Web issue 22 august mid sept 2013

Issue 22

mid Aug-Sept 2013 Deeside Edition Free Publication

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Successfully introducing local people to local businesses

Deeside gazette thru the door : Exclusive to Banchory & Drumoak gazette Issue 21

Mid-June - July 2013

Deeside Edition Free Publication

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Successfully introducing local people to local businesses

deadline : 20 Sept Oct-Nov Issue

contact : Sue Simpson mob : 01224 949085 email : gazette@fsmail.net w : thegranitecitygazette.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/gazettemagazines

Ad-hoc contributions from : Jane Robinson - Sarah Davey - Debbie Singh-Bhatti - Carol Brown - Lee Bestall Advertising Sales : Sue Simpson :

01224 949085

Distribution - thanks to : Stuart - Ross - Sean - Natalia - Sue - Dillon - Owen Distributor wanted for no vacancies at present

Disclaimer : Whilst we’d be flattered if you would like to borrow something from the gazette be polite and ask first! Thank you. We try our hardest to ensure accuracy of editorial content but no responsibility can be taken for any errors and/or omissions. The views expressed within the gazette are not necessarily those of the publisher or advertisers. When replying to offers, competitions and other correspondence, we would strongly recommend that you check published information with each organisation beforehand. We thank you for taking the time to read the small print. All artwork is accepted on strict condition that permission has been given for use in this publication.

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A note from Sue… Definitely an A” for the beautiful weather we got to enjoy this summer. Smiling faces everywhere! August kicks off a big creative surge as there is a lot going on Craft Bazaars, Aberdeen Art Fair, NEOs and Peacock celebrates 21 years of print and if you’d like to follow Michael Waight further then check out his exhibition within the Claremont Gallery in Aberdeen.

My summer started by being surrounded by packing boxes as I prepared to move house yet again! Followed closely by a weekend of fabulous dancing at the Station Hotel and the Beach Ballroom, the very next day a family wedding at Meldrum House Hotel and the weather was blissful. All that was followed on with the Pushing out the Boat deadline and three magazine deadlines!

Busy lady to say the least!

I would like to say a huge thank you to Val Douglas who has been a great help with delivering the gazette around Banchory these last few years. Now to look out my walking shoes again.

Did you or any of your relatives work in the Banchory lavender fields? Would you have a photograph or a story to tell? Please see the centre pages to see why. I would say that’s another to do to add to your August list of things to do.

Our next magazine will be the OctoberNovember issue and the deadline is 20 September. Great for telling people about any Christmas events you have planned. Do get in touch as I am more than happy to help spread the word.

So fill up your cuppa and enjoy this issue of the gazette and until the next time…

Sue

www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 949085 email : gazette@fsmail.net

Summer Opening Times Monday-Thursday 0930 up until 1930 Friday-Saturday 0930 - 1700 Sunday 1000 - 1630

D

ee’s Vintage Tea Room is doing a roaring trade on Deeside. Situated within the village of Kincardine O’ Neil it is a picture postcard spot to stop and enjoy the view plus fantastic coffee! The coffee syrup has been approved by the Vegetarian Society (Viva) - so definitely suitable for all. Denise has worked hard to bring a vintage style to her tearoom which is very much in evidence. Offering homemade soup, sandwiches and panninis along with an array of cakes and scones which you can add a dollop of cream and some locally sourced strawberries, also a fine selection of teas and juice for you to choose from too.

The tearoom has plenty tables and chairs and also has a nice lounge area where you can flick through a gazette or the Piper. You can browse the shelves which are full of locally produced items. There is beautiful artwork, jewellery and ceramics to name but a few. On a nice day, which we have enjoyed this year, you can grab a seat in the sun.

A very warm welcome awaits you in Kincardine O’ Neil. Travelling from town it is the next village after Banchory with plenty of parking close by. Travelling by bus there is a stop directly opposite.

Why not stroll along the main street after and find some little gems of local shops to entice you to spend more time there. Plus there is a bowling green and a park for the children.

Dee’s Tea’s Vintage Tea Room 01339 884202 www.deesteas.co.uk

www.facebook.com/deesteas.cafe 38a North Deeside Road, Kincardine O’ Neil

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A very vintage fair at Finzean - what you missed!

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www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 949085 email : gazette@fsmail.net

Reluctant Readers A study published a while back and reported in The Teaching Times claimed that 42% of children have lost interest in reading by the age of 11.

If that’s true it’s incredibly sad. Blame is apportioned to politicians, teachers, the TV and internet, but blame doesn’t achieve anything. Instead, as parents what can we do to encourage our children to engage with literature? Try these great tips to engage reluctant readers.

Let them see you reading! It sounds obvious but it works.

Read some funny bits from your own book aloud to them, or try an interesting newspaper article.

Try to schedule a small part of the day for reading. It doesn’t even have to be them reading. My ten-year-old son still loves me to read to him…especially when I put on accents and voices to suit the characters. Lose your inhibitions and have fun with reading and your children will follow suit.

Try a joke book or nonsense poetry books.

Kids love jokes and rhymes, the sillier the better. They won’t even realise they are reading as they regale you with their newfound anecdotes and ditties.

Use the power of movies. My ten-year-old really engaged with reading when he saw the first Harry Potter movie. He read the book straight afterwards and realised how much richer in detail it was compared with the film. From then on he was hooked.

By Sarah Davey

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A Good Read

The Private Patient – PD James

At a private clinic in Dorset, Rhoda Gradwyn has booked an operation to remove a serious facial scar – one which she has borne for many years, but ‘no longer has need of.’ The operation is a success, but by morning Rhoda Gradwyn is dead, and suspicion falls on the staff of Cheverell Manor. Commander Adam Dalgliesh, poet and policeman, is summoned from London to investigate, and before long finds himself dealing with not one, but two unexplained deaths and a whole host of dark secrets.

This is the latest in James’ Dalgliesh series, and it bears all the familiar hallmarks of the earlier novels – a death in a closed community, a complicated back story, and a steady move to the conclusion. As ever, the supporting characters are just as important as Dalgliesh himself – both those on his team and those who inhabit Cheverell Manor – and they are deftly drawn, with real and believable traits.

For the reader, the experience is more about contemplation than guesswork – the identity of the killer is revealed three quarters of the way through, and the rest of the novel is concerned with motivation and moral dilemmas. There is also a significant amount of tying up of loose ends from the ongoing stories of Dalgliesh and his colleagues, and the ending is rich and reflective.

Some would argue that James’ novels are an acquired taste, being so far from the run of the mill ‘whodunnit’ – I would say they are a taste well worth the acquiring.

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Founder and Director of Arting Around at Crathes Castle would like to welcome you to The Wishing Tree - a new and inspiring local Health and Well-being magazine for families in the North East of Scotland - Due out in JUNE 2013.

Visit our NEW facebook page - The Wishing Tree and be part of a growing family of followers.

If you would like to advertise with us please contact a member of the The Wishing Tree team on 07912 616623.

Arting Around now back open every Saturday and Sunday for drop in craft sessions 1 - 5pm. Birthday Party bookings available Monday through to Sunday -

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The Family from One End Street – Eve Garnett

This 1930’s classic has recently been re-issued as a Puffin Modern Classic, and rightly so. Telling the story of Mr and Mrs Ruggles and their seven children, it has captivated children for many years and will do so for many more.

