Deeside Issue 5 October 2011

Issue 5

October 2011 Deeside Edition Your Free Personal Copy

Inside this issue : WIN CASH - Prize Sudoku, DeeTours, SSPCA Meet ceramic artist - Hilary Duncan

gazette Deeside’s only free quality lifestyle magazine

Deeside gazette thru the door to : Drumoak, Banchory, Torphins and Aboyne deadlines : November - 19 October Dec-Jan - 18 November

publisher - owner : Sue Simpson tel : 01224 - 318561 mob : 07813 964 875

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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.

Here we are already at the start of October.

Looking back at last month though… There was just so much going on it was hard to pick and choose what to do first. I didn’t really manage to do the North East Open Studios justice. I’m determined to block out the WHOLE week next year so I can see and do more. Maybe even book in to a DeeTour! You can read about this new business in this issue. We did, sort of, enjoy a brief Indian summer! Well I certainly felt the sunshine on my face on more than one occasion, what about you? Whilst out delivering last month I managed to chat to quite a few of you, thank you for the time, it was lovely to hear your positive feedback about the gazette.

I also got chatting to quite a few new businesses in September. The quaint, ‘The Meet Again Tea Shop’ in Lumphanan is a must for an afternoon cuppa. If you enjoy a walk, then there is a lovely walk round the village you can do too. If reflexology is your thing, then off you go to Drumoak and speak to Anne-Marie Fagen.

The Big C is coming up soon (don’t really like to mention it till next issue), but there are quite a few of you that are super organised and if you are planning a big family gathering this year then Maryfield Farm is where you can pick up a fantastic turkey. Give Watson a phone first at Oven Valet!

Or, enjoy a night out at one of the restaurant’s advertising.

Jane our roving reporter has been busy too this issue. She met up with Hilary Duncan a Banchory ceramic artist. Hilary has some wonderful ceramic work available to buy and she also does commissions for yourself, a wedding gift etc. Jane also popped along to the new Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) at Drumoak. Since June 300 animals have been rehomed. They are always on the lookout for volunteers if you have a spare hour or two.

Now that I’ve given you a taster of what’s inside, go grab that cuppa and enjoy this issue of the gazette.

Until the next time, PS : Don’t forget to give the Sudoku a try!

gcg : 2 www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 - 318561 email : gazette@fsmail.net

Thank you to all the entries we received for the Sudoku competition . We got our winner and it was : E Stevenson - Banchory Don’t despair though, as we have another one on offer this month!

Entries due in by 19 October.

Maryfield Farm

are Celebrating 30years Traditionally rearing Bronze turkeys Christmas & New Year

Free range Locally produced Dry plucked Tender & full flavour

Want to get fit and earn some money?

Are you available once a month for a a few hours a day for a whole week?

Then give us a call...

The gazette is looking for delivery people in your area!

Call us on : 01224 318561 or fill out the form online at www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk

Contact us for your nearest stockist or order from Maryfield Christmas Farm Shop together with locally grown vegetables, Christmas puddings, dairy products, Dry cure hams & bacon

30 years

www.maryfieldpoultry.co.uk tel/fax 01330 822037 e-mail; info@maryfieldpoultry.co.uk Maryfield Farm,Tilquhillie, Banchory, Ab31 6HY

the Oven Valet • • • •

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please do mention the deeside gazette when responding to adverts

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Garden View

This month - Lawns In the interests of full disclosure I need to be honest with you here. I don’t actually have a lawn. I have grass. Sometimes it’s a bit mossy and sometimes there are sprinklings of daisies.

As I also have two small boys and a dog, it often looks a bit threadbare.

of green, but on the whole I’ve learned to love and work with what I have.

I used to have a lawn, sometime in the dim distant past, before children, pets and environmental ethics got in the way. The problem is that velvety green lawns require a lot of hard work. They are also particularly tricky to achieve if like me, you now garden organically as much as possible. A weed-free lawn is nigh-on impossible to achieve without the use of selective weed killers. It’s also tricky to achieve if you are trying to conserve water, as many of us are now.

First spend a bit of time raking your grass with a wire-toothed spring rake. This drags out all the dead grass and moss.

It’s called scarifying and I’ve always suspected that this is because the lawn looks scarifyingly bad after you’ve done it!

I do admit that there are occasions when I mourn the death of my beautiful swathe

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Even workaday lawns need some care and attention, especially at this tail-end of the gardening year. A little TLC now will ensure that it has a head-start in spring.

Don’t panic though, it has to look worse before it looks better. The next task is to stab it all over with a garden fork.

Push the fork in about 4-6 inches / 10-15cm and wiggle it about to relieve compaction.

If your soil is clay-like, which mine isn’t, it’s good to sweep sharp sand into the holes to improve long term drainage.

Now I know it looks a bit bald and sad at this point, but it’s worth giving it a cut so that it’s about 1 inch / 2.5cm high.

Don’t mow it too short.

One week later apply a wateron lawn food. If you’re not organic you can buy combined food and moss killers.

If some of the patches look very bare, prick them lightly with a garden fork and reseed them with a hard-wearing grass mix.

Finally when April comes around, apply a lawn fertiliser (which can contain a weed killer if you’re not organic) and start to mow regularly. Apply another top-up feed in June.

By mowing once a week the grass will thicken, and although you might still get a few daisies here and there, your grass will be looking more lawn-like. And if it wouldn’t pass muster at Wimbledon who cares...daisies are really very pretty flowers.

A Coffee Break With ...

DeeTour Sarah Butterworth and Moira Gash Tell me three things gazette readers’ might not know about you both?

Well we both have the same sense of humour, can do attititude and entrepreneurial spirit.

We both lead very busy lives juggling our various businesses interests as well as family and homes.

Sarah is the daughter of Howard Butterworth, a well known local artist and runs the Butterworth Gallery in Ballogie.

Moira runs two other businesses – Classic Abode a garden and landscaping with her husband as well as “Wee Office Angels” which offers admin services.

What exactly is Dee Tours?

DeeTour is a new tour and excursion business in the heart of Royal Deeside Scotland. We set it up in summer 2011 and intend to offer tours, activities and adventure throughout the Deeside area.

