Web kcn issue 7 june july 2014

Kingswells

Community News

Issue 7- Jun-July 2014

West End - Deeside - Kingswells

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West End - Deeside - Kingswells

Let the summer begin...

We are about to embark on a very busy month. June is full of catch up’s before the summer holidays. What with final exams; end of term concerts; prepping for going to the “big school”; school trips to name but a few.

I have to undertake three magazines, pack cases and be ready to go in mid-July! Excited has not yet entered the equation, how I’m going to manage it will be interesting. We always manage to pull it off though.

This appears to be a bumper issue with quite a few new advertisers to tempt you too. Allure and The Pavilion Hair Salons, Bea @ Kumiko for fashionable nails, Dog walking and dog grooming also taken care of by Happy Paws, Doggy Dudes and Kingswells Canines. For the home we are pleased to introduce ENJO and Ovenu. From the professional side we have Simpson & Marwick who can help with all your legalities. Abby Birnie and Craig Beattie are at hand for your diy and why not finish it off with a tea and cake at Cari and Co in Bieldside. Those looking for some fish and chips then Low’s at Westhill are offering you two fish suppers for £10, just cut out the voucher and take it along with you.

Police Scotland has their usual warnings for you for this time of year. Lock up your sheds. Lock and secure your motorbikes and bicycles and just be vigilant. They’d rather you report something suspicious which could foil an attempt at a crime.

Superfast Broadband will also be available to you during the summer but do check-in with your own service provider to find out firm dates.

Have a wonderful summer. Hoping we get nice weather like last year.

The next magazine will be out in August and I’ll catch up with you all again in October.

Until the next time,

Sue x

KCN - A4 bi-monthly magazine Issue 8 9 10 11

Deadline 04July 20 Sept 20 Nov 20 Jan

Deliver 01August 05 Oct 05 Dec 05 Feb

Mag dates Aug-Sept Oct-Nov Dec-Jan Feb-Mar

Contact: Sue Simpson - 01224 949085 email - gazette@fsmail.net

Would you like help with :Toddler Tantrums? Calming at Bedtime? Assistance with Pain Relief ie teething, or when bumped / bruised?

Support and encourage your toddlers digestion?

Reflexology 4 Toddlers may be the answer.

To book a session on a Saturday morning please contact Lynne

lynne@butterflydreams.co.uk www.butterflydreams.co.uk

07808 764 712

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With over 50 years experience they are well equipped to tackle any job.

Why not add in a bespoke bookcase with a desk!

Give Les or Doug a call today and turn that dream into reality.

Westhill Bowling Club invite you to come and try bowls. The following times were on offer during Westhill Gala week Tuesday between 2pm & 4pm and 6 30pm & 8 30pm at the Denman Park If you didn’t make it during Gala week please contact Isobel McLean 01224 742745 she would be delighted to hear from you and a suitable time can be arranged.

All ages are welcome and coaching is available. FREE MEMBERSHIP FOR THE SEASON IS ON OFFER TO ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TRY BOWLING Looking forward to seeing you on the green.

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Then why not let Aberdeen Carpentry build you a bespoke summerhouse to fit perfectly into your garden.

een Carpe rd

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Is your dream to have some extra space?

Somewhere to enjoy the long summer evenings in warmth? A hobby space? A man shed? A retreat?

WE WILL TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF YOUR HOME IMPROVEMENTS and supply all the services to see the job through start to finish

Our promise: To provide our customers with the highest standards of quality, efficiency and professionalism

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Full Joinery Services Doors - External & Internal Finishings, Skirtings & Facings Wood Flooring & Laminate Fitted Kitchens Decking

• Custom Made Summer Houses & Sheds • Property Maintenance • Office Refurbishments • Partitions & Suspended Ceilings Cei eilililing ngs ng

Aberdeen Carpentry WORKING TOGETHER

FOR A NO OBLIGATION QUOTE OR ENQUIRIES CONTACT: T: 01224 248247 Les: (M) 07961 557 430 Doug: (M) 07983 744 727 www.aberdeencarpentry.com

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Y EXP EARS ERIE NC

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t: 07813 964 875

All things Summer

ferryhill HOUSE HOTEL

t: 01224 740318 www.fourmile.co.uk

t: 01224 590867 www.ferryhillhousehotel.co.uk

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Garden View

How low can you grow?

Mention the word ‘alpine’ to a garden designer and (in general) you’ll be given the same facial expression as a child who’s just bitten into an unwaxed lemon!

Insignificant leaf growth with tiny flowers … what’s to love? Associated with badly designed 60’s rockeries, these low growing perennials really do get a raw deal. In the main, the poor little things can’t climb very far, can’t extend their roots to escape from water logged soil, and have not adapted to elongating their stems to reach the sunlight (because a naughty gardener planted the pot-bought specimen under the shade of a tree).

Alpines, like other successful species, have adapted themselves to their native habitats, often found clung to the side of a windy rock face way above sea level. When you observe them in the wild, you easily understand why they are so small.

The exposed sites would quickly dry out large leaves, so many are small in size such as those of Hypericum olympicum, and others often silver in colour such as the very cute Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Nana’.

Rather a mouthful to say and often not the most romantic sounding names either, take Pulsatilla vulgaris (the pasque flower) as an example. It might not win any prizes in the largest plant competition, but its ability to grow on nearly solid limestone rock is pretty impressive. So too are its beautiful flowers, delicate dissected foliage and crazy seed heads.

