning • Commercial cleaning* • Affordable rates • Flat cleans • House sitting**

March Hare Craft & Vintage Market

Boys Brigade HQ, Crimon Place Aberdeen AB10 1RX

11am-4pm Free Entry

call today for a free quote

Tel : 01224 879 158 Mob: 07789 440 069

(*small offices) (**for utilities/repairs)

Dates for your Diary 27 October 24 November 15 December More info

marchharemarket@gmail.com

Call Sue on 01224 318561

Facebook.com/March Hare Market

Aromatherapy Reflexology and Reiki 2012/2013

Farmers Market Held in Scott Skinners Square in the centre of Banchory on the third Saturday of the month from 9.00am to 1.00pm.

Janis Louden MICHT t: 01339 883411 e: janislouden@btinternet.com Corse House, nr Lumphanan, AB31 4SB

M.G. Decorating Tel : 013398 87445

Exterior/Interior Wallpapering Varnishing Free Estimates

Reflexology

Contact: Anne-Marie Fegen(RGN,MAR) 07803 505 827 01224 732677

Simple way to healing practicing from home and Kippie Lodge.

Vouchers available

List your classes for FREE... Update your listing with a contact number. New classes or amendments full listing highlighted in red.

T: 01224 318561

www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 30

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www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 - 318561 email : gazette@fsmail.net

clubs and classes...

Noahs Ark From Bumps to 3 years of age. Mums have opportunity for a coffee and a blether!

Friday, 10am-12 West Church Hall, Banchory Raemoir WRI For any age, Tuesday, 7pm, Third Tuesday of the month, Dalvenie Gardens Resource Centre, Raemoir Lane, Banchory Rotary Club of Banchory Ternan Open to all rotarians www.banchory-ternan-rotary.com Wednesday, 6.15pm for 6.30pm The Burnett Arms Hotel, Banchory Royal Deeside 41 Club Friday - First Friday each month Burnett Arms Hotel, Banchory

Tom-Toms Singing group for Mums and carers with little ones from birth to 4 years. Fees £2 per family per week. We run 2 sessions ; 10 - 10.30, then 10.30 - 11 am. After each session refreshments are available. This is a busy group and you are advised to call first. Banchory Ternan East Church Halls, Station Road, Banchory Details from www.banchoryeastchurch.org Tooters Music classes for young children in 3 age groups, Tooter Tots 0 - 2, Tooters 2 - 5 & Toots P1 & P2. Activities include singing, games, movement and instrument activities. tootersonline.co.uk

Royal Deeside Railway Preservation Society

Torphins Bowling Club All ages from 8 years, Tuesday, 7pm Torphins Bowling Club Torphins Bridge Club Everyone welcome, Wednesday, 7pm Sept to March, The Learney Arms Hotel The Square, Torphins

Railway restoration & working railway. All welcome www.deeside-railway.co.uk Mon,Tues, Fri, Sat, Sun, Daytime Light and heavy volunteer work available Milton of Crathes Visitor Centre, Crathes Saltire Tae Kwon-do Academies Age specific programmes. Ninja Kidz (4-6 yrs), Dragon Warriors (7-9 yrs), Juniors (10 12 yrs), Youth/Seniors (13+yrs) and Korean Kickboxing www.saltiretkd.com/ Scottish Accordion Music Group Sunday, 2nd Sunday of month Kirkton Hall, Durris Splat 0-5 s Music Group Children aged 0 - 5 years invited with carers.

Fee: 50p per family. Disabled access and facilities Wednesday, 2pm - 3.15pm Term time only Drumoak Church Hall Tai Chi Aberdeenshire For information about classes, tuition for groups or individuals, view the website.

Instructor member of Tai Chi Union for Great Britain www.taichiaberdeenshire.co.uk Take a Seat Adapted seated classes of Tai Chi (Tai Ji) and Chi Gung (Qi Gong) for people who are unable to stand to exercise www.takeaseat.org.uk Tarland Film Club Monthly films chosen by you. BYO snacks/ refreshments. Open to those aged over 18 years in the Tarland area.

Held in the upstairs room at the MacRobert Hall. Email: tarlandfilmgroup@hotmail. co.uk, or telephone 07880 935803.

Facebook under ‘Tarland film-group’.

Torphins Horticultural & Industrial Society

Flower show, 4th Saturday in August, membership is £2, disabled access by back door. Ages catered for (Members) from under 6 to over 90 Torphins Indoor Bowling Club All ages are welcome, Monday , 7-9pm Learney Hall, Torphins Torphins Mens Club To encourage and foster good fellowship, knowledge and recreation Tuesday Last Tuesday of every month from Sept until April, Learney Arms Hotel, Torphins Torphins Parent & Toddler Group Fees: £1.50, includes tea, coffee, juice and biscuits. Healthy snacks for toddlers.

Tuesday, 10-11.30am, Learney Hall, Torphins Torphins Playgroup We offer commissioned places for children of 3 years and over in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council. We can offer fee paying places for children from the age of 2.5 up to 5 www.torphinsplaygroup.co.uk Mon 10.00am-12.30pm, Tues-Fri 9.30am12.00pm, Haberry, St. Marnan Road Torphins Torphins Senior Citizens Association Disabled access. Tuesday, 2.15pm 3rd Tuesday of every month

Learney Hall, Torphins Torphins SWRI Disabled access and facilities. For ladies aged 13 years and upwards. £10 annual fee or £1.50 per meeting. Transport can be arranged 4th Tuesday of every month 7.30pm August - May, Learney Hall, Torphins Torphins Tennis Club All are welcome. torphins.totaltennis.net/home/home.asp Torphins Twos Group Group for two year olds including craft and snack. Fee: £2 per session Thursday, Friday, 10am - 11.30am Learney Hall (small hall), Torphins Upper Deeside Art Society Annual fee of £18.00, individual workshop fee of £20.00. Talks cover a range of arts related subjects, while the workshops cater for a variety of mediums and subjects. www.udas.org.uk Friday, 2pm Monthly, also monthly Saturday workshops Aboyne Bowling Club White Crane Tai Chi Classes in Tai Chi (Tai Ji) and Chi Gung (Qi Gong). Established 2000 www.takeaseat.org.uk 7pm Banchory classes held on a Monday, Aboyne classes on a Thursday Woodside Playgroup For children aged 2years 10 months to 4 years Daily, 9.30am-12 noon 12.45-3.15pm Burnett Park Pavilion, Banchory Script to Screen & Stage Drama & Film classes for children of 7-12 years of age. Aboyne Class held in Victory Hall Thursday 4pm-6.30pm Banchory Classes held in Banchory Guide Hut 4pm -6pm & 6.15pm - 8.15pm Tel:01339 886265 email: s.2.s.and.stage@gmail.com www.script2screenandstage.co.uk Banchory Singers are a mixed voice Community Choir. We me at the PFR room at the Community Centre Building of Banchory Academy Raemoir Road Banchory AB31 5TQ each Wednesday evening during school term time. 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm. Further information about the choir can be found on www. banchorysingers.co.uk

please do mention the deeside gazette when responding to adverts

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