Aberdeen International Airport Upbeat Magazine Autumn 2018 issue

PEOPLE / TRAVEL / CULTURE / REVIEWS / BUSINESS / SHOPPING

> Geneva

To ski or not to ski?

> London's Theatreland

> Christmas Crafted

Window on the world

Read how ABZ’s air traffic controllers navigate the busiest commercial heliport on earth

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> CONTENTS

Stay at home Discover Dublin Smart enjoys the only direct daily service between Aberdeen and Dublin

from

ÂŁ29.99 each way including taxes and charges

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> CONTENTS

CONTENTS

44

08 BUSINESS 08 Terminal Transformation 10 Airport News

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TRAVEL

14 Security tips 15 Geneva: To ski or not to ski?

18 Take the kids to see Santa in Lapland 22 London 32 Connecting you to the World 34 Head for the Sun 36 Dalaman – the start of your Turkish adventure 52 Aberdeenshire: Home of Food, Glorious Food

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20 TUI: Come fly with us 40 Spotlight on: Air Traffic Control 48 Local Flavours: Cosy Aberdeen cafés 44 Christmas: CRAFTED 51 Words worth reading: Thrillers 54 Diary

42 What’s on

PEOPLE

CULTURE

50

COMPETITIONS

22 18

26 SHOPPING 26 Christmas inspiration

50 The Beat Goes on – win £100 for World Duty Free

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WELCOME <

Welcome to the autumn edition of upBEAT

Fly in to Turkey's turquoise coast and the summer is your oyster!

To celebrate the turning season, we undertook the arduous task of scoping out some of the best cosy cafés in the city, perfect escapes from the wind and rain. Flights to Geneva start in December, and even if you’re not a skier, there’s loads to do and see there this winter, plus there are still places on the Aberdeen-Lapland trips, take a look inside at the magic on offer. We also spoke to three professional crafters about what they’re planning to make and sell over the festive season.

Booking next summer’s holiday is sure to keep your spirits up, why not take a look at Dalaman? Fly in to Turkey’s turquoise coast and the summer is your oyster!

We also looked at London’s Theatreland, picking out the best shows, eats and ticket deals on now.

Editorial JAN LEATHAM info@janleatham.co.uk Sales & Marketing CLARE FINDLAY clare@trendmagazine.co.uk Design STACEY BARR stacey@trendmagazine.co.uk Publisher TREND PRODUCTIONS LTD PO Box 11858, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire AB39 9AN trendmagazine.co.uk

Closer to home, I visited the Air Traffic Control Tower here at the airport and spoke to two controllers about their fascinating jobs. We keep you up to date with the airport transformation, and we had a chat to TUI staff about what it means to be cabin crew in 2018. Turn to the news pages to read all about funds raised by the Runway Run, find out where staff have been volunteering and keep up to date with Harley, the airport’s therapet.

All this, as well as what’s on for the next three months, the ideal thrilling read and £100 to spend in World Duty Free up for grabs in our BEAT goes on competition– what are you waiting for?

Tel: +44 (0) 344 481 6666 Email: feedback@aiairport.com Text: 80800 (start message with “Airport”, texts are FREE) Web: aberdeenairport.com Search 'Aberdeen Airport' Follow us @ABZ_Airport Follow us @aberdeen_airport Search 'Aberdeen International Airport' Scan to visit aberdeenairport.com

Print STEPHENS & GEORGE PRINT GROUP

Cover Image: © Newsline

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. The publisher cannot be responsible for unsolicited material. The views and opinions of contributors in the magazine may not represent the views of the publisher. upBEAT magazine takes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers in this publication. All information correct at time of going to print (October 2018).

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>> BEFORE CONTENTS YOU FLY

> GETTING TO

ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

TRAIN

Aberdeen and Inverness services stop at the local station at Dyce which is just a short taxi ride from the airport. The mainline station is in Aberdeen city centre where there are frequent services to all parts of Scotland.

For further information, please visit: travelinescotland.com

BUS

Regular bus services operate to the airport from Aberdeen city centre.

Jet Service 727 Aberdeen Airport terminal to Aberdeen Union Square bus station, right by the city centre bus and train stations. 7 days a week service, operating up to every 10 minutes throughout Monday - Friday.

Service 747 Weekday-only service running between Peterhead and Dyce via the airport Details at stagecoachbus.com or call +44 (0) 1224 597590

> BEFORE YOU FLY

2 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR TRIP

THE DAY BEFORE YOU FLY

For the best deals, book your carparking online: aberdeenairport.com/parking

1 WEEK BEFORE YOUR TRIP

Check the weight of your suitcase and prep your cabin bag. Decant any liquid, gels, etc. into a small plastic bag.

THE DAY YOU FLY

Order your currency online for easy collection when you get to the airport: aberdeenairport.com/currency.

Check all your travel documents and ensure your passport is current, that you have a visa (if required) and that you have noted the flight times on your tickets.

Allow plenty of time to get to the airport, to check-in and clear through security. > Check the rules on sharps! > Dispose of liquids above 100ml before reaching the security area. > Remember that jackets and belts must be removed. > Laptops and mobiles to be presented separately.

CAR

The access road to the airport is signposted from the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road. The airport is seven miles from Aberdeen city centre. The main car park is located at the front of the terminal building for short-stay parking. If you are using a satellite navigation system, the airport postcode is AB21 7DU

BY BICYCLE

Aberdeen International Airport is a relatively easy airport to get to by bike. There is a high quality off-road cycle route from the A947 (Dyce) roundabout onwards.

If travelling for a short break an option may be to leave your bicycle in the modern, covered cycle stand at the airport

Forbidden anywhere on board

Sharps: No blades over 6cm

100ml max: Liquids, gels and pastes

AIRLINES & TOUR OPERATORS AER LINGUS AIR BALTIC AIR FRANCE AIRWAYS HOLIDAYS BALKAN HOLIDAYS BRITISH AIRWAYS EASTERN AIRWAYS EASYJET FIRST CHOICE FLYBE FLYBMI JERSEY TRAVEL KLM LOGANAIR RYANAIR SAS TUI WIDERĂ&#x2DC;E WIZZ AIR

aerlingus.com airbaltic.com airfrance.co.uk airwaysholidays.com balkanholidays.co.uk ba.com easternairways.com easyjet.com firstchoice.co.uk flybe.com flybmi.com jerseytravel.com klm.com loganair.co.uk ryanair.com flysas.com tui.co.uk wideroe.no/en wizzair.com

HELLO FROM THE CEO <

Hello

from the CEO Derek Provan CEO, AGS Airports Ltd

If we can evidence to airlines that the AWPR is allowing more people to come to this airport, rather than travel to other airports because of ease of access, it will definitely strengthen the business case for new airlines to operate here.

No sooner had we cut the ribbon of our new security and retail areas back in June, we immediately entered the next stage of our terminal transformation project.

Outside of the airport, there’s huge excitement and positivity about the raft of development projects currently underway.

This final phase involves big changes to the rest of the departure lounge, increased floor space and the introduction of new retail and catering outlets. We’re aiming to have our terminal ready for Offshore Europe 2019, so we can truly showcase our significant improvements to the energy world.

In particular, we’re excited about the new opportunities the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route could bring for us. We’re looking to attract new passengers with the new by-pass from both north and south of the city who perhaps may not have considered flying from Aberdeen for various reasons.

It’s also pleasing to see increased flight rotations to business locations like Oslo, Bristol, and Gdansk, and encouraging that our leisure routes will be returning for the summer season next year.

The coming months present a period of exciting and bold change, not only here at the airport, but across our resilient and enterprising region.

Enjoy the issue, Derek.

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> TERMINAL TRANSFORMATION

Terminal Transformation Update

Welcome to The Distilling House The airport’s newest food outlet, The Distilling House, has opened its doors to hungry passengers as part of our expansion project.

Located within the departures lounge, The Distilling House is a new pub and dining outlet with a difference. Inspired by the local flavours of the region, The Distilling House menu is a fusion of traditional Scottish fare with American influences as well as classic pub favourites – perfect fuel for any journey ahead.

Yvonne Birch, Head of Retail at Aberdeen International Airport said, “The Distilling House is a fantastic new experience for our passengers to enjoy pre-flight. Its stunning, quirky design, great food and array of local gins and whiskies ensure there is something for everyone.

