Kingswells
Community News Issue 2 Aug-Sept 2013
West End - Deeside - Kingswells
19
Christmas 2013
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The warm, relaxing & friendly ambience of Kippie Lodge will create a memorable night for you and your guests. Bring a Party dates: Saturday 14th or Saturday 21st December. Contact our events team on (01224) 734747 www’kippielodge.co.uk aberdeen’s sports & Country Club Untitled-7 1 Please do mention Kingswells Community News when responding to advertisers - thank you
24/07/2013 13:40:03
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The North East Open Studios (NEOS) NEOS is an award winning collective of artists, makers and galleries based in the North East of Scotland, formed in 2003 to help the public access the wealth of creative talent throughout the area, winning the Northern Lights Tourism Award 2007 for best Aberdeenshire Tourism Initiative.
Just Dance Presents…
Magical Moments
Thursday 26th – Saturday 28th June 2014, 7:00 pm Aberdeen Arts Centre & Theatre The Just Dance team of children and adults (led by Jean Darker), will be staging a show of their own for the very first time! Join us for a dazzling performance involving mini-movers, tap, jazz and hip hop action, a show full of magical fun!
Tel Kingswells : 279459 Mob: 07940 012679
The open studios is run on voluntary grounds as a community organisation and serves to engage wider audiences in all aspects of art; to grow small-scale art and craft business in the north east of Scotland and to provide a cohesive network of professional artists and makers. If you are an artist, maker or gallery owner and missed out for 2013 then to receive further information about NEOS, please take a look at our website www.northeastopenstudios.co.uk or sign up to our mailing list to ensure you don’t miss a thing. NEOS runs from the 7th - 29th of September. Broken down into 3 weeks: North - 7th - 15th Central - 14th - 22nd South and City - 21st - 29th. The weekends all overlap so there’s even more time for visitors to see everything.
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A summer to shout about! How lucky are we? Sun, planned barbeques, suntans, and trips to the beach, the park and having to water the plants! It will be classed as the summer of 2013 – one to keep as a memory and talk about for many years. Thank you so much for the very kind comments that I received with Issue 1. It was much appreciated. A big shout-out has to go to the fantastic delivery team. They allow every street to receive a copy of the KCN and that is no mean feat - I know as I delivered a few myself! We will definitely be having an end of year drink at the pub. This issue, despite contributors being off on holiday, the magazine has increased again. This is partly due to a renewed interest in advertising to you the readers. Without the advertising there can be no magazine. One comment was about keeping the advertising local. Well I can try, but the local businesses tend to feel that people know who they are and where they are. Here are some special deals which I hope you will enjoy - the Fourmile has kindly kept their 20% off voucher until the end of September; Laws Tyres is offering you 10% off garage services; Jenny at Kumiko is offering £10 off your first electrolysis treatment and Blinds Direct an excellent 15% off new blinds. I do hope you can benefit from at least one or all of them! Roadworks! Well they are still there. The closures are listed on their website but not with enough advance notice to put in the magazine. But fingers crossed it will all be done and dusted and we’ll wonder what all the fuss was about. Please let me know of any forthcoming events that I can help promote. The next deadline is 20 September and that will be good for things happening mid-October to end of December. There has been a request to see if anybody is interested in setting up a running group and also a pilates/yoga class for the mature person. Chat to you again in October,
Sue
Thank you We held a door-to-door charity collection around half of Kingswells in June and raised £912 for The Cystic Fibrosis Trust. We are collecting the second half in August but I just wanted to put in a note thanking our fantastic locals for their support. Kerry Bone, Fiona Pirie, Karen Goktas are climbing Ben Nevis on 31 August to raise money for Cystic Fybrosis. Whilst neither Kerry, Fiona nor Karen are themselves sufferers, Fiona’s niece Morgan, now 13, manages her symptoms every day. ‘The Girls’ take on this challenge for Morgan, her family, and all those coping with CF in the hope that their efforts may one day lead to a cure. This is the third and purportedly final ascent of ‘The Very Big Hill’ for Kerry & Fiona. These veterans were advised at their first Ben Nevis Challenge back in 2005, that to be assured of the magnificent view from the top, they would likely have to make the climb three times. Suffice to say, there is significant pressure for the weather to behave this time around! Check their progress at www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/theverybighill OR their respective Facebook pages, or follow ‘The Girls’ on Twitter, @theverybighill. Not sure what the reception is like atop Britain’s highest moutain, but ‘The Girls’ plan to post comments and photos en route, or very swiftly thereafter.
Additional Part time staff required for a range of shifts at the fourmile house. Hours are available weekdays and weekends, daytimes and evenings. Relevant experience is an advantage, but not essential and all applicants are required to be aged over 16 years.
Please email a copy of your cv to: info@fourmile.co.uk West End - Deeside - Kingswells
Please do mention Kingswells Community News when responding to advertisers - thank you
www.fourmile.co.uk
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News for August....
morning and one after school.
We hope everyone is enjoying the lovely summer weather we are having this year! What a treat it is to see the village hanging baskets flourishing, children out playing in the sunshine... and to smell the BBQs!
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The ‘bus only’ part of the Lang Stracht will have more buses on this narrow and poorly surfaced road.
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The Park and Ride service will go round the village then go into the Park and Ride car park, then into the ARI hub each and every journey.
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The removal of the No 11 service coincides with the opening of Prime Four – just at a time when many of a huge new work force could have been attracted to take a bus to work and leave the car at home.
Kingswells Bus ‘Service’ First Aberdeen organised a public drop in session at the Four Mile House on Monday 15 July where First Aberdeen personnel were on hand to answer questions about the forthcoming changes to the Kingswells service commencing 15 September 2013.
Service 11 (Woodend – Kingswells): First will continue to operate Service 11 in the evenings and Sundays, however Service 11 will no longer serve Kingswells during the day (service will only travel as far as Woodend from city centre.) First will operate a dedicated school service between Kingswells and Hazlehead Academy. Service 40 (Kingswells Park and Ride – City - Dubford): will operate at an improved rate of every 15 minutes and will travel through Kingswells. Residents have contacted Kingswells Community Council to voice their displeasure that First Aberdeen is withdrawing the connection Kingswells has with the city centre via Queens Road. This has extremely upsetting implications for many Kingswells residents... •
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Elderly or infirm Fairley Road residents will have to walk up to the No 40 stop or walk down to the A944 to catch a stagecoach bus. Kingswells residents will no longer be able to use the No 11 route to go to work in Queen Road, attend doctor and dentist surgeries, go to their bank or building society, visit friends and relatives, or visit Hazlehead Park.
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Pupils cannot access Albyn School.
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Hazlehead pupils can’t attend any after-school activities etc. They will have one bus in the
We would encourage everyone adversely affected by the removal of this route to make their feelings known to First Aberdeen and their local councillors.
Developer Contribution Following Aberdeen City Council’s consultation, which ended on 21 June, and responses received from previous community engagement events, the decision has now been taken to allocate the vast majority of developer contribution (from the nearby Barratt homes) towards improving the old village hall at Old Skene Road. This will help to sustain the facility and ensure it is available for current and future residents of Kingswells. In addition, the feasibility of providing a dog bin at the end of the cycle path on the Old Skene Road) will be investigated. Thank you to all who participated, by responding, to ACC’s consultation. KCC is delighted with the decision as Kingswells village hall provides a fantastic community facility. May we take this opportunity, on behalf of Kingswells residents, to say to the management committee and all involved, and a huge ‘thank you’ for all that you do!