This is the first in Garnett’s series and introduces the family – Dad Jo, Mum Rosie and the children: Lily Rose, Kate, twins Jim and John, young Jo, Peg and baby William. The first chapter tells us how they all got their names and sets the scene, then each subsequent section details one of their many adventures.

All of the Ruggles have an uncanny knack for getting into scrapes – from Lily Rose’s attempt to help her mother with a customer’s washing, which doesn’t go to plan, to the tale of clever Kate’s lost grammar school hat, and the daring escapades of Jim and John. The book ends with ‘The Perfect Day’ at the Cart Horse parade in London, riding on Uncle Charlie’s dust cart. Each episode is beautifully illustrated with Garnett’s line drawings.

This may not be the most fashionable or up to date novel, but it has stood the test of time.

Any reader will find much to enjoy, but particularly girls age 8 and over will take the Ruggles to their hearts and perhaps wish for the freedom and fun enjoyed by the children in days long gone.

Kath Bennett

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The money is available for: • Projects which celebrate a key aspect of a community’s history or heritage • Creation of an artwork or creative product inspired by local surroundings • Development of a community brand to be used in local projects or products • Extending an existing community event – e.g. a local festival, gala or highlight games – to showcase local creative talent The Our Place funding scheme has been launched to help Aberdeenshire’s communities celebrate the best of their local area.

This is a major part of our work with local businesses and communities to promote the best of Aberdeenshire.

Community groups and organisations across Aberdeenshire can apply for up to £5,000 towards projects aimed at celebrating the best of their local area, which could include key local figures, an iconic landmark, the natural environment, local produce, heritage or language. (pic : Jill Webster with the Be Part of the Picture flagat the Queens View near Tarland.)

The Our Place fund offers direct support to local residents and organisations who want to celebrate the best of local culture and creativity and build a feeling of community pride.

Projects to benefit from the fund so far include: RSPB – hosting a Gannet Week at Troup Head and Macduff Marine Aquarium Glenbuchat Hall Community Association – for an artist in residence to help the community celebrate their heritage. for more info... email : PICTURE@aberdeenshire.gov.uk http://bepartofthepicture.com

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FREE CONCERT HOSTED BY BANCHORY SINGERS. Banchory Town Hall - August 17, 7.30PM

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Home Visits Free Car parking Open Late night Tuesday - 7pm & Saturday - 4pm

This dazzling male voice choir from Austria will be hosted by Banchory Singers. Don’t miss this great opportunity to hear 2 choirs at 1 concert!

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Salmon and Watercress Tart Salmon and peppery watercress make a great combination for a tasty quiche

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Preparation time 30-60 minutes Cooking time 25 minutes Serves 4-6 Ingredients For the pastry case 200g plain flour, plus extra for dusting 100g butter, cut into small pieces, plus extra for greasing 1 egg yolk A little water (For speed, or if you don’t like making pastry, use a pack of the ready-made variety.)

For the filling 400g salmon fillet A little butter or groundnut oil Salt and black pepper 2 large handfuls watercress 4 eggs 400ml double cream Method You can make the pastry in a food processor according to the manufacturer’s instructions or if you prefer, rub the butter into the flour in a bowl with your fingertips. Add the egg yolk and just enough water to bring the dough to a firm ball.

Roll the pastry out large enough to line a loose-bottomed 24cm wide, 3.5cm deep tart tin. Lightly butter the tin, and then dust it with a small amount of flour, knock out the surplus then lower in the circle of pastry making sure you push it right into the edges. Be careful not to make holes or tear it.

Trim the excess pastry and place in the fridge to chill for 20 minutes.

Set the oven at 200C/Gas 6. Put a baking sheet in the oven to warm. Line the pastry case with kitchen foil and baking beans or a saucer and slide onto the hot baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven and carefully lift the beans or saucer and foil out.

Return the pastry case to the oven for five minutes or so, until the surface is dry to the touch.

Remove from the oven and set aside. Turn the oven temperature down to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

For the filling, place the salmon in a baking dish, brush with oil or butter, season lightly with salt and pepper and bake for 15 minutes, or until the flakes break apart easily. Remove from the oven.

Leave to cool a little, then break into large pieces. Place the pieces of fish in the tart case.

Wash the watercress leaves, removing and discarding the thickest of the stems. Put the wet watercress into a saucepan, cover tightly with a lid and place over a high heat. Cook for a couple of minutes, or until the leaves wilt a little. They should keep their colour. Turn the watercress over once with tongs, let it steam a further few seconds, then remove from the heat, cool under cold running water and squeeze dry.

Tuck the watercress into the tart case in between the salmon pieces. Gently whisk the eggs and cream, pour into the case and bake for 25 minutes, or until set. Serve warm.

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Looking Good - How to look great in every photograph

move your face forward a bit, and tilt your chin downwards.

Take inspiration from how celebrities and models pose, because they have looking gorgeous down to a fine art.

By Helen Taylor

Great hair and well applied make-up are essential for looking your best on camera.

Choose a light-reflecting foundation, in a full coverage variety to even-out your skin tone and to create a flawless look.

Let’s face it, we’ve all seen less-than-flattering pictures of ourselves turn-up on a friend’s Facebook page at some point and cringed.

Nowadays it’s more important than ever to look good in your photos, because you don’t know who’ll be seeing them.

So, to guarantee that you’ll always look gorgeous whenever there’s a camera pointed in your direction, follow our tips, tricks and make-up hints and never have to worry about a bad photo again.

Sweep bronzer over your entire face and neck to avoid looking washed-out. Sculpt your cheekbones by using a pinky blusher - make sure you apply it in the right place by leaving the width of two fingers either side of your nose.

Okay, so you want to impress your friends with a pretty profile picture that doesn’t look too ‘posy’ but which captures you looking your best.

Define your eyes by using three shades of eyeshadow to contour your eyelids. Use the lightest shade on your brow bone and on the inner part of your eye, then sweep the medium colour on the natural crease, to add depth, before using the darkest shade on the outer part of the eye and extending it across your lash line to add definition.

Firstly, you’ll need to take a lot of ‘test shots’ so that you can find the most flattering angle for your individual face shape. Generally it’s a good idea to focus your eyes onto the camera,

Using black eyeliner, line the eyes. Use a white eyeliner on the inner rim to create a wide-eyed look. Curl lashes and apply a coat of mascara.

Apply a pair of ‘natural-looking’ false eyelashes

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and finish with another coat of mascara to blend them seamlessly with your natural lashes.

You’ll be amazed at the difference the false eyelashes make to your photo - they immediately open-up your eyes and draw attention to them, whilst making you appear younger and more youthful.

If you dye your hair, make sure that your eyebrows match your hair colour. Poorly defined eyebrows which are too light compared to your hair will make your facial features look unbalanced, but don’t be tempted to make them too dark either, as that can result in you looking bad-tempered.

To make your teeth appear whiter, choose a lipstick shade which has a blue undertone to the colour - this could be a pink or red hue. A lot of cosmetic brands have lip products now on sale which have been designed with this in mind.

Use lip liner to create a perfect cupid’s bow.

