Trend Jan / Feb 2022

ALPHA CLINIC | 5

A BETTER LOOKING YOU IN 2022 A recent survey has concluded that the stresses of the past couple of years have left us looking and feeling five years older.

Fortunately, it’s possible to reverse the signs of aging thanks to Alpha’s portfolio of surgical and non-surgical procedures designed to refresh, renew and rejuvenate.

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Alpha’s surgical facial rejuvenation procedures include a brow lift or forehead lift, eye lift, facelift, fat transfer and neck lift. Body rejuvenation procedures can include bespoke options for breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, tummy tuck, liposuction, vaginal rejuvenation surgery, arm lift, thigh lift, and body lift and hair transplants.

If you’re not yet contemplating surgery or non-surgical treatments, you can restore a youthful appearance by committing to a skincare routine for optimum results. Alpha carry the full range of ZO Skin Health products for all skin types as well as our own brand of Alpha Products. Skincare consultations are available with our nurses.

If 2022 is going to be your year of rejuvenation, book a free consultation with Alpha Clinic.

Alpha Clinic was founded by Mr Thanassi Athanassopoulos. He is one of the country’s most highly qualified and skilled Plastic Surgeons, specialising in facial and breast surgery. He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Aberdeen University Medical School and an NHS Consultant.

10 Albyn Terrace, AB10 1YP Tel: 01224 232428 alphaclinic.co.uk

© ockerstShu/gl

on-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments include chemical peels as well as dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections.

Alpha’s Dermapen treatment uses micro-needling to boost collagen production which creates a smoother, more elastic skin. Ultherapy is a precisely micro-focused ultrasound which offers a gradual lifted look.

PRP can be combined with selected surgical and non-surgical techniques uses platelet-infused plasma, refined from the patient’s own blood, to rejuvenate the skin of the face, neck, décolletage, hands or hairline.

6 | CONTENTS

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HEALTH, BEAUTY & WELLBEING Best foot forward: Walking for wellbeing 10 Naturally better: organic skincare 16 Win a spa break at QHotels Collection 42

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FOOD & DRINK Win a bottle of Foghouse Gin 32 Top takeaways: Our shire-wide guide 34 Local food heroes: Meet Dylan King 38

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TRAVEL & LEISURE

Win tickets to at Bring It On The Musical at HMT 33 Social Pages: all the faces, all the frocks 57 Kids: Winter sports 60

FASHION

20 Winter wonderland: hot looks for cold weather 28 Fashion: Cocoon 30 Men: Bin the beige

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LIFESTYLE

08 What’s on? Our round up of the best nights out 50 Going to pot: a quartet of local ceramicists 55 Valentine’s Day: Romantic Traditions 64 Meet Charlotte Garvie of Adesso Décor

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HOMES & GARDENS

52 Interiors: Bathroom bliss 58 Gardens: Kirsty McLean on starting to garden

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ADVERTISEMENTS WELCOME | 7

ISSUE N0. 85 | JAN / FEB 22 PUBLISHED BY TREND PRODUCTIONS LTD PO Box 11858, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire AB39 9AN +44 (0)1224 596223 info@trendmagazine.co.uk trendmagazine.co.uk

FROM THE

EDITOR Hello again, Happy New Year to you all.

Normally, we’re all looking forward to the fresh opportunities a new year brings.

It’s a change to learn something new, to decide to eat more healthily and get back to the gym, to give up bad habits and adopt new ones. It’s a chance to refresh your wardrobe in the sales, start planning holidays and looking forward to social events. It’s about fresh ideas and renewed hope for the future.

This year may be starting off under a cloud of uncertainty, but if the ongoing pandemic stops us taking pleasure in our lives, if it stops us dreaming of lying on a beach, or having dinner with friends, if it stops us from making the most of our lives, then it has won.

So, we will adapt, we will persevere and we will overcome this. Resolve to make the most of the opportunities that living here offers. Support local retailers, seek out local experiences, eat at independent restaurants and cafes, visit local attractions, walk in the parks or head out to the countryside, take a day trip to some of the Shire towns, dress up, glam up and try something new.

Make 2022 your year!

Love Everyone at Trend x

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Prices are correct at time of going to press, but may be subject to change. Trend cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material. The views and opinions by contributors in the magazine may not represent the views of the publisher.

Trend Productions Ltd takes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers in this publication. T&Cs apply to all competitions & offers.

DIRECTOR Gill Buyers gill@trendmagazine.co.uk EDITOR Alison Daniels alison@trendmagazine.co.uk ADVERTISING Clare Findlay clare@trendmagazine.co.uk DESIGN Lisa Thompson lisa@trendmagazine.co.uk ACCOUNTS Jill Walker jwalker@trendmagazine.co.uk PRINT Stephens & George Print Group

Contributors Kirsty McLean

On the Cover MODEL Hannah Beckett of Premiere Productions PHOTOGRAPHER Donna Murray donnamurrayphotography.com THANKS We would like to thank Tiger Lily Boutique, @hamishmunro, Lolo + Co, Country Ways, Premiere Productions & The Silver Darling.

And the winner i s...

In the last issue, we Glenapp C h astle on th ad a stay at e Ayrshire up for gra Coast bs. Our lu cky winne Mairi Barr r is ett. We’re sure she a her guest nd will have a great trip to this stu nning hote l.

8 | WHATS ON

19-22 january 14 january

Scottish Ballet perform The Nutcracker at HMT aberdeenperformingarts.com

Ross Noble brings Humournoid to the Music Hall aberdeenperformingarts.com

Jan - 20 March Catch the colourful Zandra Rhodes exhibition at the Art Gallery. Adult tickets £9, under 12s free.

25 january 15 january

7 January Martin Kemp’s playing an Eighties Party DJ Set at The Lemon Tree. aberdeenperformingarts.com

No Such Thing as a Fish The QI Elves bring their live podcast to HMT. aberdeenperformingarts.com

16 january Aberdeen Academy of Performing Arts are at the Tivoli with Disney’s Moana Jr.

Address your haggis and recite Tam O’Shanter.

It’s Burns Night.

WHATS ON | 9

E INVOLV S N O I T MORE U L T I O B S E A R T IF YOUR D ABOU AR, HERE’S N A T U O YE GETTING YING LIFE THIS EVENTS T N E O J M AND EN OF ENTERTAIN ARY… K U C I R P B E R F U D O ARY AN U N A J S 15 february THI 25-29 january The Hunchback of Notre Dame’s on stage at Aberdeen Arts Centre aberdeenperformingarts.com

3-5 february

Milton Jones bring his surreal Milton: Impossible show to the Music Hall aberdeenperformingarts.com

The Aberdeen Arts Centre has A Clockwork Orange

17 february 5 february

The RNSO at the Music Hall. Sonderberg conducts a programme of Rachmaninov aberdeenperformingarts.com

Funk Connection, Aberdeen’s relentless 10 piece band, play their mix of funk and R&B at Krakatoa

26 february

10 february 2-5 february Magic Goes Wrong at HMT. aberdeenperformingarts.com

Catch Aberdeen’s Comedy Cabaret at The Blue Lamp. Tickets via skiddle.com

Keifer Sutherland (Yes, that Keifer Sutherland) plays a country set at The Beach Ballroom aberdeenperformingarts.com All events are subject to change or cancellation, so check before heading out.

