Kingswells Community News
Issue 16 : Dec 2015 - Jan 2016 Free bi-monthly magazine for some inspiration go to our centre page gift guide. and support an independent store this Christmas... gazette magazines has been introducing local people to local businesses since 2005!
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Seniors Party Night All who attended Kingswells Seniors party night held in the old village hall on Friday 6 November had an absolutely fantastic time. Approximately 80 “boppers” danced and sang the night away after their fill of stovies and, dare we say it, one or two libations. The entertainment was supplied by the “Golden Girls and Him” a fantastic fiddle ensemble providing a wonderful array of Scottish dance music that got everybody’s feet tapping. We don’t think anybody left without a raffle prize and a smile on their face after a night of fun and games. A debt of gratitude and thanks is owed by all of the guests to the hall committee, sponsors, all who donated raffle prizes and, last but not least, the young volunteers who looked after everyone with enthusiasm. A wonderful effort - which was more than appreciated! Stan McKeown
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We try our hardest to ensure accuracy of editorial content but no responsibility can be taken for any errors and/or omissions. The views expressed within the gazette are not necessarily those of the publisher or advertisers. When replying to offers, competitions and other correspondence, we would strongly recommend that you check published information with each organisation beforehand. All artwork is accepted on strict condition that permission has been given for use in this publication. We thank you for taking the time to read the small print.
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A note from Sue ...
The end of the year already! I suppose with only
six issues of the magazine it will go twice as quick! In Issue 16 we have five pages of local businesses showing you some of their Christmas wares. They do stretch as far as Ellon and Banchory because it is a culmination of all my advertisers across all the magazines. There is definitely something for everyone and how nice to shop in a n independent store for a change? If you are at a loss for entertaining the children then why not pop over to see the Ythanbank Reindeer just outside Ellon it is open 28 November thru to 24 December 1030 til 3.30 but closes at 2pm on Christmas Eve. Fourmile and Ferryhill House have their festive menus on the go so why not treat your friend to a lunch instead of a Christmas present or both! Gift vouchers are available at most of the shops advertising. If you want a break and a coffee then pop over to Fresh and take your voucher with you too. If you need to go into town then Stagecoach is offering you money off again this month on the X18 service. A special mention to Suzanne and Peter who have kindly offered to deliver Wellside and Huxterstone for me – I still need somebody for Concraig Park and Walk if you’d like to help out in the New Year? Great way to keep fit and say hello to the neighbours! Thank you for reading the magazines and for being active in its contents – it is appreciated. We would still welcome new input maybe from the Primary School again, doctors surgery or any historical facts you’d like to impart… Wishing you all a very festive Christmas with family and friends and of course to a healthy and wealthy 2016!
Until next time,
Sue x
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Latest News The Missing Link
At long last the pathway leading up to the Urban Village Hotel has been completed. The path runs from the pelican crossing at the park-and-ride lights up the hill for about 75 metres and then joins the path leading to the hotel entrance.
The Community Council would like to thank Drum Property Group for financing this project.
Litter Pick We are very grateful to Claire Burt and her band of eager volunteers for conducting another successful litter pick around the village. Residents have been commenting on the positive impact these events are having, and more people are trying to keep their areas tidy after the big cleanup. Unfortunately, a few areas begin to become mucky again quite quickly, which is disheartening for the volunteers. This is particularly true of the area beside the shops and school playground. We know that there are still parts of Kingswells that require a proper litter-pick. These will be tackled in future events which are likely to be held twiceyearly in April and November.
Fast Broadband - Update
The Community Council has been pushing hard for this link for a long time. It connects Kingswells not only to the hotel but to all the facilities within the Prime Four hub, including Kingswellies Nursery and the coffee shop. Prior to this new link, the trek to these amenities involved a convoluted hike which isolated Kingswells residents from the hotel. So, if you can, why not leave your car at home next time and take advantage of the new pedestrian shortcut ?
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BT and Openreach say that homes with exchangeonly lines can be upgraded to fibre broadband but only towards the end of the current rollout programme which ends in 2017. Unfortunately, TPON lines cannot be upgraded by 2017 due to the high cost and relatively small number of homes affected.
Faulty Street and Pathway Lights The Community Council has received reports from some residents about faulty lighting. If you notice any faulty lights in your area and have concerns about safety and security please notify Aberdeen
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City Council using the form at the following web address: https://online.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/ faultreport/FaultReport.aspx?id=1 Alternatively, phone the Council on 01224-219281.
Benches
residents. We have asked our Councillors for better prior notification of such works in future. This request does not apply to routine maintenance work, which we fully support.
Prime Four Expansion and Wellness Centre
Despite widespread enquiries, the Community Council has been unable to find out who owns the land beside the path to Gillahill where we would like to site one of the new benches. This is a prime location with a great view. We are now minded to forge ahead with this bench and with others around Kingswells.
Drum Property Group’s agents organised a public exhibition of their plans which was poorly advertised and poorly attended. The Community Council has submitted comments about the plans. Essentially, we are objecting to the further expansion of Prime Four onto greenbelt land north of the Five Mile garage. We support the building of the wellness centre within the existing Prime Four site but not on a new greenbelt site.