TERMINAL TRANSFORMATION <

“We’re pleased that our new facility has been recognised

by PAMIS and the Changing Places Consortium."

“There’s still work being carried out in the terminal, so we’ve placed plenty of signage around the terminal to ensure passengers locate The Distilling House via a new staircase, located adjacent to gate 5. It’s an exciting time for the airport and we cannot wait for what comes next.”

Nick Ayerst, Managing Director of TRG Concessions said, “We have been proud partners of Aberdeen International Airport for over a decade and we’ve been delighted to invest and play our part in the latest chapter of the airport’s story.

“At The Distilling House we will showcase the best Scottish produce and highlight the unique heritage of distilling in Aberdeenshire and the region, in a comfortable atmosphere where every passenger is welcome.”

The Distilling House has its own inhouse gin, whisky and rum. The gin

and rum is distilled at The Nicholas Culpepper pub in Gatwick, which has its own distillery on site. This is transported to The Distilling House and used here in Aberdeen International Airport.

New adult changing facility awarded Changing Places status A new accessible toilet facility within our departure lounge has been recognised

by Changing Places – an official body supporting people with profound and multiple learning difficulties.

The room, as well as a new custom-built toilet block, officially opened at the end of September.

The Changing Places facility aims to aid passengers with a wide range of physical disabilities such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis, who often need specialist

equipment and more space in order for them to use toilet facilities safely and comfortably.

Included within the Changing Places room is a height adjustable bench, electronic hoist, non-slip floor and privacy screens. The facility can be accessed without the need for a key, and is alarmed should any passengers require assistance.

Kevin Douglas, Terminal Operations Manager at Aberdeen International Airport said, “We’re pleased that our new facility has been recognised

by PAMIS and the Changing Places Consortium. We want to make travel as seamless and safe as possible for our passengers, and the Changing Places room will make a huge difference to those who find travel a challenge. It is a fantastic addition to our upgraded departures lounge.”

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> AIRPORT NEWS

Runway Run raises £38,000 for three charities

The final fundraising total for July’s epic midnight charity dash has been confirmed, organised by the airport and CHC Helicopter.

Three charities, Befriend A Child, Sue Ryder and Veterans with Dogs will benefit from the total £38,497.30 raised by more than 300 runners. Incredible result!

Get set for Gdansk Flights to Gdansk are to be increased next summer, with Wizz Air adding an extra flight to its weekly rota. From March 2019, you’ll be able to fly to Gdansk three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Rolling Luggage British Heart Foundation Our Rolling Luggage store took part in a charity swap scheme benefiting the British Heart Foundation.

Passengers could donate their unwanted old bags which would be donated to the charity, in return for 20% off luxury brand Tumi.

Ryanair summer 2019 flights now on sale Gear up for summer with Ryanair!

All four Ryanair destinations will be returning for the summer period, with flights to Faro, Alicante, Malaga and Malta available to book now.

Don't forget, you can fly to Alicante with Ryanair all year round.

ALICANTE

FARO

Flybmi increases flight rotations to Oslo and Bristol Flight rotations to two flybmi destinations from ABZ have been increased.

In September flybmi announced BRISTOL

additional flights out of Aberdeen International Airport to include Sunday flights between the airport and two of its most popular destinations, Bristol and Oslo.

OSLO

AIRPORT NEWS <

Northern Lights Lounge celebrates first birthday Top local brands have been added to the Northern Lights Executive Lounge’s roll call of suppliers as the lounge celebrates a successful first year in operation.

In July, the airport welcomed some well-known suppliers to the lounge including Mackie’s, Rora Dairy, Summerhouse Drinks, The Bay Fish & Chips and Amity Fish Company – spearheaded by one of Scotland’s best-loved skippers, Jimmy Buchan.

Passengers were also treated to some free legendary fishcakes cooked up by The Bay outside the terminal.

VR app pioneered at ABZ We’ve been working with Friendly Access, a Scottish hidden disabilities charity as it looks to trial a new Virtual Reality app for passengers who may find travel challenging.

Friendly Access, together with the School of Simulation and Visualisation at The Glasgow School of Art and 3D visualisation specialists Crag3D, have devised iSenseVR. iSenseVR is an app that will positively impact those who may experience sensory difficulties in busy environments, like airports, shopping centres and other highly populated areas.

Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg visits ABZ Aviation Minister Liz Sugg visited in August to take in the most recent developments in our terminal transformation project.

She met airport employees and received a tour of the completed areas, and was also updated on the progress of the final phase, due for completion in Q3 2019.

Aviation Minister Liz Sugg said, “Aberdeen Airport plays an important role in opening up the Highlands for tourism, trade and leisure travel opportunities, as well as supporting thousands of jobs locally. I was particularly pleased to see their commitment to making flying more accessible for those with disabilities through the introduction of the adult changing area, which helped show why the airport deserved its recent ‘very good’ rating on accessibility”.

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> AIRPORT NEWS

Airport receives ‘very good’ rating in CAA Accessibility study The airport has been given ‘very good’ rating from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in its latest accessibility report. We have been working closely with local disability organisations to improve our understanding of the needs and expectations of passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility.

The airport was nominated for its partnership with local charity Me Too! at the recent Celebrate Aberdeen awards in the Corporate Partnership of the Year category.

Harley stars on Newsround Harley, our airport therapy dog, has been visiting our passengers and generally making everyone smile. He even made an appearance on CBBC’s Newsround, as they came to film a day in the life of Harley and his owner Niel.

Cup of joe at Joes?

Have you seen our incredibly dinky coffee cart located beside WHSmith in departures? Stop by before you fly and try out Joes Café’s great range of pastries, sandwiches and of course, awesome coffee!

Draft Noise Action Plan launched Aberdeen International Airport launched its latest draft Noise Action Plan at the end of September, which welcomed the community’s thoughts and feedback on the proposed plan.

Airports are required to update noise plans every five years, and once finalised following engagement with stakeholders and local communities, the new plan created will cover airport operations up until 2023.

AIRPORT WELCOME NEWS <

Beach clean at Donmouth Aberdeen Airport staff (and some willing volunteers) participated in a community beach clean as part of a national campaign.

pieces...

Highland Park exclusive – SOLD OUT!

The Great British Beach Clean took place at beaches across the country, and our colleagues did their bit tidying up the beach at Donmouth.

Fire Service at Grampian Transport Museum During the summer break, the team from the Airport Fire Service dropped by the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford. The group from ABZ even took along a ‘Panther’ – a state of the art specialist fire engine. The team and the Panther were so popular, that some people waited for up to two hours to see it for themselves!

Latest Access Forum meeting held The ABZ Access Forum is held twice a year and is comprised of representatives from various disability organisations and charities, as well as team members from the airport. The purpose of the meeting is to provide a forum for groups representing a wide range of disability and mobility issues, as well as individuals who use the assistance service. These meetings help to aid continuous improvement and review of Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM) activities at the airport. The group uses the forum to feedback on current services and

Fly

facilities, review and monitor quality standards through consultation and foster open and honest communication between all parties.

Did you catch our Highland Park exclusive? We had 610 bottles of the 12year old malt for sale within our World Duty Free store, and completely sold out in just 12 days. Sláinte!

KLM Dream Deals competition winner Together with KLM UK, we offered our Twitter followers the chance to win two free tickets to anywhere on the worldwide KLM network.

Congratulations to Tracey Cronin, who was selected at random for the trip of a lifetime!

One Too Many campaign Aberdeen Airport supports national ‘One Too Many’ campaign, which reminds passengers of the costs of drinking to excess when travelling by air.

These include the risks of being denied boarding, having a plane diverted and the associated costs which include heavy fines, up to two years’ prison, an airline ban and a diversion fee up to £80,000 for the most serious in-flight incidents.

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> SECURITY TIPS

TAKE THE stress out of security If you’ve travelled through the airport recently, you’ll have noticed our new state-of-the-art security area. Our new facility is designed to make it even easier to travel through the airport, and we’re here to help you get your trip off to the best possible start.