10 | HEALTH

BEST FO OT FORWARD

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ometimes, it’s the simplest things that can help us improve our wellbeing and make us a little bit fitter. Walking isn’t winning any prizes for being high adrenaline, but it’s free and you can do it anywhere from hiking in the countryside to strolling round the block. You can revel in the sights and sounds around you or plug yourself into a podcast on an audiobook.

Walking offers huge health benefits.

It’s been proven to reduce stress and anxiety levels, increase energy, boost self-esteem and self-confidence and even helps you sleep better. In some cases, it can help alleviate depression.

Physically, walking can help with weight control, reduces the risk of stroke and improves cardiovascular fitness, as well as keeping bones

You can walk with a friend, join a group or do it yourself. There are bound to be local routes worth exploring, whether it’s a local park, disused railway line, or a coastal path.

The Scandinavians say that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing. For walking, you want decent shoes or trainers, a jacket that keeps the wind and rain out and some socks that prevent blisters. Visibility is also important, so light or bright colours and reflectivity can help you walk safely. and muscles healthy. Ideally, you should walk briskly for 150 minutes a week, or around 25 minutes each day. Walking to the shops or the school gates, getting off the bus a stop earlier or taking a break at lunchtime all count.

Aside from the glow of knowing you’ve done your daily exercise, the best thing about walking in bad weather is that warm, relieved feeling as you curl up with a mug of hot chocolate and your nose and ears slowly defrost. It’s time to put your best foot forward.

Visit us at Bloom, the natural hair & beauty experts

Embrace the Power of Nature this New year

Anderson House, 24 Rose Street, AB10 1UA Tel: 01224 446750 bloom_aberdeen @bloomlifestyleaberdeen bloomlifestyle.co.uk

12 | NY CLINIC

Revealing the best you AT NY SKIN CLINIC

MORPHEUS 8 2021 was the year that the ‘non-surgical facelift’ Morpheus8 treatment went viral in the UK. Amanda Holden had Morpheus8 ahead of filming for Britain’s Got Talent in November 2020 noting that it was, ‘the best hour investment for looking 5 years younger!’

Amanda’s not the only celeb fan. When tennis coach and former Strictly contestant Judy Murray grabbed the headlines with her youthful skin transformation, everyone wanted to know what was behind her amazing and natural looking results. When it was revealed that she’d had 3 sessions of Morpheus8, the non-surgical radio-frequency treatment blew up on social media. Her incredible before and after images show notable softened lines, a tighter jawline and smoothed wrinkles.

NY Skin Clinic is one of few clinics in the UK offering this ground-breaking non-surgical facelift treatment. Morpheus8 is the deepest fractional treatment available, penetrating subdermal tissue up to 8mm and is commonly used on the face and neck, but can also be used on other areas of the body that exhibit wrinkles.

The best hour investment for looking five years younger!

Amanda Holden

VOTIVA FORMA V

(Vaginal Rejuvenation Treatment)

NY Skin Clinic’s core mission is to offer the latest innovations in non-surgical aesthetic treatments at affordable prices. Votiva Forma V is a ground-breaking vaginal rejuvenation treatment harnessing non-ablative radiofrequency energy to treat both the internal and external female genitalia. By gently heating targeted areas of the vaginal canal and external labial tissues, Forma V can improve a number of conditions including: loosened vaginal canal/ non-surgical vaginal tightening; urinary stress incontinence; sagging & wrinkled appearance of the labia; vaginal dryness and decreased sensation.

Book in now for a free consultation by visiting our website.

92 FONTHILL ROAD AB11 6UL TEL: 01224 593777 NYSKINCLINIC.CO.UK

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14 | ADVERTISEMENTS

T

he House of Hair is celebrating its first year at its new salon premises on Dee Street. Owner Lorraine Malcolm who started the family-friendly business nine years ago explained, ‘We started on Orchard Street back in 2013, but I wanted somewhere more central.

‘I found our Dee Street site in February 2021. Lockdown gave us time to design the new salon. We now have a large customer car park and room to add to our services. We offer makeup services and I’m hoping to add a nail technician soon. We offer Princess Packages from £40 upwards for girls and a Queen for the Day

package for £75 which includes full makeup, lashes and either a blow dry or putting hair up and a cocktail at a local bar. Great for a big night out. We’ve even renovated a space for a pop up shop, which I’m very excited about.

‘We cater to all ages. We want to make each client feel special, being the best version of themselves without breaking the bank! Some of our clients have very busy lifestyles, so we’ve brought in LUMI10. This is an amazing colour product from JOICO which gives 100% grey coverage in ten minutes. It’s suitable for men too. We’re the only salon in Aberdeen that offers it.

‘We’re constantly training and bringing in new services. One of our Senior Stylists started as a Saturday Girl and went on to be recognised as Hair & Beauty’s Assistant of the Year in 2019. We now offer Balmain Hair Extensions and aftercare services.

We are qualified Balmain Angels, meaning we can deliver the best possible service to our clients.

‘We’re about great cuts, great colour and great customer service.’

43 Dee Street, AB11 6DY Tel: 07805 386437 house-of-hair.co.uk

TREAT COMPANY | 15

Painless permanent hair removal

I

f you have a problem with unwanted hair, then The Treat Company’s new Smart Diode Super Laser Hair Removal machine could be just the thing. It’s a painless, hassle-free approach to getting rid of unwanted hair for good.

Owner Brenda Cardno explained, ‘The Smart Diode machine is the best I’ve ever seen. It’s much more powerful, but the ice technology makes hair removal absolutely painless.

‘Now’s the ideal time to book a course of treatments so you’ll be smooth and ready for the summer sun. It’s also great for those who suffer from excess hair due to PCOS. Some sufferers have described it as life-changing. It’s also suitable for all skin and hair types and can be used on the body or face.’

Our full beauty treatment menu is available online and you can book on 01346 583365 or message us on Facebook.

treatcompany.co.uk

© ShJutaockers/

16 | BEAUTY

BEAUTY | 17

At this time of year, we tend to make promises to ourselves about taking better care of ourselves, whether that’s eating more healthily or revamping our beauty routines. It’s worth considering shifting to organic and natural products, which can be kinder to your skin and the planet.

Here’s our pick of the latest new releases…

Zephorium Vitamin A Holistic Deep Cleanser This cleanser is blended with wild carrot oil and orange oil and infused with carnelian crystal energy. It comes in a cheerful orange recyclable bottle and packs a high dose of Vitamin A to give a healthy, glowing skin. It’s natural, organic and cruelty free and great for all skin types including scar tissue and aging skin.

It does contain a little beeswax, so it’s not 100% vegan. Zephorium say it’s tuned into the sacral chakra with homeopathic carnelian crystal in 3 frequencies, which brings joy, motivation and creativity. £24 from zephorium.com

J’tanicals Probiotic Safeguard CBD Moisturiser If you suffer from dry, irritated, itchy, red and just generally stressed-out skin, introducing CBD into your skincare regime can instantly calm, soothe and bring your skin back to balance. CBD is a potent antioxidant with powerful calming and soothing properties. This moisturiser combines 1% CBD isolate, with other skin soothing and nourishing actives such as Hyaluronic Acid and probiotics to calm, strengthen, hydrate and plump your skin for a radiant complexion.