Consumption Dyke
Access Road for Den View
Aberdeen City Council has plans to repair the East Dyke that runs alongside Kingswood Drive. Some trees that could potentially damage the dyke will be removed. The work has been temporarily halted until plans for tree removal have been agreed.
The Community Council is dismayed that Stewart Milne Homes have been allowed by Aberdeen City Council to construct a new access road through a field next to their development site at Den View. The bottom of the field is now also being used as a car park and storage area and portacabins have been erected. Apparently, all this is legitimate as the road is deemed to be temporary. However, the building work at Den View
Although the dyke has been vandalised at times, some of the stone-fall is caused unintentionally by youngsters clambering over it as a shortcut. We would ask everyone to discourage kids from doing this, not least for their own safety. It is, of course, perfectly fine to walk on the pathway along the top of the dyke.
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is likely to be phased so the road could be there for a few years. The Community Council will insist that the field is returned to its former state once the work is completed.
Pollution of the Bucks Burn
You may have noticed that the burn has
been coloured brown in recent months. Occasionally white foam has also been pouring into it from a pipe near the junction of Kingswood Drive and Kingswells Crescent. We have yet to trace the source of the foam. However, the brown colour is almost certainly due to soil run-off from the AWPR work, and possibly also the excavations at the new entrance to Prime Four. Small fish no longer seem to be present in the burn. The Community Council has contacted the AWPR team to express its concerns and we await a reply.
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Cyclist Problem We have received complaints from residents in the Derbeth area about one or two adults who are cycling at speed on pavements and footpaths in the dark, causing alarm to other users. There is no need for adults to be cycling on pavements when there are roads available. We would urge the cyclists involved to show greater awareness of others. The police have been informed about the problem.
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Christmas Cheer! (a ‘How To’ keep your pets cheerful over Christmas) With Christmas just around the corner we thought it would be helpful to talk about some of the common problems that vets see over Christmas, so that you and your pets can have as happy a time as possible. We frequently see dogs that have eaten chocolate over the Festive period. Small quantities of white or milk chocolate are not usually a concern, but dark or baking chocolate is highly toxic to dogs, as is milk chocolate when eaten in large quantities. Always check with your vet if your dog has eaten chocolate, and they can let you know if you need to bring your dog in for emergency treatment. Other hazards for dogs in terms of Festive food include onions, grapes, raisins, sultanas and food including the artificial sweetener xylitol
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(which includes some peanut butters). Please also avoid giving your dog leftovers which may contain cooked bones as these can easily splinter and cause problems in the mouth or very severe problems further along the intestinal tract. Young pups should be kept away from Christmas decorations which could be easily swallowed, resulting in intestinal obstruction. This usually necessitates an operation to remove the offending object, and can be a very dangerous situation for the animal concerned. Cats and especially kittens seem to be drawn towards Christmas decorations, especially stringy items such as tinsel and fairy lights. These can cause severe intestinal problems if swallowed, again necessitating a potentially dangerous operation to remove them. Things found around the home at Christmas that could prove toxic to cats include
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many plants, especially Lilies, Chrysanthemums, Hyacinths, Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe. Tea tree oil is also toxic to cats. It is always worth remembering that anti-freeze (Ethylene Glycol) is highly toxic to both cats and dogs. It is also very attractive to them as it has a sweet taste. You should ensure that any spillages are cleaned up immediately to remove the risk to pets. This time of year also means more road traffic hazards due to the long, dark nights. Fitting your cat with a reflective collar will help them to be seen more easily by motorists. Dogs can also be fitted with reflective collars and jackets, to provide extra visibility when walking near busy roads. We hope that you and your pets have a happy and safe festive season. Please pop in to the surgery to see our festive range of pet accessories, to help provide a safe way to include your pet in the celebrations.
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News from Councillor Delaney... As I sit down to write this column and the year draws to a close I think of those who have passed away recently, more poignant as I’ve lost two good friends in recent weeks and months. These two ladies had a profound impact upon the lives of countless individuals of several decades.