Here are our top tips to make your security experience simple: Take as little with you in your hand luggage as possible Be prepared before you enter the Security area – this can often be quite a busy and fast moving environment Don’t be afraid to ask our staff questions if you are unsure Everything that goes through the x-ray must go in a tray

Large electricals should be removed from your bag and placed separately within the tray, for example your iPad or laptop

All information you will need regarding rules and regulations can be found online https://www.gov.uk/handluggage-restrictions

Take off scarves, hats and as much of your outer wear as possible

Book priority in advance – this can often save you waiting in a queue

If you have zip-up pockets on your jacket, it can be useful to store items in there before putting your jacket in the tray

Pre-pack your liquid bag - but if you don’t have it don’t worry as we give them to you free here at the airport, available at Departures

Give yourself plenty of time – even if you have checked in online, remember there may be a wait at Security

GOOD TRAY Large electricals taken out of bag Handbag in tray Liquids in sealed bag Jacket folded up in tray

BAD TRAY Liquids in sealed bag within handbag Large electrical item concealed with other items Jacket trailing out of tray

REMEMBER THE 4S RULE: SINGLE

Single bag 1L squared

SEALED

Bag must seal along the top

SIZED

No container more than 100ml within the bag

SEPARATED

The bag should be separated in your tray from the rest of your belongings

WELCOME <

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a v e n e G SKI? O T T NO R O I TO SK

©iStockPhoto/Vichai Phububphapan

KNOWN FOR BEING HOME TO THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE RED CROSS, GENEVA HAS A GLOBAL REPUTATION FOR FINANCE AND DIPLOMACY, BUT IS ALSO A PERFECT ADVENTURE DESTINATION. KEEN SKIERS WILL KNOW JUST WHY GENEVA IS SUCH A GREAT WINTER HOLIDAY LOCATION, BUT THERE IS ALSO PLENTY TO DO OFF PISTE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

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> INTERNATIONAL

Ice skating

T

he city of Geneva lies at the southern edge of Lake Geneva or Lac Léman (not to be confused with Lake Geneva, the city in Wisconsin), and is surrounded by the majesty of the Alps and Jura mountains, with stunning views of Mont Blanc. Several ski resorts are easily reached within an hour’s drive from Geneva, including La Clusaz in the Massif des Aravis area, and Megève in Evasion Mont-Blanc.

If speeding downhill at breakneck speeds isn’t your thing, then head for Megève where there are four cross country ski circuits and 70km of beautifully tended ski trails. Strap on a pair of cross country skis and you’ll get plenty of exercise and fresh air, plus world class scenery without the adrenaline. Lessons are available at the ESF Ski School and there is a beginners’ trail within walking distance of the town centre. La Givrine is another cross country friendly resort in the Jura Mountains about an hour from Geneva.

Winter walking is also big in the mountains, and there are 50km of marked footpaths around Megève, with access to the chairlifts and gondolas for walkers too. Guided walks are available and lessons in winter skills for the hills. Or for a change, swap the crampons for snowshoes at Megève Paquettes, a family-run outfit who specialise in snowshoeing expeditions for all ages, including night trips under the stars.

Dawa Sherpa, extreme sportsman, professional trail runner and resident of Geneva, recommends a a trail run from the shores of Lake Geneva to the top of Mont Salève as the perfect way to discover the best of the city. For those who don’t quite have the legs,

but still want to soak up the views from the top, hop on the cable car which is complimentary with the Geneva Pass.

If you’re seeking a flatter route which ticks the sight-seeing boxes, Dawa recommends starting your trail on the Eaux Vives jetty overlooking the iconic Jet d’Eau. Follow the Promenade de la Jonction round up the Rhône until you reach the end of La Jonction, where you can see the deep blue Rhône river meet the milky white waters of the Arve, one of Geneva’s natural phenomenon.

Ski-joering sounds like a new sport, but it turns out to be a combination of horse-riding and skiing which was originally a method of transport in Scandinavia, then introduced to France

INTERNATIONAL <

Every winter, the Lac de Joux freezes over to become the largest ice skating rink in Europe."

as a means of accessing difficult to reach ski areas. With just the ability to keep yourself upright and your skis parallel, you are pulled along singly or in pairs behind a horse through the mountain trails. Ski-joering is now a recognised leisure sport with all levels catered for, from beginner to competition standard.

Ice-skating is popular in Switzerland in winter, and Geneva has three permanent municipal indoor ice rinks, two with attached outdoor ice offering public skating from October to March.

There are also numerous seasonal outdoor rinks that pop up from November to March, which are free and skates can be hired for two francs.

Among the latter is the pretty little rink in the Parc des Bastions which is great for families, and the larger Carouge rink in Place de Sardaigne which holds events around Christmas time. Ice hockey fans should book tickets to see the Servettes on home ice at Patinoire des Vernets. Every winter, the Lac de Joux freezes over to become the largest ice skating rink in Europe. Situated in Vaud amongst the Swiss Jura mountains, this 10km long and 1km wide lake freezes solid for an average of two months a year.

Fancy seeing or photographing the mountains from above? Take a flight in a plane or hot air balloon ride from

Lakes

Markets

the Aérocime at Altiport Megève and marvel at the spectacular scenery, try the 40 minute plane ride over the Mont-Blanc Massif with views of the glaciers of Tour and Argentière.

After a day in the mountain air, what better than a day of pampering at one of the many hot water spring resorts and spas within easy reach of Geneva, mostly open year round. Les Bains de Lavey in Vaud boasts the hottest thermal water in Switzerland, with two outdoor and one indoor pool heated to 36˚C. Leukerbad Therme is the biggest hot spring resort in the Alps, set in a small picturesque town where there are several public baths and spas plus hotels with private facilities and treatments. Aquaparc in Le Bouveret is on the banks of Lake Geneva and is more of a family-oriented water park, with warm pools and lots of slides and toboggan rides under cover, as well as a day spa area for adults.

This year also sees Geneva’s very first Christmas market from 4-31 December in Bastions Park, where visitors can enjoy a mulled wine in the lounge zone, shop for fabulous local gifts in the Christmas Village and enjoy free familyfriendly Christmas films.

Fly to Geneva on Saturdays with easyJet from 15 December 2018.

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> INTERNATIONAL

?

We look at two different trips for all the family, both full of fabulous festive fun and guaranteed to create memories that will last a lifetime

INTERNATIONAL <

Winter Wonderland

Santa’s Magic

is a day trip to EnontekiÖ in Northern Finland, where you and your children can enjoy the untouched wilderness of Finnish Lapland, have a private meeting with Santa, and still be home in time for supper! You are met at the airport and transported through snowy forests and past frozen lakes to a scenic wonderland. Your thermal snow suits and boots will be waiting for you to wrap up warm, and then you’ll head into the magical darkness and snowy woods for a memorable adventure. Your festive mission is to search for Santa’s hideaway cabin in the woods, where he waits to meet you in person. There your children can share their hopes and wishes and receive a small gift.

is a three-day and four-night trip to Saariselkä in Lapland, starting with your flight across the Arctic Circle to Ivalo airport, where you will be greeted by Santa’s friends the Sami reindeer herdsmen for a photo to remember. A coach will then take you to your chosen cabin or hotel in Saariselkä, via the snowy forest where Santa’s cabin hides. Don’t worry about the chill as Santa’s Elves will make sure you’re all kitted out with all the best winter gear including suits, boots, gloves and hats. Then you’re free to explore, throw a snowball, make a snowman or relax in the Finnish sauna.

There will also be a chance to sample an exciting range of winter activities, guaranteed to get everyone in the Christmas spirit and get the circulation flowing. You can speed along on your very own sled pulled by huskies, or glide along in a reindeer sleigh over the frozen tundra. If you’re up for it, you can even drive a snowmobile over the winter snowscape*, try out tobogganing, build snowmen or have a snowball fight. *available to adults with a full UK driving license.

Prices starting at £509 per adult and £499 per child, with FREE child places available on the Aberdeen departure 8 December. Day trips include return flights with hot meals on board, private family meeting with Santa including a small gift; taster husky experience, snowmobile adventure and reindeer sleigh ride; warming lunch, loan of thermal suit and boots, all taxes and government air passenger duty. For more info see transun.co.uk/winter-wonderland

The next day you’ll meet Santa in his private hideaway, where he’ll have your children’s letter* ready to chat about their Christmas thoughts. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit Igloo Fantasia, two igloos where you can see the Elves making presents, and a wonderland of ice sculptures with an ice bar.