We hope to able to cover the majority of holiday/activity ideas for those visiting Royal Deeside by foot, bike or car. There may also be a hidden gem for the locals!

What was the inspiration behind Dee Tours?

We both saw an opportunity for a business that could showcase the area, scenery and attractions of Royal Deeside and wanted to do it in a marketable manner.

Our aim is that on the DeeTour website www. deetour.co.uk locals and visitors will find all the information they need to make their

holiday/break/activity to Royal Deeside a memorable one whether they are travelling alone, as a couple, as a family or part of a group

Will Dee Tours compliment your other business interests?

Certainly for Sarah and the Butterworth’s Gallery, as we intend to offer a Butterworth Tour probably starting early next year.

Maybe a bit more difficult to say in relation to Moira’s businesses, other than word of mouth promotion or maybe even client discounts 

Will Dee Tours just be for summer and autumn?

No we also hope to be able to provide some spring and winter tours and activities and have several ideas that we would like to progress over the course of the next year or so.

Is there a timetable for the tours?

At the moment that is a work in progress but booking online with fixed date tours will be available in the coming months. We also envisage offering specially tailored packages for groups as we have already had one or two enquires for this.

We also intend to have specially selected discounts and offers on our website which will change throughout the year.

We can be followed on Facebook and Twitter.

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Health and Beauty Autumn Fair

Make the most of October October is a month of change. We prepare for the winter at the same time as appreciating all this month has to offer. The startling range of colours from yellows, oranges and reds, beckon us, replacing any sunshine we may be missing. They encourage long, healthy walks in the woods, or maybe blackberry picking or tidying the garden. Even on cloudy days natural light stimulates glands that control the release of hormones, linked to our moods and emotions. So even if you feel low or tired, wrap up well and go outside, whatever the weather. The exercise and fresh air are guaranteed to cheer you up and you’ll be boosting vital Vitamin D levels too.

The clocks go back at the end of the month unfortunately. Actually I’m hoping they won’t!

Sign up for the “Lighter Later” campaign, set up by 10:10, a pressure group pushing for carbon reduction and backed by RoSPA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

Assuming they do go back, go to bed earlier and rise with the sun rather than sticking to your usual bedtime hours. Early morning exercise, anyone? Surely that’s better than a walk in the dark!

Prepare the house for winter. Check for draughts and hidden dust and moulds, another cause of respiratory problems and easily removed using tea tree oil. Even though it may be cold outside, open the windows for ten minutes each day to air the house. Plants such as palms, ivy, peace lily, African violets and spider plants will help improve the atmosphere. I recommend B.C. Wolverton’s book. “How to Grow Fresh Air”.

Try a gentle detox to help strengthen the immune system and then nurture yourself with baths instead of showers, candles to brighten dull rooms, extra cushions on the sofa and by adding warming spices to meals and hot drinks.

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Finally, the best thing about autumn is the harvest of bright berries, local apples and pears and the huge range of fresh root vegetables, from humble turnips to the enormous pumpkins awaiting Halloween.

Now is the perfect time to stock up on healthy carotenoids, the antioxidants found in orange fruit and vegetables. Try making roasted vegetable soup, using a varying mixture of carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips, butternut squash, turnips and swede. Toss vegetable chunks in olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and roast for about half an hour in a medium oven, then blend with chicken or veg stock.

Make a large amount, freeze portions and defrost in the morning, ready for the evening.

Add different warming spices and herbs for variety. Thick soups like these are really filling and also slimming.

You’ll find numerous pumpkin recipes and healthy fun snacks to help celebrate Halloween on the internet and don’t forget the nutrient-rich Affordable & professional pumpkin beauty therapies carried out in the comfort of your own home seeds, by a fully qualified and insured delicious beauty therapist. Offering and chewy, late week night and weekend appointments. whether eaten raw, sprouted or Loyalty Discounts roasted.

Sue Blain Naturopath

Discounts for block bookings To make your appointment

call: 07767 639477

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Health and Beauty Aromatherapy Reflexology and Reiki

Itchy Impetigo What is it?

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

NEW ‘Vitalift’ - Non Invasive Face Lift Treatment Electrical stimulation making it possible to re-educate the facial muscles and perform electrolifting, restoring firmness and tone, re-model the facial oval and re-juvenate the face without scars or bruising from surgery or injecting.

For more information/to book an appointment please contact Jenny at 89 Gray Street,Aberdeen AB10 6JD t : 01224 594777 e: jenny@kumikobeauty.co.uk

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Therapist’s Room Available to Rent

Always wanted to run your own business? Now you can from within an establishedWest End beauty and skin care centre.

Impetigo is an extremely common skin disease, generally caused by staphylococcus bacteria.

What does it look like?

It appears as a small, itchy red spot, often on the face around the mouth or nose. It quickly develops into a blister, containing yellow-gold fluid. The blister becomes crusty and weeps, and smaller itchy patches often develop around the first one as the infection spreads outwards.

Who is likely to get it?

Children, or those who work with them, particularly in nursery or school settings, and especially if they have eczema. Also people with diabetes or compromised immune systems.

How is it treated?

GPs generally give antibiotic cream, or in severe cases, oral antibiotics. Remove the scabs and clean the skin and allow to air-dry before applying any cream.

Can my child still go to school?

call jenny for more info

Tel : 01224 - 594777

As impetigo is highly contagious keep them off school until the scabs have fallen off and the sores are no longer weeping. If they are on oral antibiotics they are generally considered non-infectious after two days of treatment.

Is impetigo dangerous?

No, generally it’s just a nuisance, but there is a rare side effect called glomerulonephritis.

This is a kidney disease. Seek medical advice if the sufferer experiences severe headaches or brown-coloured urine.

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Hilary Duncan, Ceramic Artist

By Jane Robinson Throughout history, almost every developed culture has produced pottery, and often it is ceramic art that gives us more information about a certain culture than any other remains. Pots have always told stories, whether mythical, fictional or factual. But this ancient phenomenon is not just part of our past.