They were the real lifeblood of their communities, the type of people who could organise a team of volunteers and really make things happen, but also people who put their backs into things, never asking anyone to do anything they wouldn’t do themselves. In both cases they beavered away in the background, never seeking recognition, just getting a job done and making a real impact. My friends Millie McLeod and Maureen Strachan will be known to only a few of you, but not too many as their impact was felt not in Kingswells but elsewhere. I mention them here to remind you of all our own Millies and Maureens, young and old who give up their time freely to make Kingswells a better place to live. I’m thinking specifically of all those volunteers at the Community Council, Parent Council, Pupil Council, Parent Teacher Association,
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Community Centre, Village Hall, Kingswells Church, those who run all our local community groups and others who help out when needed for litter picks, bulb planting and other one off initiatives. Reflecting again on the lives of my now departed friends I wonder how often we show our thanks to those who give up their time freely to make a difference for others. How often do we stop to think who made something happen? Instead we just enjoy the fruits of their labours, as they would want us to. Community spirit and volunteerism is alive and well in Kingswells, but more could always be done and we should acknowledge the good work of all our volunteers, especially at this time of year. Moving on to other matters, the rollout of Superfast Broadband seems to have hit the buffers rather unexpectedly. The promised October to April activity is nowhere to be seen. The cabinets which were listed as “accepting orders” are now “under review”. As a result I’ve had much communication with Digital Scotland. They have confirmed works are now programmed for Kingswells in Summer 2016 but will not give any details around areas or timeframes. There now seems to be some confusion over the current technology used
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in parts of Kingswells and how easily it is to upgrade. There’s also some work going on elsewhere in Scotland to try to find a solution for homes connected to Exchange Only lines. I will of course keep the lines of communication open and continue to work with Digital Scotland towards a goal of 100% Superfast Broadband in Kingswells. They have never offered any detailed information about their plans for Kingswells which merely adds to everyone’s frustration. If there are problems people need to know where they stand. We may not want to hear it, but surely it beats the deafening silence. Please rest assured I will continue to try to get answers. On a different topic, I’ve heard much positivity about the X18 service and had several queries about the X17. General agreement has been reached between the Council and Kingswells Community Council on the required adaptations needed to allow access to the Park & Ride site from the A944. These discussions looked at how best the service could be delivered without opening up the site to unauthorised traveller encampments. The Community Council expended much energy working with the Council towards finding a workable solution and I thank them for this. The Scottish Government funding needed to deliver this project runs out at the end of March, so I
expect we’ll see things happening relatively soon. As we head towards the season of goodwill I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me over the past year - in particular those of you who make my role easier by being my “eyes and ears” by bringing matters of concern to my attention. Have a good Christmas and New Year. Don’t eat too many Christmas pies and enjoy the mulled wine, but not too much of that either! Finally, a plug for the Christmas Carol Concert being held at Kingswells Church on 12th December 2015 at 2pm. A great family event with a jazz band and yes, you’ve guessed it, it’s also run by volunteers! As always, please get in touch to raise any concerns you may have. Regards Steve Delaney Councillor Steve Delaney Home Tel: 01224 694469 Work Tel: 01224 346614 Email: sdelaney@aberdeencity.gov.uk Web: www.delaney.org.uk Facebook: CllrDelaney Twitter: CllrDelaney
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Spanish/ French
Kingswells SWI October Taste & Try evening Members brought along their favourite recipe for everyone to try
French Advanced: Mon Jan 11 - Mon Mar 28 Spanish Intermediate: Tues Jan 12 - Tues Jan 29 Spanish Beginners: starts Thurs Jan 14
Mary Sheran spoke on the early days of the “Rural”
Classes in small groups with experienced teacher. Contact John: e-mail : jymcl11@gmail.com or tel : 01224 582491
Aileen Nicol demonstrated origami. Competition winners Taste & Try 1st M Anderson 2nd M Sheran 3rd C Shand
Airyhall Community Centre
Flower Photo 1st M Bruce 2nd H Ireland 3rd M Abel November President Kathleen Hendry welcomed a good attendance of members & guests. Marion Miller from Midmar gave a very interesting talk & slide show on the‘’ Mac Roberts of Douneside’’ Tarland. Marion has also written a book about the family Cawnpore To Cromar.
Alison McLeod
Kingswells Community Centre Monday 2.00-2.30 3.30-4.15
Seasonal Collage 1st M Farquhar 2nd K Hendry 3rd M Sheran New member welcome Meetings are held in the Kingswells Church hall on the second Tuesday of the month - new members welcome.
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BucksburnAcademy news
ACC Children and Young People Services Awards 2015
Entertainment for the evening was provided by our very own ukulele orchestra who stole the show with their high energy performance.
At the end of last session representatives from the school attended the above awards ceremony to celebrate the school being shortlisted finalists in two categories. The Parent Council was nominated for the parent/carer involvement award to recognise the excellent work they do in organising and running our very successful Careers Fair event. And the school’s partnership work with Aker Solutions was shortlisted for the Business Links Award recognising the work done to offer students at the school an internship programme as part of their curriculum. We were also delighted that one of our pupils, Eilidh Morrison, received a Special Success Award during the ceremony.
Bucksburn Academy as seen on TV Fans of the Beechgrove Garden may have spotted some of our students feature in a recent episode. For a number of years students from the ASN Wing under Mr Davidson’s guidance have been tending an allotment at Auchmill Road and were featured on an episode on 17th September. If you missed it you can still catch it on iPlayer.
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What Lies Beneath?
composition of the rocks that make up our area.
The construction of the AWPR is giving us a unique opportunity to dip into the geological history of Kingswells. Huge amounts of soil and rubble are being exposed as well as the underlying bedrock which has remained largely hidden from view since the end of the last Ice Age. Even if you don’t venture far, a close look at the drystane dykes in Kingswells provides plenty of clues about the variety and
Scientists have calculated the age of the Earth to be about 4500 million years. Most of our local rocks are derived from sand, grit and mud laid down at the bottom of shallow seas some 1000 million to 540 million years ago in the Pre-Cambrian and Cambrian periods. You can see layers of these sediments in many of the rocks. At this time, the Earth’s continents were very different from the ones we have now. The land that would eventually become northern Scotland was on a different continent from England and lay well south of the equator. Lifeforms on Earth were still at a very primitive level.
