The heartland buzz issue 5

September/October 2015 | Issue No.5 | FREE

www.heartlandbuzz.co.uk | Find us on Facebook

YOUR

FREE

Award-winning Goldsmith

CRAIG

MONT MAGAZHLY INE

STUART

ABERFELDY FESTIVAL WILD AT HEART Charlotte Flower Chocolates National Trust for Scotland

KILLIECRANKIE CHARCOAL BALLOCH PARK

A Place for All Seasons

THE ENCHANTED FOREST Multi-award Winning Event

Crawford Campbell &

PERTHSHIRE ESTATES LTD THE STEAKHOUSE at Acarsaid in Pitlochry

32 The Best of Nissan 46 Lindsay Turk 56 Music in Rannoch 57 Pitlochry Bookshop

FROM THE EDITOR

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

Welcome to The Heartland Buzz his month, you may notice that the magazine has a different finish, we have decided to go all glossy. This was something that we have been struggling to decide on from day one, so we decided to take the plunge and see how the magazine would look in gloss. Although we are familiar with different paper finishes, we are not quite sure what to expect, so we are probably just as surprised as you! On the other hand, we may decide it is not quite right and revert back to our silk finish. Either way, tell us your thoughts, if you like it and we think it looks great too, then why not just roll with it!

We are always surprised at what comes up month on month and this time round it is no different. Thank you to everyone who contacts us out of the blue and allows us to create something a little special each month.

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The Recipe of the Month section is booked out over the next few months, however into early next year we are looking for restaurants that may be interested in this section and we are also looking for that special Christmas recipe.

So, if you feel you may be able to help then please get in touch.

The Recipe of the Month is free and is a great way to promote your business.

We are also offering free photography to run alongside this so we get your food looking just right!

Finally, a big thank you to our new advertisers this month and the continued support from our current and previous advertisers. We are hoping to have an announcement next month which will make The Heartland Buzz an even greater advertising platform for small businesses.

As always, enjoy the magazine.

Colin

Delighted with the enquiries we’ve received.

Following our advertising in the July issue of the Heartland Buzz, Stuart Wright is delighted with the enquiries we’ve received that reflect the wider area the magazine gives access to and has proved to be very worthwhile for the Company. It’s great that small businesses are given the opportunity to advertise their local amenities and services alongside well written articles of interest and information, to both residents and tourists.”

Stuart Wright Care

Beautiful presented and very eclectic.

I just wanted to say what a brilliant piece it was and many thanks for accommodating us in The Heartland Buzz. You have certainly enabled Perthshire Open Studios to reach a wider audience.

Heartland Buzz, in my opinion, has a long shelf life. You can dip into them time and time again. Articles that weren’t read on the first pass, get read later. I still have all copies.

Beautiful presented and very eclectic.

Many thanks once again.”

Jenny - Perthshire Open Studios

Magazine Deadlines Oct/Nov | Issue No.6

December | Issue No.7

Jan/Feb | Issue No.8

8th OCTOBER

16th NOVEMBER

18th JANUARY

Distribution dates start approx.

16 days after the deadline date.

Want to talk?

If you are looking for further information, or need any assistance, you can contact us during office hours Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm. Alternatively you can email us anytime or visit our website.

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01887 840 736

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OUR NEW NUMBER 07850 991254

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CONTENTS

08

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

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16

ART & CREATIVITY

NEW LOCAL BUSINESS

THINGS TO SEE

Wild at Heart

CRAWFORD CAMPBELL

MULTI-AWARD WINNING

CHARLOTTE FLOWER CHOCOLATES

& Perthshire Estates Ltd

Enchanted Forest

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20 ART & CREATIVITY

Award-winning Goldsmith Craig Stuart AND MOKUME GANE

24 FOOD & DRINK

The Steakhouse AT ACARSAID

MOTORS

The Best of Nissan PERTH AND DUNDEE DEALERSHIPS

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34

35

NEW DEVELOPMENT

Balloch Park

A PLACE FOR ALL SEASONS

FROM GLEN LYON

Mel’s

HILLTOP DIARY

FOOD & DRINK

Thyme TO TASTE

CONTENTS

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

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READ THE BUZZ ONLINE You can now read all our previous issues online! issuu.com/theheartlandbuzz

THINGS TO SEE

LOCAL MUSIC

NOW IN ITS SIXTH YEAR

Aberfeldy Festival

Scottish Crannog Centre

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WILDLIFE & NATURE

Killiecrankie Charcoal

Pick Up Points Aberfeldy Audrey Slorance Gallery, Delight Deli, Habitat Cafe & Breadalbane Community Library. Pitlochry Honest Thistle, Tourist Information Centre, Cafe Calluna and Melt Gallery & Cafe. Strathtay Strathtay stores.

Kinloch Rannoch The Country Store.

Ballinluig The Post Office & Rivers Meet Cafe.

Kenmore Karelia House, The Courtyard Shop.

TISING Dunkeld Going ADVERTES RA Pottie. Blair Atholl Heart of Atholl.

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LOCAL MUSIC

The Cover

Music in Rannoch

This month’s cover image is another great image from John McGarry of Lochview Photography. John contributes to The Heartland Buzz on a monthly basis. Turn to page 32 to see more!

2015/16 SEASON

Long exposure shot taken from the Village of Fearnan at 10.30pm. Fearnan is a fantastic place for evening photography at this time of year and just keeps getting better from now on.”

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46 IN THE GARDEN

ART & CREATIVITY

POET JON PLUNKETT AND

Lindsay Turk

Growing with Rosie THIS MONTH WE GROW SPRING BULBS

Going Green

Stay Social!

Our paper is sourced from well-managed forests. When you are finished with our magazine, help us keep our planet green and please recycle.

Find us on Facebook and keep up to date with latest buzz, our magazine pick up points and all our latest adventures!

t. 01887 840760 info@theinnonthetay.co.uk www.theinnonthetay.co.uk The Inn on the Tay, Grandtully Perthshire, PH9 0PL

Taste of Asia

Saturday 19th September, 2015

Come and join us at the Inn to sample a true taste of Asia at its finest. Our Head Chef Simon Miners has travelled extensively throughout Asia, working and living in Indonesia and Australia where he worked for Hilton serving their predominantly Asian clientele.

A little closer to home, he has run Asian Fusion restaurants in Cornwall.

Sous Chef Gabor Toth has rejoined us after four months trekking through South East Asia enthused by new flavours and dishes.

We do hope you’ll join us at The Inn as we bring a little taste of Asia to Highland Perthshire.

On the Plate

Thai Fish Cakes Spiced Beef Salad Bakso – Indonesian Style Fish Soup Chicken Satay and Peanut Sauce Duck Spring Rolls Pork Wontons Gado Gado Tempura King Prawns Duck Panang Curry Cape Malay Monkfish and King Prawn Curry Rendang Beef Curry Lamb ‘Rogan Josh’ Pork, Garlic & Ginger Shitake Mushrooms Cashew and Pineapple Fried Rice Banana and Tamarind Spring Roll, Mango Sorbet Chilli Chocolate Fondant with Coconut Ice Cream Coconut and Ginger Cheesecake

Book NOW to avoid disappointment

01887 840760 www.theinnonthetay.co.uk

£34.50 per head

BAR | RESTAURANT | ROOMS

Malcolm Appleby

Designer, Engraver, Silversmith, Goldsmith

Celebrating over half a century of fine metalwork

Christmas Shop 2015 Open from October 26 10-5 (not Sundays) Please telephone 01887 840 484 for further information Aultbeag, Grandtully by Aberfeldy PH15 2QU swapp@dircon.co.uk

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CHARLOTTE FLOWER CHOCOLATES

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

WILD

AT HEART

Charlotte Flower Chocolates

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Charlotte won Gold at the British heat for the International Chocolates Awards, and moves forward to the World finals in October.”

Filled chocolates made with fresh cream, chocolate and natural, seasonal flavours.

CHARLOTTE FLOWER CHOCOLATES

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

charlotteflowerchocolates.com Ganache fillings are paired with white, milk or dark chocolate.

It’s the quiet village of Acharn, just a few minutes’ walk from the beautiful Loch Tay, which plays host to Charlotte Flower and her chocolate making workshop.

harlotte has been making delicious chocolates here for about eight years.

After seeking a career change, she was looking for something to do from home, which would also support her financially.

Having always had a love for chocolate, and a need to be creative, she decided to enrol on a weekend chocolate making course at Inverness College. We could say the rest is history, but it wasn’t quite so plain sailing. A year disappeared through watching YouTube videos trying to perfect techniques, researching flavour combinations, sourcing the best ethical chocolates to work with, turning her kitchen into a workshop and setting up her business foundations. However, seven years down the line she is in her dream job and has had her most successful year to

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date, so the hard work has definitely paid off!

It’s the beautiful Perthshire landscape that inspired Charlotte and her business idea. With so many flavoursome wild

fruits and herbs on offer, Charlotte decided to forage for the ingredients with which to flavour her chocolates. The adventure of a foraging trip can find her down by Loch Tay for meadowsweet and elderflower, hiking up Kenmore Hill for Scots pine and blueberries, or venturing further afield to Gullane for the much overlooked Sea-buckthorn.

No two trips are ever the same and can quite often result in discovering new flavours with which to work – this year Charlotte’s been trying out gorse and sweet cicely.

Her chocolate flavours change with

So as you see, it’s not just the well-known flavours of rose, mint and elderflower that grace her foraging basket.

The variety and quality of these wild ingredients have turned the Scottish landscape into an invaluable and loyal supplier for her.

Once she’s gathered the goods, Charlotte gets to work in her workshop.

Any berries she has picked will be processed and dried, or made into jellies, while the other wild ingredients will be infused into cream or cocoa butter. This lengthy process is lovingly done by hand and is the reason that the perfect box of Charlotte Flower chocolates Chocolate bars infused can take up to three days to with wild flavours. make. The nature of using foraged ingredients means her chocolates are extremely fresh, however the downside of this is that they only keep the seasons. March sees the first wild for two-weeks (not a problem for many flavour of the year, Wild Garlic. Unfazed by people!). To find out which couverture its pungent reputation and intense flavour, chocolate best suits the filling is purely a Charlotte created a bestseller in her cocoa game of trial and error. It’s the part which dusted, milk chocolate, wild garlic truffle! will make all chocolate lovers green with

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It’s the beautiful Perthshire landscape that inspired Charlotte and her business idea.”

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CHARLOTTE FLOWER CHOCOLATES

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

Meadowsweet.

Out foraging, with Loch Tay in the background.

Charlotte’s signature thin discs flavoured with locally picked Scots pine.

envy – nibbling chocolate, then sampling the filling again and again and again until the perfect match is found.

Having refined her techniques and palette over the years, Charlotte has finally made her dream of running a successful

“

Drink, Charlotte has definitely got the recognition she deserves. To be shortlisted for the Scottish Food & Drink Excellence Awards in May was a real confidence boost, however her Wild Flavoured Thins won the ‘Confectionary & Snacking’ category, and then her Meadowsweet Thins were spotlighted to win ‘Product of the Year’. This was an emotional and proud win for Charlotte, as it’s the wild flavours that are at the heart of her business and it was the wild flavours that captured the hearts of the judges. Carrying on the road to success, Charlotte won Gold at the British heat for the International Chocolates Awards, and moves forward to the World finals in October, held at The Chocolate

For those that not only want to taste, but want to learn and make it, Charlotte hosts fantastic half and full day chocolate workshops.” chocolate business into a reality. With 2015 being Scotland’s Year of Food &

Show in London. The chocolate itself is an important factor for Charlotte: ethics and flavour are the two criteria which drive her choice of chocolates to use.

Her background is in natural resource

Charlotte at her home in Acharn.

CHARLOTTE FLOWER CHOCOLATES

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

“

Seeing the look on people’s faces when they experience an unusual new flavour is a guilty pleasure.”

Young nettle leaves are a welcome spring flavour.

management and development, so she’s very aware of the important role cocoa can play in generating income for smallhold farmers in the equatorial countries of the world where cocoa grows. She has a long term aim to source beans directly from small-holders, creating a direct link between producers and consumers, and has made a couple of trips to Indonesia in pursuit of this goal. Meanwhile, her range of chocolates include Fairtrade certified couvertures, chocolates made by artisanal bean to bar makers, as well as chocolates that have been produced in countries such as Madagascar and Venezuela, where the beans are grown, and enable the added

White chocolate thins, flavoured with elderflower.

value of conversion to chocolate to stay in very own handmade box of chocolates. the country itself.

Seeing the look on peoples’ faces when The they experience an passion unusual new flavour she has for is a guilty pleasure, the wild so these workshops ingredients are a favourite for and quality Charlotte. chocolate is They are available INGREDIENTS ARE USED something to purchase through N HER CHOCOLATES, she wishes to her online shop and CHARLOTTE MAKES MOST share with her in seven select shops TO ORDER. customers. around Scotland, So being a including Deli Delight regular at in Aberfeldy and the farmers markets - namely Perth Farmers Scottish Deli in Dunkeld and Pitlochry.

Market, Aberfeldy Farmers Market and Logierait Country Market – allows her to chat to customers and delve into her chocolate’s provenance and taste. She CONTACT CHARLOTTE can then introduce them to the wonderful For more information on world of wild flavours – definitely worth an Charlotte Flower Chocolates experience. contact Charlotte Flower at For those who not only want to taste, cocoaflower@btconnect.com but want to learn and make it, Charlotte or on 01887 830 307 hosts fantastic half and full day chocolate workshops. The workshops are gloriously To visit the online shop go to messy (so don’t wear your Sunday best!) charlotte-flower-chocolates. and bags of fun with a bit of education mybigcommerce.com thrown in for good measure. To top it off, participants get to take home their

A LOT OF

FRESH

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NEW LOCAL BUSINESS

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

Crawford Campbell &

PERTHSHIRE ESTATES

TO MPBELL AND I MOVED CA RD FO W A CR TO IS E E IR M MY NA FROM AYRSH O G A RS A YE N EE FT FI ABERFELDY P&J HAGGARTS LTD. H IT W ER G A N A M F O ACCEPT THE POST

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I moved up with my wife Tracy and our two sons, Blair and Ross. We all settled in very quickly and knew we would like to make Aberfeldy our home.