There’s a thrilling husky sled ride (grown-ups can take a turn at driving) and a chance to cuddle up with your kids on a magical sleigh ride. You can also try ice-fishing, snow hockey, kicksledding (cross between a scooter and a toboggan), tandem skiing, toboganning and mini-skidoo rides for the kids. There’s even a Reindeer Centre where you can feed Santa’s friends, try the crazy golf or reindeer lasso. The cheeky and fun-loving Saari Elves are always on hand to make sure you get the most out of your trip. *Lapland writing paper is included with your flight information and details of how to use the Christmas Magic Mail to make sure your child’s letter reaches Santa in time for your visit.

Fly to Lapland from Aberdeen for 4 days and 3 nights on Friday 7 December 2018. The same Santa’s Magic trip will be departing December 2019 and is available to book now.

Activities are best suited to children aged 5+. More info at santaslapland.com

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> TUI RECRUITMENT

Come fly with us Have you ever fancied flying as cabin crew?

T

UI Aberdeen can make your dreams come true, and you may be surprised to find you fit the bill!

I spoke to three new recruits at TUI Aberdeen, all of who trained and worked on flights this year for the holiday company. Dale Morgan (24) is training to be a doctor at Aberdeen University and needed to support himself financially through his second degree; Jonathan Stevenson-Bramley (58) had a career as a civil servant before taking early retirement and looking for a different kind of challenge; and Mandy (52) took redundancy from the oil industry after 15 years, opened a café with her daughter, and jumped at the chance of a second career.

Dale: I used to work in supermarkets in my university holidays, but when I heard about this job, I realised I could earn enough to save and the flexible hours would really suit my situation. I love working with people of different ages too, it can get monotonous being with people your own age all the time. I started after my exams and my contract finishes as I return to university, and in between times you are able to bid for the shifts that suit your requirements, for instance

you can ask for night flights or weekend flights, and the computer system allocates them fairly across the staff. It’s a really varied job, as the passengers are always different, even though it might be the same flight.

The training was pretty intense but I enjoyed it, especially the medical and health and safety bits!

Jonathan: I did toy with the idea of cabin crew when I left school, but then I ended up in the civil service and had a full career, mostly working down in south-east England and London.

When I retired early at 55, I knew I wanted a new challenge, somewhere where I would enjoy going to work and the people I worked with. The recruitment process was fairly full-on, you fill in a form and supply a video interview which is followed by a full day interview – which included a number of exercises, but it was really thorough. Those of us who made it through then went on to four weeks

"We would love to hear from anyone with a passion for customer service"

TUI RECRUITMENT <

of training, split between Aberdeen and East Midlands followed by a Wings ceremony to celebrate completing successfully. I found that a lot of the skills I had learned in my career and life were transferable to the job, and that I arrive at and leave work happy and relaxed. I come to work these days because I want to!

Mandy: After opening the café, I didn’t really know I was on the look-out for a new opportunity, until I heard the recruitment advert on Original 106 one evening. Before I knew it I had applied, recorded my video interview, picked my assessment date and all in under three weeks. I never thought that anyone would want to employ me as cabin crew, I’m a grandmother and I’m certainly not a stick insect!

Oh, and I’m not tall either, but you just have to be able to reach to close the overhead lockers. I’ve loved how much of a team we all became throughout the training, it feels like I’m coming to work with a bunch of pals. I work 3-4 days a week from April to October, but for those who want to work year-round there are opportunities to work out of Scandinavian airports in the winter months, or on TUI cruise ships, in the retail side or as ski reps. One thing I absolutely love is the feeling when I put on the uniform complete with my red lipstick and walk through the airport, it makes me proud to work here and proud of what I’ve achieved.

Mark (Crew Performance Manager- TUI Airways ABZ): It has been a really exciting first season for us here in Aberdeen. We have consistently been one of the top performing bases for customer service, punctuality and sales. I am really proud of the whole team for the excellent results that we have achieved. We are now looking for additional crew for next year and would love to hear from anyone with a passion for customer service.

We have a really diverse team with varied experience and from different backgrounds. If you would like to join us and take to the skies please visit: http://bit.ly/TUI_Cabin_Crew_ABZ

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> LONDON

Take a trip to London's

London’s Theatreland has to be experienced first-hand, to be able to explain just how magical it all feels. Walking around Covent Garden, Shaftesbury Avenue and the Strand, there is a brightly lit theatre on every corner and people forming excited queues or tumbling out of the latest hit.

The atmosphere pervades the whole area, whether you’re having a musical-inspired cocktail or making the most of your night out with a pre-theatre dinner.

Main image ©iStockPhoto/himalaja. Palladium ©iStockPhoto/TonyBaggett. Stage Door ©iStockPhoto/violinconcertono3

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LONDON <

Most famous theatres There are over 40 theatres in the West End alone, and perhaps the most internationally famous is Shakespeare’s Globe, which is a modern reconstruction after the original was destroyed by fire.

The main theatre is open-air and so only runs a programme during the summer months, but the intimate and candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse now provides a winter programme, which this year includes the Ambitious Fiends season with Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus from November 18 to January 19. Another household name is the London Palladium which regularly hosts the Royal Variety Performance as well as concerts and comedians. This place is so synonymous with showbiz that Bruce Forsyth’s ashes were laid to rest under its stage.

The National Theatre has its home on the South Bank and comprises three theatres, the Olivier, the Dorfmann and the Lyttleton. It’s a production theatre so creates a lot of new work as well as running well-respected education programmes. The Olivier is showing

Anthony and Cleopatra this winter with Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo.

The London Coliseum is ornate and luxurious and the largest in London with 2,359 seats, now primarily the home of English National Opera and English National Ballet, and there’s still time to book for the Nutcracker this December.

Top shows If you like old school then 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane is the musical for you. Going like a tap-dancing juggernaut since 1980, this lavish retake of a Warner Bros. 1933 classic comes complete with 43 ensemble dancers who steal the show on London’s biggest stage. Potterheads should head straight for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre. It’s the first Potter play and the eighth story, and because of its epic nature, you have to see it in two separate parts (if you have tickets for the same day there are two hours between shows). Popular shows at the moment are Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre and The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre, also the remake of Chicago at the Phoenix Theatre starring Cuba Gooding Jr.

©iStockPhoto/georgeclerk

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> LONDON

Show stopping eats Head to Simpson’s in the Strand or Smith & Wollensky’s for upscale pre-theatre dining and sumptuous surroundings.

If you love Indian food then Mint Leaf in Haymarket or Cinnamon in Soho fit the playbill, but if Italian food is more to your taste then Angela Hartnett’s Café Murano showcases simple Northern Italian fare in the heart of Theatreland. The Waldorf Hilton in Covent Garden has partnered with the new Chicago musical to offer a special themed cocktail menu, while Joe Allen’s is a well-known theatre restaurant with posters lining the walls and an American-themed menu. Sarastro offers its own theatre-style evening with entertainment while you dine inside theatre boxes, alongside rooms crammed with props from old West End shows.

Record breakers St. Martin’s Theatre is a small theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, famous for hosting the same play for over 60 years. The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie opened in 1952 and has run continuously ever since. The longest running musical is currently Les Misérables which began in 1985, followed by The Phantom of the Opera in 1986.

Theatre tickets The best way to save money on tickets for a West End show is to buy them way in advance or try the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for last minute deals and half-price bargains. The staff at TKTS are committed theatre fans with a wealth of knowledge.

If you know which show you want to see, it’s worth going directly to the box office and asking about standby tickets and returns. Theatre prices are dynamic, so if you can be flexible there are deals to be found, especially midweek. Punters who were happy to stand in Shakespeare’s day paid just a penny and were referred to as ‘groundlings’ – today you can do the same at the Globe Theatre for £5, or as little as £3 at the Royal Opera House.

Visit theatre websites and sign up for their newsletters, some theatres run their own schemes such as the National Theatre’s Travelex Scheme, and The Old Vic’s PwC £10 previews. Some shows even have a daily or weekly ballot for discounted tickets, such as The Book of Mormon and Hamilton.