Until I saw a glasshouse full of alpine plants all in bloom at the same time I wasn’t a huge fan either, but seeing them up close and personal when displayed at waist height, you realise how wonderful these tiny creations are. Over recent years, alpines have really been appreciated for their versatility and employed in new applications. Take the humble Sempervivum ‘Othello’, famous for thriving on hot dry tiled roofs and now widely used on green roof schemes where it can adapt to the very shallow free draining soils. It’s quite a vigorous semp., with beautiful red tints in winter. Grow in shallow containers in full sun where it will quickly spread to around 30cm in width.

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If you are looking for a plant to cover an old dry stonewall or soften the corner of a raised bed, look no further than Campanula poscharskyana ‘Stella’. If happy, it does have a tendency to walk, but with its long flowering season and pretty purple flowers I’m sure your neighbours won’t mind if it starts appearing in their crevices too.

June is a busy month in the garden, and as well as a good time to plant alpines, other jobs include: • Sowing salad leaves every 2 weeks for a continuous crop •

Plant grasses

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Tie up climbers

•

Earth up potatoes

Until next time, happy gardening, Lee

MD GARDEN SERVICES Garden Design Treated Wood Fencing Grass Cutting Border Edging Shrub Pruning / Trimming Hedge Cutting Tree Work

Liability Insured Competitive Rates Reliable & Friendly Free Estimates Private & Commercial

Turfing Landscaping Planting Bark / Chips Laid /Supplied Garden Clearance /Tidy Ups.

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Mike Duffus Tel: 01224 732872 Mobile: 07742 761 763

E-mail: mdgardenserv@btinternet.com e: gazette@fsmail.net

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KINGSWELLS PRIMARY SCHOOL Kingswells School Playground

Maintaining our playground to make sure it is a lovely and safe place for our pupils to be can seem like a full time job. Recently Subsea 7 volunteered employee time and resources to make improvements to the pergola area of the playground. They painted it and replanted the large flower beds. They area looks fantastic now. They also laid a concrete slab path to the new play equipment, which cannot be accessed when the ground becomes too muddy. We are so grateful for all of their hard work, which benefits the school and the whole community.

We have been unable to use our pond area this year because the decking had rotted away and was unsafe.

We did not have the funds to replace it and were very fortunate to have the full amount donated by Premier Oil. The area now looks brilliant and some of our classes have already been out planting wild flowers and collecting frogspawn. Some of our nursery children came out with their teacher, Mrs Budge, to accept the cheque from Chris of Premier Oil and to open the revamped pond area. This will be a fantastic resource for us and we really appreciate their help.

Kingswells Primary PTA As we approach the end term we would like to thank everyone who has helped in any way with our successful fundraising efforts this session. Recently we have raised money through our Easter Smarties Challenge and the Bag2school collection. Thank you once again to all who supported our annual Fair on May 24th! More exciting events will be happening next session! Finally, we hope that all staff, families and friends of the school have a great summer!

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Silver Surfers We have been involved in a very exciting intergenerational project along with the charity Silver Surfers where our P5 pupils have been teaching iPad skills to the over 65s in our community. It is still ongoing and has been a great success and a lovely experience for all involved. Some of our Silver Surfers had never used an iPad before and learned the basic skills from the pupils. Some even starred in their own iMovies. It was very entertaining seeing the acting skills coming out with pupils and their trainees jumping out from behind curtains and pretending to be all sorts of characters! Others made e-books of their own life with scanned photographs or books comparing life in their youth to life now. Our pupils have learned from their Silver Surfers first hand experiences ranging from World War 2 to nursing in the 50s to styling beehives in the 60s! he feedback has been wonderful with all of our Silver Surfers commenting on how lovely and welcoming the children were and how much they appreciated spending time with them. Some of our pupils gave presentations in the Townhouse about generations working together.

Thank you to everyone who chose to get involved.

Local Kingswells resident Linda Wood has been using ENJO in her home now for over 3 years and would like to share her story...

Discover ‘ENJO Clean’

Let us show you "WOW"!

How did you hear about ENJO Linda?

One of my friends invited me along to a lunchtime demo and I must admit I was rather amused that I was going along to a 'cleaning party' What were your initial thoughts at the demo?

At first I was sceptical as I was used to cleaning with the usual products you buy in the shops. Like most people I had a cupboard full of different bottles under my sink.I thought how could this work just with cold water and and a glove? However after seeing Gladys clean the cooker with the kitchen glove and cold water i was certainly impressed that it lifted grease quickly and effectively.

What did you find after you started using ENJO in your own home?

I couldnt believe how quick and easy it was to clean all over my house, I would say it cuts cleaning time considerably. I have noticed that the areas stay cleaner for longer too. I have been using ENJO now for over 3 years and have not bought any other cleaning products, without a doubt it has saved me a lot of money.

After using ENJO for a while I did come across a pack of wipes in a cupboard and immediately was aware that the 'smell' of that product irritated my throat, that was a huge wake up call to me that the usual household cleaners are not good for our health.

To me ENJO is a way of life for us now and I wouldnt go back to chemcial cleaners.

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SAVING MONEY

PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY

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ENJO is Different

Clean different, live different, BE different.™

Contact local consultant Gladys Eunson for more information gladys.eunson@enjo.co.uk 07736 878 171

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BucksburnAcademy news May 2014 Bucksburn Academy Scottish Education Award Finalists For the second time in three years the school is a finalist in the Sustainable Schools category of the prestigious Scottish Education Awards. The judges paid a visit to the school to hear about the ongoing work on sustainability and environmental awareness speaking to pupils, staff and our many business and community partners.

The results will be announced at the finals awards ceremony to be held in June.