From day one in P&J Haggarts Ltd I built up a wonderful relationship with all my customers, from Estate keepers, Ghillies, Estate owners and business people alike. I

wonderful qualities of tweed and often All customers can come in and relax in very went down to the mill in Aberfeldy to speak comfortable surroundings having a coffee, to them about the yarns used and the full or maybe even a wee nip, while they look weaving process. Over the years I built up a through tweed, tartan or worsted suit samvery good reputation for providing a qualples. I offer a wide range of styles and a huge ity finished product to deliver to my customers, who over the years have become not just Huge selection of customers but friends. shooting socks in I have now embarked on stock. a very exciting venture and have opened a new shop in Aberfeldy.

Perthshire Estates Ltd based at Burnside in Aberfeldy. My aim is to offer customers range of lining colours, depending on how (friends), old and new, a daring you would like to go. I will happily give Made to measure wonderful retail and tailoradvice and guidance throughout the whole hats and caps. ing experience. I am happy process and make your visit to Perthshire to continue with estate Estates Ltd not just a day out, but a wondermeasures and will happily ful experience. As well as suits, jackets and had trained in Ayrshire and gained my fashstore any private estate tweeds securely. shooting attire I also offer a full made to ion and drapery qualifications, so measureThe shop is well worth a visit, as the measure service for kilts and kilt jackets. ments and cloth cutting was second nature back drop looks directly over the burn. to me. I quickly started learning about the

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

NEW LOCAL BUSINESS

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My aim is to offer customers, old and new, a wonderful retail and tailoring experience.”

Our selection of linings and meltons.

Bonart country check shirts.

Perthshire Estates Ltd is situated at Burnside Aberfeldy.

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NEW LOCAL BUSINESS

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

Full range of tweed bags from Muckie Maggie Designs, Aberfeldy.

New ranges of tweeds arriving weekly.

Range of Lambswool

We offer a full made to measure service and have a wide range of tweeds and worsted fabrics from which to choose and we can make any of the following to your specifications:

and Shetland knitwear all made in Scotland.

• Jackets • Waistcoats • Plus Twos/Fours • Shooting Waistcoats • Shooting Coats • Dress Business Suits • Kilts in any tartan Wonderful range

• Kilt Jackets and Waistcoats

of worsted fabrics,

• Hats and Caps

perfect for that

• Ladies Skirts

special business suit.

• Tweed by the metre available to order Within our retail store in Aberfeldy we have in stock a wide range of tweed bags all made in the town. Country check shirts and shooting hose are always in stock.

We would prefer if you could visit our shop in Aberfeldy to be measured, to allow you to experience our full customer service and enjoy browsing through our vast range of swatch books. This would also give you the chance to relax in our new surroundings. If it is not possible to visit us in Aberfeldy, we may be able to come to you to show you some samples and take all your measurements. (Terms and conditions apply please call or email for further details)

Locally woven tweeds supplied from Glenlyon Tweedmill Aberfeldy.

How have you seen fashion trends change over the past five to ten years now that there is more of a mainstream following within your industry?

Tweed fashion trends have definitely changed over the past few years.

I still specialize in the traditional sporting tweeds, but there is a definite increase in clients who will have a nice tweed jacket made as a fashion garment to wear with chinos or jeans. If the jacket is to be worn as a fashion garment, clients tend to choose brighter linings and bright meltons for under the collar.

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

WEBSITE COMING SOON!

NEW LOCAL BUSINESS

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How many nips would you say is a safe number before impulse buying kicks in?

With the quality products within the shop I would say it would encourage you to have an impulse buy even before you had a nip!

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We also offer a small alteration service, where quotations can be given on request.”

What would you say are the most prominent tartans being sold throughout Perthshire at the moment? Are buyers moving away from the more traditional tartans?

Although new tartans are being produced all the time, at the moment most of my customers still stick to tradition and choose their own family clan tartan.

For anyone interested in pursuing fashion and tailoring as a career, what advice would you give?

Work hard, service and attention to detail is key. People enjoy a good personal service and to talk to someone with the knowledge to answer any relevant questions.

Wonderful Whisky from Dewars Aberfeldy Distillery.

Why not take a tour?

What, in your opinion, are the differences between Ayrshire and Perthshire, apart from Perthshire being truly fantastic?

Although Ayrshire is still close to my heart, just look around at the wonderful scenery we have been blessed with in Perthshire and friendly people make it a joy to get up in the morning.

Will there be a website or online store coming soon?

We are currently working on a new website and this should go live early October. I will keep everyone up to date via Perthshire Estates Ltd’s Facebook page.

FIND OUT MORE If you wish to make an appointment, or just pop, in our details are: Perthshire Estates Ltd Burnside, Aberfeldy, PH15 2AU 01887 822 644 perthshire.estates@gmail.com

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THINGS TO SEE

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

THE ENCHANTED FOREST 55,000 Visitors Expected at This Year’s Multi-award Winning Event.

The Enchanted Forest, Perthshire’s multiaward winning sound and light show, is expecting that 55,000 will attend this year’s event, following a strong performance at the box office since tickets went on sale in June 2015.

After smashing box office records for the event in 2014, The Enchanted Forest has extended its run from 23 nights to 32 nights this year, opening up thousands of additional tickets, including a dedicated charity night on Thursday 1st October, to meet the increasing demand.

An exclusive pre-sale period for

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previous customers already saw an uptake on tickets that is 66% higher than in 2014 and subsequent ticket sales have been consistently 80% higher than last year. This has prompted organisers to recommend early purchase, particularly for those families who have a specific date, or time, in mind.

The extended run is expected to be worth more than £500,000 additional income to the local economy, boosting tourism trade in what has traditionally come to be known as the “shoulder season”.

This year’s show will be entitled FLUX and it sees the return of the creative team that put together the multiaward winning 2013 and 2014 shows, with lighting design by Kate Bonney and Simon Hayes, sound design and composition

After smashing box office records for the event in 2014, The Enchanted Forest has extended its run.”

by RJ McConnell and Jon Beales. As in previous years, they will be led by creative director and producer, Derek Allan, of Allan Associates.

Graham Brown, Chairman of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust that runs The Enchanted Forest, commented: “We are delighted that we have been able to extend our run this year to accommodate growing demand to attend the event and to continue to expand this popular spectacle for visitors to the area.

We are also delighted to be including a dedicated charity event on Thursday 1st October, which will see three charities benefit this year: PKAVS, Scottish Autism and CHAS. As a charitable trust we are in a strong position to give back to the local community and we have selected three charities that are very active in this area. It is marvellous to be able to assist PKAVS, Scottish Autism and CHAS in their

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

The show has also been immortalised in literary history this year, thanks to the latest fictional novel by US based writer A. Louise Robertson whose romantic fiction, Chained to Mineola, features the event as the ultimate meeting place for the novel’s hero and heroine.

The novel follows the fictional story of heroine Carly Eubanks, an environmental campaigner and lover of trees, whose quest to save the environment brings her all the way from Mineola in Texas, by way of California and then all the way to Pitlochry Graham added: “Even though we have in Scotland, where she encounters The made thousands of extra tickets available Enchanted Forest – and a handsome Scots by extending by one week, we are already electrician, named Duncan! experiencing strong demand for shows The novel’s author, A. Louise Robertson, across the run, with some show times visited the already sold event from her out. The home town of message is New York, in very clear: 2014 and was if you have so taken with a date and how the forest time in looked and mind, don’t the feelings it leave it to evoked, that the last she chose to minute to Debbie and Barry McLaughlan who got make it a key book.” married at The Enchanted Forest on 2010. important fundraising efforts and we hope that they will benefit greatly from this unique fundraising opportunity.”

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If you have a date and time in mind, don’t leave it to the last minute to book.”

THINGS TO SEE

backdrop for Carly and Duncan’s love story.

Tricia Fox, Marketing Manager for The Enchanted Forest commented: “It’s amazing to know that the event is now incorporated in a work for fiction and we’re delighted that Louise chose to include us in her story. Every year we hear stories of couples getting engaged at the event and, of course, a few years ago we even had a wedding take place in the forest so it is a very magical place for romance. Now that romance has been captured by Louise in her book and will be read by romance fiction fans across the world – simply amazing!”

The book is currently available free on Amazon Kindle as well as in paperback format.

The Enchanted Forest takes place from Thursday 1st October – Sunday 1st November at Faskally Wood near Pitlochry. Tickets will be available from 10am on Friday 12th June at enchantedforest.org.uk

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Broughton-Stuart Jewellery

Unique jewellery designs, handmade by Craig Stuart, in gold, platinum, silver and mokume gane

25 Atholl Street, Dunkeld

T: 01350 727888 www.broughton-stuartjewellery.co.uk

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ART & CREATIVITY

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

A Selection of Mokume Gane Rings.

Award-winning Goldsmith

CRAIG STUART

The Heartland Buzz visit Goldsmith, Craig Stuart at his workshop on the outskirts of Dunkeld.

estled away in a hidden corner of Perthshire, near Dunkeld, Craig Stuart works away in his home workshop making unique contemporary fine jewellery using a rare metalworking technique called mokume gane. We caught up with Craig to find out a little bit more about the hidden techniques behind this beautiful art.

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Can you tell us, what is mokume gane?

Mokume gane is an ancient Japanese metalworking technique originally developed by Japanese sword makers.

The name mokume gane literally translates as ‘woodgrain metal’, which describes the patterns created by layering and patterning alternate layers of contrasting metals. My jewellery features swirling surface patterns akin to the grain of a piece of wood.

Can you explain a bit about the process of mokume gane?

I make mokume gane by hand from precious metals in the tradition of sword making, but on a much smaller scale. I cut sheets of contrasting metals and alternately stack them.

I then bond the metals, without the use of solder, by fusing them together using heat and hand forging.

This process is done on an

open forge and requires the metals to be held at a precise temperature, which can only be judged by eye, and then hammered at exactly the right moment to create the bond. Each metal combination I create presents its own unique set of challenges. Once the bond is secure, I then pattern the billet by using various techniques; twisting, filing and engraving then re-forging it to create, develop and reveal the patterns in the metal. The patterns I create are not random, they are controlled throughout the whole process with every tool mark, or hammer blow, affecting the final piece.

What is it about this technique that drew you in?

I was doing a jewellery course at Cardonald College, Glasgow in 1993 when I first came

ART & CREATIVITY

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

HELPING CREATIVES STAY CREATIVE!

“

There is a huge amount of jeopardy each time I start to make a billet and the fear of ruining thousands of pounds worth of materials.”

Craig in his workshop next to his fly press.

across mokume gane in a book and was immediately hooked. At the time I couldn’t find anyone to teach me the technique (I now realise why), but, not one to be discouraged, I developed my own approach. Through a combination of obsessive experimentation, some of it disastrous, and pigheadedly ignoring everything that I could find written about it, I mastered the technical difficulties of fusing various metals together. I then went on to study a design degree in Jewellery and Metalwork at Duncan of Jordanstone School of Art in Dundee and copper and silver mokume gane featured heavily in my degree show. I now make mokume gane in combinations of platinum, 18k white and 18k yellow gold, 22k gold and silver, which gives me a wide palette of colours to work from. I am one of only a handful of goldsmiths in the world to make mokume gane exclusively in precious metals, using traditional hand forging.

It sounds like there are easier ways to make jewellery, so why do you specialise in such a technical and obscure technique?

in a few seconds can be stressful, but also hugely exciting and ultimately satisfying.

I think the most enjoyable and satisfying part is the final stage of the Mokume Gane process, the reveal, when the pattern is fully developed Ring with Peridot.

I make mokume gane and has turned out the because it is a challenge. way I intended. Or when a It keeps my attention. I’m mistake or accident leads to a bit obsessive, so once I a new understanding of the had tried it, I had to make it process. The discovery that work and control it. what appeared to be a costly Every time I make mistake is, if repeated, the path to a new a piece it is different. Tiny changes of pattern or form. temperature, or force or mood, can change the outcome. Every change of metal combination, or scale of billet, alters how the piece behaves. There is a huge amount of jeopardy each time I start to make a billet and the fear of ruining thousands of pounds worth of materials

Before you begin making a new piece of jewellery what are your creative processes?

I run through ideas while I’m walking the dogs, constructing forms in my head to

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ART & CREATIVITY

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

3 Metal Mokume Gane Pendant.

try out once I get back to the workshop. I build models, sketch and play around with found objects. I always have several projects on the go at once, I find it much easier to think and develop ideas whilst my hands are busy. I like to spend a lot of time outdoors and I’m surrounded by the effects of man, ancient and modern, on the landscape. Highland Perthshire is covered with ancient hill forts, the solums of old buildings, old dykes and field systems, strainer posts, river piers and more modern features like road junctions and wind turbines, all of which are absorbed to a greater or lesser degree

by nature. Nature grows round and over everything, gradually re-establishing balance. It is nature’s relationship with, and reaction to, these junctions and structures that informs a lot of my work.

I am most interested in the boundaries between man-made objects and nature, the influence these have on growth and

nature’s ability to absorb and contain.

It is with a sense of this in mind that I approach the patterning of my pieces. I start with an end result in mind and push the metals to achieve the look I require.

The results are intricate, capturing distinct moments of movement or growth frozen in time. The finished pieces are designed to be examined, to invite the viewer to linger and explore, the closer one looks at the surface the more there is to see.

You’ve had a gallery/ workshop in Dunkeld for 14 years, do you exhibit your work elsewhere?

Due to the high number of commissions I undertake each year, and the technical demands of making mokume gane, I don’t exhibit in other galleries, but I regularly take part in individual exhibitions. I’ve exhibited at

Goldsmiths Fair in London for the past ten years and through Craft Scotland I’ve shown my work at the Saatchi Gallery, London and SOFA in Chicago. Last year I was also selected to exhibit at LOOT in the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. I enjoy doing these exhibitions as it gives me a chance to create a body of work which encapsulates my creative thinking at a specific moment in time.