You can store it in the fridge for extra cooling and it comes with a neat little gold applicator. It costs £49.95 for 50ml from jtanicals.co.uk

Potique Calming Cream There’s no doubt that CBD has been one of the musthave ingredients in new beauty launches lately. British company, Potyque’s new Calming Cream packed with full spectrum CBD which provides a soothing response to topical irritation. It’s a savour for winter skin, with a great mix of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredients including cocoa butter, limonene oil and terpenes. Moreover, the Calming Cream is paraben and SLS free, certified vegan, and not tested on animals. Calming Cream is priced at £56 for a 50ml jar. It must not be used on broken skin. Available from potique.com

Sakrid Naturally Nourishing Organic Body Wash At £15 for a generous 300ml tube, this is a great multi-tasker, combining practicality with great organic credentials. The invigorating citrus and mint scent will kick-start your mornings if you use it in the shower, but it also works well as a relaxing bubble bath and the formula includes lots of plant extracts and essential oils offer natural antibacterial and skin-soothing qualities. The ingredients list includes aloe, licorice root, vetiver, neroli and pomegranate seed oil. Unlike many body wash and bath products, there are no preservatives or harsh ingredients.

Sakrid products are available at sakrid.com

18 | MY PERFECT SHAPE

Stacy soars to new heights as Osprey CEO If you struggle with losing weight, My Perfect Shape may be just what you’re looking for.

As adults, weight gain leads to an increase in the number and the size of our fat cells. If you lose weight, these extra cells shrink, but still remain.

My Perfect Shape offer individual plans that uses four proven, non-invasive technologies which kill off up to 40% of these unwanted fat cells, sculpting the body. ‘It’s not an instant

result, but it really works,’ Sophie Tiwari explained, ‘My Perfect Shape is the only specialist in Aberdeen and the Shire.

‘Cryolipolysis breaks down the fat cells, while ultrasound damages the cell membranes. Shockwave treatment breaks down cellulite and improves lymphatic circulation while radiofrequency treatment boosts collagen production, smoothing and tightening the skin. The difference is astounding, as you can see on our Facebook page.’

7 Queen’s Gardens, AB15 4YD Tel: 07981 103462 get.sculpted.perfectly myperfectshape.co.uk

Osprey Housing have appointed Stacy Angus as Chief Executive Officer. Stacy, who is currently the social landlord’s Director of Housing Services, will take over from Glenn Adcook who is retiring.

Mr Adcook said that the appointment was a tribute not only to Stacy’s skills, talent, and commitment over the past 15 years with the organisation, but also recognises her development as an exceptional leader. ‘I am personally thrilled to see Stacy take the helm at such an

important time. I have no doubt she will maintain Osprey’s ethos while bringing her own vision to the next chapter of our journey.’

Ms Angus commented, ‘It’s an honour to be taking over from Glenn at such an exciting time for Osprey. We have a great team, and I am both delighted and proud to have the opportunity to continue to work with the staff and our committed board members to lead Osprey on the journey of continual improvement and high performance.’

20 | ADVERTISEMENTS

01 Oakwood zip jacket £259 Pom scarf £95 Gloves £15 YEST leather look trousers £69.99 Gabor Starter Boots £150 (All @hamishmunro)

01

01

01 Oui Reversible Leopard Coat £329 Gloves £15 Oakwood Bag £99 Ammann of Switzerland Boots £229 (All @hamishmunro) Models own jeans 02 Coat Great Plains £150 (Lolo + Co) YEST leather look trousers £69.99 Gabor Starter Boots £150 (@hamishmunro) Jumper models own 03 Cavallo Hat £12 Branxton Long Quilted Coat

by Coldstream £169.99 (Both Country Ways) Jumper models own

02

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25 | FASHION

02

01 Scarf £25 Gabrielle Gilet £55 Bag £25 (All Tiger Lily Boutique) YEST leather look trousers £69.99 Gabor Starter Boots £150 (@hamishmunro) Jumper models own 02 Pu Padded Gilet £68 Jamie Cross Body Bag £25 Scarf £25 (All Tigerlily Boutique) YEST leather look trousers £69:99 Gabor Starter Boots £150 (@hamishmunro) Jumper models own

01

01 YEST Blue Puffa Jacket £110 Pom Hat £25 Gloves £15 Scarf Vilagallo Lisbon £69 Bag from a selection (All @hamishmunro) Thanks to our suppliers @hamishmunro, Lolo + Co, Country Ways and Tiger Lily Boutique. To our model Hannah Beckett of Premiere Productions. To Gail Rose of Premiere Productions for assisting with styling and to the team at the Silver Darling.

An independent store, stocking beautiful cards, gifts & homeware

Treat yourself to something special at Tiger Lily’s Winter Sale. All clothing, footwear and accessories in the sale is half price.

Our new season’s stock is arriving now, so it’s the perfect time to stock up on wardrobe staples and transitional pieces that will still be in style in spring.

New season jeans, knitwear, gilets and outerwear, t-shirts and much more is in stock now, including the latest designs from Sugarhill Brighton.

Shop online or pop in and see us.

AWARD WINNING CONTEMPORARY INDIAN & NEPALESE RESTAURANT • NEW MENU OUT 2022 •

8 Chapel Street, AB101SP Tel: 01224 626983 tigerlilyboutique.co.uk

347 Union Street, Aberdeen AB11 6BT Tel: 01224 595 588

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FatFace

28 | FASHION EDIT

M&Co.

Monsoon

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George at Asda

M&S

FASHION EDIT | 29

M&S River island

Monsoon

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Aspiga

M&S

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Working from home means it’s all too easy to slip into some ratty old sweatpants and a boring t-shirt. Let’s face it, we’ve been dressing like oversized toddlers for too long. It’s time to up the sartorial style stakes. Be bold and add some colour. Not only will it boost your mood, but it’ll cheer up those around you too. If you’re sitting in neutral, you’re going nowhere.

Dune

Here’s what we like right now…

© Shockerstu/ Kiselv Aneydr Vaevichlr

John Lewis

TK Maxx

Crew Clothing

Crew Clothing

TK Maxx

TK Maxx

MENS EDIT | 31

32 | COMPETITION

WIN W

hat’s better than a nice bottle of gin? How about a free bottle of gin? We have six bottles of Foghouse Gin up for grabs in this competition.

Entrepreneur Mike Stuart, who owns the Inverurie Whisky Shop, has spent two years creating this small batch gin in micro copper stills. Foghouse was inspired

by Mediterranean flavours. The handcrafted expression combines nine botanicals including wormwood which is prized for its distinctive wonderful aroma.

Taking inspiration from classic recipes and carefully considered ingredients, Foghouse Gin delivers notes of rosemary and olive balanced with coriander and cubeb spice.

Foghouse Gin comes in a unique matt-finished bottle for those gin lovers who like to reuse the bottles, or just want to look sophisticated when taking the empties to the bottle bank.

WIN a bottle of foghouse gin The company’s name derives from Foghouses which can be found across many of Scotland’s estates. These manmade shelters are found on hillsides where the Lairds of the past would entertain guests and escape the ordinary.

There’s a beautiful one on Bennachie where you can escape to. Head to the Foghouse website where you’ll find directions.

Foghouse Gin can be ordered online at wearefoghouse.com or bought at the Inverurie Whisky Shop.

Each of our six winners, who must be 18 or over, will receive a bottle of Foghouse Gin to enjoy at home.

To enter, go to trendmagazine.co.uk and answer this question:

Who created Foghouse Gin? inveruriewhiskyshop.com

Win tickets to Bring it on the musical at his majesty's theatre Get ready to shake your pompoms! Amber Davies and Louis Smith star in the smash hit Broadway musical Bring It On, which back flips into His Majesty’s from 5-9 April. Inspired by the film of the same name, the show takes you on a high-flying, energy fueled journey which tackles friendship, jealousy, betrayal and forgiveness, all wrapped up in explosive choreography and tricks.