Main image ©iStockPhoto/Paolo Paradiso. Far left ©iStockPhoto/ jikgoe Left ©iStockPhoto/PhenomArtlover

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> RETAIL

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> CONTENTS

Our Destinations aberdeenairport.com/destinations

> International BULGARIA > BOURGAS Balkan Holidays DENMARK > COPENHAGEN SAS > ESBJERG flybmi FRANCE > PARIS Air France GREECE > CORFU TUI & First Choice > RHODES TUI & First Choice (New - Summer 2019) IRELAND > DUBLIN Aer Lingus LATVIA > RIGA airBaltic MALTA > LUQA Ryanair NETHERLANDS > AMSTERDAM KLM NORWAY > BERGEN Widerøe & SAS > OSLO bmi & SAS > STAVANGER SAS & Widerøe POLAND > GDAŃSK Wizz Air PORTUGAL > FARO Ryanair SPAIN > ALICANTE Ryanair > IBIZA TUI & First Choice > MÁLAGA Ryanair > PALMA TUI & First Choice > REUS TUI & First Choice > TENERIFE TUI & First Choice SWITZERLAND > GENEVA easyJet TURKEY > DALAMAN TUI & First Choice

Routes are correct at time of publication but are subject to change. Please check with your airline before travelling.

> Domestic UNITED KINGDOM > BELFAST CITY Flybe > BIRMINGHAM Flybe > BRISTOL flybmi > CARDIFF Flybe, operated by Eastern Airways > DURHAM TEES VALLEY Flybe, operated by Eastern Airways > HUMBERSIDE Flybe, operated by Eastern Airways > JERSEY Jersey Holidays, Flybe > KIRKWALL Loganair > LONDON CITY Flybe (operated by Eastern Airways from 7 May 2018) > LONDON GATWICK easyJet > LONDON HEATHROW British Airways & Flybe > LONDON LUTON easyJet > MANCHESTER Flybe > NEWCASTLE Flybe, operated by Eastern Airways > NEWQUAY Flybe > NORWICH Flybe, operated by Eastern Airways > SOUTHAMPTON Flybe > SUMBURGH Loganair > WICK Flybe, operated by Eastern Airways

MALAGA

Riga image iStockPhoto/f9photos Malaga image ©iStockPhoto/bruev

RIGA

800

Riga has over 800 Art Nouveau buildings

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> LONG HAUL DESTINATIONS

ABU DHABI

WITH KLM

A luxury holiday in the desert? Fly KLM to Abu Dhabi and go sunbathing, check out the markets or shop in the Marina Mall. See the reconstructed oasis houses and discover the history of the United Arab Emirates at the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village. Visit the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque and leave impressed after seeing the largest carpet in the world and the biggest chandelier. Time to relax? Stroll along the boulevard of Corniche Road or visit a nearby beach. Loving speed? The Ferrari World theme park is home to the fastest roller coaster in the world. In Abu Dhabi, there is something for everyone. Expect to be surprised!

Fly with KLM via Amsterdam Schiphol Book at klm.com

SINGAPORE

WITH BRITISH AIRWAYS

One of the fantastic things about holidaying in a tropical place during our winter is the abundance of flowers and greenery, and Singapore is no exception. Spend a day at the Singapore Botanical Gardens and marvel at the National Orchid Garden; or head to the Gardens by the Bay to see the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest greenhouse and 18 manmade Supertrees, some of which are 16 storeys high. There is a spectacular sound and light display every night, and both gardens are open from 5am when the temperature is a little cooler. If technology is your passion, then head for Funan Digitalife Mall or Sim Lim Square to grab a gadget, or browse Orchard Road for designer names. Fabulous cuisine and shopping await in Chinatown and Little India, whilst Haji Lane is the place to go for hipster fashion.

Fly with British Airways via London Heathrow Book at ba.com

LONG HAUL DESTINATIONS <

NEW YORK

WITH AER LINGUS

Experience the bright lights and electric atmosphere of the city that never sleeps. Hailed by many as the greatest city in the world, the Big Apple has everything, from shopping and sightseeing to culture and cuisine - the hardest part is deciding where to begin.

The city is home to some of the world’s most recognised landmarks, including The Empire State Building, The Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Broadway, Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge - the list is endless. New York is closer than you think.

Fly Aer Lingus from Aberdeen via Dublin and you can check your bags straight through and pre-clear U.S. Immigration, saving you time on arrival. It’s the easy and convenient way to go. Fares start from just £197 each way as part of a return trip.

Fly with Aer Lingus via Dublin Book at aerlingus.com

JOHANNESBURG

WITH AIR FRANCE

Discovering Johannesburg gives you a glimpse of today's Africa… and tomorrow's. With economic development in full swing and continued urbanisation, the city is living in the now while shaping its future. See vestiges of South Africa’s recent past when you visit Mandela House or the old Central Business District. Check out contemporary Johannesburg in Maboneng, Braamfontein and 44 Stanley, packed with design studios, hip stores, and trendy restaurants. Alternatively, enjoy the wildlife in the Kruger National Park, the perfect place to see the famous ‘Big Five'. Fly with Air France and get your South African holiday in Johannesburg off to a great start.

Fly with Air France via Paris Book at airfrance.co.uk

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JERSEY

WITH JERSEY TRAVEL

Visit Jersey’s offshore islands and experience one of the biggest tidal ranges in the world revealing hidden wonders. Les Ecrehous and the Minquiers are only 6 and 9 miles from Jersey respectively and you can cruise around your chosen reef spotting birdlife, seals and if you are lucky, dolphins. On the high tide, the old fishermen's huts and the most southerly toilet in the British Isles are isolated and surrounded by the sea, whilst on the low tide, the landscape changes to reveal turquoise shallows, sparkling sandbanks and thriving rock pools. The areas are perfect for paddle-boarding, swimming and exclusive picnics.

Weekly flights from May 2019 jerseytravel.com/abz

ALICANTE

WITH RYANAIR

Head for Alicante and you’ll discover one of the most vibrant and welcoming cities in Europe – and you’ll be right on the doorstep of the beautiful Costa Blanca. The city has a legendary nightlife, year-round sunshine, an impressive food scene, and great cultural and historical attractions for sightseers.

But of course, for many people flying to Alicante the draw is that it’s just a hop, skip and a jump to those sun-drenched beachresorts along the Mediterranean coast. If you want to sprawl out on golden sands with the sun on your face and a cocktail in hand, or party all night at the best nightclubs, Alicante is where it’s at.

Weekly flights all year round with ryanair.com

SUMMER DESTINATIONS <

BOURGAS WITH BALKAN HOLIDAYS

Holidays to non-Euro Bulgaria from Aberdeen next summer with Balkan Holidays offer great value for money and beautiful beach resorts. Bulgaria's Black Sea coast stretches an impressive 230 miles and boasts some of Europe's finest sandy beaches. With a wide variety of resorts from the busy and popular Sunny Beach to the UNESCO protected heritage site of Nessebar, the traditional and picturesque Sozopol, the upmarket and charming marina resort of St Vlas and the delightful family resort of Duni plus many more, Bulgaria has a resort to suit every taste. Book today for just £49pp deposit.

Weekly flights from May 2019 balkanholidays.co.uk

RHODES WITH TUI

Rhodes’ tourism figures speak for themselves. Attracting hundreds of thousands of British holidaymakers every year, the island is one of the most visited in Greece.

Most people are drawn to Rhodes by the beaches. The island’s east coast is a ribbon of virtually uninterrupted sand, and it’s where you’ll find all the main holiday resorts.

There’s Lindos, which is watched over by the ruins of an acropolis, and Faliraki, the legendary hangout of the 18 to 30s crowd. Then you’ve got the sleepy Blue Flag beach at Pefkos, and the quiet coves in Kalithea and Kolymbia, where sunbathers go to get away from the trappings of tourism.

Weekly flghts from May 2019 tui.co.uk

NEWQUAY WITH FLYBE

For foodies and gourmets, Newquay has an endless variety of pubs and award winning restaurants in the centre of town and as one of the UK’s premier seaside destinations, you’ll find a lot of the eateries offer plenty of delicious freshly caught fish dishes. The growing cafe culture means there’s always somewhere to stop for brunch or treat yourself to a traditional Cornish cream tea. Famous for its exciting nightlife, Newquay is a magnet for students, stag and hen parties and many of the pubs and nightclubs are open late with live music and entertainment at every turn.

Weekly flights from May 2019 flybe.com

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36 > CONTENTS > INTERNATIONAL

Dalaman

Sometimes referred to as Turkey’s turquoise coast, the south western part of this exotic country is full of surprises. Turkey has incredible beaches and waters, stunning scenery including pine clad mountain slopes and much more greenery than you might imagine. Add predictably high summer temperatures and delightfully warm shoulder seasons, as well as a great value for money location, and you have a winning combination.