Bedrock being exposed at Cloghill, Kingswells
At a later time, between 490 and 390 million years ago, two continents collided causing the Caledonian mountain-building period. Solid rock was melted and deformed on a huge scale. You can see evidence of this in many of the rocks in Kingswells, with the original layers of sediment bent and twisted. Our rocks are therefore mostly “metamorphic” (changed). Sadly, any primitive fossils in the original sediments would have been destroyed.
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Twisted layers in a dyke, Kingswells Collision of the continents also produced molten granite that forced its way up into the older rocks above. It cooled slowly beneath the surface, forming the large crystals that give the rock its speckled appearance. The older surface rocks were slowly worn away to reveal the granite you can see today on Elrick Hill and in Rubislaw Quarry. All of this happened some 200 million years before dinosaurs roamed the Earth and rocks were formed that would later yield North Sea oil and gas. Much more recently, in the last 2 million years, Ice Ages have affected the Kingswells area, the last one ending about 11,500 years ago. Glaciers centred in the Cairngorms and south Deeside hills pushed huge quantities of broken rocks and debris eastwards across our area. As the ice melted and receded, it left behind the millions of tonnes of rocks and soil debris that you see being cleared today for the AWPR. Most of this debris came from the local area, though some will have been carried here from
further away. Some of the boulders transported by the ice are absolutely huge. Powerful streams coming from the melting glaciers carved out the valleys of the Bucks Burn and Den Burn. Smaller melt-water channels can also be seen as depressions in the fields at Gillahill. Human hunter-gatherers settled in the Aberdeen area just a few thousand years after the last Ice Age ended as trees and other vegetation began to grow back. Tom Straiton
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Aberdeen Wine and Food Society With the dark nights upon us, it is usually time to think about what you’d like to be doing with your time during the onset of winter? Have you heard of Aberdeen Wine and Food Society? It was formed in 1973, from a motley crew of people from various backgrounds, but all with a common love of Borscht or Bouillabaisse, Bordeaux or Barolo. The object of the Society is “To enable the members of the Society to meet together to promote a wider knowledge of the wines and foods of the world and a more discerning appreciation of their individual merits by means of periodic tastings, lectures, film shows, or by other such means, excluding trading, as from time to time the Society may decide”. Our season usually runs from September to May, with monthly meetings, mostly on the last Tuesday of the month, at various venues in and around Aberdeen. The evenings are either geared towards a wine or food theme, unsurprisingly, and we have an average attendance of around 30 from our present membership of 43. The result is a very convivial evening with a lovely sociable feel, a chance to make new friends and swap a myriad of tales from people of varying backgrounds and national boundaries. We have members from Scotland, England, Ireland, Holland and South Africa in our midst, each with their own favourite wine of choice, food and travel experiences to discuss around the table. Our wine events include tastings of various wines in small measures, accompanied by descriptions, costs and locators, followed by a two course meal, with quaffing wine. Food themed evenings push the bar up on the style of food, but also with quaffing wine and
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these are usually at one of the better quality restaurants in the area. Over the last few years we have sampled wines from South Africa, Lebanon, France, Argentina, Spain and Germany, among others. We have enjoyed food presented in, to name a few, Eat on the Green, The Marcliffe at Pitfodels, Raemoir House, Fusion, Nargile and Silver Darling. We have had very interesting talks, such as “Natural Wines”, presented by Art du Vin, Dunfermline, “The Effect of Music Type on One’s Palate”, presented by Edinburgh University, “Pinotage of South Africa” and “Wine with Food”, both of which were presented by one of our knowledgeable members. This season we will tackle the subjects of Medals and Indian Wines, to name but two. Entry to the Society is by payment of an annual fee, which presently is £25 and each monthly event is charged by attendance, at an average cost of around £35-£45 per head, including all food and wine on offer. We occasionally arrange transport to out of town events, but otherwise it is up to individual attendees to make their own arrangements. Why not come along as a guest to sample an event, at a small additional charge. At present Events for our 2015 / 2016 season will be at :Tolbooth, Stonehaven / North of Scotland College / Courtyard / Café Boheme / Caledonian Hotel / Cinnamon / our AGM followed by our final Banquet at Banchory Lodge Hotel. If this is a subject which interests you then please get in touch by contacting either The Society’s Secretary or President, whose details are below. Secretary – Simon Robins – email – srobins@comraen.co.uk President – Bob Chisholm – email – robert.chisholm@btinternet.com