Planning Application 130912: West Huxterstone. Kingswells Community Council strongly objects to a number of aspects of this application which involves the fields opposite the old school on Fairley Road. In most cases, these aspects relate to previous objections we have submitted that have simply been ignored by Aberdeen City planners and the developers or not dealt with effectively. The main points of objection are :
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The number of homes proposed at West Huxterstone is excessive. The Aberdeen Local Development Plan allocated 120 homes to the site. The actual numbers now proposed by Stewart Milne Homes (97) + Dandara (49) give a total of 146.
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The 3-storey town houses included in the plans may be acceptable in an urban setting but are completely inappropriate on an open rural site and not in keeping within the village of Kingswells.
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Kingswells Primary School will be unable to accommodate the likely number of children generated by West Huxterstone before 2016. KCC previously asked for careful phasing of the development to avoid overcrowding at the school. Both developers have chosen to ignore this and now state they will build simultaneously and the site will be completed in 2 years.
Dog Fouling
With the summer weather upon us, the number of dogs being walked around Kingswells has risen significantly. Unfortunately, so has the amount of dog excrement being left where it was dumped or on a more serious note • KCC has concerns over the proposed vehicular the amount of dog mess picked up in “poo” access road off the Lang Stracht. It has argued that bags then thrown into bushes and long grass. both access roads should be from Fairley Road. It is anti-social, unhygienic, and a source of • There are concerns about the natural area along disease. Please lift and deposit dog mess in the the Den Burn andFIRE how this be affected by CUMMING &could SECURITY Ltd numerous appropriate bins or take home and the proposed urban drainage system. bin there. If you wish to report such behaviour please telephone Aberdeen 523737 and they For further details please visit www.kwells.org20 AQUITHIE ROAD, KEMNAY. will direct you to the appropriate people. Tel: 01467-643917
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(next to Tesco)
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Spotlight on Electrolysis Electrolysis: the use of an electric current applied through a needle to remove body hair for cosmetic purposes. Unwanted facial and body hair is a common problem affecting as many as 80% of ladies in varying degrees. Most areas can be permanently cleared of unwanted hairs with electrolysis including hair on the upper/lower lip, chin, cheeks, neck, chest, abdomen, underarms, bikini line and the eyebrows.
Covent Garden comes to Scotland We now bring the award winning Neal’s Yard Remedies Natural & Organic products directly to you!
The majority of clients will be happy, well balanced people, with hair growth concerns that are purely ‘cosmetic’; others may be self-conscious or even quite distressed when they make their first consultation for electrolysis. I frequently encounter the perceived problem of hirsutism (male pattern hair growth on females) and can offer helpful and objective advice and information to the client. In some cases, where I feel there may be some abnormal systemic condition, I will refer the client to their GP, who in turn, may make a referral to a specialist. But, in the vast majority of cases, if there is no underlying medical pathology treatment at my centre is the usual outcome.
Your local Consultant can offer you 3 opportunities:
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The advice and treatment offered should be sufficient to resolve any normal problem, and the result is usually a restored sense of confidence and wellbeing in the client.
3) PURCHASE fabulous products from our latest brochure, online or mail. Personal advice or consultation available.
Causes of hair growth: • • • • • •
Mechanical Stimulation: Plucking, (including waxing, threading, sugaring), abrasion. Normal Systemic: Puberty, pregnancy, menopause, i.e. times of normal hormonal changes in the body. Abnormal Systemic: Hormone influencing medication i.e. steroids, contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), fertility drugs. Disease eg endocrine disorders affecting hormonal secretions from the glands of the body. Operations eg hysterectomy, removal of ovaries. Stress (may only stimulate hair growth when severe and subsequently triggers hormonal imbalance eg anorexia.
Electrolysis is the only proven method of permanent hair removal of unwanted hair, having been around since 1875. About Jenny: Jenny is a former nurse and has been an Electrolysis specialist for over ten years. Jenny is now trained in Advanced Electrolysis/ Advanced Cosmetic Procedures. Jenny uses the Apilus computerised system to offer differing treatment methods to best suit your hair growth and skin type. Unlike laser or IPL, electrolysis is ideal for sensitive skins, dark, light and grey hairs and any colour of skin as it is not affected by pigment in the hair or skin! Electrolysis targets only the unwanted, individual hair and so the skin remains unaffected. It is a progressive treatment resulting in permanent removal of the hair and not just hair reduction! A very fine needle (equal diameter to the hair to be treated) is inserted down the side of the follicle and a mild current is applied. This causes localised destruction at the root of the hair allowing the hair to be lifted out of the follicle. A mild tingling sensation is felt but soon passes with the application of a soothing gel!
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CALL Lynn on 07971 447 435 web : www. skinorganics.org.uk email : nyrhlynnw@hotmail.co.uk
Unwanted Facial and Body Hair - solution below Unwanted facial and body hair is a common problem affecting as many as 80% of ladies in varying degrees Electrolysis is the only proven method for permanent removal of unwanted hair. Hair can be permanently removed from : • • • • • • • • •
upper/lower lip chin cheeks neck chest abdomen underarms bikini eyebrows
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Valid until May 2012. Valid until 30 31 September 2013 May not be combined with any other promotions. One voucher per client.