Best year yet for football success The school has had a very successful football season this year. Our U-13 team reached two finals this year, winning their group to qualify for the final of the ASSTA 7 a side tournament and narrowly losing out to Cults in the U 13 Green Cup final.

Our U 14 team made it to the final of their cup competition putting on a good display before losing out to Peterhead. And the ASN wing teams finished 2nd and 3rd in a recent ASN football tournament held in Inverurie

Bucksburn Academy wins Rencontres Theatrales competition Congratulations to our pupils who took part in the recent Rencontres Theatrales French drama competiton. Competing schools had to devise and perform a play in French. We won the secondary section of the competition with pupils and staff delighted with the final performance. Bravo!

ROV Challenge A team of S4-S6 pupils recently took part in the ROV challenge at RGU. The team had to design and construct a remotely operated

Congratulations to 2 of our S4 pupils – Sean Tough and Scott Farquharson who both won the annual Entier Challenge competing against a number of pupils from other schools to demonstrate their culinary skills. As a result of their impressive performance they have both been offered 3 year apprenticeships by the sponsors.

Term 4: 22 Apr 2014 - 4 Jul 2014 ·

Term Ends – Friday 4 Jul 2014

Session 2014 – 2015 4 In-Service Days still to be set Term 1: 19 Aug 2014 - 10 Oct 2014 · In-Service Day (staff only) Teachers

Training Day – Monday 18

August 2014 · Pupils Return – Tuesday 19 August 2014 · September Holiday – Friday 19 and

Monday 22 September 2014 · Term Ends – Friday 10 Oct 2014

vehicle and then use it to complete a number of missions set out in the swimming pool. They also had to produce a poster and presentation of their work. The team were delighted to win the prize for best poster and are raring to go to improve on their performance next year.

Exams

Entier Challenge Success

Session 2013 – 2014

We are now well into the exams for our Senior Phase S4-S6 pupils and we wish them all the best. For our S4 pupils this is the first year of the new qualifications with Nationals 4 and 5 replacing Standard Grade. We hope all the hard work of pupils and staff this year pays off.

·

October Holiday – Monday 13 to Friday 24 October 2014

Term 2: 27 Oct 2014 - 19 Dec 2014 · · ·

Term Starts – Monday 27 Oct2014 Term Ends – Friday 19 Dec 2014 Christmas Holiday – Monday 22 Dec 2014 to Friday 2 Jan 2015

Term 3: 6 Jan2015 - 2 April 2015 · · ·

Term Starts – Monday 5 Jan 2015 Mid Term – Monday 16 Feb 2015 Term Ends – Thursday 2 April 2015

· Easter Holiday – Fri 3 to Fri 17 April 2015 (Good Friday 3 April 2015)

Term 4: 20 April 2015 - 3 July 2015 · · ·

Term Starts – Mon 20 April 2015 May Day Holiday – Mon 4 May 2015 Term Ends – Friday 3 July 2015

Bucksburn Academy

T: 01224 710700 Kepplehills Rd, Aberdeen AB21 9DG

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News from Westminster

National Micro-chipping month June 2014 marks national micro-chipping month aimed at raising awareness of the importance of micro chipping your pets.

Micro-chipping is part of responsible pet ownership and helps to ensure that pets, especially dogs and cats, which go missing can be reunited with their owners more easily. Once an animal is micro-chipped details of the owner will be registered on a database. This means that if a missing pet is picked up by a warden or animal welfare organisation they will be able to scan for a microchip and contact the owner.

a large volume of responses from individuals and animal welfare organisations. I understand that they are currently in the process of collating the results with further information expected later in the year. This has come about as a result of secondary legislation being introduced in England under the Animal Welfare Act, which will mean that by April 2016 it will be a legal requirement for all dogs in England to be micro-chipped and for owners contact details to be kept up to date.

Therefore if you have not already done so I would urge pet owners to consider micro-chipping their pets.

Yours sincerely Frank Doran MP Aberdeen North69 Dee Street, Aberdeen, AB11 6EE

I am sure that many of my constituents are already aware of the importance of this and have had their pets micro-chipped. However, it is important to note that the Scottish Government has consulted on introducing compulsory micro-chipping of dogs and has received

News from Councillor Delaney Summer has arrived and lets hope it’s a good one. As usual there’s plenty going on in Kingswells. Unfortunately many of the reports I’ve had have related to litter, dumped rubbish and dog mess. Kingswells is a generally well kept area so this is a disturbing trend.

It all started a few months ago with advertising posters glued to lamp posts, which was very promptly dealt with. Since then there’s been a number of reports of people not cleaning up after their pets, either that or cleaning up then discarding the bags of dog mess rather than taking them to a dog waste bin or taking them home.

The vast majority of dog owners are indeed acting responsibly, cleaning up after their pets. For those who don’t, rest assured the Wardens are patrolling the hot spots and anyone who is caught failing to clean up after their pets will be fined.

Unfortunately it’s not just dog mess but also dumped rubbish, mattresses and such like. Several people have lodged numerous complaints with the Council, yet nothing appeared to be being done to address the issue and in some cases more rubbish was being dumped. The Council were apparently experiencing some technical difficulties which I’m assured have since been resolved. They should be your first point of contact regarding dumped rubbish but if that fails to yield results, please get on to me. We really need to keep on top of this before it gets out of hand.

Email: frank.doran.mp@parliament.uk, Tel: (01224) 252 715

The roads resurfacing programme for 2014/15 was agreed recently and regrettably, Broaddykes Drive is not on this year’s list. In fact not a single road in Kingswells made it onto the main list. Clearly not a great outcome for Kingswells this year. However, it has been agreed that extensive repair works (jet patching) will be undertaken in Broaddykes Drive in the next few weeks. Whilst this is no substitute for resurfacing it should make a significant difference in the short term and is very much welcomed.