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Kingswells Parish Church Waiting and Hoping. That is what the season of Advent is really about. But what are we waiting for? Do we wait for our Christmas Tree to go up, all decorated with sparkling lights? Do we wait in queues, one after another, to get the best deals on Christmas gifts? Do we wait for the turkey and all the fixings on Christmas Day? Somehow our culture has sped Christmas up so fast that we don’t even need to wait for Christmas any more. It is already here, staring us in the face whenever we go out. So what do we wait for in this season of Advent? The simple answer is, we wait. Eagerly, hopefully, with over-joyous expectation, we wait for a future in which hope breaks into our lives. Advent is the faith that there are truly new possibilities for the world. And this moment of waiting transforms who we are now. We are called to live out that hope in the present, in light of and because of God’s coming into our world. Try (as hard as you can) not to rush into Christmas. I promise you, December 25th will come, it will come to us all, in time. But, this
is Advent. This is the time to wait: to be filled anew with hope, joy, peace, and love . This is the time we pause, in the madness before the Christmas rush, so that we might be able to hear the good news calling out to each and everyone one of us. And when the time comes, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas indeed. Grace and Peace, Alisa McDonald Christmas Dates and Events at Kingswells Church 2015 13 Dec: 11.00am - Lessons & Carols Service 20 Dec: 11.00am - Family Nativity Service 24 Dec: 6.00pm - Family Christingle Service 11.30pm - Watch Night Service (with carol singing from 11:15) 25 Dec: 10.30am - Christmas Day Service 10 Jan 2016: 11.00am Holy Communion will be celebrated
A JAZZY FAMILY CHRISTMAS Saturday 12 December 2.00 to 3.15pm in KINGSWELLS COMMUNITY CENTRE Join Kingswells Parish Church Annual Christmas Carol Concert Live Jazz from the excellent KAD Non-Alcoholic mulled wine, soft drinks and nibbles kindly provided by Aberdeen City Council 18
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Pension Wise – Your money. Your choice. From April 2015, the Government introduced some changes to pensions, giving people more freedom to decide what to do with their pension pots. In introducing these new freedoms, the Government also pledged to provide free guidance for those who wanted it. The result is Pension Wise, a new service that will help individuals understand the options available to them. The service can be delivered by telephone or face to face appointments, and is aimed at those who are approaching age 50 or over and who have a defined contribution pension pot. What is a defined contribution pension? It is pot of money built up over time that is based on the contributions that you, and possibly your employer make, as well as investment returns. The face to face service is being delivered locally by our Pension Wise teams at Citizens Advice bureaus across Scotland. An appointment will take around 45 minutes and will explain; the different options available to you how the options might fit in with your circumstances other things to consider, like tax and benefits things to think about before making your decision
products or tell you what to do with your money. You can make an appointment through these contacts: Local face to face appointments can be made through Citizens Advice Direct - T: 0808 800 9060, www.cas.org.uk. Telephone or face to face appointments can be made through the main Pension Wise service T: 0300 330 1001, www.pensionwise.gov.uk.
Home-Start is a voluntary organisation that offers support, friendship and practical help to local parents in their own homes. We believe that children need a happy and secure childhood and that parents play the key role in giving their children a good start in life and helping them to achieve their full potential.
Contact us on 01224 693545 or email admin@homestartaberdeen.org.uk if you would like to volunteer.
Home-Start Aberdeen is all about families. Can you help? As a home visiting volunteer you will: ● Offer support to a local family in their own home ● Receive training and ongoing support ● Help others develop their parenting skills ● Encourage families to engage with their communities ● Provide practical guidance on budgeting and household management ● Connect families with other relevant organisations and services. Home visiting volunteers need only commit to providing support for as little as 2–3 hours per week.
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Get your mitts on a FREE winter warmer
Why not drop in and treat yourself or a friend to a free winter warmer coffee of your choice with any hot drink purchased, to sit in and enjoy in our café or takeaway. Simply cut out this ad and present it at the till.*
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STOCKISTS of the Gift Guide Junction Arts, Holburn Street, Aberdeen Shades of Blue & Grey, Holburn Street, Aberdeen Eighty-7 Design, Countesswells Road, Aberdeen
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Saddleup, Ladymire Equestrian, Ellon
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Gift vouchers and gift sets available.
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Candy Coated – Arrow Scarfs, 100% lambswool £45 each (Junction Arts)
Christmas Shopping Locally...
Just Togs Junior Imperial Helmet £52.95 Saddleup at Ladymire Equestrian
Give Santa a treat this year and leave his cookie in a special jar that you can use year after year. £23.99 from (The Mains of Drum)
Helen Forrest – ‘I’m With You’ Mixed Media £225.00 (Junction Arts)
Christmas Shopping Locally...