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Book a FREE consultation with Jenny and get started on your hair free programme TODAY! For further info/to book an appointment call : 01224 594777 (quote voucher SP12)
To find out more contact Jenny at Kumiko beauty and skin care centre 89 Gray Street, Aberdeen Tel: 01224 594777
Bring along this voucher and receive £10 off your 1st Electrolysis treatment
Kumiko beauty and skin care centre 89 Gray Street Aberdeen AB10 6JD
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Session 2013 – 2014 Term 1: 19 August 2013 - 11 October 2013 · Teachers Training Day – Mon 19 Aug · In-Service Days - Mon 19 Aug . Pupils Return – Tues 20 August · September Holiday – Fri 20 and Mon 23 Sept · Term Ends – Fri 11 Oct 2013 · October Holiday – Mon14 to Fri 25 Oct
Term 2: 28 October 2013 - 20 December 2013 · · ·
Term Starts – Mon 28 Oct Term Ends – Fri 20 Dec Christmas Holiday – Mon 23 Dec 2013 to Fri 3 Jan 2014
Term 3: 6 January 2014 - 4 April 2014
· · · ·
Term starts – Mon 6 Jan 2014 Mid Term – Mon 17 February 2014 Term Ends – Fri 4 April 2014 Easter Holidays – Mon 7 to Mon 21 April 2014 (Good Friday 18 April 2014)
Term 4: 22 April 2014 - 4 July 2014 · · ·
Term Starts – Tues 22 April 2014 May Day Holiday – Mon 5 May 2014 Term Ends – Friday 4 July 2014
(4 In-Service Days still to be set at time of going to print)
Bucksburn Academy
Kepplehills Rd, Aberdeen AB21 9DG T: 01224 710700
Just Dance For Fun and Fitness Adult Dance / Workout Classes
TAP and JAZZ *********
News from Kingswells Primary PTA A big welcome back to the new academic year from kingswells PTA and a special welcome to all our new families, new Primary one and nursery children. Some of you may have noticed some works being carried out in the school playground during the summer holidays, these improvements are set to continue into this term and we will give you a full update with some photos once everything has been completed. If there are areas fenced off we would ask that you do not cross through the barriers. Spree books are now available from the PTA at a cost of £23, please let us know if you would like one. Our next major fundraising adult social event is a quiz night on Saturday 28th September at the community centre. Tickets will be on sale very soon at £15/head, everyone welcome. If you are a parent at the school the Parent Council/PTA joint AGM will be held in September (keep an eye out for the date in newsletters and on the website). We are always looking for new members so please come and join us and get a full run down of what's been going on. If you have any queries or suggestions to put forward to the PTA then we can be contacted at kingswellsPTA@yahoo.co.uk
Children’s Dance Classes A fun introduction to movement and dance, building confidence and sociability
Mini-Movers
– from 18 mths
Pre-school Classes Jazz and Tap –
from Primary 1 upwards
Boys Hip Hop ************************************************** Just Dance will be staging a Dancing Show at the Aberdeen Arts Centre – June 2014 (Now accepting New Pupils) For more information, or to book a place, telephone Jean Darker
07521 398582 or 01224 681202
Classes held at Webster Park (Kingswells) / Airyhall Community Centre
Another request for a Pilates/Yoga Class for the mature person? Anybody interested in getting a class going for either of the above please get in touch with Sue at the Kingswells Community News and let’s see if we can make it happen! Sue : 01224 949085 Mobile: 07813 964 875 Email : gazette@fsmail.net
Please do mention Kingswells Community News when responding to advertisers - thank you
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News from Councillor Delaney This has been an unusually pleasant summer with the first heat wave in seven years. Hopefully everyone has had the opportunity to enjoy the nice weather. With a bit of luck it will continue for a little longer. There have been a few big issues of interest to Kingswells residents cropping up in the past few weeks at what is traditionally a quieter time of year. There have been countless complaints about the disruption being caused by the Prime Four road works. The biggest issue related to lane closures where no work was being done. This was raised with the Council and the developer in the strongest of terms. The good news is that the current works are due to be completed in August. I was sorry to hear that a local resident had a nasty accident at the steps beside the shops. As a result I arranged to have the steps, which are not the Council’s responsibility, cordoned off until such times as they could be repaired. There is a level of shared responsibility for the other side of the shopping centre which includes the Council. I am working with Council officers, the Community Council and others to ensure the area is properly maintained in the longer term. Another matter of concern has been the works at the site of the new hotel beside the Consumption Dyke. Earth mounds have been created close to the dyke and concerns were expressed regarding possible damage to the dyke, a scheduled monument. There were other concerns regarding the fact there was no planning permission for works this close to the dyke. I raised these concerns with the Council. They insist the mounds are only temporary, to be used for landscaping works at a later date. This reminds me of a “temporary” mound created during the construction of Dobbies, which is still there four years later! We cannot allow this to happen here. The Council presently has no concerns over possible damage to the dyke, though I do not share their optimism. They will be monitoring the situation but, more importantly, we all need to do likewise! Perhaps the issue which directly affects most residents is the changes to local bus services which will come in on 15th September. The daytime frequency will be increased to 15 minutes but there will only be one route serving the village during the day and this will be the No 40. This is further complicated by the use of the No 11 in the evenings and on Sundays. The new No 40 route will use the existing No 11 route through the village from the old Lang Stracht onwards, but will not cover the lower part of Fairley Road. The increased frequency is a vast improvement for most people but the change of route (missing out part of Fairley Road and using Lang Stracht rather than Queens Road) will certainly cause difficulties for some residents. I was supportive of a reduction in the speed limit on the C128 road from Kingswells to Cults from 60mph to 40mph in the interests of safety when this came to Committee recently. The Council has since approved the speed reduction. On a similar note, my attempt to persuade the Council to reduce the speed limit on the A944 from 50mph to 40mph comes to Committee in August. Given that drivers are still speeding past cars which are sticking to the current speed limit, now would appear to be the right time to introduce a speed reduction backed up by speed cameras. As usual I’m always contactable by phone (please do leave a message on my voicemail if I’m not at home), by email or at my regular surgeries in Kingswells. Details of surgeries for the next 12 months are being finalised and will be published on my website and in my next Focus at some point during August.
Regards Steve Delaney Tel: 01224 694469 Email:sdelaney@aberdeencity.gov.uk Web: www.delaney.org.uk Facebook: CllrDelaney Twitter: CllrDelaney
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News from Westminster Piper Alpha 25th Anniversary The night of 6th July 1988 sent shock waves through the oil and gas industry, and left a lasting impression on the City as a whole. Piper Alpha was the worst tragedy the offshore oil and gas industry has ever seen and is now recognised as the direct consequence of negligence, bad management, poor maintenance and weak regulation. I recently attended the service in the Piper Alpha Memorial Rose Garden in Hazlehead Park to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the tragedy. Four hundred of those who attended were survivors or families of the 167 victims. While many things stand out about that service, the most poignant and difficult was the roll call of those who died, as graphic and emotional a way of underlining the sheer scale of the tragedy as any. The Cullen Report into the disaster was welcomed on all sides and changed the safety culture in the North Sea and throughout the global oil and gas industry. Twenty-five years on there has been a steady improvement in the safety regime. Initiatives like Step Change in Safety, encouraging employee engagement at every stage have been embraced by most offshore operators. Therefore while the oil and gas industry remains dangerous and old habits die hard, the work of organisations such as these will help to ensure a disaster on the scale of Piper Alpha never happens again. Yours sincerely Frank Doran MP Aberdeen North 01224 252 715 e: frank.doran.mp@parliament.uk 69 Dee Street, Aberdeen, AB11 6EE
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t: 07813 964 875
Fresh Meat
Fresh Fish
Fresh Fruit & Veg
Bakery
Visit Haigs Food Hall and grab some of these great promotions, all our fresh meat is prepared, cut and packed in our state of the art butchery on the first floor in our “Q” Guild Award Winning Butchery, owned by James and Julie Haig from Kingswells this local couple are bringing you a fantastic product from their family run business, the Food Hall also produces freshly made sandwiches, baguettes, salads in their state of the art kitchen downstairs, a visit to Haigs will truly remind you of how good food used to taste, much more than a Butchers…
Choose any 3 packs for only £10 mix and match Fresh Chicken Fillets Lean Steak Mince Lean Diced Beef Lean Steak Burgers Gammon Steaks Huge Range of lean hand made award winning sausages Pork Loin Steaks Chicken Fillets marinaded in a huge range of flavours Pork Loin Steaks marinaded in a huge range of flavours Chicken Kebabs marinaded in a huge range of flavours Please see in-store for the range of flavours we produce, our meat is lean, healthy and suitable for any slimming plan you may be following.