Please do your bit by reporting roads which are in poor state of repair to the Council. With a very limited roads budget nothing will happen overnight, but we all need to continue raising these issues, otherwise there’s little hope of these roads ever being repaired. I will continue to lodge reports about road defects but I need your assistance too.

Ongoing Police action has resulted in several individuals being charged with speeding in the village. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Police Scotland for the effort they have put into tackling this problem in recent months. Similarly in respect of the A944 Kingswells to Westhill road where a number of individuals have also been charged.

Lets end on some good news and turn our attention to the availability of high speed fibre optic broadband for Kingswells. The original estimate for the upgrade of the exchange had been 30th June with service going live between July and December 2014. The exchange is now accepting orders and the go-live date has been updated on Digital Scotland’s website to read July to October and yes, that is 2014!

Another recurring theme is hospital waiting times, especially for serious operations. A number of people have been waiting much longer than expected under the NHS guidelines and are understandably concerned about their health. My colleague Alison McInnes MSP has followed up on several long running cases and I’d be happy to pass on anyone else who is experiencing unusually lengthy waiting times to her.

All Internet Service Providers currently operating in Kingswells (BT, Sky, Talktalk, Easynet, AOL, O2 and any I’ve missed) should be able to offer the faster service but you’d need to contact them directly regarding their go live date. Although the service is not yet up and running, advance orders are now being taken, so contact your preferred ISP for more details.

The poor condition of some of the roads in Kingswells remains a bone of contention. Broaddykes Drive is arguably in greatest need of repair, given the poor condition of the road surface and the number of properties it serves. I’ve highlighted this on numerous occasions over the past couple of years. Kingswood Drive’s pretty bad in sections too and there’s some localised areas in a number of residential streets.

Regards

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

Twitter: CllrDelaney

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Want to know more about your body composition, eating habits and physical activity?

Then, the Full4Health study is for you!

We are looking to enrol lean & overweight children, teenagers & adults in these age groups: · 8-10 years old · 13-17 years old · 25-45 years old · 65-75 years old The study involves 4 Breakfast Visits (3.5 hrs) at the Rowett Institute during which you will get a free breakfast and a selection of mid-morning snacks.

Harnessing new insights into food, gut and brain interactions will lead to better understanding of our feelings of hunger or satiety.

www.full4health.eu

(FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n° 266408

The study is funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Mr William Buosi or Dr Daniel Crabtree on (01224) 438691/f4h@abdn.ac.uk

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Lower Deeside Community Association Cults Academy Community Centre.

The committee would also like to enrol new members and hear from individuals who might be interested in running courses.

At present the following activities are taking place: Adult Badminton Italian Language Junior Badminton Italian Cookery Over 30s Football ‘ Art – Drawing and Painting Tai Chi Holiday Spanish It is hoped to set up classes in other hobbies/interests at some future date, depending on feedback and available space.

A minibus is available for hire to community groups.

We look forward to hearing your ideas and suggestions, so that the community can make optimum use of the premises at Cults Academy Community Centre. There is an office in the Cults Academy Community Centre which is open on Tuesday and Friday mornings; enquiries can be made at other times by telephone or email. Telephone no: 01224 866286 Email: CultsCC@aberdeencity.gov.uk

Just Dance

Northern Arts Club 8 Bon Accord Square, Aberdeen, Tel : 586928

Drop in Classes - Wednesday and Friday 10-12noon Classes run throughout the year. Cost £50 per year.

Tutor session once a month additional cost £6.

Suitable for all abilities, contact Jacqueline 07597 126739 New Classes Oil Painting and Life Drawing For more information visit www.northernartsclub.co.uk Saturday Life Drawing Class 10am-1pm Tutor Ian Smart contact 484040 Bridge Tuition - Beginner and Intermediate - Thursday evening, contact Margaret 868230

1st Kingswells Scout Group We are looking for a new leader for our Cub Pack.

We meet from 7.30pm to 9pm, on a Friday, at the Kingswells Community Centre.

If you have been involved in scouting before, or would like to become involved, we would love to hear from you. Unfortunately, we are short of leaders and if we can't find a new leader the pack will have to close!

If you are interested, please contact Louisa Davies on 01224 741155 or email at chrisandlouisa@btinternet.com

Presents

Scottish Country Dancing

Wednesday 25th - Saturday 28th June 2014

7:00 pm Arts Centre & Theatre Aberdeen 33 King Street, Aberdeen AB24 5AA

Tickets: £15 (Adult), £12 Concession, £8 (Child)

Summer Socials for Scottish Country Dancing every Wednesday until 27th Aug at Curl Aberdeen 7:30 9:45. Everyone welcome (with a little knowledge of Scottish Country Dancing).

Classes for children and adults commence in August/September - check our website for latest information.

Ceilidh classes commence in October (1st and 3rd Tuesdays) at South St Nicholas Church, Kincorth.

Everyone welcome.

FOR TICKETS: ABERDEEN BOX OFFICE

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Contact 01224 636128 or email: aberdeenrscds@ 01224 641222 boxofficeaberdeen.com

hotmail.co.uk or check our website: www. aberdeenrscds.co.uk

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Kingswells Community Centre

Kingswells Parish Church

The Heart of the Village

FUN DAY AGM

Saturday 21 June at Kingswells Parish Church 11am – 3pm Come along and enjoy a fabulous Fun Day out with your friends and family...