Still today there are artists working in our midst who produce pots and other ceramics which often reflect techniques and influences from the past, while also representing our own time.

Here in the heart of Deeside, one such artist is producing work that encapsulates this tradition in a unique and inspiring manner. Hilary Duncan is a ceramic artist based in Banchory.

With a background in textiles, Hilary was already involved in creating works of art when she discovered her forte lay in the world of ceramics. Having recently completed a BA Hons in Ceramics from Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen, she now works from a studio at home in the countryside.

Pots, vases, bowls, mugs, platters and tiles of varying sizes, colours and designs are all a part of Hilary’s work – some are for everyday use while other pieces are works of art intended

Christmas Craft Fair

Airyhall Community Centre

Saturday, 12 November 2011 11am - 4pm

Free Entry Cafe serving drinks & snacks

Picture Frames Candles Jewellery Purses Textiles - Soaps

Buy directly from the crafter

aberdeencraftbazaar.co.uk gcg : 8 www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 - 318561 email : gazette@fsmail.net

for display. These are ‘hand-built’ ceramics, every piece a ‘one-off’.

Inspired by man’s connection with the environment and the myths and stories that emerge from it, the work interprets these tales through being drawn and printed onto individual pieces. Her work has been exhibited around the area on many occasions, and as she continues to develop her style and technique, these ceramics continue to represent an inspiring form of art, a unique addition to any home.

In addition to accepting commissions for events such as weddings and birthdays, Hilary also runs occasional workshops and classes. For more information, check out the website at www.hilaryduncan.co.uk or email directly on hilaryduncan@btinternet.com .

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Sitting on top of your worries...

One day a week or so ago my loyal, trusty (well...except she’d sell her soul for half a biscuitJ)... Labrador... ran away!!

her loyal companionship for the entire hour+! Wagging her tail she joyfully jumped into my car and looked for a biscuit as if all was entirely normal.

Normally she won’t let me out of her sight and can be relied upon at all times to be watching me which is wonderfully liberating as we roam the local forests and hillsides with me leaving her to circle around freely, thereby covering probably 10 times the distance I do! She watches and even when I play games hiding or suddenly changing direction she is there instantly.

On this particular day, however, the car park at our chosen location (Scolty Hill) was exceptionally busy and there were dogs running everywhere. My friend and I instantly deep in a delicious blether did not notice that as we marched quickly to get ahead of the crowds my daft mutt had got confused and attached herself to another blonde lady who was part of a larger group!

We did realise after only about 200 yards but by then we were too late, no woof and no sign of any other groups of walkers. My friend and I abandoned our regular quest to reach the top of the hill and spent the next hour trailing around the alternative tracks calling the dog, talking to everyone we met and phoning everyone we knew who we had seen in the car park trying to track her down.

She wears an identifying tag on her collar and is micro chipped so we were doing all we possibly could.

As I suspected, the daft thing returned to the car park with the other group, happy as anything, a short while later having entertained this other group of ladies with

Relating this story to a friend afterwards she remarked how terribly worried and distraught I might have been and how awful the whole episode must have been.

But here’s the thing – although I recognised the need to take immediate action and did so it would have been futile to waste emotional energy worrying about what might happen – far better to focus on sorting the problem out. My friend and I were light hearted throughout the hour we spent searching and it’s something we and my family will laugh about many times in the future.

My point in sharing this simple, light but potentially ugly situation with you is that so often I find myself helping clients feel happier and freer and be more productive in their lives by consciously choosing what is worth worrying about, ie what they can

gcg : 10 www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 - 318561 email : gazette@fsmail.net

influence and thereby climbing up from a mire of anxiety and “sitting on top of their worries”.

As a rule of thumb if you can take action towards resolving a situation it’s far better to do that than to waste minutes or hours or nights or weeks worrying about it, and if there’s really nothing you can do about a situation then, referring back to my article last month, choose your attitude and choose how much emotional energy you will allow it. That way you don’t torture yourself with what might go wrong but equally might not. As they say “Cheer up, it might never happen.”

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[Rona Tayler]

Growing old wit

At an age when many women are planning their retirement, Banchory-based Rona Tayler was planning a career change. Now, 27 years on she can look back on the best decision of her life.

2011 marks the silver jubilee of Hawkhill House Residential Nursing Home on the outskirts of Aberdeen. It is the city’s only independent nursing home and is consistently awarded excellent ratings by the Care Commission. It was also fully booked before it ever opened its doors.

“I’m still not thinking about retiring,” she said. “I retired once, from teaching and was bored out of my mind. I hadn’t really intended retiring that time but my husband worked for BP and was offered a transfer from Aberdeen to London. I didn’t have much say in the decision. We had a 10 minute discussion which changed the course of my life.”

Rona Tayler didn’t set out to be a teacher, or to run a nursing home. As a pupil at Dornoch Academy, where she left as dux, her ambition was to be a doctor. In fact she ended up training to be a PE teacher at the old Dunfermline College in Aberdeen, and then worked her way up the promotion ladder finally progressing from principal teacher and lady advisor to assistant head at Bankhead Academy, Bucksburn, on the outskirts of Aberdeen.

“I discovered I had a knack with what were classed as difficult children so I went as a supply teacher to the schools nobody else wanted. But I didn’t find the children challenging. I used to say to them that I’d told them once and twice would be too often, and the responded to that.”

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An advanced teacher of Scottish country dancing, she encouraged the activity in the schools where she taught to the extent they were successful in music festivals. She was invited to lecture to delegates at the Commonwealth Games at Meadowbank in Edinburgh in 1970 when her lecture was illustrated by a team of 30 pupils from Bankhead.

At the time of her enforced move south to Hampshire, and subsequent enforced retirement, she had time on her hands and the life of a lady of leisure did not appeal.

“It all came to a head one day when the window cleaner called and started telling me about my neighbours. He reckoned one had her first G&T by 10.30 each morning, another couldn’t afford to pay her bills at the local shop and the home of another one was held together only

by Virginia creeper. That’s when I knew I had to do something with my life,” she said, something of an understatement from a lady who had already shone in teaching.