What are you working on at the moment?

As well as my regular commissions, I’m getting ready to do Goldsmiths Fair again at the end of September for which I’m working on a series of mokume gane rings and brooches.

The pieces all have very simple forms, which act as a foil to highlight the intricacy and complexity of their patterning.

ART & CREATIVITY

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

23

Work in progress

FIND OUT MORE Broughton-Stuart Jewellery 25 Atholl St, Dunkeld, Perthshire PH8 0AR 01350 727888 broughton-stuartjewellery.co.uk

“

I am most interested in the boundaries between man-made objects and nature.”

Craig in his workshop, setting a diamond.

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FOOD & DRINK

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

The

Steakhouse at Acarsaid

Why not try...

Freedom Cross Pinotage (South Africa) A real juicy red with ripe summer berry flavours.

Great with most meats, but ideal with Sirloin steak.

Prime Scottish Beef Fillet

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE HEARTLAND BUZZ

FOOD & DRINK

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

We visit one of the newest restaurants in Pitlochry, The Steakhouse at Acarsaid, situated on the town’s main stretch.

A

lthough the Steakhouse at the Acarsaid is probably one of the newest restaurants in Pitlochry, the hotel in which it is situated is one of the longest established.

Although under the same ownership since 1997, the Acarsaid had a change in operating company for a few years. In February of 2013 the owners, Ina & Sandy MacArthur returned, to once again take over the running of the hotel.

A programme of works began immediately and by the end of January 2014 the upgrade was nearing completion, surpassing expectations for a stereotypical three star property and bringing all of the hotel’s interior fully up to date.

The now fully refurbished public areas are both welcoming and comfortable. There is a small, but well stocked bar offering a wide range of beers, spirits and malts in one of the lounges. The other lounge and conservatory, decorated in more

contemporary styling in keeping with the adjacent Steakhouse restaurant, gives diners somewhere to meet, enjoy a pre dinner drink whilst looking over the menu or relax for an after dinner coffee and liqueur.

“Everything from the carpets to the lighting in the old hotel were replaced- we needed to bring not only the hotel, but also the restaurant up to, and beyond, what people expect in this competitive market.” says Sandy MacArthur. “We wanted to offer a product that we were proud of and be able to welcome not only the tourists who come to visit, but our important local market.

We wanted to have regulars who came to eat and enjoy themselves in a great new and different restaurant. There was a gap in the market for a quality steakhouse and we decided to go down this route... now it’s “Every night is Steak night at the Acarsaid!”

Following the major refurbishment works, the Steakhouse Restaurant was formally launched in May 2013. An excellent front of house team and kitchen brigade have been recruited and developed under the experienced eye of General Manager

Richard Main. The ethos is to provide excellent dishes using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. Although the emphasis, as the name suggest, is on steak there are plenty of other options available.

The Steakhouse at Acarsaid embraces the region’s plentiful harvest, offering a menu that celebrates the great and the good of Scottish beef, lamb, pork and chicken.

Fresh fish and shellfish have been sourced from suppliers who take provenance and sustainability seriously and supply the freshest products available.

There is now a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere within the Steakhouse at Acarsaid. A new menu and wine list have been created and traditional dishes with a local influence, alongside fabulous grills, are served to great aplomb to resident and visiting diners alike. Care and attention and a practised eye for detail are demonstrated in the presentation of the food, which displays the produce used to great advantage. Wines are specially selected to compliment the food and come from a variety of countries offering different tastes and styles for diners to enjoy.

The Steakhouse at the Acarsaid is now well established in the marketplace and it is hoped many diners from near and far find their way here.

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FOOD & DRINK

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

Charcuterie & Seafood Sharing Platters – A great alternative to start your meal!

We really pride ourselves on using quality ingredients and local produce in our kitchen.

A

long with our Head Chef, Maciej Matyja, we spend a great deal of time ensuring that we source the very best that is available and try, wherever possible, to use local, smaller suppliers, thus ensuring we receive a dependable product whilst supporting other businesses in the area.

For example, we offer a delicious sharing Charcuterie platter which is almost exclusively made up of products from The Rannoch Smokery, which is only 20 miles away from us. We were able to visit their facility and check out what was on offer, before we decided to feature their excellent meats.

The Steakhouse menu offers a diverse selection of appetisers, from our own Highland Spring Rolls, a Highland twist on an Oriental favourite, to our own home cured Scottish Salmon, all prepared here on the premises.

We have had a great relationship with our butcher from the beginning. Yorkes of Dundee provide us with all our lamb, pork chicken and most importantly our Angus Beef for our steaks. Our own Chef’s hand trim all the beef here, which ensures a consistency unbeaten in the region. Yorkes

also support us in our Scotch Beef Club One aspect of the menu which does membership, something we have been change more regularly than others is proud to be a part of for over 2 years. dessert, an ever changing selection which Our steaks have proved to be second we can change on the day, as on colder to none, something which is not just our evenings we see a much higher demand opinion, and our Trip Advisor reviews for something hot & comforting, like sticky bear testimony to this, with fillet steak & toffee pudding, as opposed to an ice cream chateaubriand being some of the most sundae. Again, adapting to preferences and popular. needs is a key factor in keeping the guests We have happy – tried to offer a something choice to suit I know we Head Chef, Macie j Matyja & the tea m. all tastes, but do well. are always Our monitoring whole team our diners’ here, Front preferences, and Back so that we of House, can change takes pride items which in the quality might not of the new prove to Steakhouse be quite menu, as popular as others. The Chefs are always from the willing to try something new and if the preparation to the hospitality and service, guests like these dishes they will stay something that makes me very gratified featured on the menu. On a daily basis and consequently really enjoy working with we also feature an additional special dish them. and this can be a good way of testing new Richard D Main, Director & General Manager dishes, to see if they work.

FOOD & DRINK

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

27

Why not try...

Gavi di Gavi Ca’ Solare (Piedmont, Italy) Cortese grapes at their best! This wine is refreshing & crisp with a fruity texture. A perfect way to start - enjoy this with appetisers.

Homemade 100% Pure Beef Burger

A

FEW SAMPLES FROM THE MAIN MENU

THE SCOTCH BEEF CLUB – THE PERFECT DINING DESTINATION FOR ANY OCCASION

HIGHLAND SPRING ROLL Local haggis & vegetables wrapped in pastry, then deep fried and served with plum dipping sauce.

So here’s why we have been members of the Scotch Beef Club since we launched in May 2013...

WARM DUCK SALAD

Scotch Beef Club member restaurants are proud to serve Scotch Beef PGI. With traceability and unique assurance, which begins on the farm of birth, Scotch Beef is high on quality and high on taste.

Applicants are checked out before they are accepted for membership and revisited on a regular basis. They are asked to keep records of the beef they purchase and to identify Scotch Beef on their menus.

CHAR-GRILLED HALLOUMI

“

If you care about your food and where it comes from, look out for a Scotch Beef Club member restaurant.”

Membership is varied, from Scotland’s Michelin starred establishments to smaller restaurants, all are committed to local sourcing and serving well-prepared fresh food for every day occasions.

If you enjoy consistently good food, prepared by enthusiastic and committed chefs, you need look no further.

Sliced smoked duck breast, cherry tomatoes, sautéed new potatoes with chopped salad & mango vinaigrette.

CHICKEN DE VOLAILLE Breast of chicken stuffed with butter, breadcrumbed & deep fried, accompanied by mash potatoes or chips & a side of sour cream & cucumber salad.

OUR STEAKS (With either baked potato or chips)

The cheese is presented with grilled mixed peppers & our own cashew pesto, or chilli dressing.

10OZ SIRLOIN OR RIB-EYE

GRILLED FILLET OF SEABASS

Sirloin if you prefer medium or well done & Rib-Eye for a little marbling & extra flavour.

With chorizo & a citrus infused butter sauce.

OUR OWN PRIME SCOTTISH BEEF BURGER

8OZ PRIME FILLET Wonderfully lean & absolutely perfect if cooked on the rare side.

10oz of 100% prime Scottish beef cooked on our char-grill, served on a toasted brioche bun, with lettuce, tomato, red onion, burger sauce, gherkin & chips.

CHATEAUBRIAND (20OZ)

LAMB SHANK

A variety of side dishes to accompany your meal are also on the menu, along with Vegetarian options for our nonmeat eaters.

Slow cooked with red wine, served with root vegetables, lamb jus & radish jam.

The Chateaubriand is the prized cut from the fillet head. Deliciously soft & tender, best served medium rare – for two to enjoy.

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WINE OF THE MONTH

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

USE THE CODE

WINE OF THE MONTH

“BUZZ” FOR A 10%

D’ARENBERG FOOTBOLT SHIRAZ

DISCOUNT

This month, our wine is d’Arenberg Footbolt Shiraz from one of the most significant wineries in McLaren Vale, South Australia. d’Arenberg is probably the one South Australian winery I hold dearest to my heart. It is located 25km from where I grew up in one of the most significant wineries in McLaren Vale.

Purchased in 1912 by a teetotaler named Joseph Osborn, the well established 25 hectare Milton Vineyards gave rise to the label now synonymous with high quality boutique wines. Joseph’s son Frank gave up his place at Medical School, replacing the scalpel with pruning shears and set about increasing the vineyard size to 78 hectares and building their own cellar. In 1948 Franks son, Francis (known universally today as d’Arry), returned from school aged 16 to help his ill father run the business. He launched the d’Arenberg Label and distinctive red stripe in 1959 and from its humble start it has grown to cult status, winning many medals, gaining a significant national and international profile. The fourth generation entered the scene in the 1980’s and Chester

now successfully runs the business. He has added many new labels and varietals with an abundance of flair and passion – their wines will always stand out and make you smile! d’Arenberg grow mainly Rhone Varietals (such as Shiraz, Grenache, Marsanne & Viognier), which are well suited to the maritime influence of the McLaren Vale Region. The Footbolt Shiraz is part of their “Original Range”, forming the backbone of their wine selection.

After harvest in March/April small batches are crushed and transferred to open fermenters, foot treading is undertaken two thirds of the way through.

The wine is then basket pressed and transferred to a mixture of new and old French & American Oak barriques until final blending.

This produces a wine with an incredibly lifted and fragrant nose, full of red fruits and peppery spices.

The House of Menzies was established in 1999 and has built a strong reputation for stocking and selling an eclectic range of New World Wines not readily available on the High Street. In 2013 we expanded our range to include a small selection of traditional Old World Wines so we truly have something for everyone - our ethos has always been if you enjoy it drink it!

Wines start at £5.99 and are available online, by phone or email. Delivery in the Heartland Buzz area is free and complimentary glasses are available for parties and functions.

The House of Menzies, Castle Menzies Farm, Aberfeldy. PH152JD. e: info@houseofmenzies.com t: 01887 829 666 www.houseofmenzies.com

It is pleasantly bright on the palate, with delicious flavours of mulberry, black plums and earthy spices.

The Footbolt Shiraz is a full bodied red wine that is fantastic with beef and venison dishes. There is no need to decant this wine, but open it an hour or so before drinking to really enjoy the full raft of flavours. Try and keep some to have with ripe cheese at the end of the meal, but that may be rather difficult!

Available at online at £12.99

The Courtyard Deli and Gift Shop Kenmore

Open every day 9am-5pm

Supporting Logierait Farmers Market every 3rd Saturday of the month through the Summer.

Local tastings throughout the season

01887 830 756

Hampers available all year round

info@taymouthcourtyard.com

www.taymouthcourtyard.com

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NEW DEVELOPMENT

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

FIND BALLOCH PARK ON FACEBOOK

BALLOCH

PARK

SONS A PLACE FOR ALL SEA

Exclusive Perthshire country retreat development now on sale with 38 luxurious new homes released at Balloch Park, Kenmore Menzies & Partners, owners of the Mains of Taymouth Country Estate and Golf Course in Kenmore, have released an exclusive development of 38 luxurious two and three bedroom properties for sale in a spectacular rural countryside setting in the heart of Perthshire.

Balloch Park consists of a spacious collection of 38 country lodge style homes in a sheltered glade within 120-acres of private grounds on the Mains of Taymouth Country Estate in Kenmore. A short ten minute drive from the bustling market town of Aberfeldy, this secluded gated

D

development is nestled by the River Tay and framed by spectacular scenery with expansive mature forests, mountains and countryside offering the perfect location for those looking for a country bolthole, retirement retreat or simply downsize.

Built by award-winning local housebuilder, Blairish Restorations, Balloch Park has been designed to fully complement its surrounding environment and accommodate the abundance of natural planted species and local wildlife such as otters and red squirrels, all of which have been taken into consideration when

planning the build.

Sympathetic landscaping and features such as community orchards as well as exclusive views of the River Tay will put the development in high demand. Prime plots overlook the river with direct access from the entrance of the site onto Drummond Hill with its network of paths and trails for walking, cycling and horse trekking.

The five star Mains of Taymouth Country Estate, which neighbours Balloch Park, is home to an award-winning 9 hole golf course, Courtyard Restaurant and

We’ve had a positive response to the plans with one plot already reserved.

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

NEW DEVELOPMENT

Work will commence on site in September with the homes due for completion in late Autumn.

Brasserie, delicatessen, Riding Stables, Trekking Centre & all weather school, which can be enjoyed by home-owners. The picturesque village of Kenmore, which has a strong community feel with lots of events and societies, is a short walk away with its own hotel, boat yard, church and post office.

Work will commence on site in September, with the homes due for completion in late Autumn. Built to the highest specification, the first phase of fourteen prime plots are all south-facing with patio doors leading from the open plan lounge and dining area. These homes also

benefit from fully integrated state-of-theart kitchens with separate utility rooms, all bedrooms with full en-suite facilities, light and airy velux windows, a separate family bathroom, full double glazing and central heating.

The two bedroom show lodge will open in September and offers an excellent opportunity to see the quality of the external and interior finish. Styled by Fern MacPherson architects with interiors and furnishings based on a mix of contemporary styles blended with a traditional country feel that’s based on a palette of warm neutral colours and tones.