The Easy Turkey Roast - £60 Our Intimate Christmas Dinner – Feeds min 5 People (The Store)
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Tablet and laptop cases from Ted Baker make the ideal gift for the man in your life. From £30.99 at The Mains of Drum
A taste of The Store in a single hamper is a gift guaranteed to please. £195 (The Store)
Selection of beautiful throws fm Bronte by A.Moon fm £75 (Shades of Blue & Grey)
Christmas stockings for everyone, including the dog or cat! £3.49 from (The Mains of Drum)
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Christmas Shopping Locally... The Bellwether - Xmas Cross Stitch kit, make your own coasters decoration kit £15.00 each (Junction Arts)
Transform your sofa and relax against these festive cushions. £14.99 from The Mains of Drum
Digitise your photographs, slides and videos to DVD or Flash Memory Stick. www.photostodvd.org.uk or call 07743441690
The Free Range Feast - £95 An Ideal Christmas Dinner with the Family – feeds 8 people (The Store)
Wolf & Moon – Walnut necklace with ribbon tie £45.00 (Junction Arts)
Equetech Punky Pony Waistcoat £26.50 Saddleup at Ladymire Equestrian
Pearl bobble studs – Freshwater pearl & silver bobble stud earrings by Aubeebop jewellery, Price £60 (Junction Arts)
Christmas Shopping Locally... Hand thrown stoneware tiny lustre glaze bowls. Price £12 each. (Junction Arts)
‘Lux’ Giclee print by Prism of Starlings, price unframed £20.00 (Junction Arts)
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Selection of crockery pop art cows fm £12-£37 (Shades of Blue & Grey)
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By Danish brand Pure Culture Stunning white and copper decorative bowl. 4 sizes, ø10cm30cm. £15-£48 (Eighty7 Design + Living)
Selection of luxury hair care products from Sebastian & System Professional. Christmas sets from £14.99 (West with Style)
Ardgill Hamper - Inside this generous hamper is a feast of treats for all. £95 (The Store)
Equetech Faux Fur Headband £14.95 Saddleup at Ladymire Equestrian
Handmade memo boards in 3 sizes Prices fm £27-£55 (Shades of Blue & Grey) Anita Inverarity – ‘Spirit’ Original Ink drawing £350 (Junction Arts)
Beautiful silver deer to add a sparkle to your home this Christmas. £29.99 from (The Mains of Drum)
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Val Thomson –‘Standing Together’ Acrylic on Board, £120 (Junction Arts) www.gazettemagazines.com t : 01224 949085
100% lambswool mini hot water bottle covers (with hot water bottle) by Candy Coated, price £22 each (Junction Arts) Gift Vouchers Available at all the shops advertising here plus... Fourmile House/Ferryhill Poldinos Temple Medical The Oven Valet Brillbird Laura Walker Ltd Kumiko Kippie Lodge & Scott Gilmour
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‘Top of the Hill’ Acrylic and pencil on board by Morag Smith, price £280 (Junction Arts)
The Forvie Hamper £290 A delightful feast for all the family is guaranteed with this lavish hamper of magnificent seasonal treats. (The Store) Cozy slippers from Totes to keep your feet warm this Winter. £18 from (The Mains of Drum)
The Bellwether - Xmas Cross Stitch kit, make your own pudding decoration kit £12.00 each
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Christmas Shopping Locally... Wolf & Moon – Necklaces - Acrylic and Marble necklaces/ earrings Priced between £12 - £16 (Junction Arts)
Kutuu – Trinket Dish, Pewter with embossed lettering £24 each (Junction Arts)
Handmade memo boards in 3 sizes Prices fm £27-£55 (Shades of Blue & Grey)
Hand thrown stoneware bowls with lustre glaze and natural finish by Watergaw Ceramics. Prices from £18 - £65.. (Junction Arts)
Wooden duck with spotty wellies prices ranges from £17.95 to £26.95 Shades of Blue & Grey)
Christmas Shopping Locally...
Stylish and warm scarf by Joules £29.95 at The Mains of Drum
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Mugs with various designs £8.00 each, Porcelain bottles various sizes £15 - £35 each by Sarah Coonan (Junction Arts)
These scented candles from Voluspa are presented in beautifully decorated tins and jars from £9.99 at (The Mains of Drum)
The Collieston Hamper £50 A versatile and storable hamper, ideal for showcasing seasonal favourites and impressing a Christmas host. (The Store)
Whisky lovers will adore these individual, handblown glassware range from LSA. Each piece sits on a walnut coaster and start from £30.99 at (The Mains of Drum)
Christmas Shopping Locally...
Cheeky little 'nisser' / Santa's Helpers to help decorate your home for Christmas. £12 each (Eighty7 Design + Living)
Christmas Shopping Locally...
Mixed media painting by Doreen Bothwell, titled ‘Orange Joog’, Price Framed £170.00 (Junction Arts)
Freshwater pearls & silver hoop pendant on sterling silver chain by Hazey Designs, Price £36 (Junction Arts)
The Bronze Banquet - £175 The Foodies perfect Christmas Dinner – feeds min 10 people with plenty leftovers! (The Store)
Healthy Energy Hamper £50 This hamper will deliciously bolster your health credentials. (The Store)
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What’s On in December at His Majesty’s Theatre, Music Hall and Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
Saturday, December 12: Featuring some of Aberdeen’s finest young musicians in two concerts of festive music by bands, orchestras and choirs, Aberdeen Music Centre Christmas Concerts, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 1pm (junior concert) and 7pm (senior concert). Sunday, December 13: Grampian Hospitals Christmas Carol Concert, in aid of CLIC Sargeant Cancer Care for Children, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 2.30pm.