A chance remark from her minister back in Aberdeen, the Rev Dr Scott Hutchison now retired and living in Drumoak, stuck in her mind.

He had once told her there was a shocking dearth of nursing home places locally. Rona had cared for both her parents, with little support, and felt passionately there must be an answer to the question of better provision for older people with health problems.

With no business plan, no collateral other than the family home and no experience of project management or running a nursing home, she identified the building she wanted and approached the bank. As a result, she bought a century-old, gracious granite building on the North Deeside Road that was to become Hawkhill House, and was involved in drawing up the plans to convert it into a nursing home.

Her involvement extended to drawing out a sample room in the architect’s car park. Her first disappointment was that she was allowed only

th ambitions to fulfill

by Ruth Morrison

39 beds and not the 48 she wanted – and finally achieved. The building of Hawkhill House began in 1984 and it was finally opened as a nursing home in 1986.

All these clichés – failure isn’t an option, the word no isn’t in my vocabulary - could have been originated by Rona Tayler who developed a unique way of dealing with her bank which eventually capitulated and agreed to her terms. It was a decision they never regretted because she never reneged on a deal or missed a repayment. She borrowed £1.25 million, a 100% loan.

“In those days I was very much slimmer,” confided the superbly stylish lady, flicking back her hair. “And I had good legs. I used to dress up and wear my highest heels for business meetings. I’d sit there across the desk from the bank manager and change position every so often. Then when he was looking at my legs, I would look at the figures on his desk.”

She added: “He did say to me once that he admired my guts and he was lending me the money based on my personality because he knew I would succeed.”

She worked on the design and planning of the quality furnishings and colour schemes.

Gradually Hawkhill House took shape. Scott Hutchison encouraged her with Bible reference and more practically, road tested the building in his wheelchair. Finally, he was the one who declared it open in summer 1986 and has returned for the annual garden party every year since.

From the outset, she has been managing director and is involved personally in the managing of the home and many of the social activates the home provides. Initially she was supported by her husband, Mike, until his death and thereafter by two co-directors. Today she has the support of the Friends of Hawkhill very active and dedicated band of helpers which includes the Lady Provost.

From the time she decided she wanted to run a nursing home, Rona Tayler has pursued a vision of excellence, set herself exceptionally high standards and has led by example. Her ways aren’t always conventional but they are successful and she has created a happy home for many of the city’s elderly folk. It didn’t happen by accident. Typically, she decided she should learn about business before launching herself into it, so while Hawkhill was taking shape, she returned to studying externally, graduating BA (Hons) from Glasgow then became a Chartered Member of the Institute of Management and has been invited to become a Fellow.

“That’s in my notes to do next year. I’ve come a long way and it’s been a bumpy ride. I’ve been told several times that no one human being could have achieved all that I’ve done, but I’ve done it and I’m not giving up yet,” she said.

In fact she intends celebrating the home’s silver anniversary in style, as she does everything else.

[Rona with the Lord and Lady Provost at the annual garden party and matron/manager Mrs Kristin Jackson-Brown ]

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A Good Read Hospital Babylon – Imogen Edwards-Jones

It’s no secret that Imogen Edwards-Jones’‘Babylon’books have attracted a huge cult following: they are easy to read and impossible to put down. Her latest offering, Hospital Babylon, follows the highly successful formula she has established and ticks all the right boxes. Told by a nameless narrator, it covers 24 hours in the life of a doctor in the A&E department of a busy hospital, dealing with the mundane, the extraordinary, the hilarious and the tragic.

All the books are based on research and interviews with insiders, then condensed down into a single day. In Hospital Babylon, this includes two births, a number of deaths, a series of bizarre injuries and some sadly commonplace tragedies, as well as rather a lot of flirting, drug-taking and workplace banter. The pace is relentless – A&E never empties, and as the staff battle to keep waiting times to a minimum, tempers often fray and split-second decisions need to be made. Some cases move in and out quickly and smoothly, while others, like 15 year old Marsha, who doesn’t know she is pregnant until her baby starts to arrive, or elderly June, who slips in the rain and breaks her hip, are likely to stay with the reader for some time.

There is a serious message here about the constraints placed on staff by reform of the NHS, and about the workload that is still expected of a junior doctor. If nothing else, it will certainly put you off being ill around the first Wednesday in August when staff traditionally move on to new placements, and a new set of junior doctors arrive fresh-faced and more than a little confused.

As with the other books in the series this is not for the faint-hearted, in places it is stomach turning. But like A&E, the doors keep opening to admit more and more people and we move relentlessly on – and I guarantee you will keep turning the pages as they do.

Starting School – Janet and Allan Ahlberg There are a plethora of books available to help a child through the mysteries of starting school for the very first time, but this is easily one of the best out there as you would expect from the Ahlbergs. Simply set out and of course beautifully illustrated, it starts as Gavin and Errol, Sophie and Sushma and their classmates make their way to school for their very first day. All of the milestones are shown: finding the toilets; handing in dinner money; exploring the classroom – with little description, allowing parents to talk to their child about each one.

What really makes this stand out though, is the fact that it goes beyond the first day into the second day, the first week, the next week and all the way up to the end of term and the Christmas play. And the children aren’t always happy, sometimes they are sad, or sleepy or grumpy, as children are. A whole range of new experiences is shown, and every child will be able to find themselves somewhere in these pages.

A beautiful book, ideal for sharing and reading out loud – again and again and again.

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A Child’s First Pet – Guinea Pigs Suki North “Pleeease can I have a pet? I promise I’ll look after it properly and keep it clean!”

I’m sure we’ve all heard this appeal. You realise you will be the one who ends up looking after it, don’t you? Give a lot of thought about your child’s first pet. While older children may be responsible enough to provide the right care for an animal, younger kids need constant supervision.

Owning a pet is a fabulous experience for a child. It will form a happy and memorable part of their childhood. Also, a pet can help your child learn about responsibility and caring.

However, most children’s first experience of death is that of their beloved pet. Be prepared to deal with this heartrending but vital lesson.