Easy living is the aim with low cost luxury living.

The development will bring significant investment and deliver local economic and employment benefits, as well as helping to drive year round leisure business vital to the Highland Perthshire economy.

With an established reputation in the selfcatering and holiday home market, Mains of Taymouth is one of Scotland’s most prestigious holiday estates offering the highest quality of accommodation, golf course and excellent amenities in a prime Perthshire location. They are providing an opportunity for the buyer to have a more permanent residence in its fantastic location. The new lodge properties are designed specifically to appeal to homeowners with an interest in the active outdoors and those looking to downsize and move to a home in a tranquil rural setting.

Commenting on Balloch Park, Robin Menzies, owner of the Mains of Taymouth Country Estate and director of D Menzies & Partners, said: “We’re delighted to have got approval on the development and are now moving ahead with the properties available to buy off-plan. We’ve had a positive response to the plans with one plot already reserved. With the changes in

pension regulations, we anticipate demand from those looking to downsize to a smaller country retreat and those looking to invest in a second home.

“We have always strived to ensure that we take great care to protect the area’s natural environment and wildlife, as well as preserving the wellbeing and appearance of Kenmore and the surrounding area. Location, location is the key and we believe Balloch Park has the best location.”

Prices at Balloch Park start from £170,000 for the two-bedroom country lodge to £200,000 for the three-bedroom.

FIND OUT MORE For more information contact Robin Menzies by email info@ballochpark.co.uk or call 01887 830 226 Mains of Taymouth Country Estate & Golf Course, Kenmore, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, PH15 2HN. You can also visit the Balloch Park website at www.ballochpark.co.uk

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32

MOTORS

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

“

Our new cuttingedge showrooms will provide our customers with the very best that Nissan has to offer.”

New Dundee and Perth Dealerships Showcase the Best of Nissan John Clark Motor Group are delighted to have opened two new state-of-the-art Nissan dealerships in Dundee and Perth earlier this year.

The Specialist Cars outlets in Myrekirk Road, Dundee, and Strathtay Road, Perth, both incorporate the carmaker’s exciting new retail concept designed to deliver an unprecedented customer experience. The new outlets complement the company’s flagship Nissan showroom in Aberdeen and reaffirm the group’s status as the number one Nissan retailer in north-east Scotland.

Andrew Simpson, Dealer Principal of both new dealerships, said: “We’re delighted to have brought the innovative and exciting Nissan range to Tayside and Perthshire.

“Our new cutting-edge showrooms will

provide our customers with the very best that Nissan has to offer and both the sales and aftersales team are revved up to deliver the unrivalled customer service that the John Clark Group is renowned for.

“I am very proud of our new premises as the Nissan retail concept offers a very comfortable and stylish environment for our customers, however I strongly believe that people make all the difference. And, we certainly have a team with a wealth of experience which will ensure our customers can relax and feel at home when buying a new car or getting their car serviced.”

Andrew Simpson has 26 years’ experience in the motor trade, which includes a variety of brands including Rover, Ford and Land Rover. He spent some time

as a regional director for another large dealer group in the UK and for the last 5 years he was managing a Ford dealership in Dunfermline before agreeing to head up the two Nissan Specialist Cars businesses.

Andrew is joined by a long-term colleague Grant Robertson. If Grant does not know something about Nissan, then it is not worth knowing as he has a 13-year career with the brand. Needless to say, he is a big advocate of Nissan and is excited to be working with Nissan models which he believes are truly ground breaking in terms of what they can offer to the customer.

MOTORS

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

Whether you are looking for a new or a Cared4 quality assured preowned Nissan, then Oliver Baker, Sales Executive, and Paul Lovett, Sales Controller, are happy to help. Paul is another gentleman with a long history, over 20 years, in the motor trade. He spent some time working with Toyota before he moved across to Nissan over 10 years ago. His reputation locally is admired and the fact that he has one customer that has bought 9 cars from him in just as many years is testament to that. Oliver is trained on the Nissan Leaf and he is also a Motability Specialist, and with a 5-year history with

“

Claire Simpson is most certainly one of a kind. She has 21 years’ experience in the motor industry and her knowledge from an aftercare point of view should reassure any customer.

“I am ultimately responsible for ensuring that any Nissan customer is looked after from the point of purchase right through to the end of the ownership cycle. With a state of the art workshop, the latest Nissan equipment and fully trained Nissan technicians we are able to offer an exceptional service. We are fortunate enough that two Master Technicians joined the Specialist Cars Nissan team after the acquisition from Arnold Clark, which further extends our expertise and also means that we can service electric vehicles.”

Finally, Andrew Simpson added: “John Clark is determined to offer the very best Nissan experience and customer service in Scotland. With the team that we have built here we most certainly believe we can achieve that. Looking ahead we are excited about building long-term relationships with our existing and potential customers.”

Whether you are looking for a new or a Cared4 quality assured pre-owned Nissan, we are happy to help.”

Nissan he will willingly spend time with a customer to help them choose the next appropriate car from the diverse product range now available. From an aftercare point of view, Nissan Specialist Cars in Dundee and Perth have a unique offering as they have a female Aftersales Manager, one of only a handful across the country. Mhari-

FREE WASH + VACUUM

with this voucher AT YOUR LOCAL PERTH OR DUNDEE DEALERSHIP

GET IN TOUCH For further details about the Nissan range and to arrange a test drive or service, customers are invited to contact either dealership.

PERTH Specialist Cars Nissan is situated on 300 Strathtay Road, Perth PH1 2JU and can be contacted on 01738 506949.

DUNDEE Specialist Cars Nissan is located on Myrekirk Road, Dundee, DD2 4SU or call 01382 721382. www.nissan.co.uk

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34

MEL’S HILLTOP DIARY

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

MEL’S HILLTOP DIARY My husband and I have a B&B in Glenlyon with just enough land round it to indulge in a bit of the Good Life.

As you can imagine, living up a remote Highland glen has its moments – we get frozen water, power cuts and sometimes unexpected guests.

B

&B guests turn up in all kinds of transport – horse, Harley, wedding limo – we’ve seen it all in bonny Glenlyon. But the one that took the biscuit was someone arriving by helicopter.

Tomas the chopper pilot booked in for a few days to be near the hydro scheme he was helping construct near Loch Lyon.

On the evening he was due to arrive with us I heard the approaching throb of rotor blades, exactly like a scene from Apocalypse Now. It was hard to believe a chopper was really going to land right outside our house and everyone rushed outside to get a look.

Ten seconds later the hens dived for cover as the helicopter hovered briefly before plummeting neatly onto the gravel.

It turned out Tomas was a highly skilled low-level operator, specialising in mountainous situations. You have to admire someone who feels at home pouring concrete from the sky and his skills even saw him out in Nepal assisting after the earthquake.

Tomas came back several nights in a row to rest and refuel between flying missions and the kids were fascinated to observe him disconnect the battery and nonchalantly tie up the rotor blades.

by Melanie Bonn Welcome to my occasional diary. I’m a mother of two and a reporter with the Perthshire Advertiser.

By about the fifth time it almost became routine to see the blue machine drop out of the clouds and whiz off again after breakfast.

On departure he said the best thing about staying with us was playing with our lively puppy.

Torrin the pup arrived in May and over the months we weathered all the predictable mishaps. He was rushed to the vet for a steroid shot after a bee stung him on the nose; there were big holes in the lawn and countless shredded cushions.

But with the arrival of his big teeth, life settled down. Young Torrin discovered he could swim, started to enjoy going in cars and even went to London on the sleeper train.

Feeling bold enough to let him out in public, we took him along to the Aberfeldy Show and on a whim took our chances in the ‘alternative’ dog show.

Determined to show off her dog-handling skills, my elder daughter Alice grabbed the lead. While she failed to draw glances from the judges in the ‘Loveliest Legs’ category, Alice’s mop of dark hair got her a blue rosette in the ‘Dog Most Like Its Owner’ class.

Not about to be outdone by her sister, daughter number two, six-year-old Sarah, showed off her pup’s sitting abilities in the ‘Best Behaved Dog’ competition.

In the mayhem of tangled leads she somehow bagged a second prize. Happy days.

Alas my attempts to impress the ladies of the WI at the Aberfeldy Show didn’t go quite so well.

After searching the garden for something of merit, I turned up at the showground with my produce on the Friday morning, only to find an empty tent.

To my horror I realised I’d got the entry time wrong by a full 24 hours. It didn’t look like this was going to be a triumph, but I left my offerings and fled.

When we came back on Saturday afternoon, I learnt some important lessons all aspiring newcomers should note: prize-winning courgettes should be small and delicate and there are no prizes for entering eggs of assorted sizes.

Luckily somebody out there thought my Icelandic Poppies were good enough for a first prize card. My modest £3 winnings were instantly converted into candy floss and consumed on the ride back to the glen.

See www.miltoneonan.com

FOOD AND DRINK

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

THYME TO TASTE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THYME AT ERRICHEL - TASTE. EAT. CELEBRATE.

Thyme

FOR SLOES & DAMSONS

SLOE GIN, SLOE WHISKY & DAMSON VODKA This month there are 3 delicious recipes for you to try your hand at using Sloes & Damsons. They will all need to be stored and you should have some fabulous drinks in time for Christmas & New Year.

All the recipes follow the same method so choose which you want to make (or make them all) following the same method.

SLOE GIN • 368g Sloes (Washed) • 750ml Gin – SW4 or Hendricks • 184g Granulated White Sugar SLOE WHISKY • 310g Sloes (Washed) • 750ml Dewar’s White Label

METHOD • For all these recipes you will need a sterilised screw top jar large enough to hold all the ingredients.

• Place the sloes/damsons in the freezer overnight for the skins to split, you want the juice to bleed into the gin for the maximum flavour and colour.

• Place the fruit in the sterilised jar, and top up with the alcohol.

• Leave for a week or so, gently shaking the bottle every day.

•

After a week add the required amount of sugar, remember to gently shake every day for the next 3-4 weeks until the sugar has all dissolved. After the sugar has dissolved you can shake the bottles every 3-4 days.

• Place the jar in a cool, dark cupboard for a minimum of three months.

• 140g Granulated White Sugar

• Sample after 2 months to see whether you wish to add more sugar.

DAMSON VODKA

• When ready to drink (minimum 3 months storage), strain the liquor through a muslin cloth and decant into sterilised bottles and label.

• 454g Damsons (Washed)

• Serve chilled in small glasses.

• 750ml Stoly Vodka • 168g Granulated White Sugar

Add the sugar at a later stage to allow the alcohol to absorb as much of the fruit’s natural flavour as possible. Adding the sugar at the start of the process hinders the alcohol absorbing the delicious fruit juices.

Errichel House & Cottages, Thyme at Errichel Restaurant, Errichel, Crieff Road, Aberfeldy, PH15 2EL t: 01887 820 850 m: 07483 352 123 www.errichel.co.uk

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LOCAL MUSIC

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

Y D L E F R E B A

L A V I T S E F

AL RETURNS IV ST FE E TH , R EA Y TH NOW IN ITS SIX MUSIC AND MAGIC! F O S Y A D O TW ER TH FOR ANO

Lau, headlining Friday.

Ryan Hannigan from

A

berfeldy Festival started in 2010 when, during a local business meeting, I presented a concept for a cultural festival in the town where we all traded. The idea was to boost the number of visitors to the area, to provide income, a cultural outlet and also for a bit of morale as it can be difficult for businesses during the winter months. The support from local businesses since then has always been great - whether it’s from folk who sit on the voluntary com-

Aberfeldy Festival manages to be intimate but expansive, welcoming to all, in a unique setting.

It’s to be savoured like a fine malt.” Ian Rankin mittee, help with sponsorship or gifting equipment and resources. We absolutely couldn’t do it without this support - it’s

Star Wheel Press.

definitely a community run project.

What is unique about this festival is its connection with a sub-culture that exists in Scottish art, music and culture. As always, the media presents us with a popularised view and oftentimes it’s London or Southern based bands and artists that get the opportunities and support.

This led us to consider the festival band choices a little differently and bands that are based in Scotland,

who really should be better known, are given a stage at this small boutique festival. The best example of this is the band ‘Aberfeldy’, who were signed to Rough Trade records and who have supported acts like REM, Blondie, The Beautiful South and Paolo Nutini. Their record ‘Young Forever’ is a great indie-pop listen and it deserves the attention of a wider audience (as we were addressing earlier). Edinburgh based, they were of course our headline act for the first ever Aberfeldy Festival. To have a band carry the name of your town and then play at your first festival is quite special, but the story doesn’t end there. Aberfeldy (the band)

LAU

BLUE ROSE CODE WOODEN BOX & THE SON(S)

LOCAL MUSIC

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

BUY TICKETS ONLINE NOW

The stage at Aberfeldy Festival 2014.

FIND ABERFELDY FESTIVAL ON FACEBOOK

also played Aberfeldy town hall in 2006. Here is an extract from a review in the Scotsman dated 3rd July 2006: “I NEVER THOUGHT I’D SAY THIS BUT HELLO, Aberfeldy!” announces a somewhat incredulous man from the stage of what looks like a school gym hall. His name is Riley Briggs, he is wearing a safari suit (one of several he owns) and he is playing in Aberfeldy (the band) in Aberfeldy (the town).

The venue they are speaking about in the review is of course the venue we use for every Aberfeldy Festival and at that gig in 2006 I met a guy called Craig Milton. From that Aberfeldy gig in Aberfeldy we formed the band Star Wheel Press and we selfreleased our debut album in 2011. This was

FRIDAY 6th & SATURDAY 7th NOVEMBER 2015

Saturday Headliners, Neil Cowley Trio.

somewhat mind boggling as the first person to play it was Lauren Laverne on BBC6; Ian Rankin called it his Album of the Year and Bob Harris also gave it airplay on Radio 2.