Line your lips with a shade which matches the

lipstick you’ll be using. Keep to feather-like strokes as you apply and gently ‘fill-in’ the lips with your pencil, so that there are no visible unnatural lines. Using a lip brush, coat your lips with your lipstick and finish by applying a dab of lip gloss to the centre of your lips for a fuller look.

For a perfect smile, put your tongue behind your teeth - this relaxes the whole face and results in a completely natural smile being captured on camera.

Most importantly, be confident and enjoy creating some fantastic photographs.

Image courtesy of Estee Lauder

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Banchory and its Lavender Fields 1960s - Lavender picking, Glassel Road It is almost thirty years since Banchory’s lavender fields were in production and many Deeside residents who have settled here since that time might not even be aware of the flourishing industry that once made Banchory famous around the globe.

Woodend Barn, in collaboration with Robert Gordon University and Banchory Museum, believes that the history of Deeside lavender is so fascinating and important that it has decided to stage an exhibition (16 August to 1 October) to celebrate that history. The background to the exhibition is told below.

The company that developed the lavender business was Ingasetter Limited, the brainchild of a Shetland pharmacist and entrepreneur, Andrew “Drewie” Inkster, who graduated from Robert Gordon College, Aberdeen. After working in China, Drewie

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married Margaret Gray from Inverurie and, in 1938, settled in Banchory to run a chemist shop, A.R. Inkster on the High Street.

Drewie served in the Intelligence Corps during the war but, whenever on leave, his pharmacy background and keen interest in gardening led him to experiment with distilling lavender oil from plants grown at home. In 1945 he took over the vacant Guide Hut as a space to bottle “Dee Lavender” and to experiment with other perfumes and toiletries.

Drewie Inkster circa 1973 1946 was an explosive year of growth: the Inksters and their four children moved house to Torramhor (now Lavender House) on Glassel Road, bought the next door two acre field to grow

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lavender, formed the Ingasetter company and built a small factory at Silverbank where the Morrisons supermarket now stands.

Even with the factory, lavender distillation still took place in a hut in the garden of Torramhor. The factory was used to bottle the oil and to make additional products that Drewie invented such as hand creams, perfumes, insect repellents, ointments.

angustifolia or English Lavender, was best suited to the light, sandy soils of Deeside and the northern climate. Ingasetter was the most northerly commercial lavender producer in the world and claimed that Dee Lavender was “probably the best lavender in the world”. It was thought that the long summer days and increased ultraviolet light was responsible for the quality of the essential oil.

Torramhor, the Inkster’s home on Glassel Road, Banchory (Lavender distillation shed to far left)

During the 1960s, people started to visit the lavender fields in large numbers and buy increasing amounts of the company’s products from the factory sale room. Some four to five coaches a day would stop at Silverbank during the summer months and it was estimated that up to 25,000 visitors came each year. It was remarkable that such interest was generated by such a small company employing only eight to ten people.

By 1950, Banchory was already becoming very well known for its lavender such that the comedian, Harry Gordon, used a tableau of the Lavender Lady of Banchory to close his show at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen. Also in the 1950s, Drewie invented the world’s first solid-stick insect repellent, Skeet-o-Stick, which he marketed to both the airline, BOAC, and to the Swedish airforce.

In 1964, Ingasetter bought the four acre field adjacent to the Silverbank factory and so trebled its lavender production. After much trialling of different lavender varieties, it had already been established that Munstead Dwarf, one of the varieties of Lavandula

Besides sales across the counter and to many chemist shops, Ingasetter sold its products all over the UK (and overseas) by post by means of a catalogue and its commodities were to be found as far apart as on the airline, BOAC, the Swedish airforce, Raffles Hotel, Singapore, and the liner Queen Mary at its permanent anchorage at Long Beach, California.

In 1971, the Inksters decided that they wanted to retire and move to Shetland.

The company struggled without Drewie’s presence and in 1976 the Inksters sold the company to John and Charles Michie, the sons of his old friend, Charles Michie, who ran a chain of chemist shops around Aberdeenshire. Drewie Inkster died in 1979.

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John and Charles Michie in 1978 The Michies renamed the company “Ingasetter (Fragrance of Scotland) Limited” and continued in business for another 10 years in Banchory until the Silverbank factory site was sold in September 1986 for a supermarket development. They continued to produce Ingasetter products in Aberdeen for a further five years.

During August and September, Woodend Barn is developing a project and putting on an exhibition that examines the history of commercial lavender growing in Banchory by Ingasetter and how that history might apply to the Barn’s long term sustainability as an arts centre. The exhibition will include a films of the works and fields, filmed interviews with Ingasetter staff, many photographs and Ingasetter artefacts.

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The exhibition opens on 16 August and runs through to 01 October and the project has three interconnected themes.

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The Ingasetter story of commercial lavender growing in Banchory, A botanical investigation of Deeside lavender; its herbal properties and ecological significance, The lessons to be drawn from the history of lavender in Banchory.

Woodend Barn would like to hear from you if you ever worked for Ingasetter or have any photographs, anecdotes or memorabilia that could be used in the exhibition.

(Contact details below)

www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 949085 email : gazette@fsmail.net

DI A5 Advertorial_July13 29/07/2013 13:22 Page 1

Dental Inspirations, THE place to go for your dental treatment Welcome to our NEW DENTIST We are absolutely delighted to welcome Russell to our dental team. Russell did his dental training in Glasgow and his passion is helping his patients to enjoy good oral health for life.

Prevention is so important and Russell wants to see his patients continually over the years so that he can Dr Russell Macphee play an important part in BDS Glasgow keeping their teeth and GDC No 103204 gums healthy. He also likes to speak to his patients about their smile aspirations and if they want to improve this in any way he is delighted to talk them through their options for treatments.

Do Something AMAZING this SUMMER...

GIVE YOURSELF A BEAUTIFUL WHITE SMILE! We have been offering tooth whitening treatments for many years and we have seen some amazing results.

Teeth discolour over the years due to diet, habits and age and the whitening process lifts this discoloration and brightens and whitens the teeth. This has a wonderful effect on your smile and face. Some of our patients say “I just can’t stop smiling!” after the treatment is completed.

Come along and meet Russell. He is welcoming new patients and would be delighted to see you. Russell has the last word “Dental Inspirations is such a fantastic practice and the team here are so committed and friendly – it really was a very easy decision for me to join them. I am looking forward to seeing my patients and being instrumental in their oral health and beautiful smiles”.

1/2 PRICE new patient CONSULTATION As a NEW PATIENT of Russell we are pleased to offer a HALF PRICE new patient CONSULTATION. This would normally be £60 and is now only £30! That is a great way to start your oral health routine. All you have to do is call the practice number and book an appointment. This offer is only open until 31st October 2013 so please book your appointment now!

£100 OFF

TOOTH WHITENING

ONLY £350 BOOK A TOOTH WHITENING appointment TODAY!