Thanks to everyone who came to the AGM to support your community centre, especially our local councillor Steve Delaney. If anyone is interested in applying to join the committee please enquire at the main centre or call 741806

ACTIVITIES

We still have spaces available in some of our activities which include Badminton, Metafit, bowls, circuits and Insanity. If you are interested in any of these, give us a call on 741806

NEW BENCH • Bouncy Castle • Beat the Goalie • Face Painting • BBQ • Bottle Stall • Raffle • Tea and Coffee and much more...

www.kingswellschurch.com Kingswells Church, Scottish Charity Number SC006865

Ladies!

The City of Roses Chorus needs you!

Do you love to sing?

If you are a lady age 16+ that enjoys singing, come and join us. We are a friendly group of ladies who sing in 4 part harmony every Monday evening in Westhill Episcopal Church.

They say that singing is good for you!

So, go on, give it a go!

Check out our website www.cityofroses.co.uk For more information or to book your free trial, please call Irene 01224 749957 or Mika on 01224 742004

We have recently donated and replaced the two benches in the Patio outside the Centre

Kingwells Public Hall Mondays, 10 00am - 1 00pm Dog Training 6 30pm - 7 45pm Boxing Class Tuesdays, 6 15pm - 8 30pm Jazzercise Wednesdays, 10 00am - 12 30pm Dog Training 3 40pm - 6 50pm Junior Jazzercise 6 30pm - 6 45pm Boxing Class 8 00pm - 9 00pm Zumba Thursdays, 9 30am - 10 30am Jazzercise 7 00pm - 9 30pm Taoist Tai Chi Society Class

Fridays, 10 00am - 1 00pm Dog Training 6 00pm - 8 45pm Choi Kwang Do Class Saturdays, 9 30am - 10 30am Jazzercise 11 00am - 12 00 noon Zumba 6 30pm 7 30pm Fitness & Boxing Class Sundays 10 00am - 2 00pm Dog Training The above are all regular classes but anyone who may be interested in joining one of them would be best to call at the hall during the class to ascertain if there are spaces available.

The hall can also be booked for special occasions providing it does not clash with the regular users.

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Get ready for the 2014 Library Summer Reading Challenge!

The theme for this summer is Mythical Maze which invites children to discover more about myths and legends from all over the world. By taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge through Aberdeen City Libraries, and trying to read 6 books over the summer, you can join the mythical creatures who are this year’s stars of the Summer Reading Challenge. Minotaur, Unicorn, Yeti, Mermaid, Dragon, Nessie, Garuda, Leprechaun, Medusa and Anansi will also appear on a free downloadable app featuring interactive activities, clues and rewards.

Collect stickers and incentives as you work your way through the Challenge and explore different zones on the Maze. There will be more activities plus hidden ‘treats’ for children to unlock on the Mythical Maze website www.mythical-maze.org.uk which will go live before the summer holidays and there will be themed activities in libraries during the holidays.

The Summer Reading Challenge is aimed at children aged 4 and over but younger brothers and sisters can join in by sharing books with family and carers. Bookbug story and rhyme sessions for younger children will continue over the holidays.

Bookbug Story & Rhyme sessions Airyhall Library Tuesday 22nd July 10.30 – 11.00am Tuesday 19th August 10.30 – 11.00am Bucksburn Library Wednesday 23rd July 2.00 – 2.30pm Wednesday 20th August 2.00 – 2.30pm

Football - Soccer

Sweets - Candy

Crisps - Chips

Jam - Jelly

Motorway - Freeway

Trousers - Pants

Summer Reading Challenge – Mythical Maze events Airyhall Library Wednesday 23rd July 3.00 – 4.00pm Bucksburn Library Monday 4th August 2.30 – 3.30pm Mastrick Library Saturday 26th July 2.30 – 3.30pm

Storytime for 4 – 8 year olds Airyhall Library Wednesday 30th July 3.30 – 4.00pm Wednesday 27th August 3.30 – 4.00pm For more information contact Airyhall Library on 01224 310536 AiryhallLibrary@aberdeencity.gov.uk Bucksburn Library on 01224 710830 BucksburnLibrary@aberdeencity.gov.uk Mastrick Library on 01224 788558 MastrickLibrary@aberdeencity.gov.uk or visit the Aberdeen City Libraries’ website www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/library

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David Robertson’s Thai Chicken Cakes with Pineapple and Chilli Salsa These chicken cakes are great for a starter or main course and are also a good BBQ dish, however, if you cook them on the BBQ be sure to check they are cooked through at a high heat.

We don’t recommend reheating this dish.

Serves 5 Ingredients for chicken cakes: 1kg minced chicken 3 cloves of garlic, peeled Zest of 1 lime 2 red chillies 2cm of fresh ginger, peeled Generous handful of Coriander Generous handful of Basil Salt and pepper Vegetable oil for frying Ingredients for Salsa: Half fresh pineapple, peeled 2 red chillies, sliced To make the chicken cakes, puree the garlic, ginger, herbs, lime zest and 2 chillies and add salt and pepper to taste. You can remove or leave in the seeds from the chillies depending on your own preference.

Thoroughly combine this mixture with the minced chicken and put it in a piping bag with a fairly large nozzle.

Pipe out cakes which are around 8 cm diameters, ensuring all cakes are the same size and pat down the tops.

Seal the chicken cakes by shallow frying in the oil at a high heat till they are browned, then place on a baking tray in an oven preheated to 180 for 10-12 minutes.

The salsa is simply prepared by finely chipping the pineapple and mixing with the sliced chillies.

Travelling with your Pet Recent relaxation of the rules governing the movement of animals between countries in the EU (and other ‘listed’ countries) has meant that more people are now able to take their pets on holiday with them.