WIN

We have two pairs of tickets to give away.

To enter, go to trendmagazine.co.uk and answer this question:

Who are the two stars of the show?

Whether you shop with us in-store or online, we are here to help and advise on all our country and equestrian wear brands.

From Hunter and Dubarry, to Samshield and Pikeur, there's so much on offer!

Follow our social pages for updates on our New Year events and launch of our sale!

115 Holburn Street, AB10 6BQ 2-5 Bridge Street, Banchory, AB31 5SX countryways.com

Let 2022 be the year you decide Papillon Designs & Landscaping create & install your dream outdoor space From front to back gardens our team of passionate designers can take your ideas or use their inspiration to achieve garden perfection.

The unique service Papillon provide includes project management of the entire work scope. Ensuring a high standard of workmanship and will reflect the specifications of your garden design.

Tel: 01224 791569 papillonlandscape.co.uk

© Shutterstock/ Yuriy Golub

34 | TAKEAWAYS

Since we’re not sure what restrictions, if any, we’ll face on socialising this winter, we thought we’d share our selection of the best takeaways in the city and shire. Each has something special about it, whether it’s the way they contribute to the community, their attention to details, the way they source their ingredients, or just that everything tastes great.

You may find some of them on delivery apps, but if you can, it’s best to order direct by phone, or the restaurant’s own website or app as they get all the money, rather than losing a 20-30% of the order value.

TAKEAWAYS | 35

PETERHEAD .

ELLON .

Smokesman For a town best known for its fish, Smokesman may seem an unusual choice. It’s a carnivore’s delight, with succulent juicy burgers and smoked marinades. The Whole Hog Burger combines a 1/4lb Beef Burger with cheese, bacon and house smoked pulled pork and there are lots of optional extras.

Eat on the Green Udny Green’s Eat on the Green offers set menus for collection at weekends and for special events, like Mother’s Day. It’s just like taking the restaurant home with you and it’s best to book well in advance as they sell out really quickly. A great choice if you need to impress someone with your cookery skills.

Asha’s Indian Aroma Asha’s Indian Aroma has great options for vegans and vegetarians, old favourites and interesting new dishes as well as friendly and helpful staff. They offer delivery and collection.

The Coffee Apothecary The Coffee Apothecary has branches in Ellon and Udny.

The owners spent three years travelling the world before bringing their determination to provide the best coffees to the North-east. They use local produce where possible and make rather good cakes too.

BANCHORY .

Ride Coffee House Ride Coffee House on Station Road is great if you’re veggie, vegan or need a gluten free option. It’s a good choice for a takeaway coffee and a snack if you’re having a walk along the riverside, wandering the woods at Crathes or trekking up Scolty Hill. How could you not love an Elvis toastie? Peanut butter, banana and raspberry jam, with optional sausage or bacon.

The Bullet The Bullet is a takeaway burger and barbecue van that’s to be found in the carpark at the Silverbank Playing Fields. We’ll admit that this doesn’t sound terribly glamorous, but the food makes up for it. Give the Mac ‘n’ Cheese loaded fries or the pulled BBQ brisket roll a go. You’ll probably fall asleep on the couch afterwards.

36 | TAKEAWAYS

INVERURIE .

Via Roma Via Roma is a delightful little Italian place on Market Place. They also offer online ordering for takeaways. The family pizza deals and set meal bundles are great for weekends, while the selection of risotto and pasta dishes are perfect for an evening where you can’t be bothered cooking. You can even order dessert.

The Kilted Frog The Kilted Frog on West High Street combines Scottish produce with a touch of French flair. It’s a deli/café hybrid that offers takeaway drinks, crepes, snacks and cakes. The Portuguese custard tarts are always popular.

STONEHAVEN .

Seafood Bothy You’ll find the Seafood Bothy on the pier at the harbour. They offer freshly caught and cooked seafood from their own boat, often including local crab and lobster.

It’s a seasonal business and weather dependent, so always check their Facebook page before making the trip.

The Bay Fish & Chip Shop The Bay fish and chip shop has won a clutch of awards and has a great reputation for sustainability. You need to order online for collection, rather than just show up. If it’s mild, you can sit on a bench or use the picnic area and gaze out over the sea. If it’s chillier, then steam up the car windows by eating your fish supper with the heaters on full blast.

ABOYNE .

The Boat Inn The Boat Inn is better known as a great restaurant, but it also has a takeaway service from 12- 6.30, Monday –Saturday.

Try the generous portions of battered or bread crumbed North Sea Haddock and Rustic Chips or the Roast Sweet Potato Burger, either will set you back around a tenner, but make you very happy.

Nurtaj Nurtaj moved to Aboyne’s Ballater Road a couple of years ago from their previous city home on Justice Mill Lane, leaving at least one member of Team Trend pining for their Broccoli and Chana Soul Tiger.

Despite this, we know they make some of the best low-fat Indian cuisine in the shire, so they still get our vote as one of the best. We’d still like that recipe, though.

TAKEAWAYS | 37

ABERDEEN .

Aberdeen offers a much wider choice of cuisines than many of the shire towns, so we can be a little spoilt for choice.

Orka Artisan Café on St. Swithin Street is a West End favourite for coffee and delicious snacks and cakes.

The ever-changing menu is inventive and the scones are always wonderful. They also have a second branch in Ballater, which opened last summer.

When it comes to Indian restaurants, we have some great options. 8848 on Union Street is great for Nepalese speciality dishes and the best Dal Makhani in town. It’s the only place we know that does a blue cheese Naan. Crown Street’s Jewel in the Crown is another favourite. They do some amazing vegetable side dishes and a Butter Chicken that’s to die for. In both cases, takeaway orders benefit from the same care and attention as restaurant dishes.

Muchacho Muchacho on Rose Street offers very moreish Mexican food. We like their Taco Van, which delivers across the region, bringing taco boxes with your choice of fillings and toppings.

Rendezvous at Nargile Rendezvous at Nargile is the obvious choice if you’re craving some Middle Eastern flavours. You’ll find them on Forest Avenue. A section of hot and cold meze makes an easy buffet option for lazy evenings or go for a full on feast with one of their kebabs.

If you’re in the mood for noodles, Chinese or Thai food, then Madame Mew’s on Summer Street ticks all the boxes. They offer authentic Thai food that packs a flavour punch. They do an excellent Phad Thai and a great Massaman potato and coconut curry.

The Manchurian The Manchurian has being going forever up in Causewayend, right next door to the Oriental Supermarket. They are known for their Dim Sum. Takeaways are available for collection and with specialities like Salt and Chilli Squid and Duck with Straw Mushrooms on the menu, it’s worth a visit.

38 | LOCAL FOOD HERO

L LOCAD FOO S HEROE

Dylan King of JK Fine Foods.

Meet Dylan King, a man with a passion for great food…

I

opened JK Fine Foods in the January of 2017 inspired by my Great-Grandfather George Main. He was a skipper whose ambition was to land only the highest quality Scottish seafood available. Over a century later and five generations on, George’s passion for the finest and freshest Scottish produce has continued to run through the heart of my family. Inspired by the legacy of my great grandfather, trading under the name JK The Home of Fine Foods, I’m determined to pursue his goals.

This means that we can deliver our online orders free to any AB postcode.