Choose any 2 Kitchen Ready Range for only £5 mix and match Chicken Italian Olive Lean Steak Bolognese Lean Steak Meatballs & Smoky Tomato Barbecue Skinny Chicken Chicken Tikka Masala Chicken New Yorker Chicken Sweet n Sour Beef Sausage Olive
Choose any 2 Joints for only £10 mix and match Pork Loin Roast Fresh Whole Chickens Lamb Leg Beef Topside
Ideal for the bbq or simply cooking in the oven, all our staff are friendly, helpful and happy to offer cooking instructions. If you don’t have time to get into town? Pop into Nisa, Rousay Drive, Woodend. Costcutters, Victoria Street, Dyce or Mitchells, Market Place Inverurie and grab a range of “Haigs” fantastic deals in store. facebook.com/haigsfoodhall
45-51 Schoolhill, Aberdeen AB10 1JT www.haigsdirect.co.uk
Tel: 01224 638525 twitter.com/haigsfoodhall
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Top Hats and Tiaras Grand Ball
The Aberdeen Hilton Treetops Hotel, Springfield Road September 14th 2013, 7pm ‘til 1am Dress Code: Black tie/Evening/Cocktail dress *Welcome Drink *Auction *Raffle *3 Course Dinner & Coffee Live Music and Dancing with the fantastic ’Burlesque’ Evening MC will be Aberdeen’s Northsound 1 Rebecca Curran Auctioneer: Highland League Player Ian Thain, whose career spanned 22 seasons and Cove Rangers. with Deveronvale, Keith, Inverurie locos abd For more information on how to buy tickets or how to help - Contact Lucy on 07557 853500 or on lucy.wilson@momentumfundrasing.co.uk. For information on how Momentum has helped people in the Aberdeen Brain Injury Centre check out: www.momentumuk.org.uk/fundraising/event/top-hats-tiaras-ball. It’s time to dust off your top hats and shine your tiaras. We look forward to seeing you there.
Keep your pet safe as autumn approaches With evenings becoming dark earlier, motorists find it more difficult to spot pedestrians and pets. It’s a good idea to wear reflective clothing to make yourself visible when walking your dog near roads in the dark. Don’t forget your pets! Fit your dog and cat with a reflective collar - Please make sure you only use a quick release collar for your cat. It’s back-to-school time! Please be aware as you stock up with your children’s fun items like glue sticks, pencils and magic markers although these are considered “low toxicity” to pets, which means they’re unlikely to cause serious problems unless large amounts are ingested. However, since gastrointestinal upset and blockages certainly are possible, be sure your children keep their school supplies out of your pets reach.
Many people choose autumn as the time to change their car’s engine coolant. Ethylene glycol-based coolants are highly toxic, so spills should be cleaned up immediately. Consider switching to propylene glycol-based coolants, though they aren’t completely nontoxic, they are much less toxic than other engine coolants. Autumn is mushroom seasons. While 99% of mushrooms have little or no toxicity, the 1 % that are toxic can cause lifethreatening problems in pets. Unfortunately, it is difficult to distinguish from the toxic and non-toxic, so the best way to keep pets from eating poisonous mushrooms is to keep them away from areas where any mushrooms are growing. If you witness your pet eating a wild mushroom contact your vet immediately. The temperature outside may have dropped, but please remember your car can still heat up very quickly. Never leave your dog in a car, even if the window is slightly open. Shirley @ Town & Country Veterinary Group
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A recipe from Calvin at the Fourmile House Kitchen
Love blossoms over the hotplate at the Fourmile with Calvin and Liene
Tempura King Prawns set on Thai Noodles with a Sweet Chilli & Lime Dressing Serves 4
Ingredients: 20 King Prawns (de-shelled and deveined)
Sweet Chilli Dressing 250ml Olive Oil Juice of 1 Lime 3 tbsp Honey Tempura Batter 2 Red Chillis chopped 100g Cornflour 2 Green Chillis chopped 150g Plain Flour 3cm Cube of Root Ginger grated 10g Baking Powder Place all the ingredients in a blender 500ml of Soda Water and pulse briefly Vegetable oil for frying Make the batter by sieving the When the noodles and dressing ingredients into a bowl and have been prepared, heat the whisking briskly whilst adding the vegetable oil to 180 degrees C soda water until you have a smooth in either a deep fryer or a more batter. Season with salt and white shallow pan with enough oil to pepper and leave in the fridge to cover the prawns. Coat the prawns rest. in seasoned flour then dip into the batter and immediately transfer Thai Noodle Salad to the hot oil for approximately 1 Medium Egg Noodle Pad two minutes or till the prawns are ½ Red Pepper finely chopped floating and the batter is golden. ½ Green Pepper finely chopped Remove the prawns and drain well ½ Red Onion finely chopped on kitchen roll. While draining, Chopped Fresh Coriander arrange the noodles on plates and place the prawns on top then drizzle with the chilli dressing. Cook the noodles as instructed on your packet, then plunge in cold water to halt the cooking process and drain. Toss with the finely chopped peppers and onion. Season to taste and sprinkle with coriander. t: 01224 740318 Set aside in the fridge. www.fourmile.co.uk
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Using Neutral Colours With an almost infinite range of colours from pure white to earthy tones of grey and beige, neutrals are timelessly fashionable. In fact, says Katherine Sorrell, they’re the little black dresses of interior design, flattering in every light and good-looking for all occasions. By Katherine Sorrell
Watch any property development show and the expert’s advice is always to paint walls a neutral colour. Estate agents tend to agree, and for good reason. Unless a potential buyer shares your exact taste, they will be put off by rooms painted in vibrant colours. So if you’re thinking of selling your home, go for neutrals every time. But what if you’re building or renovating a home that you plan to stay in? Aren’t neutrals just a little boring? The answer is that yes, they can be. But only when you get it wrong. Get it right and you’ll find that this is a truly sophisticated way to decorate. A well-planned neutral scheme is good-looking yet understated, harmonious, calm and inviting. Neutrals work well in both old and new houses, small or large spaces and are brilliant at providing cohesion between rooms. Let’s start with white. Rooms painted pure white can appear bigger and brighter, thanks to the way the colour reflects light around. A clean white wall is a great background for vibrant paintings, for the coloured spines of books, or simply for a jug of flowers. On the other hand, though, white can appear cold, stark and unwelcoming, especially when a room is north- or east-facing and doesn’t have the benefit of direct sunlight. A white with an added touch of yellow or pink can warm up such a space. White can also look odd in period homes. Slightly muddier off-whites are often a better choice for an old cottage, Georgian terrace or a barn conversion. The lesson is to use pure white with care. Beyond white, neutrals vary in hue from cream to sand, through beige to stone. Some are more greyish, some more yellowish, others more pinkish or brownish. How do you choose? The best advice is to start by eliminating any neutrals that you simply don’t like. Next, discard those that wouldn’t work with the architecture of your house or colours of your furniture. Then, it’s time to try out some tester pots. Paint at least two coats on a large piece of white card, or better still, on several pieces of card, and stick them on every wall around the room. Observe the colours
at the times of day when you’ll usually be in the room, and with your lights both on and off. Having chosen your favourite colour, avoid using it everywhere. Even the nicest neutral can be boring if used indiscriminately. In fact, over-use of one neutral alone is probably the biggest mistake you can make. Be careful, however, when combining neutrals: another big mistake is to use different hues that are all of the same tone (slightly different colours but the same degree of lightness or darkness). The clash can be awful. The solution to both these problems is to take a colour chart and go up or down (dark to light) within the same colour family, rather than working across from colour to colour. Use darker tones for woodwork, with lighter ones for walls or, if you have features such as cornices and dadoes,
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Finally, bear in mind that the plainer the colours, the more important texture becomes, so choose your finishes with as much care as you do your colours. You can choose from flat or modern (shiny) emulsion, eggshell, satinwood and gloss, not to mention suede effects, shimmers and high gloss clear top coats. The shinier the finish, the paler the colour will appear, so you may need to compensate by choosing a slightly darker shade.
you may wish to vary the wall tones with lighter ones above and darker ones below the divisions. You can also use different neutrals to provide a gentle visual link from room to room: perhaps a very pale colour in a narrow hallway, with slightly darker hues in a living room and a warm tone in a dining room.