We were amazed and that is not false humility as I had committed to hand-printing the first 1000 copies. It proved to be very complicated juggling my art business, my family and printing those blessed covers! Although these were good problems to have, it also opened the door to an approach to Ian Rankin to see if he would be interested in curating the festival - he said yes and was

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LOCAL MUSIC

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

BUY TICKETS ONLINE NOW

Foy Vance at Aberfeldy Festival 2014.

“

FELDY IS OUR NEW ER B A T U O S N R TU IT SO ” THE SCOTSMAN FAVOURITE GIG SPOT!

glad to support be transformed us in any way he to this mysticould. So, for the cal land of the last few years Shaggy Ones, we have chatted where you’ll find back and forth, a solace and a discussing bands place to be free. and the music Friday night scene to give AbHeadliners erfeldy Festival are LAU, with its unique line support from up every year.

Blue Rose Code, This is what he Woodenbox and said of Aberfeldy The Son(s).

Festival this year, Saturday “Aberfeldy Festival manages to be intimate Headliners are The Neil Cowley Trio, with but expansive, welcoming to all, in a unique the undercards of Kathryn Joseph, (some setting. It’s to be savoured like a fine malt.” weird band) Star Wheel Press, Howard Ian Rankin Eliot Payne and Adam Stafford.

So Aberfeldy Festival No. 6 sees a line We have local restaurant, Errichel, up with a few surprises this year, The Chief putting on the cuisine, beer and ales from Urisk - Peallaidh (the shaggy one) where Harvieston and warm welcomes from Aberfeldy is said to the shaggy have taken its name has Urisk locals. summoned the following There are also We have local Urisks and Pixies to the other restaurant Errichel putting various Hall by The Birks on the things happenon the cuisine, beer and ales ing around the 6th and 7th November.

There the laments and from Harvieston and warm town on Festival whoops and harmonies weekend, inwelcomes from the shaggy cluding Loose will catch the ear and for this one weekend you’ll Tongues - live Urisk locals.”

NEIL COWLEY TRIO KATHRYN JOSEPH

STAR WHEEL PRESS HOWARD ELIOTT PAYNE & ADAM STAFFORD

“

poetry in the Birks Cinema on Saturday 7th, a busy market in the town centre and introducing a brand new drama festival called Thespionage, with performances taking place in the Birks Cinema on Saturday 7th.

Aberfeldy Festival is a celebration that everyone should experience.

FIND OUT MORE You can find out more about the full weekend programme on our website - aberfeldyfestival.co.uk If you’re interested in getting involved as a sponsor,or as a volunteer, please send us an email to festival@aberfeldyfestival.co.uk If you are interested in entering a dramatic piece in Thespionage, please contact aberfeldythespionage@yahoo. co.uk for more info ARTICLE BY Ryan Hannigan, Founder and Creative Director (Aberfeldy Festival) Photography of Ryan (pg 36) and stage (pg 37) and Foy Vance on (pg 38) by Stuart Duff thecameramonkey.co.uk

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WILDLIFE AND NATURE

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

2.5kg bags of charcoal can be bought from the National Trust for Scotland Killiecrankie Visitor Centre and the Ell Shop in Dunkeld.

National Trust for Scotland

KILLIECRANKIE CHARCOAL W

hy is National Trust for Scotland charcoal special?

The Pass of Killiecrankie is home to a wealth of flora and fauna. Designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its semi-ancient oak woodland, part of the National Trust for Scotland’s management plan includes removing non-native invasive species. This allows native trees such as oak, birch, elm, ash, rowan and elder to regenerate and encourages native species, including the pied and spotted flycatchers, pine martens and red squirrels to thrive.

ONLY 3%

OF THE CHARCOAL WE USE ON OUR BBQS IS PRODUCED IN THE UK.

At Killiecrankie we are gradually preventing native flowers, shrubs and trees removing some of the beech trees to from becoming established. The cleared allow native species to flourish. This will wood, as well as off-cuts from pruning, are ensure the natural woodland habitats are recycled into this sustainable, additive-free, looked after for wildlife to live in and future high-quality charcoal. generations to enjoy.

The majority of charcoal in the UK Why is Trust has been imported Charcoal better from hundreds of than other BBQ miles away, often IN AS MUCH THAT AS IT IS fuels? from unsustainable PRODUCED FROM TIMBER THAT IT IS PART OF THE PLANET’S NATURAL sources and often Not only is it great for CARBON CYCLE. contains additives cooking your food, it’s that can alter the also better in relation to taste of food. Our its impact on the environment than many trained rangers and volunteers make this other fuels. Every purchase you make charcoal locally, using traditional kilns. It’s is helping to fund our vital conservation additive-free and never travels far so it’s work. All charcoal production creates kind to the environment. pollution in the form of smoke and gases It’s simple: every bag of this highfrom the wood, so growing trees and quality charcoal helps to conserve woodland cutting them down just to make charcoal is cared for by the National Trust for Scotland. not the best use of that resource.

CHARCOAL IS “CARBON NEUTRAL”

The story so far

As part of our role in managing Our charcoal making initially arose from woodland we clear non-native invasive the problem of what to do with vast species, at Killiecrankie this includes the quantities of Rhododendron ponticum we removal of some of the beech trees and were clearing from woodlands at Brodick, their saplings, to create a more diverse on the Isle of Arran, ecosystem and at Ben Lomond. for wildlife, Rhododendron ponticum allowing native is a very invasive plant flora and fauna and spreads rapidly into to thrive. The OF THE 40,000 TONNES adjacent unmanaged beech tree OF CHARCOAL WE BURN EACH YEAR IS SOURCED FROM woodland and open shades out the VULNERABLE TROPICAL FORESTS. ground, to eventually under- storey, cover large areas.

UP TO 90%

Trust charcoal is being made from wood which has to be cut out for habitat protection reasons and which is difficult to put to uses other than charcoal making either because of its type or location.

By using it to make charcoal, rather than just burning it to get rid of it, we reduce pressure on other woodland & forest resources which are being used for charcoal production.

The National Trust for Scotland North Perthshire Ranger Service

WILDLIFE AND NATURE

ALL IMAGES

BY LOCHVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY

FIND LOCHVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY ON FACEBOOK

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WHAT’S BUZZIN’

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

What’s Buzzin’ All the Latest News, Events, Sport & Gossip!

Breadalbane Rugby versus the West Coast.

A Saturday afternoon in late August, a clear day, without rain. At least eighty spectators are out to see the young Breabalbane team play in the new rugby field in Kenmore. Some older enthusiasts, including Rotary members, have managed fund raising enough to erect proper posts and mark out a full sized pitch.

The first full home match is to be against Argyll and Bute. Unfortunately they do not have a full team, so are much bolstered by players from Oban.

The visitors start with a lot of pressure on the home team. Excellent and spirited defence keep the visitors off the line. Pressure leads to the conceeding of a penalty, which netts the West team three points.

The home boys fight back, with some very good passing and running, giving a fine try to Matt Blanchett, converted by Hamish Brown. Argyll and Bute come back strongly, exposing inexperience; keen running and handling bring them a try. There is then further pressure from the visitors’ backs, especially their number ten, who scores and converts after twenty two minutes.

Play in the middle of the pitch gives Breadalbane a scrum; number nine, Geordie Broad mishandles for a moment, then gathers and breaks through the opposing scrum, releasing his backs, to allow Hamish Brown to score at the far side. The score is now 12-15. Shortly after the restart, Breadalbane show inexperience under the high ball, allowing another try which is converted. The half finishes with another penalty against the home team, giving a half time score of 12-25.

The home scrum have learned a lot in the first half; now the scrum works better. Defence is very much a strength and needed against bigger, and more experienced players. There is a fine break-out by Louis Lambie on the far side, frustrated by a foot in touch.

Play is moved back to the home team’s twenty two; a penalty allows the visitors to kick to the corner and score a try, well worked by the forwards. The home team fights back; a good handling and passing passage of play sees Liam Robb score a worthy try, converted, I think, by Hamish Brown. The young team are now tiring and have suffered the loss of players to knocks and sprains. In the last ten minutes, Argyll and Bute score another two tries.

Final result: 19-40. An excellent game, played in a sporting manner. The young team played very well, especially in defence. Some experience and improvement in ball handling and play-making will make this a team to be proud of. I’m told that fixture lists will be published soon. Watch out for this, as the games are well worth watching.

Rivendell Care Home sponsored walk for Alzheimer Scotland Rivendell Care Home residents and staff pictured at the start of their sponsored walk from Birnam to Inver and back. The walk raised around £300, half of which will go to Alzheimer Scotland and half to the Rivendell Activity Fund. Everyone was still smiling at the end of the walk, in spite of the rain, but were ready for a hot cup of tea and scones at Chattan Tea Room.

The Rotary Club of Pitlochry 22nd Charity Golf Challenge 2015 The 22nd Annual Rotary Charity Golf Challenge was played over the Pitlochry Golf Course on Thursday 20th August 2015. Once again Rotary were very much indebted to the Directors of Pitlochry Golf Limited.

On a rare fine day, 56 golfers played a round of golf on one of Scotland’s most scenic courses.

Refreshments at the 9th green, generous prizes and a magnificent buffet with wine in the Restaurant & Bar helped to round off a very enjoyable day whilst helping to raise funds for the many charities which the Rotary Club of Pitlochry support.

Our pictures include a shot from the ninth green showing the magnificent panoramic views from the golf course and the winners of the Rotary Challenge trophy, Ronnie Terras, Michael Reilly, Andrew Rutherford and Dougal Spaven.

Thank You...

Pitlochry Gallery Association would like to thank everyone who has been involved in our recent art and crafts sale - the exhibitors, the stewards, the staff at the Atholl Centre and to everyone who came and shopped.

We had an excellent three weeks and have so far raised nearly £1300 for our charities.

WHAT’S BUZZIN’

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­ id Atholl M Strings and Things Continued Success in the Community

Aberfeldy & District Probus Club

After some 6 years of meeting and playing Traditional Scottish and Irish Music every Wednesday at Mid Atholl Hall in Ballinluig, playing at local events, weddings and other parties, our success continues. Having enjoyed an overseas musical tour in Western Holland, we are all set for a trip to Donegal in April 2016. We also enjoy playing at the monthly Logierait Country Market, where we also raise funds for local charities. Although the weather has been disappointing for most of the Logierait Markets this year, our gallant musicians have played each month, raising money for charity.

Donation of £200 was made to the Nepalese Disaster Fund earlier in the year and cheques for £150 each have recently been sent to Mindspace in Perth, Horizon Lunch Club, Perth Street Pastors and Mid Atholl Hall. The group also offer their services to many local charities, where we play for free, or for a small donation, allowing such groups to maximise their fund raising.

Over our short history we have contributed £1000’s to local and international charities and have developed the playing skills of many players of all ages and abilities We continue to meet for practices on Wednesday evenings at 7.30 in Mid Atholl Hall, with instruments being played including fiddles, keyboard, flutes and guitar. The emphasis is on fun first and foremost, and new members are most welcome. For further information, or any enquiries, please telephone Pete Butter on 07799640149.

OFFICIAL RECOGNITION FOR PERTHSHIRE MUM’S CAMPAIGN TO HELP VICTIMS OF NEPAL’S EARTHQUAKE

Anna and Sanu with the Award.

Anna Gurung’s crusade to aid victims of the Nepal earthquake in May, which began with a sponsored skydive, has culminated with official recognition for her efforts. Her campaign, under the banner “Bring Back The Smile To Nepal”, has been awarded official charitable status by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).

The acknowledgement comes after months of hard work, tireless effort and a recent solo trip to Nepal by Anna, to help rebuild homes and lives in the more remote, mountainous regions of Nepal.

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Here we are again, happy as can be, all good pals and jolly good company. Couldn’t have put it better myself – well, I didn’t, did I? The holidays are over and we are back in business, starting on 2nd September with a talk by Bill Hoare entitled “Submarines to Scots Pine”. If you have missed that, not to worry, since in October we have “Local Wildlife” (not the human variety) by Hazel Brockie, followed in November by Margaret Gimblett on “Gardening Experience”. Having heard both these ladies previously I know we are in for an excellent experience which will bring us to December and our Christmas Lunch.

We had a real surprise in 2012 when Santa Claus himself turned up. The main surprise was that, in spite of his unquestionable authenticity, he appeared to be much the same age as many of our members!

Set aside the first Wednesday for the next three months and we will see you at the Moness Country Club at 12:30. If you are a “lapsed” member by the way, give yourself a shake and return to the fold.

On a different note, the members of Probus decided individually to support David Pirie in his sponsored Ironman bid on the 19th July, as did so many other groups and individuals in Aberfeldy – too many in fact to mention by name in case I omit somebody, which would be unforgivable. David completed the three disciplines within the time, his blisters are healing and he is so grateful to everyone who helped him raise over £2000 for the neo-natal unit in Aberdeen.

More information as usual from Stan Pirie on 820487 or David Parmley on 829503.

“This is fantastic news” said Anna, “with our fundraising on an official footing, we plan to make our efforts a long term campaign that will really make a difference to the people of Nepal.”

Official charitable status means Bring Back The Smile To Nepal can increase it’s fundraising options, as well as qualify for gift aid on all donations. The new charity will have a committee of four trustees, including Anna and her husband Sanu – a native of Nepal.

Anna and Sanu met in Nepal, during A lovely old Nepalese Anna’s couple we are helping travels to to rebuild a home for, the country pictured by their in 1993. temporary shelter.

They fell in love and were married in 2000. The couple now live in the heart of Highland Perthshire with their three children. They have, however, maintained close ties with Nepal. Indeed their

intimate knowledge of the region, as well as their many friends there, meant they felt they were in a unique position to help deliver aid and assistance effectively, and quickly, to areas in Nepal that urgently needed it.

The first group of families to receive our help, pictured in Nepal with Anna.

“Following the shock on hearing of the devastating earthquake, then the anxiety as we tried to find some news from Nepal about our family, this recognition of our efforts is a real tonic!”

If you would like further information on Anna’s charity, or would like to help, information can be found on www. bringbackthesmiletonepal.org, or just “like” the charity on facebook/Bring-Back-TheSmile-To-Nepal

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WHAT’S BUZZIN’

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

What’s Buzzin’ All the Latest News, Events, Sport & Gossip!