Guinea pigs are a great first pet. These chatty, intelligent rodents are easily tamed and very friendly. They rarely bite, love being handled and become extremely affectionate. Guinea pigs usually live for five years, sometimes longer.

Guinea pigs can live outside or indoors. They can be nervous, so house them somewhere quiet. Their home should be safe, warm and easy to clean. A separate ‘bedroom’ is also required. Choose a large cage with a plastic base for indoors or a good sized hutch for outside. As guinea pigs are sensitive to

temperature changes ensure the hutch is protected from the elements. Put in plenty of warm, hay bedding. Allow the guinea pig to exercise regularly under observation.

As natural grazers, guinea pigs need access to food and water at all times. Provide fresh grass, hay and weeds such as dandelion each day. They also need a daily supply of vitamin C. Proprietary guinea pig pellets offer this as do leafy green vegetables like broccoli.

Never feed citrus fruits though, as they cause diarrhoea. Root vegetables and fruit are not naturally part of a guinea pig’s diet so only feed a little each day. They adore cucumber, so use this to aid taming and as a treat.

Guinea pig nails and teeth grow continuously (- carefully clip nails every couple of weeks as required. Keep an eye on their teeth. The right diet should be enough and you can provide untreated wood to gnaw on, such as fruit tree twigs to help. Long-haired breeds need to be brushed daily to keep their coats neat.

You want more than one guinea pig? That’s fine, as long as they are both female. Two males, if not brought up together, will fight.

And a male and female together will very soon become more than two…

You’ll discover that a guinea pig will quickly endear itself into in the family’s heart with their adorable purring and chirruping sounds, and gentle and inquisitive personality.

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Photographs above courtesy of Peter Devlin Photography Ltd (top right Assistant Manage Debbie Innes)

SSPCA

by Jane Jobinson

It has only been open a few months, but it has been so busy, the staff are unable to imagine how the North East managed before it was built. Since the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals opened its new premises at Drumoak in June 2011, the centre has re-homed over 300 animals. It’s a statistic that has left Assistant Manager Debbie Innes both surprised and satisfied. With the nearest centres being at Dundee and Inverness, clearly there was an urgent need for just such a place in Aberdeenshire. Debbie and ten staff members are supported by a band of keen volunteers, all of whom have a love for animals and expert knowledge in how to handle them.

The purpose-built centre at Drumoak deals with a variety of small animals...dogs, cats, rabbits, and even reptiles. Sited within open countryside, it can also deal with horses. It is a busy, welcoming building which is open to the public every day of the year, including Christmas Day. With the welfare of animals at the heart of the organisation, there is no knowing when staff and facilities might be needed. People’s circumstances can change, and with vet fees, expenses and other issues, an animal can occasionally slip too far down the list of priorities. The run-up to Christmas can be a particularly busy time as the festive season can sometimes bring havoc to a household which then results in animals needing attention. Fortunately, the SSPCA can help.

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Photographs this page courtesy of Jane Robinson

The background story of many of these animals is often difficult and sad, so it is good to know that a caring organisation like this exists in the area which can offer advice and assistance. While the centre cannot take every animal that they hear about, they can help if there is a welfare issue. They have a ‘no kill’ policy so some animals can stay for quite a lengthy period of time before being re-homed.

The SSPCA is highly experienced at finding homes for these animals. For example, in finding a suitable owner for a dog, they are very careful to match the dog to the person.

It is very rare for re-homing not to work, but if it is attempted and is not right, they will take the animal back. After all, for the sake of the animals, customer-care is vitally important.

If you are interested in helping the centre through donations and fundraising, voluntary work, or if you are thinking about re-homing an animal, you can find out more at

One lucky kitten who got rehomed after being found under a bush!

www.scottishspca.org

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For Sale or Loan Yogi Bear : 13.2hh Welsh Cross Gelding

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Step into the Amalfi Coast with the fresh taste of Italian cuisine at Ciao Napoli.

Open for lunch Mon-Sat 12-2.30pm Open for Dinner Mon-Sat 5.30-10.30pm

Freshly prepared produce Selection of fine Neapolitan & Italian wines Daily specials Private/corporate dining facilities Special Saturday lunch for shoppers

10 Bon Accord Crescent, Aberdeen Tel : 01224 213223

www.ciaonapoli.co.uk

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AWA’s Holiday Gift & Craft Fair benefits local children’s charity Get your Christmas lists ready because the AWA wants to help you find all kinds of treats at its annual Holiday Gift and Craft Fair, to be held on Sunday, 6 November, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hilton Treetops Hotel. Admission is only £3.

More than 100 stalls are expected to fill the hotel as vendors sell handmade items like jewelry, luxury pillows, children’s toys and more. Artists from the Butterworth Gallery will make an encore appearance with canvases from their Ballogie gallery near Aboyne, and artisans from all over Scotland will attend also.

The Holiday Gift and Craft Fair is the single largest fundraiser that AWA sponsors for its chosen charity. This year, Befriend A Child is that charity. All proceeds from the fair’s Sweet Shoppe and raffle will directly benefit Aberdeen’s own befriending service for deprived and vulnerable children. More than £20,000 have been donated to groups like the Aberdeen Women’s Shelter, CLAN, and others in the last three years alone.

The Association of American Women of Aberdeen (AWA) formed in 1986 to make social contacts with fellow countrymen, help newcomers settle in, provide support when the going got tough, and make lasting friendships. Founded by six American women who felt that there was not enough contact among the U.S. expatriate community in Aberdeen, the AWA has spent the past 25 years embracing life in Scotland. Today, annual membership hovers around 150 women of all nationalities who live here as expats.

Activity groups take advantage of all the Northeast has to offer: hiking, walking, exploring the various shops/restaurants/museums, and more. There are more than 15 activity groups to choose from, as well as monthly meetings and one-off events. There is no shortage of things to get involved with!

If you would like more information about joining the AWA, please contact its website: www. awaaberdeen.org.

Members can’t wait to see you at the Holiday Gift and Craft Fair!

--Lisa Ann Henkel

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what’s on round and about

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what’s on round and about Aboyne :

Deeside Doric DirlAn evening of entertainment, dancing, singing and music. Featuring world renowned Tarland Fiddler Paul Anderson.