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So there you have it – a huge variety of colours, shades and textures with which to play around, and, by following some basic rules, the results should be stylish and easy to live with, as well as adding value to your property. Now who said neutrals were boring? Walls painted in Seldom Seen, English Muffin and Sail White from Crown Paints Matt & Silk range, RRP £19.49 for 2.5L, from Homebase and B&Q
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Garden View
choose a material to fill them in with. Usually the largest space will be the lawn, then patio or deck, and pathways, then fill the gaps with plants. Next month is the perfect time to plant, so we’ll be looking at planting plans in detail then.
Designer Plots
It is estimated that just 3% of the UK population employ a professional garden designer, with most people opting to design their own outdoor space, or adapt one they may have inherited. The first decision to make when starting a plan is whether to make it look ‘designed’ or not. By this I mean do you like a structured garden with big sweeping curves and strong lines, formality and symmetry, or do you prefer a more informal space that looks like it ‘just happened’, almost by mistake, (these are much harder to achieve as you are often trying to recreate something nature does best). There was an industry debate recently which explored the idea of modern gardens being ‘over designed’. Just like in clothing fashion, there’s a revival of a certain era every so often, and it’s the same with design outdoors. Once upon a time, formal terraces were all the rage with pretty-coloured bedding schemes and clipped hedging. Then, decades later, these were dug up and replaced with sweeping natural ‘landscapes’ , where trees and lakes were carefully located to make them appear as though they had always been there. Which is right? Well, neither, it’s personal taste and as long as it fits with the house style and surrounding landscape, I think you should do what makes you happy. After all, that’s what gardens are for, to be enjoyed.
In 2008/2009, laws were introduced regarding things like changing levels in your garden, such as only being allowed to raise decking by 30cm above ground level, any higher would require a protective rail or balustrade; and also the consideration of sustainable ways to manage water, and where possible retaining it within the garden. So, before planning any major works to your garden, check with your local planning department that you don’t need permission Top tips for designing your garden: • • • • •
Keep things simple and don’t over complicate the basic design layout. Use pergolas to add height and shade. Consider hedges instead of fencing to add structure. Make space for at least one small tree. Consider the maintenance of the new garden - decking and gravel are cheap, but require more maintenance in the long term. Happy gardening By Lee Bestall
Once you’ve decided on a style, take some measurements of the boundaries, starting with the house. Use circles, curves, squares and rectangles to make some nice shapes on the plan, then
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Jog Leaders Course Jog Leaders are the lifeblood of jogscotland. They make jogscotland tick. Their army of fully trained, enthusiastic and patient Jog Leaders has inspired thousands of people across the country to embrace a healthier and more active lifestyle through running. If you have bags of energy and want to help make a difference to the health of Aberdeen then we need you! To become a Jog Leader you will need to attend a one day training course which covers everything you need to know, from the warm up to the cool down. Sport Aberdeen is hosting a Jog Leaders course on Saturday 13 October to be held a Cults Academy Community Wing, Quarry Road, Aberdeen, AB15 9TP The course costs £70.00 To book a place please call Ann Davidson on 0131 539 7341 or email ann.davidson@ scottishathletics.org.uk. The jogscotland programme was established in 2002 by scottishathletics, the governing body of athletics in Scotland.
RHS Chelsea flower show garden to be donated to ARI In May the Royal Bank of Canada announced that the RBC Blue Water Roof Garden, featured at this year’s centenary RHS Chelsea Flower Show (May 21-25) will be donated to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, part of NHS Grampian. In its new location, the garden will form a core element of the hospital’s new Therapeutic Roof Garden development. It will be a facility designed to allow inpatients - whether they are able to walk, use a wheelchair or are in a bed - access to green space and aid their recovery. The development will be in the heart of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, on the roof above the new entrance to a new block housing the Emergency Department and inpatient wards. The RBC Blue Water Roof Garden reflects the goals of the RBC Blue Water Project - a wide-ranging, 10-year global commitment to help protect the world’s most precious natural resource: fresh water. It explores the potential of ‘skyrise greening’, bringing trees, meadows and wetlands into the heart of the densest of cities, while addressing the important issue of urban water management. The features and choice of flowers – many of which originate from RBC’s native Canada - have been carefully selected to attract and foster local wildlife such as solitary bees and other pollinators. Rev. James Falconer, Healthcare Chaplain, is part of an NHS Grampian team working to raise the funds and enable the ARI garden to be built. He said: “We are very proud indeed that the Royal Bank of Canada has chosen to support our project and are delighted to accept this generous offer. The design of the RBC Blue Water Roof Garden shows it is both beautiful and environmentally sensitive. The main elements will be at the heart of the garden in its new home, and we are confident that the benefit to patients, their families and the staff caring for them will be significant once it’s in place.”
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The jogscotland programme is supported by NHS Health Scotland, sportscotland and the Scottish Government Health Department; three national bodies working together to help many people in Scotland adopt a healthier and more active lifestyle. Jogscotland uses simple, gentle walk/jog/run programmes to encourage everyone to get out and become more active. Aberdeen has supported the jogscotland network since its inception and Sport Aberdeen are committed to growing the number of groups and participant level in Aberdeen. Have you thought of joining a jogscotland group and getting some help with your training? Whether you are a beginner or have some experience of running, coming along to a jogscotland group can help you achieve your goal. Total beginners will be guided through a walk/run programme to get you round. If you have more experience there will be a group at your level to give you some company and extra motivation for one of your training runs. Runners are divided into groups of different paces and run fifty minutes to an hour depending on the level. Trained jogscotland leaders take each group out and can provide advice on the best plan for you. You will also be able to share experiences and tips with other runners, and just have a good chat. There is a £2.50 weekly charge and the option of a discount for a 10 week block. How to Join a Jogscotland Group Sport Aberdeen supports two jogscotland groups in the City: Jogscotland Rosemount Venue: Westburn Indoor Tennis Centre When: Wednesday's Time: 18:30 Please contact Sarah Gove for more info: 01224-322353 sarah.gove@sky.com WFT Jogscotland Venue: The Beach Leisure Centre When: Monday's Time: 18:30 Please contact Dave Gove for more info: 07894 729538 jogscotlandwft@mail.com A local Kingswells resident is keen to get a jogscotland group up and running in Kingswells. Drop me a note at the number or email below if you would like to be kept up to date with the progress of this. T: 01224 949085 M: 07813 964 875 E: gazette@fsmail.net
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Were you a member of a ladies football team at all? No. I would have loved to have played for Aberdeen Ladies, but girl’s football did not exist when I was younger. Tell us three things we would never guess you’ve done? Well… I used to be in the Police. I was once a masseuse and I was school chess champion! What do you do in your spare time? I love going to the theatre and the cinema. I am fascinated with how films are made and would love to work behind the scenes. (Maybe see you one day directing your own football movie!)