Main image ©iStockPhoto/Olena_Rublenko. Left to right above ©iStockPhoto/den-belitsky/HomoCosmicos/ALFSnaiper

The start of your Turkish adventure

INTERNATIONAL <

F

lying into Dalaman airport means that many of the region’s finest resorts are within 90 minutes’ drive, as well as traditional Turkish villages and seaside towns. Rhodes and Ephesus are a day’s boat ride away.

©iStockPhoto/nejdetduzen

©iStockPhoto/nejdetduzen

Olu Deniz is home to the Blue Lagoon, one of the most photographed spots on the Turkish coast. The resort is set in a national park and surrounded by tree-lined mountain slopes, and the Blue Lagoon is sheltered from the sea, creating the perfect setting for an Instagrammable dip. The beach has a Blue Flag-winning mile of sand and the nearby village has kept development to a

minimum. Spend an afternoon shopping in colourful Carsi Caddesi where you can score a fake designer bargain, as well as traditional cushions and pashminas; or up the adrenaline levels with a breath-taking tandem paraglide off Babadag mountain.

The ghost town of Kaya Koyu is near both Olu Deniz and Fethiye. This traditional village has been preserved as a museum and historical monument since most of the villagers were deported back to Greece in 1922, and the rest after an earthquake in the 50s.

Fethiye has a surviving old quarter with cobbled streets and whitewashed houses, with a famous bustling Tuesday market which is popular with visitors and locals alike. Spend time here among the carpets, ceramics, jewellery and textiles and have a go at bartering, you can expect to pay around a third of the initial price and you never know, you might enjoy it! Choose fish from the fresh fish market and take it to a nearby restaurant where they’ll cook it for you, while you enjoy a glass of local wine or a pomegranate juice and some meze. Turkish baths are plentiful and an absolute must for a typical Turkish experience. You can get a cheap and cheerful authentic steam, scrub and massage at the Old Turkish Bath in Fethiye, or a more 5-star experience at some of the local hotels.

Marmaris is a port city as well as one of the livelier resorts on this Turkish coast. It has several marinas and is a centre for sailing and diving. All manner of watersports are catered for, from pedalos and banana boats to jet skis and bungee jumps, as well as skippered cruises and yachts for hire.

There is a daily covered bazaar next to the Ottoman castle, and the beach runs the length of the resort flanked by a palm-lined promenade. As you might expect from a bigger resort, the opportunity is there to party all night long: the venues on Bar Street cater for a range of music tastes and many are open until 4am. If that’s too early for bed, then you can join an after-party boat to dance until sunrise.

Kids will love the Atlantis Waterpark, with nine great slides as well as a wave pool and a paddling spot.

Calis Beach is a peaceful beach resort looking across the bay to Fethiye, just 10 minutes away. The 4km long beach is backed by the Taurus mountain range and is popular with wind and kite surfers.

Secluded Calis Koca, the sandy beach used in the Bond film Skyfall is just a 20 minute walk away. If you prefer the sunset to the early hours, or fancy a quiet family holiday, then this is the resort for you. Nearby trips include Saklikent Gorge, a 300m deep and 18km long canyon set within a national park, which you can walk through using wooden walkways or sail down in an inflatable tube.

Take a trip to fourth century Lycian tombs, which were literally carved out of the rocks above Fethiye. If 199 steps up in the Turkish sunshine isn’t too much, make your way to the biggest tomb at the top, then down to the restaurant at the foot for panoramic views and some well-earned refreshment.

Icmeler is set in a bay surrounded by palm and eucalyptus trees, and has a promenade that runs all the way to Marmaris. You can learn to dive here with qualified instructors amongst the chimney caves, giant boulders and shipwreck fragments. Eat where the locals eat down by the waterfront for an authentic and affordable local experience – try a mixed meze starter or a slow cooked leg of lamb while watching the sun slip below the horizon, or a seafood pizza and a cold Efes beer from the verandah at Café del Mar. Göcek has a string of upmarket marinas and a matching selection of smart bars and restaurants, as well as lots of traditional fare. Nearby beaches include Sarigeme where the Aegean Sea meets the Med producing perfect conditions for windsurfers and dinghy sailors, and Iztuzu where you can visit the loggerhead turtle rehab centre. Whether you take a traditional gulet out into Göcek bay or relax on a cruise to one of the nearby islands, this is the location for seafarers.

Weekly flights on a Thursday from Aberdeen to Dalaman are available with TUI and First Choice. Book now for 2019. tui.co.uk

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Eyes on the skies...

Editor Jan Leatham takes a look behind the scenes at Air Traffic Control, Aberdeen International Airport

Radar screen showing offshore airspace

View over the runway

BEHND THE SCENES <

I don’t know about anybody else, but I have always been fascinated by the goings on in Air Traffic Control, a service that’s provided by NATS at Aberdeen Airport. My mother was in radar in the RAF in the early 60s and I was keen to see how things have changed, as well as just how this vital function is managed in a busy airport. I spoke to Julie Dey (45) from Banchory and Adam Buttercase (27) who lives in Kintore, both of whom are Air Traffic Control Officers in Aberdeen.

What kind of jobs are there working for NATS here in Aberdeen?

Adam: The thing that makes Aberdeen International Airport so unique is the huge volume of helicopter traffic – this is the busiest commercial heliport in the world with 100 regular helicopter flights a day, so we have some controllers who are dedicated solely to looking after that traffic. Downstairs in Radar we have seven positions, five dealing with offshore airspace across the North Sea – covering the same area as the whole of the UK land mass, and two dealing with Aberdeen airspace. Upstairs in the Tower, the controllers deal with the actual airfield – what they can see out of the window.

How did you decide on this as a career?

Julie: I started working for a handling agent in the airport, then moved onto an airline where I started on the passenger side, then became a Handling Coordinator for SAS. I had always been interested in flying and achieved my pilot’s license in my spare time with Tayside Aviation. At the time radio telephony was part of the qualification and a show round of the Tower was all I needed to realise

that this fascinating job was the one for me!

Adam: I was always interested in planes, but with no particular plan in mind I browsed through a careers book at school in Kirkcaldy. As soon as I read about what an Air Traffic controller did I knew I wanted to apply. However you can’t hold a radar license until you’re 21, so I left school and worked at Toys R Us until I could apply to the NATS college at the headquarters in Whiteley near Southampton. I didn’t see any point in going to University when I already knew what I wanted to do.

What do you like about the job?

Julie: I enjoy working as part of a team, and how varied the job is. I especially like doing a job where your brain has to be engaged, and it’s never the same.

We work for two hours and then have half an hour off, enabling us to stay focused. Shift work is great too, with six days on and four off, I have plenty of time for my home life too, as well as training for triathlons and riding my horse.

Adam: I love problem solving and that’s what Air Traffic Control is, a great big puzzle that you’re always trying to solve, but you never quite manage, as new pieces are added all the time. It’s challenging at times, and you have to think on your feet, but I enjoy that too. We’re well paid, get good time off, and we are looked after really well. It fits in well around my life including marshalling at motor sports events – which uses a lot of the same skills!

What would you say to someone thinking about this as a career?

Adam: It’s worth considering careers that don’t entail going to University, alongside ones that do.

Julie: Go onto the NATS website where there are games and simulators to help you see if you have the aptitude for the job. nats.aero

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42

> WHAT'S ON

What’s on?