We spend a lot of time exploring so we can sell quality, sustainable produce. It’s about sourcing the freshest seafood from the docks of Peterhead and collecting high quality meat directly from the producers in the Highlands.

We stock everything from artisan bread to dairy free products, exotic ingredients to amazing patisserie, artisan cheeses, wines and craft beers. We keep up with the latest food and dietary trends and we’ll be introducing some great new products this year.

We have a shop in Aberdeen’s Chattan Place and have opened a second in Westhill Shopping Centre. We also have a fleet of vans fitted with separate ambient, chilled and freezer compartments.

We’re all about great food. We started out being like a small farmers market and have evolved into a one stop shop for everything to provide a 5 star dining at home. We have an award-winning team of chefs in our production kitchen and our butchery team have over 250 years of experience. They’re always happy to provide advice and answer questions.

The products we sell and service we provide reflects our passion, attention to detail and love for good food and drink that we share with our customers.

Ghillied sustainable leggings launches in North-east Ghillied is a new ethical alternative to fast fashion brands which offers high quality UK manufactured leggings. Their products are hand made from ultra-modern sustainable materials created from recycled fishing nets and other nylon waste.

suppliers to deliver a traceable and sustainable product to our customers that helps to repurpose waste and reduce its impact on the environment.’

Find out more at ghillied.co.uk

Founder Rory Leigh and his team have big plans to develop full ladies wear and menswear ranges – all of which are designed to be worn in the outdoors. He explained, ‘There is no more important time than now to reduce the impact of fast fashion. We are proud to work with our

Concept Promotional Merchandise to partner with Westhill Marketing Two of the largest North-East promotional merchandise companies are joining forces in a partnership agreement that will offer customers wider product choice in branded promotional merchandise and clothing. Aberdeen-based Concept Promotional Merchandise has announced a collaboration agreement with Westhill Marketing.

Concept Managing Director Bob Christie, commented, ‘We are delighted to be joining forces with Westhill Marketing and look forward to managing the continuity of supply and a smooth transition process for their client base.

The added benefit of in-house garment branding right here in Aberdeen will be a real bonus for Westhill Marketing’s customer base.’

Aberdeen Shop 16 Chattan Place Aberdeen AB10 6RD T: 01224 580778 Westhill Shop Unit 23 Westhill Shopping Centre Westhill AB32 6RL T: 01224 744011 jkfinefoods.co.uk

40 | ADVERTISEMENTS

Fresh Prince Ingredients: Porter's Orchard Gin | White Wine | Citrus Ginger Ale | Bitters | Egg White

John Byrne screen print raises funds for Peacock Visual Leading Scottish Artist John Byrne has gifted a limited edition run of 50 prints of his 2010 work Blue to Peacock. It's the second in a series of limited-edition artworks the organisation is publishing with artists who have collaborated previously with the Studio. All income raised is reinvested directly into the making and presentation of art. The prints are priced at £100 each.

Find out more at peacock.studio

A local twist on the classic gin fizz using Aberdeen's own Porter's Orchard Gin. Light flavours of apple, ginger and grape come through for an easy to drink liberation.

orchidcocktails.com

N I W

it’ll be a perfect getaway and a chance to spend some time together in relaxing surroundings with delicious food

COMPETITION | 43

WIN a relaxing spa break at the qhotels collection

W

e’ve teamed up with The QHotels Collection to offer one lucky reader and their guest a weekend break with spa treatments, dinner and breakfast.

What’s more, our winner will be able to choose from any one of the Collection’s 17 gorgeous spa hotels across the UK. Fancy a historic hideaway? How about Slaley Hall - nestled deep in the serene North East landscape? Head to Cheshire’s Crewe Hall, set in eight acres of stunning grounds, or perhaps Norton Park, set in a blissful parkland just outside historic Winchester? Or you could choose Oulton Hall, Spa & Golf Resort, which offers easy access to Leeds for shopping. Whichever you choose, it’ll be a perfect getaway and a chance to spend some time together in relaxing surroundings with delicious food.

Many of the QHotel Collection’s spa resorts have AA Rosette-winning restaurants and opulent Champagne bars. For a full list of The QHotels Collection spas, visit qhotels. co.uk/our-spas/

Whether you’re craving some solo pampering or want to indulge with your nearest and dearest, you’ll have the haven of rest and relaxation where self-care and indulgence are the only thing on your to-do list. From facials that leave your skin glowing to massages and full body treatments that soothe you from head to toe, the expert treatments will leave you relaxed, refreshed and revitalised.

This incredible prize includes a one night stay with breakfast, plus a two-course dinner and a spa treatment for two people.

To enter, go to trendmagazine.co.uk and answer this question:

How many spa hotels are part of the QHotels Collection?

qhotels.co.uk/our-spas

44 | FIFTH DIMENSION

FI F T H D I M E N S I O N

The inspiration game: a magical way to re-energise your business team As we start a new year it’s the perfect time to give your team a fun and inspiring boost.

Ivor Smith and Jeff Burns have been working with companies for over 22 years helping to re-energise teams, looking at areas such as effective team working, leadership, health & safety and communication.

Jeff explained, ‘We all know it has been a difficult time and we need to acknowledge it and then move on. This helps people to close one chapter, breathe and then move into a new chapter. It’s also important that you celebrate the achievements that you and your

team have created over the past 18 months. This helps people feel valued and that their contributions are noticed.’

Ivor added, ‘Many companies have been organising team days to help celebrate their successes. These can either be purely for fun such as 10 pin bowling or can have a business theme built into them too.

‘We have been delivering our Inspiration Game team development workshop to a variety of businesses and it always creates a fun, engaged atmosphere. Every activity has a powerful business message behind it and has proven to be a

Find out more at fifthdimension.biz

great success in energising teams and finding fresh ways of working creatively together.’

Jeff concluded, ‘People are the most wonderfully complex beings, yet we are also simple at heart. We all want to feel valued, to feel safe and to feel a sense of purpose in what we do. At Fifth Dimension, we tap into that and the incredible potential that exists in every team.

‘Contact us on info@fifthdimension. biz or visit our website at www. fifthdimension.biz for more information on our Inspiration Game and any of our other inspiring workshops and presentations.’

NEOS | 45

PERF SPE ECT FOR FOR M CIAL OCC ANY A O info@ RE DETAIL SION. trend maga S EMAIL: zine.c o.uk

5th FEBRUARY

18th MARCH

22ndAPRIL

Gin & Jazz Lunch

Fashion Lunch

Garden Party

MALMAISON

MALMAISON

Come and enjoy a fabulous two-course lunch with a G&T on arrival at Malmaison’s brasserie.

Be treated to the sounds of jazz and enjoy gin tastings from some of the North-east’s finest gin producers.

Come and enjoy a fabulous two-course lunch with a glass of fizz on arrival, a goodie bag and much more. The fashion from some of Aberdeen’s best loved stores will be show-casing their spring/summer collections.

THE MARCLIFFE HOTEL & SPA

TICKETS | TBC

TICKETS | TBC

Enjoy a sumptuous Afternoon Tea with a glass of champagne on arrival wearing your finest Garden Party attire with the chance to win Best Dressed Lady and Hat of the Day. TICKETS | TBC PROUDLY SUPPORTING

For more details email: info@trendmagazine.co.uk

46 | BALFOUR+MANSON

N

Family law without the drama

o-one anticipates the need to see a Family Lawyer. It can feel daunting and emotionally draining. Here at Balfour+Manson, we make things as simple and straightforward as we can. We’ve put together these tips to help you prepare and get the most from your initial meeting.