395 North Deeside Road, Cults, Aberdeen AB15 9SX T 01224 860220 F 01224 860229 E info@dentalinspirations.co.uk

www.dentalinspirations.co.uk

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Top Hats and Tiaras Grand Ball

The Aberdeen Hilton Treetops Hotel, Springfield Road September 14th 2013, 7pm ‘til 1am Dress Code: Black tie/Evening/Cocktail dress *Welcome Drink *Auction *Raffle *3 Course Dinner & Coffee Live Music and Dancing with the fantastic ’Burlesque’ Evening MC will be Aberdeen’s Northsound 1 Rebecca Curran Auctioneer: Highland League Player Ian Thain, whose career spanned 22 seasons and Cove Rangers. with Deveronvale, Keith, Inverurie locos abd For more information on how to buy tickets or how to help - Contact Lucy on 07557 853500 or on lucy.wilson@momentumfundrasing.co.uk. For information on how Momentum has helped people in the Aberdeen Brain Injury Centre check out: www.momentumuk.org.uk/fundraising/event/top-hats-tiaras-ball.

It’s time to dust off your top hats and shine your tiaras. We look forward to seeing you there.

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

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

*DOMESTIC*COMMERCIAL* • • • • • •

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

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

Aberdeen Carpentry WORKING TOGETHER

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

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Spanish and French Classes Conversational Spanish at all levels and Advanced French.

Offered by experienced teacher in small groups.

Airyhall Community Centre Contact John on 01224 582491 email: jymcl11@gmail.com

www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 949085 email : gazette@fsmail.net

- Events GM A B E R D E E N

E O M

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What’s On Aboyne Tarland Truck Show.

At Tarland Show Ground Saturday 10th August 2013 Tarland Show At Tarland Show Ground Saturday 10th August 2013 Lonach Highland Gathering & Games In Bellabeg Park Saturday 24th August 2013 Aberdeenshire Care and Repair at Aboyne Library Wednesday 28th August 2013, 14:00 - 16:00 Active Aboyne Walking Reading Group At Aboyne Library Saturday 21st September 2013, 10:00

What’s On Banchory Scott Skinner Supper At Woodend Barn Arts Centre Wednesday 14th August 2013, 19:00

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Bookbug for Toddlers at Banchory Library Friday 16th August 2013, 10:00

Bookbug for Toddlers at Banchory Library Friday 30th August 2013, 10:00

F.O.C.U.S (Festival of Crafts Unique to Scotland) At Banchory Town Hall Saturday 17th August 2013

Saturday Storytimes at Banchory Library Saturday 31st August 2013, 11:00 - 11:30

The Mikado At Drum Castle Saturday 17th August 2013, 18:30

Bookbug Rhymetime for Babies at Banchory Library Thursday 5th September 2013, 10:30

Saturday Storytimes at Banchory Library Saturday 17th August 2013, 11:00 - 11:30

Banchory Flower Show 2013 Saturday 7th September 2013, 14:00 - 17:00

Deeside Steam and Vintage Rally At Milton of Crathes, Banchory.

Saturday 17th August 2013 - Sunday 18th August 2013

Banchory Flower Show 2013 Sunday 8th September 2013, 13:00 - 16:30

Austrian Male Voice Choir At Banchory Town Hall Saturday 17th August 2013, 19:30 Bookbug Rhymetime for Babies at Banchory Library Thursday 22nd August 2013, 10:30

Bookbug for Toddlers at Banchory Library Friday 13th September 2013, 10:00 Saturday Storytimes at Banchory Library At Banchory Library Saturday 14th September 2013, 11:00 - 11:30

www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 949085 email : gazette@fsmail.net

what’s on round and about Crathes Half Marathon 2013 sponsored by Aker Solutions At Crathes Castle Saturday 14th September 2013, 10:00 - 16:00 Bookbug Rhymetime for Babies At Banchory Library Thursday 19th September 2013, 10:30 Banchory Farmers Market In Scott Skinner Square Saturday 21st September 2013, 09:00 - 13:00 Scotland’s Gardens Open Day At Drum Castle Sunday 22nd September 2013, 11:00 - 17:00 Crathes Conversations with Esther Woolfson At Crathes Castle Thursday 26th September 2013, 14:30 - 16:30 The Beast Race - 10km + 20 Obstacle race Meet at Knockburn Loch Sunday 29th September 2013, 10:30 Fungi Foray at Scolty At Scolty Woodland Park Saturday 5th October 2013, 10:00 - 12:00 F.O.C.U.S (Festival of Crafts Unique to Scotland) At Banchory Town Hall Saturday 12th October 2013 Banchory Farmers Market In Scott Skinner Square Saturday 19th October 2013, 09:00 - 13:00

Crathes Ghost Tours At Crathes Castle Thursday 24th October 2013, 19:00 - 20:00 Crathes Ghost Tours At Crathes Castle Thursday 24th October 2013, 21:00 - 22:00 Crathes Ghost Tours At Crathes Castle Friday 25th October 2013, 19:00 - 20:00 Crathes Ghost Tours At Crathes Castle Friday 25th October 2013, 21:00 - 22:00

At Crathes Castle Thursday 31st October 2013, 19:00 - 20:00 Crathes Ghost Tours At Crathes Castle Thursday 31st October 2013, 21:00 - 22:00 Exclusively Highlands At Crathes Castle Saturday 2nd November 2013, 10:00 - 16:30 Exclusively Highlands At Crathes Castle Sunday 3rd November 2013, 10:00 - 16:30

Crathes Ghost Tours At Crathes Castle Saturday 26th October 2013, 19:00 - 20:00

Crathes Conversations with Fiona Butterfield At Crathes Castle Tuesday 12th November 2013, 14:00 - 16:00

Crathes Ghost Tours At Crathes Castle Saturday 26th October 2013, 21:00 - 22:00

Banchory Farmers Market In Scott Skinner Square Saturday 16th November 2013, 09:00 - 13:00

The Witchy Walk At Crathes Castle Sunday 27th October 2013, 11:00 - 12:30

F.O.C.U.S (Festival of Crafts Unique to Scotland) At Banchory Town Hall Saturday 23rd November 2013

The Witchy Walk At Crathes Castle Sunday 27th October 2013, 14:00 - 15:30 Crathes Conversations with Chris Wardle At Crathes Castle Tuesday 29th October 2013, 14:30 - 16:30

F.O.C.U.S (Festival of Crafts Unique to Scotland) At Banchory Town Hall Saturday 14th December 2013 Festive Farmers Market In Scott Skinner Square Saturday 21st December 2013, 09:00 - 13:00

Crathes Ghost Tours

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Music Theatre Live Entertainment Tickets from boxofficeaberdeen.com or tel : 01224 641122 What’s On in August + September at His Majesty’s Theatre, Music Hall and Lemon Tree, Aberdeen Tuesday to Thursday, August 13 to 15: Direct from a smash-hit West End season, adapted for the stage from the best-selling book by Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson MBE and Axel Scheffler, Room on the Broom, a magical, musical delighted for children aged three upwards, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 2pm on Tuesday and 11am and 2pm on Wednesday and Thursday.

Saturday, August 17: For one night only, celebrate the glory days of Aberdeen’s University Union: Aitken Hall, Main Hall/ Sivells, Neill Lounge, Red Lounge and Dungeon with Aberdeen re:Union 2013, featuring a fantastic line-up with voice of Ultravox Midge Ure and his band; ‘80s icon and punk princess Toyah Willcox; Brooklyn’s DJ Ayres and Blues’n’Trouble, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7pm.

Saturday, August 17: 1906 Restaurant at HMT with Blitz Entertainment present a musical murder mystery. . . the death of the fading rock band Dainty June is enough to test the wits of the cleverest detective when a mixture of sex, drugs, rock and roll, intrigue, jealousy and hate spin a tangled web of deceit in 1906 restaurant at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. The evening may not be suitable for minors.