A Coffee Break with Alison McLeod
What makes a good session for your football club?
When did you first become interested in football? I was 11 when I first took a visit to Pittodrie stadium to watch a friend playing for Cowdenbeath against Aberdeen. I was hooked. So hooked that I held an Aberdeen season ticket for about 20 years. My favourite footballer was Willie Miller and my football icon is Sir Alex Ferguson. I saw him once years ago in a shop in Cults but was too scared to speak to him! Aberdeen will always be my favourite team. What is your most memorable match? That has to be Bayern Munich v Dons in 1983 in the Cup Winners Cup. It was the best match I have ever seen at Pittodrie. We won! 3-2. Aberdeen then went on to win the cup in Gothenburg that year.
Alison McLeod Airyhall Community Centre
Happy smiling children at the end of the class, that has to top everything else. One final question – Has any child gone on to be a professional footballer? A few boys have gone on to play for Aberdeen U10 but, there is one boy who went on to be a professional player. His name is Jason Brown and he now plays for Inverness Caledonian. He is the most talented player I have ever had.
Being a woman in a man’s world can be difficult. But as a female and a mother Alison is well equipped to relating well to her young footballers and the needs of their parents. Thank you for your time Alison and here’s to a good first term of football fun.
After School Football Kingswells Community Centre
Monday Thursday Friday Monday Friday 4.15-5.00 Girls 2.00-2.30 Pre School 9.30-10.00 9.30-10.00 Pre School 9.30-10.00 Tiny Tots 1.45-2.15 Pre School 3.30-4.15 P1/2 10.00-10.30 Wednesday Session 2013-14 Tuesday 2.00-2.45 9.30-10.00 Pre School 3.30-4.15 P1/2 Places can now be booked 3.30-4.15 P1/2 1.30-2.15 Pre School Plus 4.15-5.00 P1/2 for the new session 5.00-5.45 P3/4 3.30-4.15 P1/2 starting in August 4.15-5.00 P1/2 For more info contact Alison McLeod on 07824631221 www.Aberdeenfootballfun.co.uk Please do mention Kingswells Community News when responding to advertisers - thank you
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Tiny tots Pre School Plus
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What’s On in August and September at His Majesty’s Theatre, Music Hall and Lemon Tree, Aberdeen Tuesday to Thursday, August 13 to 15: Direct from a smash-hit West End season, adapted for the stage from the best-selling book by Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson MBE and Axel Scheffler, Room on the Broom, a magical, musical delighted for children aged three upwards, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 2pm on Tuesday and 11am and 2pm on Wednesday and Thursday. Saturday, August 17: For one night only, celebrate the glory days of Aberdeen’s University Union: Aitken Hall, Main Hall/Sivells, Neill Lounge, Red Lounge and Dungeon with Aberdeen re:Union 2013, featuring a fantastic line-up with voice of Ultravox Midge Ure and his band; ‘80s icon and punk princess Toyah Willcox; Brooklyn’s DJ Ayres and Blues’n’Trouble, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7pm. Saturday, August 17: 1906 Restaurant at HMT with Blitz Entertainment present a musical murder mystery. . . the death of the fading rock band Dainty June is enough to test the wits of the cleverest detective when a mixture of sex, drugs, rock and roll, intrigue, jealousy and hate spin a tangled web of deceit in 1906 restaurant at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. The evening may not be suitable for minors. Saturday and Sunday, August 17 and 18: Aberdeen Art Fair, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, from 9.30am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday. Tuesday, August 20 to Saturday, August 31: Winner of four WhatsOnStage.com Awards, and direct from the West End and Broadway, the feel-good international hit sensation Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the Musical, with a dazzling array of outrageous Olivier and Tony Award-winning costumes, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm Tuesday to Thursday and Monday to Thursday, 18
at 5pm and 8.15pm on Fridays and at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturdays.
Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7.30pm. Tickets £16
Wednesday, August 21: Tackling head-on the challenges of a young band having to prove themselves following the release of their first full-length album, We Are The In Crowd, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7.30pm.
Tuesday to Saturday, September 3 and 7: The National Theatre of Scotland and The Royal Shakespeare Company present Dunsinane, starring Siobhan Redmond and Jonny Philips set in a Scotland in the aftermath of macbeth’s death when an English army has taken the seat of power, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm,m with 2pm Thursday and 2.30pm Saturday matinees. Tickets £15 to £29.50
Thursday to Saturday, August 22 to 24: The Vinyl Theatre presents 4000 Miles, which tells of a grandmother and her grandson who forge an unlikely bond in Amy Herzog’s award-winning play which premiered in New York and played to sold-out houses winning Best New American Play in the 2012 OBIE Awards, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm. Saturday, August 24: Popularly known for his two globally syndicated television shows Crossing Over With John Edward and John Edward Cross Country, the internationally-acclaimed psychic medium, lecturer and author John Edward, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 4pm. Wednesday and Thursday, August 28 and 29: Everyone’s favourite northern comedian Jason Manford returns with a new tour entitled First World Problems, featuring a wealth of comedy anecdotes, misunderstandings and banter, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 8pm.