Saturday, November 28 to January 3: HMT’s legendary and record-breaking trio Elaine C Smith, Alan McHugh and Jordan Young return in the spectacular swashbuckling 3D family panto Peter Pan, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, twice daily except for Mondays Nov 30, December 7 and December 14 and Fridays, December 18, December 25 and January 1, at 1pm and 5.30pm on Sundays, at 2.30pm and 7pm on Saturdays, at 1.45pm and 7pm on weekdays until Thursday, December 17, and at 2.30pm and 7pm on weekdays thereafter. Monday to Thursday, December 7 to 24: Aberdeen Performing Arts and Visible Fictions present A Ladder to the Stars, by Simon Puttock and adapted by Dougie Irvine, when a little girl’s birthday wish begins the perfect festive treat for a young audience aged three to seven, their parents and carers this Christmas, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, Monday to Saturday, at 10.30am and 1.30pm. Tickets (children £8.80) from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com or tel 01224 641122 Friday, December 11: The star of Mock the Week, Michael McIntyre’s Roadshow and Live at the Apollo, Stewart Francis and his new show Pun Gent Tour, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 8pm (age restriction 16+).
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Sunday, December 13: Born and bred in Glasgow, but with more in common with the swampy blues of Louisiana, Tijuana Bibles bring their mix of grungy sludgebased riffs and groove-laden rhythms to The Lemon Tree Lounge (standing), West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7.30pm. Tuesday, December 15: Aberdeen Choral Society presents Handel’s ever-popular oratorio The Messiah, with 100 voices, a team of eminent soloists, including Jamie MacDougall from BBC Radio Scotland’s Classics Unwrapped, and Grampian Sinfonia, under the baton of musical director Alistair Macdonald, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.15pm. Thursday, December 17: It isn’t Christmas until you go on this magical journey through the winter sky with Royal Scottish National Orchestra and their Christmas Concert: The Snowman, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. Friday, December 18: For its muchloved festive special, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra brings a fine selection of Christmas Classics for all the family, favourite works by Handel, Tchaikovsky, Malcom Arnold, Irving Berlin and more, with singer and presenter Jamie MacDougall and conductor Richard Balcombe, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. Tickets www. aberdeenperformingarts.com or tel 01224 641122
Friday, December 18: In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here album, Macfloyd perform the masterpiece in its entirety, in The Lemon Tree Lounge (standing), West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 8pm. Saturday, December 19: Director the Scottish Chamber Orchestra from the violin SCO Associate Artist Alexander Janiczek continues his survey of concertos by Mozart and Beethoven, with pianist Llŷr Williams, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. Saturday December 19: Scottish threepiece, The Banana Sessions, take their own musical style and wild imagination to The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7.30pm. Sunday, December 20: Winner of ITV’s Stars in their Eyes Live Grand Final Gary Mullen and The Works, perform One Night of Queen, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. Monday, December 21: In Phil Cunningham’s Christmas Concert the great man is joined by Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, John McCusker, Kris Drever, Ian Carr and Kevin McGuire, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. Thursday, December 31: A traditional Scottish Hogmanay, hosted by Robert Lovie and headlined by international opera star Richard Morrison, with The Jonny Hardie Ceilidh Band, and Calum Brown, plus Paul Anderson, Calum Stewart and Ali Napier collaborating in a new band called The Doric, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, from 7.30pm to 10pm. Thursday, December 31: Hogmanay with The Limit, one of the North-east’s premier function bands, a professional, dynamic, five-piece unit that cover everything from Elvis to The Eagles, in The Lemon Tree Lounge (standing), West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 8pm.
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A little bit of Italy... ...in Little Belmont Street
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Who do you turn to when choosing the best home care agency? Usually, the best form of recommendation is through word of mouth and that’s exactly how ana has excelled since it began back in 1996. 19 years later, ana is recognised as Aberdeen’s no.1 healthcare agency and in October launched its own independent care @ home service. Following the same lines as our healthcare agency, ana care @ home understands that nothing beats being recommended, so when we received our first client’s assessment, we were delighted with their feedback. When asked if our clients were satisfied with the way their initial enquiry was dealt with, our clients have answered ‘yes, very much’. On a rating of 1-10, the quality of our carers scored ‘10’ (being the top score). ana’s care @ home service aims to breathe
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Don’t take drugs or New Psychoactive Substances (sometimes misleadingly called ‘legal highs’).For more information on Drugs, New Psychoactive Substance and Solvent misuse, see our Keep Safe from Substance Misuse advice.
What can I do to keep safe on a night out?
Don’t have sexual intercourse with anyone who is unable to give their consent because they are too drunk or under the influence of drugs. In Scots Law this is rape.
f you’re going on a night out then have fun and enjoy yourself. However, people can sometimes end up acting out of character and may end up regretting it later. Keep these simple steps in mind while having fun.
Take your mobile phone with you and make sure it’s charged.