The Atholl Centre crowd funding campaign The Atholl Centre is going to be running a crowd funding campaign in September to raise the last few thousands to build a new accessible conference/meeting room with AV & loop.

It would be the final step to making our whole ground floor into a fully accessible complex with disabled en-suite bedrooms and meeting and dining facilities so we can be as inclusive as possible. This is particularly important for our community groups as a good percentage of local folks have problems climbing stairs, making our current first floor meeting room impractical. Although many of you use the dining room instead, the built in audio visuals with sound & loop system will make meetings, like U3A and Welcome All, much easier to take full part in for everyone, as those with hearing & mobility difficulties will really feel included. And with 2 good sized ground floor rooms instead of one we’ll have room for more groups at once.

So, this new conference room will help us to reach more people by increasing our accessibility and our flexibility, as the dining and conference rooms can be used separately or as one large room to allow for greater numbers. We also hope the new facilities will help us generate some income through our business side so as a social enterprise we can rely less on donations to help us meet the needs of vulnerable people.

We’re so nearly there and have already raised £81,000 towards this project so we need just another £29,000 to be able to start. As well as applying to trust funds, we’re having a go at crowdfunding to get this project off the ground this year.

Planning permission & building warrant are already granted & the project has been put to tender, so as soon as the money comes in we’re good to go.

Crowdfunding is where we reach out to people through the internet using social media like facebook, twitter etc. to publicise what we’re trying to raise money for and to ask for donations. While we tell our story through various channels our fundraising will be handled by a crowdfunding platform called Crowdfunder, where we’ll go live at the end of August We will also be running local events to help us reach our total e.g. the Thrift Shop we had here in July (we raised £700 thanks). Could you put on an event to help us raise those last few thousands? We’ve a whole list of ideas if you need some inspiration…

Thank you for your support so far & we hope we can count on you again as we continue to grow the Centre. Please encourage us by keeping up with our news and telling your friends. If you’d like to know more do pop in & see us, or get in touch at admin@athollcentre.org.uk. You’ll also find us online. Enjoy following our story.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? THE BIG LISTEN 3 COMMUNITY CEILIDH Breadalbane Academy Ceilidh Band, Karys, Neeps & Tatties & other guests Friday 25th September 2015, 7pm-10pm Birnam Arts & Conference Centre Come along for an evening of music, dancing and fun. It’s also your chance to give your opinion about your local culture services.

Suitable for all ages.

Tickets FREE. Advance booking is essential. Available from Birnam Arts & Conference Centre. Tel: 01350727674.

Email: admin@birnaminstitute.com. www.birnaminstitute.com This event is part of PKC Culture Service’s The Big Listen 3 2015 programme of events.

Pitlochry Gallery Association Autumn Exhibition Pitlochry Gallery Association will be holding their autumn exhibition and sale of art and crafts at the Atholl Centre, Pitlochry (next to the Tourist Office) from Saturday 10th October to Friday 23rd October.

We will be open daily from 11am to 4pm and from 2pm to 4pm on Sundays. We have a wide range of art and crafts - woodturning, soaps, glass , candles, jewellery, knitwear, bags, textiles, cushions, painted silks, cards, cushions plus photography, textile art and paintings, both prints and originals.

A great opportunity to buy Christmas gifts - come and see what we have to offer.”

WHAT’S BUZZIN’

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

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include If you are looking to hat’s something in the ‘W ail!

Buzzin’ send us an em o.uk z.c hello@heartlandbuz

S THE FAMOUP E C N E I R E X E E S GROU LDHOST STATUS US WOR ACHIEVES PRESTIGIO

T

he Famous Grouse Experience at Glenturret Distillery has become the first business in Perthshire to be awarded WorldHost Recognised Business Status, a globally recognised customer service training programme. The prestigious training scheme is being supported by Perth & Kinross Council, who are working with Skills Development Scotland to offer funding to local SME businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector who wish to join the elite organisations, who have achieved WorldHost Recognised Business Status and practice exceptional customer service.

The rigorous training programme and exam has been used to train tens of thousands of staff and volunteers for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and, more recently, 3000 Scotrail staff in preparation for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014, of which The Famous Grouse was an official sponsor. Over one million people worldwide have achieved the status, which was completed this week by 12 members of the distillery team, meeting the WorldHost requirement for at least 50% of an organisation’s team to have completed any of the training programmes.

This is another string for the five-star visitor attraction to add to their plump and feathery bow after being named Whisky Attraction of the Year at Whisky Magazine’s 2015 UK Icons of Whisky Awards at the end of last year. Proving that they are not just ‘Famous’ in name, this recognition led to the

Crieff-based distillery being shortlisted in the Global Icons of Whisky Awards, going head to head with some of world’s most famous visitor attractions.

Perth & Kinross Council are pursuing WorldHost Recognised Destination Status as part of the WorldHost Regional Destination Initiative. This national customer service campaign will build on the legacy of ‘Scotland 2014’ and help set Scotland apart as a visitor destination.

Stuart Cassells, General Manager at The Famous Grouse Experience, said: “We are immensely proud that all our staff from our reception, hosting and shop teams at The Famous Grouse Experience have completed the WorldHost training programme, enabling us to achieve WorldHost Recognised Business Status and demonstrating our commitment to the very best customer service for all our visitors.

“Exceptional customer service is incredibly important to us and we value its significance and impact. Our customers are central to our success and we are passionate about delivering an extraordinary and memorable experience to our visitors and the WorldHost Principles of Customer Service training has offered us a way to hone these values and develop our team further.”

Suzanne Cumiskey, Business Development Projects Officer at Perth & Kinross Council, who is leading the project to roll out WorldHost Principles of Customer Service training in the tourism sector in Perth & Kinross commented: “After welcoming thousands of

international visitors to Scotland, and specifically to Perth and Kinross last year from The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup, our tourism industry has already demonstrated it has world class customer service skills that can compete on a global platform. This year we expect even more interest in our area following extensive coverage of these events around the globe and we are delighted to be able to help local businesses achieve WorldHost Recognised Business Status. I would encourage any local companies looking to complete the training programme to get in touch.”

Suzanne continued: “I’m particularly delighted that the team at The Famous Grouse Experience are the first to complete the training. It may be Scotland’s oldest working distillery, but its customer service skills are as up to date as you can get.

They are a shining example of the highest standards of customer service, that has already achieved global recognition as a visitor attraction and we are delighted that they are leading the way with this exciting project for businesses in the local area.”

To find out more about WorldHost training opportunities with Perth & Kinross Council, please visit scotland.worldhost.co.uk or call 01738 475 731. To find out more about The Famous Grouse Experience at Glenturret Distillery visit thefamousgrouseexperience.com

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ART & CREATIVITY

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

>Ø

Poet Jon Plunkett & Artist

LINDSAY

TURK Niente

A

utumn and early winter here in Highland Perthshire is a time of flurried leaves and swirling chimney smoke. Doors and windows close and inhabitants of the hills and valleys start to retreat to heated homes and long nights. But for local artists it is a time to fling open their studio doors and welcome visitors from near and far.

For Perthshire artist Lindsay Turk, this is set to be a particularly busy and exciting season. Lindsay graduated with a Masters in Fine Art from Edinburgh College of Art almost twenty years ago and has continued to work as a professional artist throughout the years since. This autumn she will open her Aberfeldy studio for the third year running, as part of Perthshire

Labyrinth

Listen. This is the song I’d write for you: A short string of notes. Then the niente - an ebbing away to bare whisper and beyond. But not a fade to nothing.

Please not that.

Just a sound so soft it can’t be heard.

Let it play and play and play forever.

ART & CREATIVITY

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

www.lindsayturk.com Other Places

Open Studios. Then, as frost edges south and winter takes hold, she will have a joint exhibition in The Watermill Gallery as part of the annual Aberfeldy Festival with her husband-poet Jon Plunkett.

Lindsay exhibits throughout the year in galleries across Scotland and is represented at various art fairs south of the border. For Lindsay, the Open Studios event is an opportunity to actually meet with other local artists and people with an interest in the arts, as well as welcoming the visitors to the area, many of whom come year after year to follow the studio trails.

The exhibition in The Watermill is the result of an exciting recent development that brings together words and painting.

Through collaborative working, a series

of joint poems and paintings have been created. Lindsay states that “I came across a great quote from Simonides, a Greek Lyric Poet who wrote that ‘painting is silent poetry and poetry is painting that speaks’ and I hope that this is the case with the series we have created for The Watermill exhibition.”

Lindsay goes on to explain “it is not a clear case of paintings inspiring the poems, or the poems inspiring the paintings, but is a real interwoven process, a true collaboration of ideas where a painting will sometimes spark an idea for

a poem, or sometimes it will be a poem that sparks the idea for a painting, and very often both painting and poem will be altered and tweaked in response to the other along the way, developing simultaneously until the final result is achieved.”

The Watermill being both a gallery and bookshop seems the obvious place to host this collaborative show. Even better that such a quality space exists in Aberfeldy! Paintings and poems will

It is not a clear case of paintings inspiring the poems, or the poems inspiring the paintings, but is a real interwoven process.”

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ART & CREATIVITY

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

As the nights draw in and frost raids from the north stretch south, why not take some time to visit Lindsay’s studio in Aberfeldy.”

Zea Maize

Waiting for the Snow to Melt

be displayed together in the gallery, allowing visitors to enjoy an exhibition of new artwork in a different way; one that Lindsay hopes will add to and deepen the experience. The theme of the exhibition is one that recurs in both Lindsay’s painting and in Jon’s poetry - that of fragility and transience.

This theme is reflected in the title of the Exhibition – ‘Niente’, which refers to a rarely used musical dynamic that entails music be played so softly that it is barely audible or is even, at times, inaudible to the

human ear.

While the Open Studios event and The Watermill Exhibition will be very different, Lindsay’s work is consistent in style and quality. Her paintings, drawings and prints cover a range of subjects including landscapes, waterfalls, seascapes and a variety of still-life objects, but all tend to be linked through the sense of permanence they lend to an otherwise fleeting moment. Through this sense of captured moments stilled into focus Lindsay’s work has a tendency to

Lindsay’s work is consistent in style and quality.”

quietly and yet at the same time boldly emphasise the subtle things that surround us but often go unnoticed.

So, as the nights draw in and frost raids from the north stretch south, why not take some time to visit Lindsay’s studio in Aberfeldy. Or, pop along to The Watermill and warm yourself with the combination of painting and words.

To view more of Lindsay’s work or to get in touch visit www.lindsayturk.com

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IN TILLERY G IS D N R !

A E H N T STRA NCE WIN ER IE R E P X E S R LOVE

Breadalbane Cricket Club Cricket can sometimes throw you a curved ball (if you can forgive the baseball idiom). In the previous issue of the Heartland Buzz, we reported on our semi final defeat to Dundee High School Former Pupils CC. However, shortly after that date, the Club received several frantic phone calls and emails from the League Management Committee. Apparently, it had transpired, our opponents in the semi final had fielded an ineligible player! Under the rules of the competition, paid overseas professionals are forbidden from taking part. DHSFP CC had fielded their overseas player in the match against Breadalbane. Red faces followed, some head scratching, a mumbled apology and the semi final result was overturned. Suddenly Breadalbane were in the 2 Counties Cup final, for the first time since 2008.

So on a sunny Sunday afternoon in July, Breadalbane took to the field against one of Scotland’s strongest and largest clubs - Forthill CC from Dundee.

The occasion was an enjoyable one, as Breadalbane won the toss and decided to bat against the new experimental, high visibility, orange cricket ball.

However, the team could only post 70 runs in their allotted 20 overs. The total did not seem likely to trouble the Forthill batsmen, especially when their opener had – just the previous day – scored an unbeaten century for one of Scotland’s select sides!

The match did, however, provide a first wicket for Breadlabane’s new fast bowler Surjeeth Pilla. We welcome Surjeeth to the Club. At the same time everyone at the Club would like to say goodbye and best wishes to our other Indian recruits, who have returned home after completing their studies here. So, Satya Sarath and Ashish Raghav, we say “bahut shukriyaa”.

Breadalbane bounced back, today, from their Cup final defeat with a thumping win over Callendar CC. The Breadies posted 247, with Myles Bax scoring 55 and Yasser 87 not out. Callendar never looked like chasing down such a tough total and were bowled out for just 70, with up and coming stars Ethan Rae and Grieg Joss chipping in with 3 wickets apiece. A maximum 25 points for Breadalbane!

The, all too short, cricket season finishes in early September. However, as the nights draw in towards the end of October, Breadalbane take part in the Perthshire Indoor Cricket League, held in Perth.

As usual, details of the Club’s activities can be found on Facebook - Breadalbane Cricket Club Supporters or regularly, here, in the pages of The Heartland Buzz.

Well done to EMMA STEWART who was pick at random after entering our competition.

Grandtully Hand Engraving Symposium The first weekend of August saw almost thirty people gather at the Grandtully residence of designer and engraver Malcolm Appleby, for the biannual Hand Engraving Symposium.

People travelled from far and wide to attend, from counties including Worcestershire, Suffolk, Sussex, London, and the West Midlands. One participant even travelled from as far as Oslo, Norway.

The Symposium was set up with the purpose of stimulating discussion between engravers and those attending got the chance to look at one another’s work; some brought work with them to show, others brought pictures. This offered a rare opportunity to appreciate and celebrate what each person had achieved recently. Participants also tried out different engraving techniques in Malcolm’s large workshop, which was beneficial as usually engravers tend to specialise when they are at work. They may focus on lettering, heraldry, pictorial work, enamel engraving, gun engraving, or design led pieces. Lino cutting sessions were also enjoyed by many, led by renowned printmaker Linda Farquharson.

The weather was fortunately bright and dry, as delicious lunches laid on by The Inn on the Tay were eaten outside. It also meant that lively games of traffic cone frisbee quoits could be played in the garden, and that it was pleasant enough to take a stroll along the Tay after the

symposium concluded each day.