Saturday and Sunday, August 17 and 18: Aberdeen Art Fair, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, from 9.30am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday.

Tuesday, August 20 to Saturday, August 31: Winner of four WhatsOnStage.com Awards, and direct from the West End and Broadway, the feel-good international hit sensation Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the Musical, with a dazzling array of outrageous Olivier and Tony Award-winning costumes, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm Tuesday to Thursday and Monday to Thursday, at 5pm and 8.15pm on Fridays and at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturdays.

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Wednesday, August 21: Tackling head-on the challenges of a young band having to prove themselves following the release of their first full-length album, We Are The In Crowd, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7.30pm.

Thursday to Saturday, August 22 to 24: The Vinyl Theatre presents 4000 Miles, which tells of a grandmother and her grandson who forge an unlikely bond in Amy Herzog’s awardwinning play which premiered in New York and played to sold-out houses winning Best New American Play in the 2012 OBIE Awards, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm.

Saturday, August 24: Popularly known for his two globally syndicated television shows Crossing Over With John Edward and John Edward Cross Country, the internationallyacclaimed psychic medium, lecturer and author John Edward, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 4pm.

Wednesday and Thursday, August 28 and 29: Everyone’s favourite northern comedian Jason Manford returns with a new tour entitled First World Problems, featuring a wealth of comedy anecdotes, misunderstandings and banter, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 8pm.

September Sunday, September 1: Alan Bearman Music presents Spooky Men’s Chorale, who based on the twin pillars of grand foolishness and the quest for the perfect subwoofer rattling boofchord, seek to commentate on the absurdity and grandeur of the modern male armed only with their voices, a sly collection of hats, their facial hair, and a twinkle in the eye, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7.30pm. Tickets £16 Tuesday to Saturday, September 3 and 7: The National Theatre of Scotland and The Royal Shakespeare Company present Dunsinane, starring Siobhan Redmond and Jonny Philips set in a Scotland in the aftermath of macbeth’s death when an English army has taken the seat of power, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm,m with 2pm Thursday and 2.30pm Saturday matinees. Tickets £15 to £29.50

Thursday, September 5: Stellar Quines presents the award-winning play, The List, written by Jennifer Tremblay, translated by Shelley Tepperman and starring Maureen Beattie, telling the story of a woman struggling to adjust to rural life, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm. Tickets £12 Saturday, September 7: Seventy-five minute behind-the-scenes tours at Aberdeen’s iconic Edwardian landmark, His Majesty’s Theatre, in HMT at 10.30am and 11.30am.

Tickets £5 (£3 concession) Saturday, September 7: Returning to performing over two hours of Pink Floyd classics with an eight-piece line-up Macfloyd, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7.30pm. Tickets £13 Monday, September 9: From the North-east of England, Athletes in Paris induce their idiosyncratic, danceable indie-pop sound with two drummers, chanted gang-vocals and frantic guitar-work, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7.30pm.

Tickets £6 Monday to Saturday, September 9 to 14: Directed by Christopher Luscome, Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show delivers a night of fun, frolics and sexy frivolity, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm from Monday to Thursday, and at 5.30pm and 8.30pm on Friday and Saturday. Tickets £15 to £40.50 Thursday to Saturday, September 12 to 14: Greenroom Productions present Ordinary Days, a new musical by Adam Gwon, a refreshingly honest and funny take on making real connections in New York, the city that never sleeps but probably should at some point, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm. Tickets £12 Saturday, September 14: Long hailed as one of Ireland’s leading songwriters and performers Kieran Goss takes his music to The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 8pm. Tickets £10 Sunday, September 15: 50+Festival Final Festival Concert featuring Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas (San Fransisco and Montreal), Vocal Zones Quartet, George Brechin, Abby Birnie and Michael Smith, accompanied by musical director Jim Addison, in the Music

www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 949085 email : gazette@fsmail.net

Music Theatre Live Entertainment Hall, Aberdeen at 7.30pm. Tickets £9 Monday to Saturday, September 16 to 21: The West End’s favourite musical comedy Hairspray, starring Mark Benton (Waterloo Road, Early Doors) and Edna Turnblad and Lucy Benjamin (Eastenders) as scheming TV executive Velma Von Tussle, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm, with 2pm Thursday and 2.30pm Saturday matinees.

Tickets £17 to £55 Wednesday, September 18: Well-versed in the art of creative mayhem Mark Thomas returns to what he does best in his new show 100 Acts of Minor Dissent – mischief and joyously bad behaviour with a purpose, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 7pm. Tickets £15 Thursday, September 19: Tortoise in a Nutshell in co-production with Cumbernauld Theatre present Feral, an innovative piece of visual theatre that combines puppetry, film and live sound to create and destroy a world in front of its audience’s eyes, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm.

Age 13+ and tickets £12 Saturday, September 21: Seventy-five minute behind-the-scenes tour at Aberdeen’s iconic Edwardian landmark, His Majesty’s Theatre, in HMT at 10.30am. Tickets £5 (£3 concession) Saturday, September 21: 2012 Winner Fringe First Award, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Educating Ronnie, created by Joe Douglas and Gareth Nicholls and produced by Macrobert and Utter, an astonishing true story performed by the man himself, exploring the murky processes behind bettering oneself in Uganda, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm. Tickets £12 Saturday, September 21: Continuing Aberdeen’s tradition of large and horny soul and funk tribute bands, Funk Connection, with a 10 piece line-up and performing numbers drawn from Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5 and James Brown to The Temptations, Sister Sledge and Chic, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, doors at 8pm.

Tickets £10 Saturday, September 21: Gibson Ross Promotions presents Saturday Night at

the Auld Meal Mill, an evening of Scottish traditional music, song, dance and comedy featuring Robert Lovie, comedian Eddie Rose, The Brandon Mcphee Trio, The Marlene Lowe Dancers with Piper Pamela Whyte, Turriff & District Pipe Band, and James Alexander & The Reel Ceilidh Band, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen at 7.30pm. Tickets £22 Monday to Saturday, September 23 to 28: Now in its eighth year, the Agatha Christie Theatre Company present a thrilling production of the Queen of Crime’s classic Go Back for Murder, with an all-star cast including Liza Goddard, Robert Duncan and Sophie Ward in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm, with 2pm Thursday and 2.30pm Saturday matinees. Tickets £17.50 to £32.50 Tuesday, September 24: Star of Sky Living’s Psychic Sally on the Road, Sally Morgan, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. Tickets £23 Thursday, September 26: With a partnership and friendship which has spanned 24 years, Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham showcase the talent and dedication to their music which has earned them both the title of Dr and the honour of an MBE, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. Tickets £18 Friday, September 27: Time Travelling Magicians Morgan & West bring a show brimming over with baffling magic, unparalleled precognitive powers and an ability to travel through time, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm. Tickets £12 Friday, September 27: With cellist Alisa Weilerstein and conductor Donald Runnicles, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra present a programme which includes Berlioz’s Overture: Le Corsaire; Elgar’s Cello Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.4, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. Tickets £10 to £20.50