In general, most rules relate to the fact that people are returning to the UK from another EU or non EU listed country (for a list of the nonEU listed countries search online for takingyourpetabroad.gov.uk) First of all, your pet must be microchipped, then vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days before travelling. You will also need a Pet Passport which will be completed by your vet, or an official third country veterinary certificate.

Your pet will also require tapeworm treatment before returning to the UK (dogs only). You must use an authorised carrier and an approved route of travel.

If you are travelling into the UK from an unlisted country (any country not included in the list of EU and non-EU countries) your pet requires a blood test at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. You have to wait 3 months from the date of the blood sample which must show that the rabies vaccination produced a high enough level of antibodies. However, if your pet had its vaccine, blood test and pet passport in the EU, you don’t have to wait for the 3 months before travel.

The above information is for general guidance only and if you are thinking of travelling with your pet, contact your vet in the first instance, several months before you plan on travelling.

Bear in mind that long trips can be very stressful for your pet and many animals may be better off in a good boarding kennels or left with friends or relatives.

16

Old Skene Road, Kingswells, Aberdeen, AB15 8QA Tel. 01224 740318 Email. info@fourmile.co.uk www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk e: gazette@fsmail.net

www.fourmile.co.uk

t: 07813 964 875

Here comes the sun! Or is that just wishful thinking?

The summer months will hopefully bring some fine weather and opportunities to get outdoors.

Most recently Kingswells has seen a considerable drop in crime being reported and that is largely due to increased awareness and local residents taking responsibility for their own property. The fine weather generally brings people outside to enjoy gardens and leisure time in the fresh air.

There are just a few reminders to keep you and your property safe and secure. * If in your back garden, please ensure your front door is locked and not left open. * At night ensure your gardening and leisure equipment is locked away and out of sight. * If you have any cold callers, ensure you are happy with their identity, purpose and don’t compromise the security of your home. * As always, remember to lock up your vehicles and keep keys out of sight.

Fish and Chips?

*

If you have young people in your household, please ensure you know where they are and what they are up to.

Youth annoyance and vandalism calls often rise through the summer months and these can be avoided if young people are encouraged to think how their behaviour may impact on others.

* The opportunities for summer bbq’s may be few and far between but remember to consider noise levels for your neighbours if the weather permits.

I don’t want to spoil anybody’s fun and hopefully these helpful hints will make it an enjoyable summer for all.

*Meal Deal*

Fish + Chips + Mushy Peas + Can of Juice £6.70 Mon-Fri - 11.30am-1.30pm + 4.30pm-10.00pm Sat-Sun - 4.30pm - 10.00pm

Woodend Fish & Chips 111 Rousay Drive, Summerhill, Aberdeen AB16 6LT (next to Tesco)

Telephone Orders Welcome (All meals freshly cooked to telephone order)

In addition to the above, Police Scotland have introduced ‘Operation Trinity’ again this summer and the team are already in place. Dedicated officers are on patrol to deter and detect motorcycle annoyance and thefts. If you have a motorcycle, please ensure it is locked away and preferably out of sight when not in use.

As always, if you see anything out of place or what you believe to be suspicious, please give us a call on 101. We would rather respond to an innocent incident than miss an opportunity to catch out a criminal.

We are here to work with you and look forward to keeping you and your community safe.

Jackie Craig Local Policing Inspector Bucksburn Community Policing Team

Tel: 01224 318543 Please do mention Kingswells Community News when responding to advertisers - thank you

17

Beach Ready Beauty

By Helen Taylor

You’ve been toning up and getting into shape for months, ready to flaunt your bikini body on the beach.

So, now your holiday is just around the corner, it’s time plan your holiday beauty routine.

As wonderful as the long hot days are, they can really take their toll on your hair and skin, so it’s important to maintain good beauty habits while you’re away to ensure that you return from your trip looking great and not worse than before you left!

Here’s our guide to looking gorgeous both on and off the beach.

Fake it First Whatever the ‘natural is best’ advocates say, winter pale skin does not look great in a bikini. So before you reach your sunsoaked holiday destination, you’ll need to fake the golden glow.

Head to the beauty salon (for best results) or to the shops (if on a budget) and follow our preparation guide to get a perfect, even and natural-looking result:

Thorough exfoliation is key to creating the right base, and it’s best done the night before. Take your time and concentrate on those areas prone to dryness like knees, ankles and elbows.

Allow at least 24 hours between waxing and tanning. If you tan too soon after waxing your pores and hair follicles will still be open and you may find that the product builds up leaving you with dark dots.

18

Be really generous with your moisturiser and make sure that it’s fragrance and colour free. Put plenty on your knees, elbows and feet.

If you are going for the DIY option, don a pair of latex gloves, squeeze a dollop of fake tan on to your hand and

then work quickly and methodically, covering every inch of your skin evenly. Don’t forget to include your armpits, toes and the backs of your ankles, although you are likely to need help to do your back.

Heavenly Hair

If your hair is a bit dry, or has split-ends, a couple of weeks in the sun and in sea-water or chlorinated pools will make the matter far worse. So a trim before you hit the beach will ensure your hair remains looking healthy.

When you’re relaxing by the pool, slather a leave-in conditioner onto your hair. This will help to protect against damage from the sun and will leave your locks looking thoroughly shiny, as the heat makes the product even more effective.

Always rinse your tresses with fresh water after swimming in the sea or pool. Both salt and chlorine will really dry your hair out.

If your hair is long enough keep it pinned up during the day and preferably covered up too. Not only will this protect your hair, put it will also protect your head which can easily burn along a parting line, leaving you with a flaky scalp.