Accommodation preferences varied amongst people: some preferred to camp in the Scottish Canoe Association Campsite, others opted for local B&B’s, guest houses and self catering houses.

Before the trip to Grandtully, many of the engravers met in Edinburgh to attend the Fine Lines exhibition in The Scottish Gallery, as engraver and silversmith Miriam Hanid was displaying her work there.

This group also visited the National Museum of Scotland to have a tour of

historical pieces featuring Scottish Engraving. Many people attending the symposium continued to holiday in Scotland after, some travelling further north, and others going south to the Farne Islands. The most popular onward destination, however, was Edinburgh; the Fringe Festival was too tempting for many.

Should you like to find out more about engraving work, do visit the website of The Hand Engravers Association of Great Britain: www. handengravers.co.uk.

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THINGS TO SEE

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

r e b m e t p e S

’ G N I G D O ‘B CENTRE G O N N A R C H IS T T O C S E AT TH

D

espite the eccentric weather we are experiencing this year, it’s been a ‘sizzling’ summer at the Crannog with heaps of visitors turning up from all over the world to find out just why the Iron Age is so fascinating. Expert guides have been spreading the word about the amazing history of the area revealed from the Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology (STUA) investigations at Oakbank Crannog.

With much more yet to be discovered, life on Loch Tay 2,500 years ago is an exciting story which is still unfolding.

The Centre was also fortunate enough to host archaeology students throughout the summer. Fraser Pock, Rich Hiden and Mharit Hulbert all joined us to gain experience and knowledge and have been a pleasure to work with. We have been delighted to help inspire and assist the next generation of archaeologists and

are very grateful to them for all their hard 20th September. James Pumfrey from work.

Kew Gardens in London will be joining us Our Lughnasa Celtic Summer Harvest for this unique weekend bringing a wide Festival on 12 August was a fabulous range of woodworking skills. event with well over 200 James has visitors enjoying harvest an impressive September is the breads, home-made cheeses cv in woodand beers, making flower annual celebration of the working and is garlands and learning about a tree surgeon Scottish Archaeology prehistoric farming. Visitors for the counwere also treated try’s leading and Heritage Festival.” to the music of arboretum, Doug and Hilary Kew Gardens, Law who joined us for a couple where he leads on the gardens’ tree work, of hours around midday. We are but also carries out all sorts of woodland very grateful to them for their conservation and forestry work. wonderful music, which added James described the most exciting to the great development in his career atmosphere of as entering the world of the day. heritage ‘green’ woodwork, September which he is extremely pasis the annual sionate about: he has been celebration of pole-lathe turning since the the Scottish mid ‘90s, and turning bowls Archaeology for the last six years. and Heritage His visit to Scotland Festival and this year we to demonstrate ancient will be participating with bowl-turning is a first and a special weekend of we’re delighted that he will woodworking skills and be joining us. James can be ‘bodging’ on 19th and found at other events and

“

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

THINGS TO SEE

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“

Our last event of 2015 is ‘Samhain’, the Celtic predecessor to Halloween, with lots of spooky goings.”

re-enactments in England, where he specialises in turning replicas of historical or archaeological bowl finds, such as those found on the ‘Mary Rose’, which are then sold in the Mary Rose museum shop. This is an interesting coincidence for the Scottish Crannog Centre as its Managing Director Barrie Andrian was one of the archaeologists who worked on the underwater excavations of the Mary Rose.

Apart from using a chainsaw to fell timber and cut his blanks to size, James uses only traditional techniques when turning. These include preparing the bowl blank with

Fire juggler, Tam Hewitt, © Johnny Taylor. All other images © The Scottish Crannog Centre.

an axe, turning the bowl using his own hand-made gouges and using one of his varieties of pole-lathes based on historical drawings and art work.

The event is particularly appropriate to the Crannog because our underwater archaeologists found what could be the earliest evidence of wood-turning in Scotland, with the discovery of a 2,500 year-old fragment believed to have been turned on a lathe. The event runs from 10.30 – 5.00 each day and visitors will have the opportunity to test their own woodworking skills.

October is the last month of our season in which we offer our annual Fruit & Fungi event on the 11th, when we embrace the bountiful autumn. Visitors to the centre

will be able to press apples for instant, delicious juice, identify wild mushrooms and see demonstrations of cooking with seasonal goodies. Our last event of 2015 is ‘Samhain’, the Celtic predecessor to

Halloween, with lots of spooky goings-on including our sacrificial wicker ram burn and fire juggler – booking is essential for this event which sells out very quickly!

Further details of all Crannog events may be found at www.crannog.co.uk and on our Facebook pages. For enquiries, please telephone 01887 830583 or email us at info@crannog.co.uk

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HEALTH & FITNESS

LADIES, LUNCH & LUNGES by Samantha Weir

W

elcome back to another month of the Ladies Lunch and Lunges Blog spot and thank you for checking us out.

We have a few new posts coming up this month, including some interviews with two of my favourite lifestyle practitioners, Magnus Mulliner, who will be talking to us about being more aware of our health,

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

My role is an educator; I help people our responsibility and discover the best of them. I won’t make what we do to optimise you a super model, or have a nice 6 our health and the We welcome your requests pack; I will however help you discover wonderful Nancy Dale of topics & look what it feels like to have good health, is going to share with us forward to hearing good energy and sleep well. If you only woman of all ages the from you. want to be told what to eat to be thin importance of looking then I am not for you! You will uncover after ourselves, our how your food affects how you feel hormones and our fat, mentally, physically and emotionally, keeping disease at bay how your gut is linked to your entire being. and life thriving.

Have you ever wondered why you can never The clients that I get to work with are shake the feeling of being down or in a rut – amazing people and I say that because they look a little closer to home and see what is chose to find out more about their health lurking in the fridge and in the cupboards! Life – they want to be responsible for how they is much easier when you have the zest for life. feel and how their families feels. A To Health and Happiness. few people have queried my clients – you pay You can now also find us on Facebook! that money just to ladieslunchandlunges.blogspot.co.uk find out about what to eat? So here is where I start.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A MONTHLY COLUMN? The Heartland Buzz is expanding every month and we are looking for the community to contribute. Whether you are a professional, a hobbyist or just love a good natter we would love to hear your ideas.

Bespoke Highland Car Tours Pitlochry.

Need a Personal Driver?

“Why not let me take the strain whilst you relax and enjoy what Highland Perthshire has to offer.

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Scenic tours, Castles, Distilleries, Airports etc.

Ronnie Owens Personal Driver Guide Killiecrankie Pitlochry PH16 5LR Tel: 01796 473934 or 07979 412831 e.mail rowens 55@rocketmail.com

THE NATURAL CLINIC This month, I am introducing you to our Nutritional Therapist, Clare Grundel with Diabetes our focus this issue.

Next issue, Homoeopath Caroline Greene, will be answering questions about the remedy ARNICA. It may help Bumps, bruises, shock and muscle pain to name a few condition. Send any questions about how to use it to deirdre@scottishnaturalclinic.com

Send us your questions!

T

here has been much in the news lately on Type 2 diabetes and the statistics are certainly shocking: 3.2 million people across the UK are affected at an annual cost of £8bn to the NHS; estimates as high as 18 million people are said to be at risk of developing the condition. If you are reading this over a breakfast of toast and cereal, planning your usual sandwich at your desk for lunch, and thinking that your dinner will be pasta and sauce, with perhaps a slice or two of garlic bread, then you, along with many others in Britain, are eating a diet high

in starchy carbs and fast-releasing sugars, which will be affecting your blood sugar levels and, over time, your body’s ability to control them.

When diagnosed as diabetic or prediabetic, we are told that we need to change our diet and lifestyle, but what changes can we practically make to our diet?

Firstly, we need to get to grips with the glycaemic load of food and secondly, make an effort to radically reduce our consumption of starchy carbs (if you are unfamiliar with these terms, check the internet or your local library).

But what does all this mean in practice?

What are you going to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner, that is going to regulate your blood sugar, whilst tickling those taste buds into happiness?

Here are some ideas: Breakfast – ditch the cereal and reach for

the eggs. Boiled eggs with asparagus dippers, chunky frittata packed full of greens (and reds and yellows).

Lunch – jettison the sandwich and build a salad. Grab some greens, add some colour and crunch (peppers, cucumbers, avocado, sprouts), pick your protein (chicken, prawns, puy lentils), sprinkle on some seeds and nuts, and dress it all up with a flavoursome oil (olive oil, lemon juice, herbs, crushed garlic). Pack it all up in a box for the office or picnics.

Dinner – kiss goodbye to pasta and embrace a stirfry. Throw in some kale, courgettes, fennel, tomatoes, cauliflower, carrots and cabbage. Add some protein - salmon, turkey, chickpeas - and layer on the flavour with herbs and spices, ginger, garlic, lime juice and soy sauce. Serve with a small portion of fibre rich roots or grains such as brown rice, sweet potato, parsnips, or quinoa.

You can eat deliciously and optimise your health. You are worth it, so go build that salad!

by Clare Grundel

Registered Nutritional Therapist, mBANT, CNHC Registered. www.integral-nutrition.co.uk

Deirdre Barron The Natural Clinic, 4 Comrie Street, Crieff, PH7 4AX t: 07774 546 384 f: facebook.com/scottishnaturalclinic

www.scottishnaturalclinic.com

HEALTH & FITNESS

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55

“

As a chiropractor I have to try to find out the underlying cause of complaint, and in many cases of shoulder malfunction it is the neck and posture to blame.”

Carefor your

Shoulders

CHIRO CORNER

by Patricia Waite DC, MCSP

T

he large ball at the top of the arm bone (humerus) doesn’t really fit into the socket on the shoulder blade (scapula). It is totally dependent on ligaments and muscles to hold it in place. If someone has a paralysed arm, such as after a stroke with little recovery, great care must be taken not to dislocate the shoulder. The weight of the arm hanging down can be sufficient to do so.

Shoulder pain may seem to come from nowhere and can pose a difficult diagnostic puzzle at times. Is it mechanical? Is it referred pain? Is it related to the nerve supply? Is it an old or new injury? Is it a combination of these? From my experience there is seldom a ‘quick fix’.

Basic posture is a good place to start if the pain seems to have come from nowhere. In standing, the shoulder hangs correctly if a vertical line can pass from the mid-ear to mid-shoulder, mid-hip and

slightly in front of the ankle. Viewed front to back, the shoulders and hips should be level. A poking chin and slouched upper back changes this, scrunching up the neck, tightening the muscles of the neck, jaw, and shoulder and compressing the chest.

Shoulder movement below shoulder level involves the ball and socket joint. To raise the arm higher, the scapula needs to slide and rotate on the chest wall at the back and the clavicle (collar bone) rotates and lifts at the front. Anything restricting these movements can upset the relationship of these bones and structures between can become pinched, or strained. This is often the small and deep rotator cuff muscles which regulate and stabilise the ball in the socket, sliding the ball down before you raise your arm and thereby allowing a greater range of movement.

Shoulder pain may seem to arrive from nowhere, or may be set off by an awkward movement. Being a bit over-keen in the gym with machines, or weights, without proper guidance is frequently implicated. Concentrate on correcting the posture and core muscle strengthening, as in Pilates exercises, first. If you try to throw without core strength you will probably fall over! Don’t force your shoulder beyond comfortable range otherwise worse damage will occur.

The nerve supply to the shoulder muscles, of which there are about 20, comes from the third, fourth and fifth cervical nerves from the mid-neck. This is the same as the supply to the diaphragm (the big sheet of muscle

under the lungs, vital for breathing). If the neck is scrunched up and stiff the nerves are inhibited, affecting the muscles supplied, with the consequent malfunction and likelihood of injury. If you can’t turn the neck to reverse the car, or see traffic filtering from either side, you are on the way to shoulder problems and some...

As a chiropractor I have to try to find out the underlying cause of complaint and in many cases of shoulder malfunction it is the neck and posture to blame. As long as there are no contraindications, neck manipulation and postural advice often achieve a lot more than just concentrating on the shoulder.

The body is an integrated series of systems and deep ache in the shoulders can be related to internal organs like the stomach or gall bladder. Further diagnostic help may be needed, if the problem doesn’t appear structural. Look after the bones, joints, mobility and strength and possibly the fuel mix too. If you want to improve shoulder movement and strength go gradually and gently – listen to your body and not targets.

CONTACT PATRICIA Offizone, Kenmore Street, Aberfeldy. Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday by appointment only. t: 01887 820 050 (Home) m: 07808 223 960 (Office)

56

LOCAL MUSIC

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

“

The acoustics in the Old Church are marvellous for music.”

16 OCTOBER ROBIN AND KIM COLVILL

MUSIC IN RANNOCH

K

inloch Rannoch is but a small village with one shop. It has an average musical taste in ceilidh music. There are now not many hotels or places in which to eat. People, who come to visit, do so because for walkers it is the lovely lochside gateway to the so far untouched, wildest country in Scotland. It hardly seems, therefore, to be a promising place in which classical music, with all its associations with the best of civilisation, can flourish.

Yet Music in Rannoch arranges five classical concerts every winter in the Old Church in Kinloch Rannoch.

The acoustics in the Old Church are marvellous for music and musicians find it a wonderful place in which to play. This really matters and an indifferent flute suddenly takes on a beautiful tone and a lightly played guitar has an audible volume.

The audience is small - far too small for what is being offered to them. Few people realise that they have the chance to listen to concerts for which they would have to pay three times the price in Edinburgh or Glasgow. That is right here, without having to drive miles to the big cities and these are the same musicians who give

most of their concerts in Edinburgh or Glasgow, or indeed London or Warsaw.

Music in Rannoch has had string and wind quartets and all possible combinations of flute, oboe, bassoon, cello, viola, violin, guitar, harp, piano and voice, as well as the two greatest exponents of the classical accordion in the country. The music ranges from Baroque through Romantic, to post-Romantic and just-composed. All of these are top quality musicians who agree to play here because they like the place and the audience.

Financially this fairytale situation is possible because of a grant that Music in Rannoch receives from Enterprise Music Scotland and because the Elders of the church let Music in Rannoch use the church without charge.