OCTOBER

Aberdeen Comedy Festival Various venues 5 – 15 DanceLive Festival of Contemporary Dance Various venues 11 – 27 Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella HMT Aberdeen 23 – 27 Braemar Creative Arts Festival Aberdeenshire 24 - 28 soundfestival Scotland’s Festival of New Music Various venues 24 – 4 NOV Peterhead Prison Museum Halloween ghost tours Aberdeenshire 26 – 31 (exc. 28) Illuminator Night Trail half marathon+ Glen Tanar Estate Aberdeenshire 27

11

04

NOVEMBER

WWE Live AECC 4 Skills Scotland Aberdeen Career opportunities for 14-19 year olds AECC 6** Macbeth HMT Aberdeen 7-10 The Grinch Tivoli Theatre Aberdeen 11-14 REBUS: Long Shadows HMT Aberdeen 12-17 Annual Employment Law Conference The Marcliffe Hotel & Spa Aberdeen 15** FLOCK Christmas Contemporary Craft & Design Fair The Barn Arts Centre Aberdeenshire 17-18 Christmas Tree Switch On Castlegate Aberdeen 22

22 17

*Airport destinations **Business

WHAT'S ON <

DECEMBER

04

1 – 24 Twelve days of Christmas: wooden sculptures trail Aberdeen 1 – 31 Christmas Festival Royal Albert Hall London* 1 – 6 Jan Snow White pantomime HMT Aberdeen 4 – 31 Geneva’s Christmas Market Geneva Switzerland* 6 Scottish Ensemble – Musica Adventus: concerts by candlelight St. Machar’s Cathedral Aberdeen 8 Skerryvore The Lemon Tree Aberdeen 15-18 Kevin Bridges ‘Brand New’ tour AECC 31 Hogmanay Live Tivoli Theatre Aberdeen

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01

JANUARY 2019

16 25

11-20 London Short Film Festival London* 13 FUNBOX: Once Upon a Time HMT Aberdeen 16 – 19 Scottish Ballet: Cinderella HMT Aberdeen 19 Legends of American Country Show Tivoli Theatre Aberdeen 19 - 20 Your Wedding Exhibition AECC Aberdeen 25 Burns Night Ceilidh Banchory Town Hall, Aberdeenshire 29 UP HELLY AA Lerwick Shetland*

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Find them at FLOCK on 17-18 November at the Barn Arts Centre, Banchory

Each year we look for ways to make the gift-giving at Christmas more meaningful, and giving unique, beautiful and locally designed presents is certainly one way of doing that. We spoke to three professional designers who create stunning pieces for a living, selling through their online shops and at craft fairs.

CHRISTMAS CRAFTED <

Helen Greensmith Helen Greensmith started her design business almost 10 years ago, not long after she finished studying textile design at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen.

‘Each scarf starts with original hand-drawn illustrations, usually in pen and ink. These artworks are then converted to digital files to be combined with found imagery and photography to create the intricate and layered prints of the scarves. It has always been a core value of the brand to keep production local and ethical. Printing is carried out in Glasgow, and the hand-finishing in Aberdeen. My designs are inspired by the wild Scottish landscape and animal life, as well as fairy tales and traditional folklore. Each scarf tells its own story – a well known and loved tale, an old saying or a personal childhood memory, giving the wearer an emotional connection to the piece. Often spiking beautiful design and illustration with subtle sinister undertones, there is always more than meets the eye!

Megan Falconer Megan Falconer graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in 2015, then started her own business making and selling jewellery and silverware.

She runs her business full time, splitting the days between making collections of silverware and jewellery for craft fairs, exhibitions and galleries, and teaching jewellery making courses in Aberdeen.

‘The pieces that always sells well are my textured silver bangles and pendants, I think because they are great everyday, classic pieces. I also get a lot of interest in the mixed metal pieces - the rings with a silver band, and gold setting with a stone, people love the contrast in the colour and these are quite a special piece of statement jewellery that are unique and can be made to an individual’s size with different stones. This Christmas I will be attending FLOCK, as well as heading to Glasgow to take part in TeaGreen Events’ Christmas show at Kibble Palace and I hope to be attending the Etsy Made Local in Aberdeen.

‘I will be running workshops through the council’s Creative Learning’s Make Your Mark programme, which include a silver spoon making workshop and a number of jewellery making blocks. I also have my own workshop in the centre of Aberdeen where I run private courses for up to four people, anything from making silver pendants to making your own wedding rings. I run workshops at Teasel & Tweed in Rosemount, and I will be running a stone setting workshop there in October.’ meganfalconer.com

‘I will have my most recent scarf collections at FLOCK as well as a few others from previous collections, it’s a great opportunity for customers to try the scarves on and see the different ways to wear them. The wool scarves tend to sell better in the winter, but around Christmas time customers are looking to buy them for special gifts that will be worn all year round.’ helenruth.co.uk

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> CHRISTMAS CRAFTED

£50 OFF* WHEN YOU BOOK AN APPOINTMENT AT STA TRAVEL ABERDEEN FLY DIRECTLY FROM ABERDEEN WE CAN HELP YOU BOOK A TRIP OF A LIFETIME

Jude Gove After graduating from the Jewellery department at DJCAD in 1999, Jude Gove sold work by commission and to a handful of shops and galleries.

‘Although I’ve always been a maker, I never felt passionate about making jewellery, it felt like a chore. I spent years trying different crafts until one day I found a piece of scrap leather and decided to make a purse.

Of course, it was terrible, but I was instantly hooked!

That was nearly 3 years ago and I haven’t looked back.

‘My best seller is a small coin purse which sells well throughout the year, but particularly well at Christmas – it’s the perfect stocking filler! Colette is small enough to fit in your pocket or handbag, but big enough to hold your bank card, notes and coins and a pile of receipts – I never leave home without mine! I like to work with seasonal colours and this season I’ll be introducing some metallics and luscious winter colours.

I’m attending FLOCK in November, as well as CRAFTED at Dundee Contemporary Arts and Tea Green at The Bowhouse in Fife – there are so many talented makers taking part, it’s hard not to buy everything!

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the UK, and at least £500 of land product (for example tours, hotels, insurance, bus pass or Travel Expert please use DMK>VRE.

I have a workshop coming up during FLOCK, where you can sew a coin purse in soft leather and pure wool felt in contrasting colours, on Wednesday 21 November from 2 -5pm. @judegove

> Karting on our new 1km Silverstone style race track > Clay Pigeon Shooting > Segway > Digger Driving > Sumo Wrestling > Water Roller > Target Rifle Shooting

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> LOCAL FLAVOURS

THE CULT OF COFFEE

LOCAL FLAVOURS

It’s autumn and our thoughts naturally turn to warming hot drinks, steaming bowls of soup and fine pieces with friends, especially after a bracing walk or shopping trip. UpBEAT looks at just some of the cafés with a cosy feel and delicious sustenance in the centre of Aberdeen, and found some that offered a little bit extra too.

THE BREADMAKER ROSEMOUNT VIADUCT

The first thing that hits you when you walk into The Breadmaker is the smell of bread, and the second is the welcome. CEO Donald Anderson baked for supermarkets in a past life, but has been part of this project since well before 2006 when it officially opened. Adults with learning difficulties are employed in both the coffee house and the bakery, where the bread is made slowly and using traditional methods. Sandwiches are mouth-watering, with loads of options including five veggie and two vegan options, and their scones were featured in The Times Scone Guide.

Oh, and all your coffees are £1.50 before 11am.

THE CULT OF COFFEE ESSLEMONT AVENUE

The cosiness of this place literally beckons you across the street. Inside the emphasis is firmly on great coffee and stunning cakes, with bags of Artisan Roast beans from Kenya to Honduras, which you can buy in bags

LOCAL FLAVOURS LOCAL <

ROSIE'S CUP

or enjoy by the Perfect Drip filter cup. Cakes are visions of loveliness in gleaming glass domes, I had a triple decker lemon drizzle which has frankly spoiled me for any other! The vibe is grown-up and laid back at the same time. Extras include a historical ramble round Rosemount, macramé and yoga classes, and open mic nights.

THE CRAFTSMAN COMPANY GUILD STREET

The Craftsman Company occupies a spot that I have often wished had a coffee shop or a cosy bar from where I could watch the spectacle of the harbour. And magically, this place is both rolled into one, with scrubbed benches, exposed brick walls and a welcoming villagey feel. Take your laptop and catch up with emails, meet friends for a coffee or a tasty lunch in a cosy haven right next to our busy transport hubs. Your canine chum is welcome here too.

BONOBO SKENE STREET

What looks like just a takeaway from

the street becomes a bit of an Alice in Wonderland experience once you step inside. Full of vegan goodness such as cinnamon and rose raw cake, "choona" jackfruit sandwich, massaman curry, turmeric latte and clever French toast to eat in or take away, the workers’ co-operative also has a café space upstairs and a lovely roof garden full of produce. Bonobo offers classes and workshops, such as the extremely popular Vegan on a Budget, storytelling and yoga, as well as being dog friendly. You might also meet Mickey the orange and white cat, who has adopted the café, just so you know.