Finally add a few drops of a leave-in conditioning hair oil before bed.

Sumptuous Skin

The three important steps which you should follow at home are cleanse, tone and moisturise, and it’s even more important on holiday. Keeping up with those beauty rituals will keep your skin looking hydrated and flawless.

Regularly apply and re-apply sunscreen. Ensuring that your entire body is protected against damaging UV rays is a must. Use a high factor, and remember to re-apply after swimming. Don’t forget to protect your lips too; use a

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Please do mention Kingswells Community News when responding to advertisers - thank you Kingswells Gazette June/July 2014

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For better health and wellbeing

DArE To BE DiffErEnT This summEr? 89 Gray Street, Aberdeen

Peacehaven Complementary Therapies Offering - a range of Massage, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Reiki, Aqua detox and Ear candling.

Treatments available from Kingswells and at the Aberdeen Wellbeing Centre (which is opposite the back door of Marks & Spencer)

Available for corporate work.

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nourishing balm that contains a sun-block.

Wear a large hat on the beach. Not only will you look chic, you’ll also be protecting the delicate skin on your face too.

Always apply after-sun lotion. A long day on the beach calls for plenty of after-sun when you get back to the hotel.

Minimal Make-Up

Keep make-up light in the day by swapping a fullcoverage foundation with a tinted moisturiser. Cover imperfections with a little concealer.

Wear one coat of quality water-proof mascara on your top lashes for definition. Better still, arrange a trip to your beauty salon for an eyelash and eyebrow tint before you jet off.

Sweep a peachy coloured blush over your cheeks for a flattering look. Peach tones look fabulous with bronzed skin and are a much better alternative to pink hues which only serve to add more redness to already flushed cheeks.

Unhealthy hangover

Keep thoroughly hydrated by drinking at plenty of water each day, more if you’re out in the hot sun for long periods of time. Of course you are on holiday so if you do indulge in cocktails and beers, try to alternate each alcoholic drink with water.

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21

Alison McLeod

Afterschool Football

Kingswells Community Centre Monday 2.00-2.30 3.30-4.15

Tuesday *2.00-2.30 3.30-4.15

Pre School

P1/2

Friday 9.30-10.00 10.00-10.30 2.00-2.45

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Wednesday 9.30-10.00 Pre School 1.30-2.15 Pre School Plus 3.30-4.15 P1/2 4.15-5.00 P1/2

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A Carers Support and Development Worker provides information, advice and support for carers in your area. If you would like more information please contact us.

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Furnishing finesse Is your living room looking more drab than fab? Then it’s time for an image overhaul. One or two new items of furniture, some revamps or repairs, or simply a different layout, can make all the difference, says Katherine Sorrell.

Where to start When you are re-thinking your living room furniture, take a long, hard look at what you already have. Most of us own a collection of family heirlooms and hand-me-downs, high-street buys, cheap and cheerful chain-store pieces and perhaps the odd junk-shop find or vintage treasure. Step one is to work out what you want to keep and what should be dispensed with, what needs repair and what could be revamped or ought to be replaced.

Then, if you haven’t got one already, try to form an idea of your overall style –do most of your pieces look old or new, shabby chic or pristine, rustic or sophisticated, plain and slender or heavy and ornate? The key to mixing old and new is to ensure the overall look has coherence. Materials, scale and decorative style are all important, as are colour and texture. If things aren’t quite working, perhaps you can shift something that stands out badly to another room, or sell it and use the money to buy a piece that fits in better. There’s always the option of repainting or re-covering, bearing in mind that simple, understated colours and patterns tend to be the easiest to mix and match. If in doubt, think ‘less is more’.

What’s your style?

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Words: Katherine Sorrell

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Living room fur

• Antique Key styles are Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian.

The former is generally fine and slender, in rich woods and

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often with decorative marquetry, lacquer or gilding. Genuine Georgian pieces are expensive but beautiful, and mix surprisingly well with modern furniture. Victorian furniture tends to be heavier and on a larger-scale, while Edwardian pieces are a little plainer and lighter; it may be possible to find bargains at auction or in specialist shops, but beware: their heavy look can be overwhelming unless employed with care.

rniture

• Retro Furnishings from the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies are all the rage.

In bright colours and unusual materials such as plastic or wire, they’re tricky to mix with other furnishings but make an eye-catching focal point.

• Design classics Covetable chairs and

Fire your imagination

other pieces by mid-20th century names such as Eames, Breuer, Le Corbusier, Aalto, Wegner, Day and Race. Originals are pricey; some reproductions are available. Again, they make a dramatic focal point.

• Country Anonymous, functional wooden pieces, generally from the UK or France (the latter is more decorative).

New or old, these pieces are useful, pretty and tend to work well with most other furnishings.

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23

Bathrooms Kitchens Plumbing Joinery

“Geert was fantastic from start to finish, the work he did was flawless and always with a smile, would highly recommend him” Mr Archibald, Aberdeen

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Designing a living room layout Draw a plan (overhead view) of the room using graph paper or research free tools available online, marking the positions of windows, door, fireplace, radiators, sockets and any fitted furniture. If using paper, cut out paper shapes, at the correct scale, to represent the proposed furnishings.

Do they work as a whole, or can they be moved to create more floor space?

Are there any ‘dead’ or crowded areas? If you’ve already moved in, you could even place full-sized cardboard cutouts around the room in order to get a good idea of how the furnishings will work in the space.