Look after bags and valuables. Attracting attention to a phone, especially when leaving a club under the influence of alcohol, makes you more vulnerable to criminals.Get more information by looking at our Keep your Valuables secure advice.
Stay with friends and avoid leaving parties or nights out with strangers.
Make sure you have enough money left at the end of the night to pay for your journey home.
Be sensible about how much alcohol you drink and pace yourself - a drunk person is much more vulnerable and a far easier target for criminals.
Stay alert at cash machines. Hide your PIN, be aware of who’s behind you and keep money out of view. Avoid using them if you’ve had too much to drink as you’ll be more vulnerable to being the target of a robbery.
Watch your drinks - don’t give anyone the opportunity to alter them with other substances. If you leave a drink unattended then don’t go back to it.
For more information about getting to or returning home from your night out safely
Plan your night out including how to get home.
Think about what you’ve had to drink - If you feel very drunk or unwell after just a small amount then ask a trusted friend or a member of the club / pub management for help.
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Indoor Carpet Bowling -
STILL actively seeking new members! Are you free on a Monday at 10? Come along and give carpet bowls a try... indoor carpet bowling held at the Community Centre. The group is needing to swell it’s numbers so they can have a decent game every week. No experience required just come and give it a go. They do have spare bowls and nothing in the way of special clothing or equipment is required.
Maths Tutor Anne-Marie Ashley T:01224 643950 M:07973 864953
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CLASSES We have some available spaces for Tang Soo Do, if anyone interested please call Graeme on 07902 568 255 FIRST AID We have very generously been donated a defibrillator. We have decided to carry out a first aid course and training for the defibrillator. If anyone is interested please call us for more details on 01224 741806 Webster Park There appears to be some misunderstandings about Webster Park so the Kingswells Community Centre Management Committee would like to provide members with details of the current position, particularly regarding the all weather pitch. Unfortunately the all weather pitch at Webster Park has been causing us problems over the last few years. If we keep the gates locked the fence is damaged to gain entry and every time repairs are carried out the damage reoccurs. If we leave the gates open the children take their bikes in to the pitch and we need to carry out a ‘deep clean’ to get the resultant mud off the pitch. As the pitch can be hired out and to prevent anyone injuring themselves playing on the pitch when it is not fit for purpose we took the decision to keep the gates locked and erect clear signage to try and stop the fence being damaged and people gaining unauthorised entry to the pitch. This course of action has been unsuccessful with the fencing still being damaged and people continuing to use the pitch. Following discussions with the community police we have been advised to call them on the non emergency number when we find anyone playing on the pitch and, assuming they are minors, they will take them home to discuss the matter with their parents. The police have
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confirmed that even if the fence is damaged it is not an open invitation for anyone to gain access. At the moment the fence is damaged and whilst we have made some temporary repairs we have just authorised a contractor to carry out full repairs at a cost of ÂŁ600. As Webster Park is leased from Aberdeen City Council and the Kingswells Community Centre Management Committee are fully responsible for the facilities this is a cost we will need to bear. We are also in early discussions with a group which, once the fence is repaired, should hopefully see the pitch tidied up and brought back to a better condition at which stage it will be available for hire. We fully appreciate that the local children will want to play football and hopefully the fact we purchased and installed the football goals that were requested for Webster Parks does demonstrate that the committee wish to work with the local community. We acknowledge that this new 'pitch' has a drainage problem and we will be arranging for earth to be spread over the pitch to even up the ground to try and address this issue. We are hoping the local children will help with this work as we feel it is essential they remain involved in the process. Full details of when this work will be carried out will be posted on our face book page and once the pitch is fit for purpose we are happy to work with the children to line the pitch if that is what they wish. We hope this clarifies the current situation. Moving forward we are open to listening to any suggestions the members have regarding the facilities at Webster Park but would request that you email your suggestions to our the community centre email address (see below) so these can be considered at our committee meetings. We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year when it comes from all at Kingswells Community Centre
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Festive Safety Tips
Trees and Decorations Christmas is a special time for celebration and should not end in tragedy because of the extra hazards that are present at this time of year. So when you’re decking the halls make sure you follow our simple advice and stay safe.
Fairy Lights * Unplug fairy lights or other electrical Christmas decorations when you leave the house or go to bed. * Check fairy lights are in good working order and replace any bulbs that have blown. * Bulbs can get very hot, don’t let them touch materials that can scorch or burn easily, such as paper or fabrics. * Make sure the fuse in the plug is the correct rating. * If you need to plug more than one appliance into an electrical socket use a multi-socket adaptor which is fitted with a fuse and has surge protection.
Decorations * * * *
Decorations made of light tissue paper or cardboard burn easily. Don’t attach them to lights or heaters. Don’t put them immediately above or around the fireplace. Keep them away from candles.
Christmas Trees Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.
Selecting a Tree for Christmas Always buy your tree from a reputable retailer to ensure the freshness and quality. Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a potential fire hazard.
Caring for Your Tree Don’t place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace, heat vent or candles. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
Disposing of Your Tree Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood burning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling centre or having it taken away by a community pickup service. John Coutts Community Firefighter Community Action Team
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