UNDERSTAND THE COST OF YOUR INITIAL MEETING. Don’t be afraid to ask how much time to set aside for your meeting and the cost. We offer a fixed fee initial meeting with a solicitor and e-mail summary for £250+VAT. WRITE DOWN ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. Don’t be afraid to ask them. That way you won’t forget and it helps you make the most of meeting.

PROVIDE YOUR SOLICITOR WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE BEFORE THE MEETING. At Balfour+Manson, our Settify portal will guide you through the information we use to get to grips with your situation quickly. We can e-mail a questionnaire if you prefer.

TRY NOT TO WORRY. Our family law team realise it can be difficult to discuss personal matters with a stranger. We are here to help and not to judge. All aspects of your meeting are confidential.

THINK ABOUT YOUR ULTIMATE END GOAL. Even at the earliest stages of the process, it helps to have formulated an idea of the outcome you want.

Telling us means that our Family Law team’s advice can be tailored you.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIME FOR YOUR MEETING. Book your meeting on a day when you’ll have plenty of time to focus, and don’t need to rush off somewhere afterwards.

THERE IS NO PRESSURE TO MAKE DECISIONS. We never pressurise you to make a decision during an initial meeting. It’s about exploring your options. We‘ll summarise our discussions in a follow up email, giving you time to consider your next steps.

Get in touch to arrange a video or face to face meeting.

6 Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen, AB10 1YP Tel: 01224 498080 balfour-manson.co.uk

IN-BRIEF | 47

Nadia makes finals of Scottish Hair and Beauty Awards Thistle & Clay opens organic refilleries 2021 has been a huge year for Thistle & Clay, opening Royal Deeside’s first zero waste coffee shop and organic refilleries in both Aboyne and Ballater.

It now offers plastic free food and skincare products locally and nationwide via www.thistleandclay.co.uk The refilleries stock a superb range or organic grocery products, with dried goods sold in compostable paper bags and also sell online at thistleandclay.co.uk

Local Make Up Artist Nadia Morton, of Nadia Morton Make-up Artistry, was chosen as one of the finalists in the ‘Make-up Specialist of the Year’ category at this year’s Scottish Hair and Beauty Awards.

Speaking before the winners were announced, Nadia said, ‘The last 18 months have been a whirlwind for me, and with this nomination originating from client testimonials, it makes it all the more pleasing knowing that my clientele respect

the hard work that I’ve continued to put into this profession.’

48 | THINK PR

Banchory distillery launches art-whisky initiative

B

anchory-based independent Scotch whisky distillery, Burn O’Bennie, has teamed up with leading Scottish artist, Peter Howson, to celebrate its opening with a creative art-whisky initiative.

The premium Scotch whisky producers will commemorate the event with the launch of limited-edition bottles featuring Howson's unique environmentally-themed series of oil paintings and sketches named ‘The World is on Fire’.

Burn O’Bennie has also bottled a rare and old whisky series to support the River Dee’s #milliontrees campaign. Special, limited-edition prints of Howson’s work are being sold alongside exclusive bottles of rare whisky, provided by the distillery to raise funds for the nationally-recognised restoration scheme.

of the first limited-edition bottles at a leading auction house, with an estimated value of £5,500.

The initiative will be culminated next year with an original Howson sketch being auctioned alongside one

Albeit the first series of sponsorship initiatives by the distillery, it will certainly not be the last.

50 | CREATIVE

01

W

hen it comes to art, ceramics are often seen as the poor relation to painting and sculpture, perhaps because they also have a practical use as well as looking pretty.

There are some amazing ceramicists working across the city and shire, working in a huge variety of techniques. Whether you’re looking for a conversation piece, a decorative accent, or just some cereal bowls, buying something handmade is often only slightly more expensive than buying something mass produced.

It’s a great way of supporting artists without breaking the bank.

Here’s a few of our favourites…

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ADVERTISEMENTS | 51

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02

01

01 Suz Macinnes

03 Dave Lothian

Suz MacInnes is known for her appealing animal sculptures. She explained, ‘Playing with 'sappy dubs' is such an instinctive and primeval thing which appeals all our senses. I love the versatility of clay.

You can throw clay, pinch it, coil it, slab build with it. I use all of these techniques when I'm making my quirky sculptural and figurative pieces or my hand built and thrown vessels. My main love is hand building though, using mud, fire, water and the magic of the kiln to create pieces which make people smile or 'ask' to be touched & held.

Dave Lothian works from a shed in his back garden and has exhibited at NEOS for the past two years. Dave said, ‘Watching The Great British Pottery Throw Down sparked my interest. I took an evening class to find out if there was a potter hiding inside. Since then, there’s been a lot of experimentation, trial and error.

‘From January through to March, I'm going to be working in my studio to build up stock for the exhibitions I will be attending through 2022. Information about dates, times & locations for these shows is available from www. suzmacinnes.com. You can also buy my work online via my Facebook, Instagram @suzmacinnesceramics and website all year round.’

03 02 Fiona Duckett Fiona Duckett offers a good selection of her stunning metallic lustre work through her shop, Watergaw Ceramics, up in Whitehills. Most of her pieces are created on the wheel, though some are hand-built. Fiona explained, ‘I take the ever-changing sea as my inspiration.

I use in glaze reduction lustre to finish my ceramics. There are just a handful of people creating glazes this way in the whole of the UK, though it dates from more than 2000 years ago.

Fiona’s shop is open from Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and by appointment. Find out more at www. watergawceramics.com

‘I use a white stoneware clay and a variety of glazes and underglazes. I love work that flows and by its form alone stands out.

The vast majority of my experimentation is on the wheel and I get great joy from throwing large bowls.

‘You can see my work on my Instagram account @davelothianpottery. I’ll be exhibiting at NEOS again in September and my work can be purchased from Gill Owen’s shop in Aboyne, Deeside Creations.’

04 Sarah Gordon Sarah Gordon specialises in hand-built pieces using a coiling technique which creates sculptural pieces. She commented, ‘Once the clay surface has dried, the pot is burnished. This is a lengthy process where the surface is slowly compressed and polished. My favourite tool for this is a light bulb!

My pieces are mainly decorated using smoke and fire either in my raku kiln or the garden incinerator! These processes involve many variables, many outwith my control, so each piece is a completely unique surprise.’

Sarah’s work is showing at Milton of Crathes Art Gallery Banchory until the end of February. More information and examples can be found on Instagram @ sarahgordonartist

52 | INTERIORS

F

or many of us, our bathrooms have become a sanctuary, especially if we work from home.

The bathroom can be a place of relaxation, tranquillity and a place to escape the endless cycle of social media and emails. Locking the door and soaking in the tub can offer a temporary escape from the constant demands of family life.

It’s a place to chill out, rather than just a place to get clean.

Bathroom trends for 2022 include the growing popularity of wet rooms or larger shower areas.

Steam rooms are also becoming more popular as people create at home spas. Oversized tiles create a hotel or spa ambience, combined with feature lighting. This is echoed in the growing popularity of Scandinavian styles which adds a natural touch in the form of pale woods and chalky shades.

INTERIORS | 53

Baths are becoming more design-led in a wider range of sizes, shapes and materials, from steel, wood, cast minerals and stone.

Taps and showerheads are becoming sleeker and more minimalist in design, while chrome is giving way to copper, bronze and black.