Cost: £9.50, £7.50 Further Information Contact Fiona McIver Phone 013398 83536 Email sales@deesideactivitypark.com Thursday 13th October 2011, 19:00 Thurs 13th Oct 2011, 19:00 Storytimes at Aboyne Library Saturday 15 October Scottish Opera Offenbach - Orpheus in the Underworld - 7.30pm Tickets: £14.00 / under 26s £5.00

Banchory :

‘All creatures, Great and Small’ by Paul Barnes.

At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Now until Wednesday 2nd November 2011 Children’s Event: Autumn Quiz At Crathes Castle Saturday 8th October 2011, 12:00 - Sunday 23rd October 2011, 16:00 Rhymetimes for Toddlers at Banchory Library Monday 10th October 2011, 14:30 Bookbug Rhymetime for Toddlers at Banchory Library Friday 14th October 2011, 10:00 F.O.C.U.S (Festival of Crafts Unique to Scotland) At Banchory Town Hall Saturday 15th October 2011 Saturday Storytime at Banchory Library Saturday 15th October 2011, 11:00 - 11:30

Fri 28th Oct 2011, 11:20 Storytimes at Aboyne Library Friday 28 October The Smurfs (U) - 5.30pm Beginners (15) - 7.30pm Saturday 29 October pdf Productions presents The Alexander Brothers “Take Me Back Tour” 2011 Doors Open 6.30pm, show starts 7.00pm Tickets £14 & £12 concession Deeside Activity Park 6th November - Fireworks & Bonfire 5 pm till 6.30 pm Bus leaves Lumphanan at 4.45 pm. Free to all, BBQ and other catering.

Bookbug Rhymetime for Babies at Banchory LibraryThursday 20th October 2011, 10:30 Rhymetimes for Toddlers at Banchory LibraryMonday 24th October 2011, 14:30 Folk Session At Crathes Hall Friday 28th October 2011, 20:00 Bookbug Rhymetime for Toddlers at Banchory LibraryFriday 28th October 2011, 10:00 Tales from the Tower At Drum Castle Friday 28th October 2011, 18:30 Saturday Storytime at Banchory LibrarySaturday 29th October 2011, 11:00 - 11:30 Banchory Bonfire and Fireworks Night In King George V Park Saturday 5th November 2011, 18:30 F.O.C.U.S (Festival of Crafts Unique to Scotland) At Banchory Town Hall Saturday 12th November 2011

Fri 11th Nov 2011, 11:20 Storytimes at Aboyne Library Fri 25th Nov 2011, 11:20 Storytimes at Aboyne Library 18th December - Santa Sleigh Rides and Santa’s Grotto Santa is coming back to Deeside this year we will need to see if there is enough snow for him to arrive on a powerboard like last year!

11 am, 11.30 am, 12 pm, 12.30 pm, 1 pm, 1.30 pm and 2 pm. £3 for the Santa’s Grotto £3 for the Sleigh Ride Book both for £5 Saturday Storytime at Banchory LibrarySaturday 12th November 2011, 11:00 - 11:30 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 Flower arranging Classes : booking Required : From May to November : Great Hall, Crathes Castle £18 per Person Tel : 08444932168 The Enchanted Castle At Crathes Castle Wednesday 23rd November 2011 - Sunday 27th November 2011 Folk Session At Crathes Hall Friday 25th November 2011, 20:00 Hogmanay Big Bash Spectacular At Banchory Town Hall Saturday 31st December 2011, 20:00 - 01:00

gcg : 22 www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 - 318561 email : gazette@fsmail.net

what’s on round and about

Pandy Arthur

Classical trained - vocally versatile

Available to sing at Weddings, Funerals, Christenings, Concerts, Corporate Events, Burns Suppers, Special Ocassions. For more information and to hear song samples visit www.pandyarthur.co.uk

Forthcoming concerts: 27th October - Cowdray Hall Lunchtime Concert, Aberdeen with Margaret Preston.

12.45pm - Free Entry.

29th October - Dinnet House , Dinnet. A ‘Save the Children’ Musical Evening with supporting Artistes.

7.30pm - Contact 01330 822142 or 01330 822303 for tickets.

11th November - Music for the Sound Festival at The Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD. 1.10pm - Free Entry.

Debut Album - out now!

Available to buy at: Finzean Farm Shop, Aboyne Corner House, Tarland Chemist, The Millers in Midmar, Platform 22 in Torphins, Buchanan’s Bistro in Banchory and Performance venues.

Website: www.pandyarthur.co.uk Telephone: 07767 340785

The Harvest Festival (The First Hairst)

Violin Maker

Saturday October 22nd will see some of Scotland’s top traditional musicians and storytellers gathering at the Potarch Hotel on the River Dee near Banchory.

Violin, Viola and Cello Commissions Repairs & Restorations Sound Adjustments, Bow Re-hairs Student Violins 01330 820596 07816 089 501

Ian Greig Banchory

The harvest festival will be hosted by broadcaster and musician, Frieda Morrison.

There’ll be stories in the morning, sessions during the day when all musicians will be welcome to come and play, and an evening concert featuring the principal performers.

For information contact Birseland Media at: info@harvestfolkfest.co.uk

www.iangreigviolins.com Member British Violin Makers Association

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St Lucia - a varied and scenic island

At the southern end of the Lesser Antilles, in the Caribbean islands, St Lucia is just a drop in the ocean, 27 by 14 miles, with spectacular mountains, lush rainforest and fertile valleys fringed by sandy beaches. Tossed 14 times between French and English colonial powers, the island has thrown both cultures into the melting pot with a generous helping of African folklore, a little East Indian spice and vestiges of early Amerindian settlers. English is the official language but Creole, a mix of African dialects and French, is coming back, in tune with the stirring rhythm of reggae and calypso. by Solange Hando

TR AVEL

St Lucia is tourist-hungry but eco-friendly and most developments have been limited to the north-west around Rodney Bay. There are fine sands and palm trees, a gleaming marina and out on the hilly peninsula, known as Pigeon Island, fabulous views over the shimmering

Caribbean Sea on one side and foaming Atlantic breakers on the other.