age with his clarion cry – ‘I am in my forties, hear me roar!’, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 8pm. Tickets £23.50 Sunday, September 29: Star of Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Dirty Tricks, Monkey Magic, Psychic Secrets Revealed with Derren Brown, and the darkly twisted Jerry@Trick sketch show with Jerry Sadowitz, Ali Cook returns with his own brand of awe-inspiring magic and breathtaking illusion in Principles and Deceptions, in The Lemon Tree Lounge, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm. Tickets £12 Monday, September 30: A compelling and entertaining evening with bushcraft authority and survival expert Ray Mears, in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm. Tickets £23.50 to £26 Monday, September 30 and Tuesday, October 1: Random Accomplice presents, The Incredible Adventures of See-Thru Sam, the 2012 performance nominated for two Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland, telling the story of an ordinary boy whose extraordinary life falls apart after the death of his parents, in The Lemon Tree Studio, West North Street, Aberdeen, at 7pm. Ahe 14+ (contains some strong language) and tickets £12 Monday, September 30 to Saturday, October 5: Multi-award winning rock and roll show Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story charts the legendary singer from his meteoric rise to fame to his final famous performance at The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, at 7.30pm Monday to Thursday, at 5.30pm and 8.30pm on Friday and at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday. Tickets £12.50 to £32.50

Saturday, September 28: Seventy-five minute behind-the-scenes tours at Aberdeen’s iconic Edwardian landmark, His Majesty’s Theatre, in HMT at 10.30am and 11.30am.

Tickets £5 (£3 concession) Saturday, September 28: A self-confessed miserable old git, comedian Ed Byrne in his new show Roaring Forties embraces middle

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Supermarket Opening Times Welcome to Morrisons Supermarkets, Banchory North Deeside Road Banchory, AB31 5YR 01330 820140

Opening times

Monday0800-2100 Tuesday0800-2100 Wednesday0800-2100 Thursday0800-2100

Friday0800-2100 Saturday0800-2100 Sunday0900-1900

Tesco Banchory Superstore Hill of Banchory East Banchory AB31 5QA. Telephone: 0845 0269618

Desk opening hours may not follow store opening hours.

Petrol Filling Station Forecourt facilities: Fuel 24 hours PayatPump Air and screen wash Fuels available: Unleaded Diesel Momentum99

Store Opening Times Monday 0600 midnight Tuesday 0600 midnight Wed 0600 midnight Thurs 0600 midnight Friday 0600 midnight Saturday 0600 midnight Sunday 0800 2200

NB

Click & Collect Clothing and Direct collect a the service desk.

Monday 0800 2000 Tuesday 0800 2000 Wed 0800 2000 Thurs 0800 2000 Friday 0800 2000 Saturday 0800 2000 Sunday 0800 2200

As you may be aware there are big changes underway in Scottish education.

Many of these are very positive but one of the changes which will impact children currently in S1-3 and primary schools is not welcome at many schools in Aberdeenshire and elsewhere and parents at these schools are campaigning to be allowed to continue with the current, very successful approach.

The change they oppose will limit a child’s choice of subjects during S4, when under the current system they would be sitting up to 8 Standard Grade exams. Under the new system, many Local Authorities have instructed their schools to limit children to taking only 6 ‘National 5’ exams (the replacement for Standard Grades) while others will continue to allow their schools to offer 8.

The parents who are campaigning are worried that children who are only offered 6 exams will be at a disadvantage when it comes to choosing Highers and applying for university places and jobs vs those who have taken 8. They believe the right people to decide the number of subjects for individual schools and children is the school in consultation with parents and pupils and not the Local Authority. The Scottish

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Government and Education Scotland agree and say as much in published guidelines and in letters to parents who have raised their concerns with Ministers.

However despite this, some Local Authorities, including Aberdeenshire, continue to insist that all their schools shall follow a single Shire-wide model and are refusing to engage constructively with parents. An Academy in Aberdeenshire has developed a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Curriculum-forExcellence-Parents-Voice/390634617722155 which provides some more background and an Academy in Aberdeen City has launched an online petition to try and gather support from across Scotland to bring Local Authorities back to the table: http://chn.ge/1cbpzkX Even if you don’t have children at school, this matters for friends and family who do and for the health of Scottish education.

I would be very grateful if you would please visit the petition site http://chn.ge/1cbpzkX and add your support – this can be anonymous if you so wish – then share this as widely as you can among your friends, family, work colleagues, social networks etc.

www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 949085 email : gazette@fsmail.net

clubs and classes...

2367 (Banchory) Squadron - Air Training Corps

The Air Training corps is a uniformed youth organisation supported by the Royal Air Force. For young people aged 13 and 17. www.2367sqn.org.uk Mon & Thur 7- 9.30pm McCombie Cadet Centre, Woodside Road, Banchory Aberdeen Patchwork & Quilting 01224 310379 The group meet monthly. Consisting of both beginners and more experienced quilters. We have speakers, demonstrations, workshops etc and would welcome new members. usually every third Wednesday in the month at Rubislaw Church Centre - 19.30-21.00 Facebook at aberdeenquilters or e: aberdeenquiltersgroup@gmail.com Awana A free childrens club (Nursery to P7) www.bcfchurch.org.uk Wed, 6.00 7.30pm Banchory Christian Fellowship Church, Burn of Bennie, Banchory Banchory & District Bridge Club For new people coming into the district, we can help with a bridge partner Tuesday, 6.50pm for 7pm start Burnett Arms Hotel, Banchory Banchory & District Round Table For men aged 18 - 45 years www.bad-rt.org Thursday, 7pm for 7.30pm Every 1st and 3rd Thursday, Banchory Lodge Hotel, Banchory Banchory Boys Football Club www.banchoryboysclub.co.uk Last Sunday of the month, 7pm Caters for children from last year in nursery to P7 for Saturday training sessions from 10 - 11.30am at KGV Park Banchory and then for development and competitive teams from U8 to U19 levels Banchory British Legion Banchory Community Badminton Club All abilities and ages welcome, Friday, 10-11.30am, Banchory Sports Centre Banchory Cricket Club Cricket available from 8 years of age through to seniors Burnett Park, Banchory Banchory East Badminton Club For age 14 years and upwards. Mon, 8-10pm, Banchory Academy Games Hall Banchory Gymnastics Club Girls from Primary 2 upwards. Waiting list in operation Tuesday , 3.30pm 5pm Banchory Sports Centre Banchory Morris Men Telephone 01330 822320 Lively dancing with stick, bells, etc. (and not just English, we also do Scottish dances at Crathes Village Hall - 815pm on a Tuesday.

Banchory Pipeband We are a non competing pipeband who welcome complete beginners to experienced musicians of all ages. Our practice is held on Wed between 7-9pm at the Banchory Royal British Legion.

Contact Banchorypipeband@hotmail.co.uk for more details.

Banchory Singers are a mixed voice Community Choir. Meet at the community centre at Banchory Academy Raemoir Road Banchory AB31 5TQ each Wednesday evening during school term time. 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm. Further info about the choir can be found on www.banchorysingers.co.uk Banchory Senior Citizens Club Our club meets at the Banchory Primary School Hall at 7.15pm on the first Tuesday of each month between Sept & June. We aim to provide an hour of musical entertainment, we also arrange a summer outing and a Christmas party. If you are 60 years plus why not contact us for more information on either of the follownig numbers - 01330-822977 or 825495

Banchory Sports Centre Banchory, AB315XP Phone: 01330 825269 E: banchory.sportscentre@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Banchory St Ternan Football Club www.eteamz.com/banchorystternan Tuesday, Thursday , 7 - 9pm Games on Saturday 1pm Milton Park, Crathes Banchory Stonehaven Athletic Club For ages: 9 years to adult www.banchorystonehavenac.co.uk Monday Mackie Academy, Slug Road, Stonehaven, AB39 3DF Banchory Trampoline Club.