Choosing and arranging living room furniture It was once traditional for living rooms to be arranged with the fire as a focal point. These days it’s more likely to be the TV, but you can also have subsidiary focal points, such as a work of art or a view. Placing two sofas so they face each other is both comfortable and practical; they need to be the same sizes, if not exactly the same design.

Modular seating units that run in an L-shape (or even a U-shape) are a great alternative. A single sofa can be supplemented with an armchair or two or, if you have children, perhaps a beanbag or floor cushion. In a small room, stools can double as mini-tables and be pushed out of the way when not in use.

A coffee table is often seen as a living-room essential, but they take up a lot of floor space. Side tables are another option, as is a long, thin console table pushed against the back of the sofa, or even a small, slender chest of drawers, which can double as useful extra storage.

All types of tiling work undertaken including porcelain, marble, mosaic, ceramic, granite and slate.

Free estimates and competitive prices.

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Talking about storage, any living room needs the right furniture in which to keep things such as DVDs, books, cables and the like out of sight, as well as display areas for attractive possessions. Choose plain, inexpensive bookcases that can be painted the same colour as your walls, or go for a designer option such as a sleek sideboard or modular units. Oriental and Indian-style pieces, in beautiful woods and with lovely detailing, can be found in mail-order catalogues and specialist outlets. Finally, add good-looking boxes and baskets to disguise awkward items that simply won’t fit anywhere else.

PICTURES A sideboard in an alcove provides plenty of storage space, and the little wire basket can be moved around or fitted under the coffee table. Chester three-seat sofa, £2,299; linen and hessian cushions, from £20; Cage tripod floor lamp, £195; Jefferson sideboard, £999; metal storage baskets (set of 2), £45; all House of Fraser, 020 7003 4000; www. houseoffraser.co.uk.

The sleek lines of a contemporary leather sofa contrast nicely with the battered wood of a pallet coffee table. A display wall is ideal if you have lots of arty books and ornaments.

Metal-framed Mustique sofa in leather by Lema, from £4,030, Go Modern Furniture, 020 7731 9540; www.gomodern.co.uk.

Sometimes you just want to stretch your legs out and lounge. A side table is at hand for a drink or a book. Crumpet Chaise with solid beech frame and feather-filled back cushions, £1895; Little Loafian side table in reclaimed fir, £195; both Loaf, 0845 468 0698; www.

loaf.com.

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The small band with the big sound. Sounds from the 50’s to present including Country and traditional Scottish music using midi accordion as well as Tyros hi-tech keyboards. contact phone: 07731 461 222 email: arlenedougsound1@btinternet.com website: www.arlenedougsound.com (best accessed via google)

Indoor Carpet Bowling Anyone interested in trying out carpet bowling is welcome to come along to the Kingswells Community Centre.

Times are Monday 10 am – 12 noon and / or Thursday 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm.

We have some spare bowls and no experience is necessary.

For further information or questions please contact Ian: Tel 741178 e-mail: ian8cromar@aol.co.uk

Tel Kingswells : 279459 Mob: 07940 012679

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25

How to access your credit file Three main credit reference agencies exist in the UK Equifax, Experian and CallCredit. Equifax and Experian offer a 30-day free trial (but be aware you will be charged if you don’t cancel within 30 days) or just £2 for a statutory report. CallCredit provide free access for life.

Why you should check your report It pays to check your credit file at least once a year for a number of reasons:

Credit where credit is due If you’ve ever been refused credit, you’ll already know how demoralising it is to be held back in life. Being unable to buy your first house or a new car is bad enough but poor scores can affect your ability to take out a mobile phone contract, hire a car and can even make insurance premiums more expensive.

However, you can improve the situation, and they all start with checking your credit file.

• Lenders can make mistakes which you may be able to rectify • An overall view of historic and current borrowing is provided •

The chances of identity theft are reduced

•

Control of finances is significantly improved

Are repairs to your credit file possible?

Lots of options exist to boost your credit rating, and taking several small actions adds up to a big improvement over time.

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It’s important to remember that having no credit file at all can also hold you back. Young people just starting work are often penalised because they can’t demonstrate their ability to make regular repayments on time, and find themselves in a ‘Catch-22’ situation.

Below are some easily implemented short-term fixes: •

Cancel all unused credit cards by writing to the provider and cutting up the card.

•

Make sure you are on the electoral register so lenders can identify you and reduce the chances of fraud.

•

Stop or reduce the number of credit applications.

•

Include a landline phone number on your file, rather than just a mobile number.

•

Check that all information is indeed correct, including any late repayments and outstanding loan amounts mentioned.

•

‘Unlink’ yourself from a former partner – if they have a poor credit rating it also affects yours.

responsibility.

One option may be to apply for a high interest credit card with a low limit, known as ‘credit-builder’ cards. Provided you make payments on time for a minimum of six months, you will build a good credit file. Don’t forget to stay within your credit limit or this will damage your rating.

The interest rates on these cards can be eye-watering though, with APRs of up to 39.9% not unusual, so make sure it is always paid off in full.

Alternatively you could apply for a ‘credit-builder’ prepaid card.

This type of card involves signing an agreement for a small loan ‘typically around £60 ‘ which is then repaid at over 12 months.

Similarly, if you have a mobile phone contract, no payment defaults will lead to a good credit score over time.

Lending criteria A long employment history, living in one place for a long time as a homeowner, and a significant period with the same bank, all contribute towards a positive credit report.

Starting from scratch

The cost of not keeping an eye on your credit file is high, so check and take action before you are presented with an embarrassing ‘declined’.

For those with either no existing credit rating or a very poor score, you will need to find a way to demonstrate financial

Ann Haldon

www.cornerstonewebcontent.com

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