Pleasure boats sail along the coast looking out for sunfish, dolphins and whales, past the lovely Marigot Bay featured in Dr Doolittle, the fabulous diving sites, hidden coves and sleepy villages strung with fishing nets and laundry drying on the beach. On a Friday night, when the beat of Afro-Caribbean steel bands echo along the shore, the village of Anse la Raye stages a gigantic fish fry al fresco, a lively family event where all sorts of delicacies bubble in the pots or sizzle in the pans - seafood, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, rice, callaloo soup and more. The national dish is salt fish with green bananas, but equally popular is the fiery pepperpot cooked in cassava juice.

Soufrière, the old capital, nestles below the luxuriant volcanic cones of the Pitons, seen on every postcard, but few visitors linger in town. The world’s only ‘drive-in volcano’ is just a stone’s throw away, seething with sulphurous fumes and gurgling mud, and there are Botanical Gardens with mineral springs, tropical blooms and a stunning Diamond Fall gushing down multi-coloured rocks. To the north, the new capital, Castries, is famed for its Jazz Festival and duty-

free malls, gleaming with Colombian emeralds and Amerindian craft, but the old town retains a quaint colonial charm. The cathedral has stunning murals and stained glass, designed by Nobel-prize artist Dunstan St Omer, no doubt a source of inspiration for myriad craftsmen and painters who have set up home on the nearby Hill of Good Luck.

Climbing the Pitons is strictly for the brave but there are easier treks through the hills and rainforest with jeep safaris heading for remote hamlets, banana plantations and Creole farms fragrant with cinnamon and nutmeg. There may be time to taste cassava bread, bathe in a waterfall and bargain for bird ornaments carved out of coconut shells. At over 3000 feet, Mount Gimmie, the highest peak, rises above it all but views can be enjoyed with no effort at all in the eight-seater gondola offering an expensive but popular ‘sky ride’. There you glide up a hillside, skimming the tree tops, gazing at incense and fern trees, breadnut, blue maho and heliconia, spotting hummingbirds, butterflies, mongoose and tarantulas dangling inches from your face. Rolling farmlands stretch into the distance, sprinkled with villages where the occasional beat of a Creole drum seems to touch the very heart of this varied and scenic island.

gcg : 24 www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 - 318561 email : gazette@fsmail.net

Monday 21st November Do you live in a cold house?

Do you want to make your stone house warmer ?

Maybe you are refurbishing an old house?

Unique opportunity to find out about the latest insulation approaches from Scotland’s experts Monday 21st November 12 noon – 9.30 pm at Woodend Barn, Banchory Roger Curtis Head of Technical Research, Historic Scotland Wilson Shaw from the BCA Group Historic Scotland have been leading the research on energy efficiency in traditional buildings and BCA are at the forefront of the training and installation of measures in these hard to treat homes.

Exhibitions from 12 noon with an opportunity to find out about the expansion of the insulation industry and training for those interested . Presentations at 7.30 pm Architects, builders and others in the trade welcome in addition to members of the public. Refreshments and the opportunity for discussion. Free entry

Prize Sudoku

Win £40 Cash How To Play Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9, with no repetitions!

That’s all there is to it.

You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic. There’s no math involved and no adding up. It’s fun, it’s challenging, it’s addictive.

Once completed, fill in the form on the back and return by 19 October 2011 The first name drawn from the ‘hat’ is the winner

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Spice of Life - Fenugreek The word fenugreek means ‘Greek hay’ and the green parts of the bean-like plant are used as cattle fodder in the east. The powerfully aromatic seeds of this plant have many uses. A favourite spice in India, fenugreek is added to most curries, used in mango chutney and adds a kick to vegetable dishes. It’s even used to make spicy bread and hot drinks.

Fenugreek seeds are incredibly hard and almost impossible to grind. However, roasting them lightly makes crushing them using a pestle and mortar slightly easier.

Alternatively, soak the seeds overnight in water to soften them and make a paste.

Only use a small amount as the flavour can be overpowering.

Medicinal uses of fenugreek include making poultices for boils and cysts. The spice contains an expectorant which helps with sinus congestion. It is also undergoing studies to prove claims that it lowers blood pressure and reduces blood sugar levels, so may be used in the future to treat diabetes when combined with insulin.

As well as its culinary and medical uses, fenugreek is employed as a vivid yellow dye and was once one of the many ingredients used by the Egyptians for embalming.

Prize Sudoku Entry Form Win £40 Cash Complete the Sudoku by filling out the grid on page 25 then fill in your details below, cut out this section and send to: Sudoku Competition, Gazette Magazines, 4 Kenfield Crescent, Aberdeen AB15 7UQ

Name : ________________________________ Tel :__________________ ADDRESS : ____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

Closing date for entries is 19th October 2011

What age range do you fall into? under 30

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31-45 

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Competition Terms & Conditions: You must be over 18 years old to enter; Only one entry per household; Entrants details will be retained by gazette magazines and may be used to send occasional relevant special offers. We will not pass on your details to other companies; If you do not wish to receive any such communication please tick here □

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Image by Martin Ugod

Place the beef in a large bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Mix it all together by hand until just combined.

Divide the mixture into eight and roll each portion into a ball, then flatten to make the burger shape. You want to leave it about 2.5cm / 1 inch thick so it stays moist when cooked.

The burgers can now be cooked either on a griddle pan or nonstick frying pan with a drop of oil, or even a barbeque. Pre-heat the frying pan, griddle pan or barbeque to a medium heat, so that the burgers seal and don’t stick.

Cook the burgers for about 5 minutes on each side, turning them once. They should be cooked through with no pink bits.

Serve in a good quality bun with loads of salad and relish and maybe a slice of cheese (Stilton takes them to a whole new level).

Method

1kg minced beef 1small onion, finely chopped 4tbsp fine bread crumbs 1 egg, lightly beaten 1red chilli, finely chopped (optional) 1tsp salt 1tsp of your favourite mustard or horse radish sauce Black pepper to season 2 cloves garlic, crushed

Ingredients

Makes 8 good-sized burgers

Why visit the take-away when they’re tastier and healthier home made.