We teach from Pre-School to youth, from beginner to excellence. Sessions most days at Banchory Sports Centre.

Contact; John Wills at johnj.gwills@btinternet.com Banchory Volleyball Club We are a mixed group & have an adult section (age S4 +) which meets on a Thursday evening starting at 7.30pm - 9.45pm and a junior section (ages S1 - S3) which meets on a Monday starting at 6.00pm - 7.30pm. Both groups meet in Banchory Academy games hall. The purpose is to understand & enjoy the game of volleyball and all abilities are welcome. Qualified coaches take both sessions. Find us on Facebook - Banchory Volleyball Club.

Birse Community Trust Exists to promote the common good of the inhabitants of Birse Parish and deliver wider public benefits. www.birsecommunitytrust.org.uk The Old Schoolhouse, Finzean Birse Community Trust Exists to promote the common good of the inhabitants of Birse Parish and deliver wider public benefits. www.birsecommunitytrust.org.uk The Old Schoolhouse, Finzean Campfield & Glassel WRI 1st Tuesday of each month. September - April, 7.30pm , Glassel Hall, Glassel City of Roses (Sweet Adelines International) Ladies singing group. Being able to read music an advantage but not necessary cityofroseschorus.co.uk Mon, 7.15-10.00pm Drumoak Church Hall, Drumoak Corse SWRI Tuesday, Evening , 3rd Tuesday of the month Corse Hall, Corse, Lumphanan Deeside Childrens Music Group From 9 - 15 years, Thursday, 4pm - 5.30pm In term time only, Aboyne Academy, Aboyne Deeside Community Transport Two community minibuses for hire by community groups and non-profit groups. Both 17 seats and wheelchair adaptable. Charges are ÂŁ1.00 per mile (as at July 2012), with a minimum invoice of ÂŁ20.00.

Deeside Gliding Club Instruction available to all ages groups (subject to a minimum weight / height) in flying gliders. New members welcome www.deesideglidingclub.co.uk Deeside Heritage Society Disabled access. Members and guests welcome. Tea and Coffee available.

Third Wednesday of month, September to March, Bowling Club Pavilion

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clubs and classes...

Deeside Hillwalking Club An informal but active group, based around Banchory who focus on climbing munros and corbetts around Scotland. Minimum age 18 years We have a programme of events throughout the year, meeting approximately every 3rd weekend Deeside Musical Society We cater for ages 16 years onwards, but depending on productions we also cater for children e.g. if we are performing a pantomime. Fees £40 per session, concessions £30. Monday, 7.30pm Aboyne Academy Community Centre Deeside Orchestra Any age from 16 years and upwards. http://www.deeside-orchestra.co.uk Tuesday, 7.30-9.45pm Victory Hall. Ballater Road Aboyne Deeside Rugby Football Club Membership is open to all abilities and ages. Games and training at Woodend Playing Fields, Banchory. For Matches and Training Times www.deeside-rfc.co.uk Deeside School of Dance All types of class and singing and drama from 3yrs to adult Rdsd.co.uk Mon-Sat, Hill of Banchory South Banchory Deeside Youth Musical Theatre Age range 10 - 17 years. Theatre and musicals group performing one show per year usually in March Thurs, 6.30 - 8.00pm Deeside Community Centre Deeside Steam & Vintage Club Promotes the collection of steam and vintage machinery. Various events in the summer months from tractor runs to our annual rally The Deeside Village Hopper service is open to everyone! A scheduled service running Mon-Friday.

Please call for details 013398 85222, or see: www.mid-deeside.org.uk.

Deeside Writers First meeting free. £2 per meeting thereafter. Annual membership £10 www.deesidewriters.co.uk Tuesday, 7.30pm 3rd Tuesday of the month Woodend Barn, Banchory Drumoak & Durris Playgroup beehive.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/default. asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=5230 Tuesday-Friday mornings, 9.15am-11.15am Crossroads Nursery, Slug Road, Banchory Drumoak Durris Crathes Bowling Club Fees: Outdoor £50. Indoor £15, Juniors £12, Young Bowlers £25, Hats £1.50 Hat nights / Afternoons Tues & Frid 7pm or Wed & Sat 2pm. All ages welcome. Bowling Pavilion, Off North Deeside Road, Drumoak Durris Junior Agricultural Club Fees - depends on the age. Ages 14-26 to compete in competitions Varies, Usually 7.30pm Kirkton Hall, Durris Durris SWRI Disabled access. Fees £12 per year. Monday , 7.30pm 2nd Monday of the month Kirkton Hall, Durris Finzean : The Jolly Singers Finzean Hall Weds. 7.30 – 8.30 Bach to Berlin, via Berlioz and Burns.

Small group (mostly a capella) welcomes non readers. Louise 01330 850323

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Finzean SWRI Thursday, 7.30pm 3rd Thur of every month from Sept until April Finzean Hall, Finzean Fitness for the Over 50s Monday, 11am - 12.30pm Weekly, Sept to June, Victory Hall, Aboyne Footstars A fun football and fitness activity for boys and girls aged 2-6 years.

Currently running sessions 7 days a week in Banchory, Stonehaven and Westhill www.footstars.co.uk Friends of Durris Forests We work closely with Forestry Commission Scotland to monitor the use, accessibility and state of Durris Forest and its outliers. www.friendsofdurrisforests.co.uk Girlguiding - Banchory 3 Rainbow Units aged 5-7, 4 Brownie Units aged 7-10 and 3 Guide Units aged 10-14 but due to Waiting Lists we would like to open further Units when we can get the Volunteer Leaders www. girlguiding.org.uk The Kerloch Flyers Club We are a small group of aeromodellers based in Banchory, but our flying field is near the Kerloch hill, hence our title. The club is affiliated to the Scottish Aeromodellers’ Association. Anyone who is interested should contact Sandy on 01330 825301.