Ben Bryden, Sales and Marketing Director at RAK Ceramics, one of the UK’s leading bathroom fittings manufacturers, explained, ‘Bathrooms need to be smart, luxurious spaces to retreat and enjoy some time for ourselves. Trends are reflecting this, with glamorous brassware finishes, sanitaryware in soft shades that offer an alternative to crisp white and walk-in style shower areas.

Smart storage solutions, that help make the most of small spaces, will also be important,

as well as less visible features such as antibacterial coatings, sensor technology and rimless WCs to maximise on hygiene and make cleaning easier.’

If you’re considering a new bathroom, consult a local designer or two about making the most of your space. People are often concerned about the cost of moving bathroom fittings and the associated pipework, but this is often less problematic and less expensive than expected and can help create a more spacious, relaxing room.

A glass of wine, a couple of candles, some relaxing music and a good book make the bathroom the perfect setting for a bit of me time.

133 Broomhill Road Aberdeen AB10 6JQ Tel. 01224 200123 Opening Hours: Tue - Thur, 10am - 7pm Fri 10am - 6pm

VALENTINES DAY | 55

In Ancient Rome, the fertility festival of Lupercalia was celebrated in mid-February. A goat and dog were sacrificed and their hides cut into thongs which were used to whip naked women. This, though we’re not sure how, was thought to ensure fertility. In the 5th Century, the then Pope decided that February 14th was now St. Valentine’s Day. Americans have a very inclusive approach to Valentine’s Day with schoolchildren often sending cards and gifts to many of their classmates. Mexico marks it as a

Day of Love and Friendship, so friends and lovers are gifted with balloons, cards, soft toys and flowers. The Germans, by contrast, take a very adult approach, with couples gifting each other pig soft toys, pictures and ornaments. The pig symbolises luck and lust.

In South Korea, women give chocolate to the men in their lives. A month later - and not just because that’s how long it took the chaps to remember - White Day is marked by men gifting their significant others with sweets and chocolate. In Japan, it’s a little more complicated as women are expected to gift workmates with, ‘obligation chocolate’ while keeping the special, ‘true feeling’ chocolate for their romantic interests.

The Danes have a tradition of gifting snowdrops rather than red roses and men will compose funny poems and send them anonymously. If the recipient can guess who wrote the poem, he’s obliged to send an Easter egg later in the year. Better than flowers from the garage!

©Shockerstu/IgishevaMr

F

ebruary 14th is Saint Valentine’s Day, but it’s fair to say that slushily romantic gestures do not always come easily to the people of the North-east. Unless your other half is the demonstrative type, you’re more likely to end up with a cheeky card, a bottle of wine and a takeaway than being whisked off to Paris while carrying an enormous bouquet of red roses. Other nations do things rather differently…

WWW.DONNAMURRAYPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Maersk Training secures safety training contract for Boskalis Subsea Services Maersk Training has been awarded a six-figure contract to provide its complete Training Management Services (TMS) for Boskalis Subsea Services’ global workforce. The contract is for three years with a two-year extension option.

The agreement covers offshore survival, health, safety and environment, diving operations, and deck operations. Alongside simulation and practical exercises and activities, some of the offering will also be delivered via Maersk Training’s state-of-the-art e-Learning suite

Drummond Finance expands into Dundee

M.07780682732 E.garethjsthomson@gmail.com gthomsonmusic

Aberdeen-based Drummond Finance has recently welcomed experienced commercial banker Steve Ayre to the team to enhance activities and expand its corporate footprint into Dundee and the surrounding area. The company helps SMEs to secure finance by representing them and their interests to prospective lenders.

Managing Director Alex Drummond said, ‘If more local businesses have greater access to funding, there is

greater potential for those businesses to thrive and grow as a result.’

To find out more visit drummondfinance.com

S O CI E T Y FO CU S

Elaine McIntosh, Pamela Semple, Carole Jamieson, Leanne Sinclair

A touch of sparkle

WHO:

280 ladies from in and around Aberdeen

W H AT:

Nicci Falconer, Susan Ronald, Lorraine Brandie

WHERE :

The Chester Hotel, Aberdeen

The ladies gathered for an afternoon of fun and entertainment in support on MND Scotland. This was the 3rd Touch of Sparkle event in memory of Kerry Milne, who passed away from the illness in 2011. On the day Anna Lamb and Lewis Carroll from Music4U sang for the ladies, games, an amazing raffle and a silent auction raised a fantastic amount of £10,000. The ladies danced into the evening to live music by local band The Franchise. The money raised will go a long way to help MND Scotland provide support to people diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and will also help fund ongoing research to find a cure.

Lynsay Wilson, Faye Sherriffs, Namoi Townsend

Louise Buchan, Carla Christie, Catriona Robertson

Natalie Gillies, Diane Murray, Adele Hamilton

Dianne McIntosh, Jacqueline Neill, Lesley Moore, Carole Jamieson, Bridget irwin

Sara Gall, Jennifer Forsyth, Leoni Forsyth, Jodi McDermid, Jenna Spearritt

Rebecca Forno, Leoni Leith, Magdalena Korcewicz

Nikki Bennet, Lindsay McAndrew, Linda Simpson, Martine Barnes

58 | GARDENS

Lean is e c M y t s g Kir ncoura e o t n kee to start e n o y r eve ing… garden

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etting started needn’t be complicated or expensive. It can help your physical and mental health and be an activity you can enjoy with others or alone. It can put fresh food on the table, provide a splash of colour or create a haven of relaxation. If you’re not sure where to begin, the best approach is starting with something achievable.

© Shockerstu/amdibwv

When you start to read about gardening, it can feel overwhelming, and people stop for fear of getting it wrong! There’s no doubt it’s a huge subject but that’s one of the reasons it’s so enjoyable, even well-seasoned experts never get to the bottom of it - every day’s a school day!

GARDENS | 59

Think about what aspect of gardening appeals most. If you want to grow your own food, perhaps start with growing some mixed salad leaves in a raised bed or a trough planter. Container growing is easier to control and less an issue if it doesn’t quite go to plan. Herbs are another easy-grow plant, often drought tolerant and can be grown in and outdoors. They like full sun/good light and well-drained, moisture retentive, fertile soil. Make sure you keep mint and chives in their own pot or they will take over!

diversity of wildlife. It’s a great project to do with the kids.

No space, then plant a container with some wild-flower turf or seed mix, or plant herbaceous flowering perennials instead such as Nepeta, Lavender, or Salvia which bees love.

If you want to grow veg, start by finding out what type and quality of soil you have. If you have light and sandy soil or heavy clay, dig in well-rotted manure, compost, leaf mould, composted bark, If it’s colour you crave, try planting a or mushroom compost to add bulk. In container with some bulbs. Put gravel light soils this helps to hold moisture or broken pots at the bottom over the and nutrients and in clay soils it breaks drainage hole, add a multi-purpose up soil for better drainage. Prepare clay compost/potting soils in autumn and compost up to just leave open to be under the rim. There broken down by frosts are so many to choose and rain. Light sandy If you want to from, both online or soils are best dug over encourage wildlife, in spring. the local garden centre, with clear planting designate an area instructions on the If that’s too strenuous, of garden and packet. You can plant try a ‘no dig’ don’t mow the different bulbs in layers approach. This so you get a succession avoids disrupting the grass there. of flowering through important microthe growing season. organisms, fungi and This is pretty fool proof. worms that help feed plant roots. If the plot is covered in If you want to encourage wildlife, designate weeds, kill them by applying anything an area of garden and don’t mow the that stops light penetration. This can grass there. Let it flower and seed. take around six months or a year for Short-grass plants like daisies and white stubborn weeds like bindweed, dock clover get the chance to flower and longer and brambles. When the ground is grass produces a wider range of flowers ready apply your bulky mulch (as including nectar-rich plants like oxeye outlined above) to approximately 15cm daisy, field scabious and knapweed. deep, on the surface. Don’t dig it in, but firm it down then sow your veggies. Add A basin dug into the ground with pebbles, around 5cm of new mulch each year stones and water will support the smallest in autumn when crops are cleared or insects and building a bug hotel by spring on beds where winter crops layering twigs and branches with some have been growing. cut bamboo canes of different sizes for bees, will make a home for a wide Happy gardening!