ROSIE’S ROSEMOUNT PLACE

This was another surprise on the inside, what I thought was a card shop with a few tables turned out to be a lovely café on two levels, with sofas and a dog-friendly area downstairs.

The café is owned by Turning Point, which is a social enterprise offering training, work and support for people recovering from a brain injury or mental illness. Alongside hearty bowls

of homemade soup and tasty puddings, the café offers hope and a chance to make a difference. They also sell crafts and preserves made by other service users in their premises on Holborn Street, and there is a plan to introduce a new Doric Smoothie menu in the near future.

CUP LITTLE BELMONT STREET

This extremely cosy café’s USP is breakfast. But all day. And in the most enticing forms into the bargain: they have brekkie boards, brekkie sliders, a tea menu as long as your arm, and EIGHT different kinds of avocado toast!

Tea is served in delightful china cups and saucers, and you can order online to carry out from the Thistle Street shop, including afternoon tea. The brekkie boards are inspired, with different cereal combos, pancakes, waffles, sliders and drinks to suit everyone, including kids.

Mention this article when you go into CUP until 20 Jan 2019 and receive 10% off your order.

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> BEAT CONTENTS GOES ON

Mr Crockatt, Opera, Paris Azzam Younes, Alexandria, Egypt

Angie Devlin, Grand Canyon

Irvine Devlin, Alcatraz

Colin Godfrey, Sky Garden, London

Jonathan Graham, Budapest, Hungarian Grand Prix

Thit Johnstone, Washington Monument, Washington DC Patti Bowie, Victoria Falls

to spend at World Duty Free, at Aberdeen International Airport.

See how far and wide you can take your copy of upBEAT - go on, be creative!

Send your photo to ABZupbeat@aiairport. com. Please submit high resolution images, at least 1MB in size at 300dpi print resolution. See the winning picture in the Winter 2019 upBEAT - it could be yours!

(Deadline: Friday 21 December 2018).

Judith Jordan, Stockholm, Sweden

Julie West, Pearl Tower, Shanghai

Katie Milne, The Church on Saviour of Spilled Blood, St Petersburg

Mark Gatlish, Ko Phi Phi Don Island, Thailand

BOOKS <

Autumn Thrills IN A HOUSE OF LIES,

BY IAN RANKIN

LETHAL WHITE, BY ROBERT GALBRAITH (JK ROWLING)

PAST TENSE, BY LEE CHILD – AVAILABLE 5 NOVEMBER

Everyone has something to hide A missing private investigator is found, locked in a car hidden deep in the woods. Worse still is that his body was in an area that had already been searched.

When a troubled young man comes to private eye Cormoran Strike's office, to ask for his help investigating a crime he thinks he witnessed as a child, Strike is left deeply unsettled. But before Strike can question him further, Billy bolts from his office in a panic.

Jack Reacher plans an epic road trip across America, from Maine to California. He doesn’t get far. On a country road deep in the New England woods, he sees a sign to a place he has never been - the town where his father was born. He takes the detour.

Trying to get to the bottom of Billy's story, Strike and Robin Ellacott - once his assistant, now a partner in the agency - set off on a twisting trail that leads them through the backstreets of London, into a secretive inner sanctum within Parliament, and to a beautiful but sinister manor house deep in the countryside.

At the very same moment, close by, a car breaks down. Two people are trying to get to New York to sell a treasure.

Now they're stranded at a motel in the middle of nowhere.

Everyone has secrets Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke is part of a new inquiry, combing through the mistakes of the original case. There were always suspicions over how the investigation was handled and now after a decade without answers - it's time for the truth.

Nobody is innocent Every officer involved must be questioned, and it seems everyone on the case has something to hide, and everything to lose. But there is one man who knows where the trail may lead - and that it could be the end of him: John Rebus.

And Strike's own life is far from straightforward: his newfound fame as a private eye means he can no longer operate behind the scenes. Plus, his relationship with his former assistant is more fraught than it ever has been Robin is now invaluable to Strike in the business, but their personal relationship is much trickier than that…

The next morning in the city clerk's office, Reacher asks about the old family home. He’s told no one named Reacher ever lived in that town. He knows his father never went back. Now he wonders, was he ever there in the first place?

So begins another adrenaline-fuelled adventure for Reacher. The present can be tense, but the past can be worse.

That’s for damn sure.

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> LOCAL

Brewdog

Words by: Stevie Brown, VisitAberdeenshire

d o o f s u o i r o Home of gl

ABERDEENSHIRE

Scotland is firmly establishing itself on the foodie map thanks to the quality of its local produce, products and world class chefs.

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n August this year travel guide experts Lonely Planet named an Aberdeenshire village fish and chip shop, The Bay, in Stonehaven, as the best in the world.

But this crispy fried accolade is just the beginning of the culinary feast which awaits. The North-east of Scotland has a menu packed with gastronomic discoveries and delights that will have even the most well-travelled of foodies coming back for more.

Whisky has a global appeal for visitors who come to Scotland. It is a calling card for Scottish tourism, and visiting a whisky distillery located in Aberdeenshire ranks as one of the top must-see attractions for visitors. Seven of the eight distilleries in Aberdeenshire offer a visitor experience, where else can you see how a drink is made and then fill your own personal bottle from a 30-year-old cask. But the benefits

Mackie's 19.2

of the iconic Scottish whisky brand is not simply restricted to the distillers.

Top chefs throughout the region have incorporated the Scotch spirit in their Scottish fare, and whisky is appearing in more and more places where one might least expect it - even ice cream.

Mackie’s of Scotland has been producing the nation’s favourite ice cream for over 20 years, and in 2017 it opened its first ice cream parlour named 19.2, taking its name from the exact distance in miles from where the ice cream is made on the family farm.

Visitors can sample flavours they won’t find anywhere else, like Buttery and Jam, and enjoy the creamy delight with a view from the parlour overlooking the impressive Marischal College and Andy Scott’s iconic leopard sculpture in the centre of Marischal Square.

Aberdeenshire is also the home of Brewdog, a drinks business that has in just 11 years revolutionised the way the world sees and drinks craft beer. Once brewed in a garage, the controversial Aberdeenshire brand now has over 50

bars world-wide and plans to build a new hotel of the kind that has never been seen before complete with beer taps in rooms. The Dog Walk tour of the Ellon brewery is a popular visitor attraction, and the evolution of one of Scotland’s newest and most successful drinks brands shows no sign of slowing, now also producing whisky, vodka and gin.

Gin produced in Aberdeenshire has been recognised as the best in the world at last year’s International Wine and Spirit Competition. Porter’s Gin, an Aberdeen award-winning gin is distilled in the basement of Scotland’s top cocktail bar Orchid, located in Aberdeen city centre, and now offers a unique distillery experience. A visit here is not complete without trying its signature Pink Orchid.

The North-east of Scotland as a region is known as a fine food and drink destination, and its people are at the forefront of product development and innovation as our thriving food and drinks industry continues to evolve, creating fantastic visitor experiences.

Glen Garioch Distillery

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> CONTENTS

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01 Aberdeen Football Club captain Graeme Shinnie gives us the thumbs up before the team’s adventure in the Europa League qualifying round against Burnley FC 02 Our Security Officer Mike Diamond road tests The Distilling House’s mammoth breakfast before his shift!

03 Our World Duty Free store marked its official opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony

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04 Police Dogs Axel, Hamish and Odin were all successful in passing their doggy exams and are now all prepped to be deployed across the north of Scotland.

05 The Red Arrows flew in at the end of the summer ahead of their display at this year’s Peterhead Scottish Week 06 The Chernobyl Children’s Life Line Aberdeen City and Shire Link group hosted six children from Belarus for three weeks where the children learned more about Scotland and had a north-east holiday 07 Middleton Park nursery pupils visited us to learn about more airports and security 08, 09, 10 The stars of hit TV show Game of Thrones passed through the airport to attend the wedding of their co-stars Kit Harington and Rose Leslie. Emilia Clarke (08), Sophie Turner (09) and Peter Dinklage (10) dropped by before the big day in July 11 A rare pink fluffy bird was spotted in our departure lounge minus its owner this summer. Did you leave it behind?

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FOPE.COM 219-223 George Street | Aberdeen AB25 1HY Tel: 01224 636632 | www.finnies.com