September Sunday, September 1: Alan Bearman Music presents Spooky Men’s Chorale, who based on the twin pillars of grand foolishness and the quest for the perfect subwoofer rattling boofchord, seek to commentate on the absurdity and grandeur of the modern male armed only with their voices, a sly collection of hats, their facial hair, and a twinkle in the eye, in The
Thursday, September 5: Stellar Quines presents the award-winning play, The List, written by Jennifer Tremblay, translated by Shelley Tepperman and starring Maureen Beattie, telling the story of a woman struggling to adjust to rural life, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm. Tickets £12 Saturday, September 7: Seventy-five minute behind-thescenes tours at Aberdeen’s iconic Edwardian landmark, His Majesty’s Theatre, in HMT at 10.30am and 11.30am. Tickets £5 (£3 concession) Saturday, September 7: Returning to performing over two hours of Pink Floyd classics with an eight-piece line-up Macfloyd, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7.30pm. Tickets £13 Monday, September 9: From the North-east of England, Athletes in Paris induce their idiosyncratic, danceable indie-pop sound with two drummers, chanted gangvocals and frantic guitar-work, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7.30pm. Tickets £6 Monday to Saturday, September 9 to 14: Directed by Christopher Luscome, Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show delivers a night of fun, frolics and sexy frivolity, in His Majesty’s
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Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm from Monday to Thursday, and at 5.30pm and 8.30pm on Friday and Saturday. Tickets £15 to £40.50 Thursday to Saturday, September 12 to 14: Greenroom Productions present Ordinary Days, a new musical by Adam Gwon, a refreshingly honest and funny take on making real connections in New York, the city that never sleeps but probably should at some point, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm. Tickets £12 Saturday, September 14: Long hailed as one of Ireland’s leading songwriters and performers Kieran Goss takes his music to The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 8pm. Tickets £10 Sunday, September 15: 50+Festival Final Festival Concert featuring Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas (San Fransisco and Montreal), Vocal Zones Quartet, George Brechin, Abby Birnie and Michael Smith, accompanied by musical director Jim Addison, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen at 7.30pm. Tickets £9 Monday to Saturday, September 16 to 21: The West End’s favourite musical comedy Hairspray, starring Mark Benton (Waterloo Road, Early Doors) and Edna Turnblad and Lucy Benjamin (Eastenders) as scheming TV executive Velma Von Tussle, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm, with 2pm Thursday and 2.30pm Saturday matinees. Tickets £17 to £55 Wednesday, September 18: Well-versed in the art of creative mayhem Mark Thomas returns to what he does best in his new show 100 Acts of Minor Dissent – mischief and joyously bad behaviour with a purpose, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7pm. Tickets £15
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Tickets from boxofficeaberdeen.com or tel : 01224 641122 Thursday, September 19: Tortoise in a Nutshell in co-production with Cumbernauld Theatre present Feral, an innovative piece of visual theatre that combines puppetry, film and live sound to create and destroy a world in front of its audience’s eyes, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm. Age 13+ and tickets £12 Saturday, September 21: Seventy-five minute behind-thescenes tour at Aberdeen’s iconic Edwardian landmark, His Majesty’s Theatre, in HMT at 10.30am. Tickets £5 (£3 concession) Saturday, September 21: 2012 Winner - Fringe First Award, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Educating Ronnie, created by Joe Douglas and Gareth Nicholls and produced by Macrobert and Utter, an astonishing true story performed by the man himself, exploring the murky processes behind bettering oneself in Uganda, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm. Tickets £12 Saturday, September 21: Continuing Aberdeen’s tradition of large and horny soul and funk tribute bands, Funk Connection, with a 10 piece line-up and performing numbers drawn from Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5 and James Brown to The Temptations, Sister Sledge and Chic, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 8pm. Tickets £10
Saturday, September 21: Gibson Ross Promotions presents Saturday Night at the Auld Meal Mill, an evening of Scottish traditional music, song, dance and comedy featuring Robert Lovie, comedian Eddie Rose, The Brandon Mcphee Trio, The Marlene Lowe Dancers with Piper Pamela Whyte, Turriff & District Pipe Band, and James Alexander & The Reel Ceilidh Band, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen at 7.30pm. Tickets £22 Monday to Saturday, September 23 to 28: Now in its eighth year, the Agatha Christie Theatre Company present a thrilling production of the Queen of Crime’s classic Go Back for Murder, with an all-star cast including Liza Goddard, Robert Duncan and Sophie Ward in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm, with 2pm Thursday and 2.30pm Saturday matinees. Tickets £17.50 to £32.50 Tuesday, September 24: Star of Sky Living’s Psychic Sally on the Road, Sally Morgan, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. Tickets £23 Thursday, September 26: With a partnership and friendship which has spanned 24 years, Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham showcase the talent and dedication to their music which has earned them both the title of Dr and the honour of an MBE, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. Tickets £18
Friday, September 27: Time Travelling Magicians Morgan & West bring a show brimming over with baffling magic, unparalleled precognitive powers and an ability to travel through time, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm. Tickets £12 Friday, September 27: With cellist Alisa Weilerstein and conductor Donald Runnicles, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra present a programme which includes Berlioz’s Overture: Le Corsaire; Elgar’s Cello Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.4, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. Tickets £10 to £20.50 Saturday, September 28: Seventy-five minute behind-thescenes tours at Aberdeen’s iconic Edwardian landmark, His Majesty’s Theatre, in HMT at 10.30am and 11.30am. Tickets £5 (£3 concession) Saturday, September 28: A self-confessed miserable old git, comedian Ed Byrne in his new show Roaring Forties embraces middle age with his clarion cry – ‘I am in my forties, hear me roar!’, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 8pm. Tickets £23.50 Sunday, September 29: Star of Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Dirty Tricks, Monkey Magic, Psychic Secrets Revealed with Derren Brown, and the darkly twisted Jerry@Trick sketch show with Jerry Sadowitz,
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Ali Cook returns with his own brand of awe-inspiring magic and breathtaking illusion in Principles and Deceptions, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm. Tickets £12 Monday, September 30: A compelling and entertaining evening with bushcraft authority and survival expert Ray Mears, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. Tickets £23.50 to £26 Monday, September 30 and Tuesday, October 1: Random Accomplice presents, The Incredible Adventures of See-Thru Sam, the 2012 performance nominated for two Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland, telling the story of an ordinary boy whose extraordinary life falls apart after the death of his parents, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm. Ahe 14+ (contains some strong language) and tickets £12 Monday, September 30 to Saturday, October 5: Multi-award winning rock and roll show Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story charts the legendary singer from his meteoric rise to fame to his final famous performance at The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm Monday to Thursday, at 5.30pm and 8.30pm on Friday and at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday. Tickets £12.50 to £32.50
podiatry & chiropody practice we take care of your feet
westhillpodiatry@gmail.com TRACEY WHITE
BSc DPodM MCHS (PODIATRIST/CHIROPODIST)
WESTHILL SHOPPING CENTRE FREE PARKING
01330 823079 07920 483 233
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OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PHYSIOTHERAPY - CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT DIETICIAN - MASSAGE THERAPY - REFLEXOLOGY
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What’s on Kingswells Community Centre Monday’s 7.45-9.00 - Great Western M-F 10.00-1200 - Carpet Bowls 1030-1200 - Coffee & Conversation 1030-1200 - Alison - Football 1.30-2.30 - Gentle Exercise 1.30-2.30 - Baby Massage 3.30-4.15 - Alison - Football 5.30-6.30 - Girl Guiding 6.30-7.45 - Girl Guiding (Hall, coffee shop & upstairs) 8.00-1000 - Badminton (71 Club)
4.00-9.00 - Danscentre (Hall) 4.30-5.00 - Danscentre (upstairs) 6.15-7.45 - Bible club (upstairs)
Tuesday’s 9.30-11.00 - Toddlers 11.45-2.15 - School Gym 3.30-4.15 - Alison - Football 5.00-6.00 - Beavers 6.00-7.00 - Tang Soo Do (Hall) 7.00-9.00 - Tang Soo Do (upstairs) 7.00-9.00 - Badminton (Adult - Hall )
Friday’s 9.30-10.30 - Alison - Football 10.45-1.10 - School Gym 1.30-2.45 - Alison - Football 2.50-3.50 - Library 4.00-6.00 - Ian - Football 6.00-7.15 - Girlguiding (Coffee shop and hall) 7.15-8.45 - Cubs
Wednesday’s 9.00-12.45 - Maintenance (Closed to public) 1.30-3.00 - School P4-5
Saturday’s 9.00-1.00 - Dancentre (Hall)
Thursday’s 9.30-11.00 - Toddlers 11.45-12.30 - School Gym 1.00-3.00 - Carpet Bowls 5.00-6.00 - Haedong Kumdo (Hall) 6.00-8.00 - Tang Soo Doo (Hall) 7.00-9.00 - Girl Guiding
A box this size will cost you £48 for three issues or £90 for six issues
Spanish and French Classes Conversational Spanish at all levels and Advanced French. Offered by experienced teacher in small groups.
It holds a good deal of words big and small and even a wee picture. Why not
Airyhall Community Centre
Home Visiting Practice
Routine and Preventative Foot Care Corns/Hard Skin Verrucae Toenail Cutting
Trudi C Deans
Contact John on 01224 582491 email: jymcl11@gmail.com
DipCFHP MPSPract
Foot Health Care Practitioner
T : 07598 382 597
use the booking form to the right .