60 | KIDS

© Shockerstu/ Kiselv Aneydr Vaevichlr

If having a go at ice skating at the Winter Village has sparked your kids’ interest in winter sports, then the city has plenty of exciting opportunities on offer at the beach and in Garthdee, as well as the ski slopes of the Cairngorms.

KIDS | 61

A

berdeen’s Snowsports Centre offers open public sessions as well as coaching for all ages and abilities.

The instructors are well-qualified and enthusiastic and it’s possible to hire equipment. Coaching is available in group sessions or individually and the minimum term is a month, paid by direct debit.

Lessons are available for kids aged 4-5 and upwards. There are sessions available for those with additional support needs too.

Classes are available for Beginners, Early Intermediates, Intermediates and Club-ready skiers and snowboarders, as well as tuition in Freestyle Development and Performance and Race Introduction.

Bookings must be made in advance.

If that all seems more like hard work than fun, there’s also a slope used for tubing, which is great fun for children and adults alike. You don’t need any training or balancing skills, as it’s just sliding down a slope while sitting in an inflatable rubber doughnut tube. The hard part is dragging the thing back up to the top of the slope for another go.

Aberdeen Snowsports Club offers a range of activities for junior members from 5-17 years old from their base at the Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports Centre at Garthdee. Much of the training is aimed at the more experienced child and includes classes in Freestyle Skiing, Racing, Snowboarding, All Mountain Skiing and crosstraining sessions in gymnastics and trampolining. You can see what’s on offer at aberdeensnowsportsclub.co.uk/ activities-and-classes/

We also have some of Scotland’s best skiing available at Glenshee, the Lecht and Cairngorm Mountain near Aviemore.

Glenshee is spread over three valleys and is family-friendly and great for beginners.

It’s typically open from mid-December to late March, but snow is never guaranteed.

Cairngorm has a slightly longer season and usually has snow in at least part of the territory, though it can be very busy at weekends. There are plenty of other ways to entertain the kids if there’s no snow. The Lecht lies at a lower altitude, so snow is less certain, though it’s generally quieter and has the best nursery slopes for beginners of all ages.

If ice is more to your child’s liking than snow, then the Linx Ice Arena at the beach provides lessons in both ice skating and ice hockey as well as open skating sessions. Ice Aberdeen is a recognised British Ice Skating Skate UK Learn to Skate provider, working with everyone from complete beginners to the next Torvill and Dean. There are group lessons or individual coaching and it’s possible to hire equipment. They even offer parent and toddler sessions, which is fine if you don’t mind being outskated by a fearless three year old. Details of open sessions and instructions are available from the SportAberdeen website.

The arena is also home to three local Ice Hockey teams, the best known being Aberdeen Lynx. Those over 16 can participate in the Hockey For All scheme which is suitable for those with basic skating skills. Unlike league matches, the session is totally noncontact. The HFA sessions run on Saturday afternoons, with some loan equipment available. The sessions are taught by fully qualified ice hockey coaches. Beginners are also assisted by a number of the better players who attend. You can find out more on their Facebook page at facebook.com/ groups/151023861610208/

Kacey Cardno, Susan Maitland, Joyce Taylor, Brenda Cardno, Norma Pirie, Anne-Marie Strachan

Katie Jordan, Jackie Angus, Dez Young, Debbie McFarlane, Marion Leyni

Gareth Thomson

Edna Wilson, Bredna Cox, Lynne Canale

Pat Kennedy, Nicole Kennedy, Fiona Kennedy

Claire Fowler, Kasia Young

Stroma Duncan, Rachel Sinclair, Lisa Fowlie,Alison Warren, Deborah Hall

Jeff Burns, Ivor Smith

S O CI E T Y FO CU S

Trend’s Bubbles & Baubles WHO:

200 sparkly dressed guests

W H AT:

Angela Milne, Kay Kidd

Trend’s annual Bubbles & Bauble event was back!

Fizz and a 3 course lunch was served up and an afternoon of fun was had by all while supporting Maggie’s Aberdeen. The decor by Adesso was amazing, sounds from Florence Jack and Gareth Thomson entertained the guests and the MC duties were performed by Fifth Dimension’s Jeff and Ivor. Finnies kindly donated a gorgeous pair of diamond earrings to be raffled to support the charity.

WHERE :

Marcliffe Hotel & Spa

Susan Sangster, Bev Clayton, Lisa Keith, Melissa Hamilton, Me Young Choi, Angela Allen, Catherine Froud-William

Mo Vernal, Mary Michie, Norma Forman

BEHIND THE BUSINESS

Charlotte Garvie of Adesso Décor I live just outside of Banchory with my husband, 7 year old daughter and French bulldog. We have a very busy life! As well as running Adesso, I have a farm with horses and sheep where my parents still live.

We have planning permission and are hoping to start building our new home there this year.

E

vents have always been my passion. I’ve organised some of the biggest and glitziest dos in Scotland. It’s a year round business.

We’re already working on Valentines, Easter and spring just now. We’re getting more and more involved with themed events and event management as our clients' needs have changed.

We aim to provide something a bit different and will try to create experiences that give a wow!

We recently decorated the Royal Yacht Britannia for Christmas and it was super special. They were due a lot of rain so the dry dock had been drained of water, meaning the boat was listing quite heavily to one side which made decorating the trees very interesting!

When I’m not working, I really enjoy being a mum and ferrying my daughter around to her different activities, getting out on long walks with friends and cooking up a storm in the kitchen. My favourite film is The Wolf of Wall Street, I could watch it over and over again and never get bored. I also have to declare my love for Rod Stewart, it has bordered on an obsession ever since my friends and I ended up tagging along with his party in Simpsons in 2001. I was even dressed up as him for my hen party.

I’m a firm believer that local is best when it comes to shopping and eating out. I love the old school service and quality in Finnies. Everything is done properly and the shop is immaculate, making everything sparkle even more.

Country Ways is another favourite haunt of ours, great service and lovely collections perfect for life in the country.

To eat, there is no better place on a crisp winter day than the Silver Darling.

I love watching the boats come and go whilst eating the most delicious food.

All businesses have their challenges and previously, seasonality was our biggest one as we were relying on freelance staff who inevitably would find other work from year to year.

Holding on to great staff has been challenging but we now have members of the team who plan their year around our busy times and have committed to being involved.

I would say my best quality would be my ability to stay calm in a crisis. This hasn’t always been the case but we lost my sister-in-law last year and it really put everything into perspective for me.

Something that would have sent me into a panic previously would now be approached with a calm 'how do we fix this' way. My worst quality is probably that I’m an open book. I give far too much away about myself even when no one has asked!

EMAIL: CHARLOTTE@ADESSODECOR.COM ADESSODECOR.COM

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