Metafit Exercise Class 30 minute group exercise class. Monday evenings 7:30pm, Alexandra Park Banchory. £5pp Noahs Ark From Bumps to 3 years of age. Mums have opportunity for a coffee and a blether! Friday, 10am-12 West Church Hall, Banchory Raemoir WRI For any age, Tuesday, 7pm, Third Tuesday of the month, Dalvenie Gardens Resource Centre, Raemoir Lane, Banchory Rotary Club of Aboyne and Upper Deeside Meets on Monday evenings, alternating between the Boat Inn Aboyne and the Glen Lui Hotel Ballater. Guests welcome. For more information see us on Facebook and/or contact Mike Powell on 013398 86369 or mike.powell21@tiscali.co.uk Rotary Club of Banchory Ternan Open to all rotarians. www.banchory-ternan-rotary.com Wednesday, 6.15pm for 6.30pm The Burnett Arms Hotel, Banchory Royal Deeside 41 Club Friday - First Friday each month Burnett Arms Hotel, Banchory Royal Deeside Railway Preservation Society Railway restoration & working railway. All welcome www.deeside-railway.co.uk Mon,Tues, Fri, Sat, Sun, Daytime Light and heavy volunteer work available Milton of Crathes Visitor Centre, Crathes Saltire Tae Kwon-do Academies Age specific programmes. Ninja Kidz (4-6 yrs), Dragon Warriors (7-9 yrs), Juniors (10 - 12 yrs), Youth/Seniors (13+yrs) and Korean Kickboxing www.saltiretkd.com/ Scottish Accordion Music Group Sunday, 2nd Sunday of month Kirkton Hall, Durris

www.thegranitecitygazette.co.uk 01224 949085 email : gazette@fsmail.net

Script to Screen & Stage Drama & Film classes for children of 7-12 years of age. Aboyne Class held in Victory Hall Thursday 4pm-6.30pm Banchory Classes held in Banchory Guide Hut 4pm -6pm & 6.15pm - 8.15pm Tel:01339 886265 email: s.2.s.and.stage@gmail.com www.script2screenandstage.co.uk Soft furnishing class in the Inchmarlo Hall Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. I take 10 persons in each class and they can make anything from a cushion, blinds, curtains or re-covering dining room chairs. Classes run in school term approximately 10 weeks. Contact Moira : 01330822984 Splat 0-5 s Music Group Children aged 0 - 5 years invited with carers. Fee: 50p per family.

Disabled access and facilities Wednesday, 2pm - 3.15pm Term time only Drumoak Church Hall Strachan SWRI Ladies of all ages - £16 annual fee. Meet every third Thursday of the month. 7.30pm at Strachan Village Hall - Sept to May Tel : 01330 850442 for info.

Tai Chi Aberdeenshire For information about classes, tuition for groups or individuals, view the website. Instructor member of Tai Chi Union for Great Britain www.taichiaberdeenshire.co.uk Take a Seat Adapted seated classes of Tai Chi (Tai Ji) and Chi Gung (Qi Gong) for people who are unable to stand to exercise www.takeaseat.org.uk Tarland Film Club Monthly films chosen by you. BYO snacks/refreshments. Open to those aged over 18 years in the Tarland area. Held in the upstairs room at the MacRobert Hall. Email: tarlandfilmgroup@hotmail.co.uk, or telephone 07880 935803. Facebook under ‘Tarland film-group’.

Tom-Toms Singing group for Mums and carers with little ones from birth to 4 years. Fees £2 per family per week. We run 2 sessions ; 10 - 10.30, then 10.30 - 11 am. After each session refreshments are available.

This is a busy group and you are advised to call first. Banchory Ternan East Church Halls, Station Road, Banchory Details from www. banchoryeastchurch.org Tooters Music classes for young children in 3 age groups, Tooter Tots 0 - 2, Tooters 2 - 5 & Toots P1 & P2. Activities include singing, games, movement and instrument activities. tootersonline.co.uk Upper Deeside Art Society Annual fee of £18.00, individual workshop fee of £20.00. Talks cover a range of arts related subjects, while the workshops cater for a variety of mediums and subjects. www.udas.org.uk Friday, 2pm Monthly, also monthly Saturday workshops Aboyne Bowling Club White Crane Tai Chi Classes in Tai Chi (Tai Ji) and Chi Gung (Qi Gong). Established 2000 www.takeaseat.org.uk 7pm Banchory classes held on a Monday, Woodside Playgroup For children aged 2years 10 months to 4 years Daily, 9.30am-12 noon 12.45-3.15pm Burnett Park Pavilion, Banchory

Banchory Christmas Tree Lights Switch On Thursday 28th November 6.30pm in Scott Skinner Square

Music, craft stalls, food and entertainment including celebrity Switch-on.

Start your festive season as you mean to go on locally!

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How to Get A Better Work-Life Balance Is your life a balancing act? Does your smart phone extend your working day? Do you feel that you never have time just for you?

You’re not alone. More people are working longer hours because they feel less secure in their jobs, or because due to lay-offs they are now responsible for extra work.

Even if you have little power over the hours you work, you can still improve your life by concentrating on the areas which you can control.

Schedule downtime – It could be a date night with your partner or a family day out with the kids.

Make it top priority. Don’t cancel and don’t allow

interruptions. You’ll feel much better for some time spent with those you love.

Outsource – Weekends and evenings can easily be taken up with chores. If you can afford it, employ a cleaner, or a gardener, or someone to do the ironing. Use the time saved to do something you really love, like practice your guitar or walk the dog.

Get up earlier – If you’re the type who leaves it until the very last minute to get out of bed, set your alarm for half an hour or an hour earlier. Use that time to exercise or get boring household chores out of the way, freeing up time in the evening.

Make little changes – You don’t have to quit your job and move to a croft in the Shetland Isles. Just fifteen minutes sitting in the park at lunch time reading a book or listening to music can go a long way towards increasing your sense of well-being.

By Sarah Davey

“Excellent! Outstanding level of care. I was at risk of losing my livelihood. Can’t thank you enough!” ~ John McNally (Airline Captain)

biomedical clinics  01330 823937 www.biomedicalclinics.co.uk

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A Garden View Designer Plots By Lee Bestall It is estimated that just 3% of the UK population employ a professional garden designer, with most people opting to design their own outdoor space, or adapt one they may have inherited.

The first decision to make when starting a plan is whether to make it look ‘designed’ or not. By this I mean do you like a structured garden with big sweeping curves and strong lines, formality and symmetry, or do you prefer a more informal space that looks like it ‘just happened’, almost by mistake, (these are much harder to achieve as you are often trying to recreate something nature does best).

There was an industry debate recently which explored the idea of modern gardens being ‘over designed’. Just like in clothing fashion, there’s a revival of a certain era every so often, and it’s the same with design outdoors. Once upon a time, formal terraces were all the rage with pretty-coloured bedding schemes and clipped hedging.

Then, decades later, these were dug up and replaced with sweeping natural ‘landscapes’ , where trees and lakes were carefully located to make them appear as though they had always been there. Which is right? Well, neither, it’s personal taste and as long as it fits with the house style and surrounding landscape, I think you should do

what makes you happy. After all, that’s what gardens are for, to be enjoyed.

Once you’ve decided on a style, take some measurements of the boundaries, starting with the house. Use circles, curves, squares and rectangles to make some nice shapes on the plan, then choose a material to fill them in with. Usually the largest space will be the lawn, then patio or deck, and pathways, then fill the gaps with plants. Next month is the perfect time to plant, so we’ll be looking at planting plans in detail then.

Top tips for designing your garden: • Keep things simple and don’t over complicate the basic design layout.

• Use pergolas to add height and shade.

• Consider hedges instead of fencing to add structure.

• Make space for at least one small tree.

• Consider the maintenance of the new garden - decking and gravel are cheap, but require more maintenance in the long term.

Happy gardening,

Lee

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Alfresco Dining Children’s Play Area Malt Room Lounge Restaurant

ferryhill

HOUSE HOTEL t: 01224 590867

www.ferryhillhousehotel.co.uk

Conference Room (delegate rate £25+vat)

4th Room Lounge Restaurant

t: 01224 740318

www.fourmile.co.uk