What’s On Webster Park Monday’s 1.30-2.30 Tennybeats (Hall) 6.30-8.00 School Football (AWP) 7.15-9.05 Just Dance (Hall) 8.30-9.00 Wellside AFc (AWP) 6.00-7.00 Girl Guiding (Hall) Tuesday’s 7.00-9.00 Bowka/Kettlesize (Hall) Wednesday’s 9.30-1100 Just Dance (Hall) 7.45-8.45 Just Dance (Hall) 6.30-7.30 School Football (AWP) 7.30-8.30 Healy AFC (AWP) 20
Thursday’s 7.00-9.00 Just Dance (Hall) 8.00-9.00 Wellside (AWP) Friday’s 9.30-11.30 Pilates (Hall) 2.00-2.45 Just Dance (Hall) Saturday’s 1030-1130 Highland Dance (Hall) 9.30-11.30 School Football (FSP) 1.00-4.00 Stonetwood/Continental (FSP) Sunday’s 9.00-11.30 Dyce Football (FSP) www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk
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21
Avoiding the Empty Nest
Crossword
Many of us will drop our child off at university for the first time this year. Or maybe they’re moving to another part of the country...or world. Along with the justifiable pride and excitement we feel at their achievement a few negative emotions will undoubtedly creep in: sadness, loss, fear and anxiety. We’ll wonder how our baby grew up so quickly and worry about how they will cope with being away from home, and how we will cope with their absence. These feelings are sometimes called ‘Empty Nest Syndrome.’ Statistics show that some parents find this time so difficult that they become depressed, and marriages may even break down as a result of the change. You should share any concerns, ideally with your partner if you have one as they may also be experiencing mixed emotions. Or you could speak to a close friend, or seek support from a counselling service. Sometimes just hearing someone else say that your reaction is perfectly normal and talking things through really helps. When a child leaves home we may have more than half of our life left to live. It’s a perfect time to take stock and create a wish list of things to do or try. Focussing attention on these will help manage the transition to a new lifestyle more easily and highlight the opportunities it brings. It can be good to put more energy into nurturing a relationship. Find new activities to share together; take time to sit and talk, or to do the things you used to love to do before children came along. Find a hobby or sport to fill the extra time. Perhaps something you’ve longed to do but felt family commitments prevented, be that yoga, fishing or painting. You could even follow your child’s lead and study something new. This could be taking language or woodwork lessons at the local college, or enrolling on an Open University course, taking a professional qualification or undertaking a degree yourself. If you’ve let your career stall whilst bringing up the children now may be the chance to re -ignite it. Or you could use your increased time and energies to start a new business, or volunteer. When we look for the positive in a situation it opens up a whole new range of opportunities which will help us shine as an individuals, build our confidence and increase our sense of well-being - exactly the same things in fact that we wish for our children embarking on their new life at university. By Susan Brookes-Morris
22
Crossword Clues Across 7 9 10 11 12 14 16 18 19 20 21 22
Troubles, concerns (7) Type of oil (5) Dutch ___ disease (3) Defilement, tainting (9) Miniscule quantity (5) More awful (7) Nightclub attendant (7) Gum, lacquer (5) Body-hugging (9) Also (3) Type of grain (5) Cause pain and suffering (7)
Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 13 15 17 18 19 20
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The SSRS North East Project Officer Stephen Willis, said: “Recent volunteer-led surveys suggest that the red squirrel conservation work we’ve been involved with so far is reducing grey squirrel numbers and improving conditions for red squirrels to thrive.
Red squirrels in Aberdeen need your help! Householders and landowners along the Kingswells to Westhill corridor are being urged to lend a hand in continued efforts to successfully boost red squirrel numbers across the area – by opening their gardens and borrowing a squirrel trap! It seems like an odd thing to do to help red squirrels, but the traps are intended to be used in areas where grey squirrels, the main threat to the reds, are still thriving and at risk of encroaching further in to red territory. The red squirrel is native to Britain and was once widespread, but has declined markedly in recent years. Scotland now holds 75% of the UK’s red squirrel population. Their decline is mostly due to the spread of the grey squirrel, which was only introduced into the UK in the 19th century. Grey squirrels arrived in Aberdeen City in the 1970s and due to the continuous, high quality habitat that can be found along the Don and Dee corridors, soon spread out as far as Banchory and Inverurie. As the greys have advanced, red squirrel numbers have decreased, becoming completely absent in some areas. These expanding grey squirrel populations are the main threat to the red squirrel’s existence across Grampian and the Scottish Highlands. Unless action is taken to halt the expansion, the outlook for red squirrels is looking bleak. The call for help comes from the people behind the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) project. Led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Land and Estates and Forestry Commission Scotland, the three-year old project has successfully focused its red squirrel conservation efforts along Deeside and Donside.
“For example, woodland surrounding Banchory, which formerly had an abundance of grey squirrels, now appears to have none and we are receiving more and more red squirrel sightings here. We would like to continue this success by working from rural areas back towards Aberdeen.” “We’re already receiving more and more sightings of red squirrels in Westhill and Kingswells, and would like to create red-friendly condition from Westhill back to the City. But to achieve this, we need access to even more private gardens that contain prime grey squirrel habitat. In 2012 grey squirrels caught through our trap loan scheme made up nearly half of all those trapped in the region.” SSRS works to raise public awareness of the red squirrels’ plight by engaging individuals and communities in red squirrel conservation. A crucial part of the work involves preventing further grey squirrel range expansion. Until non-lethal methods of grey squirrel control are available, the only way to prevent grey squirrels from dispersing further out into Aberdeenshire is by careful cage-trapping followed by humane dispatch. Across Grampian, co-ordinated grey squirrel control carried out by trained Grey Squirrel Control Officers, is targeted at the most prolific grey squirrel populations which drive the grey’s range expansion. A major factor in the success of this approach is the participation of landowners and householders in the SSRS trap loan scheme. The trap loan scheme has been active throughout Cults, Bieldside and Milltimber for a couple of years. Many local residents there are now enjoying regular red squirrel sightingsfor some it’s the first red squirrel they have seen in years! The SSRS Project Manager, Mel Tonkin, added; “We are able to loan traps and provide a dispatch service, carried out by our trained Grey Squirrel Control Officers, free of charge. This scheme fulfils a vital element to the national red squirrel protection strategy and if anyone would like to help, either by allowing us access to their grounds, borrowing a trap or even reporting red or grey squirrel sightings in the area, they can visit our website (www.swt.org.uk/wildlife/ squirrelsightings) and find out how to get involved.” If you would like any more information, please contact the SSRS North East Project Officer, Stephen Willis, on 01224 266526 or at redsquirrelgrampian@swt.org.uk.
KCN - is a bi-monthly magazine 3 4 5 6 7 8
Issue Deadline 20 Sept 20 Nov 20 Jan 20 Mar 20 May 20 July
Deliver 02 October 02 Dec 02 Feb 02 Apr 02 June 02 August
Mag dates Oct-Nov Dec-Jan Feb-Mar Apr-May June-July Aug-Sept
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23
Conferencing? 4th Room Lounge
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