The concerts arranged for this year are all on Fridays at 7.30pm in the old Church of Rannoch. Entrance is £8 on the door and refreshments are on offer during the interval.

Article written by Nevill Mangin.

For further information email Pat Stocker at patstocker@talk21.com Robin & Kim Colvill image ©Clive Barda

Photography: © Ronald Dekker

2015/ 16 SEASON OCTOBER 16TH 2015 Robin and Kim Colvill, (Piano & Narrative) The Golden Age of Vienna, 1790 - 1850.

Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert with piano duets from the Strauss family.

NOVEMBER 20TH 2015 The Campbell Duo, (Flute and Guitar).

Dowland, Handel, Boccherini, Maximo Duego, Haydn, Grieg, Debussy, Ravel, Albeniz.

JANUARY 22ND 2016 The Clyde Duo, Yvonne Paterson (Flute) and Sharron Grifiths (Harp). Krumpholtz, Vincent Persichetti, Nino Rota: Sonatas for flute and harp, Genin: Carnival of Venice.

Hamilton Harty: In Ireland, Eddie McGuire: Folk Memories in Autumn.

FEBRUARY 19TH 2016 Christina Lawrie (Piano). Three of Handel’s Suites, one of which contains the Harmonious Blacksmith, Bach’s English Suite no. 3 in G minor, and some preludes and fugues.

MARCH 18TH 2016 Scott Mitchell (Piano), Alan Bachetti (Clarinet), and Hazel McBain (Soprano).

Spohr: Sechs deutsche Lieder, Schubert: Der Hirt auf dem Felsen”, Mozart : Arias from “Le Nozze di Figaro, Poulenc: Clarinet Sonata, Erik Satie: Trois Gymnopedies.

CHARITY

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

PITLOCHRY STATION

BOOKSHOP n the spirit of giving credit where it is due, ScotRail has many enthusiastic supporters in the Pitlochry area of Highland Perthshire. In 2005 in response to the company’s Adopt a Station scheme, three local women thought they might sell some used books to train travellers and donate the proceeds to charity.

So, for a few Saturdays in summer and autumn, the women sold books at fifty pence from a box in the waiting room or on the Volunteer Val Calder sells platform. book to Tim Flight from Surrey They were delighted that their efforts raised £200.

However, ScotRail saw potential in the book box and moved the ladies, firstly to the old John Menzies newspaper kiosk and then, when they outgrew it, they added two adjoining rooms, making a proper bookshop. The bookshop’s official opening on 10th October 2006 attracted ScotRail’s managing director, as well as the local councillor.

With larger premises came a greater commitment. More volunteers joined, opening hours were extended and the bookshop’s takings (and therefore contributions to charity) increased.

I

Later, the Railway Heritage Trust and Perth and Kinross Council each provided grants for the installation of secondary glazing and repainting.

Since 2006, as more people became aware of the Station Bookshop, the customer base changed. Train travellers still visited, but a greater number came from around the local area and it became a tourist attraction too. In summer, North American accents are normal and when a couple from Adelaide, Australia, mentioned how their next door neighbours had recommended a visit, it seemed that an international clientele was developing.

Perhaps the best measure of progress was the announcement, in summer 2013, that the

“

it back on return.” He acknowledged the help of ScotRail. “We are so grateful for its continuing support. Without it we could not have raised so much money.” John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations

Volunteer Carolyn Russell on the Bookshop stall at Logierait market

manager, has known the bookshop from the beginning and still appears, bringing a volume to donate before purchasing another.

In 2013, ScotRail marked the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Highland Line with a colourful redecoration of Pitlochry station. For the bookshop volunteers it seemed like a very effective way of celebrating the success of the Station Bookshop. The bookshop’s continued success today is all due to the hard work of the committee and the volunteers.

Find out more information by visiting www.pitlochrystationbookshop.co.uk

The total we have raised for charities now stands at £160,000.”

bookshop had raised the milestone sum of £100,000 just seven years after its opening and all from selling second-hand books at fifty pence (later £1) each. The total we have raised for charities now stands at £160,000.

Regarding what had been achieved, previous bookshop chairman, Ken Nichol, said with some surprise, “We simply opened the shop to give customers the chance to buy a book for their train journey and hand

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IN THE GARDEN

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

PERFECT FOR GROWING UNDER DECIDUOUS TREES, SHRUBS OR IN POTS!

“

Spring bulbs are probably the best investment any gardener can make.”

Muscari armeniacum

Get your garden ready for

SPRING! Muscari ‘Valerie Finnis’

The Heartland Buzz Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place!

IN THE GARDEN

SPRING BULBS

just can’t resist the spring bulb season. As soon as the bulbs go on sale in August I get excited. I keep telling everyone that I don’t have room for any more plants… but there’s always room for a few more bulbs. Spring bulbs are probably the best investment any gardener can make. Most of them reliably re-flower year after year (with the exception of tulips) and multiply with little or no help from the gardener.

I

!

New

Muscari azureum When you’re buying bulbs, choose ones that are plump and firm to the touch and don’t have any mould on them. It’s best to plant your bulbs in early autumn, as most need a long season of growth - 3 full months before the shortest day of the year. The ground will be warm in September and the bulbs will make good root growth which encourages better flowering in the spring.

Plant at the right planting depth as stated on each packet and add a little Growmore fertilizer into each planting hole. They won’t need fed again until after they’ve flowered.

Tulips are best planted from late October onwards - after the first one or two frosts, when the ground isn’t frozen as they have a short season of growth.

This year I’m growing more Muscari bulbs, commonly known as Grape Hyacinths,

as their flowers resemble an upside down bunch of grapes. They like to be grown in a location that’s very sunny in the spring but gets a little more shade as the summer progresses. They’re also great flowers for the newly emerged queen bumble bees to feed on. The RHS list them as deer and rabbit resistant, though it really depends on how inquisitive and hungry they are!

Most of you will know of the common blue and white edged grape hyacinth Muscari armenaicum. This scented plant happily multiplies every year along my hedges though it could become invasive given the right conditions. There are others that are not invasive, quite inexpensive though they might not be just as hardy.

I already grow the two toned Muscari latifolium AGM with lower dark violet flowers and upper pale blue flowers. It’s quite tall at 8”, with neat broad leaves, though it might need a little protection in a very cold Perthshire winter. Mine is planted next to a south facing patio and it’s usually in flower throughout April.

Two years ago I introduced the scented Muscari armenaicum ‘Valerie Finnis’ into the garden. It has tightly packed powder blue flowers in April, though the leaves are very untidy. Like the common blue grape hyacinth, it will self-seed in the garden and it grows to about 7” tall.

Now I’m adding the scented Muscari azureum AGM which flowers March/ April. It grows to 6” tall and has lower frilly china-blue flowers with neat leaves. Mine are going into the new alpine troughs that I made this summer using polystyrene fish boxes covered in mortar. The bulbs are easy to grow but like the M.latifolium are only frost hardy. The bulbs will be well insulated in my troughs but if the weather gets really cold then I’ll be able to move them indoors until the weather improves.

The soil in my troughs is very free draining with an equal mix of John Innes No 2, horticultural grit and horticultural sand as

I’ve other alpines growing there too.

All bulbs need to be planted in a welldrained soil, so if I’m planting bulbs in different planted container I’ll either use bulb fibre or a mix of 2 parts John Innes No 2 to 1

Muscari latifolium part grit.

Finally, if you’ve got problems with squirrels digging up any of your newly planted bulbs, cover your tracks and place some leaf litter over the soil. If you’ve a larger drift, peg down some chicken wire over the bulbs and cover it will soil and bark. The bulbs will grow through the holes in the wire and if the squirrels don’t see any soil disturbance they will usually leave your bulbs alone.

by Rosie Nixon Rosie can be found writing about her own Perthshire garden at leavesnbloom.com

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60

THE BOOK CLUB

Highland Perthshire’s Hive of Activity all in One Place! The Heartland Buzz

THE BOOK CLUB

These and the best of new books are available from the Aberfeldy Watermill.

by Aberfeldy Watermill Mill Street, Aberfeldy, PH15 2BG t. 01887 822896

The Railway Atlas of Scotland – Two Hundred Years of History in Maps

Set in Stone Alan McKirdy

David Spaven

Tristan Gooley - Sceptre

he rich diversity of Scotland’s railway network has never before been the subject of a specialist atlas. This book showcases 181 topographical and railway maps, telling the story of the country’s railways from the early nineteenth century to the present day. Written by David Spaven, this beautiful atlas allows the reader to understand the bigger story of the effects of the railways on the landscape and the impact of Scotland’s distinctive geography on the pattern of railway development over a period of nearly 200 years. The unique map selection is supported by an informative commentary of key cartographic, geographic and historical features. This sumptuous atlas will appeal not just to railway enthusiasts and those who appreciate the beauty of maps, but also to readers fascinated by the role of railways in Scotland’s modern developments.

he land that was to become Scotland has travelled across the globe over the last 3,000 million years - from close to the South Pole to its current position.

During these travels, there were many continental collisions, creating mountain belts as high as the present-day Himalayas.

The Highlands of Scotland were formed in this way. Our climate too has changed dramatically over the last 3 billion years from the deep freeze of the Ice Age to scorching heat of the desert. And within a relatively short time - geologically speaking, we will plunge back into another ice age. In Set in Stone, Alan McKirdy traces Scotland’s amazing geological journey, explaining for the non - specialist reader why the landscape looks the way it does today. He also explores Scots who have played a seminal role in the development of the science of geology, understanding Earth processes at a local and global scale.

£30

£9.99

T

The Walker’s Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs

T

BC Countryfile Magazine Country Book of the Year. The ultimate guide to what the land, sun, moon, stars, trees, plants, animals, sky and clouds can reveal - when you know what to look for. Includes over 850 outdoor clues and signs. The result of Tristan Gooley’s two decades of pioneering outdoors experience and six years of instructing, researching and writing. It

B

BBC Countryfile Magazine Country Book of the Year.” includes lots of outdoor clues and signs that will not be found in any other book in the world. As well as the most comprehensive guide to natural navigation for walkers ever compiled, it also contains clues for weather forecasting, tracking, city walks, coast walks, night walks and dozens of other areas.

£9.99

Thyme at Errichel is a stunning, fully licensed Restaurant with Rooms, & Luxury Holiday Cottages with spectacular views near Aberfeldy.

EST

OUR B

Stay Dine Celebrate Create Shop Tel: 01887 820850 enquiries@errichel.co.uk www.errichel.co.uk Errichel, Crieff Road, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland. PH15 2EL

The Scottish Crannog Centre

PHOTO COMPETITION

WINNING PHOTO

Well done to SUE PEARSON the winner of the

photo competition. The Crannog over the loch in the mist with a duck in the foreground.

62

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The luxury flyer pack.

The informative flyer pack.

5000 x A5 double sided 115gsm gloss A5 flyers designed, printed, packaged alongside The Heartland Buzz and delivered direct to businesses & homes throughout the Heartland.

5000 x A5 double sided luxury 250gsm silk flyers designed, printed, packaged alongside The Heartland Buzz and delivered direct to businesses and homes throughout the Heartland.

5000 x 4pg 115gsm gloss A5 flyer booklets designed, printed, packaged alongside The Heartland Buzz and delivered direct to businesses & homes throughout the Heartland.

£319

£389

£539

£299 / 3 month block booking

£369 / 3 month block booking

£519 / 3 month block booking

Cancellation: Cancellation fees apply for all advertising. Prices subject to change without further notice. Payment Terms: All our prices are +VAT. We invoice on booking of adverts and payment is due before our magazine goes to print or you risk losing your adverting spot. Payment can be made by BACS, cheque or PayPal. All our prices are + VAT. Prices are subject to change without notice. Website, graphic design & adverts by www.z3ro.co.uk. We reserve the right to refuse any material that we may find offensive or unsuitable for publication.

Please NOTE: After sign off, if the items contain errors of text, spelling, numerical errors to telephone numbers or contain any error relating to the content, this is the SOLE RESPONSIBILITY of the client and not The Heartland Buzz. In the event of an error, the TOTAL COSTS INCURRED will be the RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CLIENT and not The Heartland Buzz. Even if the errors are from The Heartland Buzz it is still the responsibility of the client to identify these upon preview presentation. Spelling and Grammatical errors are part of the sign off process and if an item is printed/published with these kind of errors after sign off from you the client, it is not the responsibility of The Heartland Buzz. *Plus VAT **We select small businesses that we believe are beneficial to the community. If we feel your business is for the greater good of the community then we want to promote your business and help you get going.

This offer is not open for ALL small businesses, however if you feel your business is something special or quirky then we would love to hear from you! This offer is only available once per business. We are a creative magazine at heart, calling all creative individuals... we want to help you too!

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SPECIALIST CARS NISSAN

At Specialist Cars Nissan in Perth and Dundee we’re proud to be a representative of Nissan UK, providing you with a complete range of New Car sales, Cared4 Used Car sales and Aftersales services from this leading international marque.

Contact us today for more.

TAKE THE GAMBLE OUT OF SERVICING WITH FIXED PRICE SERVICING FROM SPECIALIST CARS NISSAN

Petrol Models from £149 Diesel Models from £159 Competitively priced service plans available.

Terms and conditions apply

Book a test drive today Specialist Cars Nissan 300 Strathtay Road, Perth, PH1 2JU Tel: 01738 502 074 Myrekirk Road, Kingsway West, Dundee, DD2 4SU Tel: 01382 721 392 Balmoral Business Park, Wellington Road, Aberdeen, AB12 3JU Tel: 01738 502 074

www.specialistcarsnissan.co.uk Fuel economy fi gures in mpg (L/100km) for the Nissan Range: Combined - 24 (11.8) – 65.7 (4.3), Extra Urban - 32 (8.8) – 74.3 (3.8), Urban - 16.6 (17) – 54.3 (5.2), CO 2 emissions 99 g/km - 275 g/km.

AM AWARDS 2015 AUTOMOTIVE MANAGEMENT AWARDS

: UK RETAILER OF THE YEAR