Beautiful Burgers



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Keep your kids warm and dry Swedish Style Families who like to enjoy the great outdoors in all weathers, will love the new kids clothing range from Swedish outdoor clothing specialist Didriksons.

Anewwebsitelaunchedthismonth-DidriksonsKids. co.uk – now sells the largest collection of Didriksons clothes for kids and juniors in the UK. Founded in Sweden in 1913, Didriksons originally produced oilskins for fishermen, and now specialises in reliable, affordable and stylish outdoor gear for all the family.

With four different levels of weather protection – storm, breeze, thermal and move -the range, which includes waterproof jackets, trousers, hats and gloves, will keep your kids warm and dry in all weathers.

All jackets include a reflective safety band as standard, helping your kids to be seen and stay safe as the nights draw in. Jackets also have taped seams, making them ultra waterproof, and chin guards to keep out the chill.

Steph realised that there was a gap in the market and contacted Didriksons to become their UK seller.

The website sells a wide range of children’s outdoor gear for kids aged one to eighteen years.Visit www. didriksonskids.co.uk to keep your kids warm and dry Swedish style this winter.

Didrikson’s clothes are graded for four different levels of weather protection as follows: • Storm system: Designed to keep you dry and warm during all weather conditions • Breeze system: Windproof with no seams sealed. Comfortable for all weather conditions • Thermal system: Helps your body maintain the right temperature.

The garment is soft and warm for a cold day.

• Mo:ve system: This will help keep your body cool dry and comfortable. It rapidly transports precipitation and moisture to the fabric surface for quick evaporation.

The range includes clothing for all purposes – from straightforward waterproofs for rainy days around town, to fleecy waterproofs with added warmth for outdoor adventures.

Steph Allison, the mum behind DidriksonsKids’ UK website, was inspired to set up the site after a disastrous family outing in snowy Aberdeenshire and a tiresome high street search for quality outdoor clothes for her own daughter. She explains:

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“Last winter, we set off on a weekend family outing.

Thirty minutes into our snowy adventure, my little one’s gloves were completely soaked through and we had to curtail the fun and reluctantly turn back home.

“The following week I searched the high street for waterproof gloves for kids and there was just nothing available. I found the Swedish Didriksons website, had a pair sent over and Amy wore them for the rest of the winter.”

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FSB: Supporting Real-life Entrepreneurs Setting up and running a business can be a daunting prospect.

But the spirit of entrepreneurship that accompanies every new and growing business can also liberate, excite and inspire.

It can lift people out of poverty, create wealth and put our economy back on track.

It can be a catalyst for the resurgence of civil society.

It transcends class, gender, age and every other social divide; entrepreneurship can be found anywhere.

In short, turning a good idea into a business is one of the most positive acts an individual can perform for themselves and the community in which they live.

In a society dominated by celebrity culture, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;celebrity entrepreneursâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; have emerged as inspirational figures that many aspire to be.

But away from the celebrity, the best ideas have humble beginnings and the smallest businesses often take the biggest risks.

of society. Keep a lookout for our new Real-Life Entrepreneurs campaign, which sets out some of the measures that we can all take to remove the barriers to entrepreneurship wherever it may be found.

Largest UK Pressure Group 20,000 Members in Scotland 3,000 Members in Aberdeen City & Shire

Membership Benefits

...Free 24/7 Legal Advice ...Free Tax Investigation Insurance ...Free Business Banking ...And so much more

For more details visit

www.fsb.co.uk

Anyone who has a good idea and takes a risk to put that idea into practice and grow a business is an entrepreneur.

The vast majority will never be celebrities. The vast majority go unsung, but nonetheless lead hugely enriching lives for themselves and those around them.

We need to create an atmosphere of entrepreneurship that seeps into every part of our society and makes the proposition of setting up and running a business a realistic prospect for anyone with a good idea.

There is much that the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is already doing to identify, nurture and support entrepreneurs but also much that the UK and Scottish Governments can do to help.

The FSB represents Real-Life Entrepreneurs across every sector of the economy and every section

gcg : 30 www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 - 318561 email : gazette@fsmail.net

the one stop business shop ...

Compu-Care

Call Neil 07539-462-064 PC Repairs and Upgrades Aberdeen based. No call out fee. Collect and return service. New systems available. £15ph standard pc repairs. £25ph networking/internet

Granite City Power Washing Services Call Pete on 07835 263882

Using a chemical-free restoration process Footpaths * driveways * patios * decking * slabs *concrete Free quotations and demonstrations - reasonable rates Friendly local service, 7 days a week 20% discount with this advert

The Meet Again Tea Shop Lumphanan Tel : Roz Buckingham 05603 683 052

Fine teas and coffees, home bakes and snacks.

Gifts and lots more...

(Look at The meet again facebook page)

M.G. Decorating Tel : 013398 87445

Exterior/Interior Wallpapering Varnishing Free Estimates

CUMMING FIRE & SECURITY Ltd 20 AQUITHIE ROAD, KEMNAY. Tel: 01467-643917

.

Email cfs.ltd@dial.pipex.com

Free Advice & Quotations. Evening Surveys Available Gas Detection Intruder Alarm Systems, Wired or Wireless Fire Alarm Systems, Wired or Wireless Fire Extinguishers & Blankets - Supply Only or Supply & Fit Electrical Wiring & Re-wiring Smoke & Heat Detectors - Supply Only or Supply & Fit Carbon Monoxide Detectors - Supply Only or Supply & Fit Portable Appliance Testing CCTV Door Entry Systems Window & Door Lock Replacement.

Safes and Cabinets Electrical Cabling & Accessories Safety Signs & Equipment

Reflexology

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

Your feet are a map of the entire body. By applying pressure/ massage all organs can benefit,relax and rejuvenate GIVE IT A TRY!!!

George Cormack Painter & Decorator T: 01224 827081 M: 07840 650 853

40yrs experience, free estimates, no job to small and no vat.

e:

gcormack@talktalk.net

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